Health Insurance

Finding Health Insurance if You Have a Pre-existing Condition

Meredith Ledford — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:45:44 -0800

The Elusive Task: Finding Health Insurance Coverage With a Pre-existing Condition

HMO Health Insurance

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:41:00 -0700

HMO Health Care: The Good, The Bad, The Managed

HMO health insurance plans can save members on costs for medical services, but they have plenty of restrictions on physicians and providers.

All About Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Insurance

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Indemnity Health Insurance

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:38:00 -0700

Is Indemnity Health Insurance Better Than Managed Care Insurance?

Unlike PPO, HMO, and other managed-care health insurance plans, indemnity health insurance typically carries a high-level of individual deductibles before payments are made.

What Is Indemnity Health Insurance?

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The Dangers of Insufficient Health Insurance

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:06:55 -0700

The dangers of insufficient health benefit coverage should be a top priority to everyone, since not having adequate insurance may deplete savings, ruin a credit rating, and possibly result in bankruptcy.

Few need to be reminded about the increased cost of medical treatment during the last few decades. With malpractice insurance continuing to rise, doctors and facilities in all facets of patient care pass those costs along in their billing.

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Things to Consider When Choosing a Prescription Drug Insurance Plan

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:26:39 -0700

The cost of prescription drugs can take a huge bite out of your monthly budget, especially as you grow older. Many of the common health complaints that trouble adults over forty are easily treated with a regular regimen of prescription drugs and supplement, but those drugs can cost far more than you expect, even if your health insurance plan covers all but the co-pay for your prescriptions. Even Medicare doesn’t cover most of your prescription costs, and those who depend on Medicare are faced with choosing a prescription drug plan to help meet their prescription expenses.

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Who Should Have Health Insurance?

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:45:46 -0700

In short, everyone should have some form of health insurance. Many businesses provide insurance plans for their employees. Some plans are really good and cover all or most of the costs of medical treatment. Others cost less in monthly rates but don’t cover as many medical needs. Then there are employers that don’t provide health insurance at all.

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Health Insurance for Individuals & The Self Employed

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:46:02 -0800

Across the United States there is an epidemic. It is not a disease epidemic, although it could lead to one, but an epidemic of the lack of health insurance among millions of Americans. Almost sixteen percent of the American people are currently without health insurance, which adds up to about 47 million people! Many of these people simply cannot afford health insurance while others do not have access to health insurance or health benefits through their employers either because such benefits are not offered or they are self employed.

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Supplemental Health Insurance Options

admin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 04:09:37 -0800

Prescription plans and supplemental health insurance plans such as dental and vision care are usually not part of standard health insurance policies. Instead, users must purchase these plans separately.

Prescription Plans

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Do You Need Supplemental Health Insurance?

admin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:09:13 -0700

If you had an accident and were hospitalized tomorrow, could you cover all the deductibles, co-pays and lost income out of pocket without strain? Chances are that even if you have excellent health insurance, an unexpected hospitalization or medical emergency could hit you hard in the pocketbook. Supplemental health insurance can help cover the gaps that your standard health insurance policy leaves open, as well as provide cash for living expenses and replace lost wages.

How is supplemental health insurance different than standard health insurance?

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How to Keep Your Doctor and Still Get Affordable Health Insurance

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:17:28 -0700

One of the most difficult choices your family may face when you change jobs is whether to fire your doctor or keep him and pay more for medical care. Many health insurance plans are very picky about the health care providers with whom they work. If you’re facing a decision that forces you to choose between your family doctor and a health insurance plan with lower premiums, don’t despair. There is a choice that may allow you to have both. Here’s a quick rundown on the most common types of health insurance plans, and how each will affect your choice of medical providers.

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Managed Health Care Plans: An Overview

admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:09:38 -0700

With half a dozen different options for managed care, it’s difficult to know which to choose. Each type of plan has specific benefits for different types of people, so it’s important to know which is right for you.

Health Maintenance Organizations

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Point of Service Health Insurance Plans

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:58:26 -0700

Point of Service plans are very flexible managed care options that provide policy owners with a wide variety of options for their healthcare plan. For example, users can choose a plan with either full or partial coverage for non-network providers, in addition to full coverage for healthcare visits to providers within the network.

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Resolving a Health Insurance Claim Dispute

admin — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:36:33 -0700

If your health insurance company is disputing a claim, getting them to honor it is going to be a tough battle. It can be a very difficult, very long process—but it’s possible, and it’s worth it, giving the ever-increasing nature of the costs of healthcare. Increase your chances of winning the battle by following these steps.

1) Gather your Paperwork

Locate all the paperwork that’s relevant to the claim.

• Your policy
• The relevant medical bills
• Any correspondence from your insurance company relating to the claim

2) Check the Fine Print & Prepare your Documents

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High Risk Pools: Health Insurance for High Risk Users

admin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:01:44 -0700

While the majority of adult Americans obtain health insurance through their employer or their spouse’s employer, almost 16% of Americans have no health insurance (according to a United Health Foundation survey conducted in 2006). Around 60% of Americans access healthcare through an employer, while a further 27% access healthcare via Medicaid. Of the remainder, most have individual health insurance.

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Health Insurance - Coverage When You Need It

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:23:28 -0700

There is a large segment of the population that is without health insurance. Many of them are stuck between earning more money than is allowed for lower income state sponsored health insurance plans and employer health insurance plans whose costs are higher than they can afford.

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Health Insurance as an Employee Benefit

admin — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:05:54 -0700

Companies that want to take steps to keep their valuable human resources are well served by offering a desirable and affordable package of benefits to their employers. Offering a comprehensive employee benefits program can be a very powerful employee retention tool, and it also plays a major role in both job satisfaction and morale.

