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Archive for the ‘Health Insurance Advice’ Category.
Since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, confusion has reigned supreme in the minds of consumers in regard to their health insurance coverage. Followed closely by anger, as insurance companies have raised rates to protect their profit base in the face of new government regulation. Even those people who have health insurance as a job benefit are paying more, about 8 percent more, or an extra $452 a month.
This burden was too much for many during the recession that began to grip America in 2009. For most of the last three years, unemployment in the U.S. has hovered near 10 percent and pundits say it may be another 10 to 15 years before the country sees full economic recovery. People have had to make hard choices: carry health insurance or feed my children? Consequently, 17 percent of the population, or about 51 million people live without coverage and the rest struggle to make their payments.
The full effect of health care reform is supposed to be felt nationwide in 2014, when all Americans will be required by law to carry health insurance. That may or may not happen, as the Supreme Court is set to review the constitutionality of the requirement in March 2012. Additionally, 2012 is a presidential election year, and the conservative opposition to the Obama administration is pushing the repeal of “Obamacare” as a major campaign promise to disgruntled Americans.
Never has there been a time when people are more in need of insurance advice about every conceivable aspect of their coverage. The simple fact is that if you are paying for the policy, you want to get the worth of your dollar. But the flip side of that sentiment is the need not to make any assumptions about what benefits your policy provides. Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States. One mistaken assumption about your policy, and you could be looking at literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in doctors and hospital bills. Understanding all the ins and outs of your health coverage is a vital measure of self-protection.
The first stages of the Health Insurance Reform Act has only recently gone into effect, and many people find themselves confused about what it means to them. This new legislature will affect every American differently, and it is important to find out what changes may be necessary to stay in accordance with the new laws. One of the biggest ways the act may affect people is through health insurance rates nationwide.
Lower Premiums for Low-Income People
People who live near the poverty level can expect to get the greatest benefit out of the Health Insurance Reform Act, especially where health insurance rates are involved. They can expect lower premiums and out of pocket costs as well as better health care offered at each visit with the new incentives being implemented for doctors in every hospital in America. Middle class families may save as much as $2,300 a year in health insurance costs. (more…)
Health insurance benefits are important for all individuals to receive because it can be extremely expensive and sometimes cost prohibitive to seek life-improving or necessary medical care. Special health insurance is available to war veterans, who sometimes need special benefits.
How is War Veteran’s Insurance Different?
Many health insurance companies are not willing to insure the types of injuries that are acquired during a war veteran’s career. These injuries often require treatment for the rest of the veterans’ lives. Veteran’s health insurance is prepared to handle these line-of-duty injuries. Veterans will not be turned away from this health insurance due to their injuries. (more…)
Traveling to a foreign country is just as full of risks as it is excitement. There are a lot of things that can go wrong on a vacation, but the right precautions can ensure a fun trip for the entire family. One of the biggest questions raised is whether or not regular health insurance will cover medical issues that occur on a trip abroad.
Will My Health Insurance Cover Me On Vacation?
In short, no, your regular health insurance plan will not normally keep you medically covered if you take a vacation outside the country. There are always exceptions to the rule, however. The U.S. Department of State urges Americans to talk to their health insurance providers before leaving the country to find out exactly what is covered under their current policy for an overseas trip. Medicare in particular has no provisions for overseas policyholders, so it’s usually a really good idea to get a second temporary insurance policy before leaving on your trip. (more…)
Getting into a car accident is a frightening prospect. No matter who caused the accident the first matter of concern is the health of anyone involved. When someone is injured in the accident there is often the question of if those medical bills will be covered by their health insurance or their auto insurance.
The Role of Health Insurance in a Car Accident
If you are in a car accident and must receive immediate treatment it will be covered by your regular health insurance policy. That will get the treatment underway, which is especially important if the injuries sustained are life-threatening. After this initial treatment authorization the health insurance company will usually investigate the accident to determine the cause. Depending on their findings they will likely seek reimbursement for the money paid out in hospital bills. Once this happens it is up to the auto insurance to cover the bills. (more…)
The laws, rules, and benefits surrounding health insurance can be extremely confusing. Most health insurance programs will cover a wide range of things including medical care, hospice treatment, and prescription drug costs, but a lot of people wonder if it will cover their disability expenses as well. This article covers the difference between disability insurance and health insurance.
