Friday, January 30, 2009

Health Insurance Savings Accounts - Shelter Your Income

There are times when you start thinking about your health insurance plan and whether or not should I make any changes or should I stay with my current policy.

If you are considering changing your health insurance policy, you should be aware of the alternative of a Health Savings Account (HCA). Health Savings Accounts started to become available (and legal) in 2004, allowing people with high-deductible insurance policies to set aside
tax-free money to fund medical expenses up to the maximum deductible amount. This is a tax-favored savings account combined with a qualifying high-deductible health insurance plan.

If you don’t have to use the funds, it rolls over every year. Once you reach age 65, you no longer are required to use it for medical expenses, although you certainly can; you can withdraw funds under the same conditions as a regular IRA.

Although you will be penalized if you use the funds for non-medical expenses prior to age 65, you can use the money for vision care, alternative medicine or treatment and dental care. For 2008, an individual may fund up to $2,900 tax free. The maximum deductible would be $1100 and the
maximum out-of-pocket cost would be $5,600.

For a family, the maximum tax-free contribution is $5,800 with the maximum deductible of $2,200 and the maximum out-of-pocket cost would be $11,200. Health Savings Accounts are certainly a viable way to shelter income while providing catastrophic insurance coverage in light of the high cost of low-deductible health insurance plans.

Once your insurance policy has become effective, you may begin to fund your Health Savings Account. For healthy people, it deserves some research. Consult with your insurance agent for all of the details involving this approach to managing your insurance needs.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Getting Texas Health Insurance Is Easier than You May Think

Most people don't realize that a full-service Texas-based health insurance agency can help everyone understand the options that are available to them to obtain insurance.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas leads the nation in the number of people without health insurance. Although almost one in five Americans is uninsured, it is estimated that one in three Texans are uninsured. The Texas Medical Association reports, "More than 5.5 million Texans - including 1.4 million children - lack health insurance."

In a report issued by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, "The uninsured are a diverse group that includes people who cannot afford private health insurance; who work in small businesses that do not offer insurance; who simply choose not to purchase health insurance, even though they can afford it; who are eligible - but not enrolled - in government-sponsored programs such as Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP); and recent immigrants." The Comptroller also noted that Texans are less likely than other Americans to receive health insurance benefits from their employers.

The most notable omission from these reports is that it's often difficult for people to navigate the choices involved in obtaining Texas medical insurance. There are a myriad of choices and decisions to be made. Should I get individual or family coverage? Should I go with a health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organization (PPO), or another type of plan? What kind of deductible should I choose?

The task of finding Texas health insurance is even more daunting because, as you go from one health insurance company to another, you find that each offers a different set of options. As a result, it's difficult to compare the proverbial apples to apples.

Most people don't realize that a full-service Texas-based health insurance agency can help everyone from individuals and families to small business owners and Medicare recipients understand the options that are available to them to obtain insurance. Even better, such agencies offer their services and support free of charge. This is because they are compensated by the insurance companies rather than by the insured. Therefore, you can reap the benefits of their unbiased expertise at no charge.

Best of all, some of these agencies have implemented easy-to-use online systems that allow you to obtain quotes, compare Texas health insurance plans, and even apply online - all from the comfort of your own home. In fact, you can peruse health insurance plans, life insurance plans, dental plans, and Medicare supplemental insurance plans all in one place.

In order to obtain quotes for health insurance, for example, you simply need to enter your contact information into an online form, and then provide some basic information about you and any other family members you wish to insure. The system will then generate quotes from a variety of companies, which you can compare side-by-side. You can sort the results by a number of factors, including the health insurance company, the plan type, the deductible, the co-pay, and the estimated premium.

Once you decide which plan you prefer, you can apply online. Everyday, health insurance agencies are providing a growing number of people with affordable Texas medical insurance. In turn, those who obtain health insurance rest easier knowing that they and their families are protected.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Health Insurance - Do I Qualify ?

Health insurance like life insurance is something that many people feel that they can’t afford or they put off because they are in good health and don’t see the need of any kind of individual or family health insurance. Of course the cost of health insurance is also one factor that keeps people from getting it.

You want to take some time to look ahead and consider, what would happened if some unforeseen event happened that would require medical care without having any coverage.
Very few people have the means to pay for medical expenses and a hospital stay without medical insurance. The first place to start looking to see if you qualify for a health insurance plan would be Medicaid.

