What Is Health Insurance?

In a world full of unforeseen dangers insurance is the best way to ensure that you are financially protected when something goes wrong. Health insurance is a coverage that pays for medical expenses when a person falls ill and health insurance is considered an important investment by most people.

All insurance companies pay only for certain services and procedures like plastic surgery are not paid by health insurance companies. Majority of the health insurance companies also pay only up to a certain amount each month which means that after a certain amount you will need to pay your bills on your own. The policy booklet covers all these aspects in detail and they are usually handed to the person at the time of being insured.

Individual insurance is a term that is used to imply that a single individual is being insured. Group insurance is a term used to imply that more than one person is being insured. Many insurance companies offer group insurances to families of four or more and a discount is usually offered if groups opt for health insurance. Company insurance is provided by an employer to its employees as part of the salary package. The insurance limit and policies depend on the agreement between the employer and the insurance company.

Health insurance is often mistaken for life insurance but it is not the same. Health insurance policies are applicable when a person is alive and needs to be hospitalized where as life insurance policies are applicable when a person dies due to an accident or natural event. Health insurance companies do not provide life insurance unless it is mentioned in the policy. While opting for health insurance it is always advised to ask questions about policies and procedures before you sign up with any health insurance company. It is also recommended to read the fine print in the policy before you pay the premium or sign the agreement.

Health insurance services are purchased from companies that ask for a fee for their services. These companies ask the person who wants to be insured to opt for a policy that suits his requirements and in return the company gets a fee for their services. The fee which is charged is known as a premium and this premium is usually charged on an annual basis.

Most health insurance companies pay a large percentage of the total bill amount which means that after being insured the person needs to pay a small amount of the bill amount.

The Impossibility of finding low cost Health Insurance!

Seeing that the rate of medical care continues to escalate, discovering low cost health cover is turning out to be ever more difficult. The simplest method to actually get hold of reasonable health insurance is to get hold of a free quotation from numerous health insurance agents and compare their quotes. Only this way will you ascertain that you have established inexpensive health cover for yourself and your family unit without surrendering quality.

If you might happen to become a victim of an incident or you're subject to a disease which needs extended term medication, you could be destroyed or in the best case not acquire the finest and most suitable medicine. This could have major implications for your potential health. In today's climate you can acquire a decent estimate on your health insurance so the majority of people can afford it. And since the internet came around, more and more insurance companies have appeared online competing with one other.

Online health cover policies are easily reached in the internet which permits you uncomplicated entry to numerous choices of insurance quotes. The majority of the providers give you instant health cover quotes online. Though, as it is not feasible for a single person to contact each and every insurance site and acquire the quotes, there are sites that offer quotes from various companies. Such websites give you the feature to weigh up the instant health insurance quote from alternative companies with an insurance policy. This assists you to make a judgment to choose the correct plan for your needs.

What good is living if you can not take pleasure in it? Health cover helps make sure that you might be able to live your time completely. So, health insurance is incredibly vital without a doubt. There is no complete plan already created and there is no one solitary ideal provider. What you want to do is opt for the policy that is ideal designed for you (your personal requirements given your state of affairs) at the cheapest price. That is the top cover accessible for you.

Comparing and finding the top health insurance coverage has never been simpler. You are a few seconds away from getting full estimates for industry-leading health cover programs.

Health India insurance to meet emergency medical situations

Sickness is a part of everyone s life. All of us suffer some sort of medical emergency at some point. However, the financial implications of the medical emergency may be worrisome. Hospital and medical bills can be quite hefty. This is where health insurance helps out. Health care in India has grown a lot to accommodate the changing needs of the Indian market. It is no longer necessary to chase insurance agents and spend enormous amounts of time in trying to gt a policy. You can do it very easily online.

Health care India, though cheaper than that in western countries, can still be quite an expensive proposition. It can help you pay your hospital bills in case you had to be hospitalised for more than 24 hours. You can also pay for pre and post hospitalisation costs. These may include the hospital and doctor s bills, diagnostic tests etc. You can also avail of cashless hospitalisation facility if the health care India institution has a tie up with your insurance company.

When buying health India insurance, you should keep in mind the number of people you want included in the plan. If it is for you and your family, you can save money by opting for a family policy. You can avail of health care India and get the same coverage and facilities for all your family members at a possibly a discounted rate. Family plans offer the same coverage per member but the premiums are lower than you would have had to pay for individual plans for each member.

Health care India can be customized according to the different needs for different age groups. Senior citizens may require a health India insurance plan that helps pay for their regular medication as well as the complications that may occur due to the ailments of their age.

Children require different health care India plans that take into account their illnesses and injuries.

Adults can avail of a different health care India plan that also caters to lifestyle diseases and stress related disorders.

Before you buy health insurance, it is important for you to study the various plans that are available. It is a good idea to go online and look through the various plans that are offered by health India insurance companies. This ensures that you get the best possible deal for your money.

It is also advisable to check the reputation and the financial stability of the company. With a little planning and research, you can get the maximum benefits from health care India in an emergency.

Short Term Medical Insurance For Patients

Short term medical insurance, also referred to as temporary health coverage, is designed to provide major medical coverage if there is a lapse or gap in normal health care. This normally happens when people are in between jobs, waiting for their employer benefits to start, are seasonal or temporary employees, have recently graduated from high school or college and are no longer covered under their parents plan, are a non-U. S. Citizen living in the USA temporarily, or have lost their group health insurance for whatever reason.

Patients can get this type of coverage with a temporary plan that is not renewable. If further coverage is needed a new application can be submitted. Coverage is usually only issued for up to one year, depending on the state. Many companies have a one month minimum for coverage and will only supply coverage for up to six months, however some plans will cover patients for a year and some for as long as three years.

There are a few differences between temporary and regular health care that consumers should be aware of. Temporary plans generally do not include any routine care, such as medical check-ups and annual appointments, or any care that is considered to be purely preventative. Dental and vision appointments are normally excluded as well. Plans will typically cover patients for emergencies and will include things such as ambulance service, x-rays, lab tests, intensive care treatment, and prescriptions.

Patients can often save as much as 25% by making one large up front payment; the other option is to pay as you go. You are generally able to keep your same doctors, and many plans offer a money back guarantee.

The costs for temporary care vary with each provider so get several quotes from different providers and compare rates before choosing a specific plan. You can often lower your premiums for temporary insurance if you agree to set a higher deductible and then pay a percentage of all bills after that deductible is met. For example, if you set a $1000 deductible and 40% payment then your monthly premium will be lower than if you set a $500 deductible and meet 20% of costs afterward.

All residents of the United States of America under the age of 64, their spouses, and their dependents are eligible for temporary coverage. When applying for coverage, applicants must pass a medical questionnaire for approval. Typically, if someone has a preexisting condition or are sick at the time of application they will be denied short term coverage.

There are thousands of insurance companies that offer temporary medical coverage. Some of them include: Assurant Health, Aetna, Anthem, United, eHealth, COBRA, and Golden Rule Insurance Company. GradMed is offers a comprehensive temporary health plan for new graduates and alumni under the age of 65.

When looking and signing up for temporary major medical coverage it is important to remember that it is only temporary and should never be used as a substitute for regular medical coverage. It is never a good idea to go without health insurance, so temporary short term coverage could work for you!

Major Medical Health Insurance Policies and Plans

In New Zealand, health insurance policies tend to be of two types: major medical health insurance” and comprehensive health insurance”. The difference is quite simple. A major plan is designed to cover the larger medical costs that you could face – for example treatment in private hospital. This type of cost can be very large – tens of thousands of dollars or more – so it focuses on covering these. A comprehensive health insurance plan will usually (though not always) offer cover for large hospital costs, and will also cover smaller costs that can arise – like General Practitioner visits or prescriptions, for example.

In the past, it was common for people to choose comprehensive health insurance, however in recent years, major medical health insurance policies have become much more common. We will looks at some of the reasons why.

A key reason is cost, comprehensive health insurance policies tend to be significantly more expensive, which makes major medical health insurance NZ relatively more affordable. And value is a related reason. When you look closely at the cost and compare this with the amount you can actually claim back in the plan s fine print, you will see that often the extra cost is the same (or more) than the likely maximum you could claim.

