Reasons You Need To Get Health Insurance At Any Age

Last Updated on Saturday, 16 January 2010 12:58 Written by Natural Health Team Saturday, 16 January 2010 12:58

There are many reasons why it is important to get health insurance. Most people think if they are young or generally in good health, they can get away with not having health insurance. This is a risky way to manage something as important as ‘health’. Health is very precious. Having health care insurance can really make a difference in how you are able to enjoy life.

One basic reason you need to get health insurance is the fact that you never know what is in store for you in the future. You can be perfectly healthy one day and be gravely sick on another. No one knows when serious illness or disease will strike. Simple illnesses, like common cold strike us at anytime. If you ignore simple ailments, there is always the chance they could develop into a serious illness. If you are uninsured, this will convince you to get affordable coverage for yourself. Aside from illness, accidents or injury can also strike a healthy individual without warning. For most people, hospitalization can be a costly affair. Often lab tests and special care alone cost more than the average paycheck. When emergency care is needed, you just can’t refuse it because of not having enough money. You can find yourself in serious debt from one accident or injury. Serious illness requiring any long term hospital stay or surgery can even lead to bankruptcy. The hard truth of life is that every one should seek out some form of health care plan.

There are many ways to get health insurance. Some simple steps to get you started include:

* Know whether you need individual, family, short term, group, or student health insurance.
* Go online and get quotes. For most searches you can just use your zip code.
* Review which offered services fit your needs.
* Contact an agent or office with relevant questions.
* Pick one who has a premium that fits your budget.
* Apply for coverage.

These might seem like common ways to get insurance, but they are the necessary steps you need to take before actually signing one with a plan. When you realize all of the plans out there, you will be able to narrow down on one which best fits your needs.

There are many different plans and options out there for the average person who doesn’t have health insurance right now. This is why it important to do all the research you can before deciding where to get health insurance.

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Senate Bill Includes Health Insurance Plan Mandate for Construction Workers

Last Updated on Saturday, 16 January 2010 12:58 Written by Natural Health Team Saturday, 16 January 2010 12:58

A centerpiece of the Senate’s healthcare reform legislation is the creation of health insurance mandates. These provisions require employers with over a certain number of employees to either provide a health insurance plan to their staff or pay a fine. Under the current system, a majority of Americans receive health insurance through the firm they work for; reform in both the House of Representatives and the Senate includes federal subsidies to allow others to buy a health insurance plan themselves. Democratic legislators had to balance their goal of insuring as much of the country as possible with minimizing costs. In order to do so, they had to ensure that companies wouldn’t take advantage of the subsidized health insurance exchange markets and drop their existing coverage.

However, those crafting the bills have acknowledged that many small businesses are unable to afford a group health insurance plan for their workforce. Many of these businesses do not currently provide insurance. Therefore, businesses with under 50 employees are exempt from the $750 excise tax. This tax would otherwise be levied on a per-employee basis, if any full-time worker who used a federal subsidy to buy a health insurance plan. Right before the Senate version passed, a new exception was added into the mix.

Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley proposed an addition to protect construction workers. In the construction industry, the majority of firms are smaller than the general threshold: 90 percent of them employ fewer than 20 people. Merkley’s provision limits the exemption for the industry to businesses with under five employees. Contractors who use union labor, regardless of their size, must often spend anywhere from 12.5% to 20% of payroll on a health insurance plan for their workers. Meanwhile, non-union contractors have the option of forgoing health insurance–this allows them to low-ball bids, which supporters of the exception claim will result in an unfair competitive advantage. Employees with the latter firms would have gone uninsured in the past, whereas now the federal government would pick up the tab for subsidizing their health care.

Tradespeople employed by contractors risk their health at a higher rate than typical office workers in other industries. Workplace injuries are more common for plumbers, electricians, construction workers, roofers, carpenters, and those in similar professions. While workman’s compensation insurance is a legal requirement for these firms, it often does not cover the complete expense associated with overuse injuries and other health problems not directly associated with an on-the-job injury. A quality health insurance plan may make them more effective employees in the long run.