Every state has a Medicaid program and more people can qualify for this health plan where sometimes people think that they would not be able to. You can get family health insurance through Medicaid that would include doctor visits, dental work, eye care, prescriptions and many other options. You will want to apply at your local Family Services Office.

The three main groups of people that qualify for Medicaid are families with small children. Women any age who are pregnant and for children under 18 and sometimes 21 depending on the state and individual situation.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Health Care

If there is one subject that affects every one of us that is our health. What is the best way of taking care of our health? Let’s take a brief look at some of our options for taking care of our health. Some people believe in preventative measures for taking care of their health. What exactly does this mean? Basically, it means eating a healthy diet, exercising properly, and living a healthy lifestyle. A yearly check-up is also a good way to know what shape you are in and to catch any developing illness.

An unpleasant factor in modern life is stress. It is a fact of life. Fortunately, there are many ways to deal with stress. Conventional medicine is one method - relaxation medication. Meditation is another method. In between there are such options as daily rest (even if for ten to twenty minutes), spending part of every day in a soothing physical environment, taking a break, a change of scenery, a vacation. A good laugh, whether at a funny joke or at a comical situation is highly recommended for keeping your mind and body in good shape.

None of us is infallible. We are all prone to illness. What are our options when we do become ill? Again there is conventional medicine. Medication for practically every illness under the sun is available. Personally, when something out of the norm is detected on my blood test, I make a bee line to the dietician’s office. By eating those foods, those vitamins, required by the body, balance can be regained.

There is more than one way of doing things. You decide what makes you feel good and how you want to stay healthy. After all, health is wealth.

Monday, January 26, 2009

What Happens If I Retire ?

Health insurance considerations weigh heavily on the minds of people wanting to retire before Medicare coverage kicks in at age 65. Many people put off retirement simply because the cost of an individual health insurance policy is too great on a limited income.

What options for health insurance do you have if you choose to retire before age 65? Although they are not required to, you may be able to get COBRA-like coverage from your employer. As an added retirement benefit, your employer may allow you to pick up the premium on your policy; although paying 100% of your premium may initially appear to be an expensive option, purchasing an individual policy apart from a group may be even more costly and not provide you with the level of coverage you previously had.

Some companies are offering basic high-deductible insurance reasonably in the hopes that they will be able to enroll you in Medicare Part C (supplemental insurance) when you retire.
Another option is to budget and save money to cover your anticipated medical costs for the time period between retirement and age 65. If you are in very good health, this may be a viable alternative for you.

Pre-planning for retirement is an important issue; the earlier you start planning, the better. Realizing the Medicare does not pay all of your medical expenses,you should budget money for medical expenses even after retirement.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Personal Health Care Examination for Early Years

In a man’s life, there will come a time when he has to take a trip down check-up lane for his annual medical examination. Although not everyone is taking part, it is quite important to have your doctor see how your health is doing. Personal health care examination can decrease a person’s chances of getting sick or acquiring a disease because of early diagnosis. There would be other reasons why people would be advised or would want to go to the physician:

1. Assessment of any risk that can contribute to future medical problems. Sometimes people can be so hard headed and would not go to the doctor because they would argue about not feeling anything. Bad news is,the moment an illness strike, it may be because it’s getting serious. Earlier diagnosis equates earlier treatment.

2. Screen for present diseases. If you are already experiencing something painful or odd going in your body, it is a must to let the doctor see it immediately no matter how little the pain is or how small the inconvenience is contributing to your body. Visiting your doctor will give you more chances of asking the how’s and why’s of your present condition and appropriate intervention to prevent further damage to your system.


3. Encourage the practice of healthy lifestyles. With a very busy world, it will be too much for the working population to give a certain piece of their time to practice healthy living. Most of the time, the working community indulge themselves on work which produces allot of stress. Having a routine check to their doctor can prescribe natural ways to have a lifestyle that’s healthy.

For ages which belong to the early years, ages 18-40,it is of dire importance to build a professional relationship with their physician. These early years are the time where people are very active in any kind of activity. Sadly, these are also the years that people tend to give into a lot of temptations and abuse their healthy body mainly because they’re young and strong.

