Thursday, July 21, 2011

Does health insurance cover marriage counseling?

I'm going to call & check when I get a chance. But I just wanted to know your experiences. We have Anthem BCBS if that matters. If insurance doesn't cover it, does anyone know about how much it costs?
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My insurance pays for a certain portion of counseling.
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Seeming how I get free state funded health insurance, tell me why I?

Shouldn't use the ambulance for a free ride to the hospital?
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because unless it is an emergency they may not pay. but more importantly you would be taking one away from some one who really needed it. lastly if you are on state assistance.there usually is a resource that provides free shuttle or bus to and from appointments. contact your Cso.
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Is it a lot harder to sell health insurance since our economy has gotten worse?

Im an considering pursing this but am terrified by a job that is solely commision based
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Selling in the employer-based market is exrtremely competitive, and it always will be. Working solely for commission is always a bit scary, but can also be a great motivator. In this economy, employers are looking for new ideas, new concepts to help them balance the cost to the quality of the benefits. The purpose of employee benefits is to attract and retain quality employees. It is not an entitlement, but rather an incentive to keep the business' clients happy with the quality of their products and service. Good Luck. P.S. I agree with the NASE comment above.
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For those that complain about evil health insurance companies?

Do you know what their avg net profit percentage is? Also is Obama planning on going after any industries with much higher net profit margins?
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it's like 2%
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Health Insurance for Independent Contractors?

I run a real estate office in CA with approximately 60 1099 independent contractors. Is it possible to form a large group and obtain a policy for all without the 'employer' having to contribute? The majority of people here don't have insurance, and some can't obtain any on their own. I would love to be able to set them up in a group, but I can't afford to pay for them all.
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This can be tricky, since there is only one company in CA that will work with this situation. Most local agents shy away from these types of cases because they don't know the rules, and these types of groups can be a lot of work. However, you are on the right track in wanting to offer this. It will work if the agent knows their stuff. Look for agents who do benefits only.
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If you feel Americans should have health insurance for everyone, how far would you go?

What I mean by "how far would you go" is would you give people homes funded by taxes? Would you pay for food for all Americans? (Yeah, I know some Americans get food stamps already but I said all Americans) Where do you draw the line and say "Sorry it's a good idea for people who need the help but we can't pay for it"? Sorry but Obama and Clinton are making promises they can't keep just to get elected like any other political figure.
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You're so right to question the welfare state. There's no limit to what some people believe the government can pay for, and they think that based upon the concept of government money. Reality is that there is no such thing! The money is yours and mine and the government keeps requiring a bigger piece to pay for programs. What's wrong with allowing and encouraging people to provide for themselves and plan for their futures. It's an idea that must be given consideration!
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What happens to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S.C.H.I.P.) while the bill is being vetoed?

When watching the news today on C-SPAN, Bush talked about how congress misinturpreted the bill he had sent over. It discusses the improvement on the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Bush says that he planned to help more children with the eligability issues and to make it so more children could enroll. However, congress had taken that to mean that enrollement eligability was the main problem. So the current proposal they offered was to raise the eligability to families who make up to $80K. Bush now wants to veto this bill... Now, my questions are: 1.) What happens to people who are already enrolled in S.C.H.I.P. durring the time the veto is being promulgated? 2.) Is there going to be a tax increase when this is transpired? 3.) Are the benefit packages that come along with S.C.H.I.P. to be changed when the new bill is passed? 4.) (Is there even going to be a new bill passed?) and lastly 5.) The current bill redifines the age of 25 to be the yield, will this age change?
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The Senate bill is safe, recently passed with a bipartisan vote of 68-31, this majority was more than enough to overcome the veto repeatedly threatened by Mr. Bush. It's the bill passed by the House that will prove troublesome, it's much more expensive and the vote was much closer than the senate bill, however Congress will likely reconcile both bills into a more passable one. Since the State administers the health insurance program then there will continue to be some difference between them regarding the criteria. The bill will pass because it fulfills the promise made by Bush at the Republican National Convention on Sept. 2, 2004. "America's children must have a healthy start in life," Mr. Bush said then. "In a new term, we will lead an aggressive effort to enroll millions of poor children who are eligible but not signed up for the government's health insurance programs. We will not allow a lack of attention, or information, to stand between these children and the health care they need."
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tax deduction for payments on your health insurance deductible?

