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An Overview of Health Insurance

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:42:19 +0000

As the political campaigns heat up this summer, health insurance is being discussed more and more. When one looks at the health insurance situation in the country, it is easy to see why this has become a significant issue.

All you need to do is take a quick look at some health insurance statistics to get an idea of why it has been moving more and more to center stage as a political issue. Health care has become a major concern of many Americans. The big problem has been the rising cost. Health care costs are rising at a rate of 6.9% which is double the National inflation rate. Almost $2 Trillion dollars was spent in 2005 on health care, which amounts to almost $6,700 per person. It also accounted for 16% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It is estimated that by 2015, this will double to $4 trillion dollars and will account for as much as 20% of the GDP. How has this impacted health insurance? The health insurance policy is a basic contract between an individual and an Insurance company. The company receives a premium from a large number of individuals and in return pays the health care costs of those who are sick. In short, the idea is that everyone throws in a little bit of money, and the few that get sick are taken care of by the payments of those who remain healthy.

This system peaked in the 20th Century and at one time, health insurance was something available to most people and at a price they could afford. The Insurance companies invested the premiums wisely and they made a profit. The individual had virtually no worries about health care. They were insured and if they became sick, their medical bills would be paid. The cost of this safety net was reasonable. However, when the health care costs began to raise, this balance changed. The Insurance companies needed to make sure they were solvent enough to meet their obligations, and as health care costs went up, health insurance premiums were forced to follow.

Now, health insurance costs to employers are on the rise. The average is 7.7% increase in the cost of providing health coverage to an employer. Smaller companies have seen rates rise 8.8% while the smallest ones, companies with less than 24 employees, have jumped 10.5%. This has meant that more and more of the cost must be borne by the employee. It now is costing an average of $11,500 per year to provide basic coverage to a family of four. Even a single person must put out around $4,200 a year.

The Health Insurance industry has taken much of the flack for this. They have tried to deal with the problems in many creative ways. Exclusions and limited coverage have become the norm. Also, the basic insurance of our parents and grandparents that cast a complete safety net with few restrictions has become a thing of the past. Yet, still Insurance companies get a bad rap when it is really health care costs that are the culprit.

By: Aazdak Alisimo

How Traditional Chinese Health Beliefs and Chinese Culture Influence Health and Illness?

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:43:29 +0000

Traditional Chinese health beliefs adopt a holistic view emphasizing the importance of environmental factors in increasing risk of disease. According to Quah (1985), these factors influence the balance of body’s harmony, yin and yang. These are two opposite but complementary forces and, together with qi (vital energy), they control the universe and explain the relationship between people and their surroundings. Imbalance in these two forces, or in the qi, results in illness.

In order to restore the balance, traditional remedial practices may be needed. For example, excess `hot’ energy can be counterbalanced by cooling herbal teas, and vice versa. These beliefs are deeply ingrained among the Chinese, and have been found to be unchanged following migration to Singapore.

Lee, et. al. (2004), found that patients with specific chronic diseases, namely arthritis, musculoskeletal diseases and stroke, were more likely to use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This was strongly determined by the ‘chronic disease triad’, perceived satisfaction with care and cultural health beliefs.

Hence the use of TCM is not associated with the quality of doctor-patient interaction. Astin (1998) also agreed that it was seen as being more compatible with the patients’ values, spiritual and religious philosophy, or beliefs regarding the nature and meaning of health and illness.

In traditional Chinese culture, taking medication is thought to be aversive, hence medications tend to be taken only until symptoms are relieved and then discontinued; if symptoms are not obvious, medications will probably never be taken.

Apart from parental cultural beliefs, minor side effects of certain antibiotics such as stomach upset may contribute to the poor adherence of medication. The use of “leftover”, “shared” antibiotics and over-the-counter purchase of antibiotics by parents are common situations in the community.

They think that their children suffer from the same illnesses judging by the similar symptoms, so they would give the “leftover” or “shared” antibiotics to their children and only bring them to their doctors if there is no improvement (Chang & Tang, 2006). This may cause their conditions to deteriorate and may necessitate aggressive treatments later which may have unnecessary side effects.

However, there are small groups of Chinese who also blamed ill-health or misfortunes on supernatural forces, or on divine retribution, or on the malevolence of a ‘witch’ or ’sorcerer’ (Helman, 1994). Such groups will usually seek cures from their religions.