Unfortunately, even if people feel like there’s nothing wrong with their body, there are certain diseases that needs time to become dangerous to the body. Potential problems may arise over time that is why, an early check-up is better than taking up tons of medication because it’s too late and the disease has already worsen. Prevention is better than cure.

For ages 18 ranging to 40, there are the examinations involving your personal health.

a. Blood Pressure – this determines the pressure of the blood that goes through the vessels of a human body. The ideal checking of blood pressure is every two years. This is intended for the normal, healthy body. But if you have already been diagnosed with a disease especially regarding heart problems, then it is ideal to let your blood pressure checked at least twice a week.


b. Breast Examination for Women – since breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women, breast examination is required once females reach the age of18. Breast examination can be done alone provided with proper instructions. This can effectively detect any signs of mass that lies beneath a woman’s breast.

c. Cholesterol screening – this is very much intended for those who love eating fatty foods. Increased cholesterol can be the cause of many diseases and one of which is heart attack.
Personal health care should be done religiously in order to live a healthy life.

For a Your FREE QUOTE for Individual Health , Home and Small Business Health Insurance needs please visit Your FREE Individual Health Insurance Quote Today

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Picking The Right Health Isurance Policy - 5 Main Things To Do

It is very difficult to make a right and wise decision on which Health Insurance Policy to buy. This is truly a confusing task. Here is a guideline. Here are the five most important things you have to pay attention to. These items are also your keys to picking a policy that's right for you

1.) The insurance company's record of complaints:

Every large company will have some complaints. You can obtain all this information at your State Board of Insurance. Avoid companies that have a high number of unresolved complaints. Ask your agent for the phone number for your State Board of Insurance. If he will not give it to you, this is a warning signal! You can also look up the number in any directory of your state's agencies.

No matter what your agent says, CALL your State Board of Insurance and ask them for the record on any company you are considering.

2.) The limits shown on your health insurance quote:

Check your quote to see if you are comfortable with the benefit levels. You can usually change several levels to fit your needs and budget. For example, a higher deductible will cost less each month. Also, many plans give you a choice to split your medical bills with the Insurance Company either 50/50 or 80/20 (with them paying 80%). Then they will have an amount (your stop loss) where they will take over at paying 100% of your covered bills for the remainder of the year. These deductibles and other levels start over every year in most plans. Some plans, though, have a "per cause" deductible. Such a deductible means that you will be responsible for bills up to that deductible for each accident or illness. Make sure you are aware of this distinction, so you can choose a plan that's right for YOU!

3.) The insurance company’s rating:

Ask your agent for the company's best rating. If the company is highly rated at this national rating registry, then the company will have literature showing their rating with an explanation of what it means. Choose only companies that have an A or A+ rating.

4.) The limits revealed within the policy:

Ask your agent for a sample policy, and then check two sections: The Benefits and The Limitations and Exclusions. Many of your benefits are actually limited in the Benefits section. For example, diagnostic testing or outpatient treatment may be severely limited. These days, you could have a serious disease such as cancer, and never go into the hospital for it. You could rack up thousands of dollars in medical bills for the diagnostic and follow-up lab tests and MRIs, and then have surgery, chemo, or radiation therapy all on an outpatient basis.

Your hospital room rate and intensive care can be limited. Your hospital room rate should be at least average semi-private and your intensive care benefit should not be tied to your room rate, but should, instead, be covered as whatever is an average ICU rate for the area of the hospital, also. Some policies limit the ICU benefit to 3 times the regular room rate, when ICU can cost you 10 or 20 times the room rate each day.

A short hospital stay with a limit like this in your policy can cost you literally thousands of dollars. A long hospital stay with a limit like this in your policy could drive you into bankruptcy. Even if your policy says it takes over at 100% after $5,000 of covered medical bills, the important term here is "covered" medical bills. If the policy only pays three times the room rate for ICU, then the rest of the ICU bill is considered an "uncovered" charge!

5.) Pay the Insurance Company, Not the Agent, & Follow Up!:

And lastly, make your check payable to the Insurance Company, and then follow up to make sure it was received. When you get your policy, check the Schedule of Benefits to verify you got the coverage you ordered, and then check to see if any special Amendments were added to your policy to exclude any of your conditions. If an Amendment exists, these conditions will always be excluded from this policy, even after the

Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation expires.
With all these 5 items, they will help you which will protect you from catastrophic medical bills. Be sure to take the time to choose wisely when it comes to your health insurance!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Health Insurance for College Students

The tuition arrangements are set up; the dorm room is assigned and your son or daughter is headed off to college in the fall. In all of the confusion of the paperwork, deadlines and financial arrangements did you remember to check on their health insurance?

