Preventative Care is Key to Health & Happiness

January 15th, 2009

Some believe preventative care is a major stepping stone for healthcare reform. It could potentially save the health industry billions. It is much less expensive for a physician to treat acute disease rather then chronic. The rising healthcare cost is not helping, we have to start somewhere.Many people have a 100% preventative benefit covered by there UniCare Health Insurance and do not even use it. This benefit is by far one of the greatest benefits available. Experts say that only about 10% of consumers use their preventative benefit.

If you would like to take measures to become proactive with your health, here are a few basics:

Get regular medical screenings and checkups. Be sure to discuss concerns.

Try eating more nutritious foods. Start by cutting 1 bad food and replacing it with a good one.

Start exercising, it is great for your heart and mind. It is a fantastic stress reliever.

Stop smoking. Minimize your usage of alcohol.

All of these combined can have you on your way to a long healthy happy life. Don’t be stingy either, share the knowledge. If everyone told 10 people just think about how much money that could save our failing healthcare system. Try to see the big picture! We can change the face of healthcare once educated consumer at a time.

With the recent economy temporary medical insurance is on the rise for individuals and families between jobs.

New Age Health Insurance Options

January 14th, 2009

There is new age health plans emerging. With the growing demand for health insurance that is affordable yet focuses on good health a new kind of plan is taking over. They are plans that help you take control of your health and at the same time save some out of pocket cost.

One of these plans is through the carrier UniCare. They call it the Solaura HIA Plus Plan. Not to be confused with an HSA plan or Health Savings Accounts. HIA is an acronym for Health Incentive Account. You earn funds for improving and staying health.

First, you receive a quarterly allocation in your health account of $125 to help offset some out of pocket cost. For a family that amount is $250. Essentially this money is to help you meet your annual deductible. Unused dollars rollover year to year and there is no limit.

You can earn even more money for you account by promoting healthy behaviors. Earn $50 for completing Health Assessment online, enrolling in their health Management program, Graduating from one of these programs, completing tobacco free program and completing a weight management program.

One thing this plan promotes is Preventative Care. The pay 100% of an annual Preventative Care visit. This visit includes most of the nationally recommended services. It will cover the office visit, many screening test (including a pap smear) and it covers most immunizations.

Catastrophic Health Plans

January 14th, 2009

 Many of us are living from paycheck to paycheck and making cuts where we can.  One of the things we look towards is our medical insurance.  The increasing cost of premiums force us rethink our options such as Catastrophic Medical insurance we have more money going out then coming in and we are forced to balance this some how.

American’s are smart and realize that the lack of health insurance could end a disaster.  So instead of going uninsured they are opting for a catastrophic policy.  Catastrophic policies are some of the most affordable plans.  It is a safe alternative to nothing.

There are some things to consider before dropping your current plan.  We will discuss those below.  Even though we are struggling in today’s economy we need to consider long term affects as well as current finances.

  • If you are an individual that has health conditions that require regular office visits this kind of plan may not be beneficial.  They typically have high deductibles that must be met, before they share any cost.

  • If you are not a person that finds yourself at the doctor’s office often and feel you are healthy then this kind of plan may suit you.  It would still give you coverage just incase an expensive illness or accident occurred.

  • These plans do not offer you benefits that are typical, like office visit, prescription or emergency room co pays.  You will have to pay these expenses should they occur.  So you need to make sure you would be able to do without these benefits. 

  • Another less stringent alternative that some consumers like are HSA’s.  Or Health Savings Account.  They allow you to make a contribution to an account.  In return you can use those funds to help pay your out of pocket expenses.  These plans are affordable in comparison. Your annual preventative exam may be covered as well.

All in all, it is never a good idea to go uninsured.  A catastrophic plan is a perfect alternative.  If you are just trying to cut cost you need to carefully consider all your options and make a wise decision.

 

Health Insurance Basics

January 13th, 2009

 There are 7 basic components to educate your self on when looking for individual health insurance.  These 7 basics can help you make well informed decisions when choosing a carrier and plan.  These 7 basics can make what many find difficult much more pleasant.

