Archive for the ‘Individual’ Category
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Important news for our Blue Shield of California clients who are currently on individual and family plans. If you miss a payment, and exceed your grace period, they will no longer reinstate you after January 1, 2010. In these cases you will have to reapply for coverage and be subject to medical review once again. You are not guaranteed approval, even though you were a recent member.
We will make every effort to give you updates if you show late on payments. Not only will we send you email reminders, Blue Shield will also send you late payment notices via mail. Make sure to send in your premium, or contact us to set up monthly automatic payments via credit card or checking account to avoid cancellation.
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Tags: health insurance, premiums, underwriting
Posted in Family, Individual, Resources, Tools | No Comments »
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Is there a database out there with all of your medical information available to prospective and current insurers? No. However, there does exist a shared central database called the Medical Information Bureau that may contain some important medical information about you. This data base is used primarily by insurance companies when applying for individual or life insurance. These companies can use information in the MIB’s database to help make a decision as to whether or not you will be offered coverage.
However, based on HIPAA laws, this database does not include your entire medical history, doctor’s chart notes, etc. Instead, information in MIB reflects medical conditions (such as diabetes and high blood pressure) or lifestyle choices (i.e. skydiving or smoking) that are thought to be significant. While the decision to decline coverage is not solely based on reports in the MIB, it definitely plays a strong role.
It is very important that you monitor information in the MIB as you would with anything else, such as your credit report. If you note any incorrect information, you can work to have it corrected, and not hinder your chances of obtaining health or life insurance in the future.
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Tags: individual health, pre-existing, underwriting
Posted in Family, Individual, Privacy, Resources | No Comments »
Monday, November 16th, 2009
Anthem Blue Cross has discontinued some of their PPO Share (maternity) plans in California, and although you may keep your current coverage, you may find the rates higher than you anticipated. In this case, new plans have been designed to offer comparable coverage with lower premiums. For instance, those individuals and families on the PPO Share 2500 or 1500 may want to consider moving to a less expensive plan, such as the PPO Share 3500. These plans will balance the escalating costs of maternity coverage with higher deductibles and out of pocket maximums. You will still have the comfort of knowing that your coverage is in place should you need it, and continue using your current doctors and hospitals. Also, moving to a new plan will not always require medical review, making the process even easier.
As your agent, we also suggest reviewing options for those family members who do not need maternity coverage, and consider separate plans for your family members. You’ll find that this can often reduce your overall premiums, as you are no longer paying for coverage you don’t need.
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Tags: Coinsurance, deductibles, heath insurance, maternity
Posted in Family, Individual, Resources | No Comments »
Saturday, November 7th, 2009
We all know that changes need to be made in the health insurance industry, though no one as much as someone who experienced a major illness without health coverage. For those who are nearer to retirement age, a major illness (i.e. cancer or heart disease) can mean a loss of close to half of their household assets in order to get the medical care they need. This loss is more severe for the uninsured ages 51 – 64 as they have accumulated greater assets for retirement, along with fewer options to re-establish these assets if they are lost due to an illness. The situation in these cases can mean a financial disaster.
It is vital to ensure that your assets are protected, and even more imperative that care is sought out in the case of an illness. Treating conditions earlier mean a better chance of recovery, and better quality of life. Even basic insurance can help you avoid catastrophic losses, and the added support from a Long Term Care policy will help you protect your future, and your family’s as well. Contact us today to see how we can help you protect your health and your peace of mind.
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Tags: Chronic Condition, health insurance, long term care
Posted in Family, Individual, Resources, Tools | No Comments »
Monday, October 5th, 2009
Health Savings Account plans, high deductible health plans, have the added benefits of tax deductions. Unused balances can be carried over to following years, thus allowing you to save money tax free. Since an HSA allows you to purchase a high-
deductible insurance plan with lower premiums, it an excellent way to save money on healthcare. Add to that the fact your contributions to the fund are tax free, you can enjoy considerable
tax savings. Finally, since the interest is tax free and tax deferred, you can also use Health Savings Accounts to supplement retirement income.
For those with Health Savings Account Plans, please note the following contribution limits for 2010:
• For individual coverage, the maximum contribution is $3,050
• For family coverage, the maximum contribution is $6,150
• In addition to the maximum contribution amount, catch-up contributions
of $1,000 may be made by or on behalf of individuals age 55 or older and
younger than 65
If you have more than one HSA account, these limits are going to be applicable for all the accounts together.