Many, but not all, insurance companies provide for health insurance for college students under a family policy; do you know for sure that yours does? With some insurance companies, coverage depends on whether or not the student is a full time student. Review your policy or ask your insurance administrator; if you have an HMO plan, will your student be covered if they go to the student health care facility away from home?

Check the age limit as well; you may find that once your son or daughter reaches a certain age they are dropped from the policy no matter what. Ask your insurance company to provide an extra insurance card for your son or daughter to carry with them; if there is an additional card for prescription medications; make sure they have that too.

This preventative step will help eliminate confusion when they suddenly have to see a doctor.
There are student health care plans that are available through most colleges that are a reasonably priced alternative if your policy excludes your child.

Isn’t college confusing enough without having to worry about whether your child is covered should he or she need to seek medical attention? Take the time to look into health insurance before they head off to college in the fall.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Travel Health Insurance

Travel health insurance is a temporary policy that provides coverage while you're on vacation or in transit. It either works in conjunction with, or independent of, your regular major medical coverage. Travel health insurance is commonly offered if you use a travel agent, book a cruise or go on a package tour.

Here are three reasons to buy travel health insurance even if you already have a major medical plan:

1.) Price

Most travel insurance is cheap compared to the cost of your trip. Although we'd all rather spend our vacation money having fun, if something does happen it will be worth every penny in most cases. Typically, coverage costs no more than a dinner out on a trip. Out of network coverage

While most major medical plans will offer some protection anywhere in the world, under many circumstance, they won't offer coverage at their full amounts. For example, if you get sick on a cruise ship you might find your basic co-pay plan will only cover 50 percent of a doctor's visit on board the ship or-- perhaps even none. The travel health insurance policy, however, will cover this and a whole lot more. Out of country travelers, too, find this coverage very beneficial for covering them when nothing else will.

2.) Availability

In most cases, some form of travel insurance is available to people without medical examination required. It may not cover preexisting conditions, but it can make dealing with a crisis away from home a whole lot easier.

3.) Peace of mind

Just having this low-cost coverage while away from home can give you a certain peace of mind. Since vacation is about relaxation, ensuring this can really help make a trip.
While travel insurance can be a huge perk for those who need it, not everyone does. If your major medical coverage will remain in full force during your trip, there's probably no reason to go to this extra expense. Check with your regular health insurance to find out for sure, before you turn down coverage.

Although this type of coverage is usually offered through a booking agent, you can buy it on your own. Just Googling "travel insurance" will turn up many competing vendors for this type of policy.

Vacationing is about having fun, relaxing and doing new things. Unfortunately, sometimes bad things happen to travelers. When they do, travel insurance can provide an extra level of comfort and peace of mind.

Health insurance while traveling to foreign countries is an often-neglected area. Falling ill or getting injured during international travel on business or pleasure can be an extremely traumatic affair. You are far away from home in an alien land, unsure of the medical facilities available and probably not carrying enough money. You may want to be evacuated and taken home. The potential financial burden could be overwhelming and worrisome.

To avoid this dilemma, wise travelers are prepared by carrying health insurance coverage. Check to see whether your regular health insurance takes care of medical costs in other countries. If it does, what is the extent of your coverage?

You can purchase travel insurance with global coverage or coverage for specific countries for a period of five days to three years. There are no age restrictions, and single trip or multiple trips can be covered. Multi-trip coverage includes all of your travel plans. For a nominal increase in the fee, your coverage can include hazardous sports activities. Coverage for children may be free in some plans.

Decide what type of coverage you require. If you are traveling alone, there is no point in taking out a family policy. If you are not intending to participate in hazardous sports you will not need that coverage. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it is essential to check that it is covered.

Carry your medical records with you if possible. Hospitalization, ambulance services and prescription drugs should be included in the package. If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition, the evacuation policy may be advisable. For travel to Canada, insuring with a Canadian company has advantages. Also, remember that international travel health insurance does not cover health insurance in your country

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

What Happens If I lose My Job

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act(COBRA), a law created in 1986, gives workers (and members of their family) who lose their health insurance benefits the right continue their group health insurance for a limited period of time under circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary jobloss, reduction in hours, transition between jobs, divorce, adoption and death.

