Private Fee for Service Plans Going, Going, Gone

When Medicare Advantage bites the dust there is help for those affected.

This is pretty scary information for seniors. Several of the bigger insurance companies are getting rid of their private fee for service plan completely. While this might not sound like a big deal, it ultimately affects one million seniors by leaving them with no coverage.

The private fee for service plans are run by private insurance companies with money received from the government. The idea behind them was that the insurance companies would handle running these plans much more efficiently than the mainstream Medicare. The private fee for service plans are part of Medicare Advantage, under the knife for serious cuts and in some cases, total elimination in 2010.

The major reason these programs are dropping like flies is that recent legislation drastically affects the dollars allocated for reimbursing physicians. With less money to spend, insurance companies can’t operate programs like this any longer. It boils down to a business decision. No money coming in means no one is able to put money out and stay in business. With the private fee for service plans on the chopping block and Medicare Advantage going away, patients nationwide are scrambling to find health care alternatives.

One very reasonable alternative for seniors is the Medicare supplement policy; something that has been available since the 60s. With due diligence, older Americans are able to get a policy covering bills that Medicare doesn’t pick up. Premiums for Medicare supplement policies are highly competitive right now due to the coming changes in 2010 and the fact that insurance companies are seriously trolling for new business.

Patients in the private fee for service plan do have guaranteed issue provisions that allow them to slip into Medicare supplement policies and avoid the usual underwriting rigmarole. While it may seem like a giant pain to start looking for a replacement policy, now is actually the best time to do so.

One thing that many seniors fail to understand is that all Medicare supplements are the same. They pay the same “approved by Medicare” claims and offer the same benefits. With this in mind it pays to shop around to various insurance carriers and get a “deal” on premiums. It does happen and now is the time to shop and get a bargain.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Managed Care HMOs

Don’t know what HMO stands for? Health maintenance organizations are managed care programs.

In terms of affordable health insurance, health maintenance organizations (HMO), which are managed care programs, assist people to stay in good health. At least that is the idea behind them.

Put another way, the philosophy of HMO health insurance plans is that if a person stays healthy and maintains that health, they will prevent disease. The care provided by the HMO will help people stay well. Staying well means rising health care costs will be controlled.

When health insurance plans like HMOs were first launched on the market, people who opted to buy affordable health insurance paid a fixed monthly premium that was prepaid. What those people got in exchange for affordable health insurance was access to health care offered by a certain network of providers that included clinics, hospitals and other medical care providers. This meant that although people were getting affordable health insurance, they were restricted to using “only” the procedures, benefits and doctors, etc. that belonged to the network.

HMOs were initially implemented by the government in 1973 to get rid of individual health insurance plans and offer affordable health insurance to everyone who wanted it. When they first came out, companies were buying individual health plans for workers.

Over time it looked like the better deal would be to get businesses to buy subsidized low cost health plans for employees and not expensive individual ones. Seeing a great opportunity, insurance companies started pressuring physicians to join HMOs. Fact is, doctors were told if they didn’t join, the insurance companies would see to it that they’d take their patients away with cheaper health care through the HMO. The threat worked and many joined the HMO plan to save their practices.

The more things change, the more they don’t always change for the better. What happened with HMOs is that every time a doctor renewed with them, the rules were changed and got stricter and stricter, mandated that they see more patients and get more services pre-approved. HMOs used to be the cat’s pajamas, but by the end of the 1980s and with a stack of unpaid and denied claims, people began to leave HMOs in droves.

The interesting thing here is that denied claims were denied because of bad investments the insurance companies made, not because of the claims themselves. The insurance companies invested in real estate, and when the boom went bust they couldn’t cover HMO claims. Unfortunately over time it became an almost “ritual” for HMOs to deny claims. So much so, that today it seems to be a part of the way they do business.

Thankfully, a new breed of attorneys has begun chasing HMOs for those denied claims; claims that include medical malpractice (med mal), bad faith and even wrongful death. In a nutshell, this boils down to the HMO may be sued if an individual dies due to the HMO denying cover for necessary medical treatment; for denying valid claims and for med mal perpetrated by an HMO doctor. In most states, government regulators are also tweaking their laws that govern HMO plans.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Nuts and Bolts of the HSAs

It’s pretty much a given that when it comes to health care the premiums will keep going up.

With health care premiums on their way up just about every year, it should come as no surprise that a lot of companies are starting to offer health savings accounts as a benefit for working. These accounts are beginning to replace PPOs and HMOs.

The most attractive thing about health savings accounts is the fact that they are tax free when linked to an insurance policy with a high deductible; usually about $1,250 for a single person and $2,500 for a family. When you hit the deductible you get comprehensive coverage. Many people are finding that they like this type of arrangement.

Since it’s a bit of a burden to handle some of the upfront out-of-pocket expenses, you have the option of handing over (pre-tax of course) anywhere up to $2,650 for a single person and up to $5,250 for a family.

All you need to do is tuck that away into a health savings account. Remember as well that when you take money out of a health savings account it is also tax free just so long as the money is used for medical expenses.

Not too many people seem to realize that any money that isn’t spent in the health savings account will roll over automatically year after year. That money can then either earn interest or you can invest it into participating mutual funds. This would kick up your returns and, with some luck and smart investing, you could find yourself sitting on a tax free bundle of cash for health care costs.

Here is another tip for employers. They are able to save between 25 to 30 percent on health premiums just by the simple expediency of switching to health savings accounts. That would mean lower premiums for workers. Really, both employers and workers get a good deal when they switch to health savings accounts.

However, some companies are finding it hard to sell the concept. For example, some health care plans have a very low deductible of about $150. It’s pretty hard to sell a worker on switching to a plan with a much higher deductible. Furthermore, those who have been used to having a co-pay when they visit a doctor are rather put out by having to pay the whole amount up-front.

Another barrier to companies offering health savings accounts is the perception that they aren’t for the average Joe Blow worker and are instead for those who are in good health and have lots of money. Over time these objections have proven to be invalid and many workers are now reaping the advantages of health savings accounts. Many industry pundits think these accounts will be the wave of the future, as they are certainly attractive options.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance and Your Lenses

How many people do you know who give much thought to their lenses when thinking about health insurance?

There are so many health care options available on the market that it confuses people. Companies have a wide variety of benefits they offer employees and due to the recession many of those options are being changed to be more advantageous to the company and not necessarily the employee.

For example, many organizations are strongly encouraging their workers to switch plans or fork over money out-of-pocket to cover the deductible on existing plans. Another option is combining a high deductible plan with a health saving account.

