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

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

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