Disability Insurance and Health Insurance
The difference between disability and health insurance is that disability insurance qualifies the individual for payments that cover what they would be making if they were still able to work while health insurance pays for medical costs. Both kinds of insurance require the insured to pay premiums. Disability insurance does not pay for the actual hospital care and medications required by the disability; it only covers cost of living expenses up to a certain point. Disability insurance is different from workman’s compensation, which covers medical costs incurred by an accident while on the job. (more…)
Getting the right health insurance can be a confusing process. Having the right health insurance policy in place can mean the difference between having the expenses for an illness covered and being forced to pay high out-of-pocket costs. Finding the best plan is important and there are many different choices available. Here are the top 5 health insurance companies in the U.S. according to the number of customers and policies written.
1. Aetna
Aetna health insurance is one of the top insurance companies in the U.S. They sell HMOs, PPOs, Point-of-Service (POS) plans, health savings accounts and traditional indemnity coverage. They also supply dental, vision, behavioral health and Medicare supplemental plans. Under their group insurance umbrella they also sell life insurance, disability insurance and long term care insurance. There are over 15 million people covered under their health insurance plans in the United States. (more…)
Health insurance is an important protection to have, but many people do not realize that an insurance policy is not a magical paper that will pay all of their bills. Even the most comprehensive medical insurance plan has restrictions and limitations on its coverage. Insurance companies may be very choosy about providing coverage for procedures above and beyond the routine. Reading the fine print in a health insurance plan before signing up can prevent applicants from making big financial mistakes.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Insurability is calculated according to risk factors. Therefore, applicants with pre-existing medical conditions can either be deemed completely uninsurable by the insurer or they may have to pay higher premiums for coverage. In the case of a health insurance coverage lapse of more than 63 days an applicant with a pre-existing medical condition might have to wait as long as a year for new coverage. A short term individual policy could prove to be beneficial at times like these to ensure uninterrupted health coverage. (more…)
Doctors normally do all they can to prevent the need for surgery, but sometimes it is inevitable. Surgeries can be expensive and although health insurance will usually pay for them, the treatment must be pre-approved. Following are 5 basic surgeries and how much they usually cost on average.
Cataract Surgery
As humans age the body naturally deteriorates in different places, such as the eyes. The most common eye condition related to aging is cataracts. Cataracts are cloudy white obfuscations over the eye’s lens which can only be removed from surgery. Cataract surgery is painless and involves the replacement of the natural lens with an artificial lens. The success rate of cataract surgery is over 90% and there are usually very few complications after the surgery, making it one of the safest procedures known. The average cost of cataract surgery is $3,900. (more…)
People can purchase insurance coverage for nearly everything in the United States. They can insure their cars, their homes, their valuable possessions, their health and even their very lives. In the realm of health and medical insurance there are various areas of specialized coverage for certain types of people or health issues. In the past only physical health and symptoms have been treated, but today mental health awareness and acceptance is growing steadily. Insurance for mental health is an issue of growing concern among the American population.
Mental Health Treatments
There are many different types of clinics and treatments that exist for the care of patients’ mental health and many of them do accept private insurance. Professional counseling, behavioral and social therapies, and medications useful tools in encouraging and maintaining mental wellness, but these treatments and therapies are costly and are not always fully covered by insurance. Rehabilitation centers for mental health and substance abuse can be very effective if the patient has sufficient time in the program. Insurance can help offset the cost of these treatments and visits. (more…)
Travelers all over the world are taking advantage of international health insurance in order to protect themselves while in a foreign country. There are several different types of international insurance for travelers’ protection, each with their own pros and cons and specific rules and regulations. International health insurance makes it possible for any traveler to take a trip, whether for business or pleasure, with the same peace of mind they have at home.
International Travel Medical Insurance
Travel insurance is one of the most common types of international coverage and is often used by leisure travelers who desire to protect themselves while on a trip. Some of the expenses covered by international travel insurance include transportation tickets, hotel reservations and any medical issues which arise when in a foreign country while covered under the travel policy. A good international travel insurance plan will have not only liability and property protection built in but will also have medical, disability and even death benefits for the insured. (more…)
