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John Wellington provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for health, skin care and other related information.
November 7, 2007
For people in California, health insurance is a constant topic of debate. Universal California health insurance programs have been introduced in the state legislature twice in the past three years. Unfortunately for California, health insurance legislation like this has not yet been passed. However, San Francisco has implemented a program for universal health insurance. California has one of the largest economies in the world, but the individual is still mostly responsible for acquiring California health insurance coverage. The Los Angeles Times reports that 7 million people in the state do not have health insurance. Californians are very concerned about California health insurance programs. Luckily, Business Health Insurance has information on the best health insurance California has to offer.
The good news is that there are many options available for health insurance. California boasts the fifth largest economy in the world and the California health insurance industry helped place the state in this position. Many providers first began providing health insurance in California before expanding to other states.
Because of this California health insurance programs are well developed. For example, in California, health insurance programs offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield are divided into two separate companies. Consumers can choose between Blue Cross of California health insurance and Blue Shield of California health insurance. California health insurance plans offered by these two companies differ considerably. Blue Cross of California health insurance is geared more toward customization, while Blue Shield of California health insurance offers a system of set plans with adjustable premiums and deductibles.
Following the latest trend in health insurance, California health insurance providers now offer Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to their customers. The benefit of HSAs is that, unlike their precursors for financing health insurance, California Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), money deposited into an HSA is tax deductible and unused portions roll over to subsequent years.
When searching for health insurance, Californians also have an added benefit. Dental coverage is often covered by basic health insurance. California health insurance plans seem to be more inclusive other state?s plans. Finding good California health insurance coverage can be labor intensive because of the abundance of plans. Business Health insurance is dedicated to connecting you to the best health insurance in California.
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Paul Stewart is a freelance web application developer, search engine optimization guru and the webmaster of Businesshealthinsurance.com, an online insurance quotes web site. For more information visit Businesshealthinsurance.com.
October 27, 2007
Every insurance company has its own claim procedures. When filing a claim with your health insurance, you need to follow the steps as outlined by your insurance company. In most cases, claims are denied by a mere technicality.
The best place to find information on claiming your medical insurance is your health insurance company itself. Generally, you are provided a toll free contact number that you can call during business hours. When speaking with your health insurance company’s representative on the phone, you may be required to provide some details like your policy number and name of the primary insured of the policy. After this, the representative can access the details of your policy and guide you on the steps you need to take to your claim.
If you happen to be a Managed Care Plan participant and have a covered benefit, the process is pretty straightforward. You just have to visit your insurance company and the staff there will take care of the rest. They will take care of everything — from entering the appropriate code for the service rendered to sending the paperwork back to you. You will receive a document detailing your visit to the office. The document will also give the details on how much the company paid, how much was applicable as deductible and the balance that you are supposed to pay, if any. At the time you avail the medical care, you only need to pay the co-payment amount.
Before, an Indemnity Plan holder is required to pay the entire amount for the medical service rendered to them upfront. Then the policyholder has to complete lengthy claim documents, which usually took weeks to clear. But nowadays, the front office personnel directly bill the insurance company first and after the company pays up the percentage, the balance will be taken from you, the patient. If there is a disagreement over the payment, you will have to pay it up. You can then sort it out with your insurance company later on.
Computerization has made the medical billing process very easy. You no longer have any extra costs to bear apart from paying your co-payment amount. If you have not satisfied your deductible, the paperwork is still forwarded so as to help keep track of the use of policy and the payments due. The task involved in processing a claim is complex, but health insurance claims for covered benefits are nowadays settled in a short period of time.
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Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Easy Health Insurance Guide. A website that specializes in providing health insurance advice to include easy ways to find cheaper health insurance by providing tips on lowering your health insurance costs that you can research in your pajamas from the comfort of your own home on his website at http://www.easyhealthinsuranceguide.com
October 24, 2007
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offer tax deductions for medical expenses, and the opportunity to set up an additional retirement account. But regardless of any other positive benefit of HSAs, lower premiums are the primary reason that thousands of Americans have chosen Health Savings Accounts as the best way to protect their family’s health and assets. Here are some key suggestions on how to keep your health insurance premiums low.