In Singapore, the Ministry of Health has drawn up the TCM Practitioners’ Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines to prevent any unscrupulous practitioners from preying on their patients and taking advantage of their beliefs, for example, molesting ignorant patients.

The degree of acculturation has been evidenced in the following case. An old man was brought into our hospital with a week-long history of malaise, nausea and vomiting, and sudden jaundice. He was diagnosed to have an obstructive mass in the liver.

A biopsy revealed hepatocellular carcinoma. The serological test suggested chronic active hepatitis B. When the news broke to his son that his father had cancer, he requested not to disclose that to his father.

When we discussed end of life issues such as hospice care and “do-not-resuscitate” (DNR) orders, the son tried to divert the discussion to other issues such as when his father could go home.

Cultural Issues that may be involved in this case are:

The Chinese tend to protect the elderly from bad news.

Believing in karma – the older folk believe that discussing illnesses or death/dying is bad luck. They think that talking about something bad will cause it to come true.

There is an increased incidence of liver cancer resulting from Hepatitis B due to delayed treatment in the elderly, as it may take a long time for them to accept the initial diagnosis.

Reference:

Astin JA. (1998). Why patients use alternative medicine. J Am Med Assoc 1998; 279: 1548-1553.

Chan, G. C. & Tang, S. F. (2006) Parental knowledge, attitudes and antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory tract infection in children attending a primary healthcare clinic in Malaysia. Singapore Medical Journal, 47(4):266

Helman, C. G. (1990) Culture, Health and Illness. Wright, London.

Quah, S. R. (1985) The Health Belief Model and preventive health behaviour in Singapore. Social Science and Medicine, 21, 351-363.

Lee GBW, Charn TC, Chew ZH and Ng TP. (2004). Complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with chronic diseases in primary care is associated with perceived quality of care and cultural beliefs. Family Practice, 21(6): 654-660.

By: Maurice Wong

Affordable Health Insurance in New York

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:28:41 +0000

Many people think by getting a “good job” they’ll have a “good health benefits package.” That is just not always the case. Sometimes we find our dream jobs – great pay, weekends and holidays off, many opportunities to use our skills and advance – only to find out our dream jobs do not offer employer-sponsored health insurance. So, we start looking for individual insurance policies to purchase, but just do not have the money left over after the bills are paid to pay the higher premiums.

It is a vicious cycle, but it can be stopped thanks to New York State’s Family Health Plus. The Family Health Plus plan was created for adults between the ages of 19 and 64 who can’t find affordable health insurance in New York. Maybe their employers don’t offer group health insurance plans, or maybe they can’t afford to purchase an individual health insurance plan on their own. These are the New Yorkers who are considered to have too much money or assets to qualify for Medicaid; at the same time, they make too little money to afford either out-of-pocket health care costs or individual health insurance plans.

The great thing about New York State’s Family Health Plus plan is that you don’t have to have children in order to be eligible. Single adults as well as married couples without children are eligible for the Family Health Plus plan.

Plus, it costs nothing to apply for and enroll in the Family Health Plus plan, nor will you be required to pay deductibles. You will, however, need to pay co-payments at the time of medical treatment.

The Family Health Plus plan offers coverage for, but not limited to, doctor visits, in and out patient care, emergency room visits, vision care, diabetic services, behavioral health services, and even family planning.

For more information about this affordable health insurance in New York, contact the New York State Department of Health.

By: Elizabeth Newberry

Cheap Health Insurance in Jacksonville, Florida

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:09:54 +0000

Basic health care is something virtually everyone needs at some point in their lives. Even people who are incredibly healthy take ill or are involved in an accident from time to time. For people living in Jacksonville, Florida there are a few options when it comes to finding affordable health insurance.

One of the basic rules that everyone seems to follow when they are looking for a health care insurance plan is to find the lowest price. Although saving money is a big concern for just about everyone, there is another consideration that needs to be addressed. Many companies spring up out of nowhere and offer unbelievable deals on health insurance. For anyone living in Jacksonville who is tempted by such a deal they need to contact the Office of Insurance Regulation in Florida to find out how long the company in question has been in existence and what their history, if any, is.

Beyond that it takes some patience and perseverance to find a good and affordable health care solution. The best place to start is by taking stock of your present financial and health situation. There are several health care plans for low-income individuals and their families in Jacksonville, Florida. Inquiring about the qualifications can really help someone who is finding it hard to afford the premiums that are typical with an individual health care plan.