Of course health savings accounts are fairly popular because they tend to serve two purposes. They’re a high deductible health insurance plan combined with a tax deductible savings plan, the health savings account. What this means for those interested in this is that a high deductible insurance plan means the first $1,000 to $3,000 for any medical service is paid for completely by the person with the plan.
There are some exceptions such as annual physicals and other preventative care, which is covered with a small co-payment. The deductible has to be paid in total before the insurance company kicks money in. After that point however, you would not pay anything.

Now you might be thinking where on Earth would a company employee get that kind of money to meet a deductible that high? That is where the health savings plan comes into play. Internal Revenue has created special accounts so that all contributions are totally tax free. That means the funds in the account may be used to deal with any health-related expense such as eyewear (your lenses), vision exams, dental and yes, even acupuncture; not to mention any other services not usually covered by your primary health provider.
Now here is a good tip to save some money. High deductible health plans offer some really nice savings when compared to traditional plans. This may mean your employer might use part of the difference to fund your health savings account.

And one other hint that may come in handy is that you may be able to use your health savings account to buy glasses online. This would be applicable if your employer is contributing money to your savings account. This would then mean glasses would cost nothing out-of-pocket and their expense would go toward your deductible. So buy your glasses online with your health savings debit card. What a great deal, tax free eyewear for a really reasonable price.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Care Scams and Frauds

You’d think that when you got to be older that things would settle into an easy and pleasant routine. Instead, seniors are subject to more scams than ever, including health care cons.

Whatever happened to the time when seniors were revered and held in great esteem? When they were the history and our legends, and stood for progress? When they fought for us to make this nation great and free and lived to tell those battle stories? What happened in the 21st century is recession, lives lived longer than ever, escalating health care costs, and a total confusion about what Medicare and Medicare supplements offer. What happened are insurance companies ripping off unsuspecting seniors because they can.

Why prey on seniors? The answer to that is easy. Preying on seniors is like shooting fish in a barrel. They’re there, they have no place to go and sometimes no family support, usually have money saved up for a small nest egg and aren’t technologically savvy or that aware of what goes on around them, especially if they have cognitive difficulties.

Seniors have become “easy” targets for scammers and schemers and insurance companies who would rather rip them off than make sure they have what they need in terms of proper health insurance. Unfortunately, it is incredibly easy to take advantage of some seniors. Consider this; ALL seniors are on Medicare of some sort, but asking them how their policy works usually draws a blank stare.

Start asking them questions about whether or not there is a deductible for parts A through D and they don’t know if they pay one or not. Is there anything better in terms of a Medicare Supplement plan other than alphabet letters A through L? Again, many elderly people don’t know the answer. Ask if their Medicare Advantage plans (soon to be extinct) cost more by way of co-pays and deductibles than it really saves on their premiums, and once again, they are not sure.

Most seniors are aware of the news about health care reform and their major concern is whether or not their plans will be taken away and how to keep paying for them if the price goes up. That is the focus of America’s seniors – will they lose their plans, what will replace them and how much will it cost. It’s not much of a wonder why a senior on a limited budget would jump at the chance to save money on health insurance if it were offered to them. It would be easy for someone to say, “You can save a lot of money with my plan.”

The point to be made is that there is a great deal of confusion over the existing Medicare system, over what will happen to it and about what will replace it or improve it, or not. Unfortunately there are scam artists lurking out there, dressed in insurance broker clothing, who are more interested in making money from uninformed and confused seniors. For example, there have been cases where seniors had Medicare Supplement plans and were enrolled in the Advantage plan, which is illegal.

There are also cases of elderly people being invoiced twice for the same co-pay amount and paying it because they thought they should. Was the double billing unintentional or not? It could have been double billed on purpose, as Medicare fraud is at an all time high.

Are there solutions to situations like this or are the system and the people in it doomed to be ripped off? With more attention to education about health care and health insurance and looking out for one another, there is hope. Our finances are personal and need to be protected. People need to get wise and get articulate about their health insurance. Knowledge is indeed power.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

What’s a Health Care Cooperative?

Right now, the only “public” option for affordable health insurance is Medicare, which is only for those over 65 years old. If there isn’t another “public” option for others, this has ramifications for Medicare and Medicaid.

Right now in the U.S. there is a single payer government plan, Medicare, for those over the age of 65. The plan works as well as it can, given the debt load of the nation and the spiraling costs of health care. There isn’t anything else like this idea for other people who can’t afford health care or can’t afford much coverage at all. This is where health care reform is supposed to come in.

The clear problem with health care reform that doesn’t have a government option or component is that those who aren’t in Medicare or Medicaid may wind up raiding those programs to get what they need. That may mean a decrease in funding and greater difficulty in accessing programs for those over 65; a sort of Robin Hood approach of robbing the richer programs to pay for the poorer programs.

The substitution of the so-called health care cooperative for the government option is simply a thinly veiled excuse for the creation of more insurance companies. The usual example trotted out of a health care cooperative is something called Group Health. In fact, Group Health is an “insurance” company that reinvests its yearly revenues not redistributes them among members. It is only governed like a cooperative, making it one in name only.

Group Health’s fees are a tad lower than other insurance outfits, records are computerized and physicians get performance based salaries which seems to be a code word for “keeping costs down to a minimum.”
To access affordable health care by this route, those needing medical assistance are assigned a team of primary care practitioners, meaning you have no say in the matter. If access isn’t readily available to see the doctor, you will see a nurse; no ifs, ands or buts. If keeping medical costs down is the raison d’être for the insurance company, chances are expensive tests are not ordered that often and treating deathly ill patients would not be a preference.

Drugs and procedures, how medicine is practiced, and health insurance coverage decisions are made by the company – made by an insurance company. Think about that for a minute. Reading between the lines here, Group Health isn’t really “group health,” it is an insurance company with a bottom line to stay in business and make money. Staying in business by cost cutting medical care is a scary idea.

Will this come to pass? Only time will tell, and since the health care reform bill is gathering some dust right now, no one seems to know what will transpire for the future. For now Medicare and Medicare supplements are doing yeoman’s duty and allowing people the choice of physicians. It may not be perfect, but it limps along, working for “now.” Stay tuned for what the future may bring, and in the meantime do some thinking about what alternatives might work for your health care. The President has said if people like their health care they can keep it. Can they?

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Major Issues Still Remain with Health Care Reform

While it sounded like a good plan to have health care reform on the go by Labor Day, the deadline came and went. What’s next?

Next is what the House chooses to do when they sit in September. Some of the ridiculous issues raised over the summer months have up and gone away, but others remain that will likely be a great deal more contentious and have greater ramifications.