1. Choose an HSA-qualified plan for lower rate increases. Average group health insurance premiums rose by 9.6% last year and rose over 10% for each of the previous six years. Individual plans went up even more. Yet it is expected most HSA plans will experience much lower rate increases. A very large study was recently published showing that rate increases over the past year for consumer-driven plans such as HSA plans was only 3.4%. Blue Cross of Minnesota has reported that its HSA customers spent 8% less than their traditional insurance clients. Humana has reported claims’ costs of 4.9% for consumer-driven plans, versus a 19.2% increase in claims for other plans. In fact, average HSA premiums for individuals have actually dropped 19.5% over the last two years.
The reason these plans have lower rate increases is that people who have HSA-qualifying high-deductible health plans are likely to pay closer attention to costs, and take better care of their health. For instance, an HSA owner offered a statin drug to lower her cholesterol may be more likely to request a generic version, or ask her doctor if inexpensive nutritional supplements such as niacin or fish oil may be a solution. These actions save the insurance company money and should result in lower rate increases.
2. Raise your deductible as your HSA account grows. When you fund your account you build up a financial ‘cushion’ which allows you to raise your deductible as your account grows. Every time you raise your deductible, your premium should go down.
By the way, don’t forget that every time you fund your account you get an instant tax-deduction. When you offset the tax savings against your premiums, you’ll find your net cost for an HSA plan can be very low.
The maximum allowable contribution goes up every year with the rise of the Consumer Price Index. Currently, the individual contribution limit is $2,700, and the family limit is $5,450. So each year you can deposit greater amounts into your HSA and continue to raise your deductible, if you choose.
3. Stay healthy, so you can switch plans. All health insurance plans have rate increases, and we?ve even seen premiums jump on some HSA plans. If a rate increase happens to you, you can switch to a different insurance company ? but only if you pass their underwriting requirements. If chronic disease develops, you may be stuck with your current plan, and its accompanying rate increases, for eternity. Or at least it may seem that long?
If you pay attention to the pharmaceutical commercials, you learn lifestyle really has nothing to do with disease, and it is natural and healthy to be on many medications for the rest of your life, which will then solve your health problems.
If you pay attention to the science, you know the truth is quite different. It appears lifestyle is probably 95% of the picture, and we know the occurrence of degenerative disease can be dramatically reduced and even prevented.
Fortunately, most Health Savings Account owners are interested in health, wellness, and disease prevention. After all, they?re paying for their own doctor visits if they do get sick. HSA owners are also ‘forward thinking’ people, and like to plan for their future ? both financial and physical. You can improve your odds of excellent health with just a few key habits:
- Eat very high quantities of fresh vegetables and fruits. Shoot for 35% of your calories. This will lower your risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and much more.
- Limit your intake of sugar and starchy carbohydrates like bread and pasta. The majority of health problems in the U.S. are related to metabolic diseases that involve insulin resistance.
- Exercise and lift weights. Exercise guru Jack La Lanne turns 93 on September 26, and he says if you have muscles you never feel old.
4. Compare your plan to other available plans at least once a year, or whenever you get a rate increase. Often-times people keep their plan much longer than they should, and end up paying too much. If your rates go up, you should compare a wide variety of plans to determine if you are in the right plan for your needs and budget. By using these four strategies, the typical family can save thousands of dollars in health insurance premiums and still protect themselves against unexpected major medical expenses.
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By Wiley Long - President, HSA for America (www.health–savings–accounts.com) - The nation’s leading independent health insurance firm specializing in Health Savings Plans that works with a Health Savings Account. Please link to this site when using this article.
October 18, 2007
Today more than ever before, health insurance coverage is essential in providing your family with the health security they need should anything happen. Generally, good health insurance coverage will include medication, consultations with doctors, hospitalization and hospital stays. Some health insurance coverage may also include diagnostic and treatment procedures.
There are several basic health insurance coverage plans to consider. In a managed care plan the insurance company offers its own doctors and hospital affiliations. The disadvantage of managed care health insurance coverage is that you’re often required to pay an additional fee should you prefer to visit your own doctor or be admitted to the hospital of your choice.
A Fee-of-Service plan is a health insurance coverage plan in which the company splits the cost of the doctors and hospital bills with the insured. The insured pays the insurance company a monthly premium, while the insurance company pays a portion of doctor and hospital expenses. Fee-of-service plans provide either basic coverage or major medical coverage. A basic fee-of-service plan covers the hospital room and hospital care, plus some additional hospital services such as x-rays and medications. Basic coverage also includes the cost of surgery and some doctor visits. A major medical fee-of-service plan is designed to cover the cost of long term care and major illness.