For this reason insurers often refer as dollar swapping” – which means that you are paying the insurer a sum, which is then paid back to you in claim payments. In this situation a major medical New Zealand health insurance plan offers much better value for money.

A second consideration is that many policies actually offer very poor cover for large medical costs. They are often structured to cover smaller costs like GP (General Practitioner) visits, but their cover for really significant medical bills can be very limited (for example they might only cover a certain percentage, or might have low maximum dollar limits that they will pay).

This can make the plans quite dangerous. People with this type of plan often assume they will be well covered if there should major treatment ever needed – but are seriously disappointed when they discover the actual amount that their plan will cover. In some cases this can lead to financial difficulty as people need to use savings or even mortgage or sell a house to pay for treatment.

A final reason is that this kind of plan follows the insurance guideline of only choosing to insure things that you could not afford to pay for yourself. The concept is that when considering any kind of insurance, it is not worth insuring minor, predictable events, but is better to focus on more unlikely, but potentially catastrophic events.

In the example of health insurance, a minor, predictable event that most people could afford to pay for would be a visit to the GP, while a more unlikely, but potentially far more financially serious event would be a major operation.

Government Measures to Help with Health Insurance

The rising unemployment rate is causing not just job loss but also the loss of valuable health insurance coverage for many people. In response, the federal government has enacted new legislation to help with COBRA coverage as well as state aid to families with children.

COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1986. Under COBRA, if you worked for a company that had more than 20 employees, then you are able to continue on the group health insurance plan for as much as 18 months. The downside of COBRA is that it can be quite expensive. In most states, recipients report that COBRA payments account for more than 75% of their unemployment benefit. However, under the recently passed Economic Stimulus Package, you could be eligible for assistance with 65% of your COBRA premium.

To qualify for the program you must have lost your job between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. Your income must be less than $125,000 for an individual and less than $250,000 a year for a family. If you did not take advantage of COBRA initially, you can still sign up for it. If you did sign up for COBRA coverage, you won't get any money back for the premiums you have already paid, but you will be eligible for assistance from the point after the law has taken effect. Under the new law you will pay 35% of the premium, and the government pays the other 65%. Your assistance could continue for as much as nine months.

Another measure the federal government has taken recently to help people with health insurance coverage is to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program or SCHIP. The law will provide $32 billion to the program over the next five years and expand coverage to from 7 to 11 million children. SCHIP is designed to provide health care coverage for children up to age 19 and pregnant women, in families whose income is low, but not low enough to qualify for Medicaid. A portion of the funding will come from an increase in the tax on cigarettes.

Under SCHIP, the federal government provides the states with matching funds to provide health care for families with children. To qualify, families could earn only up to 200% of the poverty level. Under the new law, families can earn up to 300% of the poverty level and still qualify for SCHIP. Each state has set up their program differently, so programs can vary from state to state.

If you find yourself out of a job and out of health insurance, two recent measures by the federal government may provide some assistance. The first are changes to the COBRA program in which the government could pick up to 65% of the cost of your health insurance premium. The other is the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Either of these options could provide short-term assistance with health insurance coverage.

Health Care Coverage For Students

Allowing for further tax credits and being more open to the idea of personal health savings accounts so students can save in order to provide their own health insurance may be the answer for any student who is not sure how they are going to get the proper health care as they are away at school. Tax credits for employees that reach up to five thousand dollars a year have been proposed.

It is hard to tell whether such a proposal would get anywhere and what exactly the impact of such a plan would be for students. The HCTC is already out there on the table and that is something that helps many parents be able to provide quality health care to their student children as they are off getting their education. The truth is that many larger universities already have a student health insurance plan and use that as part of the calculation to come up with your entire health insurance costs.

A misconception out there is that many of the clinicians who work at a university clinic are either rookies in the health care profession or otherwise don't know what they are talking about. The truth is that many of these physicians are qualified and have seen all kinds of situations that prepare them and give them the necessary experience to provide the best possible health care they can while on campus. In case you are uncomfortable with the university system or want more of that real world, private sector based health insurance experience there are companies like Assurance and Cardinal Health care for example who would offer students a plan particularly if they are self employed and have a solid work history and a relatively clean bill of health.

Many who are self employed don't have time to research health plans. This is particularly when you have the rigors of academia piled on top of it. Some students are so focused on their course and suffer from a loss of sleep that they think they can put off going to the doctor, we must not let this happen if there is a true medical issued involved that needs to be corrected.

The health care industry understands this and will do everything they can to make sure that the process of finding a plan is not too time consuming and burdensome. They want to make sure that the plan is accessible and is the right fit for your health care needs as a student who may be self employed or only able to hold down a part time job.

How To Get The Best Health Insurance Quote

When you go to the Internet to get a health insurance policy, there are certain things that you'll need to understand about how the industry works best on the web and how that translates into the kind of savings that you want. In the end, its the best move to get the health insurance quote that you need online.

So there are brokers that you need to look to and at the top of any savvy businessman list should be the candidates that are staying ahead of the curve as far as technology goes. And that means you need to see what companies like Insurance Care Direct are offering. Their free quote system is considered the best that the Internet has to offer.

Free Quotes.

This is a simple process that has three easy steps that will get you the best health insurance quotes that you could want.

* Get the quotes. This is easier than you might have imagined. There is a small form to fill out but the questions that are asked are standard and they require just enough information to get you started.

* Next youll get to compare. By taking the quotes that you've received, you can find the health insurance quote that suits you best and get to work on contacting the carrier with the help of your agent. Remember that the best agents here are the ones from Insurance Care Direct as these are the people that have been mandated to getting you the best health insurance for you needs.

* Finally you get to save. Heres the part that attracts most people to the free quotes system thats offered here at Insurance Care Direct. Remember that there is no need to get up and drive anywhere when you work with the experts at Insurance Care Direct and their free quotes system. This is the best way to get the kind of health insurance that you need.

Getting the right health insurance policy is a matter of having the right information and that means that you'll need to understand what the Internet can do for you here. Getting the best health insurance quote is often a matter of looking for the company that has the best in the way of technology to offer. That means that the best health insurance quote generally comes from the most forward thinking companies.

Health Insurance Limitations: What You Must Know

Health insurance often requires a great amount of paperwork which has lots of fine print. Unfortunately, this is because not many people, when requesting health insurance quotes, read their insurance plans completely or they don't fully understand what their health insurance plan covers or does not cover. These below are some common limitations in health insurance coverage that you should know in order to check and read better your policy.

- Some of the most stunning health insurance limitations happens more often than folks realize. Imagine this situation : you are diagnosed as having a health condition and need an operation. You research surgeons and hospitals in your scheme. You understand your scheme's coverage of infirmary care. You have your operation and then you find a massive medical bill in the post. Purportedly your health insurance failed to cover the anesthesiologist or other professionals which will have consulted in your operation.and nbsp; you have got to pay these experts for their services, though you were certain that your plan would cover these costs related to the surgery. Such a bill can be in the thousands of bucks, and there's not too much you can do to debate the charges. The only way to avoid these charges is to make absolutely sure that you ask before the operation who will be involved anxiously and ensure that they are covered in your health insurance plans.

- Another health insurance limitation is present in the details holes in the insurance policy. As an example, many people have proved that their health insurance did not cover a routine or compulsory medical process because they really did not receive an authorization code before the method or the surgery did not properly fill out the paperwork. Your medical claim can be denied just because the infirmary used bizarre codes for your treatment. While any claims denied by the insurance company can be challenged, this process is not just boring, but time-intensive and draining, especially for somebody that is sick. There's also little success in winning disputed claims, which makes this option rather limiting.

Other limitations are put on a number of treatments. As an example, you will need physical therapy or visits to a psychiatrist. Many health insurance plans will put a limitation on the quantity of covered visits for such hospital therapy. Without realizing it, you can surpass the maximum visits permitted by your health insurance and finish up racking up large bills.

When securing insurance, you must read through your health insurance package rigorously. Many of us think that buying health insurance will cover them medically, but this is only correct to a point. When you're about to endure any dear medical process, be sure to talk to your health insurance plan first.