If they don’t happen to fit into the income bracket for the government sponsored plan they may want to consider joining and employer’s group plan. Many employers do offer group health insurance to the people that work for them, but in almost every case there is a mandatory probationary period. If this is the case ensure that you join the day you do become eligible, because this is really one of the best solutions when it comes to finding cheap health insurance in Jacksonville, Florida.

By: Deborah Mills

Health Insurance For Diabetics

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:20:12 +0000

While health insurance is important to everyone, it is especially important to someone with diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that must be carefully controlled. Plus, even with tight controls, there may be complications as time goes on.

Unfortunately, with the exception of only 5 states, health insurance is medically underwritten. This means that you must answer certain medical history questions and qualify for the health insurance plan. Diabetes, in most instances, will make you ineligible for a private health insurance plan.

There are still alternative plans and methods for a diabetic to secure health insurance. This article will give you an overview of how to obtain a health insurance plan with diabetes.

Group Health Insurance

If you work for an employer who offers group health insurance your problem is over. Group health insurance is guaranteed issue and you cannot be declined for any pre-existing condition. Furthermore, even if you never had health insurance before or let it lapse, pre-existing conditions will be covered in full after 12 months. If you have had continuous coverage, there is no waiting period.

But, what if you want a full major medical plan and do not have group health insurance available to you?

If you work in certain industries, you can purchase a guaranteed issue major medical plan with no medical questions.

Major Medical

Currently, those industries eligible for major medical include:

- Real Estate – agents, brokers, mortgage brokers, appraisers, clerical and administrative staff. Anyone in the real estate or mortgage industry can qualify.

- Construction – This is a fairly broad category. It encompasses anyone in any aspect of the construction industry.

- Information Technology (05/08) – another broad category that includes programmers, network engineers and technicians, web developers and designers, repair technicians. Again, anyone in the information technology industry or administrative personnel working for an information technology company.

Limited Benefit Health Insurance

A limited benefit plan is also guaranteed issue and available to any diabetic under the age of 65.

Limited benefit plans, sometimes referred to as “mini medical”, vary widely in terms of the benefits they offer.

We suggest that whenever possible the plan include the following:

Pay at least $1,000 a day for hospitalization (more would be better).
Have a surgical schedule that is not limited by any caps.
Pay for a limited number of office visits and diagnostic tests.
Be HIPAA-qualified (this means that it is credible coverage or real health insurance and not a discount plan with some extra benefits thrown on top). Use a national PPO network.
Critical Illness Coverage

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 64 can obtain a guaranteed issue critical illness plan.

This plan will pay you a lump sum of $25,000 upon diagnosis of certain life threatening illness. They include cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, etc.

In addition, this plan will pay $500 for each 24 hour stay in a hospital. It is an ideal plan to add to a limited benefit plan to increase the coverage or just use as a standalone plan. For an individual, the cost is $88 a month.

Where Can I Get More Information?

We recommend that you talk with an insurance agent who specializes in guaranteed issue plans. The best site we know of is www.guaranteed-health-insurance.com. You can reach them at 800-986-4786 9 AM to 9 PM EST.

A Word of Caution

Quite often, individuals who are having difficulty obtaining health insurance are taken advantage of. They are sold worthless discount plans or overpriced coverage that offers very little protection. Please use common sense when shopping for a plan and read everything carefully.

By: Martin Unger

Low Income Health Insurance

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 02:48:05 +0000

Many people do not fully understand that even though they are perfectly healthy, they still need health coverage. Accidents happen and they cannot be planned for. If you are involved in an accident and have to go to the emergency room you are going to run up quite a tab before you are done. Having health insurance will give you the peace of mind to and leave you stress free in this situation. There are options for low income health insurance as well and here are just a few.

With health insurance you will be protected from diseases, infections, sickness, and from accidents. You will be able to see your doctor before certain health concerns arise and be treated early enough to make sure that you stay healthy. The cost of all of this would make just about any normal family go broke if they did not have health coverage.

The cost of prescriptions have risen, but there are some pharmacies that offer programs for those that do not make a lot of money, to get prescriptions for very cheap. Check with your pharmacy to see if the offer such a program and if so, ask for an application. If you fall into the low income bracket, then you also need to check with your local and state organizations because they often have programs to help low income families with prescriptions and health coverage.

