Wednesday, June 20, 2012

An Overview Of Types Of Payday Loans


            Getting a payday loan online may be sought by most people throughout the world. The process is quick and we can receive cash immediately. More so, there are some types of payday loans may have found. There are a bad credit payday loan, no fax payday loan, military payday loan, and paperless payday loan. Otherwise, you can still find other types of payday loans. There are some basic things you should know of each kind of payday loan.
            If you have a bad credit history whereas you have to cope with your urgent needs, you can decide to get a bad credit payday loan. Your credit history will not be checked so that you can receive cash at once. If you do not want to be troublesome with sending required documents through fax machine, no fax payday loan is the perfect option. You can get a military payday loan if you are one of military clients. The rates of interest applied can be lower than other payday loans. Afterwards, there is a paperless payday loan. You will not be asked to show or submit your bank record. In short, there are still other types of payday loans such as a low fee payday loan and no credit check payday loan.

Complete Life Insurance Quotes at Lifeinsurancerates.com


          Along with the development of the internet these days, there have been a lot of online services that you can choose to find life insurance quotes. Getting life insurance quotes is surely important to help you to find the best life insurance to protect your life, moreover the number of life insurance services available today is a lot. That is why you need, at least, a guide that can help you to find the best life insurance for your need. One of the most recommended places where you can find information to find the best life insurance for your need is lifeinsurancerates.com. This site provides some important reviews and quotes that you might need for choosing your life insurance.
             Universal Life is one of life insurance services that are reviewed in this site. According to this site, this life insurance service is the most flexible payment option. In this kind of life insurance, the policy will be able to be maintained indefinitely. Besides that, it also offers annually adjustable death benefit. Another life insurance that is also reviewed here is Survivorship Life. This kind of life insurance is known to be able to protect your legacy very well, according to this site. This life insurance is commonly for two people or spouses. 

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

What to look for in an car insurance company


When you buy a car, you must look for an car insurance for your car right away because if you do not do this, it means that you do not follow the rule of the government. However, most of the people are reluctant to look for the best car insurance company for their car because they do not know what to do when they have to look for a car insurance company. When you feel that it is difficult to find the right car insurance company, these are the things that you need to look for in a car company.
First thing first, you need to find out what kind of coverage types that the car insurance company has for you to offer. The selection of coverage will help you determine how the car insurance can help you with your car. Second thing that you need to find out is the amount of money that you have to spend every month for the sake of the insurance policy coverage that you choose. Last thing that you need to find out is how people see the insurance company that you want to choose. If there are so many people who give you a positive feedback, you can choose it.  

Thursday, May 3, 2012

2013 Medicare Advantage Guidelines


Just recently, the Obama administration sent out the 2013 payment and policy guidelines for health insurers in the United States that want to participate in the Medicare Advantage program. According to the administration, the proposed changes to the guidelines would result in lower premiums and stable or improved benefits.
Since the guidelines did not include an official preliminary estimate for the net average percentage change in reimbursements, it left a lot of insurers and financial markets clueless about the potential impact of the 2013 Medicare Advantage guidelines on the industry.
Low Premiums And Stable Benefits Will Likely Continue
Private health care plans in Medicare popularly called Medicare Advantage Plans and prescription drug plans (Medicare Part D) have reasonably low premium charges and stable benefits. Federal officials believe that this trend will likely continue for 2013.
The officials released a growth percentage for Medicare's per capita expenditures and stated that this will be used to determine and set rates for Medicare Advantage plans in 2013. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency who manages the federal health care program for seniors, the guidelines for 2013 projects an overall annual growth rate of 2.47 percent and 2.3 percent per capita growth rate next year.
In a statement released by the agency, "This positive growth trend will help ensure that beneficiaries maintain a choice of plans without significant increases in premiums or decreases in benefits." CMS officials added that the net all-in-figure for 2013 and final rate announcements will be unveiled and published on April 2, 2012.
The CMS said that it is accepting public comments on the 2013 payment and policy guidelines for Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans. According to the Advance Notice and draft Call Letter for 2013, the CMS will exercise its authority granted by the Affordable Care Act to deny bids from plan insurers that proposes "too significant" an increase in beneficiary cost-sharing or a decrease in benefits.
What Are Medicare Advantage Plans?
About 25 percent or 48 million of Medicare beneficiaries participate in Medicare Advantage plans (MA plans). Unlike traditional Medicare, MA plans are offered by private health insurance companies. It is meant to replace your Medicare unlike Medicare Supplement insurance plans that only supplements your Medicare Parts A and B.
MA plans are very popular among beneficiaries because it does not have any medical underwriting. All Medicare beneficiaries are guaranteed acceptance except for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). These plans are also called Medicare Plan C because it combines the benefits given by Medicare Parts A, B and some Part D coverage.
Another appealing part of MA plans is that they have low premiums. This is because they are subsidized by the federal government. With the low premiums, you get to save on healthcare. However, you need to take note that the list of doctors and hospitals you can use are restricted. Before deciding to enroll in MA plans, you need to weigh the pros and cons to determine if this is the best plan for your healthcare needs.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Pre-Existing Conditions and Health Insurance - The Facts