Next is the Health Maintenance Organization plan, commonly referred to as an HMO. Services, such as doctor’s visits, hospital stays, surgery, diagnostic tests, etc., are fulfilled by providers under contract with the HMO. The insured, therefore, generally does not have the freedom to choose his or her own doctors or hospital. Typically, the insured is assigned to a primary care provider and must go through this provider in order to be referred to other doctors or specialists (who are also contracted with the HMO in most cases) when necessary.
Medicare is a national health insurance program for people 65 years of age and older, certain younger disabled people, and people with permanent kidney failure. Medicare is divided into two parts: Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Medical Insurance (Part B). Part A helps pay for care in a hospital and a skilled nursing facility, and for home health and hospice care. Part B helps pay doctor bills, and for outpatient hospital care and other medical services not covered by Part A. You do not have to pay a monthly premium for Part A if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare covered employment, and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Everyone who enrolls in Medicare Part B must pay a premium.
COBRA isn’t a health insurance plan, but a government effort to protect people from losing their health benefits in certain situations. Passed in 1986, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires most group health plans to provide a temporary continuation of group health coverage that might otherwise be terminated. Situations that are covered by COBRA include the death of a covered employee, termination or reduction in the hours of a covered employee?s employment for reasons other than gross misconduct, divorce, or legal separation from a covered employee, a covered employee?s becoming entitled to Medicare, and a child?s loss of dependent status (and therefore coverage) under the plan. COBRA generally applies to all group health plans maintained by private-sector employers (with at least 20 employees) or by state and local governments. The law does not apply to plans sponsored by the Federal government or by churches and certain church-related organizations.
There are a wide variety of health insurance coverage plans available to most people. A little research and working with either your employer or insurance agent will help you find the perfect plan for you and your family.
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D. Silva is the webmaster for Health Insurance Fitness, a website dedicated to the dissemination of health insurance information, including individual and group health insurance.
August 30, 2007
In today’s health insurance marketplace, three primary types of healthcare coverage are available. They are the Indemnity plan, the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), and the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Each approach offers consumers the opportunity to choose between flexibility and control in their healthcare choices vs. the expense of their healthcare coverage. Almost universally, healthcare plans that offer more consumer flexibility and control are also more expensive, while plans allowing the insurance company to control healthcare delivery choices are usually more affordable. Let’s look at each of these plans.
The Indemnity plan approach represents healthcare as it was offered in the days before managed care. In an Indemnity plan, the policyholder is free to go to any doctor, specialist, hospital or laboratory to pursue the medical care they believe they need. These healthcare services are billed to the insurance company at the individual rate set by the healthcare provider. The insurance company pays a fixed proportion of the fees (usually 80%) and the consumer pays the remaining percentage (usually 20%) of the billed medical fees. Each healthcare provider is free to set their fees at a level they choose, and the consumer has little incentive to consider overall medical expenses. While Indemnity plans are still available today, they are not widely utilized since they are too expensive for the average consumer. The monthly premium for an Indemnity plan is generally 50% to 100% higher than premium for a PPO or HMO plan.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Health Maintenance Organizations or HMOs were introduced by insurance companies as a way to combat the rising costs of healthcare being experienced by employers providing health benefits to their employees. In an HMO, the policyholder selects or is assigned to a Primary Care Provider (PCP) such as a family practitioner, internist or pediatrician. The PCP is responsible for coordinating all healthcare services delivered to the policyholder (except for emergency care). The policyholder can only see a specialist, use a lab service or check into a hospital if they are referred for such services by the PCP. Any services that are not referred by the consumer’s PCP are not reimbursable under the health insurance policy. Within the HMO network, healthcare providers agree with the insurance company on negotiated rates for specific services. Once approved, these healthcare providers become part of the network available to the PCP for referring patients when additional care is required. Based on the insurance company’s strict control of the healthcare providers used and the rates they will charge, an HMO is usually the least expensive alternative for a healthcare plan.