When comparing all the different plans available to you one of the key components is the Lifetime Maximum it provides to you.  This is the total amount the insurance company will ever pay out of there pocket on your policy.  If you are comparing 2 plans a couple of extra million in a life time may be a deciding factor for you. 

The next factor you should consider is the deductible amount.  When you hear the term deductible amount this is the amount you will pay out of your pocket before the carrier will start to pay.  If you would like to keep your premiums low you could share more cost and choose a plan with a higher deductible.

Sometimes the most confusing to consumers is the co insurance amounts.  This is when you have met your deductible and the insurer will start sharing the cost with you.  The co insurance is how much you will spend out of pocket before the insurer picks up at 100%.  Until you met that amount you will pay a percentage of the total for each bill until you have reached your maximum.  Depending on your plan you may pay 20% and the insurer pay 80%.

Many plans have a benefit called an office visit co pay.  What this means is if you should have to go to the doctor you would pay a set amount for the office visit.  The co pay does not always pay for labs done at that office visit so this is important to differentiate so you do not get an unexpected bill later. 

Another unexpected bill often comes following a Preventative exam.  This is due to the consumer not understanding this benefit.  More often then not, there is a limit on the amount the insurer will payout for this kind of visit.  They usually only allow 1 visit a year, so if you schedule a visit even 1 day to soon they will not pay.  Pay close attention also to the types of tests, labs and screenings it will cover.

Another important thing to know is that all carriers set limits.  There are simple limits such as; they could limit the number of office visits or emergency visits.  The can also determine a dollar amount limit that they agree to pay for a benefit.  For example they may only pay $1000 in prescriptions each year.

As stated above prescriptions could be assessed a maximum dollar amount.  Some plans give a Co pay for prescriptions, but most assign categories for different types of medications and set multiple co pays accordingly.  You must be careful and make sure that your plan will cover prescriptions. Just take time to know the basics when your searching for individual health insurance and you will be fine.

Getting Healthy for the New Year

January 9th, 2009

 It is a New Year and many of us make the New Year resolutions.  Many of these resolutions include saving money and getting healthy.  They key to being healthy is staying informed and regular visits to the doctor.  Those without health insurance typically do not meet that simple rule of thumb.  So maintaining health insurance is an essential part of staying health.

And with a little knowledge you can save hundreds of dollars on your health insurance.  More times than often you can secure private coverage that is much cheaper for your dependents than the group health insurance your employer offers.  And sometimes even cheaper even for yourself. You could even turn to temporary healthcare insurance until you figured it all out.

Rates for private insurance are based on a few things.  Two leading factors are you age and your current and past health conditions.  So the younger you are the more affordable the rate.  As well as the healthier your status the lower your rate.  Typically there is a base rate which is increased accordingly.  

 

Another way to control cost is shopping the multiple plans and carriers available.  Not everyone needs or desires the Cadillac of plans.  Some people would be fine with a catastrophic plan, only covering you in case of a major illness or accident.  Others are more comfortable knowing they can go to the doctor anytime.  

 

When shopping the different plans there are a few things to keep in mind.  How much you can afford and what range of benefits are you comfortable with.  Plans can include complete annual physicals, cover medical prescriptions, radiography and labs and even mental health.  Some even include dental and vision.

 

With private health insurance you have the freedom of customizing your benefits.  Not all members of the family have to be on the same plan for instance. If you anticipate that little Joe will only need an occasional visit for a cough or scrapped knee then you could save money by placing him on an economy plan that only includes a few visits to the office and catastrophic coverage just incase the inevitable should happen. Granny Flo would need a border range of benefits.

 

In keeping with the New Years resolution of staying or getting healthy an essential benefit to look for is the Annual Physical or Comprehensive Exam.  This benefit is available on most plans except temporary healthcare insurance.  However, they do have limits.  Some cover a broad range of screenings, as well as labs and test.  Others only cover a minimum exam. 