When buying a private medical insurance policy, customers often ask about pre-existing conditions and whether health insurance will cover them. Whilst health insurance is not designed to cover pre-existing conditions, your choice of underwriting will determine whether your pre-existing conditions will be covered in the future.
Here is a short guide to pre-existing conditions and how your choice of underwriting will affect your cover.
What is a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is any medical condition you have received medication, advice or treatment for, or experienced symptoms of, before the start of your health insurance policy.
How will underwriting affect my cover?
When you take out a medical insurance policy, you will be offered a choice of underwriting. There are two common types of underwriting- moratorium and full medical underwriting.
If you choose full medical underwriting, you will need to complete a medical history declaration before your policy begins. This will mean answering questions about your health. Your doctor may be contacted for more information about particular conditions. Your insurer will then decide what conditions are to be excluded from the policy, and inform you of the exclusions before the policy starts.
If you choose a moratorium policy, you will not need to complete a medical history declaration. However, the insurer will automatically exclude any medical condition that you have asked advice on, received treatment for, or suffered symptoms of, during the five years before your policy starts.
Will they cover my pre-existing condition in the future?
If you choose full medical underwriting, you will have to ask your insurer in the future if you want any exclusion to be covered.
With a rolling moratorium policy, if you go treatment, symptom and advice free for two continuous years after the start of your policy, your insurer will reinstate cover for that condition. However, if medical advice is sought or treatment received during the qualifying period, then the qualifying period will start afresh from the date the advice or treatment is received.
Some health insurers also offer fixed moratorium policies. With a fixed moratorium policy, pre-existing conditions will be covered after two years of the health insurance policy, even if you seek treatment, advice or medication during that time period.
What about chronic conditions?
A chronic condition is any condition that needs ongoing or long-term monitoring, continues indefinitely, has no known cure, and is likely to come back. Common examples are asthma and diabetes.
If your chronic condition is pre-existing, it is unlikely that you will be covered for it on your health insurance for these reasons:
  • Full medical underwriting will probably apply exclusions for that condition
  • A rolling moratorium policy will only cover conditions if you do not suffer from them for two years from the policy start date- this is unlikely with a chronic condition
  • A fixed moratorium carries considerably more risk for the insurer, and applicants with ongoing chronic conditions may be refused cover.
How do I decide what type of underwriting is best for me?
Each type of underwriting has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you have suffered no medical conditions in the last five years, or if your conditions have been mild, moratorium underwriting may be the best option for you- whether rolling or fixed.
If you have suffered pre-existing conditions in the past 5 years, particularly if they have been serious, then full medical underwriting may be the wiser choice.
Rather than trying to work out the best type of underwriting for you, it can be best to speak to an FSA authorised health insurance broker who will be able to help you choose your underwriting. A broker will be able to advise you on specific pre-existing conditions as well as finding an insurer that is likely to cover them.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Take Care of You and Your Family by Buying Health Insurance


The health type of insurance represents coverage against the chance of taking on medical costs among people. By calculating the overall chance of wellness treatment costs among a specific group, a coverage provider can develop a certain finance program, such as a premium or paycheck type of tax, to make sure that money is available to pay for the wellness treatment benefits specified in the agreement. The benefit is applied by a central type of organization such as a government type of agency, private type of business or not-for-profit type of entity.
The current society in which we live makes buying health insurance necessary. If the price of your coverage is entirely carried by your company, you should still understand your plan. And if you cover the costs yourself, you are already aware of the share it takes out of your funds. Studying what you are shelling out for and how it works allows you to make choices that can lower the price you can pay when you want to buy health insurance. The personal wellness program is financed by a number of personal medical insurance organizations. The biggest one, Medibank Private is government-owned, but performs as a government business under the same regulating program as all other authorized personal wellness resources. The country was overcome by the Australia Work Celebration under Kevin Rudd which had already promised that it would maintain government possession.
Buying insurance for you and your family is a must nowadays and one of the main reasons in favor of this idea stands in the variety of health insurance policies you can fund, carefully analyze and choose from nowadays. When you decide to buy health insurance these days you need to make sure that you have first of all checked all the possibilities and opportunities made available for you. You might miss on a great opportunity if you are not informed. You need to know very well what you plan on paying for and what type of risks you might take when choosing a certain insurance policy for you and your family. Great knowledge is also the key to success whenever an important decision is to be taken. There are a number of other issues about which resources are not authorized to differentiate between associates with regards to rates, benefits, or regular member's program rights - they include national source, belief, sex, sexual positioning, characteristics of career, and enjoyment actions.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Camp Kids Save Money With Short Term Health Insurance


The weather is warming up and kids are ready to be finished with school. Many are excited about their summer camps to play and have fun with their friends. Most of the camps available to them require that they have medical insurance coverage in case something happens and they get hospitalized. Many people have coverage through their parents or other. Some of them without insurance find that short term medical insurance plans offer the coverage that they are required to have without breaking the bank.
Some children with coverage might still need to find other plans. If they are on an HMO plan with a restricted network of doctors, the camp may not consider it enough insurance to cover them. This is an issue in many cases where the camp is in a different state or region than where they live.
It should be simple to get a regular health insurance plan for them. The problem is that since the congress passed the PPACA law, there are no longer plans available for children under the age of 18. They can get a plan, but they have to get a plan as a dependent on a parent's policy. Usually the parents already have coverage through an employer or a spouse. It can be very expensive to forgo the insurance from an employer just to get required coverage for a week long camp. It may be more expensive than the cost of the camp itself if you want to go this route.
Short term health insurance plans are available for kids under the age of 18. They are not guaranteed issue. If they have health problems they may not be eligible for these temporary insurance plans. But they are instant issue. So after a five minute application online, you will have your cards sent by email for you to submit to anyone who might want proof of coverage for enrollment in the camp. These plans are full major medical plans that are approved by the state's department of insurance just the same as any other plan. But since they do not have copayments for doctors visits and prescription drugs you will save a lot of money on the premium.
You can purchase these plans for as few as 30 days and coverage can start by midnight of the night that you apply. It is a perfect solution for people who need coverage for the camp. It is too bad that some insurance plans can cost more than the cost of the camp. But short term health insurance plans can be as low as 20-30 dollars for plans that qualify.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Benefits of Accident Sickness Insurance