Getting a Health Insurance Quote When Your Redundant

Research by the government has indicated that some 2 million workers have already lost their jobs in the light of the previous credit crunch and the recession fall-out. The government estimates that another 4 million workers will lose their jobs before the economy makes a turn for the better. In view of these terrible stats, it's only normal for people to get anxious about their future.

The main things that people worry about when it comes to this recession is the loss of income and also the loss of health coverage provided by the employer. For most people their job represents the only income stream that they have and the health coverage provided by the employer is also the only health insurance coverage that they have. The unfortunate thing is most employees have their uncertainties unfounded. To have your health insurance benefits yanked out under you is certain impossibility in this day and age.

For those who are fortunate enough to be signed up with a health insurance provider that allows you to transfer your previous job based health insurance coverage to a policy that you can pay privately, it may yet be too soon to count your blessings. The law that allowed for this continuation of health insurance coverage is called the COBRA, short for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act which was a law passed in 1986 to ensure continued health benefits even if an employee is laid off.

For most people, this would seem like a very good thing. After all, if you are laid off this will grant you a bit more time to go search around for new jobs and spare you from the worry of the health insurance needs of your family right? On the surface it seems like a good thing, this however normally dissipates when you realize the amount of money that you have to pay just to keep this COBRA enabled health insurance going. In almost all cases, the COBRA enabled health insurance is always more expensive than a similar health insurance quote provided by an outside provider. It is not uncommon to hear that ex employees have to pay up to 2-3 times what they are used to just to maintain their current health insurance policy coverage.

It is now a matter if you want to continue with your inflated COBRA enabled health insurance policy for your family or for you to get another health insurance quote from a private and separate provider. Most people who are using the COBRA enabled health insurance do not actually go out and look for separate health insurance quotes. They think they should be happy with that they got and that it is unlikely they can get a better deal. Unfortunately this is the wrong way to think. Choice is on your side and you must take this advantage to see the best quotation for you and your family.

There is no harm in getting another health insurance quote from another provider. There is no point in you accepting coverage that is simply too expensive for you. You must take the effort to drill down your health policy to each coverage item and see the actual costs of that coverage in comparison to the one that you receive from your new quote. You have to compare apples with apples in order to get the real determination of which coverage better suits your needs.

It is important to understand why the job provided health insurance is more expensive compared to quotes received from outside health insurance providers. Job provided health insurance is normally very comprehensive. It covers almost every single coverage item as it is a blanket coverage for all the company's employees, male, female, young and old. At the very least you must make an effort to trim off the access coverage that you don't need if you intend to keep your COBRA enabled coverage. There will be many coverage items that simply don't apply to you. Keeping those coverage items will be a severe waste of money.

Overall, we suggest that there isn't much point in stressing over health insurance if you think that there might be a possibility that you'd be laid-off. Ultimately there are laws in place that will effectively guarantee that you will still be covered with health insurance. The problem will be the lack of income and also the cost of the health insurance. It is at this stage that shopping around for health insurance quotes become very vital. You must find that health insurance policy that provides the best coverage at the best prices.

Comparing UK House Insurance Options for the Best Rate

There are currently over 10,000 independent insurance brokers in the United Kingdom, which makes separating the wheat from the chaff in terms of policies difficult, even for the most discerning home owner. If you understand what a credible, high quality insurance policy should contain, it is easier to compare the coverage options provided by multiple policies. This guide helps you to establish criterion for evaluation of competing providers according to features, price, and reliability.

While price is an important factor, you should determine the overall value of a policy on the coverage parameters when looking for the best insurance policy for your house.

Importantly, not all home insurance policies are created equal: the details of each coverage plan provide varied levels of protection for your home and valuables. When evaluating multiple competing offers from home insurance providers, take time to evaluate the costs and benefits to understand what is included with each unique plan. Solely selecting a provider based upon the lowest price leaves many important details, such as emergency coverage, remuneration for losses, and coverage of valuables up in the air.

Verify that the particular insurance agency offers 24 hour emergency protection, which includes incidents such as sewer pipe ruptures, natural disasters, and other accidents. Having a comprehensive insurance provider who will cover labour and replacement costs in an unexpected situation can make a major difference in terms of the bottom-line results from your coverage. Opting for a lower cost policy that waives emergency coverage leaves you liable for expensive repair bills during emergencies.

Ensure your policy includes coverage for accidents such as lost keys and fire. Another important aspect to consider is the extent of possessions coverage. Many basic policies fail to cover valuables in cases of theft or natural disasters. Comprehensive policies give you protection of fine art, electronics, jewellery, and other family heirlooms which can become damaged in certain situations.

In addition to your personal possessions, many business professionals have valuable equipment in home offices. Insurance policies in the UK differ widely in terms of protection for equipment, contracted services, and legal liability for insurance issues related to your home office. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has a strict set of guidelines for liability coverage, so always check with your prospective providers on the extent of business equipment and liability protection.

Based upon the particular use of your home, an insurance policy should be tailored to provide specific coverage you need. It is a best practice to check the protection conditions of your policy. In many cases, you'll need to inventory and document individual high value items to ensure these valuables are covered. Since you may be actively acquiring new valuables, it is important to determine the extent to which the policy will extend to cover new acquisitions as well.

Making a list of the options and type of specific you need, including emergency protection, high value items, fire, flood, and theft protection is the key to deciding which insurance policy is right for you. If you have a home office, you may need to cover that separately on the policy. Make sure that your future plans align with the coverage provided in your UK house insurance policy, so that you are protected today, tomorrow, and into the future.

Factors Affecting Health Insurance Quotes

When deciding on a health policy the main goal should be to keep the expenses to the minimum and reap the benefits to the maximum. While shopping for health policies, you will come across varied policies offering various benefits. Do not be hasty and pick up the first policy that comes your way. Understand your needs, your capacity to pay and what benefit you would prefer at the time of claiming insurance.

Health Insurance Quotes will totally depend on what benefits you would want from the insurance policy. At the time of paying the compensation, a certain amount called the deductible amount has to be paid by the policyholder. The higher the deductible amount, lower would be your premium.

For policies with the option of renewal or cancellation the quotes are high; as these policies give you a leverage of renewing or non cancellation provision. Policies for individuals or a group insurance could also affect the cost of the policy. Group insurances usually have lower premiums. Likewise, employer sponsored policies for employees are also low cost premiums.

Apart from these factors there are numerous other factors which the Insurance companies take heed of in deciding the quotes for your health Insurance. These are mostly on the personal front but important nevertheless. The quotes will depend on health related risks more often than not. Factors like smoking cigarettes, lifestyle and history of health related issues in the family play an important role. Smokers usually have a tough time getting insurance as most insurance companies do not offer them policies. However, there are some specialized policies offered by some companies usually with very high premiums.

In order to pay less and get good quotes one should go for a better lifestyle. Every penny saved in health insurance policy is worth it. Look for ways to save up or avail of tax deductions. Small practices like direct payment of premiums from your bank account on a regular basis could help you on saving up as you will not be charged for statements and reminders.

Ways To Get Your Families Insurance Online

When you want to have a new insurance for your health or for something else, there are many choices and offers. A very comfortable and easy way to do this is to shop for your insurance online. Searching might seem complicated if you are doing it for the first time and there are some advices you must consider before proceeding. But if you succeed to get a good insurance, you will have many advantages by your side.

This way of doing your shopping is very practical and easy to do, even for those that are doing it for the first time. But there are certain things to think about when proceeding in this matter. By staying at home and searching comfortably when you have the time, there is less stress involved and you can find the offer that suits you. Also, you do not have to listen to what the dealer is recommending and if he is trying to influence your decision.

To get a clue about how dependable and trustworthy an insurance company is, you can check their website. This shows, to a certain amount, the company quality standards. Each established provider will have a very well developed and strong online presence. You can trust more those offers that come from a strong brand. Quality should be your first worry when browsing online and remember every deal that looks good may not be good for you.

An important step you must take is to find out all the prices that different companies have for this service. There are many offers available and to make sure you find the best, you must do some sort of research. This is easier to do online, since you can gather more offers and compare the values. By choosing the best balance between price and conditions, you can find the right contract for you.

