Health Insurance: Health Insurance

Showing posts with label Health Insurance. Show all posts

Friday, May 24, 2024

A Closer Look At Health Insurance Options

Hello and greetings, dear readers! How are you? Today, we invite you to delve into the fascinating world of health insurance options and explore the concept of "Insured Wellness." In this article, we will take a closer look at the various choices available to individuals seeking to safeguard their well-being. From comprehensive medical coverage to specialized plans tailored to specific needs, we will navigate the intricate landscape of health insurance together. So, please continue reading to discover the ins and outs of Insured Wellness.

The Importance of Health Insurance

Health insurance is a vital aspect of our lives, offering protection and peace of mind when it comes to our well-being. It is essential to recognize the importance of having health insurance coverage, as it serves as a safety net for unexpected medical expenses. Without health insurance, individuals may face significant financial burdens, making it difficult to access needed healthcare services.

Moreover, health insurance allows individuals to receive preventative care and early interventions, which can greatly improve overall health outcomes. By investing in health insurance, we invest in our own well-being, ensuring that we have the necessary resources to maintain a healthy and fulfilling life.

So, let's prioritize our health and secure the benefits of health insurance for a better future.

Understanding Health Insurance Basics

Understanding Health Insurance Basics is crucial for individuals and families to navigate the complex world of healthcare coverage. Health insurance serves as a financial safety net, providing protection against expensive medical bills and ensuring access to necessary healthcare services. At its core, health insurance works by pooling resources from many individuals to cover the costs of medical expenses for the group.

It typically involves paying a premium, which is a monthly fee, in exchange for coverage. Health insurance plans vary in terms of coverage, cost, and network of healthcare providers. Key concepts to understand include deductibles, which are the amount individuals must pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in, and co-payments, which are fixed amounts paid for services like doctor visits or prescriptions.

Additionally, understanding in-network and out-of-network providers is important to maximize coverage and minimize out-of-pocket expenses.By comprehending the basics of health insurance, individuals can make informed decisions about their healthcare, ensuring they have the coverage they need while minimizing financial burdens.

Types of Health Insurance Plans

Health insurance plans come in various types to cater to different needs and preferences. The most common types include HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization), and POS (Point of Service) plans. HMO plans typically require members to select a primary care physician and obtain referrals for specialist care, while PPO plans offer more flexibility in choosing healthcare providers.

EPO plans combine aspects of HMO and PPO plans, providing coverage only for services obtained from in-network providers. POS plans allow members to seek care from both in-network and out-of-network providers, though out-of-network care usually entails higher costs. Additionally, there are high-deductible health plans (HDHP) paired with health savings accounts (HSAs) that offer tax advantages.

Understanding the various types of health insurance plans is essential for individuals and families to make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Health Insurance

When it comes to choosing health insurance, there are several key factors that you should consider. First and foremost, you need to assess your healthcare needs. Think about the coverage you require, such as doctor visits, prescription medications, or specialist consultations. Secondly, check the network of healthcare providers offered by the insurance company.

Ensure that your preferred doctors and hospitals are within the network to avoid extra costs. Another important factor is the cost of the premiums and deductibles. Evaluate your budget and choose a plan that fits your financial situation. Additionally, look into the reputation and customer service of the insurance provider.

Reading reviews and seeking recommendations can help you make an informed decision. Lastly, take into account any additional benefits and features offered by the insurance plan, such as wellness programs or telemedicine services. By considering these factors, you can select the health insurance that best meets your needs and provides you with peace of mind.

Exploring Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance

Exploring Employer-Sponsored Health InsuranceEmployer-sponsored health insurance plays a crucial role in the healthcare system. It is a type of health coverage provided by employers to their employees as part of their employee benefits package. This form of insurance helps employees access medical services and cover the costs associated with healthcare.

One of the key advantages of employer-sponsored health insurance is that it is typically more affordable compared to individual health insurance plans. Employers often negotiate with insurance providers to secure group rates, which can result in lower premiums for employees. This affordability factor makes it an attractive option for many individuals seeking health coverage.

Moreover, employer-sponsored health insurance often offers a wider network of healthcare providers. This means that employees have access to a larger pool of doctors, hospitals, and specialists. This can be beneficial for individuals with specific healthcare needs or who require specialized medical treatment.

Another important aspect of employer-sponsored health insurance is the employer contribution. Employers usually contribute a significant portion of the insurance premiums, reducing the financial burden on employees. This contribution can make a significant difference in the affordability and accessibility of healthcare for individuals and their families.

Additionally, employer-sponsored health insurance provides a level of stability and continuity in coverage. Employees can rely on this insurance throughout their employment tenure, knowing that their healthcare needs will be taken care of. This stability is particularly valuable in times of unexpected medical emergencies or chronic health conditions.

In conclusion, exploring employer-sponsored health insurance reveals its many benefits, including affordability, access to a wider network of healthcare providers, employer contributions, and stability in coverage. It is an essential component of the overall healthcare system and plays a crucial role in ensuring that individuals have access to the medical services they need.

Individual Health Insurance: Pros and Cons

Individual health insurance offers personalized coverage, allowing individuals to choose plans that suit their specific healthcare needs. The pros include flexibility in selecting doctors and hospitals, as well as customizable coverage options. Additionally, it provides a sense of security in the event of unexpected medical expenses.

However, individual health insurance may be costly, especially for comprehensive coverage, and those with pre-existing conditions may face challenges in obtaining affordable plans. Furthermore, navigating the complexities of different plans can be overwhelming. It's important for individuals to carefully weigh the pros and cons to determine if individual health insurance is the right choice for their unique circumstances.

Health Insurance Exchange: What You Need to Know

A Health Insurance Exchange, also known as a Marketplace, is a platform where individuals and small businesses can compare and purchase health insurance plans. It was established as part of the Affordable Care Act in the United States. The purpose of the Health Insurance Exchange is to provide a centralized location for consumers to shop for and enroll in health insurance coverage.

By using the Health Insurance Exchange, individuals can compare different plans based on factors such as cost, coverage, and quality. This allows them to make informed decisions about their healthcare options. Additionally, the Exchange offers subsidies and tax credits to make insurance more affordable for those who qualify.

One of the key benefits of the Health Insurance Exchange is the ability to find coverage that meets individual needs. Whether someone is looking for basic coverage or more comprehensive options, the Exchange offers a variety of plans to choose from. It also provides access to essential health benefits, such as preventive care, prescription drugs, and mental health services.

Another important aspect of the Health Insurance Exchange is the open enrollment period. This is the designated time each year when individuals can enroll in or make changes to their health insurance plans. Outside of this period, individuals may only be able to enroll or make changes if they experience a qualifying life event, such as getting married or having a baby.

In conclusion, the Health Insurance Exchange is a valuable resource for individuals and small businesses seeking health insurance coverage. It offers a convenient and transparent way to compare and purchase plans that best suit their needs. By understanding how the Exchange works and taking advantage of its benefits, individuals can make informed decisions about their healthcare options.

Medicare and Medicaid: Government-Sponsored Health Insurance

Medicare and Medicaid are government-sponsored health insurance programs in the United States. Medicare is designed to provide coverage for individuals aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger individuals with disabilities. It is funded through a combination of payroll taxes, premiums, and general government revenue.

Medicare provides coverage for hospital care, medical services, and prescription drugs, helping to ensure that older adults and disabled individuals have access to necessary healthcare services.Medicaid, on the other hand, is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals and families.

It is funded by both the federal government and individual states, with each state having flexibility in determining eligibility and benefits. Medicaid covers a wide range of healthcare services, including doctor visits, hospital stays, long-term care, and preventive care.These government-sponsored health insurance programs play a vital role in ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to affordable healthcare.

They provide a safety net for individuals who may not have access to private health insurance or the financial means to pay for healthcare services out of pocket. By providing coverage for a variety of healthcare needs, Medicare and Medicaid help to improve the overall health and well-being of millions of Americans.

Health Savings Accounts: A Smart Insurance Option

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a smart insurance option for individuals looking to manage their healthcare costs effectively. HSAs allow individuals to set aside tax-free funds to cover qualified medical expenses. These accounts offer a triple tax advantage, meaning contributions are tax-deductible, earnings grow tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free.