There are many types of insurance in the market for the consumer's taking. Every type of insurance serves a particular need of the consumer. Accident weakness insurance is specially designed to assist the consumer who cannot report to work due to sickness as a result of an accident. This may cause the consumer some time off from work which can jeopardize the income of the consumer. One way to overcome the loss of income for the consumer is to have accident sickness insurance.
Insurance Coverage
Accident sickness insurance is also known as unemployment insurance but it does not mean that one is unemployed per se. The consumer in this scenario is an employee who could not report to work due to a sickness stemming from an accident. The worker is unable to work for a time being which activates the accident insurance into play; the proper compensation is made to the worker which is normally a monthly pay that covers daily expenses and medical bills until the worker recovers from the sickness and reports to work.
Different accident sickness insurance offers different scope of coverage which depends on the different circumstances surrounding the worker and the accident sickness insurance taken out. Accident sickness insurance may cover mortgage payments, medical bills, credit card bills, daily expenses and loans.
The right accident insurance will cover more expenses to ease the consumer's financial expenses and current commitments when employment is not possible for some time.
Benefits
Accident weakness insurance has many benefits. It is essential to choose the best accident insurance that would cover the major expenses of the insured to ease the financial burden of the consumer for the time being until the consumer is able to regain the income generating power.
The consumer does not have to worry about the piling up of debts and expenses with accident weakness insurance. Life can still be smooth with the incoming finances from the accident weakness insurance. However, there may be some slight adjustments as the amount from the accident weakness insurance may not be as much as the consumer's monthly working income. It depends on the accident weakness insurance policy taken and premium paid.
Accident weakness insurance allows the consumers to continue enjoying a comfortable standard of living with the insurance amount until the consumers can get back to their feet. Most policies of accident sickness insurance cover the consumer's unemployment expenses for about a year unless some special features were considered when drafting the accident weakness insurance policy.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Medical Aid - Big or Small?


It is also disconcerting to see how many people who can afford health cover like Liberty medical aid choose not to have their health covered. This is a major concern given the consistent rise in medical claims over the last few decades.
What is also troubling is the fact that many medical schemes have collapsed over the last few decades. Now, I am not talking about the big schemes, like Liberty medical aid. I am referring to smaller medical schemes.
The average medical aid client decides to join a smaller medical scheme to save some costs. I believe this is a big mistake. What these clients do not understand is that smaller medical schemes are stricter when it comes to actual claims. They have to be. Their income (like premiums) is usually not high enough to support the claims that come in. That is the reason why they will do everything in their power to keep their claim count as low as possible and to grow their premium income as much as possible so that they can get a secure financial footing in the industry.
However, when you deal with bigger medical schemes like the Liberty medical aid you do not have to worry about this. These industry giants can easily absorb the financial impact that claims have on their finances. As a rule, medical aids should have a solvency ratio of twenty five percent. This figure shows whether the medical scheme in question will be able to pay claims or not. If the solvency ratio drops to below twenty percent it is advisable to stay away from such schemes.
Bigger medical aids also do not have any hidden terms and conditions. When you are dealing with a medical scheme industry leader, transparency is prevalent. Organisations like Liberty medical aid know that this niche is very competitive and sensitive. If people do not trust your advisors or your way of doing business, you will have to close your doors. These industry leaders understand the importance of transparency. Therefore, 'underwriting' takes place while the advisor sits with you. He asks a lot of questions so that he can give you a fair and accurate quotation based on the facts given. In this meeting you will know exactly how much commission and administration costs you pay per premium.
I know a lot of people want to save that extra $10 or $20 dollars when it comes to medical schemes. I have found that it is not worth it when you consider the risk you take just to save a couple of dollars. Stick with the leaders like Liberty medical aid and you will be safe.

Monday, March 19, 2012

How Do Medicare Benefits Compare To Other Medical Insurance Benefits?