A good idea at this point is to find out what other people are thinking about the company you have chosen. There are usually plenty of comments and advices from past customers. This will have a great impact on your next moves and can contribute to the overall impressions.

Also, it would be a good idea to read all the terms and conditions. This will assure your safety in the future and you can detect any irregularities and hidden conditions. This is one of the most dangerous domains in this matter and there is no reason why you should not take your time investigating more. Always make sure you understand all the terms.

When you finally decide to buy an insurance policy, you should follow this with other actions. Firstly, try to make sure you get you policy printed at home to make it active. If one of the events for which you were insured happens, you should use the contract and take advantage of its conditions.

If you follow some easy recommendations, shopping for your insurance online should be safe and simple. This is a new way to do this and should be tried by anybody that does not have enough time to go to search for it elsewhere. Also, there are some people that prefer the comfort of their home.

Things to Know About High Blood Pressure Insurance

Health care is more often the highest priority in everybody s life. In recent years there have been many new kind of health concerns showed up for whatever reasons like a global change in climate or complete shift in the lifestyle of the people. So it s high time that every aspect of a health challenge should be handled with more care and attention.

Generally most of the people have some sort of bad health condition that they need to have regular check ups and treatment needed to be in a better health condition. High blood pressure falls into such a category that most of the people have to deal with on a regular basis. This indeed draws a lot of suffering to get a proper plan. Mostly people find it difficult to get a good high blood pressure insurance plan.

So it s high time that every aspect of a health challenge should be handled with more care and attention. High blood pressure falls into a category that most of the people have to deal with on a regular basis. This indeed draws a lot of suffering to get a proper plan. Mostly people find it difficult to get a good high blood pressure insurance plan.

These conditions surely need a lot of visits to the doctor and many tests regularly. The question of getting a proper insurance can put you under a lot of stress this time. So you have to be well informed of the main challenges and different providers who can help you with the current situation. You must go for an exclusive search for as much as information as possible, may be finding some real life stories can also be helpful here. So a constant seeking for the best deals around can get you somewhere with a list of good providers around.

Now it is extremely important that you go through each of the particular provider you wish to apply for. Most of the insurance companies have this tendency to be too strict on giving high blood pressure insurance leaving most of the people go without insurance. Your situation with the doctor is also worse here that you need to refill your prescription every month with same amount of money.

So you must find out a reliable insurance provider who is not merely here to protect some business interests or promotion of some products. Now you can get free quotes and have a closer look at their plans. Take a further step of trying to find some good reviews on the company like for some real life experiences. At the end of the quest you must be able to find the one that can provide you affordable premiums and benefits.

Be fully prepared with insurance

The main goal of the majority of massage therapists and body workers is to relax their clients and hopefully alleviate any aches or pains they present with in the session room. There is, however, a basic goal that underlies nearly every business that deals with members of the public. This goal is to ensure the safety of each client who steps onto the property.

It is such a basic goal that some people may never even think about it, but it is not wise to simply assume your property is safe for all clients. As a person in business, working with the public in up-close, one-on-one scenarios, it is your responsibility to remain aware of any safety issues within and around your practice space.

Staying on top of safety will mean something slightly different for each massage therapist and body worker. There are those who practice alone, working from a rented space. Then there are those who practice alone from spaces within their own home. Other massage therapists and body workers work within a larger practice, such as a spa or a massage clinic. Perhaps you are the manager or owner of one of these larger practices, which means you have a team of employees to consider as well.

Despite your scenario, however, there are a few common rules when it comes to maintaining a safe space for clients. First of all, the entire property should be kept free of any obstacles that could cause a slip, trip or fall. This includes snow, ice, yard waste, rocks, loose rugs, slick floors and other such hazards.

You also want to make sure you stay within your realm of knowledge as you practice massage therapy and bodywork. Never go past your scope of practice with a client, but instead refer him or her to a practitioner or doctor who has the skills to pursue whatever avenue of healing you believe is necessary.

Of course, even if you do all of the above and then some, there is always the possibility of an accident or claim of injury from a client. These are scenarios that are sometimes outside of your control, and that s why obtaining solid insurance is crucial for all therapists and body workers.

In fact, nearly every business that involves interaction with customers or clients has a massage insurance policy in place. It will protect you in case a client does have an accident on your property or files a lawsuit claiming they were injured during a session.

For most, such instances seem so unlikely, but insurance was created for those rare occurrences that could break the bank if they ever take place.

Fortunately, securing a high-quality policy doesn't have to be pricey. For a minimal annual fee, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you re totally prepared for any occurrence.

Buying Health Insurance Through a Broker

In its most simple definition, a health insurance broker (also commonly known as an agent) is someone who is licensed to sell health insurance. However, there are many other services they provide you that fall under the umbrella of selling health insurance. Here are some of the most important:

    Perhaps the most important fact to know about working with an agent is that it's free. Insurance agents are paid by insurance carriers, not by consumers. So don't worry about having to pay some service fee for signing up for a plan with an agent, because it will cost you nothing more than if you were to do it yourself

    Health insurance is confusing, and an agent will explain it to you until it makes sense. Ask all the questions you want, that's what they're there for. Want to know what your coinsurance will be on a certain plan? Want to know what coinsurance even means? Ask away!

    An agent can help you compare plans that you're interested in. When you let an agent know what it is you're looking for, they will narrow down your possibilities and explain the benefits of each. They can check to see if your doctors and preferred medical facilities are in-network, and they can just to see if any prescriptions you take are covered (and how much).

    Your agent is your agent as long as you have your policy. This means that you have someone you can contact when you have questions or even when you want to shop around for a new plan. You've got someone in your corner, as opposed to just winging it and picking out a plan on your own.

Because I'm sure you don't want to be here reading all day, those are only a few of the biggest benefits of using a licensed agent to buy health insurance. That's not even including how much time and frustration an agent can save you (we'll save that for another article!).

To make it even more convenient for you, many brokers have the ability to access plans that are both on and off-exchange (government-run Marketplaces for health insurance). This provides you with even more options. Additionally, for agents who can access on-exchange plans, they can also determine your subsidy eligibility that can lower your premium and out-of-pocket expenses. Again, saving you yet another headache.

The next time you need to enroll in or change a health plan, keep a licensed agent in mind- it won't cost you anything, but it will certainly save you a lot.

Angela is the Media Content Writer for Health Choice One, a health insurance brokerage that charges nothing to help individuals and families get health coverage. Health Choice One works with major medical plans like those discussed in this article. Additionally, agents can help you enroll in short-term and supplemental plans if you're not currently eligible to enroll in a major medical plan.

Article Writer :Angela Duck Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9334851

Is Mental Health Covered Under Health Insurance?

For people who depend on any type of private or company insurance to cover the cost of their health needs, the question of whether or not the health insurance policy covers mental health problems is a crucial one for a number of reasons.

The idea of a split between physical health and mental health is an old one, and is a fairly arbitrary decision as to which is which some of the time. From a point of view of health insurance, classifying illnesses or diseases can determine whether or not the insurance company will pay for them, and for many people with mental health issues that can literally be a life or death process.

The term mental health can relate to a condition ranging from a fairly mild form of depression through to serious conditions of clinical depression, schizophrenia, alcoholism, full-blown psychotic episodes etc.

Any health insurance policy should specify exactly what types of illness or disease it is willing to provide cover for and those which it is not. This will also include what it specifies as a type of mental health problem or issue and whether or not the insurance policy provides any type of cover for it.

One of the reasons people are wary of health insurance plans with relation to mental health issues, is that often any type of treatment for a mental health issue relates either to what is known as a talking therapy, or some type of pharmaceutical drug based regime.

Any type of talking therapy that is likely to be effective is likely to be a relatively long-term process, depending upon the nature and seriousness of the illness. Any insurance policy that does cover specified mental health conditions will also provide very strict criteria as to what type of talking therapy is covered, for how long and by whom the talking therapy can be carried out by.

The other issue to be really aware of when looking at any type of mental health coverage under a health insurance plan is the nature of deductibles, co-pay and co-insurance. These terms are essentially ways of getting the person who is insured under the policy to bear some of the cost of the treatment on an ongoing basis in relation to the insurance company.