today at my OBGYN appoinment they told me to keep my receipts because i can get a tax deduction if they are higher than 7% of my income. is that just my income or mine and my husbands? i am going to pay around $2500 for having a baby, and my salary is $34,000. thanks!!!!
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Just your income if you're married filing singly. Both incomes if you file jointly. And congrats on the baby!
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How good is your health care insurance?

Are your premiums are too high, coverage too low, or you simply cannot afford healthcare insurance and have no coverage at all.. Do your elected officials have healthcare insurance? Of course they do. After all you voted for them to not only get more paid vacation days per year, work less days; not have worries about homelessness, hunger, gas prices, food prices, unemployment or unemployment wages, bancruptcy, gas prices, welfare, retirement or health care insurance. In short you have voted in favor of them living better than you. Why should you be left out? Here is a start towards a solutuion. Now you too can be on your way to better healthcare coverage. "Let's get America rolling again." - Lee Iacocca After all a goverment can only be as healthy as its citizens. http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/what-c… I hope this helps.
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I guess I am one of the lucky ones that still has health insurance through my husbands employer, but he has not seen a cash raise in over 10 years! Whenever he gets a raise, the insurance premiums go up and take the raise plus some. It just happened again this year- he got a $30 dollar a week raise, but the insurance went up by $40! What makes me really mad is that we still cannot afford to go to the doctor. Just a simple visit for a sinus problem will cost almost $100, between the co-payment and medicine.
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Why Are Some People Do Not Have Health Insurance?

I think it's really sad. Are there any resources that can help them? I want to try and help.
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I don't currently have health insurance. My husband got laid off from his job in January. We had health insurance through his work and we were given the option to do the COBRA health insurance through them. COBRA is offered to all employees and their families after an employee is laid off or fired. However, the premiums were near $800 a month for the COBRA, which is almost 4 times as much as we had been paying each month! We simply couldn't afford it! For people like me, there are not really any resources that can help. I make too much money to be considered for government assistance (I make a whopping $18,000 a year), but too little to be able to afford health insurance! You are an amazing person for wanting to help! I hope that you find a way to do so!
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Can we use mandatory health insurance to encourage investors to create more jobs?

by requiring that employees must provide and pay for health care plans of their investors?
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This makes no sense to me. Proofread. Investors provide capital so businesses can expand. Businesses use the capital for a variety of purposes, including hiring new people. However, there are other ways to expand without the risk and cost of hiring new people, so the number hired is going to have something to do with the risk-adjusted cost of each new employee.
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I live in New York City and I am in between jobs. I need health insurance for 3 months. Where do I start?

I need to know what coverage I can get and how to get it for New York State residents.
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New York State has a web page with resources on this (including prices for all the insurance plans and such): http://www.ins.state.ny.us/chealth.htm
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19 year old student - health insurance with 1 million lifetime max enough?

I don't currently have a job; I'm just a student, so it's doubtful that I will even keep this insurance the rest of my life. I have a $750 deductible with $2k max out of pocket and no deductible on prescriptions, but the lifetime max is only 1 million. I know with a chronic condition that would be eaten up, but is it sufficient for now?
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At age 19 1 million is adequate. Statistically speaking you have very little chance of capping one million. However, depending on the carrier you may be able to extend the lifetime max for very little additional premium. I have been a health agent for 15 years and chances are that if you have medical expenses in excess of $1 million, you would not survive the accident/illness in question anyway. Having said all of that however, you may want to seek a reinsurer who will come in and accept risk for any medical bills in excess of one million. The premium should be next to nothing, and for obvious reasons. In my opinion you have ample coverage. My only suggestion would be to see if your policy has an aggregate. ( a per sickness/accident limit) you could have a one million lifetime max, but you may have a per illness/accident cap of only say $250,000 for example....this is important to know. Also in response to Kay's comment....NEVER rely on insurance from your employer. EVER. It's YOUR responsibility and not your employer's (or your government's for that matter) to protect your financial assets. Employer based policies ALWAYS end. Termination, job change, etc. An individually owned plan is yours as long as you pay the premium, and gives you much more control and freedom. what would happen if you worked for a company who offered health insurance, but then you had a heart attack or got diabetes? Then you would be FORCED to stay at that job just to have coverage. Whereas if you had a private plan your job would not be slave to your benefits, etc. You need to look into an HSA (Health Savings Account) which will not only save you monthly premiums but also assist you in paying less taxes AND saving for retirment.
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Which is the best health insurance plan? iam really confused with lots of companies plans?