As the cost of health care goes up for everyone, the cost for Medicare goes up for the government as well. To understand the changes that need to be made to Medicare to help it become solvent, it is a good idea to compare it to other programs available to Americans under the age of 65.
The Medicare doctors and hospitals are the same ones that everyone else uses. The difference is in how the services are paid for. While people can pay for these services out of their pockets, they usually pay for the medical expenses with insurance. Sometimes people get insurance through their employer. When that happens, they get whatever their employer is willing to pay for. Each year someone makes a decision about the benefits based on the price of the plan to the company. These companies make the decision about what they can afford. The plans with more benefits cost more than the ones with fewer benefits. The deductible is usually raised or lowered to adjust the monthly premium. The higher the deductible, the lower the cost. They also adjust the co payments for doctor visits and prescription drugs.
Individuals and families who purchase their own insurance make the same decisions before purchasing a plan. They can choose a low deductible to pay the doctors if they go to the hospital. But if they want to save money each month, they raise the deductible and the monthly premium will drop. If you don't go to the doctor much you can also eliminate the doctor office copayment and lower costs dramatically.
Medicare has these same components to its coverage. The deductible is around $1000 dollars for hospitals. This deductible is similar to the average individual and family plan, but it is not unusual to see higher deductibles of $2500 or even $5000. After the deductible is met, Medicare pays 100% of the rest of the hospital stay. Most insurance plans that people or businesses get will drop the co insurance after the deductible to 80%, 70%, or 50% instead of 100% coverage. This will lower the cost to them each month. These benefits are for hospital stays.
Prescription drugs are usually covered by individual, family, or employer plans with just a copayment. Medicare originally did not have a benefit for prescription drugs. In 2003 the Medicare Modernization Act offered a new Part D for prescription drugs. You could opt for a Medicare Advantage plan or purchase a separate prescription drug benefit plan as well. This benefit does not add much to Medicare because the cost is typically paid for by the recipient and not Medicare.
The doctors are covered with a deductible and co insurance on Medicare. You have an annual deductible of around $100 and then Medicare will pay 80% of the rest of the doctor bill. Most individual or employer plans offer co payments for doctor visits but some do not. This co payment adds cost to the plan.
Medicare is a great plan in comparison with other regular plans. It costs nearly nothing when compared with the monthly cost that most people are paying when they reach 65. Many people will even get short term health insurance plans to cover their catastrophic needs just to bridge the gap until they qualify for the great benefits Medicare offers at a low rate to the person.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Why Can't I Find Medical Insurance For My Children?


The Patient's Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was supposed to help children under the age of 18 to qualify for coverage without worrying about underwriting. While that was included in the law, as soon as it was implemented, the insurance companies stopped offering policies for dependents under 18. If you find yourself in need of covering a dependent there are ways you can get coverage. But it isn't simple like you might expect.
The best way to get coverage for a dependent is to actually put them on a parents' policy as a dependent. This is the only way to get the comprehensive types of plans that most people are familiar with. When I write comprehensive, I mean plans with copayments for doctor visits and prescription drugs. These plans are available to children and they do not have to worry about underwriting. However they do need to be on a plan with their parents or a parent. If the parent is already on a plan through an employer or their spouse's employer they need to decide if they are willing to come off of their plan and onto a plan with their children. The problem could be that the parent is not eligible for an individual plan.
Sometimes people find themselves between coverages and need coverage just for a few months. Short term health insurance plans are perfect for these situations. They are comprehensive major medical plans and approved by the department of insurance just like any other medical insurance plan you might be able to get. The drawback of these plans is that they are like the old comprehensive major medical plans. They will cover you or your children for any new illness or injury subject to a deductible and coinsurance. Since these plans do not typically have co payments for doctor visits or prescription drug plans they are much less than other plans. These temporary medical insurance plans are available for children under 18 too. So if you only need coverage for 6 months to 11 months, these plans will meet your needs for catastrophic coverage. The amount you save in premium payments each month will be more than enough to pay for any doctor visit you might need during that time out of your pocket. Just because you do not have insurance to pay for something like a doctor visit or prescription drug does not mean that you can not get it. If you don't go to the doctor at all then paying for the benefit each month would be a waste of money. If you don't go to the doctor much, consider this option to save you money and give your dependent the coverage they need if they need a policy just on themselves.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Three Tips to Get the Best Health Insurance Plan


Health insurance is a big industry - so big, that it's easy for an unsuspecting newcomer to get lost in it. But undoubtedly, it is an important part of living in a structured society. If you want to make sure that you are well taken-cared of when you have a medical emergency, you need to get yourself the best health insurance money can buy.
Of course, it is expected that not everyone will be able to afford themselves a high premium in this economy, and it really doesn't make sense to spend that much cash on something you can only use sometime in the future. Hence, most will have to make do of getting low cost health insurance while no threat is foreseeable. But even so, one must be able to get the best deal possible out of the providers, so you can maximize your investment's worth. To keep your choices open and minimize the costs entailed in paying premiums and prescriptions, here are some guidelines you ought to remember when getting coverage.
1. Negotiate your plan. Make sure that you know how much you are paying and what you are paying for before you sign up. Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of excess or co-payment options. Don't go for anything that entails both conditions during hospitalization. Then, go over the insurance payment policy regarding hospital admission, prescriptions, hospital delivery, as well as laboratory exams. It would be great if what you get covers a portion, if not all of it. Additionally, study how much the penalty charges would actually be if you miss payments, because you might just end up forfeiting your plan with the added charges.
2. Check the coverage. There are insurance firms that can only be used in certain states, or have limitations in other areas. There are those that can only be used individually and for the family. You have to see to it that the policy you acquire can uphold the same services wherever you are, for whoever the family member you specified. You could go do a research on reliable local companies for low-cost health insurance claims that complement your income bracket.
3. See who and what they are affiliated with. If you prefer a certain set of health professionals or a particular hospital, then, you should get health insurance that they honor, instead of any random policy. Certainly, you'd be more comfortable to entrust yourself with people you know and have a record of your health development. Don't be shy about using a broker in the process, as they can ably help you determine which of your choices offer the best health insurance plan that fits your budget.
Of course, it wouldn't hurt if you gather quotes on your own as well, so you could compare notes. Insurance companies are always available to cater to client questions and clarify uncertainties. You can never be too lenient considering the amount of money that is involved. In this day and age, it would be a smart decision to get an insurance plan for yourself and your loved ones. But, you also have to see to it that you make the "right kind" of smart decision.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

When Can I Get Medicare?