Most people are familiar with the idea of a deductible, sometimes called an excess, in a policy, but any health insurance policy needs to be looked at carefully in terms of what it's deductibles are. This is because there are often several different deductibles applicable to the same policy, each for differing amounts and applying to different sections of the policy.

This means that a health insurance policy could have both an individual and a family deductible. This deductible could be separate from another deductible that would apply to specific types of drugs, normally where a distinction is made between a generic and a brand-name drug. The amounts involved in terms of these deductibles can be significant, and when taken in addition to any co-pay or co-insurance amounts can stack up into a sizeable burden that the individual will have to carry for themselves.

In summary, as with any insurance policy, it is important before taking out the policy to have complete clarity about what is and is not covered, as the level of coverage and the specifics of what is and is not covered will vary widely between health insurance policies.

Article Writer : Peter Main Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9342075

What Is the NHS?

To answer this question fully would require several extremely large volumes of written material including analysis and data as to the development of the health service in the UK. The point of the question, what is the NHS, is actually to provide a bit of background to the broader question of health insurance and health insurance costs, and who effectively pays for whatever type of health service is available where you live.

The importance of asking this question about the NHS, is that it is often held up as being the ideal of what a publicly funded health sector should be. People either refer to it in glowing terms as being the epitome of a nation's social conscience, or refer to it in more ideological ways often referring to it as a socialist type of intrusion into an individual's life.

The NHS simply stands for National Health Service, and refers to the public funded healthcare system in The United Kingdom. There is also a private healthcare system in the United Kingdom that runs parallel to it, although it is tiny in proportion to the main NHS.

The NHS has developed over a long period of time, and is publicly funded to the extent that it is free at point of use. There are a few costs that people pay for, and certain medical practices and procedures that are not covered under the NHS, such as chiropractic, but for the main the NHS covers everyone's health care needs, physical, mental, vision and dental, the costs being born through the general taxation system.

Many people often refer to the NHS, normally in the context of their own arguments as to whether a healthcare system should be fully funded through general taxation, or should be paid for privately, normally through the use of private health insurance plans, as in the United States.

Such arguments by their very nature are political, and as such can to be ideological as opposed to any objective assessment about what type of system works best. It is rather like asking someone who is in hospital or who has been in hospital whether they thought the treatment for their care was good. On the whole the individuals answer to that normally is determined by whether their health outcome was successful or not.

Many people do genuinely feel that an individual should be able to access healthcare for any type of condition on the basis of their need, rather than on the basis of their ability to pay. The idea of health insurance allowing this is a myth. Health insurance itself carries huge costs both to the country and for the individual concerned, and does not by its very nature guarantee good health outcomes.

Critics of any type of publicly funded healthcare system will point to the NHS and the problems that are in it and the dilemmas that it faces over certain types of treatment. What is more than fair to point out is that the main problem that faces the NHS is that facing any institution, which is that it becomes, and the people who work in it become institutionalised. This sense of being institutionalised effectively then leads onto a number of other problems that can be pointed to as symptomatic of the problems of a publicly funded healthcare system.

What is important when looking at the NHS is to understand the principle that lies behind it, that people should be able to access healthcare when needed, rather than based on their ability to pay. Reconciling the inevitable problems that come with that,happens to be the day-to-day politics of health and health care where ever the individual lives.

Article Writer :Peter Main Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9342102

Difference Between Health Insurance And Mediclaim Policy

The first thing to understand is that mediclaim has a more specific focus while health insurance policies have a broader coverage.

When deciding whether to choose a mediclaim or a health policy, it would be wise to first understand what your requirements are, what is the existing health condition of family members, and what are the hereditary diseases in the family. This should play a major role in deciding what options to choose in either a health insurance policy or a mediclaim policy.

A mediclaim policy has a premium that is calculated based on the sum assured amount. It usually covers expenses for hospitalization, the illnesses that have been specified previously (which would be under a specific limit in the sum assured amount), as well as accidents.

Health insurance policies, on the other hand, especially those that are currently offered by numerous life insurance companies, offer more far-reaching benefits and wider options. Depending on the company issuing the health insurance policy, there could be health coverage for up to 30 different critical illnesses, which would cover most of the major illnesses that are currently affecting the population worldwide or specifically in the country. Health insurance companies also offer several features that help policy holders, such as reducing the premium after a certain period of time, reducing the sum assured after a certain period of time, and reducing the policy term after a certain period of time has lapsed.

Both mediclaim and health insurance policies provide policy holders the added benefit of getting tax exemption. This is usually under the Income Tax Act 1961 Section 80D. For mediclaim, the tax exemption is applicable for a sum not exceeding 15,000 INR. If the mediclaim is taken for parents who are senior citizens, the tax exemption benefit is for a premium up to 20,000 INR and for a premium of 15,000 INR for parents who are not senior citizens.

Other differences between mediclaim and health Policy are that mediclaim requires a compulsory hospitalization for it to be paid or reimbursed as it only covers hospitalization expenses. The coverage is also limited to not more than 5 lakh INR for the sum insured. Mediclaim also only reimburses the hospitalization expenses to the patient, as it works on indemnity. The claimant can make any number of claims until the sum insured amount is completely finished.

Health insurance policies cover expenses before and after a hospital stay, including charges for ambulance and even compensation for income lost. A claim can be made even without hospitalization, with just a diagnosis, in the case of critical illnesses. The sum insured upper limit can be up to 60 lakh INR. Also, the total sum assured can be given in case of any eventuality as there are riders for critical illness accidents or disability.

These are the many reasons health cover has more advantages than a mediclaim.

Article Writer :Amar N Tyagi Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9340392

Getting Health Insurance Outside of Open Enrollment

The Obamacare Open Enrollment Period ended about a month and a half ago, and many people still find themselves without health insurance. Some may not be able to comfortably afford a plan, couldn't make a decision on what to buy, and maybe some just plain forgot. Now many people find themselves wondering how to go about getting health insurance outside of Open Enrollment.

Qualifying Life Event

In order to enroll in a major medical plan outside of Open Enrollment, individuals must have a qualifying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, moving to a new state, and other scenarios. When such an event occurs, this triggers a Special Enrollment Period, allowing someone to enroll in a plan.

If a qualifying life event does not occur, but someone is still interested in getting health insurance, there is an alternative. Short-term health insurance has some key differences from major medical health insurance, but still offers some great benefits to tide a person over until they can get other coverage.

Short-term Health Insurance

A short-term plan will function similarly to a major medical plan. When reviewing available plans, there is a breakdown of deductible and copayment amounts, maximum coverage limits, etc. available for each plan. They will vary by plan, which provides the health insurance shopper with many options. If someone is just looking for basic coverage that protects against big, unexpected emergencies, there will be a plan that works well for that scenario. Others who know that they will want copayments for office visits and prescriptions can find a plan to fit those needs as well.

Regardless of why someone cannot enroll in a major medical plan, one of the biggest benefits of a short-term plan is that it typically costs much less than a major medical plan. As with any plan, prices will increase with a short-term plan as the coverage amount increases. For instance, a low deductible will likely result in a higher premium. This is the case with virtually any type of plan. The more protection you have, the more it costs. Again, though, generally speaking you will pay less for a short-term plan than for a major medical plan.

These plans are no doubt helpful when traditional major medical insurance is not an option, and some people may even prefer a short-term plan over major medical. However, as its name implies, short-term insurance is not intended to be a permanent insurance solution. For this reason, many plans are only available up to a year. However long the term, once the plan ends, it must be reapplied for. There is no guarantee it will be approved.

Another key factor to note when considering this insurance is the fact that pre-existing conditions are not covered. If someone applying for a plan has diabetes, anything related to that condition will not be covered. However, even without pre-existing conditions being covered, new conditions will be. Having protection for new ailments is definitely more than anyone would have without any sort of health insurance, and that's important to remember.

Finally, remember that you are required to have an Affordable Care Act-compliant health plan. Short-term health insurance plans do not fall into this category, so depending on your specific situation, you may face a penalty at tax time for not having ACA-compliant health insurance.