Of course, some associations representing the building trades, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Home Builders, are unhappy with the last minute insertion. They believe that the mandate will result in tens of thousands of jobs lost, at a time when the unemployment rate is over 10 percent. Although small businesses will be able to take advantage of two years’ tax credits for buying a health insurance plan, trade associations believe that the credits will be insufficient. Republican Senators are also opposed to what they feel is a high amount of “pork”, or sweetheart deals for certain districts in exchange for votes. The Merkeley provision was, in fact, one of those 11th-hour deals struck by Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The House rejected a similar proposal during its own negotiations last fall. With a smaller majority, the Senate needed to shore up union lobbyist support. That constituency is increasingly concerned with the impact health care reform will have on their existing plans: by extending the length of time insurers must allow adult children to remain on a health insurance plan, as well as eliminating lifetime and annual limits on coverage, their costs will increase significantly. Labor unions also oppose the tax that the Senate plans to impose on the generous “Cadillac” insurance plans more prevalent among union workers. Democrats claim that such a tax is necessary in order to pay for part of the cost of healthcare reform. It remains to be seen if construction workers remain a special case when both chambers of Congress are finished combining their respective bills.

(Image: billjacobus1 under CC 2.0)

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After Reform, Millions Will Still Lack Affordable Health Insurance

Last Updated on Friday, 15 January 2010 12:57 Written by Natural Health Team Friday, 15 January 2010 12:57

A recent report from the Congressional Budget Office highlights the continual struggle of providing affordable health insurance to all Americans. Healthcare reform legislation recently passed by the Senate will cost over $800 billion while making significant regulatory and structural changes to the current health insurance system. While the goal of proponents is to extend coverage to the entire U.S. population, it appears that they will fall short in enacting universal health care.

Shockingly, only about 92% of people under 65% years of age will be insured by 2018. Many of the most drastic changes, such as a highly-regulated federal health insurance market with subsidies for low- and middle-income individuals, will not take effect for several years. Moreover, the nonpartisan office estimates that approximately 31 million currently uninsured Americans will have access to affordable health insurance due to the bill. Still, the estimates are sobering to Democrats; they are simultaneously providing ammunition to Republican politicians who claim that the costs are far too high to undertake a strategy that will not even work effectively. The White House points the finger at conservatives in Congress for blocking further expansions of coverage, while touting the Senate bill as a striking improvement from the status quo.

The primary question many have is this: how did so many uninsured individuals and families fall through the cracks? Despite the Senate’s bill clocking in at over 2,000 pages long, some groups are left out, either by accident or on purpose. The former group mainly consists of younger individuals–considered to be those under 30–in good health, a demographic which often chooses to forgo coverage even if affordable health insurance is available to them. Healthcare reform legislation includes a mandate that will soon make that choice more costly. As of 2014, individuals over a certain income level who refuse to buy health insurance will be fined. The goal is to have them become insured; not only is it necessary to avoid possible financial ruin in the event of a catastrophic medical emergency, but their inclusion is also needed in the health insurance pool to reduce medical costs.

Massachusetts has had a similar law for several years, which has reduced the percentage of uninsured in this population. There are about 13 million in this group nationwide, so just making a dent will be helpful. However, some individuals prefer to pay the annual fines (which range from several hundred to over one thousand dollars) in lieu of purchasing insurance. This accounts for some of these Americans who will remain uninsured after reform. It does not even include those people for whom health insurance would cost over eight percent of their annual income; they will be exempt from the health insurance mandate entirely.

Another group already has access to affordable health insurance, but is not taking advantage of it. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are eligible for Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for the poor. With the new Senate bill, individuals and families living in households making under $30,000 per year can qualify for the plan. For various reasons, they have not signed up. Explanations for this range from difficulty filling out forms to embarrassment and lack of publicity. More households will be covered under the existing program, which some experts predict will further decrease the population of the uninsured. Reform supporters claim that there are always a handful of stragglers–even European nations with free universal, socialized health care fall just short of the 100% mark.

On the other hand, illegal immigrants were purposely excluded from the legislation. Coverage for the millions of individuals in America without legal status has been a very controversial issue among both politicians and the public. The bill was expensive and complicated enough to pass with solely U.S. citizens and legal residents. While some liberal Democrats and activists fought the exclusion, it remained intact in the Senate, as well as the House of Representatives. Illegal immigrants are already forbidden from using Medicaid or any other type of public health insurance, but are commonly seen in hospital emergency rooms. They are often treated for conditions that could be handled far more cost-effectively in a doctor’s office, yet resort to the ER at a high cost to state and local governments.

Neither party is willing to offer affordable health insurance subsidies to illegal immigrants, or allow them on an existing program such as Medicaid. The Senate’s bill goes farther to keep them out, however: it will forbid them from using the discounted health insurance exchange markets the legislation will create. In contrast, the House version will allow illegal immigrants to buy coverage in those markets, as long as they only use their money. The future of this provision must be negotiated in committee, so it is unknown whether the ban will become law. There is another prominent concern; the Latino population, whether or not they have legal status, skews younger than the general American population–which puts many of them in the younger age groups shown to be less willing to buy insurance. Therefore, the amount of illegal immigrants who would actually take advantage of their increased access to affordable health insurance remains in doubt.

