Friends of mine never considered buying individual health insurance for themselves or their four children. It's too expensive they always complained. Danny and Brenda both have jobs. Danny is an independent contractor, picking up work when he can. Brenda is a high school teacher who declined the health insurance plan offered by her school because she didn't want any extra money taken out of her paycheck. So the family decided to go without any medical coverage.
Four winters ago, the family went on a snow skiing trip to Utah. Danny hit a tree and suffered multiple shattered bones. Luckily his skull remained intact. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital and spent ten days there until he was able to make the trip back home. The helicopter lift, emergency room care, and multiple surgeries within that ten day period amounted to well over $100,000. Since Danny had no health insurance coverage, he was responsible for the entire bill.
After he got home, infection set in and he had to return to the emergency room for more care. Since he still had no health insurance coverage, he was responsible for that bill as well. He couldn't afford the cost of physical therapy, so he made a very slow and painful recovery. He currently still walks with a limp.
Without any medical insurance, all the services and prescription drug costs were billed to Danny and Brenda. They made five or six payments and then realized they would never get out from under the mountain of debt. They declared bankruptcy. Needless to say, their credit score took a nosedive.
The best thing that's come out of this story is that the family now has health insurance. They decided to buy into a POS, which is a managed health care plan. It works well for them and the kids. The greatest thing they have is peace of mind. They know they will all be covered for minor things as well as more serious medical problems.
Buying individual health insurance for you and your family doesn't have to be expensive. Compare different plans to find what suits your needs. Get peace of mind.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Health Insurance Co-Payment Increases
Some health services bring great benefits to patients. Physical therapy is one of them. During a patient's hospital stay after surgery or injury, physical therapy is often the first step toward a person's road to recovery. Once they go home, therapy continues to aid the patient's full recovery. But some health insurance companies are raising the co-payment rates for outpatient physical therapy services and freezing out its policy holders from getting the care they need.
Once a patient is discharged home from the hospital, they may require additional physical therapy to make sure they recover safely and correctly. The goal is to return the person to their prior level of activity (or better) before the hospitalization and to make them as functionally independent as possible. The therapy may take place in an outpatient setting or in the patient's home, depending on the patient's level of activity and mobility.
For instance, many patients who have a total knee replacement surgery require several physical therapy sessions after hospital discharge to help increase knee range of motion (bending and straightening) and strength. Without it, they never regain full mobility and flexibility.
Physical therapy has shown outcomes that reduce a patient's need for medications, imaging, injections and surgery. This saves the health insurance company more money in the long run.
In New York State, physical therapists have been classified as specialists by health insurance companies and therefore the co-payments have risen to specialist rates. It makes it impossible for some patients to afford the $50 or $60 or $70 co-payment 2-3 times a week. It seems like these companies are going to be losing more money in the long run when their patients have to return for additional medical care that could have been reduced or eliminated through the help of physical therapy. New York State physical therapists are going to Albany to fight for new laws that will reduce a patient's co-payments for services.
Before buying individual health insurance, make sure you read and understand all the benefits, deductibles, co-payments, and premiums that go along with the medical plan.
Once a patient is discharged home from the hospital, they may require additional physical therapy to make sure they recover safely and correctly. The goal is to return the person to their prior level of activity (or better) before the hospitalization and to make them as functionally independent as possible. The therapy may take place in an outpatient setting or in the patient's home, depending on the patient's level of activity and mobility.
For instance, many patients who have a total knee replacement surgery require several physical therapy sessions after hospital discharge to help increase knee range of motion (bending and straightening) and strength. Without it, they never regain full mobility and flexibility.
Physical therapy has shown outcomes that reduce a patient's need for medications, imaging, injections and surgery. This saves the health insurance company more money in the long run.
In New York State, physical therapists have been classified as specialists by health insurance companies and therefore the co-payments have risen to specialist rates. It makes it impossible for some patients to afford the $50 or $60 or $70 co-payment 2-3 times a week. It seems like these companies are going to be losing more money in the long run when their patients have to return for additional medical care that could have been reduced or eliminated through the help of physical therapy. New York State physical therapists are going to Albany to fight for new laws that will reduce a patient's co-payments for services.
Before buying individual health insurance, make sure you read and understand all the benefits, deductibles, co-payments, and premiums that go along with the medical plan.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Do I Really Need Health Insurance?
Buying individual health insurance may be one of the smartest choices you make in your lifetime. Regardless of how healthy you are, you can never plan for an accident. A trip and fall can result in a broken bone. You may be a safe driver, but there are thousands of drivers on the road everyday who are distracted or impaired. It only takes a split second for one of them to plow into your vehicle and land you in the hospital. Even if you aren't seriously injured and you're lucky enough to be released from the emergency room the same day, you're looking at thousands of dollars in medical bills. The ambulance ride alone can cost several hundred dollars.
If you have children, the need for health insurance increases. Immunizations and childhood illnesses can be costly without coverage. It's not unusual for kids to break a bone or incur some other type of injury during play, especially if they're involved in organized sports.