Generally, the employee pays up to 102% of the premium cost for the same policy; this is still usually less expensive than buying an individual insurance policy. There are three basic aspects for qualifying for COBRA: the qualifying event, the insurance plan coverage and the qualified person.

Each aspect is taken into consideration when applying for COBRA and you must elect to either apply for COBRA or waive your rights to COBRA within 14 days after aqualifying event.
You must also have been in the group insurance plan during your employment to be eligible. Although there are exceptions, generally you may continue to pay your own premiums to keep COBRA coverage intact for up to 18 months.

Companies who have fewer than 20 employees, State or Federal employers or employee organizations may not offer COBRA coverage. Check with your health insurance administrator to see if you may qualify. You may also have this informationreadily available in your group health insurance policy or in your company handbook.

Although it may be expensive, the cost of being able to keep your group insurance coverage rate may be well worth it.

For a Your FREE QUOTE for Individual Health , Home and Small Business Health Insurance needs please visit Your FREE Individual Health Insurance Quote Today

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Getting the Most Benefit From Your Health Insurance Policy

The key to getting the most benefit from your health insurance policy is knowing your policy coverage. Many people don’t actually read the policy from the policy plan book; they may not be aware that the policy may pay 100% of certain procedures, like annual physicals, mammograms, flu shots or certain lab tests.

The policy plan book will outline for you what procedures are not subject to the deductible or co-pay(your out-of-pocket expense). Some insurance companies have shifted their emphasis from health insurance to health improvement and maintenance and will pay for the cost of gym membership, nutritional counseling or plans to stop smoking.

If you were trying to lose weight and knew that you could get these services at no cost, wouldn’t you take advantage of them? If you wanted to quit smoking, wouldn’t it be beneficial to know that you could get the patch for free? It is very wise to know what services are available to you through your insurance company, and you will only know if you take the time to read through your policy.

Health insurance is an expensive item; take advantage of every aspect of it that you can, not only foryourself but for the members of your family. By taking full advantage of the free benefits of your health insurance policy, you will be healthier and possibly require fewer visits to your doctor.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Personal Health Care Info

The health info of every individual is necessary sothat in case medical problems occur in the future, it will be easier to determine the appropriate medication that should be administered. At present, the personal health info can be stored digitally. The records are in tact and up to date. These digital records can provide support for the continuity of medical care. Since the records are kept digitally, all the health info is confidential as well.

Quality health care can now be given to every individual all throughout his lifetime because of the digital health records. If you really care about your personal health, you should have a portable device that can facilitate the storage and retrieval of personal health records rapidly and in a secured manner. The device should be user friendly so that problems can be avoided or minimized.

Most people are not very open to their medical records or in any issue regarding their health because it often connotes something bad. When people are healthy, they are not interested in talking about their health. You see, individuals equate health to sickness and it is depressing.

But did you know that personal health info care is very important? As a responsible individual, you should not disregard your personal health info. Besides, you’ll never know when a medical emergency might come up. Having the necessary health info immediately will come in handy and you will be given instant medical attention. Your medical history plays an important role in giving the appropriate treatment. Health professionals can help you and give you their best service through the aid of your digital health records.

For a Your FREE QUOTE for Individual Health , Home and Small Business Health Insurance needs please visit Your FREE Individual Health Insurance Quote Today

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Personal Health Care Quotes

The cost of medical products is continuously rising and not everyone can afford to purchase such product seven if needed badly. Is there still a miracle that the ordinary people can hold on to in order to afford these medical products? Well, here’s good news foryou. Try to get personal health care quotes to get the appropriate insurance.

There are lots of insurance plans exclusively for personal health care. Many individuals can’t take advantage of health benefits because their employer didn’t provide it or because they are self-employed. In order to be insured, they should personally purchase an insurance plan for personal health care. Before you make an insurance policy purchase, you should be equipped with the right knowledge.

The premiums are affected by several things and it will determine the cost of your policy. You have to check the deductibles so that at least you can make a rough estimate of the cost of the policy. The lower the deductible, the higher the premium; a high deductible will also mean a lower premium. If you want to pay lower premiums, you can also have co-payments.