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Tags: health insurance, health savings accounts, pre-tax
Posted in Employees, Employers, Family, Individual, Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
California children will not be losing their Healthy Families coverage thanks to the implementation of Assembly Bill 1422. Over 600,000 children were going to be disenrolled starting October 1st, due to a lack of funding. Currently, there are 71,000 children on the waiting list since enrollment was frozen in Mid-July. Parents and guardians can breathe a sigh of relief, however, as this affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage will remain in place.
This is a preview of
Healthy Families Program Spared Massive Cuts
.
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Tags: children's health, health insurance, preventative care
Posted in Family, Individual, Laws, Resources, State | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
The State of California has been in financial crisis as of late and now is going to hit home for many families whose children are enrolled on the Healthy Families program. This is a low cost state run plan that offers affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage for California children. Unfortunately, due to a lack of financial support from the state, they are planning on disenrolling children from the program starting October 1, 2009.
Budget cuts that totaled over $128 million dollars caused a major financial strain, and further enrollments were halted this July. This resulted in a waiting list of over 55,000 children, and a prediction of the removal of nearly 670,000 children having to be removed from coverage.
It is important to keep updated on these proposals, to ensure that California’s children maintain comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care. With too many children already forgoing vital preventative care, we have to find a way to keep our future healthy. Please visit the California Major Risk Medical Board for updated information and ways to become involved.
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Tags: health insurance, preventative care
Posted in Family, General, Individual, Resources, State | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
How would you feel if your boss told you to get a checkup? You would be surprised at how many employers are now realizing the importance of regular exams for their employees. First, it helps find and treat illnesses earlier, resulting in better overall health for the employee. Second, it helps keep insurance premiums down. As employees get older and continue to practice unhealthy lifestyles, medical claims and expenses rise – along with the monthly rates.
If more employers would push their employees to get regular checkups, conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer can be detected earlier – or before they become an issue at all. Though this may result in more out of pocket costs for the employee (for testing and prescriptions, for example), the costs for major surgeries and heart attacks is far beyond these costs.
Implementing wellness programs, designed to help employees lose weight or quit smoking are another motivational tool to keep employees healthy, and employers ensured productive and happy employees.
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Tags: added benefits, preventative care, wellness
Posted in Individual | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
Worrisome polls show that less than 50% of adolescents are receiving recommended preventative care. It is during these years that children can discuss health concerns and learn about healthy living habits that they carry with them for their entire lives. However, at a time where preventative care and health education are vital, most are forgoing such care for reasons such as high co pays, deductibles, or lack of coverage altogether.
If children are getting in to see their providers for their preventative visits, concern lies in the fact that the visits are not as comprehensive as they should be. Physicians receive little compensation for these visits from insurance companies, resulting in little incentive to schedule them. One on one time is not a priority, though it should be as it creates a sense of connection between the doctor and patient from an early age.
We know from experience that chronic conditions can be a financial drain, so establishing good preventative care from an early age will only result in improved health for the client and a strained healthcare system. Guaranteeing these visits for our children is invaluable, and should be at the top of the list for reform. Providing co pay free preventative care visits, and reimbursing pediatricians who provide these services, will result in healthy living habits for our future leaders.
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Tags: Chronic Condition, preventative care, wellness
Posted in Family, Individual | No Comments »
Monday, July 6th, 2009
Recent studies show an alarming trend in California. General Practice physicians are in dwindling supply, and at the lower end of “per capita need”. As fewer and fewer younger physicians enter this field, the inadequacies will become even more dire. On the other hand, specialists seem to be in abundance, but are not distributed throughout the state in an equal manner. Both Specialists and General Practice doctors tend to congregate more in the urban areas, leaving the rural areas without the medical care they need. Add to that the insult of few new general practice recruits, and their current provider population getting older, these individuals can be in real trouble.
Hopes for getting a quick and long term recovery would mean a few things from the state. The first step, of course, would be to get more physicians to study in the field of primary care. This can be done with the help of grants, financial support, and better residency training programs in all fields of general medicine. Providing financial compensation to these new primary care providers would also help to establish care where we most need it. By making it easier to practice in the hard hit areas will ensure that no Californian is without the physicians they need. The only way to achieve this, however, is to make sure that both the patient and doctor are adequately taken care of.
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Tags: health insurance, network provider
Posted in Employees, Employers, Family, Group, Individual | No Comments »
