GOP HEALTH CARE Rx: Want Health Care? Just Be Rich!!!Keywords Post

Let’s face it, here in the U.S. the medical insurance premiums for group health coverage is rising faster than inflation. As a result, a lot of companies are either reducing the levels of coverage in order to offset the cost of insurance, increasing the deductible, and or increasing the cost to the employees for the insurance premiums.

The problem is that insurance companies have no incentive to reduce insurance premiums. They continue to get record profits and this issue is out of control.

How do we get the insurance companies to decrease insurance premiums to the rate of inflation, or better yet, start reducing the cost of premiums for a change?Giga Flux

I compared the co pays on several reputable dental insurance companies and it is very expensive. Many things are not covered, even with the best dental insurance. Health insurance is usually a 10 dollar co pay for primary physicians and a 35-50 dollar co pay for specialty physicians. Is there any reason why dental insurance co pay is as expensive as it is?photo box 5

It has become alarming that a growing number of fit and healthy people today actually think that they have nothing to do with health insurance. They exercise regularly, do not smoke or take alcohol, eat nothing but nutritious diet, and lead a healthy stress-free lifestyle. Some even convert to vegetarianism, practice yoga meditation, reiki, chi gong and other Eastern practices thought to prevent diseases and increase longevity. So who needs health insurance anyway?Sadly though, a number of these health buffs, some in the prime of their lives, suddenly get sick and die. You’ve probably heard of this athlete who, while jogging, just suddenly keeled over and fell dead in his running shoes. This just disproves that being healthy means being invincible to all diseases and sickness. There will always be a “chink in your armor” that infections and dread diseases can penetrate.Is health insurance only for the old and the sick?If health is wealth, then it cannot be emphasized enough that having a health insurance is definitely one of the best investment you can ever have. The famous pro-gun slogan “It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it” can very well hold true for health insurance.Health insurance has become one of the hot issues that often spark debates and controversies. Each individual has his or her own opinion as to who should get medical insurance. As was stated above, the healthy and the strong believe they don’t need health insurance anymore. The sober truth is nobody is born with a crystal ball to gaze into their future. Nobody can foretell the time and circumstance when they will get sick and require medical attention.Another problem is that uninsured healthy people have the tendency to miss health checkups and regular physicals that provide advance detection of dread diseases, abnormalities and malignancies that could be silently spreading in their system. This can lead to disastrous consequences.What are the benefits of health insurance?This popular type of insurance safeguards you and your family from sudden medical emergencies that could lead to financial crisis. A well-chosen health insurance plan can provide some financial security and save you from a lot of worries if and when urgent medical care should arise.This insurance makes cash available to pay for the various medical expenses and health care requirements covered by the policy. It also covers disability expenses and long-time health care requirements like in-house nurses and caregivers. This means you get immediate and complete health care as compared to uninsured individuals.How does health insurance maintain your health?One misconception about this type of insurance is that it is ONLY a way of settling medical bills in case you became sick or got injured. While this is true, it is only a part of the many benefits of health insurance and not the whole. This type of insurance not only insures your health; it ensures it.Keeping you in perfect health not only helps keep the cost of health care at a minimum. It can make health insurance premiums low and within reach of everyone. Health insurance providers like Blue Cross Blue Shield know the value of keeping you healthy. They are also aware that keeping you in good shape eventually saves them a lot of money.Health insurance companies have various ways to make you aware of the benefits of staying healthy. One of them is through educating the public by means of available online materials and information. They make the public the public aware that smoking kills, that obesity leads to heart complications, that wearing protective gear lessens the damage of accidents or that stressful living leads to a shorter life span.photo box 5

The American health care system offers an enormous range of health insurance choices starting from low-cost minimum coverage plans to highly-expensive comprehensive plans. E Law Blog