What is a co-payment? It is the fee being paid to the hospital or doctors with every visit of the patient. So where can you get the personal health care quotes? The best way to obtain these insurance quotes is online. Find a website that provides various insurance quotes. If you can find a good website that provides insurance quotes, you can compare up to five insurance providers. You must know that there are different types of insurance policies.

For your medical products and expenses, you will need to get a personal health care policy. There are several reputable insurance companies that can provide you with a reasonably priced policy.

You have to choose a reputable insurance provider so that you will not be dismayed when you’re already filing for a claim. Comparison of the insurance companies is a very important task. The quotes can help you decide. You can also look into the basic policies of each insurance provider. After careful consideration of the various factors involved in choosing an insurance provider, you can now decide the best insurance provider for you. Visit the official site of the insurance provider and gather all the important details about obtaining a policy on personal health care.

For a Your FREE QUOTE for Individual Health , Home and Small Business Health Insurance needs please visit Your FREE Individual Health Insurance Quote Today

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Prescription Insurance Policies

Some health insurance policies do not provide for prescription coverage and a separate policy must be purchased for prescription medications. This is an area where it pays to do some homework and research and find the best policy for you. Prescription coverage insurance is not a necessity; like health insurance coverage, it is a calculated risk, although the risk is not as high.

Usually you can buy prescription insurance at anytime, so if the doctor determines that you need an expensive maintenance drug, you may opt in at that time. It is important to know that if you presently have prescription insurance you can usually only change it at a specific time of the year, although you can add new prescriptions, you can’t change plans.

The person who seldom takes prescription medications probably does not need prescription insurance; however, a person who takes maintenance drugs for highblood pressure, diabetes, depression, heart disease orimmune disorders most likely needs insurance against the high costs of drugs.

Prescription insurance policies usually have "tiers",which usually means that a generic drug is at a low or no co-pay, a tier 2 level may be the brand name genuine, and a tier 3 may be a brand new expensive drug that the co-pay could be a set high-percentage of the cost.

In choosing prescription insurance, you should first list the prescriptions that you take and the retail amount of them. If you chose not to purchase insurance, this would be your monthly cost. Find out from the provider what the monthly premium for you would be, then what the prescription co-payamount would be and add these two figures together. Which is the less expensive alternative?

For a Your FREE QUOTE for Individual Health , Home and Small Business Health Insurance needs please visit Your FREE Individual Health Insurance Quote Today

Friday, January 16, 2009

Medicare

Medicare is a governmental program which provides medical insurance coverage for retired persons overage 65 or for others who meet certain medicalconditions, such as having a disability. Medicare was signed into legislation in 1965 as anamendment to the Social Security program and is administered by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Department of Human Services.

Medicare provides medical insurance coverage for over43 million Americans, many of whom would have nomedical insurance. While not perfect, the Medicare program offers these millions of people relatively lowcost basic insurance, but not much in the way ofpreventative care. For instance, Medicare does not payfor an annual physical, vision care or dental care.
Medicare is paid for through payroll tax deductions(FICA) equal to 2.9% of wages; the employee pays half and the employer pays half.

There are four "parts" to Medicare:

Part A -- hospitalcoverage,
Part B -- medical insurance,
Part C -- supplemental coverage
Part D -- prescriptioninsurance.

Parts C and D are at an added cost and arenot required. Neither Part A nor B pays 100% of medical costs; there is usually a premium, co-pay anda deductible. Some low-income people quality for Medicaid, which assists in paying part of or all ofthe out-of-pocket costs.

Because more people are retiring and become eligible for Medicare at a faster rate than people are paying into the system, it has been predicted that the systemwill run out of money by 2018. Health care costs have risen dramatically, which adds to the financial woesof Medicare and the system has bee plagued by fraud over the years. No one seems to have a viable solution to save this system that saves many people throughout the country.

For a Your FREE QUOTE for Individual Health Insurance and for any Home and Small Business Health Insurance needs please visit Your FREE Individual Health Insurance Quote Today

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Disability Coverage

Disability insurance policies are designed to pay part of your wages should you be injured in an accident or are unable to work because of illness. Here are two types of policies available: long-term disability and short-term disability.

Short term disability pays a portion of your wages should you be out of work due to injury for up to one year. Some employers pay for this benefit for their employees, some offer it for employees to purchase.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, the time to enroll is during the initial enrollment period when a medical exam is not required.

