by: Brad Stroh
Deciding which individual and family health insurance plan is just right for you and your family can seem as challenging as judging which apple is the very best out of an entire barrel at the supermarket. The apples are all different sizes, shapes and colors, and the health insurance plans all offer different fees, types of benefits, and levels of coverage.
For many people, the group health insurance plan sponsored by their employer offers them the most affordable coverage. Group health insurance is exactly what it sounds like: a health insurance plan or plans offered to groups of people through their employers. Individual and family health insurance, on the other hand, is offered to individuals and families instead of employer groups, and it can be a much more attractive and affordable option than many people believe.
Because individual and family health insurance is not offered through an employer, those who choose this type of insurance will pay the entire cost of the regular premiums. However, there is a wide range of plan types available, allowing smart consumers to maximize the coverage they are receiving for the money they’re investing in the plan. In some situations, they may even be able to save money compared to what they would have spent in premiums for an employer’s group health insurance plan. Either way, consumers should never forget that the money they’re spending each month for health insurance is 100% tax-deductible.
There are two basic types of individual and family health insurance plans: indemnity and managed-care. An indemnity plan gives its policy holders more freedom to choose the source of their health care, allowing them to receive treatment where and from whom they choose. It is also likely to require them to pay out-of-pocket for the services they receive and file the paperwork themselves in order to be reimbursed. Many indemnity plans also require higher deductibles that must be met before the plan coverage will begin, and they also pay claims based on a percentage of the cost for the care. Managed-care plans, on the other hand are usually based on a network of approved health care providers from whom their policy holders can receive treatment. Because this network of providers has, in most cases, agreed to provide the treatment at a pre-set price, the care will cost less out-of-pocket for the consumer. The paperwork is generally taken care of by the health care provider instead of the policy holder, and the care is covered with only a low percentage coinsurance or set co-payment amount required from the policy holder.
There are three types of managed-care plans: HMOs, PPOs, and POS plans. These options are all based on provider networks and require their policy holders to pay for their health care depending on their tendency to seek care from in-network or out-of-network providers.
In each category, there are dozens of available plans offering different levels and types of coverage that allow users to choose based on personal needs. Many plans require a deductible amount to be met for each plan year before coverage begins, and monthly premiums are likely to be lower for plans that have higher deductibles. This along with other factors affects how much the plan will cost the consumer to use. Therefore, a person who expects to seek health care only a few times a year will likely benefit by choosing a plan with a lower monthly premium. On the other hand, those who seek routine care and have a history of more physician visits, and/or who regularly fills expensive prescriptions, can best serve their medical needs with a plan requiring a higher monthly premium and low or no deductible.
These are not the only factors that should be considered when choosing a plan. Someone who travels often may want to consider the possibility of needing to seek care while far from home and the advantages of an indemnity or a more flexible managed-care plan, so that unexpected out-of-network expenses can be covered. Women who expect to become pregnant during their plan year must carefully study the coverage offered to them during pregnancy and delivery. No plan is right for everyone; that’s part of the reason there are so many from which to choose.
Making a smart choice requires thorough study of the plans available. The needs of every person who will be covered by the plan should be taken into account. With careful consideration and planning, those needs can all be met affordably through family and individual health insurance.
About The Author
Brad Stroh is currently co-CEO of Freedom Financial Network and http://www.Bills.com. If you would like more of Brad’s http://www.Bills.com/sitemap/, please visit the Bills.com information on http://www.Bills.com/healthinsurance/.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Life Insurance Cover – Fat Chance
by: Michael Challiner
The Government predicts that by 2025, obesity rates in children will be a frightening statistic. It is thought that around 33% of girls and 25% of boys will be clinically obese. This means overweight to the extent that their health will be likely to suffer.
The rate at which UK children are getting fat is the worst in the world. There are experts that believe that the UK will top the tables as the most obese country, overtaking the USA.
Obesity and conditions related to this condition are costing the country £4billion in working days lost. Disability pay and lost tax payments through being unable to work are believed to be costing up to £20billion per annum.
Obese people are likely to visit the GP’s surgeries and hospital clinic’s more frequently than average weight patients and there is an increased need for treatment. With the National Health Service’s cost for these “obesity” patients estimated to be at £15billion per year, it’s a worrying thought that these costs will spiral as the younger generation figures come into play.