You will have to submit an application to most of the state aid organizations so that they will be aware of your financial situation. There are a lot of people that would never think they would qualify for such programs, but there are many individuals that will qualify. This can give you what you need to live a stress free life, at least when it comes to your health and the health of your family.

There are also many sites on the internet that offer low income health insurance policies. You can search around and compare the rates to see what is out there and what you might qualify for. The last option would be to check with your local Catholic church because they often offer some type of help when it comes to medical expenses and health coverage.

By: Benjamin Robert Ehinger

Access to Health Insurance For Low-Income Earners

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 10:08:42 +0000

Access to quality heath care is essential, especially in this day and age when medical costs may soar and drain an individual or family of its lifetime savings. Not everyone, though, can afford to pay for it. Not having a health insurance coverage puts people in a precarious situation not just financially but physically.

Everyone needs health insurance young and old alike. However, some people simply do not earn enough money to pay for it with ease. Certain companies do not offer health insurance for low-income earners, particularly short-tenure workers, retail workers, construction workers, and other low-wage earners. Many of them are just not eligible for a group or employer plan. In some cases, a professional organization may make it possible for them to get into a group plan.

For individuals who can wangle the means to sustain payments for an individual plan, there are ways now to obtain a good package of health insurance for low-income earners. Some research is in order. Look up the rates offered by various health insurance companies who, in their desire to outdo one another, will offer some unique features or advantages redounding to consumer benefit. Beforehand, you may want to check your local government agencies for the possibility of qualifying for health insurance subsidy.

Speaking with an authorized insurance agent may also help you explore options for an affordable health insurance for low-income earners, without sacrificing coverage. Know that there are other factors, like your health or clear family history of illnesses, that may drive your insurance cost down. Whether it’s for the young and healthy, or for seniors or the working poor (who form majority of the uninsured) people should not imperil their lives by going without health insurance.

By: Jack Adams

Health Insurance For Young Adults

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 05:14:47 +0000

Health insurance is not always the first financial consideration for young adults. After all, when you’re young you feel healthy and don’t think you’ll have the need. Actually, health insurance is one of the most important financial protections you can get when you are young.

Many young people don’t often realize that they are usually dropped by their parents’ health insurance coverages when they either turn 18 or finish being a full-time student by age 23 or so. However, many young adults also feel like they don’t really need it either. Yet a single accident or serious illness can end up costing thousands of dollars.

Financial advisers strongly recommend that young adults maintain some sort of health insurance coverage. But how do you go about getting affordable health insurance?

First, check with your employer to see if they offer health insurance benefits. If so, and you are eligible, this is probably your best bet as far as the types of coverages you get at a low cost.

If your employer doesn’t offer health insurance, or you’re not eligible you can shop around for an individual health insurance policy. There are policies available that provide coverages for catastrophic need at affordable premiums. Usually, these have limitations to the coverages and feature high deductibles. However, they are still better than going uninsured.

Remember, health insurance costs can vary quite a bit from company to company, and some companies offer policies especially for people in your situation. Plan coverages also vary from company to company. Make sure to spend some time shopping around for comparison quotes and ask lots of questions so you fully understand your coverages and obligations.

If you are a full-time college student, you may be able to get student insurance through your college or buy shopping online.

You may also be able to participate in a form of group insurance through an association. If you are a member of an association, or are aware of any in your area that you can join, check to see if they offer access to health insurance.

By: Justin Scott

Illinois Health Insurance

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 17:57:26 +0000

The increasing costs of health care have made health insurance an absolute necessity. Health insurance is more useful for people who have bad health records, addictions like alcohol or smoking ,or who are likely to have future health problems. But everyone should have a health insurance policy to meet any kind of a health care need in the future.

There are many different kinds of Illinois health insurance plans available today, to suit all kinds of people and their requirements. There are plans from private insurance companies. Some are long-term plans, while others are short-term plans. Some plans are suitable only for children or the elderly. There are also group plans and schemes such as Mediclaim provided by employers, and group health plans for very small businesses. Then there are plans which allow tax deductions and savings. The top Illinois health insurance companies are: UniCare, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Illinois, Humana One, Fortis Short-Term Medical, Celtic, American Medical Security, MedPlan Access, Genesis Health System, GE Long Term Care Insurance, and Fortis Student Select Health Insurance.