Medicare is the program the government created to allow people to get affordable insurance coverage for medical expenses they have when they are older. The reason this is necessary is all insurance is priced based on risk of a claim. The older people get the more likely they are to file a claim for a medical issue. Older Americans were being priced out of the market by expensive monthly premiums the moment that they needed it the most. People close to Medicare are paying the most for their medical insurance than anyone at any time. It is a good idea to know when you are eligible for Medicare so that you can begin to establish your coverage and save money on monthly premiums as soon as possible.
Medicare is currently available to individuals who are 65 years old. They will get their Medicare cards a few months before they turn 65. Every American will qualify for Medicare benefits the first day of the month that they turn 65. So if anyone wants to cancel their current coverage, they will need to wait until that date. For example, if your birthday was the fifth of June, your insurance will begin on June 1.
You will automatically be enrolled in Part A and it does not cost anything extra. Part B is an additional cost for doctor benefits but it will be automatically deducted from your social security check if you choose not to get it. Part A by itself is great for any large medical expense from the hospital or surgery. You will only have to pay a small deductible for the first 60 days in the hospital. Often this benefit that costs nothing is much better than the benefit that they had before they were eligible.
Part B costs extra but it will pay 80% of any doctor bill that you might have after a deductible. There is no out of pocket maximum but an 80% discount is a pretty good deal even if you still have to pay the remaining 20% for the doctor to get you healthy. Many people get supplements to pay the extra 20% or they get a Medicare Advantage plan that helps them with doctor visits. Both part A and part B will begin the first day of the month that they turn 65.
The time leading up to eligibility for Medicare can be difficult for people to make ends meet. For this reason, many people look to basic coverage to bridge the gap in medical insurance coverage. These people will opt for a short term insurance plan to cover for major medical issues until their plan starts. Americans can save hundreds of dollars a month with these plans. You can get quotes and information on how to save money with these temporary insurance plans until your Medicare starts on many websites. It doesn't take very long and you could save thousands of dollars over the 6 months you wait for Medicare to start.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Obtain Cheap Health Insurance Quotes Online


The best method of finding cheap health insurance quotes is through the internet. If one is searching for cheap quotes, the internet is the answer to that problem. There are many sites that deal with premium quotes. A customer can visit any site and find the type of quotes required. The online sites belong to the brokers who assist the customers to obtain the reliable and dependable companies. The brokers make it easy and fast when finding the insurance companies. They are reliable brokers because they only deal with insurance companies that have good reputations.
There are useful online websites that act as brokers for insurance companies. The process of comparing insurance quotes has been simplified due to the presence of online sites. Nowadays, it is easy to make comparisons of the insurance quotes since guides are available to assist customers. They provide customers with affordable insurance from firms with a good reputation. The entire process is done online while sitting at home taking a cup of tea. There is no need of moving or walking to the insurance companies. Online services have enabled everyone to access the insurance services from anywhere as long as there is the availability of computers and internet connection.
The websites are useful to customers in budgeting for the insurance services. By use of a free health insurance quote, customers can save a significant amount of money by use of these brokers. After getting a convenient insurance company, there is a possibility of a good budget and save money for other expenditures. This is your chance to take a step and get insurance cover against your health problems in the future.
It is easy to search for free quotes online since no hassling. People may wonder about the process of getting online free health insurance quote. It is as simple as typing the word free quotes and the search engine provides all the information. The search engine is reliable since it simplifies the task of finding health insurance companies. The insurance companies will first be displayed starting with the top companies. The online brokers assist in finding the cheap health insurance quotes that fit in ones budget. The websites are not only useful in finding cheap insurance services but also they assist in getting quality services. There is a need to make a comparison of the health quotes before settling for one. This will assist in making the best choice of insurance company.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Can I Get Medicare Before I Turn 65?


Medicare is intended to be a safety net for older Americans' medical needs. As people get older, they are more likely to have an expensive medical cost or procedure. Since insurance is priced based on risk, older people always paid much more for their insurance. At some point they get priced out of the market. For this reason Medicare is the insurance plan created for Americans once they reach the age of 65. In fact, no American can get another plan other than Medicare once they turn 65 because there are no private plans available domestically. Some people can get Medicare before turning 65. If you are on social security disability then you can qualify for Medicare benefits even before reaching the appropriate age.
The process to get onto social security disability benefits can take a long time to complete. The minimum that it generally takes to get on disability is two years under normal circumstances. If you are in a position that you just can no longer afford the premiums for the insurance, social security disability benefits is a solution, but it will not be a quick solution. To qualify you will need to meet several different criteria concerning your ability to work. Can you work any job? Can you work the job you are trained in? Will you be able to recover and go back to work the job the way you were before you were disabled. The social security office will be able to walk you through this process. If you have a difficult case, however, it is advisable to get an attorney to represent you and take you through the process.
Other than social security disability there are very few ways to claim your Medicare benefits before you turn 65. The first day of the month that you turn 65 you will be eligible for your benefits. However if you have difficulty paying for your medical benefits until Medicare starts there are some affordable solutions. These solutions are not for everyone. You could get a full major medical plan with co payments for doctor visits and prescription drugs, but that could be just as expensive as the plan that you currently have. Those plans also can be difficult to qualify for if you have medical issues. If you just need major medical coverage in the event that something catastrophic happens, you can do like many Americans do and purchase short term or temporary health insurance to cover for major incidents while waiting for the Medicare to start. These plans are great to bridge the gap between your current insurance and Medicare.
If you are not 65 and you are not on social security disability, consider a quote for short term health insurance to save money and cover any catastrophic issues the way any more expensive plan would.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Graduates Need Short Term Medical Insurance