Without health insurance coverage, people are reluctant to seek medical care when they are sick or injured. They feel they can get better on their own without paying to see a doctor. Eventually, their condition worsens and by they time they eventually seek medical help, they are much sicker than they would have been had they gone earlier. This can be especially dangerous for infants and children because their young systems can't fight off illnesses as well.
You don't have to spend a fortune when buying individual health insurance. Do your research and find a plan that suits the needs of you and your family.
If you have children, the need for health insurance increases. Immunizations and childhood illnesses can be costly without coverage. It's not unusual for kids to break a bone or incur some other type of injury during play, especially if they're involved in organized sports.
Without health insurance coverage, people are reluctant to seek medical care when they are sick or injured. They feel they can get better on their own without paying to see a doctor. Eventually, their condition worsens and by they time they eventually seek medical help, they are much sicker than they would have been had they gone earlier. This can be especially dangerous for infants and children because their young systems can't fight off illnesses as well.
You don't have to spend a fortune when buying individual health insurance. Do your research and find a plan that suits the needs of you and your family.
Monday, April 26, 2010
What Are Health Insurance Deductibles?
When you begin your search for affordable medical coverage, you need to determine what your health insurance deductibles will be when you sign up for a plan.
What are Health Insurance Deductibles?
A deductible is the amount you must pay for medical services before your health insurance coverage takes effect (similar to car insurance deductibles). For instance, if your deductible is $1,000 for the year and you get a hospital bill for $4,000, you are responsible for paying the first $1,000 out of pocket and your insurance company will cover the rest. But you may also incur additional fees if your health plan includes you paying a percentage of all hospital stays. Many plans have an 80/20 arrangement. They pay 80% of "reasonable costs" and you pay the other 20%. Reasonable costs are determined by your insurance company. Deductibles can range from $1,000 to as high as $5,000. Usually, the higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premiums will be. Adversely, a lower deductible means higher premiums.
Deductibles are a way for insurance companies to offset their costs. That's why higher deductibles mean lower premiums for the policy holder.
Health insurance deductibles may vary within a policy. You may have a $1,000 deductible for surgery or hospital stays, but your deductible for prescription medications or physical therapy services may be much lower.
What Are Co-payments ?
Some health plans require a co-payment for a doctor visit, xray, MRI, prescriptions, hospital stays, and other various services. It can be as little as $5 or as much as $250, depending on the type of service, your monthly premiums, and the benefits of your plan. These fees are not associated with your deductible. Under most plans, you can't apply your co-payments to meet your deductible.
What Are Premiums?
Premiums are the monthly, quarterly, or annual fee you pay to remain insured under your health insurance policy. Usually, the lower your fees are the less coverage you will receive, or the higher your deductible will be.
How to Choose a Health Insurance Plan
First, determine what you are willing to pay. If you have a spouse and children you will end up paying more.
How much are the premiums, deductibles, and the co-payments?
Can you afford the deductibles? (the amount you have to pay before your insurance coverage takes effect)
If you take a lot of prescription medications, is there a high deductible or co-payment?
If you choose a PPO or POS, check their list of hospitals within the network to determine if they are acceptable to you.
There are many things to consider before buying individual health insurance. Compare benefits and options before making a decision.
What are Health Insurance Deductibles?
A deductible is the amount you must pay for medical services before your health insurance coverage takes effect (similar to car insurance deductibles). For instance, if your deductible is $1,000 for the year and you get a hospital bill for $4,000, you are responsible for paying the first $1,000 out of pocket and your insurance company will cover the rest. But you may also incur additional fees if your health plan includes you paying a percentage of all hospital stays. Many plans have an 80/20 arrangement. They pay 80% of "reasonable costs" and you pay the other 20%. Reasonable costs are determined by your insurance company. Deductibles can range from $1,000 to as high as $5,000. Usually, the higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premiums will be. Adversely, a lower deductible means higher premiums.
Deductibles are a way for insurance companies to offset their costs. That's why higher deductibles mean lower premiums for the policy holder.
Health insurance deductibles may vary within a policy. You may have a $1,000 deductible for surgery or hospital stays, but your deductible for prescription medications or physical therapy services may be much lower.
What Are Co-payments ?
Some health plans require a co-payment for a doctor visit, xray, MRI, prescriptions, hospital stays, and other various services. It can be as little as $5 or as much as $250, depending on the type of service, your monthly premiums, and the benefits of your plan. These fees are not associated with your deductible. Under most plans, you can't apply your co-payments to meet your deductible.
What Are Premiums?
Premiums are the monthly, quarterly, or annual fee you pay to remain insured under your health insurance policy. Usually, the lower your fees are the less coverage you will receive, or the higher your deductible will be.
How to Choose a Health Insurance Plan
First, determine what you are willing to pay. If you have a spouse and children you will end up paying more.
How much are the premiums, deductibles, and the co-payments?
Can you afford the deductibles? (the amount you have to pay before your insurance coverage takes effect)
If you take a lot of prescription medications, is there a high deductible or co-payment?
If you choose a PPO or POS, check their list of hospitals within the network to determine if they are acceptable to you.