Replacement of wages is only partial; insurance underwriters, as well as your employer, want you back at work as soon as possible. Usually there is awaiting period of 14 days in which you will not receive payment.

Long term disability policies are purchased to replacewhat your potential earnings would be from the time you become disabled until age 65 when Medicare wouldbe available.

For instance, if you are 55 and make $40,000 per year,you should purchase a policy for $400,000.

You cannot get a long term disability policy if.,

(1) you are or are soon to be pregnant,
(2) make less than $18,000 per year,
(3) are unemployed, or
(4) you are required to carry a weapon for your job.

Typically, the waiting period for long-term insurance to kick in is at least 60 days and as much as a year.

Disability insurance is an important aspect of your overall insurance coverage plan, and if your employer ffers it as a benefit you should definitely consider it as a wise investment.

For a Your FREE QUOTE for Individual Health Insurance and for any Home and Small Business Health Insurance needs please visit Your FREE Individual Health Insurance Quote Today

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Individual Health Insurance

Choosing an individual health insurance plan is a important decision to make. You have to determine what you can plan will best meet your budget and what type of coverage that will meet your most needs.

Individual health care plans can be obtained directly from insurance companies
These insurance companies will ask you to provide personal information, which will include your medical history.

Given the status of you health and the history of the health of your family the health care company will determine if you qualify for a individual health insurance plan or not.

Individual health insurance plays a big role in the United States health care system.

For a Your FREE QUOTE for Individual Health Insurance and for any Home and Small Business Health Insurance needs please visit Your FREE Individual Health Insurance Quote Today

Monday, January 12, 2009

Alternative Health

Alternative health may also mean using natural herb and potions to cure what ails you. You do have to be careful with this however. Natural does not always mean safe. If you are taking any medications, you want to talk with your doctor before you take any type of herb or plant. This is because they can react with your medications with very bad results.

You don’t want to take anything that could harm you further rather than helping you. That is not the point of alternative health practices, nor western medicine for that matter. Your doctor may not like that you want to try other things, so if they won’t help you, find another doctor that will. Never stop taking medications without the say so of a medical doctor for your own sake.

You can learn about and practice natural health remedies on your own, but you do have to know what you are doing. That means you have to find someone qualified in the field to teach you what you can and can not do, and how to do all treatments in a safe manner.

If you are treating your children, you really want to be sure you know what you are doing. Alternative health practices can be very effective, but as with other medical procedures, you have to be careful not to do further harm when trying to help.

For a Your FREE QUOTE for Individual Health Insurance and for any Home and Small Business Health Insurance needs please visit Your FREE Individual Health Insurance Quote Today

Affordable Health Insurance

Today, health care costs in America are patently ridiculous for the average wage earner. Unless you are lucky enough to have employer-paid health insurance, you can easily shell out $500 a month to protect you in the case of a life-threatening event such as cancer or a massive heart attack.

Should you require an extended hospital stay, you can expect your bill to amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical care, not to mention ongoing requirements of prescription medication costs which may amount to hundreds of dollars for a single prescription, which you need to refill every month.

If your income falls at or below the poverty line, you may qualify for affordable health insurance. Most states have Federally funded programs which pay for medical treatment in the case of life threatening conditions.

You then are allowed medical treatment on a level that sustains life, but are disallowed certain procedures afforded a person with full coverage. Premiums are determined on a sliding fee scale, depending on household income and the number of persons in your family. Such premiums do fit the description of affordable health insurance, but are lacking in the quality of care you receive.

Recent cuts in health insurance funding have been characterized by a reduction in what are deemed necessary services. For example, in 2006, the Feds required State agencies to cut their health care costs by a certain percentage. States responded by making cuts in a rather arbitrary manner. Dental services were cut to emergency services only. At the same time, the current administration notified the VA to cut dental funding to Vietnam vets, so that Iraq war vets could receive treatment. This directive resulted in Vietnam vets, with crumbling teeth due to the effects of Agent Orange, removing their own teeth with a pair of pliers. They had no other choice. Such a failed health insurance program is a disgrace to our nation.

With a new crop of candidates aspiring to the Presidency, affordable health insurance is a hot issue. This rich nation should address the issue of affordable health insurance with more than lip service. All of our citizens deserve decent health care without regard to income.

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