The Illinois Department of Insurance provides several public plans for people who cannot be covered under private polices. The Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) is a state program that provides insurance to thousands of individuals who cannot be otherwise insured. The various deductible options under CHIP are: $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, and $5,000. The different plans under this are Plan 2, Plan 3 and Plan 5. CHIP covers hospital services, professional medical services, second surgical opinions, outpatient prescription drugs and medicines, Orthoses or prostheses other than dental, diagnostic services, emergency services, skilled nursing facility care, home health care, hospice care and many others, depending upon the plan.

Illinois has special programs like KidCare and FamilyCare. Illinois is the first state to offer health insurance coverage for all the children in the state. The FamilyCare health insurance program covers all medical care, including doctor visits, dental care, hospital care, emergency care, specialty medical services, prescription drugs and others. The family has to meet certain limits to be eligible for this scheme. The qualifying annual income is up to 185% of the federal poverty level, or about $36,000 for a family of four. FamilyCare Assist, FamilyCare Share, FamilyCare Premium and FamilyCare rebate are the plans under this, depending upon the family income. The family can pay small monthly premiums ranging between $15 and $40, depending upon the number of family members. The state of Illinois offers a “safety net” program for individuals who have been denied health insurance. Those who are currently insured but are paying a higher premium, or those whose present insurance has a rider attached or is rated, are also eligible to apply.

There are many private Illinois insurance companies that offer attractive deals on all kinds of health insurance. You can contact an insurance agent to get the right health insurance policy. The internet is also a very good source for obtaining quotes, comparing various policies and deciding on the best one. There are many ways to apply for health insurance: online forms, downloadable forms, submission of forms through e-mail and even phone-in applications. The typical process is submission of the application along with a premium deposit or at least a non-refundable application fee; review of the application by the insurance company; and underwriting. The process takes a minimum of 2 weeks and an average of one month.

By: Ken Marlborough

Who Are The Big Names in Health Insurance?

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 04:43:33 +0000

America has a vast array of big health insurance companies. Subscribers purchase medical coverage to compensate for the medical expenses. People take aid of companies to count for custodial care, long term nursing care requirements or insurance covering disabilities.

Both the private companies and government sponsored social insurance programs provide health insurance. In addition, social welfare programs funded by government also help in obtaining similar benefits of paying for medical expenses.

Health Insurance Firms in U.S.:

Below mentioned are some of the biggest health insurance companies in the United States:

Aetna: It is one of the biggest companies offering pharmacy, health care, group life, dental, and disability coverage. As per the latest figures, it serves 11.3 million dental members, 11.7 million group insurance customers and 13 million medical members. The firm has expansive nationwide network of 5, 79,000 health care service providers that include 3, 49,000 specialists, physicians and primary care takers, and 3,589 hospitals. AON Corporation Group: It has constructed broad global resources for creating innovative solutions in risk management and insurance, insurance underwriting and human capital consulting in order to help clients. AON brings top professionals together, working across hundreds of disciplines in an integrated seamless fashion, designed for serving the clients in the most custom-tailored manner anywhere in the world. This dedication and focus has made AON, a world leader within the industry. AMS: The MedOne Plus option permits the individuals to select an option meeting the needs and budget of an individual. It provides flexibility to individuals to select the benefits that permit them to choose deductible and co-payment levels. In terms of medical coverage, the most popular scheme of AMS is MedOne Security. It includes co-pay facility, coinsurance options, higher popular deductibles and low premiums. Assurant Health Services: – Formerly known as Fortis Health, Assurant offers affordable and flexible solutions for health coverage. Such dedication to service also extends to short-term coverage and small group plans. It provides dependable and quality coverage to meet the demands of its customers. Unicare: The main reason why customers select Unicare is for its service and quality. Six years in a row, Fortune Magazine named the parent company of Unicare as the most admired healthcare firm, although each firm is responsible for its financial assets. It provides plenty of choice in its health plans. Hence, clients can tailor their plan, to fit their unique needs.
Overview:

It has become important for individuals in America to avail health insurance from firms, mainly because of the financial security. No wonder, some of the biggest health insurance companies want to tap this requirement.

The managed care network of these health insurance companies comprise of top quality doctors, other healthcare professionals and hospitals. The network, while receiving excellent care, permits the members of health insurance to benefit from their negotiated discount rates.

The best thing about health insurance firms is the fact that, they take technology in a serious manner. For people, who care for their health and for their future, a good health insurance policy is necessary. You can get started easily today with one of the various sites below.

By: Ian E. Wright