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Health Insurance Tips from EBSA

Last Updated on Friday, 15 January 2010 12:57 Written by Natural Health Team Friday, 15 January 2010 12:57

The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) administers a number of laws covering health insurance plans and is a great source of information on subjects such as your rights to information on how your plan works, how to qualify for benefits available in your plan and how to make claims on your health insurance plan. Find out more about EBSA on the web at www.dol.gov/ebsa

Here are ten tips EBSA offers to help you make your health insurance benefits work for you.

1) Your options are important – Health insurance comes in many forms so it’s important to take the time to learn about your various options. Do research to compare health insurance plans and choose the one that best fits your health insurance needs.

2) Review the benefits available – When comparing health insurance options, look beyond just the cost and review the benefits each plan offers. Ask questions such as: What are the deductibles? Does the plan cover preventative care? Dental? Vision? These questions will help you determine your out-of-pocket heath insurance expenses under each plan.

3) Look for quality – Not all medical care is the same. Some doctors and hospitals provide higher quality care than others. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a publication, Your Guide to Choosing Quality Health Care, for comparing the quality of health care.

4) Your plan’s summary plan description (SPD) provides a wealth of information – The plan administrator of your health insurance can give you a copy of your SPD. This document tells you your benefits and legal rights under the Employee Income Security Act (ERISA).

5) Assess your benefit coverage as your family status changes – Always review your health insurance after a change in your family, such as a divorce, death, childbirth or marriage. All of these can change your health insurance needs. Your family might qualify for health insurance under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

6) Changing jobs and other life events can affect your health benefits – Here is where COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) comes into play. COBRA can extend your health insurance in case you are laid off, change jobs or face other qualifying life events.

7) HIPPA can also help if you’re changing jobs, particularly if you have a medical condition.

Plan for retirement – Retirement planning is important for many reasons, but knowing what benefits your health insurance offers your family after you retire is near the top of the list. Be sure to learn everything you can about your health insurance and government medical programs for your retirement.

9) Know how to file an appeal if your health insurance benefits claim is denied.

10) You can take steps to improve the quality of the health care and the health insurance benefits you receive.

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Advantages of California Group Health Insurance

Last Updated on Thursday, 14 January 2010 12:58 Written by Natural Health Team Thursday, 14 January 2010 12:58

It is believed that 20% of the population in California has no health insurance. Private insurers like the California Health Insurance firms provide for much of the health care protection for the soaring costs of medical expanses for the citizens in California. Such providers can be paid by California Group Health Insurance schemes. These providers receive their money directly from the insurance company with which the patient is registered for the insurance cover.

Many California health care foundations are in partnership to publish health related articles, research work, educate the citizens on the expenses involved in health care, and to guide through the hospitals and doctors. Some of the leading California Health Insurance companies regularly get their articles published through these websites. It is most beneficial to be a member of a California Group Health Insurance policy as the benefits and returns are huge, especially when you need immediate medical attention.

California Group Health Insurance schemes are for a group of people to share the insurance cover. Different members of the group might fall ill under different circumstances and they may need different types of consultancies and hospitalization expenses. Some may require special after operation care at home through nurses. Insuring a group on the whole benefits both the insurer and the beneficiary. The insurers are happy as their profits are higher as the claims made by the group are in variation across the group. The members who require higher claims for emergencies which were unpredictable are also happy that they did not have to spend all on their own, but their insurance company is taking care of them. The covers of the California Health Insurance companies can also be used by newcomers to the state of California in case of emergencies.

A group of people might be travelling to California for a conference. This conference will require them to be in California for two weeks. This group can go in for a California Group Health Insurance for the two weeks for which they will be in California. Hence, California Health Insurance will give these visitors complete medical insurance. Therefore, if any of the members suddenly requires medical attention for an unpredictable heart problem or some kind of fever developed during their stay in California, they can immediately receive the treatment. Someone in the group might have a fall and require orthopedic treatment and the costs and arrangements can be looked after by the insurer.

The government in California has to spend for the medical services and attention for the citizens. Emergency services like ambulances, state-run hospitals, medical facilities at airports, and medical attention for the various government employees require a huge amount of spending from the government. It is advisable that private sector organizations take up some of the medical expense burden away from the government. Privatization has increased competition among California Health Insurance companies. As California Group Health Insurance is extremely beneficial to spread out the cost of the insurance and the expenses in the group, most companies are going in for various group insurance schemes. The extent of cover and whether dental care or eye care is to be included in the group insurance are decisions made by the management of individual companies.

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