Whatever the reason you can't get major medical insurance, keep short-term plans in mind. They definitely offer enough coverage to tide you over until you can get a major medical plan, and you can select the amount of coverage that works best for you. The benefits of short-term plans definitely outweigh the cons of not having any health insurance.

Angela is the Media Content Writer for Health Choice One, a health insurance brokerage that charges nothing to help individuals and families get health coverage. Health Choice One works with major medical plans (including on-exchange, Obamacare plans) short-term plans, and supplemental plans. For more information, a quote, or help enrolling in a health plan, visit https://healthchoiceone.com

Article Writer :Angela Duck Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9352194

Overcoming the Top Healthcare Revenue Cycle Challenges

Three of the top revenue cycle management challenges are Medicare and Medicaid payments, claims denial and value-based payments.

Medicare and Medicaid Payments: Complicated payment reforms, shrinking reimbursements and government mandates contribute to the delay and denial of payments for services covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare and Medicaid represent an ever-increasing segment of the population and timely and adequate payment from these organizations rank as a top issue for healthcare practitioners. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have significantly increased provider education tools including on demand webinars and other resources.

Claim Denials: Some healthcare organizations say 25% of their claims are denied. Some for a technicality such as a missing signature on a medical chart, an incorrect spelling or inconsistent data entry. Sixty percent of healthcare organizations did not see a revenue impact, from the recent implementation of ICD-10 but 34% reported they did in a recent post ICD-10 survey. Continue to monitor your denial trends so patterns can be triaged and treated early on from the cause vs. the symptom. Also note while you are able to submit a valid diagnosis code from the right family and receive potential payment, you may not see the same after October 1, 2016, because coding to the correct level of specificity will be required.

Value-Based Payments: ACA brought in the transition from fee-for-service to value-based payment model. The intent is to improve the quality of healthcare services being provided to patients so healthcare providers are paid based on the value of care they deliver instead of being paid for the number of patients' visits or tests ordered. This means healthcare practices need to reconcile the new payment model with the traditional fee-for-service environment changing analytics and metrics to ensure payments cover costs.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that by the end of 2016, 30% of Medicare reimbursements will be linked to the "quality or value" of services and 50% by the end of 2018. Penalties for not improving data quality include a docking of 2% of Medicare reimbursements.

The 90-Day Grace Period

Another factor impacting revenue cycle management is the eighty-five percent of patients that received an advance premium tax credit via the ACA rules. They are eligible for a 90-day grace period to pay their outstanding premiums before insurers can drop their coverage. This rule applies to all consumers that purchased subsidized coverage through the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) health insurance marketplace. It has the potential to be a problem not only to track patients in this situation but in the delay of payments. Identify if your patient is up to date on their premium payment as part of your registration process.

Learn more at http://www.rmk123.com. RMK Holdings Inc. has a 25-year plus track record of successfully increasing existing cash flow an average of 17 to 40 percent plus for doctors, physician groups, and healthcare organizations through customized revenue cycle management services specializing in accounts receivable reduction and collection strategies. Service delivery is highly personalized with a committed focus on customer care, support and measurable results. Visit RMK online or email for more information at

Article Writer : Sue Sunni Patterson Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9358134

What Is an SEP?

What are SEPs? Do I need one?

I have been getting this question a lot lately. What is a SEP? SEP stands for Special Election Period. This is a time frame that Federal and/or State Governments allow individuals and or families to enroll into a Health plan or new health plans based on what's happening with them.

There over a dozen of different SEPs to work with in the Health and Medicare insurance industry. They could be related to something as simple as moving into a new plan in area, or losing an existing or gaining a job or position, They could be related to attaining or losing a attained age. It could be related to special dates like your birthday or having their plan cancel doing business in an already existing area. These opportunities are there to help members to enroll into major medical coverage without having to wait for open or annual enrollment period.

Working with the correct SEP can help people get themselves and their families the Health and Medicare plans that they need to maintain a quality of life. It can provide the new or disenfranchised a chance to get the major medical health plans that they both want and need. By using the correct SEP correctly, they could save thousands of dollars that may not be available to them.

There are over 15 different and separate SEPs in Medicare Advantage plans, Part D Plans, and Medicare supplements. There are almost as many SEPs available when you're working with the affordable health care or ACA. This can give you additional options and services that you may have never know about them.

The number most important thing about SEPs is you. Everyone needs a major medical plan for themselves and or their spouse or family. Just one 4 day visit to a hospital for an emergency and put someone's financial footing on shaky ground with medical bills reaching 6 figures. Medical cost are the number cause of bankruptcy in our nation. Can you imagine working all your life and run into that accident without being prepared, a complete life savings can be completely wiped out in the matter of weeks or days. The end game could be horrible.

There are SEPs in both Medicare and the ACA. If you don't need one, that's good. If you might need one, it could even be better. Keep the questions coming.

Article Writer : Russell Hans Anderegg Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9350862

Understanding Policy Clauses In Health Insurance

The clauses that are related to limitations and exclusions may seem complicated at first but it is crucial to understand these before signing up. There could be some exclusions and limitations that may not affect you or your family at all while some may be important depending on your health history and hereditary family history. So while what is excluded for one person may not make a difference, it might make a huge impact for another. That is why it is important to understand what these are and how they impact and relate to you as an individual and to your family in general.

Exclusions are those conditions or expenses that are not covered by the insurance company. In such cases, the claimant will have to share a pre-specified portion of the expenses in the claim if it should ever arise. Some insurance companies will also impose a sub limit that is within the sum insured overall. Exclusions are those expenses that the insurance company need not pay for. The IRDA has standardized this with a list of expenses. There are also different waiting periods for different conditions.

One of the common exclusions for health insurance are pre-existing diseases. This is because the entire premise of insurance is based on uncertainty so if there is a disease that you are already suffering from, it will not come under the insurance. Usually, you can get insurance companies to cover you for a pre-existing disease after a specified waiting period is over.

Another thing that is excluded is pregnancy and expenses related to childbirth and later vaccinations. There could be a waiting period for pregnancy as well, after which there are some benefits that could be availed. Other things that are excluded from a health insurance policy are cosmetic surgeries, dental surgeries, alternative treatments such as Ayurveda and homeopathy, etc.

Sub-limits are another factor which should be carefully looked into at the outset before investing in an insurance policy. A sub-limit is related to exclusions that are associated with doctors' fees, ambulance costs, rent for hospital rooms, etc. Knowing your sub limits keeps you prepared in case of an emergency so you know exactly what will be covered and what you will have to pay for out of your own pocket.

There are policies which seem to have a whole list of exclusions and sub-limits and there are those that have a moderate amount of them. So knowing what is excluded and what is not will help you make a better decision regarding which health insurance to choose. This can be done easily by doing a systematic and meticulous comparison of health insurance policies taken from different websites or from the agents directly. Knowledge is power and knowing this beforehand helps you in better planning your future and that of your family.

Amar N Tyagi for InsuringIndia.com, which is a company providing online quotes for all categories of insurance. At InsuringIndia.com, you will always get the best prices for your insurance needs, and will also be able to compare policies before buying.

Article Writer : Amar N Tyagi Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9390221

Five Tips for Choosing the Right Health Insurance Plan

One of the best ways of safeguarding your personal well-being is by having a health insurance plan. Due to the large number of companies that offer this type of insurance policy, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Here are five tips to help you find the best plan on the market today.

Check the Networks of Different Plans

If you have a select group of doctors whom you prefer, ask them which insurance networks they are part of. You can also use one of the many accredited online directories to know the networks that each plan on your list has. On the other hand, if you just relocated to a new city and you do not have a preferred doctor yet, choose a plan that has a large network of health practitioners.

Know the Maximum Premium Budget

Consider your average monthly expenses to know the amount of money that you can spend on the policy without compromising your financial capability. Low premiums often result in high out-of-pocket costs. Hence, what appears to be the cheapest plan may really be the most expensive, as you will be forced to pay for most of the services. One of the best ways of choosing the right premium is by estimating the total amount of money that you spent on health care last year, including out-of-pocket expenses and premiums. Then, choose a plan that has similar monthly deductibles, copays, and premiums. A high premium plan will save you thousands of dollars on out-of-pocket costs if you require expensive procedures or frequent medical care services.

