Medical Insurance Blog

Blue Cross Raising Their Medical Insurance Rates

If you are insured by Anthem Blue Cross you do have options to help you to lower your medical insurance costs. If you have been putting off applying for health insurance, now would be a good time before the rate increase takes effect.

  

Your options are:

1. Anthem Blue Cross has a website at www.changemycoverage.com. It is very easy to use and you can compare all of their plans and rates to your current plan. If you find a plan that meets your needs at a lower premium, you can apply online to change to the new plan.

2. Go to www.BestHealthcareRates.com where you can compare all of the medical insurance plans offered by all of the major insurance companies. Compare plans from companies such as Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, PacifiCare, Kaiser, Celtic, Assurant, Health Net and many more. You can apply online for any of these plans at www.BestHealthcareRates.com .

3. Call us at 877-812-5111 and we would be happy to help you find and apply for a plan that would better suit your needs. I hope you find these sites useful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help!

Have a great day!

DECISION LOOMS ON ADVANCING HEALTHCARE BILL

Seeking to avert the collapse of major health care legislation, the White House and Democratic leaders in Congress face a crucial decision about whether to use a procedural maneuver that would allow them to advance the bill despite the loss of their 60-vote majority in the Senate.

The maneuver, known as budget reconciliation, could allow President Obama and his party to muscle the legislation through Congress with a simple majority vote in the Senate. But it carries numerous risks, including the possibility of a political backlash against what Republicans would be sure to cast as parliamentary trickery.
The procedure is also subject to complex rules that could make it difficult for Democrats to include all the provisions needed to win approval of the bill, especially among rank-and-file House Democrats. For instance, it might be difficult to include provisions related to insurance coverage for abortions.

Still, for Mr. Obama, it may be the only route available to win passage of the sort of ambitious overhaul that he has pressed as his top domestic priority. And the White House and Congressional leaders have known all along that they might need to employ the tactic to finish a health bill.

"The idea that at any given time the Senate would have 60 votes was not what we would call the most ironclad assumption," the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said at a news conference on Thursday. "We have always thought, what if? You know, what if the policy decisions are such that they can't get 60 votes for it?"

Senior Congressional aides said that lawmakers and the White House were increasingly focused on a plan by which the House would adopt the health care bill approved by the Senate on Dec. 24, with any changes made in a separate bill using the budget reconciliation maneuver.

But Democratic leaders are no longer confident that rank-and-file House Democrats would be willing to go along. The victory by the Republican, Scott Brown, in Massachusetts last Tuesday not only denied Democrats their 60th vote, but raised a specter of fear for Democrats over the midterm elections.

Some Democrats said that regaining the support of the caucus could depend heavily on what Mr. Obama says in his State of the Union speech on Wednesday.

Republicans, however, have made clear that they will portray Mr. Obama and Democrats as trying to use a hardball tactic to win passage of the health care legislation.

"Less than a week after the Massachusetts special election, the Obama administration is vowing to ‘stay the course' and double down on the same costly, job-killing policies that are leaving America's middle-class families and small businesses high and dry," said the House Republican leader, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio.

Some Democrats seem prepared to give up on a health care bill or to put it off for several weeks. Others have begun calling for a sharply scaled-back measure that they hope could win bipartisan support. But it is unclear if Republicans would cooperate even on a modest bill.

In the meantime, aides have been trying to devise a process by which the Senate could make changes to its health bill on a reconciliation measure even before the House voted on the Senate-passed health bill. Some lawmakers said House Democrats might have to vote first.

The House could approve the Senate bill and send it directly to Mr. Obama, eliminating the need for any more votes. But House Democrats have refused to do so because they oppose numerous provisions in the Senate measure, including one that provided extra federal aid solely for Nebraska.

Some House Democrats have also voiced opposition to an deal that the White House and labor unions reached on a proposed tax on high-cost, employer-sponsored medical insurance plans.

Passing even a modest reconciliation bill to make changes to the Senate health measure would not be easy. The mere mention of reconciliation infuriates many Republicans, even though they occasionally used the tactic when they were in the majority.

At least one Democrat who opposed the maneuver earlier in the heath care debate, Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota and chairman of the Budget Committee, said he could go along with its limited use, depending on the specific changes to the health bill.

New York Times Article

Understanding HSA's Medical Insurance Plans

HAS's are a great supplemental tool that can be used to enhance certain medical insurance programs. Some of the advantages to an HSA are the fact that the balance and any subsequent earnings on the account are tax deferred and if you use any of that money for medical expenses it is tax-free. This allows for you to obtain a High Deductable Health Plan, or an HDHP, as you will be able to use your HSA to help pay your deductable. What this will accomplish is a lower monthly premium for you to pay. You can also continue to accumulate the money from year to year in your HSA and if you are retired it can actually be used to supplement your income after all medical expenses are paid.