In the middle between the wide-open Indemnity plan and the strictly-controlled HMO, insurance companies also offer a third alternative called a Preferred Provider Organization or PPO. In a PPO plan, a policyholder is free to go to almost any healthcare provider they choose, including doctors, specialists, labs and hospitals, and usually without a medical referral. However, the amount reimbursed by the insurance company for the delivered medical services will vary depending on whether the healthcare provider is within their negotiated network or not. As with an HMO, the insurance company negotiates fees in advance with selected healthcare providers and approves them for inclusion in the plan’s preferred provider network. Healthcare services delivered by these in-network providers are generally reimbursed to the consumer at high rates of 70% or more. On the other hand, when the consumer uses a non-network healthcare provider, the reimbursement will be much lower, ranging from 0% to 50% of the incurred medical expenses. Since the vast majority of PPO policyholders use in-network providers to reduce their out-of-pocket expenses, PPOs are very cost-effective for insurance companies. As a result, PPOs are somewhat more expensive than HMOs, but are still very reasonably priced for the average person.
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JM Bauer offers unbiased consumer information on today’s healthcare choices. For more information visit the California Health Insurance Guide.
August 4, 2007
If you’ve ever taken the huge leap of leaving that secure 9 to 5 job for the self employed route, you probably know how it feels to have to go looking for your own health insurance plan.
To be sure, most of us at one time or another have worked for a company simply because we wanted the security that their benefit packages provide. Health insurance would be one of the most vital parts of all of this.
Yet with corporate downsizing and layoffs, staying with a company simply for the insurance isn’t as secure any more. So if your in position to have to find insurance for yourself here’s a few bits of advice that might be of help.
First off, don’t be stupid and go without. Some years ago I found myself between jobs and between coverage. I got hurt simply playing a pick-up game of basketball and needed surgery. Unfortunately I had no other option. I couldn’t work if I didn’t get the damage repaired and I didn’t have insurance to cover the cost so I ended up putting it all on a credit card. It took me years to pay the debt off. In particular, if you have a family, you can’t afford to go without some form of insurance.
Often right after leaving a company you can still have access to insurance through a company’s COBRA option. The company is lawfully required to give you access to the plan. You’ll have to pay the monthly premiums of course with no additional assistance from the company, but you may find it more affordable than an individual plan. COBRA plans should be looked at as a short term solution to your insurance situation.
If your self employed, you may want to look at group insurance plans from organizations like the NASE. The National Association of the Self Employed can provide you with more information and you may find some of their rates to be very competitive.
A number of trade organizations and associations may also have benefit plans that could provide you with coverage. If you belong to a trade organization don’t hesitate to contact them to see what might be available.
It’s also important to compare individual or family plans from a number of companies. Be sure that things such as the stated deductible and coverage guidelines are comparable when looking at the cost. Eventually we found a good plan for my wife and I that is fairly affordable for what we have in coverage.
At one point, I was denied coverage by an insurance company and my wife was leaving her company position to work in her own business. One thing I learned at this time was that many states will provide some type of insurance coverage for you if you have been turned down at some point. The rates are a bit higher than you might have to pay with a standard policy but at least you have coverage. So don’t rule out a state funded program if your having trouble getting insurance.
Regardless of what company you go with, remember that’s it’s very important to maintain health insurance coverage for yourself or your family. You’ll never know when you may need it in a time of crisis.
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Mark Washburn is a freelance writer with experience on health insurance and insurance services.
July 28, 2007
One of the most important things in our lives is finding an affordable health insurance, and it?s better to get it as soon as possible. Illness is never welcome, bad but without an insurance plan it may become disastrous. Imagine how fast the bills will pile up if you get sick, and if you do not have a good coverage, how are you going to pay them? And if you think a bit further, apart from being bankrupt, in the worst scenario the lack of a decent health insurance can even lead to a lethal end. You know how expensive all the treatments are, especially for the more serious diseases, and if you don?t get those on time because you can not afford them the situation becomes very bad. In the end once it is too late, it really is and no one can change that.
I am going to tell you this story, because I want to help as many people as possible not to make the mistake my cousin made. She actually never considered even looking for an affordable health insurance, thinking that she is still healthy enough and too young to go for that option. But out of nowhere her condition changed rapidly, and after ignoring it for some time she finally took notice of it. Unfortunately it proved to be cancer, and she couldn?t afford the expensive treatments. The whole family tried helping her, they were organizing fund raisings for her, helped her with money of their own, etc. while the only thing she needed was an affordable health care plan. She didn?t get it on time and despite her being so positive about starting one now, it was already late. Being sick she had the so called prior condition, meaning that no company will cover treatment for a disease she already had.