This makes HSAs a powerful tool to save money and plan for healthcare expenses. Additionally, HSAs are portable, meaning they can be carried over from year to year and even between employers. This enables individuals to build up savings for future medical needs. HSAs also provide flexibility in choosing healthcare providers, as they are not tied to a specific insurance network.

With rising healthcare costs and the need for financial security, Health Savings Accounts are a wise choice for individuals who want to take control of their healthcare expenses and save for the future.

Supplemental Health Insurance: Enhancing Coverage

Supplemental health insurance provides additional coverage to complement your primary health insurance plan. It enhances your financial protection by helping to cover out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. With supplemental health insurance, you can have peace of mind knowing that unexpected medical costs will be covered.

These policies are flexible and can be tailored to your specific needs, offering added benefits like coverage for critical illness, accidents, dental care, or vision expenses. By having supplemental health insurance, you can fill the gaps in your primary coverage and ensure that you have comprehensive protection.

It is important to carefully review the terms and conditions of the policy to understand what is covered and any limitations or exclusions. With the right supplemental health insurance, you can enhance your coverage and have greater financial security in the face of medical expenses.

FOR MORE DETAILS WATCH THIS VIDEO

The Power Of Comprehensive Insurance

Hello, how are you? Welcome to our article on the power of comprehensive insurance in protecting your health. In a world where medical expenses can be overwhelming and unpredictable, having comprehensive insurance coverage is essential in shielding yourself from financial burdens. Whether it's routine check-ups, unexpected medical emergencies, or specialized treatments, comprehensive insurance provides a safety net that ensures you have access to the healthcare you need without worrying about the costs. Join us as we explore the benefits and importance of comprehensive insurance in safeguarding your well-being. So, please continue reading to discover how comprehensive insurance can empower you to take control of your health.

Understanding Comprehensive Insurance

Comprehensive insurance, also known as "full coverage," provides extensive protection for your vehicle. Unlike liability insurance, which only covers damages to other vehicles in an accident, comprehensive insurance also covers damage to your own car. This includes damage from natural disasters, theft, vKamulism, and collisions with animals.

Additionally, comprehensive insurance often includes coverage for glass damage and windshield replacement. While comprehensive insurance offers robust protection, it's important to note that it typically comes with a higher premium than basic liability coverage. However, for many drivers, the peace of mind and financial security that comprehensive insurance provides make it a valuable investment in safeguarding their vehicles.

The Importance of Preventive Care Coverage

Preventive care coverage plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and well-being. It involves a range of services and screenings aimed at preventing or detecting health issues before they become more serious and costly to treat. By prioritizing preventive care, individuals can take proactive steps to prevent the development of chronic diseases and intervene early in case of any health concerns.

Regular check-ups, immunizations, and screenings are essential components of preventive care coverage. These preventive measures not only help in identifying potential health risks but also provide an opportunity for healthcare professionals to educate patients about healthy lifestyle choices and disease prevention strategies.

The importance of preventive care coverage extends beyond individual health. It also has significant societal benefits, such as reducing healthcare costs, improving productivity, and enhancing overall public health. By investing in preventive care, we can address health issues at an early stage, resulting in better health outcomes and a healthier population.

In conclusion, preventive care coverage is vital for maintaining good health and preventing the onset of chronic diseases. By prioritizing preventive care, individuals can take control of their health and well-being, leading to a healthier and more productive life. It is essential to recognize the value of preventive care and ensure that adequate coverage is available to everyone, promoting a healthier society for all.

Mental Health Support and Comprehensive Insurance

Mental health support is an essential aspect of comprehensive insurance coverage. In today's fast-paced world, individuals face various challenges that can take a toll on their mental well-being. Recognizing this, insurance providers are increasingly offering comprehensive plans that include mental health support.

Access to mental health support ensures that policyholders have the necessary resources to address their emotional and psychological needs. This can include therapy sessions, counseling services, and access to mental health professionals. By integrating mental health support into insurance plans, individuals can seek help without financial barriers.

Comprehensive insurance coverage also recognizes the importance of preventive measures for mental health. These plans may include coverage for mental health screenings and assessments, promoting early intervention and prevention of more serious conditions. By addressing mental health concerns early on, individuals can better manage their well-being and prevent potential long-term consequences.

Furthermore, comprehensive insurance coverage often extends beyond traditional therapy. It may include coverage for alternative treatments such as meditation, mindfulness, and holistic approaches to mental health. This recognizes the diverse needs of individuals and allows them to explore different avenues for their mental well-being.

In conclusion, mental health support is an integral part of comprehensive insurance coverage. By providing access to therapy, counseling, preventive measures, and alternative treatments, insurance plans contribute to the overall well-being of individuals. This holistic approach ensures that policyholders can address their mental health needs and lead fulfilling lives.

Rehabilitation Services and Comprehensive Coverage

Rehabilitation services and comprehensive coverage are essential components of healthcare. Rehabilitation services encompass a wide range of medical and therapeutic interventions aimed at helping individuals recover from illness, injury, or surgery. These services may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and mental health counseling, among others.

The goal of rehabilitation services is to restore function, improve quality of life, and promote independence for individuals with disabilities or health conditions.Comprehensive coverage refers to health insurance plans that provide a broad range of benefits, including preventive care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, and mental health services.

These plans often include coverage for rehabilitation services as well, ensuring that individuals have access to the necessary treatments and therapies to support their recovery and ongoing well-being.In summary, rehabilitation services play a crucial role in helping individuals regain function and independence, while comprehensive coverage ensures that individuals have access to a wide range of healthcare services, including rehabilitation, to support their overall health and well-being.

Maternity and Comprehensive Insurance: What's Covered?

Maternity and Comprehensive Insurance: What's Covered?Maternity and comprehensive insurance plans offer coverage for a wide range of healthcare services related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. These plans are designed to provide financial protection for expectant mothers and their families during this important phase of life.

Typically, maternity insurance covers prenatal care, including doctor visits, lab tests, and ultrasounds. It also includes coverage for delivery, whether it's a natural birth or a C-section. In addition, postpartum care, such as follow-up visits and screenings, is often included.Comprehensive insurance plans go beyond maternity coverage and provide a broader scope of benefits.

These plans usually cover preventive care, prescription medications, hospitalization, and specialist consultations. They may also include coverage for dental and vision care, mental health services, and alternative therapies.It's important to note that the specific coverage provided by maternity and comprehensive insurance plans can vary depending on the insurance provider and the policy you choose.

It's always a good idea to carefully review the terms and conditions of your insurance plan to understand what is covered and what is not.In conclusion, maternity and comprehensive insurance plans are designed to provide financial protection and peace of mind for expectant mothers and their families.

They cover a wide range of healthcare services related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Understanding the details of your insurance coverage is essential to ensure you receive the care you need without unexpected financial burdens.

Emergency Room Visits and Comprehensive Plans

Emergency room visits can be stressful and overwhelming, but having a comprehensive health insurance plan can provide peace of mind during these unexpected situations. Comprehensive plans offer a wide range of coverage, including emergency room visits, ensuring that you receive the necessary medical care without worrying about the financial burden.

These plans typically cover expenses such as diagnostic tests, treatments, medications, and hospital stays. In addition, they often include access to a network of healthcare providers, ensuring that you receive high-quality care in a timely manner. With a comprehensive plan, you can rest assured that you are prepared for any emergency that may arise, allowing you to focus on your health and well-being.

So, whether it's a minor injury or a medical crisis, having a comprehensive plan can make all the difference in ensuring that you receive the care you need without breaking the bank.

Dental and Vision Care in Comprehensive Insurance

Dental and vision care are crucial aspects of comprehensive insurance plans. These plans go beyond basic medical coverage to include services that are specifically tailored to oral and visual health. Dental care typically covers routine check-ups, cleanings, and procedures such as fillings and extractions.

It may also include coverage for orthodontic treatments like braces. Vision care, on the other hand, includes regular eye exams, prescription eyewear, and even procedures like LASIK surgery. By including dental and vision care in comprehensive insurance, individuals can ensure that they have access to essential preventive and corrective treatments for their teeth and eyes.

This holistic approach to healthcare recognizes the interconnectedness of oral, visual, and overall well-being. With comprehensive insurance, individuals can have peace of mind knowing that their dental and vision needs are covered, allowing them to maintain optimal health in all aspects of their lives.