When you graduate from college it is an exciting time. You have learned a lot from school and life. You will be moving away from friends you have made and defining yourselves based on your career choices. One thing that people often overlook is their medical insurance. Yes the new PPACA has allowed students to stay on their parents' policies until they are 26 whether or not they are in college. However you may be wasting your money on benefits you won't need if you keep the coverage that you had while you were on your parents' policy.
The policy graduates have been on usually are plans that their parents' employers pick out. The parent is happy with the plan because the employer pays most of the cost of the premium each month. These plans usually have great benefits because the owner of the company gets the same benefits as everyone else. These plans also fall into a category of plans that is tax deductible. So the premium that they pay for a policy through an employer is tax deductible for the employer, but not the employee.
These plans have great benefits and are great if someone else pays for the bill. The problem is that when you add dependents such as children or spouses, the employer no longer pays 100% of those costs like they used to. They may pay a portion of the dependent benefits. But often these days the employer only offers the option for the employee to purchase the plans with the entire cost paid by the employee. This can still be a good deal if you have chronic medical conditions or many dependents to be covered. But if you only have one dependent to cover who is generally healthy, there are likely better options for coverage.
Many people opt for catastrophic coverage to bridge the gap between graduation and their first job with benefits. Such plans are known as short term health insurance plans. These plans are simple issue and coverage can begin as early as midnight of the night you apply. The underwriting is a bunch of medical questions that you answer yes or no to according to whether or not you have the issues. Since they do not look at medical records other than what you answer on the application, the process is simple. The savings can be huge though. Some people maintain their catastrophic coverage with a low deductible and save several hundred dollars each month. Short term health insurance plans are great for people between jobs or waiting for benefits to start. If you are graduating it is a great time to consider your alternative options to maintain great coverage at a much lower cost.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) Cuts Agents Referral Program


As part of the health care reform law, the government implemented a high risk pool called Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, or known as PCIP. It was created for those who currently cannot be approved for standard health insurance. This could mean declined from coverage, a major health issue such as cancer, or the carrier excludes conditions that normally would be covered if you did not already have it.
The program was having problems with their enrollment numbers up to May of 2011. This is when they called upon the agents to assist with the enrollment by offering a referral fee. After a dramatic push by the agents and exceeding expectations, PCIP decided to discontinue the referral program for the insurance agents. Like a bad blind date, after PCIP got what they wanted, they left the agents high and dry.
This is the power and expertise that insurance agents bring to the table. The PCIP knew this and took advantage of the agents and then cut it off. Some of the health insurance agents feel they will do the same once healthcare reform is fully implemented in 2014. This will leave the agents, again, high and dry. One agent has said, "You laugh, health insurance agents had to cut back to Ramen noodles to feed their families and insurance companies are wining and dining on Wall Street. Not so fast for the politicians, they get bonus points, if you will, for reelection by going with the job killing program." Pretty emotional statement, I must say. Many other agents feel the same way.
The PCIP was put in the healthcare reform bill in 2010. After struggling to get the program off the ground, they reached out to health insurance agents to achieve their enrollment goals. By the end of 2011, they reached a total enrollment of 48,879. This is more than double of the enrollments from the year prior with no incentive program for the health insurance agents. Thanks to the hard work from the health insurance agents, the PCIP program no longer needs their support.
The big question is, Do health insurance agents stand a chance against political power and the insurance companies beyond 2014? The industry may move to non-experienced order takers. Like a group of people willing to take minimum wage and health benefits. All of us may be going to McDonald's(R) or Burger King (R) to pick up a health insurance plan. Some of the industry experts may possibly move to a consultative business model and charge a fee for their services and expertise. It may add an additional cost to the employers, however, they know they will be getting the industries best advice based on their company's needs and wants.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Young Graduates Save Money With Short Term Insurance


Lots of promising young adults are graduating from college or high school this month. Among the many new responsibilities that many will need to deal with, health insurance can be one of the most important things. While they are eligible to maintain their current insurance plans with their parents, they may be able to keep all the coverage that they need without spending so much for their parents' medical insurance package.
The PPACA or Patient's Protection and Affordable Care Act that was passed by congress allows all children to stay on their parents' policy until they are 26 years old. This is great if they are sick and not eligible for another plan. The plans often are much more expensive than plans that they can get on their own. It would be worth considering shopping around for other individual policies to save money until they get established in an occupation. Once they get a job with benefits they can cancel any plan at any time with no penalty.
Most of the time young people are healthy and do not need the extra benefits that usually come with the family plan. There are policies for individuals that have as good of benefits as any other plan. The problem is that those plans cost so much more than the major medical plans with fewer bells and whistles. Generally when you get a plan from your employer you are required to accept the benefits that they choose or opt out of the coverage altogether. Employees generally can not pick and choose which benefits they will want to keep and which ones they could do without. If they get rid of the benefits that they might not use, they could save a lot of money each month.
Lots of young people won't go to the doctor unless they are extremely sick. Especially guys are this way. If you look at your medical history and have not been to a doctor for a check up in several years, then a co payment for a doctor visit might be something you could do without. The copayment for doctor visits and prescription drugs are nice, but they cost a lot of money each month if you are not going to the doctor or taking prescription medications.
For young and healthy people, the most important thing is to have the hospitalization, emergency room, and major surgeries covered. If you go to the doctor you can always pay out of your pocket for the visit. If they get into a car accident or other unforeseen tragic event that causes hospitalization for several days or weeks, that is what they will need covered. Short term insurance plans save money and provide coverage for these emergency major medical plans until they get benefits with a new employer in a new occupation.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Advantages Of An HSA For Pre-Medicare Years