The leading issue seems to be the “public plan,” which is a polite way of speaking about a kind of government insurance plan that would be available to those who had absolutely no other health insurance options. While this sounds like a dandy plan on the surface, there are those that insist it would be a government takeover of health care, not always a good thing given the current state of affairs.

On the other side of the fence there are those that make the case that the public plan is ultimately necessary for any kind of reform to be effective. If access to health care is an issue that is supposed to be resolved, then this particular point of view tends to make sense to a large number of people.

Taking a step backward to get a clearer view of the debate, one comes to the conclusion that both sides of the argument have a point, but neither is totally right. That isn’t too much of a surprise given that it’s politicians doing the infighting. Really, the questions that ought to be asked, rather than focusing on poverty and access to health care, might be, “How will the government make Medicaid better and stronger?”

This question makes sense since the original universal health care changes have been tanked for now and the focus shifted to expanding health insurance coverage to certain segments of the population. Obviously, one of those segments is people living in poverty. Everyone should have a safety net for medical expenses, and there isn’t one right now. Instead, families face potential bankruptcy and total financial ruin over medical bills.

Ironically, the one program that should be able to help those in such dire circumstances – Medicaid – doesn’t guarantee either insurance or health care to people in poverty. Reform, if it is indeed on its way, needs to perhaps have Medicaid returned under the federal government’s wing and change the reimbursement doctors are given so they may assist people in poverty. That would make a significant change in the health care system.

If poorer people did have access to health care, it would keep them from having to use hospital emergency rooms. Just think about how much this one small change would mean to the system wide budget that faces escalating costs, thanks to poor people using ERs as doctor’s offices.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

The Medigap Switch in 2010

Keeping track of incoming Medigap changes is a bit like playing a game of 52 Pickup: confusing and all over the place.

There are not a lot of people who truly grasp what is coming in 2010 when it comes to the changes slated to kick-in with Medigap. The confusion centers on many thinking the changes that are coming have already gone into effect. This isn’t the case, and the changes “to” come have no effect on “current” Medicare supplement coverage, but they may ultimately have an effect on whether or not a person is able to get affordable health insurance.

The scoop is that effective June 1, 2010, the federal government is changing all “existing” Medicare supplement plans. The changes won’t take effect for any policies bought prior to June 1, 2010; they will only affect policies purchased after June 1, 2010. The changes are intended to streamline plan offerings and make them more customer friendly. There are some new plan options as well. In terms of getting health insurance quotes, this may confuse many people if there are too many choices.

It’s usually a given than when something like Medicare supplement plans change, there is major confusion for those who need to buy them. One of the things not a lot of people realize is that the Medigap plan they already have is guaranteed renewable for life, provided the premiums are kept up. This means that even if a policyholder’s health changes, they can’t be kicked out of the plan and they can’t be forced to change to a new plan either. That means they will still have reasonable affordable health insurance.

Consumers need to be aware that if they decide to go with a new plan in 2010, they will be losing some of the benefits of a current plan and that they won’t be allowed to revert to the original coverage. This has an upside in that it’s possible the new plan may be more suitable. This is one of the major reasons anyone considering changing plans needs to speak to a knowledgeable insurance agent to compare the benefits of the current plans versus the new ones. In other words get multiple health insurance quotes to compare health insurance plans.

Making any hasty decisions based on a news article or the word of a friend is not advisable. The smart move is to talk to a local insurance agent and discuss coverage now versus coverage in 2010. Knowing what to expect is more than half the battle when it comes to deciding on the best health insurance plans.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Care Reform a Long Haul

There is no question that in order to overhaul the health care system, the nation will be facing a long process of change, unrest, fears and doubts.

The message about health care reform has been filtering through to every American since way back when, but was brought to the forefront of the nation’s conscience when the President emphatically indicated that health care reform will not wait another year.

The year is passing slowly and the reforms continue to be put into place. There is still a long way to go, but looking from the bottom up, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. It’s true the health care system is broken and has needed a good overhaul for far too many years to even remember. However, over those years politicians preferred to stick with the devil they knew, rather than the devil they didn’t.

The devil they knew was the bloated and struggling health organism that was spiraling out of control and on the verge of what could only be a monumental crash. But, it was easier to leave it alone than to try and find the money to fix it.

The devil they didn’t know was the one that had innovative ideas to change the face of the existing structure; cut back spending in strategic areas; start to make health care available to all; and continue to chip at a system that needed to be kicked around the block to get it moving and functional again.
Right now the devil is still the one not many people know and that devil is working to reduce the costs of health care, making it a priority to protect people’s choices and trying to ensure there will be quality health care. Not only does that make sense, it even looks like it might be accomplished in slow and careful increments. Reform may indeed be on the horizon.

Interestingly, reform has been a major topic of discussion for the nation since Harry Truman, and just as ironic is the fact that the same reason “not” to do health care reform is still being cited today: the nation can’t afford it. More to the point is can the nation afford not to do it? The answer to that question is that no, ultimately the nation “must” reform health care in order to survive and thrive.

The real enemy standing in the way of health care reform is the big insurance companies whose main reason to be is to make money by selling health insurance. The government isn’t the one in the way between you and your doctor; the insurance companies are, and they are there for the profit.

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Limiting the Deductible on OTC Meds

While it’s only a glint in someone’s eye right now, the government is toying with the idea of barring pre-tax health spending plans from giving money back to patients for their over-the-counter drugs.

Think about that idea for a minute and see what kind of conclusions you come up with. Chances are you won’t be too impressed with the plan, as it will cut into your budget. It’s a given that it would also have an impact on people who want to buy a Medicare supplement plan and chances are it will affect health insurance quotes, too.

If this proposed legislation makes it through the Ways and Means Committee, the modifications will mean transforming the practices and the benefits of employer-sponsored and private health care. If you are about to buy a Medicare supplement plan, then you need to begin asking some very pointed questions before choosing a plan. If you want affordable health insurance, take the time to educate yourself about your options.

More than any other proposed change, this one has raised the hackles of a lot of people. The debate and controversy centers around two points of view. The first group of people believes they should sacrifice a portion of their insurance; that it may be beneficial to do so. The other side sees this proposed legislation as infringing on not only individual rights, but making a dent in people’s savings. The financial part of the great debate is the most important one to seniors who have limited income and are now looking at the possibility of shelling out more for less when it comes to health care. Their main concern is affordable health insurance plans.