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Cut your Medical Bills and your Health Insurance Costs

admin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:54:42 -0700

Health care costs are almost always on the increase—who ever heard of a healthcare provider lowering their fees? If you’re always on the lookout for ways to decrease your healthcare spending, read on.

1. Prevention is Better…

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Health Insurance for the Small or Single Owner Business

admin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:49:10 -0700

Among the many concerns faced by small business today is the cost of health insurance. Even scarier is not having health insurance with the costs of health care spiking ever higher each year. You may have left a job in which you had health insurance provided in part or whole, by your employer. You mot likely extended your insurance coverage for up to 18 months through what is known as COBRA. But what should you do now that the expiration date on your present health coverage is approaching or has already passed?

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Universal Health Insurance Plans

admin — Wed, 21 May 2008 05:09:27 -0700

The debates and coverage leading up to the Presidential election in the United States have precipitated a lot of discussion about universal health care. Many of the developed nations of the world already offer government sponsored health care to their citizens. Despite its widespread use, this practice is still very controversial.

Universal Health Plans Across the Globe

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Supplementing Health Insurance

admin — Thu, 15 May 2008 04:50:20 -0700

Health insurance can be a wonderful thing to have, but depending upon the policy that you purchase you might find that there are some gaps in the coverage that you receive. Some of these gaps occur because they don’t fit cleanly into what’s covered in basic health plans, while others occur because they would normally be covered under other health insurance options. Depending upon the type of health insurance that you have you might find yourself with more or less gaps apparent in your policy.

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Take Control of your Health Insurance

admin — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:15:24 -0700

Your health is important, and that means your health insurance is, too. For a number of reasons, however, it can be difficult to take control of your health insurance, and reduce your costs while increasing the effectiveness of the benefits your insurance provides. If you’re on an employer health plan, for example, this can be quite a difficult think to achieve. When it comes to health insurance, making the most of what you’ve got is more about learning how your insurance works, than it is about learning where you can save.

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Health Insurance: The Basics of COBRA

admin — Mon, 05 May 2008 05:47:38 -0700

It's important for individuals who have health insurance through their employers to understand their rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). According to this important piece of legislation, workers who participate in employer sponsored health insurance programs, and their eligible dependents, are guaranteed an opportunity to continue their health insurance coverage following separation for employment under certain circumstances and for a specific period of time.

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Health Savings Account (HSA) vs. Health Insurance

admin — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:54:56 -0700

In order for many people to receive vital health care, they will either need a health insurance policy or a health insurance savings account. Many people become confused between the two and often believe that a health savings account is the same thing as a health insurance policy. Typically, a health insurance policy is a form of insurance that helps you pay for medical expenses ranging from preventative medical check ups to treatment for illnesses and emergency care.

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Health Insurance: Are You Covered for Catastrophic Illness?

admin — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:20:33 -0700

What will happen to your family if you are diagnosed with cancer, or have a heart attack or stroke and are unable to work? Many people mistakenly assume that their health insurance will cover all of the medical costs associated with a catastrophic illness. The truth is that few traditional health insurance policies provide adequate coverage if you or someone in your family suffers one of the major illnesses, especially if that person is a primary breadwinner in the family.

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Choosing Health Insurance Plans

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:31:23 -0700

The question of how to choose a health insurance plan is riddled with factors. Some people take this very seriously while others dismiss the value of such questions and do their best to close their eyes and point to the plan they figure might be relevant. This is a decision, which believe it or not, will impact your future in one way or another. So, taking time with it is in everyone’s best interest in the long run.

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HSA: A Medical Plan that Makes Cents

admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:10:32 -0700

Health Savings Accounts, also known as Medical Savings Accounts, are one excellent way to save money on your health insurance and medical costs. The HSA is a solution that helps you take control of the high cost of health insurance by saving your own money toward medical expenses while paying less for medical insurance. It works in conjunction with a high deductible medical insurance policy and saves you money on health care costs in a number of ways.

What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

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Affordable Health Insurance for the Freelancer

admin — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:48:26 -0700

Purchasing Health Insurance if you are a Freelancer

Health insurance is an expensive part of any budget. If your employer provides health insurance you may not realize exactly how expensive health insurance truly is. Before you leave a full time job to freelance, you should determine how you will pay for your health insurance and make sure that you can afford it. As expensive as health insurance is, it is disastrous not to have this coverage.

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Preferred Provider Organizations for Health Insurance

admin — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:18:50 -0700

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) are comprised of a network of doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers that work with a health insurance carrier or another type of third-party administration organization to provide managed care health plans. The providers in the network provide healthcare services to people who purchase the carrier’s health insurance plan, at a reduced rate compared to the costs of non-insured healthcare.

PPO Plans: The Basics

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Self-Directed Health Plans

admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:42:10 -0700

Self-Directed Health Plans (SDHPs) are, as their name suggests, one of the most flexible health insurance options available. SDHPs combine aspects of Health Savings Accounts and PPO plans, and provide users with the option to choose any healthcare provider whether in or out of the managed care network.

The Basics of SDHPs

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What to Look for in an individual Health Insurance Policy

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:05:38 -0700

Most Americans have access to employer healthcare. For those who don’t, individual healthcare policies are available. However, they’re typically more difficult to obtain, and they’re also more expensive. If you don’t quality for employer-based healthcare, obtaining individual health insurance is definitely worth the time and money spent, however.

Where to Look for Individual Health Insurance?

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