What do I mean by pre-Medicare?
Most Americans qualify for Medicare health insurance benefits at age sixty-five. But medical insurance rates really tend to rise after we reach our fiftieth birthday.
A new term has been coined to describe older folks who are still too young for these government health benefits, but feel the pinch of rising medical plan premiums. In case you are wondering, the term has no official meaning that I know of, but it might mean something to millions of people in that age group who need to find their own health benefits.
Is there a way to find inexpensive medical coverage from age fifty to sixty-four?
Actually, if you need to purchase your policy on the private market, and you are over fifty, you are probably not going to find "cheap" rates. You may find an affordable and sensible medical plan that you can live with.
What Are Health Savings Accounts (HSA)?
The medical plans actually come in two parts that work together to help people control their medical costs.
  • The first part is a real savings account. This account is used to save money to use for out of pocket health costs. Some examples of these costs are deductibles, copayments, and qualified expenses that are not covered by major medical. Some of these will give you a debit card that can be used with the account whenever you need to pay for qualified services.
  • The second part of the plan is a real major medical health insurance policy. These policies may have higher deductibles. This also helps control costs because, all things being equal, a higher deductible policy should be cheaper and easier to get accepted for.
How does this plan account help people control costs?
  • Contributions to your account are tax deductible within limits set by the Internal Revenue Service. This means you can pay for your expenses with pre-tax money.
  • Some of these accounts actually pay out interest on the unused balance.
  • The balance can roll over from year to year. You do not lose your money if you do not spend it.
  • At retirement, you can withdraw unused money without penalty. If you do not have high expenses, and you saved more than you spent, you are free to use the money for your retirement years.
What are some advantages for your pre-retirement years of this type of medical plan?
Hopefully, after reading my outline, you can understand why HSA plans are good for many older people. They can help you reduce your taxes, control your health costs, and maybe even save money for retirement.
That is not to say that these plans are the perfect solution for everybody. As you have probably already figured out, the savings account will not do you any good if you never put any money in. If you are concerned about your ability to actually save money, and would rather pay a bill, another type of policy may be better for you. If you cannot really use an extra tax deduction, those benefits may not help you much either.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Importance of Private Medical Insurance


Private medical insurance is an insurance arrangement that offers individuals an alternative from the normal NHS treatment. It is an insurance medical policy that is personalized to suit the different needs that people have as far as their health is concerned. This arrangement has continued to attract great numbers of people because it has proved to be very important in ensuring that they get the much needed healthcare.
NHS is normally associated with too much waiting that can be costly and there are people who will also complain about the cleanliness standards. With the private medical insurance, one can be sure to get the very best of healthcare when the need calls. This insurance cover comes in different forms based on the different ailments and situations that could easily lead to the need to have instant medical care.
The insurance does not completely replace NHS services but is designed as a back plan for individuals to ensure that they are well taken care of when they need help the most. There are various insurance providers out there offering the insurance. The covers are therefore quite in plenty and come in all kinds and forms. You will need to ensure that you settle for the very best company as well as the right private medical insurance which is bound to come in handy during those critical times.
Fortunately, there are independent insurance websites out there offering impartial advice to those looking for the medical cover as well as expose them to the different covers suitable for their situations. The services make it easier for individuals to find the best private medical cover to go for suitable enough to meet with their needs as well as budgets. With so many options made available by the insurance companies, there is something for everyone in this regard.
You will normally get the help of the brokers whose role is to search the market for the best deals hence making it easier for you to make the best choice. Most of the sites will offer the services free of charge and you do not therefore have to feel obligated to select the quotes offered. The best thing about such sites is that they have access to some of the best private medical insurance deals in the market and you will manage to get everything that you need at once.
In most cases, they will require you to fill an application form with details on what you are looking for and they will get out there to find the most suitable deals for you.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Management of Information Under HIPAA Laws - 4 Things


The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is concerned mainly with individuals and information concerning their health and insurance. It has enacted several laws to control the different situations where such information or individuals come in contact with certain parties called covered entities for particular purposes.
The following points will tell you more about the information involved and the provisions in the HIPAA laws for effective management of the same.
• Information: Information of a person includes all data that can identify the particular individual. Personal information will comprise of the name address, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, social security number and date of birth. In addition all physical and mental health information from the past, present and future will be included. Furthermore data related to the health insurance, payment for any treatment received and other billing details will be incorporated. Such information is required by certain entities for administering proper treatment and processing your insurance. The information can be written, or be stored in an electronic format on a computer or may also be communicated verbally.
• Entities: Every individual will like to keep sensitive information to themselves; however you will be required to divulge such information to a handful of entities. These will mainly consist of healthcare providers like hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and professionals like doctors and psychologists who will need the data if they are to provide you with proper treatment. Similarly a health plan which includes insurance companies, company health plans or even government plans will require such information for managing your insurance and settling any claims. HIPAA has listed all such covered entities that access your data and requires them to follow a stringent set of rules so that only the bare minimum data is collected for the purposes that are specified beforehand.
• Communication: HIPAA laws further protect your information by asking the covered entities to take a number of precautions when storing and transacting such data. This includes allowing only the concerned personnel or entities to access sensitive information and taking the necessary safeguards against any unauthorized access during transmission. The law not only covers data in physical and electronic format but also what is conveyed verbally. Thus personnel like nurses, doctors and other hospital staff has to be equally careful when sharing such information.
• Personal Understanding: Educating yourself about the relevant HIPAA laws that affect you is the most effective way to protect personal information. You must ask the covered entity for a copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices (NOPP) which will tell you how your data will be managed and used. Also you will understand the scenarios where such information can be disclosed without your authorization and when your consent will be needed. In this way you will know if any violation has taken place and can approach the entity or higher authority to rectify the situation.
If you find it difficult to understand the HIPAA laws you can approach the entity and seek clarification, either way ensure that you keep track on how your data is being managed.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Protecting Your Employees' Health: A Must-Know Guide to Business Medical Insurance


