Workers Health Insurance

What is Short Term Health Insurance?

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:22:58 +0000

Health insurance is usually meant for a long period of time, but there is such a thing as short term health insurance. This kind of health insurance is meant to be a stop gap measure. Sometimes, there is a short period of time in between the renewal of standard health insurance policies. Alternatively, when one decides to change providers, there might be a short period – several months at least – wherein the individual does not have health coverage.

Why is it necessary to take out short term health insurance?

You never really know what might happen in the months between your old and your new standard health insurance policy. Taking out a short term insurance policy can give you the security that you need.

It is important to remember, though, that you should not see short term health insurance as a substitute for standard policies. This kind of insurance is usually non-renewable anyway, so you will really have to rely on standard policies.

In the next post, let’s take a deeper look at short term health insurance.

If It Looks Good Eat It

admin — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:11:36 +0000

That’s a familiar catch phrase that one TV host says every time he travels the globe in search for foods from all places and races. Food has a specific way of making the human body feel, being one of the most basic needs, food is one thing that’s cheap and yet so satisfying to most people. May it be in North America or the markets of Asia, msg has been around for centuries making food tastier than it really is. May they be scraps or prime cuts of any meat, they would all taste the same thanks to msg.
So why all the fuss about the food additive? Some say it has ill effects and some say it doesn’t. But what do the experts say? It is safe for use as a food additive that should follow proper use and handling. As with any other spice/condiment it does need proper use for it to properly do its work without doing harm. Many claim they are msg free, but that cup noodle or take out dinner you had, it’s sure to have some msg for it makes all of these comfort foods possible quickly.

Factors to Consider in Choosing Health Insurance – Part 2

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:10:27 +0000

In the previous post, we took a look at several tips that can aid you in your quest for an affordable health insurance policy. Let us take at a few more to complete the series.

1. Ask for a trial.
While this may not have occurred to you at first, it is possible to ask for a free trial from some health insurance policies. While not all health care insurance providers will say yes to your request, there will be those that will do. With a free trial period, you’ll get to know more about the provider and the policy.

2. Opt for a Health Savings Account instead.
If you’re healthy and do not really go to the doctor often, you might want to opt for an HSA instead. This account can save you some money as well, and when you turn 65, you can withdraw what you haven’t used.

3. Don’t be afraid to negotiate.
At the end of the day, when you’ve found several choices, you will need to negotiate for the right price and terms.

Factors to Consider in Choosing Health Insurance – Part 1

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:46:56 +0000

Health insurance is all but necessary these days. Finding one that is affordable and yet offers ample coverage is not a joking matter, though. Still, it is not an impossible task. In this post and the next, let us take a look at some factors that you should consider when looking for a health insurance provider. They will help you lower your costs.

1. Location, location, location
Healthcare insurance costs and coverage vary from one state to another. Of course, you have to take out an insurance policy where you reside, but the idea is for you to take a look at all – if possible – providers in your state.

2. What are your priorities?
Do you have preferences when it comes to your doctors or are you willing to go to other doctors? If you are okay with the latter, you may be able to find a cheaper provider.

3. Don’t shy away from brokers.
Brokers have more information than you. They also probably have more resources than you do. You might want to consider taking on their services in order to find a provider.

4 Important Health Insurance Terms You Need to Understand

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:14:20 +0000

You may have had health insurance coverage for most of your life, but it doesn’t mean that you know everything there is to know about it. Indeed, a lot of people have gone on without really understanding their policy – and this is something that should not be. To help you increase your understanding of health insurance, here are four of the most important terms that you ought to know.

Copayments
Each time you pay a visit to the doctor or you have a prescription filled, you pay a small amount. This amount is called a copayment. This is a flat fee determined by your health insurance plan.

Deductible
The deductible is the amount that you would have to pay annually prior to your health insurance policy kicking in. Once you’ve reached your deductible, your health insurance provider will start paying for health services.