Read more: HSA Medical Insurance Plans

Many Medical insurance Plans Do Not Cover Treatment For Autism

Case studies have revealed that children with autism receiving therapy at the onset of symptoms can experience higher IQ levels as well as better behavior and language skills. Although these therapies have shown to improve the quality of life of children with autism and their families, certain Missouri and Kansas insurance companies are not currently providing coverage for such treatment. Because the therapies can cost families up to $70,000 each year, most are unable to afford the treatments available to their children without assistance.

However, a closer look at the cost of treating children with autism shows that by providing coverage for these highly successful therapies, the states may save significant money in the long run. For example, a person with a severe case of autism who requires state assistance for education and adult specialized care can cost governmental programs three to four million dollars over the course of their lifetime if parents are unable to pay.

Studies show that treating children with autism as early as possible can cut costs for care and education by half and helps to provide for a brighter and more productive future for the children. Activists are calling out the states of Missouri and Kansas, asking them to join the list of states that are already mandating medical insurance providers to cover the costs for behavioral therapy for autism.

Politicians are beginning to respond to the call. Governor of Missouri Jay Nixon lists insurance mandates for autism treatment coverage as a high priority on the list of topics for the 2010 legislative session.

Republicans and Democrats alike are supporting the idea. In fact, Republican Representative Jeff Grisamore is a co-sponsor of a related bill in the House of Representatives. He believes putting an insurance mandate in place is not only in the best interest of families facing autism but also a good financial decision for the state of Missouri.

As legislation moves forward, advocates for families are striving to ensure the mandates will not be restrained by insurance company caps or exemptions. Although Missouri seems to be well on its way to seeing positive change regarding coverage for autism therapies, in Kansas the legislation experienced a stall in 2009.

Kansas families and advocates have worked for two years to see necessary mandates go through legislation. However, some lawmakers are concerned that these mandates would lead to increased medical insurance premiums across the board in Kansas, although this problem has not happened in other states that have passed the insurance mandates.

The first states to begin passing mandates for coverage for autism therapies saw premiums increase around $1 each month. Considering more than 4,000 families are currently on the Kansas waiting list for services, the need requires change in medical insurance plans in order to better serve those families.

A reported 15% of people receiving services in Kansas have autism-related issues. If Kansas insurers pay for treatments, it would relieve the state to be able to provide more help for people with other disabilities.

Current statistics show that one out of 110 children is affected by autism-which is identified as a disorder affecting language, relationship skills and concentration. Severe autism leaves individuals struggling to function as independent adults without proper treatment. Scientists have not yet identified a specific cause for autism and why it is continuing to increase.

A specialist with Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City explains that early intervention is the key for a positive outcome for children with autism. If Kansas and Missouri join the states that are currently giving necessary attention to the autism crisis, many families will benefit and the state will save money in the long run.

For more information about Autism and how you can help please visit, the National Autism Association

The Difficulties of American Health Care Reform

Throughout much of the world, health care systems are dynamic and flexible, responding to needs and changes as they arise. However, the United States health care system has been stuck in its present state for much of its history. Amongst the nations who are successfully making changes to their healthcare programs are Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, England, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland and Sweden. The largely quantifiable changes they are making range from the system of reimbursement for providers to the actual delivery of medical attention. Efficiency and quality are markedly improved in many cases.

One of the biggest indicators of the problems with American health care, especially when compared with other countries, is that it performs the worst of 19 countries in terms of preventing medically avoidable deaths. In fact, over a 5 year period all the 19 countries studied improved their results in this category significantly, with the exception of the U.S. which made only a 4% improvement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many aspects of the American health care system itself and even the American system of government are at fault for the lack of change for the better to this system that is not performing as it should. Some of the things that need to change in order to create a better system include the following.

1. The healthcare system needs to be simplified. In most other countries, systems are more streamlined and simple, especially when compared to the multi-faceted American system which has a multitude of payment points.
   
2. Universal healthcare needs to be adopted like these other nations in order to improve cost-effectiveness and overall quality. The constant debate over private versus public in American healthcare achieves nothing.
   
3. The parliamentary systems of other countries which allow governments to make changes more quickly are much simpler. They lack the complicated, multi-tiered system of the United States which bogs down any legislation that creates controversy. Other countries have majority rules type of voting and no group with the right to filibuster.
   