Naturally, insurance companies are showing a lot of concern about these predictions. Many of them now ask specifically for the weight of the applicant on the day that they fill in the form. Asking how heavy you were when last weighed is not quite the same thing. It’s easy to get “weight amnesia” and omit a few pounds ………or more. If the answer is not to the insurer’s liking the premium could rise significantly, or you may even be refused cover.
We have some figures from one of the main insurer’s. Take, for example, a man in good health and aged 40 and applying for 20 years life insurance worth £100,000. If he’s Mr Average, he’ll weigh around 12 stone and be 5ft 10ins tall. Now consider the same person but put his weight at 18 stone. Still in good health, but the premium for his life insurance would rise by over 50%.
If a medical was insisted on and he was found to have one or two problems which would be quite usual for a person of his age and weight, then either the premiums would be considerably higher or he would be refused cover.
In the case of critical illness insurance, it’s unlikely that this same person would get any cover at all. Certainly there would be a refusal if the result of a medical showed any weight-related complications, such as high blood pressure or raised cholesterol.
Women weighing over 16 stone are likely to have similar problems when it comes to insurance, and the extra cost of insurance at this weight, as opposed to “normal” weight, would be an additional 33%. Again, if in ill health or weighing very much more than this, then the ability to get cover would be doubtful.
These facts present major problems for both sexes as, due to health problems, life insurance becomes an important issue.
So what you can do to change the situation?
Life insurance in particular is extremely important. If you have a problem in organising life insurance due to obesity and possibly ill health due to the condition, then you’ll need a good broker to help you to find the right company to help you. It might be expensive, but remember if you take the cover that you need now, if there is an improvement in your position at a later date and your weight has fallen, it will be possible to switch to a more reasonably priced policy.
Adjustments to your lifestyle and diet will certainly lower your premiums for life, critical illness and probably travel insurance too.
Although obese people are entitled to NHS treatment, a great many people claim that it is denied. There has been a recent survey of 70,000 hospital doctors in which it is reported that almost 50% said that patients should not be given replacement hip operations or similar. The use of free anti-obesity drugs, which you would imagine would be desirable, was challenged by a third of the doctors.
The attitude of some GP’s is not helpful. Quite often the message is that you’re overweight and it’s time to do something about it, without any real help being offered. It also has to be said that some GP’s offer real help and for patient’s lucky enough to be under their care, they will offer a lot of encouragement, but it’s a combined effort!
There are lots of slimming clubs offering you the chance to slim in the company of others with similar problems and they certainly seem to be extremely successful with some of their members. Some of these clubs combine exercise with diet and certainly exercise plays a large part in becoming fit and healthy.
Whilst some people find that a regime of diet and exercise, combined with a very large helping of will power and determination, will get them to their optimum weight for their age and height, others have taken more extreme action.
An operation called a gastric bypass, which costs the NHS around £12,000 per patient, is possible. It’s not to be undertaken lightly and not without risks to the patient but for those who have undergone, or are about to undergo, the 5 hour operation, be assured that the results are amazing. This may sound extremely expensive, but treatment for an obesity-related illness such as diabetes could well cost more than this in just one year. We heard recently of one lady whose weight had reduced by 12 stone, from her heaviest, as a result of her operation. The “before and after” photographs are truly amazing and she’s well on her way to a normal weight and wonderful new lifestyle.
Once down to an acceptable weight, insurance companies are more than happy to take you on, so don’t delay in arranging some cover in the meantime. Remember, the more you lose, the more you’ll gain in premium savings.
Log on to the Internet to find an on-line broker, who’ll contact insurance companies offering specialist help for you.
About The Author
Michael Challiner has worked in financial srrvices for over 15 years at Director level. He also writes articles for a number of UK based financial web sites. Get great articles on life insurance from life insurance shop http://www.life-insurance-shop.co.uk
The Government predicts that by 2025, obesity rates in children will be a frightening statistic. It is thought that around 33% of girls and 25% of boys will be clinically obese. This means overweight to the extent that their health will be likely to suffer.
The rate at which UK children are getting fat is the worst in the world. There are experts that believe that the UK will top the tables as the most obese country, overtaking the USA.