Coinsurance
After you have met your deductible, you may still have to pay a fraction of the cost of health services. In most cases, this is 20 percent to 30 percent of what the health plan approves.

Out-of-pocket Expenses
This term is used to refer to the first three terms. The higher your out-of-pocket expenses, the lower your monthly premiums are.

How to Maintain Health Insurance When Unemployed

admin — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 09:09:46 +0000

When looking for a job, many people place utmost importance on health insurance benefits. Having your employer pay for the premiums – whether in part or in whole – is definitely a big plus. What if you lose your job? Is there a way to maintain health insurance coverage?

If you have a spouse who is employed, you have the option to switch coverage to her/him. This is not always applicable, however, as the health insurance provider/company of the employed spouse may not have options for dependents. This is one thing that you should immediately look at.

Another option is to take a closer look at COBRA. This law requires your employer to give you the option to continue the coverage you have while employed. Of course, when you lose your job for one reason or another, you will have to pay the premiums yourself. You have to make the decision soon as COBRA applies only for a limited period of time after loss of employment.

Are Mail Order Drugs Worth It?

admin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:51:51 +0000

The answer is a simple YES. Mail order drugs may not be the conventional way of purchasing medication, but they bring about great benefits.

One, it is very convenient to purchase your medication this way. You can order a refill anytime of the day – or night, for that matter. More so, you can get 90 days worth of medication as compared to the usual 30-day supply from brick and mortar pharmacies.

Two, you can make some savings. In some cases, health insurance providers may offer lower copayments for medication that you get via mail order.

Of course, there are downsides. You have to be sure that the online drugstore is reputable. There are so many scams out there today. You also have to order in advance as delivery may sometimes get delayed for one reason or another.

At the end of the day, it really is up to you, but give mail order drugs a try.

How to Save Money on Medication

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:39:21 +0000

When you get ill, the chances are you are going to need prescription medicine. Some health insurance policies cover medication, but even those that do may not cover the entire cost. That is why it is important that you find ways to save on medication.

The first thing that you can do is to talk to your doctor about it. Let him or her know that you want to make some savings. He or she can then prescribe a cheaper alternative. You can also ask for the generic version of the drug. This can help you save up to 80% in some cases!

More so, look at your options when it comes to pharmacies. Some pharmacies – whether online or not – have lower prices than others. If you are dealing with a chronic illness, it also pays to buy in bulk. In many cases, you will make extra savings by buying more in one go.

Why You Shouldn’t Go Direct to the Carrier

admin — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:15:50 +0000

When you are shopping around for a health insurance policy, how do you go about it? Some experts suggest that, whatever you do, do not go direct to the carrier. Does this make sense? After all, aren’t you going to be making some savings if you get rid of the middle man?

The reasoning behind this is that if you give carriers a call, the chances are that you will be dealing with a Customer Service Representative. Now, not all CSRs are inept, but their training is limited, and they may not be able to give you all the information that you need to make a truly informed decision. More so, their calls are timed, so they may give you inaccurate, incomplete, or erroneous information.

That’s where agents come in handy. These people can deal with you face to face. These people are heavily trained in their field. Chances are, you’ll get better advice from agent.

Getting to Know COBRA

admin — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 11:47:33 +0000

No, it is not the dreaded snake. COBRA is actually a law – not a health insurance company, as many mistakenly think it is. Short for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, COBRA serves to protect employees in terms of continued health insurance coverage in case of any changes in the status of employment.

In many cases, if an employee gets terminated or laid off, the health insurance coverage also stops. With COBRA, most employers are required to temporarily continue to offer the group health coverage. The periods covered are:

• 18 months for employees and dependents if loss of coverage is due to termination or reduction of hours
• 29 months for employees and dependents if loss of coverage is due to disability (within 60 days of COBRA coverage)
• 26 months for dependents if loss of coverage is due to death of the employee or due to divorce/legal separation.

Watch this video for more information.