4. Most countries are less affected by outside influences. The U.S. government is subject to lobbying more so than any other country. Political campaigns in America are very costly, and therefore politicians rely on groups and businesses to help them financially. This leads to a situation where the elected official "owes" his backers. In addition, the media in the U.S. puts its own spin on controversial legislation often causing panic and anger from citizens who do not understand complicated legislation.

There are numerous examples of countries that have gone back and forth on their involvement with various industries, because of the ease of change with their governmental systems. This shows that it is not always a good thing to have systems that easily allow change. However, the complicated American government system has been blocking healthcare reforms since the time of Theodore Roosevelt. It is time to step back and take a good look at the changes that can be made to bring a less than effective health care system up to the standards of other countries.

Quality Healthcare, Healthcare Insurance and You

Quality is one of the most important things to look for in your health care choices. As with many goods and services in America, quality in the healthcare field varies greatly. Some providers excel at offering high quality care while others simply do not. Finding quality healthcare is essential to your well-being and the health of you and your family.

Good healthcare is care that is timely and useful in preventing illness. Good healthcare is effective diagnosing and treatment of illness and injury. High quality healthcare is something Americans want and value, says leading research. If you choose top quality healthcare that excels, the results you get will be excellent also.

Knowing how to find and select quality healthcare, such as doctors, hospitals, medical insurance plans, long-term care and treatment, is an important part of opting for the best healthcare possible. Some tips will help you improve your chances of securing quality healthcare.

-         Learn about the quality of the service provided by different healthcare providers. Because of the importance of quality in service-centered areas, many ways of tracking and evaluating quality have been devised. Companies measure the quality of their service in order to make improvements. Find out as much as you can about their results in terms of quality.

-         Become an active participant in your own healthcare decisions. Your choice and input do not end when you find a doctor you like. Stay involved. Ask questions about your health. Make decisions together.

-         Consider your doctor your partner in health and be sure to work with him.

-         Make sure you understand why things are being done. You should know why tests or treatments are being done and what the results should be.

-         Educate yourself. You can get information from the hospital, your doctor or nurse, the library or even the Internet. This will help to answer many of the questions you have about your health and provide you with things to think about to formulate new questions.

Put quality first in the decisions you make regarding your health and that of your family. Follow the guidelines above and your healthcare experiences will be ones of quality.

Preventative Medicine for Women Declines

Guidelines for some of the most important tools in preventative medicine have changed considerably in the past few months. In fact both mammograms and PAP smear guidelines were changed within a week of each other. New guidelines suggest using them less than before. Understanding the changes is important for you in terms of taking care of your health and your medical insurance.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPTF) is the group making the recommendations regarding the guidelines for mammograms. They are based on studies and scientific proof. These new basis are only for healthy individuals who are not considered high risk for breast cancer.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AGOG) is the one which has made the recommendation for less frequent PAP smears. The group is made up of specialized OB/GYNs who are chosen by their peers.

Breast Cancer Screening Changes

The 2002 recommendations for breast cancer screening was a mammogram every 1-2 years for every woman over the age of 40. The USPTF has been stating since 2002 that there is not enough evidence to recommend self exams or in office breast exams by physicians.

The 2009 recommendations include mammograms every 1-2 years for women aged 50 to 75. The recommendations for self exams and doctor exams have not changed. Multiple studies have shown no measurable benefit in terms of survival rates for those who did such exams and those who did not.

Cervical Cancer Screening Changes

For years PAP smears have been the standard tool for screening for cervical cancer. In fact, a yearly PAP smear has been the norm for many years and a decline in cervical cancer has been documented.  Most cases of cervical cancer were discovered in patients who had neglected to get a PAP smear for 5 plus years. However, other countries have loosened the guidelines for PAP smears and the U.S. is finally doing the same.

The new recommendations as of 2009 include recommended PAP tests for women over 30 only every 3 years, provided their last 3 PAP tests have normal results. Those with risk factors or immune deficiencies are recommended to have them more often. First PAP tests should be done at age 21. Those who have had the HPV vaccine still need to follow these guidelines until further recommendations have been made.

Benefits and Risk Factors

Amongst the benefits for patients is the fact that the stress of false positives is greatly reduced. It is fairly common for mammogram results to show possible cancer when there is actually none, especially in younger women. This leads to unnecessary biopsies. In addition, mammograms actually miss 10-15% of breast cancer in younger women also.

In the case of suspicious cells showing up in PAP smears, the treatment can be overly aggressive, especially in younger women. The treatment can impair a woman's ability to successfully carry a baby to term due to problems with the cervix not remaining closed. It has been proven that many of these abnormal cell cases clear up on their own. Follow-up PAP smears can determine if this has happened or not in cases that are untreated.