Prescription Drug Coverage in Comprehensive Plans

Prescription drug coverage is an essential component of comprehensive health insurance plans. These plans aim to provide individuals with access to the medications they need to manage their health conditions. With prescription drug coverage, policyholders can fill their prescriptions at a lower cost, making it more affordable and convenient for them to maintain their medication regimen.

This coverage typically includes a formulary, which is a list of medications that are covered by the plan. It may also include different tiers, with different copayment or coinsurance amounts for generic, brand-name, and specialty medications. Comprehensive plans often offer a range of options for prescription drug coverage, allowing individuals to choose the plan that best meets their needs and budget.

By including prescription drug coverage in comprehensive plans, insurers can help ensure that individuals have access to the medications they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

Chronic Disease Management with Comprehensive Insurance

Chronic diseases are a significant health concern, requiring long-term management and care. Comprehensive insurance plays a crucial role in supporting individuals dealing with chronic conditions. It provides coverage for a wide range of medical services, including regular check-ups, medications, specialist consultations, and hospitalization.

This extensive coverage ensures that patients have access to the necessary treatments without incurring overwhelming financial burdens. Additionally, comprehensive insurance often includes wellness programs and preventive care, promoting proactive management of chronic diseases. By facilitating access to essential healthcare services, comprehensive insurance contributes to better disease management outcomes and improved quality of life for individuals living with chronic conditions.

As the prevalence of chronic diseases continues to rise, the role of comprehensive insurance in supporting effective disease management becomes increasingly vital.

Holistic Wellness Benefits of Comprehensive Coverage

Holistic Wellness Benefits of Comprehensive CoverageIn our fast-paced and demanding world, it is crucial to prioritize our overall well-being. One aspect that often gets overlooked is the importance of comprehensive coverage. While many people associate insurance with financial security, it actually goes beyond that.

Comprehensive coverage not only protects us financially but also contributes to our holistic wellness.When we talk about holistic wellness, we refer to the balance and integration of different aspects of our lives, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Comprehensive coverage plays a significant role in supporting these areas.

From a physical standpoint, comprehensive coverage ensures that we have access to quality healthcare services. Regular check-ups, preventive care, and necessary treatments become more affordable and accessible. This allows us to take proactive measures to maintain our physical health and address any medical concerns promptly.

Mental and emotional well-being are equally important. Comprehensive coverage often includes mental health benefits, such as therapy and counseling services. These resources help us navigate through life's challenges, manage stress, and improve our overall emotional well-being. Additionally, having the peace of mind knowing that we are protected financially in case of unexpected events can reduce anxiety and promote a sense of security.

Moreover, comprehensive coverage extends its benefits beyond individual wellness. It promotes a sense of community and social well-being. By having comprehensive coverage, we contribute to a collective pool that supports others in need. This solidarity fosters a sense of interconnectedness and empathy, creating a healthier and more compassionate society.

In conclusion, comprehensive coverage goes beyond financial security. It plays a pivotal role in supporting our holistic wellness by providing access to quality healthcare services, promoting mental and emotional well-being, and fostering community and social well-being. Prioritizing comprehensive coverage is an investment in our overall health and the well-being of our society.

Navigating Specialist Care with Comprehensive Insurance

Navigating Specialist Care with Comprehensive Insurance is essential for ensuring optimal healthcare coverage. With comprehensive insurance, individuals have the peace of mind knowing that they can access a wide range of specialist services without incurring exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses. Whether it's seeking guidance from a renowned cardiologist or receiving treatment from an experienced orthopedic surgeon, comprehensive insurance allows individuals to prioritize their health and well-being without financial burdens.

It provides the opportunity to explore various treatment options, including advanced diagnostics, specialized therapies, and cutting-edge procedures. By having access to a network of specialists, individuals can receive personalized care tailored to their unique needs. This ensures that they receive the highest quality care from experts in their respective fields.

Comprehensive insurance also offers the flexibility to choose specialists within a preferred network or seek care outside of it, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare journey. Additionally, it covers a wide range of services, including consultations, diagnostic tests, surgeries, and rehabilitation, enabling individuals to receive comprehensive care from start to finish.

Navigating the complexities of specialist care can be daunting, but with comprehensive insurance, individuals can navigate through the healthcare system with ease and confidence. By having a safety net in place, individuals can focus on their recovery and well-being, knowing that their financial concerns are taken care of.

With comprehensive insurance, individuals can take control of their health and access the specialist care they need, ensuring a brighter and healthier future.

Coverage for Alternative Medicine and Therapies

Coverage for alternative medicine and therapies varies widely among different health insurance plans. Some plans may include coverage for acupuncture, chiropractic care, naturopathy, or other alternative treatments, while others may not. It's important for individuals seeking alternative treatments to carefully review their insurance policy to understand what is covered.

In some cases, specific conditions or diagnoses may be required for coverage of alternative therapies. Additionally, some plans may offer coverage for specific types of alternative medicine, such as herbal medicine or massage therapy, while excluding others. Understanding the scope of coverage for alternative medicine and therapies can help individuals make informed decisions about their healthcare options and expenses.

Travel Insurance and Comprehensive Health Plans

Travel insurance and comprehensive health plans are essential for anyone planning a trip. These types of insurance provide coverage for unexpected medical expenses and emergencies that may occur while traveling. Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, having the right insurance can give you peace of mind and protect you from financial burdens.

Travel insurance typically covers medical expenses, trip cancellation or interruption, lost baggage, and emergency medical evacuation. On the other hand, comprehensive health plans provide broader coverage for medical expenses, including routine check-ups, prescription medications, and pre-existing conditions.

It is important to carefully review the terms and conditions of the insurance policy to understand what is covered and any exclusions or limitations. By investing in travel insurance and comprehensive health plans, you can ensure that you are prepared for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise during your travels.

Financial Protection with Comprehensive Insurance

Financial protection is a crucial aspect of our lives, and one way to ensure it is through comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive insurance offers a wide range of coverage, including protection against accidents, theft, natural disasters, and medical expenses. By having comprehensive insurance, individuals and families can safeguard their financial well-being in the face of unexpected events.

This type of insurance provides peace of mind and a sense of security, knowing that there is a safety net to fall back on in times of need. With comprehensive insurance, one can navigate through life's uncertainties with confidence, knowing that their financial future is protected.

Technology and Telemedicine in Comprehensive Coverage

Technology plays a crucial role in expanding access to healthcare through telemedicine, providing comprehensive coverage to individuals regardless of their location. With the use of remote monitoring devices, video conferencing, and mobile apps, patients can receive medical consultations, monitor their health conditions, and access specialist care without the need for physical appointments.

This integration of technology not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces healthcare costs and enhances overall efficiency. Additionally, telemedicine allows for the delivery of vital healthcare services to remote or underserved areas, ensuring that individuals have access to the care they need.

FOR MORE DETAILS WATCH THIS VIDEO

Friday, November 16, 2018

Why Is Healthcare So Expensive

Healthcare costs are skyrocketing. Since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010
health care costs have gone up by double digits each year. The health care bill did get more people insured
and helped with issues like preexisting conditions, but the problem with the healthcare law isn't
what it tried to do, it's what it failed to do: reduce costs. The solutions to the cost problem is with
the free market and competition.

Here are just three ideas that could make
a huge difference. Number 1: We can roll back the tax burden
on insurance companies. The ACA added a $60 billion tax on health
insurers, which made them have to charge more to consumers to cover their costs. Taxes roll downhill so a tax on insurers means
higher costs for all of us.

Number 2: We can lower the regulations on
health plans. The ACA has a lot of requirements that force
insurance plans to cover an incredibly big list of benefits. If you want a bare-bones insurance plan that
simply covers catastrophic events like a car accident or cancer you currently can't get
one. By boosting the benefits of every plan it
restricts competition and drives up prices by forcing smaller health insurers out of
the marketplace.

Low-cost catastrophic plans that are normally
purchased by younger, healthier people are no longer available because of the ACA requirements. Introducing as many health insurers to the
marketplace as possible can drive down prices by encouraging businesses to compete to cut
costs. The ACA did the exact opposite: Less competition
and higher prices. Number 3: Encourage medical innovation.

