Archive for the ‘Individual’ Category
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.
Permanent link to this post (182 words, estimated 44 secs reading time)
Tags: health insurance, health savings accounts, pre-tax
Posted in Employees, Employers, Family, Individual, Resources | Comments Off
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
.
Read the full post (208 words, estimated 50 secs reading time)
Tags: children's health, health insurance, preventative care
Posted in Family, Individual, Laws, Resources, State | Comments Off
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.
Permanent link to this post (179 words, estimated 43 secs reading time)
Tags: health insurance, preventative care
Posted in Family, General, Individual, Resources, State | Comments Off
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.
Permanent link to this post (170 words, estimated 41 secs reading time)
Tags: added benefits, preventative care, wellness
Posted in Individual | Comments Off
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.
Permanent link to this post (225 words, estimated 54 secs reading time)
Tags: Chronic Condition, preventative care, wellness
Posted in Family, Individual | Comments Off
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.
Permanent link to this post (234 words, estimated 56 secs reading time)
Tags: health insurance, network provider
Posted in Employees, Employers, Family, Group, Individual | Comments Off
Saturday, June 20th, 2009
Once you or your loved one has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, the most important thing is to become self-aware and gain the ability to manage the impact that this illness will have on your life. The first step is to understand your illness. In doing so you will gain the upper hand in preventing further complications.
Most insurance carriers offer nurse lines specific to your illness and access to support groups. Such groups can be vital for both physical and emotional support, resulting in overall improved health. Subjects covered include:
This is a preview of
Educating the Patient With a Chronic Disease
.
Read the full post (220 words, estimated 53 secs reading time)
Tags: Chronic Condition, wellness
Posted in Employees, Employers, Family, General, Individual, Resources | Comments Off
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
These days, everyone seems to be ready for change. The idea of national health care, coverage for all people (regardless of pre-existing conditions), and the end of gender based rating, is top priority.
One of the biggest issues these days is the fact that men and women are charged different amount for the same plans, at the same age, regardless of health history. Insurance companies defend this disparity by the fact that women tend to utilize health services more frequently than men, especially during their child bearing years. Therefore, instead of being rewarded for taking on a proactive role with their health care, they are penalized by 25% to 50% higher rates than their male counterparts.
With greater government regulation, it is thought that gender differentiation will be a thing of the past. As an effort to keep health insurance out of the hands of the government, and become more user friendly, insurance carriers will need to find ways to be easier on those seeking their own plans, or the millions of currently uninsured individuals nationwide.
Permanent link to this post (178 words, estimated 43 secs reading time)
Tags: heath insurance, pre-existing, premiums
Posted in Individual | Comments Off
Friday, May 29th, 2009
For those individuals who are turning 65, the world of Medicare may seem overwhelming. We are here to help you understand the four parts to Medicare Health Insurance. Original Medicare is the federal health insurance program available to people 65 years of age or older. Medicare is also available to younger people with certain disabilities and people with end-stage renal disease – permanent kidney failure living with dialysis or a transplant; it’s sometimes called ESRD.
Tags: health insurance, medicare
Posted in Employees, Employers, General, Individual, Resources | Comments Off
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
These days you are probably hearing a lot about “concierge medicine”. This is where physicians charge patients an annual fee of several hundred to several thousand dollars a year to ensure benefits like longer appointments, shorter waiting times and the ability to call your provider directly. It has been reported that there are over a thousand physician groups nationwide who are currently operating concierge practices.
Critics claim that these practices result in many patients being driven to emergency rooms and family doctors who remain independent, resulting in overcrowding and long stays in the waiting room. Since there are fewer doctors going into primary care, this too will only add to an already strained system.
Tags: network provider, ppo
Posted in Employees, Family, Individual, Resources | Comments Off