United healthcare health insurance is one of the best insurance companies in the country insuring millions of Americans across the country. With five main health insurance plans there is a plan that can fit everyone’s lifestyle. The three main types of health insurance policies that apply to most Americans in the United States are copay, health savings account, and student coverage. These three different types of insurance range in costs from plans that have very low monthly premiums to plans that have every type of coverage you could possibly want.The first type of insurance provided by United Healthcare Health Insurance is Copay insurance. With co pay insurance there is a set dollar amount that you have to pay when you go to the doctor’s office each time for a well visit or a sick visit. Normally this amount is pretty inexpensive and you normally pay at the check-in desk when you go to the appointment at your preferred doctor’s office. After this co-payment your medical exam cost is free, along with the co-payment people under this policy are normally eligible for prescription drugs at a discounted price, which makes it a great plan for people who have drug prescriptions.The next type of health insurance that United Healthcare Health Insurance provides is a health savings account. Under a health savings account you are charged a higher deductible but at the same time you have to pay a much lower monthly premium. This is a great deal for people who do not get sick often because they costs will remain pretty low as far as a monthly premium. Also, under a health savings account policyholders will put money saved on otherwise high rate premiums into a health savings account that will pay for health care expenses until the deductible is met. This is a great deal for someone who is looking to have more control than the average health insurance holder in how your health care money is spent.Another type of health insurance by United Healthcare is student coverage. Student coverage is very important even though people may think that students are relatively very healthy. There is a common misconception that when you are young you are healthy, which is great, but not always the case. Through United Healthcare Health Insurance students are covered year round, both on campus at their student health service location as well as doctor’s offices. This is a great deal for students because they not only get around the clock health care but they also are given a toll free number when they are enrolled in the policy that they can use to get medical advice at anytime of the day or night. This policy not only covers sickness but it covers injuries that may happen as well.photo box 5

Everyone needs an adequate health insurance plan; however, in America, everyone doesn’t have the same health insurance plan. Actually, the health insurance plan that’s available to one person may not be available to another person. One reason this is true is not all health insurance plans are affordable to all people.There are three practical ways of obtaining a good health insurance plan – you just have to compare the health insurance plans and get the most affordable health insurance for you.Group Health InsuranceYou can obtain an affordable group health insurance plan in a variety of ways. Most employers offer group health insurance plans as benefits to their employees; many of these types of group health insurance plans allow you to add your spouse and your children onto the health insurance policy.Various organizations and associations offer group health insurance plans as benefits to their members. Some businesses, such as credit card companies, offer group health insurance plans as benefits to their customers.Find out if your employer offers group health insurance. Or, if you belong to any clubs or are associated with a particular business, ask if they offer group health insurance plans.Individual Health InsuranceUnfortunately, employers aren’t required to offer group health insurance plans to their employees. When this is the case, consider purchasing an individual health insurance plan. With the broad range of health insurance companies specializing in affordable individual plans, you will be able to find a plan that meets your health needs as well as satisfies your budget.State-sponsored Health InsuranceIf you aren’t employed, or your employer doesn’t offer group health insurance and you can’t afford to purchase health insurance otherwise, contact your state’s department of insurance for information about state-sponsored health insurance plans. Depending on your income, as well as any other factors your state considers, you and your family members may be eligible for very low-cost or free health insurance.photo box 5