Yes, the legislation aims to downsize Medicare benefits, however it also provides for Medicare supplements to pick up the slack – to compensate for those limits. There would definitely be boundaries on the supplement packages, but it appears that the major portion of the cut-backs will be applied to employer-sponsored Medicare. While that might make some of the changes become more palatable, they are still changes that cause fear in the senior population who are driven by a need for affordable health insurance plans.

Furthermore, if you happen to be financially well off when you retire, you may face a 5.4 percent surtax for couples and singles whose earnings are over $1 million. The government hopes to raise $8.2 billion over the next ten years by doing two things: cutting back on prescription paybacks and hiking taxes for certain medical programs. This will certainly impact health insurance quotes.

When it rains, it pours, and all the changes coming down the turnpike to Medicare have the potential to make health care choices a monumental nightmare. Even if the government creates special accounts to deposit funds for future Medicare expenses, the twists and turns of all the new programs, changes, additions and deletions will make selecting the right Medicare package incredibly painful without the help of an expert insurance agent. Health insurance quotes will take on the surreal nature of too many choices and not enough explanations, without consulting with an expert health insurance agent.

If you’re about to turn 65 or even have a few years prior to retirement, start checking out your alternatives now. Don’t wait until the last minute or the whole process may well overwhelm you.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

The Expected Cut in Health Care

We all knew it was coming, but hoped it wasn’t – the decreased payments to Medicare Advantage insurers for 2010 which will affect health insurance quotes.

While many in the nation hoped that they had heard wrong about funding cuts to Medicare, the recent announcement in late July 2009 sealed the deal. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services put their mouth where their money is and confirmed cuts in funding to Medicare Advantage insurers by as much as 4 to 4.5 percent starting in 2010. This move will put many insurers out of business and the additional costs will likely be handed down to seniors. This will also mean that affordable health insurance may become difficult to find.

While it’s not clear yet how the lower rates will impact senior’s private health insurance plans, it’s likely the lower reimbursements will impact earnings for private insurers who, in turn, will fob the higher costs of premiums for health insurance plans to their customers. The upshot of this could very well be much higher premiums being paid for fewer benefits in the Medicare Advantage plan. The other very real concern is whether or not the Medicare Advantage plan will even survive in the long-term.

When changes like this loom on the horizon, education comes into play. There is a critical need for seniors to understand the differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans (Medigap). In order to evaluate what they have and what they may need for the future, knowing the differences will help them make more informed decisions about whether or not they are getting affordable health insurance.
In a nutshell, if a senior has Medicare supplement insurance, they have the ability to choose their own doctors and hospitals; however there are no referrals to specialists. The Medigap policies have monthly premiums, but Medicare actually covers up to 80 percent of health care costs. Medigap then picks up the rest of the costs.

In the case of Medicare Advantage, many seniors pay either a really low premium or no premium at all which means it is definitely affordable health insurance. If that is the case, then the plan “is” the primary insurance. Most of these plans insist that their members only see physicians that are in a specified network. The conundrum is what precisely will work in each individual case, and this is where it makes sense to talk to an expert insurance agent to get sensible health insurance quotes.

Local insurance agents make the most sense because they know the existing networks, what doctors are in those networks, who pays their claims and who doesn’t, and what hospitals are the best for certain medical problems. Knowing what your local networks offer allows you to make the best choice for your circumstances. In any case, it is vital that those over the age of 65 find out about the variety of plans from which they may choose, prior to buying anything. Affordable health insurance is a critical issue for seniors.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Beefs

Do you suppose anyone would really have a beef with a health insurance company that provided not only affordable health insurance, but also a decent variety of health insurance plans?

That's a good question and the answer, on the surface, would be "No," no one would have a beef with good plans for reasonable bucks. However, while it might be nice to get a lower premium, there may still come a time when you need to get a problem with a claim sorted out. Then, decent health insurance plans or not, you want answers as to why your claim was denied and you want them now.

Taking up your beef with an insurance company that happens to be out of state is going to be an uphill battle and you might as well prepare yourself for a lot of frustration. The number of phone calls alone that you will make to try and get your issue resolved will no doubt ruffle your feathers. Dealing locally with an insurance agent in the state where you live will not only get you quicker service, but a knowledgeable agent who has the answers (in most cases) right at their fingertips.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Affordability

Even if you have lost your job and possibly your health insurance coverage, it is still very possible to find affordable health insurance and health insurance plans that will work for you. When you’re searching online for alternatives to being without health insurance, then go over everything you find on the site with a fine tooth comb. Look for the sites that offer affordable health insurance.

In most cases, the large insurance companies will have a variety of health insurance plans to choose from, so you should be able to find something you can afford.

While it's often difficult to totally understand all the options you are reading about on a website, make it a point to call a local agent with a list of questions. Local agents have a better grasp on what the local health insurance scene is like and what would likely be best for you and your family; they know what applies in your area. It makes no sense at all to speak to someone who is out of state about what hospital is best in your neighborhood. They'd have no clue.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Affordable Health Insurance Quotes a Bonus

With today's instant this and that technology, it's so easy to get affordable health insurance quotes that you'll wonder why no one thought of it before now. Without too much stress or hassle you can go to one site and find out all you need to know about health insurance plans, make a list of points you want to cover, and then start asking about health insurance quotes.

Affordable health insurance is a real necessity these days, as it's harder for people to keep a job. That means many Americans are losing their health insurance coverage. While it's understandable that people would opt to go without health insurance, it's not a smart idea in case something happens. And just because they have lost their job does not necessarily mean that affordable health insurance is out of reach. It's all in the plan they choose. Shop around online for health insurance plans that are reasonably priced. No one wants to be without health insurance.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Quotes Now Easier to Obtain

Actually, getting health insurance quotes these days is much easier that it used to be thanks to the advent of the computer and a few smart insurance brokers who knew what a convenience this would be. The ability to find affordable health insurance on the Internet is as close as your mouse.

Just think about it for a second; you won't have to call all the health insurance agents listed in the phone book, or go see them in their offices any longer. Imagine just booting up your computer and using your browser to search for an insurance website where you get health insurance quotes instantly. Yes, instantly. And they'll be quotes that provide you with a variety of viable options for affordable health insurance.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

The Move Is On to Cut Health System Costs

In a move that affects the bottom line of hospitals and pharmacies, Washington cuts more money from their Medicaid program.

This particular innovation may have more applications right across America if the whole picture affecting the health system is taken into account. It's not a national secret that the health system isn't "healthy" and that it needs some serious revamping to make it over into something that provides access to medical services for everyone. But, that's another story.