The cost to bring a new drug to market already
exceeds two and half billion dollars. And the ACA places an additional twenty-two
billion dollar tax burden on innovator drug companies, the same businesses that produce
lifesaving medications and cures for those in need. Punishing drug producers forces them to charge
even higher prices to make up for the lost money in research, development, and taxes. If we encourage, not punish drug makers it
will lead to more breakthroughs and lower costs--a win, win for all of us.

As healthcare costs skyrocket, don't forget
that the free market is our best chance to rein them in..

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Why Is Health Insurance so Complicated

Americans carry many different forms of insurance. Theres car insurance, home insurance, life
insurance, even pet insurance . . .

Most of these insurance policies work well and are
fairly priced. But there is one glaring exception: health
insurance. Only health insurance becomes more complicated
and more expensive at the same time. So, the obvious question is: why? To answer this question, we have to start
at the beginning.

What is insurance? Its pretty straight-forward: You pay a
monthly fee which provides financial protection against unforeseen, sometimes catastrophic,
events. People buy homeowners insurance, for example,
to protect themselves from the financial loss incurred in the event of a fire, a flood or
theft. Because millions of people are paying into
the insurance pool, the pool has enough money to cover the unlucky person whose house does
burn down. And since insurance is meant to share risk,
it only stands to reason that higher-risk individuals have to pay more to be insured.

Someone who has had two accidents is going
to pay more for car insurance than someone who has never had an accident. Why? Because their track record indicates they
are more likely to have another accident. But while insurance provides a bulwark against
unforeseen loss, it does not protect against routine expenses. Car insurance protects you in the event that
you wind up in a car wreck or your vehicle is stolen, but it doesnt cover routine
maintenance like oil changes, replacing brake pads or tire erosion.

Why? Because everyone needs routine oil changes,
new brake pads, and new tires. So, there is no risk to protect against. Health insurance in America works very differently. Many of us have health insurance plans that
arent insurance at all.

Theyre really pre-paid health care plans. They cover routine check-ups, less serious
illnesses, and recurring expenses like prescription medications in addition to protecting you
from a health disaster. All of this has made healthcare much more
expensive and complex than any other form of insurance. That is true whether you get your insurance
through your employer, through the government, or if you pay for your own plan.

The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare,
was passed on the promise that it would fix these issues and bring down healthcare costs. But it has actually made the problem much
worse. First, it limited the variety of health insurance
plans private companies could offer. It did this by mandating that every plan had
to cover the same set of ten health benefits, including preventive care, maternity care,
mental health care, and contraception.

Second, Obamacare prevented insurers from
charging premiums based on the risk they were assuming. A person with a much higher risk of getting
sick couldnt be charged more than a person with a much lower chance. These two aspects of Obamacare requiring
all policies to have certain coverages and not allowing insurance companies to charge
more for riskier clients caused the price of insurance to rise dramatically. In Arizona, for example, the price more than
doubled between 2016 and 2017 alone.

So, how do we undo this mess? By making health insurance more like, well,
insurance. First, stop making people buy plans that include
things they wont use and dont want. Second, allow health insurers to offer more
options at different prices. Do these two things and youd make health
insurance a lot more affordable for a lot more people.

And what about people with pre-existing conditions
for whom every insurance plan is just too expensive? We do what any compassionate society does:
we make sure they get the medical care they need. But we dont need to upset the whole concept
of insurance and make healthcare more expensive for everyone else to do it. Most Americans want to do the responsible
thing and insure themselves against catastrophic health care emergencies. But with health insurance costs rising every
year, being responsible is becoming more difficult.

Im Lanhee Chen, research fellow at the
Hoover Institution, for Prager University..

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Why do you need health insurance

They say health is wealth. Unfortunately, this holds true when you fall ill as well! When that happens... ...You realise the fact... ...That your coverage is really inadequate!!! Sub-limits only partially fund your treatement or prevent you from choosing the facility you want If that isn't bad enough...

You realise you've used up the complete limits in one round of hospitalisation! Leaving no room for more! To add insult to injury medical costs have risen fast like real estate prices making your current insurance policy quite inadequate! Your heart is beating faster already!!! But hold on... It's not all that bad! We know there are many confusing questions How expensive is medical treatment in my city? Is the insurance provided by my employer sufficient? Should I insure every family member individually... ... Or should I go for a common policy cover? Will my existing health problems be covered? The worst thing you can do is compromise on your medical treatment tomorrow, because you are simply not bothered today! A small premium every month could save you a fortune...

... When emergency strikes! Our well researched tools, blog posts and videos help you navigate this decisions. You'll find it's truly healthy knowledge!.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Why Are People with Health Insurance Going Bankrupt

PAUL JAY: Welcome to The Real News Network.
I'm Paul Jay in Baltimore. We're now into the beginnings of the implementation
of what everybody, including President Obama, is calling Obamacare. So now we have a little
better idea of what it is and how it might work. Now joining us to talk about it are two critics
of Obamacare.

First of all, Kevin Zeese is codirector of It's Our Economy, an organization
that advocates for democratizing the economy. And also joining us is Dr. Margaret Flowers.
She's a pediatrician from Baltimore who advocates for a national single-payer health care system,
or Medicare for all. Thanks for joining us.

MARGARET FLOWERS: Thank you for having us. JAY: So tell us now. You have been critical
about this from the beginning. You were for single-payer during the health-care debate.
But now it's passed.

It's starting to be implemented. You have a better idea what it is. So how's
it looking? FLOWERS: Right. Well, it's looking pretty
much like what we expected.

Right now the United States is the only industrialized wealthy
nation that has a market-based health care system, and the Affordable Care Act moved
us further in the direction of a market-based health care system by requiring people who
don't qualify for the public programs to purchase private health insurance. That will be going
into effect. The exchanges where people will buy that insurance roll out in October of
this year. By January 2014, people have to have insurance or face a penalty.

But what we're seeing in terms of the type
of insurance that people are going to be offered and the trends of what people are actually
purchasing right now is we're moving more in the direction of what we call underinsurance,
where people may have an insurance plan, but there are significant financial barriers to
getting actual care and significant financial risks if someone has a serious accident or
illness. JAY: [crosstalk] FLOWERS: Well, what we see, it's interesting.
Over the last three years there's been a slowing in the rate of rise of our health-care spending
in this country, and it was interesting 'cause the president said in his State of the Union
address, oh, the Affordable Care Act is already working; we're seeing our costs slowing. But
the actual data shows that our costs are slowing because people are using less health services.
The copays and the deductibles that they face mean that they don't have the cash in their
hand to go and get those health-care services. And then what we're seeing in terms of bankruptcy--and
this is actually based on a study done before the economic crash, based on 2007 data--was
that 62 percent of our personal bankruptcies were due to medical costs and illness.

Almost
80 percent of those patients had some form of health insurance. If we look at Massachusetts,
that's had the same kind of legislation on the state level, the number of medical bankruptcies
there is actually rising. JAY: So why is that? If you have health insurance,
why are you going bankrupt? FLOWERS: Because they don't cover--well, they
have co-insurances, so at some level, you know, they cover up to this level, but after
that, your co-insurance is 20 percent, so you have to pay for 20 percent of the services.
They can say that services are uncovered services, and so then you're liable for those. They
can restrict the networks.

So an interesting--out in California, Blue
Cross Blue Shield out there, that covers the largest number of public employees, dropped
Cedars-Sinai and UCLA from their network because that's where people go when they need actual
health care. So if you have a serious problem and that's the place that can treat you, you're
going to have to hold a bake sale or sell your home or do something so that you can
afford that care. KEVIN ZEESE: And Obamacare's going to make
this worse, because what Obamacare does is, you know, there's several levels of insurance
coverage--90/10, where the insurance company pays 90 percent, consumer pays 10 percent;
80/20; 70/30; 60/40. The subsidy provided by Obamacare to people who can't afford insurance
will only cover 70/30 plans.

So when you get a serious illness, you're paying 30 percent
of the cost of that health care. Now, what's really bad about this is that
prior to Obamacare, some of the state insurance regulators were pushing insurance coverers
to a higher level, where they would provide more coverage rather than less. Obamacare
has now put it into law that 60/40 is okay and 70/30 is what the government will pay
for. And so the 80/20 and 90/10's become less common.

So you're going to see more and more
people with underinsurance and not going to see lack of insurance completely go away. In Massachusetts, which is basically the pilot
program for Obamacare--Romneycare was the pilot for Obamacare (it's pretty much the
same plan)--what you see up there is only about half of those people who are without
insurance got covered by Romneycare. The same is going to happen here. The Congressional
Budget Office is estimating 30 million or more people will have no insurance when Obamacare
is fully implemented.