New York Health InsuranceHealth insurance is insurance that pays for all or part of a person’s health care bills. A health insurance policy is an annually renewable contract between an insurance company and an individual. With health insurance claims, the individual policy-holder pays a deductible plus co-payment (for instance, a hospital stay might require the first 1000 dollar of fees to be paid by the policy-holder plus 100 dollar per night stayed in hospital). Usually there is a maximum out-of-pocket payment for any single year, and there can be a lifetime maximum.The purpose of health insurance is to help people cover their health care costs which usually include doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, procedures, tests, home care, and other treatments and services.According to the latest United States Census Bureau figures, around 85% of citizens have health insurance. 59.5% of these people receive their health insurance coverage through an employer, and about 9% purchase it directly from the market. Government sources cover 27.3% of the population. Those without health insurance coverage are expected to pay privately for medical services.Types of New York Health Insurance (http://new-york.ixs.net/General/New-York-Health-Insurance/index.aspx ) The types of health insurance in New York are group health plans, individual plans, and government health plans such as Medicare and Medicaid. In the United States, government-funded Medicare programs help to insure the elderly and end stage renal disease patients.Group Health PlansA group health plan offers health care coverage for employers, student organizations, professional associations, religious organizations, and other groups. The employer may pay for part or all of the insurance cost (premium).Individual and Family Health InsuranceIndividual and family health insurance is a type of health insurance coverage that is made available to individuals and families, rather than to employer groups or organizations. These types of health care plans are sold directly to individuals. For those of you who are unemployed or self-employed, an individual health insurance policy is always an option. Unfortunately rates for these policies are high and the coverage is usually less comprehensive than a managed care plan. The good news is that, in many cases, your insurance premium will be tax deductible. Of course, if you’re married, you can always try to catch a ride on your spouse’s group health insurance benefits plan.Health insurance can be further classified into fee-for-service or indemnity (traditional insurance) and managed care. Both group and individual insurance plans can be either fee-for-service or managed care plans.Managed Care Health InsuranceThese include HMO, PPO, and POS plans. Managed-care plans typically make use of healthcare provider networks. Healthcare providers within a network agree to perform services for managed-care plan patients at pre-negotiated rates and will usually submit the claim to the insurance company for you. In general, you’ll have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs with a managed care health insurance plan and a broader choice of healthcare providers with an indemnity plan.There are three main types of managed care plans:• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)• Point-of-Service (POS)• Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)All of these plans offer substantial health insurance benefits to members and their families. If you’re fortunate enough to have a choice of plan, consider the advantages, and disadvantages, of each. Compare the cost of care, the difference in premiums, deductible amounts and your freedom to choose a doctor outside the plan. There are numerous other coverages to compare as well — from prescription drugs to dental to alternative therapies. Be sure you understand the fine points of each.Indemnity or Fee-For-Service PlanNormally it covers the same expenses as managed care. The difference is your doctor is paid for each visit with the claim filed by either the patient or the medical provider. A big advantage– unlike some managed care plans, Fee-for-Service allows the patient a great deal of freedom in choosing which doctors and hospitals to use, but will probably involve higher out-of-pocket costs and more paperwork.However, you’ll likely be required to pay an annual deductible before the insurance company begins to pay on your claims. An Indemnity plan may also require that you pay up front for services and then submit a claim to the insurance company for reimbursement.Short-Term Health InsuranceShort-term health insurance plans are designed to protect against unforeseen accidents or illnesses, rather than to provide comprehensive coverage, and, as such, typically do not include coverage for preventive care, physicals, immunizations, dental or vision care. It covers for a limited period of time, and may be an ideal solution for those between jobs or those waiting for other health insurance to start. Typically, short-term plans offer coverage up to six months, although some plans may offer coverage up to 12 months. Purchasing a short-term medical insurance plan will make you ineligible for any guaranteed issue individual health plans commonly referred to as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Plans. HIPAA plans are usually very expensive and are generally intended for people with pre-existing medical conditions who would have trouble getting health insurance otherwise.Medical Savings Account (MSA)Medical savings account (MSA) is the most recent development in the area of health insurance. The principle behind the MSA is to take the bulk of the financial risk, and premium payments, away from the managed care and indemnity insurers, and allow individuals to save money, tax free, in a savings account for use for medical expenses. Individuals or their employers purchase major-medical policies, medical insurance policies with no coverage for medical expenses until the amount paid by the patient exceeds a predetermined maximum amount, such as 2500 dollar per year. These policies have extremely high deductibles and correspondingly low monthly premiums and the participants take the money that they would have spent on higher premiums and deposit it in an MSA. This money accrues through monthly deposits and also earns interest, and can be spent only to pay for medical careWhat’s The Best Health Insurance Plan?There is no one “best” plan for everyone. The best match for you and your family may be different than the best match for someone else. In order to help you answer this question, here are a few things to consider:1. Are you going to need long-term coverage or just something for the short-term?If you’re between jobs for 1-6 months, you may want to go for short-term coverage options. Alternatively, if you have no prospects of receiving group health insurance coverage through an employer, you may value the stability and increased benefits offered through an individual and family health insurance plan which will provide longer term coverage.2. Are you looking for basic coverage or more comprehensive coverage?Some insurance plans offer basic coverage (i.e., primarily inpatient hospitalization and outpatient surgery coverage) to cover you in case of a major accident or illness. These insurance plans typically have a lower monthly premium than plans with more comprehensive coverage, and may be appropriate for people who intend to use their insurance primarily in the event of a serious accident or illness. Other insurance plans that offer more comprehensive coverage may include benefits such as preventative care, physician services, prescription drug benefits and routine office visits. These insurance plans typically have a higher monthly premium than plans that only offer basic coverage, and may be appropriate for people who intend to use their insurance on a regular basis.3. Would you pay for your services before you use them or when you use them?If you choose a health insurance plan with a low monthly premium, you’re likely to have a higher co-payment or deductible. If you don’t anticipate making frequent use of your health insurance coverage, a higher-deductible plan with a lower monthly premium may suit you best.4. How important to you is easy access to specialists?Health insurance plans that require you to coordinate your care through a primary care physician typically require that you obtain a referral before seeing a specialist. So, if you prefer easier access to specialists, you may wish to consider a different type of plan.5. Do you have a specific doctor or hospital that you would like to visit for healthcare?Some insurance plans utilize provider networks. Pay special attention to the network of doctors or facilities that each health insurance plan utilizes. Also note that networks utilized by health insurance plans can change, so there is no guarantee that your doctor will always be contracted with your chosen health insurance plan.6. What is the most you could pay out in case of a serious illness or injury?Health insurance plans typically place limits on how much a member is required to pay out per year for his or her healthcare. This limit is often referred to as an out-of-pocket maximum. Once you’ve contributed this maximum amount toward your healthcare, the health insurance company typically covers all other costs for the remainder of the benefit year. If you’re concerned about what may happen to you in case of a serious illness or injury, you may wish to pay special attention to the out-of-pocket maximums for the health insurance plans you’re considering.No matter what insurance plan you may choose, educate yourself and understand all the basics of the health insurance before finalizing anything.For more information about New York Health Insurance visit: http://new-york.ixs.netE Law Blog