This story deals with the operating budgets of hospitals and pharmacies by directly affecting what they generate in revenues. The State of Washington has done some budget slicing to their Medicaid program that shaves hospital revenues by close to 4% and pharmacies will be hit with a 2% budget cut. In other words, when a druggist dispenses prescription drugs to Medicaid patients, they will be getting, from now on, 2% less for those drugs.

This is billed as not only a cost saving measure to buck up the system and make it more cost effective, but as an efficiency move with an eye to cutting down on excesses in the health care structure. While this move may sound a lot like the campaign promises of the current president, there is still a long road to travel to make changes that will boot the bloat from the system.

Washington has broader plans for cuts and trims that involve, among other things, refusing to pay for as many C-sections and will insist that more prescriptions be filled using generic drugs. While this may ultimately spell economic disaster for Big Pharma, it is definitely a step in the right direction to address out of control health care costs.

In another move that raised a few eyebrows, Washington also informed Medicaid recipients they would also be paying more out-of-pocket expenses for things like nutrition supplements and home-health devices.

The next question is how this approach would fly in other states. This is a tough question to address, as each state has a different approach to how the administer their Medicare and Medicaid programs. Ultimately this will have to be a decision that each state takes based on the merits of their existing administration, and political will.

Even though the health care system needs to be retooled in the worst way, sadly, there are proponents who would rather avoid the major issue of accessible health care for all because it would offend the big private insurance lobby. Realistically speaking, unless the big insurance monopoly is tackled, the cost of health insurance is going to continue to rise, thus shutting out low income Americans.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

To E-Prescribe or Not

E-prescribing may be the safe way to dispense medications in the future, and it's just beginning to make inroads in the medical system.

It's not a secret that most people will be the victim of at least one medication error a day if they happen to be in the hospital. Med errors have been known to occur in other health care environments as well such as doctor's offices, ER settings, at pharmacies, and in long-term care. The head count for errors of this nature is close to 1.5 million preventable injuries that may be avoided by taking more care.

It doesn't take much to make a mistake and it may all boil down to just one misread sentence or chart order for a potential fatality. Mistakes in hospitals range from overmedicating to under medicating and even giving drugs that are perhaps unnecessary or even dangerous. Medication errors increase the older the population gets and is subject to more trips to the hospital and more pharmaceutical support.

The solution to this conundrum of too many medications; not enough time; mistakes on the order charts; poor handwriting; and poor communications with other medical staff and with the patient may be avoided with the implementation of something called e-prescribing.

E-prescribing would provide the kind of knowledge currently missing for most physicians in a hospital setting – e.g. drug interactions with current meds the patient is on, information about any supplements or herbal medicines they may use, and a complete history of drug allergies and reactions. A good e-prescribing system is capable of doing multiple tasks at once and delivering virtually instant results.

E-prescribing allows health care providers to choose the right medication for their patients; considers the person's medication history and allergies; decreases the chances of a bad drug reaction; posts the cost of the medication along with viable alternatives; and also advises if the patient's insurance will cover a recommended drug.

Although many people wonder about the privacy and security of a system like this, it is only able to be accessed by doctors and pharmacists on a secure network that links them together. When issues like this come up in the health system, it is often more a matter of what will benefit the patients the most, than a matter of who will see the patient information.

In other words, the bottom line for the patient (and the system) is that patient safety will increase because e-prescribing will ditch illegible prescriptions, alert physicians and pharmacists about drug allergies immediately, and (perhaps the most important feature) is that it will update a patient's medication record for "all" prescribing doctors. Finally, a way to get everyone in the medical system on the same page, working toward the same end: patient care and safety.

It seems to be working and the federal government is actually handing out e-prescribing bonuses to health care providers. The deal is if they e-prescribe for 2009 and 2010, they get a 2% boost in Medicare payments. The e-wave of the future is beginning to look quite interesting. To find out if a local doctor trying this innovative system, check out www.learnabouteprescriptions.com for a list. Look for this system to be fully implemented by 2012 and for those physician's not using it for 2012, 2013 and 2014, to be penalized 1 percent of 2012/2013 Medicare charges, and 2 percent for 2014 Medicare bills.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

The Beef with Affordable Health Insurance

Would anyone really have a beef with a health insurance company that provided not only affordable health insurance, but also a decent variety of health insurance plans?

Even if you do get health insurance quotes that make your heart go pitter-patter because they happen to be on this side of more than reasonable, there is likely going to come a time when you need to get a problem with a claim sorted out. Then, decent health insurance plans or not, you want answers as to why your claim was denied and you want them now.

If you opted to get your health insurance quotes and purchase from a large online insurance website that happens to be in another state, far, far away, you might find yourself on the phone a lot. That doesn't mean you will be getting any answers, it just means you will be on the phone often, "trying" to get answers. Health insurance quotes provided by a large volume broker are generally reasonable because they have precisely that – the volume to offer better rates, but that doesn't mean they offer better service, as you may find out.

What would an insurance company in Hawaii know about the local hospitals in Rhode Island? Not a lot and the same thing may be said about trying to settle a denied claim while working with an insurance company that doesn't know much about you or your area.

This isn't to say that their policies aren't good, because many of them are standardized across the nation (Medicare in particular); it just points out that getting a satisfactory resolution to a problem when you are that far away from the source is difficult, if not impossible. Fed up with being shunted from one department to another at the "big" insurance company, you may begin to regret not buying health insurance plans locally.

Dealing with a local agent will ensure you get a policy that is tailor made to your set of circumstances and lifestyle. It won't be a "general" package that, while inexpensive, doesn't do a thing for you. The thing about health insurance plans is that when you buy them, you are buying them for the long-term, not the short-term, so getting something that suits you now makes more sense than having to switch every year (unless you need to).

This is where speaking directly to a health insurance agent is a smart move. If you've had it up to your eyeballs dealing with out-of-state companies, it's time to call around and make the acquaintance of the local agents. They aren't there to sell you something unless that is what you want.

They're there to walk you through the various pros and cons of health insurance quotes, what they mean to you now and in the future, and outline the differences in health insurance plans. Once you know these things, you then become an informed buyer who is able to make some wise choices.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Quotes Can Be as Easy as 1-2-3

Getting health insurance quotes these days is as close as your computer. Talk about convenience and talk about finding affordable health insurance.

Imagine not having to phone all the health insurance agents listed in the phone book, or calling on them in person. Imagine simply booting up your computer, clicking your mouse a few times and when you hit your browser, finding an insurance website where you may get health insurance quotes instantly. Yes, quotes that will provide you some viable options for affordable health insurance.

It's even easier than you might think to get affordable health insurance quotes with today's new technology. Now you can go to one site and find out all you need to know about health insurance plans while asking about health insurance quotes.