 

Last but not least, some plans include some extra added bonuses.  Some include smoking cessation, weight management and even discounts on health products in your local stores.  So as you see with just a little knowledge you can find a health insurance plan that gives you what you need and matches your budget and helps you meet a New Years resolution at the same time.

Pros and Cons of Individual Health Insurance

January 9th, 2009

 If you are wandering what the pros and cons of Employer Group insurance is versus purchasing Individual Health Insurance, we will investigate those in this article.  Then you will have the confidence to make a wise choice.

 

Group premiums where once much cheaper.  Not so much anymore.  We are seeing those premiums skyrocket and employers sharing less cost.  We often discover that we can not afford to cover our dependents because the employer shares no cost.

 

Sometimes if you have pre existing conditions staying with your group insurance is the best bet.  Individual insurance can increase your rates based on the pre existing condition. They could attaché a rider to that condition not covering it at all. They could even refuse you coverage. 

 

Individual insurance bases rates on the individual, where group rates are set based on the entire group.  The main difference is once Group insurance is established no one in that group can be excluded no matter their health condition.  Therefore if you have a pre existing condition Group may be your best option.

 

One of the advantages of an Individual policy is the freedom of choice.  There are many plans to choose from.  You could choose a plan with rich benefits or just the minimum.  All you have to do is decide on what benefits you want and find a comparable plan.

 

In a group policy many of your freedoms are eliminated.  You may not have any say in the plan that the employer chooses.  You may lose you provider if they are not in the network.  And the worst thing is this can happen year after year.  And if you need to make changes or additions you must wait until open enrollment once a year.

 

Bundling is a splendid convenience to individual health insurance.  What this means is you can wrap medical, dental and vision up in one little neat package, with one rate.  Many carriers provide this option for you.  You could even add life insurance if you wish.

 

Take a little time to think about you budget, needs and expectations and then decide which option best matches you.  If you want freedom lean towards individual policies.  If having your medical condition covered is a deal breaker lean towards what your employer offers. 

UniCare Quotes

December 18th, 2008

UniCare Quotes are easy to get by completing our online form or calling our office toll free 866-526-9669.

UniCare offers:

  • Family Health Insurance Plans
  • Individual Health Insurance Plans
  • Group health insurance plans
  • Group health insurance plans
  • Senior medicare supplements

Get a no obligation UniCare Quote

UniCare Agent

December 18th, 2008

Unicare Agent Jeff Cline is one of the top Unicare Agents nationwide and wants to earn your business and trust. With so many health insurance options in the market place MR. Cline chooses to work with carriers that have good ratings, strong finanicials and plans that fit every need and because Unicare fits those requirements his agency enrolls more customers in UniCare than any of the other carriers in the market.

Complete the online form to recieve a UniCare Quote from Mr. Clines agency.

Insurance and our economy

December 12th, 2008

Now is not the time to cut your health insurance ! it may seem like a easy way to save money, but with the added pressure and stress this economy will bring for the nation doctors expect to see a rise in medical conditions contributed to stress. So on top of the STRESS OF THE ECONOMY you do not want to add the STRESS OF NOT HAVINF HEALTH INSURANCE

Here are a few ways to save:

1) Increase your deductible, to lower your monthly cost !

2) Reduce your monthly expenses with Debt Consilidation

3) Look are removing some extras off your AUTO INSURANCE like towing, rental…..

Please look everywhere, before you think of cutting your health insurance.

Key Man Life Insurance

August 12th, 2008

Key man Life insurance is on of the most complex financial purchase a business can buy. If the wrong person is the owner, of if the wrong entity is designated beneficiary then the entire design will fall short, and typically business owners do not find out until it is to late.

Any business that has a key Man Or Woman, a Key Person that if missing or gone from the picture will suffer financial hardship with there death should have a key man term life insurance policy. it is very easy to get up to $500,000.00 in key man term life insurance and anything over that will require a bit more needs verification by the carrier.

You can get Key Man term Life insurance in just seconds by completing the from below:

No Medical Exam required up to $500,000.00 in coverage