There are many things to consider before buying individual health insurance. Compare benefits and options before making a decision.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Privacy Policy
Our Commitment To Privacy
Your privacy is important to us. To better protect your privacy we provide this notice explaining our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way your information is collected and used. To make this notice easy to find, we make it available on our homepage and at every point where personally identifiable information may be requested.
The Information We Collect:
This notice applies to all information collected or submitted on this website. On some pages, you can order products, make requests, and register to receive materials. The types of personal information collected at these pages are:
- Name
- Email address
On some pages, you can submit information about other people. For example, if you want to sent information regarding our services directly to another recipient, you will need to submit the recipient's name and email address. In this circumstance, the types of personal information used (but not kept) are:
- Name
- Email Address
The Way We Use Information:
We use the information you provide about yourself when placing a request/order only to complete that request/order. We do not share this information with outside parties unless required to do so by law.
We use the information you provide about someone else to inform them of our services. We do not share this information with outside parties unless required to do so by law.
We use return email addresses to answer the email we receive. Such addresses are not used for any other purpose and are not shared with outside parties.
You can register with our website if you would like to receive information as well as updates on our new products and services. Information you submit on our website will not be used for this purpose unless you fill out the registration form.
We use non-identifying and aggregate information to better design our website and to share with advertisers. For example, we may tell an advertiser that X number of individuals visited a certain area on our website, or that Y number of men and Z number of women filled out our registration form, but we would not disclose anything that could be used to identify those individuals.
Finally, we never use or share the personally identifiable information provided to us online in ways unrelated to the ones described above without also providing you an opportunity to opt-out or otherwise prohibit such unrelated uses.
Our Commitment To Data Security
To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.
Our Commitment To Children's Privacy:
Protecting the privacy of the very young is especially important. For that reason, we never collect or maintain information at our website from those we actually know are under 13, and no part of our website is structured to attract anyone under 13.
How You Can Access Or Correct Your Information
You can access all your personally identifiable information that we collect online and maintain by contacting us here We use this procedure to better safeguard your information.
You can correct factual errors in your personally identifiable information by sending us a request that credibly shows error.
To protect your privacy and security, we will also take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.
Your privacy is important to us. To better protect your privacy we provide this notice explaining our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way your information is collected and used. To make this notice easy to find, we make it available on our homepage and at every point where personally identifiable information may be requested.
The Information We Collect:
This notice applies to all information collected or submitted on this website. On some pages, you can order products, make requests, and register to receive materials. The types of personal information collected at these pages are:
- Name
- Email address
On some pages, you can submit information about other people. For example, if you want to sent information regarding our services directly to another recipient, you will need to submit the recipient's name and email address. In this circumstance, the types of personal information used (but not kept) are:
- Name
- Email Address
The Way We Use Information:
We use the information you provide about yourself when placing a request/order only to complete that request/order. We do not share this information with outside parties unless required to do so by law.
We use the information you provide about someone else to inform them of our services. We do not share this information with outside parties unless required to do so by law.
We use return email addresses to answer the email we receive. Such addresses are not used for any other purpose and are not shared with outside parties.
You can register with our website if you would like to receive information as well as updates on our new products and services. Information you submit on our website will not be used for this purpose unless you fill out the registration form.
We use non-identifying and aggregate information to better design our website and to share with advertisers. For example, we may tell an advertiser that X number of individuals visited a certain area on our website, or that Y number of men and Z number of women filled out our registration form, but we would not disclose anything that could be used to identify those individuals.
Finally, we never use or share the personally identifiable information provided to us online in ways unrelated to the ones described above without also providing you an opportunity to opt-out or otherwise prohibit such unrelated uses.
Our Commitment To Data Security
To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.
Our Commitment To Children's Privacy:
Protecting the privacy of the very young is especially important. For that reason, we never collect or maintain information at our website from those we actually know are under 13, and no part of our website is structured to attract anyone under 13.
How You Can Access Or Correct Your Information
You can access all your personally identifiable information that we collect online and maintain by contacting us here We use this procedure to better safeguard your information.
You can correct factual errors in your personally identifiable information by sending us a request that credibly shows error.
To protect your privacy and security, we will also take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Terms of Service
Welcome to our website. If you continue to browse and use this website you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern our relationship with you in relation to this website.
he term “your website” or “us” or “we” refers to the owner of the website. The term “you” refers to the user or viewer of our website.
The use of this website is subject to the following terms of use:
- The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.
- Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.
- Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.
- This website contains material which is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions.
- All trademarks reproduced in this website, which are not the property of, or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged on the website.
- Unauthorized use of this website may give to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offense.
- From time to time this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s).
- You may not create a link to this website from another website or document without our prior written consent.
- Your use of this website and any dispute arising out of such use of the website is subject to the laws of the US.
he term “your website” or “us” or “we” refers to the owner of the website. The term “you” refers to the user or viewer of our website.
The use of this website is subject to the following terms of use:
- The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.
- Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.
- Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.
- This website contains material which is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions.
- All trademarks reproduced in this website, which are not the property of, or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged on the website.
- Unauthorized use of this website may give to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offense.
- From time to time this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s).
- You may not create a link to this website from another website or document without our prior written consent.
- Your use of this website and any dispute arising out of such use of the website is subject to the laws of the US.
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