No matter who you speak to about the health system, the news seems to be very discouraging. It's getting harder and harder for people to be able to keep a job and as a net result, many Americans are losing their health insurance coverage. While it's understandable that people would opt to go without health insurance, it's not a smart idea in case something happens.

Even if you do happen to be unemployed, it is possible to find affordable health insurance and health insurance plans to suit your present circumstances. If you find an insurance site that offers health insurance quotes instantly, take the time to search the site for affordable health insurance. Most sites will have a variety of health insurance plans to choose from, so you should be able to find something that you are able to manage.

Yes it's often difficult to understand the range of options open to you when you are shopping for health insurance quotes and this is where it comes in handy to call a local agent. The local agents know their stuff and what is applicable in your area. It doesn't make much sense to talk to someone who is out-of-state about what hospital is best in your neighborhood; they would have no idea.

So for the best information on health insurance quotes and up-to-the-minute current information on any changes to the health insurance plans, go locally and get an honest answer and affordable health insurance quotes.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

What Will You Do When Medicare Advantage No Longer Exists?

Give some thought to what you would do if you no longer had Medicare Advantage, because in 2010 it will no longer be offered.

Come 2010 there are many things that will be changing in America's health care landscape, not the least of which is the demise of Medicare Advantage, the old Medicare supplement plans A through G being phased out, and new plans A through G being phased in.

What will all these changes mean? To start with, there will inevitably be a lot of confusion about the changes. So for the better part of 2010, it might be very difficult to get to the bottom of what is going on with your health insurance. For instance, with regard to the changes in Medicare supplements, you will find you will either be in a closed risk pool prior to the June 1, 2010, switch-over date, or in a different (but similar) closed risk pool after the switch-over date.

What is going to cause the most confusion is that fact that nothing in plans A through G will be changing. The only thing that will make a difference is what "pool" you may end up in. Both pools, since they will be closed, will likely initially see a decrease in premiums, as the competition will be fierce for those wanting to buy health insurance. Whether or not the prices will continue to remain low is another question entirely.

Generally speaking a closed risk pool will mean higher prices for benefits. There are apparently another two additions to the Medicare supplement line up, Plan M and N, but no one seems to have all the details about what they will or will not provide.

The fact that Wellcare and Coventry will no longer carry Medicare Advantage will be disturbing to those already on such a plan. Medicare Advantage was designed for people over 65 or under 65 and on Medicare disability. Those losing this advantage will need to be integrated into the mainstream Medicare plans in some way. This is why it would be wise to speak with a knowledgeable health insurance agent now, before losing Medicare Advantage becomes an urgent issue.

One thing to note about the demise of Medicare Advantage is that those who currently have it will have guaranteed issue for 63 days. While this may be enough time for many to find alternative health insurance coverage, it would be smart to start looking now and be prepared, so you may avoid the inevitable confusion and backlog in 2010.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Think Local When You Buy Any Type of Health Insurance

Thinking about surfing online to find a really great health insurance quote? Here are a few ideas that may save you some serious frustration.

When you hit various online health insurance sites you will see some quotes that look pretty darn decent. And they are, however, they are also what is called "preferred" quotes and are for people in tremendous shape, with no pre-existing conditions. Since just about everyone has a pre-existing condition or two, it's best to check around more and find out how those conditions change the price of your health insurance.

While many people really don't prefer talking directly to a health insurance agent, this is the only way they are going to be able to find out the exact package they need and the price it will be. Rates are based on your health history, so don't assume that the "perfect" rate on the website is the one you will be able to get. This is why you want to spend some time talking to a health insurance agent and finding out what category you would be in.

Try sticking to a local health insurance agent as well for the simple reason that they are very familiar with all the doctors and hospitals in your area. If you're talking to agents in another state, they have no idea what your area offers you, which means they would only be able to offer you a generic health insurance package policy. What you want is something specific that addresses the very real conditions and realities of where you live, and what you need for health insurance coverage.

You would want a local health insurance agent as well to stand up for you if you have a dispute with your health insurance company. The local agents know who to talk to, how to pull some strings, and how to help resolve any problems you may have. You don't get service like that if your health insurance company, and the initial broker you used to buy the policy, is out of state.

So, if you want health insurance coverage that really counts, an insurance agent willing to go to bat for you in a dispute, and a policy that really suits what you need and want, buy local. It's always nice to have someone in your corner when you need them.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Practical Solutions to Saving on Health Care

If reducing the cost of health care is the top priority on every American's shopping list, then buying generic drugs will make a difference.

It's no secret that health care is really pricey these days. Medical care is in fact getting more and more expensive every year. While saving on doctor's fees may not be an option, there is an area to save some serious bucks – using generic drugs. It's worth checking out.

If every American stopped using brand name drugs and switched over to the generic versions, there would be a major revolution in the cost of buying medications. However, if just one person makes the switch from brand name drugs to generic drugs, it still means saving money in the long run. Give that proposition some thought the next time the doctor hands out a prescription for a brand name medication.

While most people do tend to buy their drugs at their local pharmacy, the other alternative, and definitely a less expensive one, is shopping online through a legitimate mail order pharmacy. It doesn't matter where they happen to be located, and it may ultimately mean only paying $10 a month for your drugs as opposed to say $100. That's a lot of extra money to have leftover for other things.

There are two ways to shop alternatively for drugs – online brand name drug shopping for lower prices and online generic drug shopping at even lower prices. Some people claim generic drugs are not as effective as brand name drugs. This is a myth. All generic drugs are made of the same ingredients as the original brand name compound. The only differences may be in the coating or color of the pill(s). What counts the most here are the substantial savings.

One other interesting point is that studies are showing the newer brand name drugs just don't have the same kind of track record of reliability to back them up that the older stand-by drugs are able to boast about. In addition to that worry is that newer drugs have different side effects that might be more serious than tried, proven and true, old stand-bys.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

The Co-Pay Conundrum

Paying a co-pay while employed is a benefit. Trying to do this while self-employed is another matter entirely.

Not a lot of people actually realize that there is a difference between a co-pay situation while working and wanting the same thing while self-employed. A co-pay arrangement offered to workers is actually considered to be a benefit and not insurance. The benefit to the employee is a perk for working at that particular company.

What happens when the employee leaves the company is that they are now responsible for getting their own health insurance. Since they have been used to the co-pay benefit, they expect that is what they will get when they get their own health insurance. Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple. While that kind of insurance is available, the deductible is extremely high, not to mention fairly prohibitive, for just one person. Co-pay benefits are usually in the bailiwick of larger corporations.