But those who have insurance are going to now be coming with underinsurance. JAY: And this is all kind of new to me. I
mean, viewers of The Real News probably know I'm a dual citizen and I was in Canada until
recently, and we don't have any of this, right? It's single, you know--. ZEESE: You have a sensible program.

JAY: You have a government health-care plan,
and when you're born you get a health card, you show it, and that's kind of the end of
it. So now that I--I have not seen this before. The insurance I have down here now, I have
a copay, but there's--I think it's, like, a $3,000 cap. After that, the insurance pays
100 percent.

FLOWERS: Of covered services. If they say
something's not covered--. JAY: Okay. But are you saying that some of
this, that copay does not have a cap? FLOWERS: It's not that the copay doesn't have
a cap.

It's what the insurance companies are able to determine. You know, they'll say that
something is not covered, that it's experimental. Or we see this all the time, where they actually
charge people for things that are in their plan that they shouldn't be paying for. And
if you're not savvy enough to understand that your plan covers that service and then fight
for it--.

[Snip] before 2005, I think, looking at our
Blue Cross program here. And what they found was that about one out of every five claims
was denied just randomly. Like, if five claims come in, they just pull one out and say, we're
not paying this one. And it wasn't based on any rationality.

It was just a way of, you
know, being able to get more money. And we have evidence of this in New York from
people that worked in these claims offices that if there was a certain level area of
the city, lower-income area, they would deny those claims because they knew people didn't
have the resources to fight back. JAY: [crosstalk] go back to my example, we
had--I think it's an 80/20. So our copay-- ZEESE: That's good coverage in the United
States.

JAY: --wasn't so terrible. But, I mean, the
final bill had to be in the realm of close to $300,000. If it had been a 60/40, we would
have been toast. FLOWERS: Yeah.

Yeah. ZEESE: Exactly right. FLOWERS: And the other thing with that is
if your babies were born in December and you met that whole, you know, what your out-of-pocket
costs were in December and January, you start all over again. And that's where some families
just can't handle that.

ZEESE: And that's what they're finding in
Massachusetts is they're finding that with Romneycare, which was, as I said, the pilot
program for Obamacare, they're seeing that people are not going to get health care when
they need it, because they know when they go it's coming out of their pocket. And that's
not a good thing. When you put off the necessary health care, what that results in is a bigger
bill later. You know, if someone's having a problem--.

FLOWERS: Or a worse outcome. ZEESE: Or a worse outcome, or, yeah, you--. FLOWERS: You can't work 'cause you're disabled
now. ZEESE: Yeah.

So it gets more costly by not
taking care of the problem at the initial stage. You let it grow and get bigger until
you have no choice but to face it. And so in Massachusetts they're finding bankruptcies
are continuing at the same level. They're finding only half the people that were uncovered
are now covered.

And they're finding those who are covered are not getting health care
that they need. That's not the kind of health-care system we should have in the United States. FLOWERS: Costs are rising. ZEESE: It's not appropriate.

JAY: So where are we at with this, then, in
terms of the politics of this? Is there any chance this debate gets reopened in the next
two, three years? FLOWERS: That's really up to the people, whether
we force it to be opened or not. I mean, it's interesting right now that you
have, you know, more kind of these articles coming out in Time magazine looking at our
health-care system. And I'm not really sure what's behind that right now, unless they're
trying to maybe win the argument by creating it early and, you know, not allowing us to
make that argument. But I think what we're going to see over the
next couple of years is we're going to see continued rise in our health-care costs, continued
poor outcomes, families continuing to face financial barriers to care and bankruptcy.
And it's up to us to start saying that, you know, these things are not okay and that there
is a real solution.

We'd like to join the rest of the civilized world and have a publicly
financed health care system. ZEESE: And just to answer your question a
little more, there are people in the country who are working on this. FLOWERS: Absolutely. ZEESE: There are.

And more and more people
are looking at it through the prism of human rights. Health care is a human right. It's
not a commodity. We don't want Wall Street health care.

We want a human right-based health
care. And there are local--there's a Maryland health care human rights campaign. There's--Vermont
has one. Oregon.

They're in Washington. They're all--coming up all over he country, 'cause
people who are looking at how Obamacare is so far being implemented are seeing premiums
rise, health-care use going down. They're seeing more problems and they're seeing what
happened in Massachusetts. And so people who are aware are organized and getting more organized.
So there's ways to get involved in this and reopen this debate.

JAY: And are there--given how paralyzed national
national politics is on this issue, are there some local examples of where there are some
other alternatives? I know in--San Francisco, I believe, has essentially a single-payer--. ZEESE: They have a restaurant tax-- FLOWERS: Right, a restaurant tax that pays
for that. Yeah. ZEESE: --that pays for health care for people
in San Francisco.

Vermont has pushed as far as you can, so far, toward a single-payer
system. They have a number of steps to get there, but they have a good grassroots campaign
that's continuing to push. JAY: So there may be some initiatives at a
municipal/state level that might make some breakthroughs here. FLOWERS: Right.

ZEESE: But this needs to be a national solution.
I mean, really you want to be able to travel throughout the United States and have health-care
coverage. JAY: Yeah. In San Francisco, you just leave
the city and you've lost your coverage. ZEESE: That's what I mean.

FLOWERS: Right. And also, you know, the thing
that I often point out is that the United States is already spending more than enough
for a universal, comprehensive, high-quality health-care system. We spend two and a half
times what the average OECD nation, you know, industrialized nation spends per person on
health care. So we have the money to do this and we have the resources to do this, and
it's really just up to us to demand that we have the kind of health-care system that we
need.

And you can't get the cost--that was my point was that you can't get the real cost
savings unless you do this at a national level. ZEESE: What I was laughing about was I was
thinking about Congress [incompr.] All this craziness about deficit. Health care's 18
percent of our GDP and going up, and you're not going to solve the deficit for the long
term without solving health care. And that's not Medicare that's the problem.
That's not Medicaid.

The problem is the big part of the system, which is the market-based
system. Paul Ryan, in his idiocy, pushing toward privatization
of Medicare, why he thinks having an insurance company making profit off of elderly people
in their health care is going to lower costs is just absurd. It makes no sense. But that's
the state of the Congress.

And, you know, Obama's even talking about
reforms of Medicare that'll make it weaker, in my view. He's done some good things [crosstalk]
Medicare Advantage. It was a good move. That's a--Medicare Advantage is a nice name for private
insurance, which was ripping off elderly people is what it was really doing.

It was not a
good part of the elderly health care in our country. So he did some good things on challenging
that. But what we're seeing in Congress is no sensible
discussion on this issue. We're seeing them push in the wrong direction toward more privatization,
more cost, higher percentage of our GDP, and more deficit, and less health care for American
people.

FLOWERS: But the answer is simple, and as
long as the people understand what it is that we require and we don't settle for anything
less,-- JAY: Which is Medicare for all. FLOWERS: --which is Medicare for all, then
we can push in that direction and do it. JAY: Alright. Okay.

Thanks for joining us,
Margaret, Kevin. FLOWERS: Thank you. ZEESE: Thank you. JAY: And thank you for joining us on The Real
News Network..

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Why Are American Health Care Costs So High

Good morning Hank, it's Tuesday. I want to
talk today about why healthcare costs in the United States are so phenomenally, fascinatingly
expensive, but first I have to blow your mind: Alright, so you've probably heard that the
reason that people enjoy "free" healthcare in Australia and the UK and Canada, etc, etc
is that they pay higher taxes. That money then goes into a big pot and is used to pay
for people's healthcare, but in fact, in the US, we spend more tax money per capita on
healthcare than Germany, Australia, the UK, or Canada. That's right Hank: you pay more in taxes for
healthcare than you would if you were British, and in exchange for those taxes, you get no
healthcare.

In fact, only about 28% of Americans get their
health insurance through government funded programs, mostly poor people, old people,
and Congresspeople. But as you can see in this graph our private healthcare spending
(most Americans are privately insured through their employers) is WAY higher than anywhere
else in the world. In total, the US currently spends about 18% of its gross
domestic product on healthcare costs. Australia by comparison? 9%.