Office space, check. Computers, check. Stationery, check. When you start up a business, sometimes there can be so many things to think about that important aspects can get overlooked. Like business medical insurance for example.
Business medical insurance, or group health insurance can help to protect your employees in the event of injury or illness. From an employer's point of view, the benefits of keeping your employees healthy are clear. The average annual sickness costs equate to £692 per employee which is undoubtedly a significant hit to businesses especially SMEs.
Many companies opt for business healthcare plans in order to counteract costs to the business incurred by staff absences due to sickness. It can also help to eliminate the issue of NHS waiting lists. If you are considering insuring your business' health, it is important to weigh up the pros and cons.
The advantages:
  • It can work as an appealing employee benefit. Many other businesses offer medical insurance as part of their benefits package therefore it can help to boost staff morale and potentially improve staff retention.

  • Employees often have the option to choose the specialist that treats them and where they receive their treatment, with hospital choices often spreading nationwide which can enhance the convenience factor.

  • The treatments are often carried out in the ambient surroundings with private rooms, internet access, a television and a high standard of service throughout.

  • A good medical insurance package for your employees can help to reduce absenteeism due to sickness as health issues are often treated faster than they would be on the NHS.

  • Most providers offer a range of different packages and additional options for example, you could opt for alternative therapies or psychiatric care as a supplementary offering or you could make savings by looking at 'six week wait options' - packages that will offer treatments privately if the NHS waiting time is longer than 6 weeks.

  • You can also choose 'excess' options where your employee pays a contribution per claim or per year in order to reduce costs and lessen the risk of idle claims being made.
The disadvantages:
  • Employees may not be covered for all treatments or medical issues therefore it is important to fully review the policies before agreement and also to reiterate this to employees.

  • Essentially with medical insurance, you get what you pay for. Therefore typically the higher level of package you choose, the better covered you will be. With some of the cheaper packages, you may find that you are only covered for a limited number of health issues.

  • It can be costly. Some medical insurance packages are very costly, others are more reasonable. It is important that you review and compare the market effectively in order to find the best option to suit your business' needs.

  • There are hundreds of different packages on the market from hundreds of different providers. It could prove beneficial to seek independent financial advice to assist you in making the right choice.
How to obtain
As with buying any product, you will want purchase the best option for your circumstances which provides the greatest value for money. With ample offerings on the market from many different private medical insurance providers, finding the best option can prove challenging. Seeking advice from a firm of medical insurance brokers could offer you the required information and provide you with a quote for your needs.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Pre-Existing Conditions and Health Insurance


One concern that many Americans have when applying for health insurance is whether they will be penalized for having a pre-existing condition. Unfortunately, many Americans do not have perfect health histories, and this can greatly affect the coverage they can receive. Health insurance companies are businesses, and an already at-risk patient can negatively affect their bottom line. This can make it very difficult for individuals with certain illnesses or issues to get adequate insurance without paying significantly more. Healthcare reforms have passed to make this less of a concern for individuals seeking insurance in the future, but the bulk of those reforms have not gone into law yet.
What Is It Exactly?
A pre-existing condition is a health condition that was known to exist before you applied for insurance coverage. They can be as serious as a life-threatening disease like cancer or heart disease, or they can be as common as allergies or asthma. The definition of exactly what a pre-existing condition is can vary by insurance company or by state, so it is important to check with your provider about their restrictions before signing up.
Why Does It Matter?
From an insurance company's point of view, a pre-existing condition can mean that the patient is more likely to seek out treatment, especially for that condition, than a healthy person would. That automatically means that the insurance company will have to pay more for that patient. From a business standpoint, it makes more sense to either offer insurance only to healthy individuals or to place restrictions on individuals with less-than-perfect health to ensure that they're worth the extra money.
How Can It Affect My Coverage?
Unfortunately, having a pre-existing condition can negatively affect your coverage for now. Depending on the company and your health issue, you may be denied coverage, have to undergo a waiting period before your coverage will start, pay higher premiums, or have a higher deductible. Your insurance company can also place restrictions on your care received for your condition, including not covering any healthcare concerning the health issue for a period of time (up to 18 months).
Healthcare Reform
For individuals with pre-existing conditions, the healthcare reforms signed into law in 2010 have a major impact on your ability to both get insurance and avoid the current pre-existing condition clauses. In 2014, laws go into effect that prohibit insurance companies from denying service and denying claims based on health issues that were already present. The law will also prohibit insurers from implementing special conditions like higher premiums and higher payments for individuals who have pre-existing conditions. Some aspects of these laws have already gone into effect for children who were under age 19 in 2010. Children can no longer be denied coverage on their parents' insurance based on pre-existing condition.