Faced with trying to figure out what other kinds of insurance an individual used to co-pay benefits, usually causes a fair amount of confusion in terms of what to replace the co-pay arrangement with. While the answer might sound a bit flippant, it truly is what the person requires in their particular set of circumstances. Take those circumstances to a local insurance agent and get them to outline the various alternatives.

It's going to be tough to go from one kind of insurance to another after having such good benefits in the first place. Most often what happens is the customer is really disappointed when they find out that what they expected to get is not what they can afford or are even eligible. Local insurance agents have been through this kind of scenario many times and have a wide variety of options for people to consider.

Most of the options offered will be affordable, and in some instances, may be as close to co-pay as possible. In all instances though, the insured needs to make some compromises in order to get what they need to suit the reality of their circumstances. Consulting an insurance agent is a no cost venture that will provide good advice and several quotes to consider.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Medicare Advantage Health Insurance Disappearing

Medicare Advantage will no longer be offered in 2010, as the two largest companies (Wellcare and Coventry) offering it are shutting their doors.

This isn't the only change coming to the health insurance system in 2010 either. There will be the phasing out of the old Medicare supplement plans A through G, and the phasing in of new plans A through G. Speak to a health insurance agent to find out what that really means.

There's going to be a lot of confusion over what these changes mean, and it might be very difficult understand what is going on with your health insurance. For example, the changes in Medicare supplements will put you in a closed risk pool on the switch-over date. This may mean lower premiums to start with, that creep up over time, once there is less competition for health insurance customers.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Medicare Supplements

When the plans "change" in 2010, they really aren't going to change. They will be the same plans, just split into two different groups – the before the switch date group and the after the switch date group. The only difference is what "pool" you may end up in. Both pools, since they will be closed, will likely initially see a decrease in premiums. Whether or not the prices will continue to remain low is a good question.

Often a closed risk pool means higher prices for benefits. There is apparently another two additions to the Medicare supplement line up, Plan M and N. However, there is limited information available on what they will offer.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance for Those Over 65

When Wellcare and Coventry no longer carry Medicare Advantage in 2010, it will be a change that will affect many older Americans. Medicare Advantage was designed for people over 65 or under 65 and on Medicare disability. Once they no longer have Medicare Advantage, they will need to speak to a knowledgeable health insurance agent about other alternatives.

Seniors losing this advantage will need to be integrated into mainstream Medicare plans in some way. Act now to find out what you can do instead, before not having Medicare Advantage becomes an urgent issue.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance May Be Higher Than the Preferred Rate!

Basically, what the insurance company chooses as the policy and the rate a customer pays is based on the customer’s health. If there are certain pre-existing conditions, often the customer is stuck between a rock and a hard place, paying up to 50% more than the preferred rate. Insurance companies may also refuse/decline to insure someone they think is a poor risk. So it's a good idea to stay as healthy as you can.

There are other options available for those who have been declined health insurance. The first one is to shop around to other larger insurance companies, because each company underwrites in a different way. You may also be eligible for your state's Risk Pool.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Medicare Advantage Guaranteed Issue When Gone

Even though Medicare Advantage is biting the dust in 2010, those who are currently on that plan will have guaranteed issue for 63 days, once it has ended. However, now that more people are beginning to find out about the loss of this plan, it would make more sense to spend some time talking to an experience health insurance agent to find out what to do.

Even though 63 days may seem like a long time to find other health insurance coverage, once the changes take effect the whole industry will be in a state of mass confusion. Start looking now and be prepared to avoid the inevitable confusion and backlog in 2010.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Quotes Made Easier

Here are a few ideas that might help you save some serious frustration when you are searching online for health insurance quotes.

Some online quotes seem really great. And they are, however, they are also "preferred" quotes for people with no pre-existing conditions. Most people have at least one pre-existing condition, so it's best to check and find out how those conditions change the price of your health insurance. It may not be as bad as you think, so level with the health insurance agent and they will give you a variety of options to consider before you make any choices for what type of health insurance would suit your circumstances.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Categories

A lot of people don't prefer talking to a health insurance agent on the phone. However, this is the only way you are going to be able to get the right kind of information about what you need in terms of a health insurance policy that is tailor-made for you.

Health insurance rates are based on your health history, so don't make the mistake of assuming that the "perfect" rate you happen to see on the website is the one you will get. Before you can find out what you will be paying, you need to find out what category you are in, according to the health insurance agent. Once you know that information, it is easier to make an informed decision.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Local Health Insurance Agents Have the Inside Scoop

When you're hunting for health insurance quotes, stick to dealing with a local health insurance agent because they are intimately familiar with all the doctors and hospitals in your area.

If you have chosen to call out-of-state, you will only get a generic health insurance package and no useful local information about what the doctors and hospitals in your area offer – because the out-of-state agents have no idea what is offered. Ideally, you want information and advice about the real conditions and realities of where you live, and what you need for health insurance coverage. Only a good local health insurance agent has this kind of inside information at their fingertips.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Local Health Insurance Agents Stand Up for You

If you have a dust up with your health insurance company, wouldn't you want your local health insurance agent/representative to go to bat for you? Sure you would, and this is what will happen if you buy your health insurance locally from people who are familiar with local conditions.

The local agents know who to talk to, how to pull some strings, and how to help resolve any problems you may have. So, if you want health insurance coverage that really counts, an insurance agent willing to go to bat for you in a dispute, and a policy that really suits what you need and want, buy local. If you spend the time finding out the ins and outs of your local coverage area, you would be surprised at some of the things your agent is able to tell you. They're there to help you, not sell you something you don't want.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Tip to Save on Health Insurance

We all know health care is really expensive and are always looking for ways to cut back on how much we are paying for medical expenses. While you might not be able to save much on doctor's fees, rates and tests, there is an area where you may save some serious money by using generic drugs. It's worth giving it a try.

If every American stopped buying brand name drugs and asked for the generic versions, there would be a major revolution in the cost of buying medications. While it might not be likely that everyone would change, and there may be cases where doctors insist on no substitutions, if just one person went from brand name drugs to generic drugs, it would save money.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Medication Savings

You don't have to buy your drugs at the local pharmacy, not when you have viable and less costly alternatives in the form of shopping at an online pharmacy. Make sure the pharmacy is a legit one of course, and then be prepared to take advantage of the savings. If you choose to shop online in the US, whatever works to reduce your costs makes sense. You also have the option of shopping online in Canada as well.