Why is this? Well because everything costs
more, which seems obvious, but apparently isn't, because every article you read is like
"Oh it's because of malpractice insurance" or "it's because we're obese" or we go to
the doctor too much or people are prescribed too many medications. Well, not really. It's because everything costs more. A hip
replacement in Belgium costs $13,000.

In the US it's often over $100,000. Colonoscopies
average over $1100 a piece in the US; in Switzerland they're $655. And on average a month of the
drug Lipitor will cost you $124 if you live in the US. If you live in New Zealand? $7.

Now we are alsonot to bragricher than
all of these countries, so it makes sense that we should spend a little more on healthcare.
But we don't spend a little more. We spend a ton more. And vitally, we don't get anything
for that money, which means we are essentially paying people to dig holes and then fill those
holes back up. Like we don't live longerin fact we're 33rd in life expectancyand in
everything from asthma to cancer, according to one recent nonpartisan study, American healthcare
outcomes are "not notably superior." So why are we spending all of this money for
nothing? Well first, let's discuss some of the problems that are not actually problems.

For instance, the problem is not so-called
"overutilization:" the idea that Americans go to the doctor more and get more tests and
spend more time in hospitals. We know this because Americans actually go to the doctor
less than Europeans and spend much less time in hospitals, although to be fair, you can
stay in a Dutch hospital for seven nights for what it costs to stay in an American hospital
for one night, so no wonder we're hesitant. Also it is not because we're sicker than other
people. Everyone likes to blame obesity on our rising healthcare costs, but yeah, no.
That argument is just not supported by data.

For one thing, disease prevalence does not
affect healthcare costs that much. And for another thing, while we do have more obesity
in the United States, which sometimes leads to health problems, we have fewer smokers
and less alcohol consumption (really? Apparently yes). So that saves us a little money, and
if you compare us to like the British or the French, in the end it's probably a wash. Hank, the truth, as usual, is complex.

Like,
there are obvious inefficiencies in our healthcare system. For instance, not everyone has insurance.
If you don't have insurance, you still get healthcare, but you're responsible for paying
for that healthcare, which often you can't do, so you end up going bankrupt. That sucks
for you, obviously, because you're bankrupt, but it also sucks for the rest of us because
we have to pay not only for your care, but also for all the money the hospital spent
trying to get you to pay for your care. Also the only options available to uninsured people
are usually the most expensive options, like emergency rooms, which is just BANANAS.

But those
inefficiencies are hard to measure. Fortunately, there are things we can measure. So like I said before, because the US is one
of the richest countries in the world, you would expect us to pay a little more for healthcare
than most people. The question is, when do we pay MORE than you would expect us to pay,
and that turns out to be pretty interesting.

Let's start with malpractice and so-called
"defensive medicine." The idea here is that doctors are scared of huge malpractice suits
so they order a lot of unnecessary tests in order to, like, cover their butts. That
does contribute to our healthcare costs, like there are more MRI and CT scans in the US
than anywhere else. However, there are a bunch of states like Texas that have passed tort
reform to limit malpractice suits, and in those states healthcare costs have dropped
by an average of a whopping 0.1%. The biggest estimates for the total costs of defensive
medicine put it at around 55 billion dollars, which is a lot of money, but only 2% of our total
healthcare costs.

Another smallish factor: doctors (and to a
lesser extent, nurses) are paid more in the US than they are in other countries, and by
my possibly-faulty math we end up spending about 75 billion dollars more than you would
expect us to there. And then we have the cost of insurance and
administration costs, like paperwork and marketing and negotiating prices. That's about 90 billion
dollars more than you would expect us to spend. We spend about $100 billion more than you
would expect on drugs, not so much because we take MORE of them, but because the ones
we take cost more per pill.

Okay, and now for the big one. I'm gonna lump
inpatient and outpatient care together, because in the US we do a lot of things as outpatient
procedures, like gallbladder surgeries, that are often inpatient procedures in other hospitals.
We're just gonna make a big ball [gestures]. That big ball is $500 billion more than what
you would expect given the size of our economy. Per year.

Why? Because in the United States we do not negotiate
as aggressively as other countries do with healthcare providers and drug manufacturers
and medical device makers. So like in the UK the government goes out to all the people
who make artificial hips and says "One of you is going to get to make a crapton of fake
hips for everybody who is covered by the NHS. Here in the United Kingdom. But you better
make sure your hips are safe, and you better make sure that they are cheap, because otherwise
we're going to give our business to a different company." And then all the fake hip companies
are motivated to offer really low prices because it's a really huge contract.

Like think if
your company got to put hips inside of everyone in England and Scotland and Wales
and Northern Ireland (I guess not everyone. Just the people who need hips). But in the US we don't have any of that centralized
negotiation, so we don't have as much leverage. The only big exception is Medicare, the government-funded
healthcare for old people, which, not coincidentally, always gets the lowest prices.

So basically, Hank, in the United States,
providers charge whatever they think they can get away with, and they can get away with
a lot, because it's really difficult to put a price on, like, not dying. This is a phenomenon
called "inelastic demand," like if you tell me that this drug will save my life costs
$7 a month, I will pay you $7 a month for it. If you tell me that it costs $124 a month,
I will find a way to find $124 a month to pay for it. You can't negotiate effectively
on your own behalf for healthcare services because you NEED them.

And not like you need
a Macbook Air or the new season of Sherlock, but actual, physical need (I guess it is like
the new season of Sherlock). So basically, Hank, until and unless we can
negotiate as effectively with the people providing healthcare as Australians and British people
do, US healthcare costs will continue to rise faster than anywhere else in the world and
we WON'T get better healthcare outcomes. Hank, I know this video is long, although
it could have been much longer, but I am so tired of people offering up simple explanations
for what's wrong with our healthcare system. They say "Oh, it's malpractice," or "it's
doctors who must also be businesspeople" or "it's insurance companies" or "it's insane
rules for who can GET insurance." It's drug companies, it's government bureaucracy, it's
an inability to negotiate prices.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and YES! It is all of those things
and more! It is not a simple problem, there will not be a simple solution, but it is probably
the biggest single drag on the American economy and it's vital that we grapple with it meaningfully
instead of just treating healthcare costs as political theatre. So I hope I've at least introduced the complexity
of the problem. I've put some thoroughly nonpartisan links in the doobly-doo for further reading.
Hank, welcome back to the United States. As you can see, everything is peachy here.

I'll
see you on Friday. Friendly reminder, educational videos are allowed to be more than four minutes long. All of the people who are commenting about how punished I am did not watch to the end of the video.
I feel dizzy..

Monday, October 8, 2018

Where Can I Get Affordable Health Insurance if I Have Diabetes

Hello, I am Ty Mason of thediabetescouncil.Com,
researcher, writer and I have type 2 diabetes. I want to emphasize that my perspective is
coming from one with Type 2 and not Type 1. Our channel is primarily for those with Type
2 Diabetes and PreDiabetes. Today I want to talk about health insurance
for those with diabetes.

After you watch the video today, I invite
you check out the description box for my new ebook. This is one of the most comprehensive diabetes
meal planning book you can find. It contains diabetes friendly meals/recipes,
recipes for different goals such as 800-1800 calories per day meal plan, diabetes meal
planning tips and tricks. There are also tons of diabetes friendly recipes
for everyone! Diabetes is primarily a self-managed disease.

In order to stay healthy, a person with diabetes
needs supplies like test strips, meters and insulin. Adequate and affordable health insurance is
important for people with diabetes to help them access the supplies, medications, education
and health care to manage their diabetes and prevent, or treat, complications. In the past, obtaining health insurance could
be difficult for people with diabetes, however recent reforms improve access to coverage. The 2010 Affordable Care Act was passed in
hopes it would give more Americans access to better health insurance at a reasonable
price.

As of the date of this video, the law is collapsing
with many insurers dropping out of the exchange leaving many with no real choice for health
insurance. The Obama Care is currently in the process
of being repealed and replaced by the new administration. I say this, not as a political statement,
but to say this is a fluid situation and the information I give to you from my research
is subject to change very quickly. Depending on the state in which you live and
the where in that state, you have the ability to purchase health insurance regardless of
the fact that you diabetes.