Look for Additional Benefits

In a bid to attract more clients, insurance companies usually offer policies that have additional benefits apart from medical coverage. Based on this fact, it is wise to check the summary of benefits of each policy on your list until you find one that has your preferred scope of services. For instance, some policies provide better coverage for mental health and physical therapy care while others have more comprehensive emergency coverage.

Research Plan Structure

Once you have an estimate of your monthly premium, your next step is determining your ideal plan structure. Some of the most common plans are HMO, EPO, POS, and PPO. The plan that you select will determine which doctors you can see and your costs. More often than not, plans that have referrals, such as POS and HMO, require that you first consult a primary care physician before booking an appointment with a specialist. If you already have a network of doctors that you prefer to see, eschew plans that they do not take.

Compare Out-of-Pocket Costs

Your preferred health insurance plan should clearly indicate the services that you will be required to pay for and the amount. The sum amount includes coinsurance, co-pay, and deductible. A plan that has low out-of-pocket costs is an ideal choice if you regularly need emergency services, take expensive medications, have scheduled upcoming surgery, or were recently diagnosed with a chronic condition such as cancer or diabetes.

Finally, make sure that the health insurance company is legally accredited, reputable, and reliable to cushion yourself from any inconveniences.

To learn more about their options for health insurance, Los Angeles, CA residents should visit http://www.isu-armac.com/contentPages/Featured/Health%20Insurance/.

Article Writer : Andrew Stratton Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9406280

Critical Illness Coverage: One of Health Insurance's Best Kept Secrets

Before I jump into explaining what critical illness insurance is, and why I personally believe it's a good investment, let me first confess that before I began working for a health insurance brokerage, I had NO idea what critical illness insurance was.

When I first started my job with the health insurance brokerage, I would hear agents talking to customers about plans that offered tens of thousands of dollars in coverage, should they wind up with something like a heart attack or a stroke. I was baffled and many-a-time wondered, "Does my health insurance do that, too?"

The answer was no, because the insurance they were explaining was a critical illness plan, which is frequently bought along with a major medical or short-term health plan. All I had was one plan, a major medical plan. So no, I did not have it, but I'll tell you why I think it's a great thing to have in a minute.

How Does This Plan Work?

First, what does critical illness insurance do? In the event of a major illness, like a heart attack, stroke, or cancer, the plan will pay out a lump sum of cash for that covered illness. The money could go to a multitude of uses. It could of course be used to cover medical expenses, like co-payments, deductibles (which have been on the rise recently), out-of-network providers, and experimental treatments that aren't always covered by insurance. Under the same umbrella, it could go toward any travel expenses associated with your condition. If you decide to seek care out of town, you could use the money for transportation or hotel accommodations for you and anyone traveling with you.

It could also be used to help you pay for your normal day-to-day expenses. If you get cancer, there's a good chance you won't be working, or won't be working as much. That money can help pay what you would normally pay with your income- rent, utilities, car payment, credit card payments, etc. It seems that when we think about major illnesses, we think about how we would pay our medical bills and forget about all of the other bills that will still come due, regardless of our health.

Everyone's First Question: The Cost

At this point, I know you're probably thinking about how expensive it is just for a major medical health plan, let alone adding this on. Surprisingly, for the amount of coverage you get, it's not a very high price. It's nothing compared to paying your traditional premium for a major medical plan and prices will obviously vary depending on the coverage amount that you opt for.

Everyone's Last Thought: The Reality

Thinking about a major illness plaguing your life isn't something many of us spend time thinking about. It's something we like to believe won't happen to us, but the unfortunate reality is that no one who gets cancer or has a heart attack ever expects it. It's a terrible situation all around, but the one of the best measures you can take is to be prepared should it happen. The last thing you want to be worrying about when you have a heart attack or cancer is your financial situation. Critical illness coverage will ensure that you can focus on what's most important- your recovery!

As mentioned, I work for a health insurance brokerage, Health Choice One, who sets our clients up with critical illness plans all day everyday. These views are my own and not those of Health Choice One. However, I certainly encourage working with them to find a CI plan, as I am clearly an advocate of such coverage! If you're interested, check out https://healthchoiceone.com for more info!

Article Writer : Angela Duck Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9412452

Protect With Dread Disease Cover

It is winter time in the Southern Hemisphere. Time for heaters, jerseys and of course the inevitable winter illnesses. All of us are susceptible to winter colds and flu, just as all of us are at risk of falling victim to a more serious illnesses or condition like cancer or a heart attack. Protect yourself with dread disease cover.

Even the healthiest person, one who works out regularly, eats the right foods and does not smoke or drink could fall seriously ill. How often do you hear of a young man struck down in his prime by a heart attack or a health fanatic that falls victim to cancer? While we must do what we can to protect ourselves against serious illnesses we must also face up to the reality that illness waits around the corner for all of us and that we must do what we can to protect ourselves financially against dread diseases.

What is dread disease cover? It is not an income replacement product or a medical aid or even a hospital plan. It is a type of insurance designed to help you overcome a dread disease. In the event that you are diagnosed with one of the illnesses or conditions listed in your policy document your dread disease cover policy will pay out a lump sum. These funds can be used to cover medical bills not paid by your health insurance and to pay your expenses while you are ill or recuperating and unable to work.

Imagine for a moment how your family would survive if you fell seriously ill and were unable to work. How would your bills be paid if you could not work? Would your medical aid pay all your hospital bills? Would you have to use your savings to keep your family afloat and cover medical expenses? With a dread disease cover in place you know that you and your family are financially protected against dread diseases.

This winter as you switch on the heater, buy warm clothes and put extra blankets on the beds make sure that your family is not only protected against cold but against the chance that one day a family breadwinner might fall seriously ill. Remember that just as all of us can catch a cold or the flu so all of us are vulnerable to serious illnesses. Face up to the financial implications of serious illnesses and invest in dread disease cover.

Article Writer :Aaron Dekker Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9425563

Retiree Health Care Benefits Continue to Decline

Employer-based retirement health care insurance benefits continue to decline, according to recent industry reports.

Many retirees have been able to rely on private or state employer-based retirement health benefits for supplemental health care coverage while on Medicare in the past, but this is becoming less common.

Employer-based health-related benefits can provide important coverage for the gaps that exist in Medicare programs. Additional coverage benefits can alleviate the cost-sharing requirements and deductibles associated with Medicare. Caps on the amount that can be spent out-of-pocket, often associated with supplemental coverage, are also often helpful for retirees.

Overall, supplemental retiree health and medical benefits sponsored by a private or municipal employer have helped many retirees cope with high medical costs often incurred in retirement.

The Kaiser Family Foundation recently reported, however, that the number of large private employers-considered employers with 200 or more employees-offering retiree healthcare benefits has dropped from 66 percent in 1988 to 23 percent in 2015.

Companies that do continue to offer retiree health benefits have been making changes aimed at reducing the cost of benefits, including:

    Instituting caps on the amount of the provider's financial liability
    Shifting from defined benefit to defined contribution plans
    Offering retiree health care benefits through Medicare Advantage plan contracts
    Creating benefit programs through private health insurance exchanges

State employers have also not been immune to the trend, but the type and level of coverage being offered by most states is significantly different than retirement health care coverage being offered by large companies.

Unlike many private employers, state governments continue to offer some level of retiree health care benefits to help attract and retain talented workers, according to a report titled "State Retiree Health Plan Spending," published by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in May, 2016.

With the exception of Idaho, all states currently offer newly-hired state employees some level of retirement health care benefits as part of their benefits package, according to the report. Of the states offering retiree medical benefits, 38 have made the commitment to contribute to health care premiums for the coverage being offered. State employers are, however, also making changes to the retirement health care insurance benefits they provide to state workers.

Significant among these changes for the states is at least one driving force-the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) now requires states to report liabilities for retirement benefits other than pensions in their financial statements. The changes were required from all states by the end of 2008. As a result, the increased financial transparency forced states to review the cost of their other post-employment benefits (OPEB) and address how they plan to pay for them.

Because retirement health care benefits account for the majority of the states' OPEB obligations, many states have made policy changes to address the upcoming obligations. Factors such as date of hire, date of retirement or vesting eligibility, including minimum age and minimum service year requirements, are now being used by states to vary or limit retirement health care benefits.