John Kerry asked: Till now, most people bought insurance through an agent, or called the toll-free number of the insurance company to get a quote.However, with the increasing usage of the Internet, getting insurance quotes online is fast becoming the norm rather than the exception. There are plenty of sites out there that offer to provide you an insurance quote. Many even provide you the ability to get insurance quotes from multiple companies, and compare them to get the best deal.However, there are relatively few sites that offer practical insights on getting a good deal on your insurance needs. There are even fewer that offer advice on what to look for when getting an insurance quote, the list of insurance agents in your locality, and what are the pros and cons of going with the company offering to insure you for the lowest premium.You can find all this, and more at www.get-online-insurance-quote.com (or www.goniq.com for short). They offer advice on many different types of insurance like auto insurance (including car insurance), life insurance, home insurance (including flood insurance, earthquake insurance and mobile home insurance), health insurance, renters insurance, and disability insurance.Insurance is a contract between the policyholder and the insurance company wherein the insurance company is bound to compensate the policyholder on occurrence of certain pre-specified ‘event(s)’.The events that are covered and the extent of coverage for each event are defined in the contract.Thus, there are three parties to any insurance contract – the policyholder, the insured, and the insurance company. In most cases, the insured and the policyholder are the same. The event(s) covered by the insurance contract will largely define what kind of insurance it is. Thus there is life insurance, health insurance, accidental death and disability insurance, home insurance (which may or may not include flood insurance, earthquake insurance, and mobile home insurance), auto insurance (which includes car insurance) and renters insurance. There would be several other products in the commercial lines of insurance.Photos Union

John Kerry asked: Anyone who has tried to get insurance quotes online knows of the amount of information you have to fill in before you can get a quotation. Even so, getting an insurance quote online is by far the best way of quickly getting an estimate of what your premium will be, for your specific insurance needs. So, it makes sense to be prepared with the right information before you even start the process of getting an online insurance quote. One website that provides you with all the advice you need, to get started is www.get-online-insurance-quote.com (or www.goniq.com for short). They cover almost all insurance types like auto insurance (including car insurance), life insurance, health insurance, home insurance, renters insurance, accidental death, car insurance, Travel insurance and flood insurance. Being armed with such information helps you decide on your exact insurance needs, what to look for while obtaining an insurance quote, selecting the right insurance carrier (it may not be the one offering the lowest premium) and so on. This will also help prevent surprises when you need to make a claim. Visit them now, before you shop for an online quote. Till now, most people bought insurance through an agent, or called the toll-free number of the insurance company to get a quote.However, with the increasing usage of the Internet, getting insurance quotes online is fast becoming the norm rather than the exception. There are plenty of sites out there that offer to provide you an insurance quote. Many even provide you the ability to get insurance quotes from multiple companies, and compare them to get the best deal.However, there are relatively few sites that offer practical insights on getting a good deal on your insurance needs. There are even fewer that offer advice on what to look for when getting an insurance quote, the list of insurance agents in your locality, and what are the pros and cons of going with the company offering to insure you for the lowest premium.You can find all this, and more at www.get-online-insurance-quote.com (or www.goniq.com for short). They offer advice on many different types of insurance like auto insurance (including car insurance), life insurance, home insurance (including flood insurance, earthquake insurance and mobile home insurance), health insurance, renters insurance, and disability insurance.photo box 5