For many this is the most affordable option. However, some with diabetes may also qualify
for government assistance programs such as MediCare of MediCaid. My first suggestion would be for you to visit
your local social security office or visit medicare.Org
Many pharmaceutical companies also offer help on medications through discount prescription
plans that are often free of charge. If you do not qualify for government assistance,
your best option is to visit your states insurance exchange website.

This is usually found at your states insurance
dept website. You can also google your states insurance
exchange website. I know I am assuming that those of you watching
are residents of the US, other countries have different methods of insurance including government
run insurance. Health Insurance is a big topic these days.

It is sad that some people have to choose
between needed medication and making a car payment. At times, it seems the insurance premiums
cost more than the benefits. I feel your pain if you have to make those
tough decisions. I encourage you to seek out help from the
makers of your medications or testing supplies.

Quite often they can be very helpful. Dont forget to get my new ebook and please,
subscribe to our channel for many more videos like this one in the future. Thanks for watching. I am Ty Mason..

Sunday, September 30, 2018

What does the EPO, PPO, HMO, POS stand for in HEALTH INSURANCE What is network provider

Welcome back to my channel Lets Talk Money. Today I would like to explain the network
types most commonly known as EPOs, PPOs, HMOs and POS plans. Some plan types allow you to use almost any
doctor or health care facility. Others limit your choices or charge you more
if you use providers outside their network.

You can easily identify the type of plan by
looking at the description next to the plan name. Lets look at each network type. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO):
PPOs give you the choice of getting care from innetwork or out-of-network providers. You pay less if you use providers that belong
to the plans network.

Youll pay more if you use doctors, providers,
and hospitals outside of the network, and you may have higher out-of-pocket costs for
services. If you have a PPO plan, you can visit any
doctor without getting a referral. Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO):
A managed care plan where services are covered only if you use doctors, specialists, or hospitals
in the plans network (except in an emergency). No referral is required to see a specialist
Point of Service (POS): A type of plan where you pay less if you use doctors, hospitals,
and other health care providers that belong to the plans network.

POS plans require you to get a referral from
your primary care doctor in order to see a specialist. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO):
A type of health insurance plan that usually limits coverage to care from doctors who work
for or contract with the HMO. An HMO generally wont cover or has limited
coverage for out-of-network care except in an emergency. If you use a doctor or facility that isnt
in the HMOs network, you may have to pay the full cost of the services you get.

HMO members usually have a primary care doctor
and must get referrals to see specialists. Weve been talking so much about provider
networks, SO what is that? Well, a provider network is a list of the
doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals that a plan has contracted with
to provide medical care to its members. These providers are called network providers
or in-network providers. A provider that hasnt contracted with the
plan is called an out-of-network provider.

Please subscribe to our channel! Dont forget to share your happiness!.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Young Adults Need Affordable Health Insurance

Young Adults Need Affordable Health Insurance

As graduates around the country are getting organized for new adventures and every day jobs, the importance of cut priced wellbeing coverage is beginning as much as be a fact. In a model new ballot published by UnitedHealth Group, Inc, over 2/three of young adults throughout the US comprehend they desire cut priced clinical coverage, on the other hand over 1/2 of them say they might still now not have the recommendation they desire to settle on the suitable classification of preservation to satisfy their calls for.

1,000 young adults have been polled and sixty seven% of them haven't made any plans for clinical coverage. While these 18 - 21 year olds comprehend they desire coverage preservation, they is now not infrequently always fresh involving the preservation they have got thru their parents and do now not even comprehend when that preservation will end.

Young adults are throughout the fantastic and quickest increasing close by of the 46 million uninsured individuals throughout the US. This alarmingly big close by of Americans, alongside with the 25 million underinsured, goes thru brilliant opportunity by now not having related preservation throughout the case of a clinical desire.

When you would like cut priced wellbeing coverage and that you just'll now not get preservation thru your employer, it is able to also be now not clean how that you just'll even start the manner of locating preservation on your personal.

Determine your coverage calls for: Before that you just'll became conscious of the least costly clinical coverage, you would like to appreciate how coverage guidelines work. When it involves price, there are two concerns to perceive -the deductible and the co-pay. Nearly all coverage policy have each and every a deductible and co-pay you are guilty to pay.

The deductible is the quantity of clinical expenditures you'll have to pay out of pocket earlier your coverage preservation kicks in. The co-pay is the portion of every and every certain user price you will have got to pay, with the exception of the coverage market's portion. For event, whilst you've a $500 deductible, you are guilty to pay the first $500 of clinical expenditures in step with year, earlier your coverage market pays irrespective of what element. With the co-pay, you will have got to pay a proportion of every and every price, aas a rule at the time of your carrier.

To lend a hand shield your wellbeing coverage cut priced, you will have possibilities how you pay these expenditures. If you are in kind of splendid wellbeing, settle on a cut deductible and stronger co-value. If even when, you go to the in style practitioner incredibly aas a rule, you pay be stronger off with cut co-funds, on the other hand an elevated deductible. Once your annual deductible is reached, you'll have a lot less expense thru out the year. For the least costly wellbeing coverage top rate, settle on each and every larger deductibles and stronger co-funds. This will now not a lot slash than spread your rates out over a duration of time.

You can take monitor quotes and plans for clinical coverage on-line. This manner that you just'll glance at a vary of categories of guidelines from multiple corporations and take your time locating out the gold intensive-spread multiple to your clinical coverage calls for.

It is especially imperative for young adults to have a favorable realizing of the classification of coverage they desire. With the vast diversity of wellbeing coverage corporations, at the part of the style in guidelines and preservation, the principle straightforward manner to became conscious of the least costly wellbeing care preservation is to operate a little study and take monitor your possibilities. Most importantly, even when, is to circumvent going with non wellbeing coverage at all so that you just do now not became conscious of yourself with big expenditures that you just'll now not manage to pay for to pay.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Why I Don't Have Health Insurance

Why I Don't Have Health Insurance

When married it gave the affect a professional thought to have neatly-being coverage plan, mainly as my 3 little toddlers were born and rates were lined. But things went awry when one required a minor operation on the age of 3 years to faultless an umbilical hernia. The last discontinue result is that during its role of going throughout the stomach button things out so it was once no immense deal. When offered to the insurer for price, even although, they used one excuse after the several now not to pay the rates.

This grew to changed into me off and from that day to this I haven't had coverage plan. It seems, even although, that I don't want it. In Australia we have got Medicare, which covers everyone for it doesn't matter what want they've got got to peer a doctor or go into sanatorium. When it was once first added everyone was once utterly lined nevertheless due to the years this has been eroded to partial duvet.

But my case is determination again. Following my reincarnation and with a prevailing link to the Spirit of the Universe, the precise God, it commissioned me to do surprising things. As proof of this I asked for restoration of my sinus, a I had from the age of 3 years. It was once mechanically long gone. When it advised me to exhibit up my job on the age of 45 years and paintings only for it the Spirit also advised me that every phase may only neatly also be offered.

Over the following many determination years correct here is precisely what has occurred to the amazement of those that recognize me optimum. One of these is my eldest son who's making an try and get me to take neatly-being coverage plan owing to my age. He are now not succesful of recognize how the Spirit works in my life and my refusal to have coverage plan on whatever is beyond his comprehension.

My coverage plan is the Spirit and every phase is committed to it. My mindset is that if it needs to take seen of me then I can not be neatly keen to maintain it. If, alternatively, it's conserving me fit and healthful then why may also I now not believe it? Many my age are struggling stipulations which are now not a space of my predicament.

While many have coverage plan and feel dependable they're greater almost always than now not those that suffer the much. The coverage plan businesses paintings on fear and believe. The only 1 in my life that can be believe-beneficial is God, whom I serve with get satisfaction from. It has acquired rid of all threats and the things of evil from around me so why may also I desire to have it back?

Saturday, September 22, 2018

What a Single Payer Health Insurance Plan Looks Like

PAUL JAY: Welcome to The Real News Network.
I'm Paul Jay in Baltimore. The debate about health care is continuing.
Supreme Court has found what people call Obamacare constitutional. It will come into full force
in 2014. But proponents of what's called single-payer health care or government-run health insurance
plans are continuing to fight, and the evidence seems to be on their side.

Those countries
that have government health insurance plans, people live longer and the cost of the health
care is less. Now the fight in the United States seems to be moving to the state level,
because there doesn't seem to be much that's going to happen at the national level, at
least in the foreseeable future. And one of those states is Maryland. And a recent study
looks at what would single-payer health care look like in the state of Maryland.