Is there any health plan which covers maternity?
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The best plan will depend on a lot of things. First things first, only look at companies that are large enough to avoid going out of business in the face of the health care reform. Small companies may be forced to raise their rates in effort of driving you away or just plain shut their doors, possibly leaving you with an unsettled claim or without coverage. Next, work with an independent agent that represents all the major companies in your state. You are not likely to find an agent who only represents one company recommend anything other than their policies. An independent can offer you plans from several companies and with the prices being set by law you won't be able to buy it cheaper anywhere else anyway. The next thing to consider is your health and that of everyone to be covered on your policy. DON"T GET DENIED COVERAGE. It is a negetive thing to have on your record. An agent can fact find, submit an anonymous prescreen evaluation and likely prevent a denial situation. Don't just blindly apply. Some companies will be more competitive based on factors like; high blood pressure, overweight, prescribed drugs etc. Let an agent guide you to which companies are more tolerant of you specific conditions. Finally, decide whether a traditional copay style plan or an HSA (Health Savings Account) is right for you. You can look over your past annual averages for health care expenses to help determine which style of plan would have saved you money in the long run. Often times an HSA is the most economical plan for individuals and families alike. They typically have high deductibles(ex. $5,000) that help reduce monthly premiums. A $5,000 deductible may seem outrageous, but hospitals allow you to set up payment plans that create affordable monthly payments. I encourage you to speak with an independent agent in your area. They will be able to listen to your needs, show you your options and allow you to make the decision that's right for you.
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Life and health insurance exam in PA?

I wanted to take the life and health insurance exam in PA. From my research, I found that it's required to have a 24 hr prep course under my belt prior to the exam. After completion of this I sign up for the internet test. Is this the way it goes? Please help!
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The internet test, has to be PROCTORED. That means, you have to take it at a testing center - you can't take it from home. But yes, that's how it goes.
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Health Insurance companies for the self employed?

I am begining to research self employed insurancein the state of Texas. The coverage will be for 1 adult and two teeanagers. The adult utilizes mothly prescriptions and one of the teenagers needs braces. Can anyone suggest an affordable company that has a great reputation. We are currently with NASE and the coverage for prescriptions stinks. Thanks!
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Some of the top insurance companies offering health insurance for the self employed in Texas include: 1. Blue Cross Blue Shield 2. UniCare 3. United Healthcare Stay away from NASE (National Association of the Self Employed) as they are affiliated with the Mega Life & Health Insurance Company and have a history of receiving a lot of customer complaints (do a Google search or Yahoo search for Mega Life and you can read some of the customer complaints even on the first couple of pages of the results). Here are some specific things to consider when looking for self employed health insurance and specifically some information about health insurance in Texas: http://www.healthquote360.com/Individual… http://www.TexasHealthInsurance360.com
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My fiance and i are looking for health insurance and i am not sure exactly?

what we want, we are planning on starting a family soon and i want good maternity and baby care. possibly low deductibles, and decent copays. and not to much a month
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If either one of you is employed, you need to understand what the scope of maternity benefits are in each of those plans. Depending on these things, then maybe you can make a decision which plan offers the better coverage. From a standpoint of good coverage, the best coverage comes from a group insurance policy. These are the types of policies that are given to you from your employer. If you do not have that option, then your only other option is an individual policy. However, you will find out that individual policies are much more expensive, and can contain much less generous benefits than a group policy. Read your plans carefully, and make sure you have someone explain how they will work during your period of maternity.
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Employer taking out health insurance premiums, but no coverage yet -- legal?