The biggest risk for women, in terms of the changed requirements for the screenings, is the possibility of actually developing breast cancer or cervical cancer and having it go undetected. Breast cancer occurs in 135 of every 100,000 women, making it the most common cancer in the gynecological field. Its mortality rate is 27 women of every 100,000. Cervical cancer occurs in 9.3 of every 100,000 women and the mortality rate is 2.9 per 100,000.

Mammograms have actually proven their effectiveness at saving lives. In addition, the risk reduction between women in their 40's and women in their 50's is not that great. Therefore, the change in mammogram frequency is more debatable than the other changes.

Every woman should follow her instincts and rely on her doctor's advice when it comes to cancer screening tests. Being aware of the results of different studies gives you the knowledge to be an active participant in the decision about whether or not to follow the new guidelines for screening.

Medical Insurance The Top 5 Pitfalls To Avoid!

When attempting to purchase an individual medical insurance policy there are many pitfalls along the way, because of the different things that need to be taken into consideration. If you know what to look for though, you can avoid disappointment and costly mistakes.

 

 

Pitfall #1: Qualifying for Individual Medical Insurance

If you are looking for individual medical insurance for the first time, be sure that you will be able to qualify for it. While there are 5 states that are considered "Guarantee Issue" states, New York, New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, everywhere else in the country you must meet company guidelines to qualify for coverage. If you have any pre-existing health conditions, this may be a concern to be addressed before you invest too much time into researching individual medical insurance. You may be turned down.

Pitfall #2: Maternity Coverage

Often maternity coverage is not automatically covered by individual medical insurance plans. This policy helps to keep costs down for those who are male or are past childbearing years or simply aren't planning to have children. However, for those who want or need maternity coverage, this omission can be a costly one. If you may get pregnant you will want to look into whether or not the health insurance plan you are about to get has maternity coverage. If not, look at other plans or ask to add maternity coverage as a rider. Riders are additions to standard policies which add normally excluded coverage for an extra premium.

Pitfall #3: Loopholes and Fine Print

Be sure you take the time to research your medical insurance needs, the company you are planning to do business with and the plan itself. Read all the paperwork associated with your new individual medical insurance plan and be sure that you understand it completely. Making assumptions about coverage is a poor choice and may lead to claims denial later.

Pitfall #4: Plans with Limited Benefits

There are some medical insurance plans out there which limit the benefits paid for visits to the ER, hospital stays and other medical costs. Avoid such plans as they can leave you holding the bag with big bills if you have a major illness or injury. In addition, you should be wary of options that are billed as low cost with guaranteed acceptance, as they often come with a long list of limitations.

Pitfall #5: Coverage Gaps

If you are seeking medical insurance, don't let your old policy lapse. Start shopping around in advance so you have no gap in your coverage. Any period of time without health insurance could be grounds for a company to refuse you coverage.

If you are careful to avoid the medical insurance pitfalls mentioned above, you should have no problem finding the right coverage to meet your needs.

Group Medical Insurance And Splitting Family Members

When you are obtaining medical insurance from your employer they may actually offer to allow you to add your family members to your coverage. Some larger companies may elect to help you pay for the additions, but they are not required to by law and many smaller companies will not offer to pay any of the added cost which will mean you will incur the added premium. They are however required to pay for part of your coverage and this is known as the employer contribution. The amount that is left over after your employer has paid the employer contribution is known as the employee contribution and is the amount that you will be responsible to pay to ensure coverage.

Determining whether or not to add your family members to your work policy starts with some comparisons. If your employer will actually pay part of your family member's premium, such as 50 percent, then it is more than likely in your best interest to go ahead and add your family members to your work policy. However, you should always compare the rates that you will pay by adding your family members to that of insuring your family members on a separate insurance policy. While this rate may not be less than what you will pay through your job should your employer elect to pay part of the added premium, if your employer is not paying any part of your family's premium then many times it will in fact be cheaper to insure your family members on a separate policy. The reason is that group rates tend to be higher than many individual rates in the same market place. This is due to the fact that group rates are determined using such factors as overall group health, overall average group age, and geographical location of the group.

Once you have determined your medical plan options and prices through work, you will then need to figure out how much each family member will cost to add to your plan. Once this is determined you will easily be able to go out into the market and see if there is a better rate you can obtain for the same coverage. Here is what you need to ask your employer to provide for you in regards to cost:

• Employee Only: This will be the price that you will pay when it is only you on the policy.
• Employee and Spouse: This will be the price you will pay for you and your spouse and will not include your children.
• Employee and Children: This will be the price you will pay to insure yourself and your children, but not your spouse.
• Employee and Family: This will be the price you will pay for yourself and your entire family.