Most people aren't aware that they can save some decent money by going this route and actually might be able to cut their $100 a month for drugs down to $10 to $20. That's a lot of extra money to have leftover for other things. Give generic drugs a try, as they are normally just as effective as the regular brand name drugs, and in fact are made with the same ingredients.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Co-Pay Confusing

There is a difference between a co-pay situation when working and wanting the same thing while self-employed. A co-pay arrangement for workers is actually considered to be a benefit, and is not insurance. The benefit to the employee of course is that the co-pay is a perk for working at that particular company.

What happens when the employee leaves the company is that they are now responsible for getting their own health insurance. Since they have been used to the co-pay benefit, they expect that is what they will get when they buy their own health insurance. It's not quite that simple. That kind of insurance is available, however the deductible is extremely high, and fairly prohibitive for just one person. Ask your health insurance agent for more information to make an informed personal choice.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Drug Policies

While physicians are mostly too busy to keep on their toes about the various new drugs and their costs, they are finally getting to the point where they make a concession to prescribing a generic drug if they know the patient is in financial straights. It doesn't hurt for the patient to speak up and tell the doctor they can't afford a particular drug either.

It's better to make the move to using generic drugs as soon as possible, as many government agencies, insurance companies and health administrators are slapping limits on dollar amounts for prescribed drugs. They should be doing that in order to be financially prudent, as the health care deficit in the U.S. is staggering.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Policy Price Reduction Strategies

For those wanting to keep their health insurance expenses down, generic drugs are the answer.

Using generic drugs is likely one of the smartest moves any health conscious American can make to keep their budgets healthy. Of course if the doctor has insisted on no substitutions, this may be a problem. That doesn't mean a patient should not ask about viable alternatives, even to brand name drugs.

The price differences are phenomenal. Many doctors don't stop to think about the price of drugs for the patient; they just hand out the script and leave the room. So check to make sure there isn't another alternative that would work just as well, if not better, and be less expensive.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Medicare Health Insurance a Bit Confusing

While many consumers find the parts and plans in the Medicare supplement area to be confusing, it all comes out in the wash by talking to an experienced health insurance agent. There is no point in trying to figure out what part or plan or combination will work, when picking up the phone to call a local health insurance agent will get answers immediately. The advice is free and always ready-made to a customer's requirements.

Get the accurate lowdown on what the different guidelines are for medical underwriting and how that ultimately affects the prices of health insurance policies. All policies offer the exact same coverage. The thing that makes the difference is that each insurance company may charge what they want to charge for selling the Medicare supplements.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Choices with Medicare

Choices are a good thing when it comes to Medicare supplements, especially during a recession when money is tight. Currently, there are several parts to Medicare – Part A for a stay in the hospital, but it does not cover services; and Part B, which covers services. Those two parts are considered the staples of Medicare. On top of that, there are further options of Part D (drug coverage) and Plans A through L to back-fill any gaps in a person's health coverage. Consider that to be the icing on the cake for the main two parts. For the best coverage in a mix and match combination, talk to your local health insurance agent who will set you up with a tailor-made health insurance plan.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Insurance Health Underwriting for Medicare More Lenient

Not many people know that insurance companies are more lenient in their underwriting for Medicare supplements, which is a blessing if a person has a medical condition they don't want to cover.
Here is how it works, if you apply for Medicare, as opposed to applying at a large health insurance company who would rather not underwrite certain "conditions." An applicant still goes through a medical underwriting routine with Medicare, but it's not as rigorous and restrictive as it would be for an insurance company.
The underwriting for Medicare is to figure out what will work best for people with particular health conditions. Once that is out of the way, it tells the person applying what choices they have for various packages.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance Risk Pools

The health insurance rates for any closed risk pool generally tend to be higher because the pool of insured's is "closed" for business. Now having said that, the good news on the surface is that when June 1, 2010, comes along and the old Medicare supplements go out and the new comes in, and two closed risk pools are created, insurance companies are going to reset rates because of the fierce competition that will result for health insurance customers. Translation: there will be lower rates for a while to attract customers.

So there may be some terrific deals to be had when this happens. The question will be how long the rate wars will continue and what will be the outcome later. It's hard to guesstimate what the Medicare supplement insurance market will do in terms of costs for premiums.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Health Insurance the New Medicare Supplement Way

No one is quite certain why the government would decide to change the Medicare supplement system, but it may have something to do with risk pools and re-setting rates.

When the old plans are booted out and the new ones come into play, each group of people will then be in what is called a "closed risk pool." The ones in the old plans will be grandfathered in, which might sound great, but their rates will likely go up because they are in a closed risk pool. That means that the rates in the "new" Medicare supplements group from June 1, 2010, onward may also be subject to increased rates over time.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Medicare Supplements to Change in 2010

By June 1, 2010, there will be new changes to Medicare supplements that will likely create a great deal of confusion for consumers.
There will be several changes to Medicare supplements, one of them being the existing Medicare supplement plans A through G will be dumped. These will be referred to as the "old" Medicare supplements. Here is the confusing thing: there will be the "new" Medicare supplement plans A through G, and – well – they are exactly the same supplements as the "old" ones. There is bound to be some mass confusion over the so-called changes that are not really changes at all, but rather the implementation of two closed risk pools.

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Health Insurance May Be Higher Than the Preferred Rate!

Basically, the insurance company chooses the policy and rate a customer pays, based on their health. If there are certain pre-existing conditions, often the customer is stuck between a rock and a hard place paying up to 50% more than the preferred rate. Insurance companies may also refuse/decline to insure someone they think is a poor risk. So it's a good idea to stay as healthy as you can.

There are other options available for those who have been declined health insurance. The first one is to shop around to other larger insurance companies, because each company underwrites in a different way. You may also be eligible for your state's Risk Pool.
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Health Insurance for the Sick?

If you live a life of moderation, don't over indulge in drugs or alcohol, aren't morbidly obese, etc., chances are you'll be rubber-stamped for a health insurance policy. However, remember one thing: you only get health insurance if the insurance company feels you may be a good risk, which means they won't have to pay out too much money on you now or in the future. If the insurance company thinks you are a poor risk, what might happen is you will get insurance, but with higher premiums. In addition, you might get health insurance that doesn't cover your "condition."

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Health Insurance Underwriting Means Certain Conditions Need to Be Met

Medical underwriting issues, when you apply for health insurance, simply mean you need to meet certain criteria before getting approved for a health insurance plan. The questions usually deal with how you will be insured, what you will be insured for, what may be accepted or declined, if the insurance company is good to go with accepting you with some qualifications, and IF you are even going to be insured at all.

This comes as a surprise to many people who figure if they ask for health insurance quotes that they will automatically get health insurance by slapping down some cash. It doesn't work that way.

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