And now joining us is the author of that study,
Gerald Friedman. He's a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst,
and he did this study for Health Care for All Maryland. Thanks for joining us, Gerald. GERALD FRIEDMAN: Thank you for having me.

JAY: So before we dig into some of your research,
just sort of give us the bigger picture of why this would make sense for Maryland. FRIEDMAN: Well, the big picture is that health
insurance provided by competing private companies is inherently inefficient and destructive
of people's health. I mean, that's a strong statement, but I think it is well founded. The problem with private health insurance
is that it's not like selling shoes.

If you're a shoe company, you want to sell more shoes,
you want to make a better quality shoe at a better price to attract more business. Health
insurers don't want more business. They want to get rid of sick people. Eighty percent
of your costs as a health insurer are incurred for about 20 percent of your people.

You know,
in some places it's 90-10--90 percent of your costs go to 10 percent of the people. If you
can find those people, identify those people, and figure out a way to get them to go away,
go to a different company, then you will be in a position to lower your prices and increase
your profits. That is what health insurers try to do. JAY: Let me interject for a second.

There
kind of is that in Maryland, is there not, where the state actually takes people that
a lot of the private insurance companies don't want and puts them through this Maryland plan. FRIEDMAN: Yes, exactly, exactly. One aspect
of--the president's law, Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, has provisions to try to restrict
this behavior by companies. Until those provisions, the ban on preexisting conditions, until that
kicks in, states have been subsidized from the federal government to set up these care
pools for special insurance for people who can't get insurance otherwise.

Overall throughout the United States about
100 million people have some condition that an insurance company would look twice at or
three times at before giving you insurance. Certainly if you've ever had cancer, insurance
companies don't want you. If you have HIV, insurance companies don't want you. If you
have an obsessive-compulsive disorder, a history of chronic depression, if you're overweight,
if you have heart disease, if you have high blood pressure--.

JAY: Or if you're pregnant. FRIEDMAN: Or if you're pregnant, that's right,
or if you're pregnant, insurance companies don't want you. JAY: Unless they already have you. Like, if
you haven't been insured--and I happen to know this through personal experience recently--if
you haven't been insured, you can't go out and get new insurance if you're pregnant,
except through this pool that the state creates.

So isn't this some form of indirect subsidy
to the insurance companies? Like, we'll take the most serious conditions, publicly finance
them one way or the other, and you can keep your pool nice and profitable. FRIEDMAN: Exactly. Exactly. The high-risk
pool is a subsidy to the insurance companies during this interregnum until 2014 when the
whole law kicks in, and then they are supposed to take everybody.

But in fact they'll still
find ways. They'll--the fastest-growing cost center in American health care is administration
of the health insurance industry. That has risen in cost eightfold since the 1970s. And
that--if you compare the United States and Canada, two-thirds of the extra increase in
cost for health care in the United States is accounted for by rising administrative
burden in the United States compared to Canada.

JAY: Now, I know in one of the papers you
wrote, there's a cartoon, and it's kind of ironic, that one of the arguments against
a government insurance plan is it would be too bureaucratic. But the facts don't lead
you there, do they? FRIEDMAN: No, they don't. They don't. Just
to give you the raw number, the cost of administering the existing Medicare system, the traditional
fee-for-service Medicare, is 2 percent--that is, $0.98 Out of every dollar that goes into
Medicare goes out to pay for services, health care services.

By contrast, the mandate in
the Affordable Care Act is that insurance companies get up to 80 percent. So the health insurance industry admits that
it is ten times less efficient than Medicare. They have ten times as high an administrative
burden in the private insurance system. And the reason they do that is not because they
like to waste money; it's that they use their bureaucratic apparatus to screen out sick
people.

They make it hard for you, they try to identify you, they try to scare you away
from procedures that you need, in the hope that you will leave after a while. JAY: I'll give it a--I can give a--now let
me just explain the parameters of all of this interview we're doing for our viewers. We're
going to do a series one after the other where we're going to dig into this proposal for
Maryland and talk about this health care issue. So this is part one.

And I won't know how
many parts it is until we get to the end. I'll give you one example recently. We've
just had two little twins, and they're in the neonatal unit, and the decision to move
them from the neonatal unit to a lesser-care facility is essentially going to be made by
the insurance companies. The insurance companies have people that are micromanaging these files,
and they're looking at exact--studying individual care of people and then deciding what the
next step should be.

I mean, they won't fight it based on a hospital saying the hospital
must keep the kid here, but they've created the criteria when the kid should move, not
the hospitals. FRIEDMAN: Yeah, yeah, as if they have a license
to practice medicine. I mean, this is standard practice in America these days, that health
insurers are practicing medicine, they're dictating which drugs are approved on their
list, so that if your doctor wants to prescribe a different--give you a different prescription,
well, sure they can prescribe, but the insurance company won't necessarily cover it. They say,
no, you should take this other drug.

They want to prescribe how long you're going to
stay in the hospital, which second opinion, which specialist opinions are needed, which
procedures are appropriate. I mean, this is all done by insurance companies. JAY: And let me add, 'cause people that watch
The Real News know I'm a dual citizen, and I still get health care in Canada as well,
and you don't get the micromanaging that--like this in the Ontario health care system, for
example. There's very broad parameters that are established by the insurance system, but
then all the decisions are really made by doctors after that, not, you know, getting
phone calls from the insurance company.

FRIEDMAN: And we see the difference. The United
States and Canada had about the same life expectancy in 1971 when Medicare, Canada's
health insurance, was enacted. You know, about the same life expectancy, and we were both
paying about 7.5 Percent of our gross domestic product to pay for health care. So we have
very similar situations.

Now, since then, Canada has added 6.5 Years
of life expectancy, compared to five years of life expectancy added in the United States.
So Canadians now live longer than people in United States, a year longer, and Canada's
expenses have gone up to 10 percent of gross domestic product while we've gone up to 17
percent. So we're spending a lot lot more to get less
than Canada's doing. The difference is the cost of administering these health insurance
companies, all those people supervising the doctors, and all the time that the doctors
have to spend dealing with the health insurers. JAY: So I'm going to jump in.

So we're going
to pick this up in part two of this series of interviews and we're going to dig into
this proposal for Maryland and just see where these cost savings would be and compare what
a single-payer plan in Maryland would look like compared to the existing for-profit insurance
plans. So join us for the next in this series of interviews with Gerald Friedman on The
Real News Network..

Monday, September 17, 2018

Why Does My Health Insurance Want Me To Fill Out A Form After I've Been Injured In An Accident

Why Does My Health Insurance Want Me To Fill Out A Form After I've Been Injured In An Accident

You have been despatched the style for the motive that your wellbeing and fitness upkeep has paid for clinical bills which it believes is often times the consequence of everybody else's fault. If so, they wishes to explore out that ideas for the motive that they might per likelihood neatly likely in reality have a true to be repaid or reimbursed in case you agree for a contract or recuperation in the direction of the at-fault grownup, industrial or insurer for that at-fault grownup or industrial. This is popular as "subrogation". Your wellbeing and fitness upkeep policy will probable have a "subrogation" part or clause pointing out this.

It also is on your easiest victorious interest to overall and move back the style to your insurer for the motive that in case you don't and you get a contract or recuperation on your confidential injury case, your industrial too can additionally come after you for the amounts they've paid.

Under Pennsylvania Law, when you are injured in an coincidence, you will also additionally wishes to post your clinical bills to your wellbeing and fitness upkeep. You is often times wondering why you wishes to take a look at this if the injury became inspired by everybody else and that they have obligation upkeep. For occasion, If you are injured attributable to the falling or being injured for that motive of a hazardous circumstance to estate, or for that motive of an risky product, unless the obligation upkeep industrial has "med pay", you wishes to post your clinical bills to your upkeep. Your upkeep might per likelihood neatly likely in reality have a true of subrogation, meaning in case you agree for a contract or recuperation in the direction of a 3rd-get collectively, your wellbeing and fitness upkeep has the true to be repaid.

So, inside of the finish, the at-fault upkeep industrial is paying the clinical bills by being to blame to reimburse your wellbeing and fitness upkeep industrial from a contract. Your wellbeing and fitness upkeep is smoothly fronting it and the style they choice you to fill out allows that method.

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