Calcium Health » Health Insurance

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

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

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

Commonwealth of Virginia Low Cost Health Insurance

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:37:46 +0000

Finding low cost health insurance in the Commonwealth of Virginia does not mean you have to be eligible for a group health insurance plan through your employer, nor does it mean you have to qualify for Medicaid or state-sponsored health care services. Virginia residents in search of affordable health care can purchase individual health insurance plans.

Because individual health insurance plans can be expensive – which isn’t exactly the equivalent of “low cost” – you want to make sure you are getting exactly your money’s worth. Take these tips into consideration when shopping for an individual health insurance plan in the Commonwealth of Virginia:

o Make sure the health carriers and insurance agents selling individual health insurance policies are licensed to sell health insurance in Virginia – if you purchase health insurance from a company or agent not licensed to do business in Virginia, you will find it difficult to obtain protection against fraud.

o Don’t lie and don’t risk it. If you know a particular health insurance company won’t insure you because of a pre-existing medical condition, don’t lie about that condition in order to get low cost health insurance. You’ll only be cheating yourself, because you still won’t have coverage for the health issue. Wouldn’t you rather feel safe in knowing you’re covered should complications arise?

o Don’t give up. If one health insurance company denies you medical coverage, move on to the next company. Each individual health insurance company follows different standards and criteria for offering health insurance – whatever the price. Just because you are not eligible for one company’s policy does not mean you will not be eligible for another company’s policy.

Many people cringe when they think about purchasing an individual health insurance policy; however, by shopping around and being honest with several different health carriers and insurance agents in the Commonwealth of Virginia, you will find the low cost health insurance plan that is right for you.

By: Elizabeth Newberry

Health Insurance Lead Generation

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 05:47:18 +0000

The health insurance business is getting more and more competitive as more people recognize the need for a health insurance policy. That is why health insurance agents and brokers are also having a tough time making a sale. Before, agents rely on cold calls to find prospects but now, with health insurance lead generation, finding prospects that will actually buy health insurance policies is easier.

If you are a health insurance broker or agent, the health insurance lead generation is beneficial to you. This is a system that provides a steady stream of potential clients who may need health insurance coverage to supplement the health coverage provided by employer or who are self-employed and need to obtain coverage for themselves or the entire family. You can rely on this health insurance lead generation to supply you with enough prospects to keep your business going. There are actually a large number of people who need health insurance coverage; all you have to do is to find them through this system.

The health insurance lead generation works through referral systems. On the health insurance leads provider’s website, the qualified lead can fill out a form. After this form is filled out, the lead service will send an email to you about the information submitted by the lead. You will have to contact this lead as quickly as you can via phone or email and provide them with the quote on type of health insurance coverage they prefer. As agent, you can provide the leads service company the specific types of coverage that you offer to get the most qualified health insurance leads.

Opting for health insurance lead generation could certainly give you a huge advantage over your competition. Just make sure that as soon as you have the leads, you contact them and constantly make email follow-ups.

By: Damian Sofsian

Health Insurance 101 Explained

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:20:43 +0000

We all understand the importance of health insurance; however, as the types of health insurance continue to increase it is becoming more and more difficult to select the type of coverage that is best for you and your family. To help you find out which type of policy might benefit you the most, let’s take a look at the most common types of policies.

There is usually a lot of hype regarding HMOs so let’s look at that one first. A HMO is a health maintenance organization plan that works with a specified group of doctors and hospitals within the network. A primary healthcare physician is selected and you must obtain referrals for care that cannot be provided by that physician. The benefits of this type of plan are lower office visit costs and prescription drug co-pays. In addition, there will typically be either no or limited deductible costs for hospital stays. Depending on your coverage, there may also be no pre-existing condition cause limitations. It is also important to understand that your choice of doctors and hospitals will be limited with a HMO and you won’t be able to have out of network services covered.

A PPO or Preferred Provider Organization works similar to a HMO; however, the major difference is that you are not required to select a primary care physician. In addition to the benefit of being free to choose your own physician without worrying about a referral you also gain the benefit of limited or no deductible costs for hospital stays as well as a possible larger selection of physicians that might be available with a HMO. Out of network services may also be covered; however, for a higher charge than in network services.

A POS, or Point of Service, is also similar to a HMO in that you select a primary care physician. The difference is that you are free to choose out of network treatment if you’re willing to pay a higher out of pocket cost.
Another option is what is known as a traditional coverage policy. This type of policy will have a higher monthly premium as well as deductibles. In addition, you will generally be required to pay for services out of your own pocket up front and then submit claim reimbursement forms.

You may also wish to consider various types of disability plans, which cover a percentage of your income in the event that you experience an illness or accident that prevents you from working for a period of time. A short term disability plan will provide benefits from the first day of an accident or the eighth day of an illness up to 26 weeks. Generally, this type of plan will cover 66% of your weekly income.

Long term disability will begin after short term coverage has expired and will provide coverage for a variable term, depending on the policy you select. Some policies are limited to providing coverage up to two years while others will cover you up to the age of 65.

By: Joseph Kenny

The Advantages of Private Health Insurance

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:17:33 +0000

State health care is something we all fall back on from time to time throughout our lives, As children we benefit from the attentions of paediatricians, orthodontists, ear nose and throat specialists, often at the expense of the state and quite rightly so. Why, then, go to the expense of private health care?

Personally, my reasons are geographical. I travel, therefore I get sick while travelling and require cover which protects me from the unthinkable everywhere I go. The country I live in has a comforting population of resident doctors to look after me in exchange for my little blue tickets whenever I feel poorly and I am delighted with the level of care I receive for an extremely reasonable contribution.

State care in hospitals is, in my experience, somewhat unpleasant. I would be the first to hold up my hands and admit that, on the operating table, a state surgeon is as fully capable as a private one, sometimes more so. However, there is such a thing as after care and this can be as imperative to a patient’s recovery as the operation or the treatment of the disease itself.

Throughout my life I have partaken of hospital food in several different countries and the amazing thing about hospital cuisine, if that is what you could call it, is that it tastes the same in Hong Kong as it does in UK or Dubai of San Francisco. Now tell me how is that possible? Because I know that the basic food ingredients in all of these countries taste fundamentally different, wherever you go. The food is always the same colour, too – a murky shade of grey. Also, the food seems to have undergone a system of dehydration, so it has the consistency of recycled cardboard. Perhaps that is the answer – the hospitals are so eco-friendly they are recycling patients food!

However, if you go to a nice private hospital, you will get coloured food – the peas will be green, the potatoes will be white, and the caviar will be – if you know what to order – red! Isn’t that nice!? All washed down with a nice jolly smuggled in half bottle of something mildly alcoholic. Now, I am not medically qualified to say whether state hospital food is good for you or not, but it is obvious to me that the second menu I have described will certainly not keep you up at night, in fact it is more likely to induce you to sleep through your next medication and even if you do not, you will not care much.

Private care buys you a nice, comfortable, adjustable bed in a private ward with a television and a telephone so you can keep your nearest and dearest appraised of your condition whether they like it or not and so you can retain some kind of contact with the outside world. It is bad enough being sick; why do you have to be miserable too?

State care, however, often entails being holed up is some over crowded, sometimes slightly unsanitary, mixed ward; a left over relic from the Crimean war inhabited by a bunch of nearly deads represented by both sexes and making the most disgusting noises in their sleep, including farting competitions, just about every night.

It is true that state care is just as effective as private medical care, but I prefer not to test it personally ever again. Get out the cheque book and pay the two bucks.

By: Jan Gamm