My friend's employer swapped them to a new health insurance plan and has already started charging them the premiums even though there's no coverage yet. Some kind of "paperwork problems." He's about to get charged for the second nonexistent month of coverage. So that's $600 in the hole in return for... nothing. Is there any way this could possibly be legal? Of course he's already planning to talk to the local Labor department if he doesn't get a refund, but I thought I'd toss it out here too.
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Group health insurance premiums are "pre-paid". Premiums that are taken out of your check in Feb. will pay March premiums, etc. There is usually only a two week (or one payroll cycle) advance payment though. I have seen it go as far as one entire month in advance, but this is somewhat rare. Anything beyond that and there is probably an issue with the enrollment paperwork. If the effective date of the benefits are changed, then he would be entitled to a refund of the premiums already paid for months there was no coverage. The employer usually will have an Insurance Agent that helps with the benefits. Find out who that is and they may be able to help. I hope it works out....
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Would you hire a person that just did 5 years in prison for not paying for health insurance?

We going to have a new breed of convicts on the street's coming in the future, im scared : )
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I wonder how many violent criminals we are going to have to release just to make room for those evil health insurance dodgers?
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What percent of illegal immigrant children don't have health insurance?

If you know the percent who don't have health care in California that would be even better. California is proposing an initiative that would raise cigarette taxes to $3.47/pack in part to pay for health, dental and vision benefits for illegal immigrant children.
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The current figure is 7.5% of all immigrants. I'm all for the tax increase. You, like everyone else, got bombarded with information at a young age about how smoking is bad. But you wanted to be cool, so you did anyway. You should have listened to your parents and school. I'd rather have you paying for this healthcare than me. Yes!!!
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what are some extreme examples of the measures people take when they don't have health insurance?

I read about the case of the man throwing his wife off the balcony because he couldn't pay her medical bills any longer and wondered what other extremes people have gone to....... anyone know of similar cases?
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Growing up we were really poor. My sister had terrible teeth. Long story short- my siblings and I went to foster homes, my parents to prison. My younger sister went to a home that took her to the dentist. She got braces. But over time her foster parents would not take her back to the dentist to get them removed. My sister waited two years longer than she should have and finally when she was 17yrs. old (I had my own apartment by then) I found her in my bathroom with a fork, pulling her braces off..one by one. All I could do was cry. To me, this was extreme. Could you imagine how much that hurt her? Oh, and once when I was a kid...I fell on a rock and made my front tooth turn black so my father laid me down on the ground and held me there while pulling the tooth out with a pair of pliers. Yeah..people do strange things when they feel they need it done and there are no means to pay for it. I believe that everyone should be entitled to health care!
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Anyone else here chronically or critically ill without health insurance?

I'd move to Canada if I could afford to but instead ... most of us uninsured Americans stay here to die unable to afford healthcare. I had it for 2 months but still spent $1600 just on bloodwork & ultrasounds, I ended up canceling it because I can't afford treatment even IF I could afford the time off from work. What is with this country? Is it a population control method?? What are your thoughts? And how do you receive treatment when you need extensive work as in cancer with no ins. & unable to not work?
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Try a discount health benefit plan. Very affordable, about $40 a month. Pre-existing conditions don't matter. check it out for yourself.
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how many questions from the pre test are on the health insurance exam?!?

I have to take my health insurance exam tomorrow! but i have a majority of the pre test down, can someone help me out with this one?!
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healthquotes.awardspace.info - here is my health insurance plan. As I remember they can provide such a service.
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Why did the National Republican Party choose a health insurance policy that covers abortion?

They did this each year since 1991 an renewed the policy 18 times!!!!!!!!!
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They're just hypocrites. If Bush runs up a deficit, they look the other way, if Obama does, they scream, etc., etc.
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