Having these options broken down for you will let you see how much extra you will be required to pay when adding certain family members to your medical insurance plan. Some providers will only give the option of Employee Only or Employee and Family in which case you cannot break down the individuals of your family. However, if you are provided with a full breakdown you can calculate your family's added cost using the following formulas:

• Spouse: Employee and Spouse - Employee Only = Price Difference
• Children: Employee and Children - Employee Only = Price Difference
• Family: Employee and Family - Employee Only = Price Difference

Once you know for sure what each family member will cost you on your policy you will want to obtain quotes from various insurance providers and compare rates. Be sure that the options are the same as those being offered through your work to ensure your coverage will be adequate.

Another factor you will need to consider is the out-of-pocket maximums. These annual amounts represent the most you will need to contribute towards your deductibles. Most medical insurance plans will have out-of-pocket maximums, but some providers will have it on an individual basis and others will have it on a two person or three person basis. Once you have reached your out-of-pocket maximum you will not have to pay any more for the remainder of the year so it is important to know the exact amount of the provider's out-of-pocket maximums and how it applies to those on the policy. The out-of-pocket maximums that you find through searching the market place should be compared to the out-of-pocket maximums you are being offered at work. Remember that you will already have an out-of-pocket maximum with your work policy and if your family goes onto a different policy then you will have another out-of-pocket maximum to deal with.

The bottom line with medical insurance for you and your family is that it has to not only be affordable, but adequate as well. Before you do decide for certain which policy you will add your family to, you must be sure that your family's needs will be met and that you and your family will be prepared should life bring about an unexpected event.

Check individual and family medical insurance rates.

Knowing the Dangers of High Cholesterol and How to Fight Back

If you are in good health, your weight is normal, and you maintain a good diet you really shouldn't have to worry about high cholesterol right? Not so fast. Yes it is true that being inactive and overweight plus eating all sorts of cholesterol laden foods will increase your chances of high cholesterol, but so too will your genes.

Whatever the cause may be of your high cholesterol you need to know what to do to combat it as high cholesterol leads to the development of atherosclerosis, which is the hardening of the arteries, and that in turn will increase your risk of having a stroke or a heart attack.

When you hear doctors talk about high cholesterol they do not mean the amount you are getting from the food you ingest, but instead are referring to the amount of the bad stuff that is coursing through your blood. This ‘bad' cholesterol is known as LDL cholesterol and with too much of it comes the hardening of your arteries. No this doesn't happen overnight but it does start while you are young. As time passes a plaque builds up in your arteries and if you don't curb your cholesterol you will be at a much greater risk of atherosclerosis when you are in your 50s if you are a man and your 60s if you are women.

How exactly does atherosclerosis happen? When your arteries are healthy, the inner lining will be smooth but with disease or an injury, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and of course high cholesterol, the lining can become damaged and pave the way for your arteries to begin to harden.

While scientists are not exactly sure how high cholesterol hurts the inner lining of the arteries it is theorized that LDL carries fatty acids that can oxidize and wreck havoc on the arteries inner lining. The higher the level of LDL inside of your body, the more damage that can possibly be done. Ultimately you will have the body react in an inflammatory way within the artery walls as a reaction to the injury.

Atherosclerosis then begins when white blood cells begin to attach themselves to the walls of the arteries. Once there, they turn into foam cells and collect all sort of bad things such as fat and cholesterol, and even calcium. The end result is plaque or atheroma forming. Once these plaques thicken and harden they in turn will block partially or fully the flow of blood. If an atheroma ruptures it can create a blood clot that will trigger a heart attack or stroke.

So what can you do to lower your cholesterol? While it is true that LDL is harmful and bad, there is a form of ‘good' cholesterol known as HDL that actually helps your arteries. According to some doctors, HDL can reduce the inflammation in damaged arteries and also block the oxidation that occurs with LDL. Some also think that HDL has the ability to carry some levels of the bad cholesterol out of the arteries and back into the liver, which is where the body naturally produces cholesterol, and thus have the body get rid of it naturally. So it stands to reason that the more HDL you have in your body, the less likely you are to be at a high risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.

It also helps to know what your cholesterol numbers are and how they can be lowered. To do this simply visit your doctor's office and talk with them about an acceptable number for you. You can then get tested and if your number is too high you can begin to make the changes that will be needed in order to bring the number down.

While you should be very concerned with your cholesterol levels once you hit 40, you should not wait until then to find out more information about your numbers. Often times people will wait until they get a warning from their bodies that their cholesterol levels are too high. The problem with that is more time than not that warning could be a heart attack or a stroke and if that warning proves fatal, then you obviously won't get a second chance to make the levels right.

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