Overall, from 2010 to 2013, the states saw their OPEB liabilities decrease by 10 percent from $627 billion after inflation adjustments. While this may sound contradictory, the declines are attributed to a slowdown in the growth of health care costs coupled with benefit modifications aimed at cost reductions.

To look at one state as an example, California's recent budget revealed that health care benefits for retirees are costing the state more than $2 billion a year for an 80 percent increase over the prior 10 years. Although the situation recently changed, California was previously one of 18 states that had nothing set aside to cover its future retiree health care benefit costs of $80.3 billion.

It should be noted that retiree health care plans are typically funded by plan sponsors on a "pay as you go" basis, meaning that monies to pay current and future health care obligations are taken from current assets and not set aside in advance. This differs significantly from pension plans governed by ERISA, which are subject to funding guidelines.

In response to California's unfunded OPEB liability, employees and the state are now paying into a fund for future retiree health care benefit costs. The state is also matching $88 million in employee contributions and paying an additional $240 million to prefund future retirement health care benefit costs. The changes are impacting retirees as well as state and private employers.

Overall, employer-based retirement health care benefits, once important for supplementing Medicare for retired seniors, continue to decline.

The Potential Impact of Eroding Employer-Based Health Care Retirement Benefits

Many baby boomers who are currently covered by retiree medical plans and plan to rely on future employer-paid medical benefits, are likely to be disappointed to learn that these benefit plans can be changed or terminated. ERISA-governed benefit plans typically contain a "reservation of rights" provision allowing the plan sponsor to change or terminate all or parts of the plan. Many private and state employers are reducing or terminating retiree health benefits due to the increasing cost of insurance premiums, rising health care costs, and increases in longevity.

Since the early 1990s there have been many cases where unexpected changes to post-employment pension and medical benefits have resulted in lawsuits. Typically, the key issue is the reservation of rights language and/or collective bargaining agreement language for employees who were covered by a union contract which referenced retiree medical benefits.

Beneficiaries who have questions about their retiree medical benefits should speak with their plan sponsor to learn about the specific benefits available to them and have a contingency plan for bridging their medical coverage to Medicare, if they are considering early retirement or want to better understand future benefits.

May, 2016

Mark Johnson, Ph.D., J.D., is a highly experienced ERISA expert. As a former ERISA Plan Managing Director and plan fiduciary for a Fortune 500 company, Dr. Johnson has practical knowledge of plan documents as well as an in-depth understanding of ERISA obligations. He works as an expert consultant and witness on 401(k), ESOP and pension fiduciary liability; retiree medical benefit coverage; third party administrator disputes; individual benefit claims; pension benefits in bankruptcy; long term disability benefits; and cash conversion balances. He can be reached at 817-909-0778 or via http://www.erisa-benefits.com.







Article Writer : Mark Johnson, Ph.D., J.D. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mark_Johnson,_Ph.D.,_J.D./661269

Retiree Health Care Benefits Continue to Decline

Employer-based retirement health care insurance benefits continue to decline, according to recent industry reports.

Many retirees have been able to rely on private or state employer-based retirement health benefits for supplemental health care coverage while on Medicare in the past, but this is becoming less common.

Employer-based health-related benefits can provide important coverage for the gaps that exist in Medicare programs. Additional coverage benefits can alleviate the cost-sharing requirements and deductibles associated with Medicare. Caps on the amount that can be spent out-of-pocket, often associated with supplemental coverage, are also often helpful for retirees.

Overall, supplemental retiree health and medical benefits sponsored by a private or municipal employer have helped many retirees cope with high medical costs often incurred in retirement.

The Kaiser Family Foundation recently reported, however, that the number of large private employers-considered employers with 200 or more employees-offering retiree healthcare benefits has dropped from 66 percent in 1988 to 23 percent in 2015.

Companies that do continue to offer retiree health benefits have been making changes aimed at reducing the cost of benefits, including:

    Instituting caps on the amount of the provider's financial liability
    Shifting from defined benefit to defined contribution plans
    Offering retiree health care benefits through Medicare Advantage plan contracts
    Creating benefit programs through private health insurance exchanges

State employers have also not been immune to the trend, but the type and level of coverage being offered by most states is significantly different than retirement health care coverage being offered by large companies.

Unlike many private employers, state governments continue to offer some level of retiree health care benefits to help attract and retain talented workers, according to a report titled "State Retiree Health Plan Spending," published by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in May, 2016.

With the exception of Idaho, all states currently offer newly-hired state employees some level of retirement health care benefits as part of their benefits package, according to the report. Of the states offering retiree medical benefits, 38 have made the commitment to contribute to health care premiums for the coverage being offered. State employers are, however, also making changes to the retirement health care insurance benefits they provide to state workers.

Significant among these changes for the states is at least one driving force-the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) now requires states to report liabilities for retirement benefits other than pensions in their financial statements. The changes were required from all states by the end of 2008. As a result, the increased financial transparency forced states to review the cost of their other post-employment benefits (OPEB) and address how they plan to pay for them.

Because retirement health care benefits account for the majority of the states' OPEB obligations, many states have made policy changes to address the upcoming obligations. Factors such as date of hire, date of retirement or vesting eligibility, including minimum age and minimum service year requirements, are now being used by states to vary or limit retirement health care benefits.

Overall, from 2010 to 2013, the states saw their OPEB liabilities decrease by 10 percent from $627 billion after inflation adjustments. While this may sound contradictory, the declines are attributed to a slowdown in the growth of health care costs coupled with benefit modifications aimed at cost reductions.

To look at one state as an example, California's recent budget revealed that health care benefits for retirees are costing the state more than $2 billion a year for an 80 percent increase over the prior 10 years. Although the situation recently changed, California was previously one of 18 states that had nothing set aside to cover its future retiree health care benefit costs of $80.3 billion.

It should be noted that retiree health care plans are typically funded by plan sponsors on a "pay as you go" basis, meaning that monies to pay current and future health care obligations are taken from current assets and not set aside in advance. This differs significantly from pension plans governed by ERISA, which are subject to funding guidelines.

In response to California's unfunded OPEB liability, employees and the state are now paying into a fund for future retiree health care benefit costs. The state is also matching $88 million in employee contributions and paying an additional $240 million to prefund future retirement health care benefit costs. The changes are impacting retirees as well as state and private employers.

Overall, employer-based retirement health care benefits, once important for supplementing Medicare for retired seniors, continue to decline.

The Potential Impact of Eroding Employer-Based Health Care Retirement Benefits

Many baby boomers who are currently covered by retiree medical plans and plan to rely on future employer-paid medical benefits, are likely to be disappointed to learn that these benefit plans can be changed or terminated. ERISA-governed benefit plans typically contain a "reservation of rights" provision allowing the plan sponsor to change or terminate all or parts of the plan. Many private and state employers are reducing or terminating retiree health benefits due to the increasing cost of insurance premiums, rising health care costs, and increases in longevity.

Since the early 1990s there have been many cases where unexpected changes to post-employment pension and medical benefits have resulted in lawsuits. Typically, the key issue is the reservation of rights language and/or collective bargaining agreement language for employees who were covered by a union contract which referenced retiree medical benefits.

Beneficiaries who have questions about their retiree medical benefits should speak with their plan sponsor to learn about the specific benefits available to them and have a contingency plan for bridging their medical coverage to Medicare, if they are considering early retirement or want to better understand future benefits.

May, 2016

Mark Johnson, Ph.D., J.D., is a highly experienced ERISA expert. As a former ERISA Plan Managing Director and plan fiduciary for a Fortune 500 company, Dr. Johnson has practical knowledge of plan documents as well as an in-depth understanding of ERISA obligations. He works as an expert consultant and witness on 401(k), ESOP and pension fiduciary liability; retiree medical benefit coverage; third party administrator disputes; individual benefit claims; pension benefits in bankruptcy; long term disability benefits; and cash conversion balances. He can be reached at 817-909-0778 or via http://www.erisa-benefits.com.

Article Writer : Mark_Johnson

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mark_Johnson,_Ph.D.,_J.D./661269