How To Know If Your Health Insurance Plan Is Right For You
Health Insurance is a big investment and deciding on the options is a big decision. An insurance policy is meant to assist in the financial aspects of healthcare and cover the expenses related to treatment. A good insurance policy will cover almost anything relative to your physical and mental health and well-being from accident to illness.
To save money on your health insurance, chose the plan that fits your needs best. There are three general health insurance organizations: HMO's-which require you to use doctors in a specific network, PPO's-which allow you to pick a doctor out of the network for a fee, and POS'-which are a combination of HMO's and PPO's.
A great way to save money on insurance is to buy it online. Brick-and-mortar brokerages and insurance agents cost insurance companies money to cover their rent, salaries, health benefits, etc. Online brokerages are virtual, so they can employ fewer people and pay fewer bills resulting in savings they can pass on to you.
When traveling out of the state or out of the country, check with your health insurance company first to make sure you are covered for illness or injury. Especially if you rely on Medicare for health insurance, you may not have to travel far to be outside your insurance company's network.
You shouldn't let your health insurance lapse if you are laid off, or it may be more difficult to get coverage later. You can keep your group coverage for a while with COBRA, but it can be expensive, as you'll be paying the entire premium. You may be able to get a less expensive plan from an independent agent.
Try to stay on your parent's health insurance plan as long as possible. If your parent has a good career and a great insurance plan and is willing to cover you, take them up on it. In some states, you can actually remain covered by your parent's health insurance plan until you are 30.
When searching for the best health insurance plan for your specific needs, consider using the services of an independent insurance broker. A good broker will understand the fine points of a wide range of insurance policies and can help with the legwork needed to shop around for the best rates. In addition, a good broker is likely to know of a much broader swath of plans and providers then you will find on your own. Just make sure any broker you consider is credentialed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
If you like your current doctor and you do not want to change providers then you need to make sure that you find out whether he or she is one of the network providers before signing up with any company. Many health insurance companies will not cover you if you see a doctor that is out of the network.
Even if you have a pet that lives indoors, it is still a great idea to get them pet health insurance. There are many things that could happen indoors, such as injury or poisoning. Also, if they escape, anything could happen to them once outside. Veterinary care can be very expensive, even for something as small as a broken tooth.
If you and your spouse are both offered health insurance coverage through your employers, review both policies carefully before making a decision. You may save money by going with just your policy, or just your spouse's. It also might be less expensive to insure each of you separately.
If you are choosing between a group health insurance policy and a private policy, be sure to check the coverage options carefully. Generally speaking, group health insurance gives more options in coverage than private insurance at better prices. This is because the costs of coverage are spread out over many insured people, so the company is better able to offer good coverage at a discounted rate.
Is an HMO really the best way to go? It is a difficult question. With an HMO you have very little here out of pocket costs however you probably do not get to pick which doctors you get to see. With a PPO you should be able to have more of a choice but will have to put out more money. In the end it depends on what your needs might be.
Find out if your health insurance company offers medication assistance for their customers. Some health insurance companies offer a discounted rate for medications or assist with medication costs in some other way. You can call your agent and ask them for the details regarding any medication coverage their company offers.
Obtaining health insurance is a necessary part of living a healthy life. Planning for your future (and your family's) is vital so you can stay healthy and in good financial standing. Use the tips above to help you begin this very important planning today. Don't wait, get health insurance today!
As Covid-19 hospitalizations spike, some overwhelmed hospitals are rationing care
(CNN)Once again, Americans who don't even have coronavirus are suffering the consequences of Covid-19 patients filling up hospitals.
More than 101,000 people are currently hospitalized with Covid-19, according to data Thursday from the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Now, some patients wanting urgent care won't get it because so many beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.
"Before Covid, our ICUs were pretty busy. It's because people were having car accidents and heart attacks and needing complicated surgery and going to the ICU afterward," said Dr. Amy Compton-Phillips, chief clinical officer of Providence Health System in Seattle.
An average Covid-19 hospitalization costs Medicare about 150 times more than vaccinating a beneficiary
An average Covid-19 hospitalization costs Medicare about 150 times more than vaccinating a beneficiary
"And those people are being put on the back burner. So anything that's even remotely elective, we're canceling those cases."
In Idaho, the Department of Health and Welfare activated its Crisis Standards of Care in the northern part of the state Tuesday due to "a massive increase in patients with Covid-19 who require hospitalization."
Crisis Standards of Care are "a last resort" that's only activated when "we have exhausted our resources to the point that our health care systems are unable to provide the treatment and care we expect," health department director Dave Jeppesen said.
Gov. Brad Little pleaded for eligible Idahoans to get vaccinated.
"We have reached an unprecedented and unwanted point in the history of our state," the governor said.
In Arkansas, only 23 ICU beds are available, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday.
He noted 91.5% of hospitalized Covid-19 patients and 90% of Covid-19 deaths are among people who did not get fully vaccinated.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/09/health/us-coronavirus-thursday/index.html
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1epF3asROLV-VbQsc3q4D-KoTPNFSY6wW-ygZRY4xrAo/edit#slide=id.gb305dd1d5e_0_6