What more convincing and important reason do you need in order to get an affordable health insurance. You just have to start searching and not to give up until you find the right one for you, speaking of affordable ones, the best choice usually is to get one that?s through your employer. It?s very simple ? big employers get big quantities, and for quantities they get discounts, so they can provide you with a much cheaper health care plan than the ones you could get yourself. It?s different when you are self-employed. Then it is harder to get an affordable one and you usually end up paying quite a lot for the same type of coverage.
However there are ways to get over this obstacle also. You can for example run a group health insurance with other self-employed people, then it will be pretty much as cheap as if you were getting it from an employer. No matter how difficult it may be, just make sure to get one, one way or another you must have an affordable health insurance, so that even if it makes your life a bit harder, you will be pretty sure that you have that same life protected and your expenses covered in case something happens.
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Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning family. Learn more at Health Insurance
July 12, 2007
No matter how many books we have read; no matter how many films we have watched; no matter how many nieces, nephews, and younger cousins we have; no matter how many teenage years we have spent babysitting for extra cash. Nothing can prepare us for the world of parenting the way actually having our own baby, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
When we become parents, we want the best for our children. We want them to have the best child care if both parents work full-time. We want them to have the best education, and many of us enroll them in pre-schools to get that education rolling early. We want them to eat the best foods, have the best exercise, and live in the best neighborhoods.
However, good parenting goes beyond just making sure our children have the best of everything in the here and now. Good parenting also means making sure our children have the best protection in the event of emergencies in the future. In other words, good parenting also means protecting our children with good health insurance.
Many parents can easily add their children to their own health insurance policies; yet, if a parent works a part-time job that doesn?t offer health insurance benefits, or is a self-employed individual, finding good health insurance for children might take a bit more work.
The good news is that many health insurance companies offer health insurance policies specifically for children. If you are a parent who doesn?t have your own health insurance policy for whatever reason, try calling your state?s insurance agency and asking about health insurance companies in your state that offer these kinds of health insurance policies for children. You can also try searching the Internet for national children?s organizations that offer health insurance benefits for children; there are many out there that do offer coverage for children of certain ages.
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May 17, 2007
For most new small business owners a family health insurance policy is recommended
That is unless you?re a single small business owner in which case an individual health insurance policy would be best. Until you have some employees, you?re not really considered a small business. While insurance companies still view you as ?self-employed? a group policy will be nearly impossible to obtain. Don?t fret though; temporary policies are available for you if you feel you may be adding employees in the near future.
Good news for small business owners purchasing temporary health insurance plans
Temporary plans aren?t as bad as you might think. A typical policy should cost less than $120 a month. That?s probably more than you were paying for insurance before you started out on your own, but it gets better. Your premiums should be tax deductible. Just as long as you do enough business and rack up some taxes, your temporary policy expenses should be negligible.
When you have some employees your small business health insurance premiums may still be tax deductible
Alright, now things are rolling along and you?ve taken on a couple employees, or you?ve put your wife and mother-in-law to work. Whatever the case you should now be eligible for group insurance. Although it varies from one business to another you and your new employees may be able to deduct their premiums from their taxes.
You may also be able to enjoy further savings if you consistently pay your annual premium up front. Like most services, health insurance providers like to be paid in full. They like so much that they usually offer discounts for customers that pay up an entire year in advance.
In addition to paying up front, you can also save a buck by carrying a higher deductible. Insurance companies are expert statisticians. They know full well that if they sell you a policy with a low deductible in exchange for a higher premium they?ll stand a better chance of profiting. What you should know is that unless you?re extremely accident prone, higher deductibles are much less expensive in the long run.
Association Health insurance Plans and your small business
The health care business is changing rapidly and if you?re smart it could mean better coverage and lower costs to you. By the time you read this article state legislation regarding Association Health Insurance Plans will have changed depending on where you live but at the moment, small business employees and owners can often take advantage of the same savings as large companies that employ thousands. By joining an association related to your small business you can purchase coverage as a large company might. By spreading liability over thousands instead of just a few, insurance companies are able to offer much lower rates to associations.
Jacob Wren operates small business assistance - a resource site for entrepreneurs that offers advice on small business health insurance and an array of other small business topics.
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