Obesity and conditions related to this condition are costing the country £4billion in working days lost. Disability pay and lost tax payments through being unable to work are believed to be costing up to £20billion per annum.
Obese people are likely to visit the GP’s surgeries and hospital clinic’s more frequently than average weight patients and there is an increased need for treatment. With the National Health Service’s cost for these “obesity” patients estimated to be at £15billion per year, it’s a worrying thought that these costs will spiral as the younger generation figures come into play.
Naturally, insurance companies are showing a lot of concern about these predictions. Many of them now ask specifically for the weight of the applicant on the day that they fill in the form. Asking how heavy you were when last weighed is not quite the same thing. It’s easy to get “weight amnesia” and omit a few pounds ………or more. If the answer is not to the insurer’s liking the premium could rise significantly, or you may even be refused cover.
We have some figures from one of the main insurer’s. Take, for example, a man in good health and aged 40 and applying for 20 years life insurance worth £100,000. If he’s Mr Average, he’ll weigh around 12 stone and be 5ft 10ins tall. Now consider the same person but put his weight at 18 stone. Still in good health, but the premium for his life insurance would rise by over 50%.
If a medical was insisted on and he was found to have one or two problems which would be quite usual for a person of his age and weight, then either the premiums would be considerably higher or he would be refused cover.
In the case of critical illness insurance, it’s unlikely that this same person would get any cover at all. Certainly there would be a refusal if the result of a medical showed any weight-related complications, such as high blood pressure or raised cholesterol.
Women weighing over 16 stone are likely to have similar problems when it comes to insurance, and the extra cost of insurance at this weight, as opposed to “normal” weight, would be an additional 33%. Again, if in ill health or weighing very much more than this, then the ability to get cover would be doubtful.
These facts present major problems for both sexes as, due to health problems, life insurance becomes an important issue.
So what you can do to change the situation?
Life insurance in particular is extremely important. If you have a problem in organising life insurance due to obesity and possibly ill health due to the condition, then you’ll need a good broker to help you to find the right company to help you. It might be expensive, but remember if you take the cover that you need now, if there is an improvement in your position at a later date and your weight has fallen, it will be possible to switch to a more reasonably priced policy.
Adjustments to your lifestyle and diet will certainly lower your premiums for life, critical illness and probably travel insurance too.
Although obese people are entitled to NHS treatment, a great many people claim that it is denied. There has been a recent survey of 70,000 hospital doctors in which it is reported that almost 50% said that patients should not be given replacement hip operations or similar. The use of free anti-obesity drugs, which you would imagine would be desirable, was challenged by a third of the doctors.
The attitude of some GP’s is not helpful. Quite often the message is that you’re overweight and it’s time to do something about it, without any real help being offered. It also has to be said that some GP’s offer real help and for patient’s lucky enough to be under their care, they will offer a lot of encouragement, but it’s a combined effort!
There are lots of slimming clubs offering you the chance to slim in the company of others with similar problems and they certainly seem to be extremely successful with some of their members. Some of these clubs combine exercise with diet and certainly exercise plays a large part in becoming fit and healthy.
Whilst some people find that a regime of diet and exercise, combined with a very large helping of will power and determination, will get them to their optimum weight for their age and height, others have taken more extreme action.
An operation called a gastric bypass, which costs the NHS around £12,000 per patient, is possible. It’s not to be undertaken lightly and not without risks to the patient but for those who have undergone, or are about to undergo, the 5 hour operation, be assured that the results are amazing. This may sound extremely expensive, but treatment for an obesity-related illness such as diabetes could well cost more than this in just one year. We heard recently of one lady whose weight had reduced by 12 stone, from her heaviest, as a result of her operation. The “before and after” photographs are truly amazing and she’s well on her way to a normal weight and wonderful new lifestyle.
Once down to an acceptable weight, insurance companies are more than happy to take you on, so don’t delay in arranging some cover in the meantime. Remember, the more you lose, the more you’ll gain in premium savings.
Log on to the Internet to find an on-line broker, who’ll contact insurance companies offering specialist help for you.
About The Author
Michael Challiner has worked in financial srrvices for over 15 years at Director level. He also writes articles for a number of UK based financial web sites. Get great articles on life insurance from life insurance shop http://www.life-insurance-shop.co.uk
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