Hey guys i am looking for a forum where one can discuss about the benifits of a given health insurance policy to know if the coverages of a particular policy he is thinking to buy are good enough considering the premiums. does anyone know one such forum? please inform..
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General Research Guides for health: Easy to use links that will help with all your research needs, try typing a keyword or two into the search engine and see what happens. http://www.healthalizer.com is a health related search engine and http://www.searchtopica.com is a general search engine that relays results from all other search engines. You can find way better information by searching this way. Hope it helps :)
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Thursday, August 4, 2011
How do I buy insurance (health, life, disability, long term, etc.)? I'm self-employed and my wife is pregnant.
I have no clue how the insurance industry works, so I feel like I'm in a bad position to bargain shop. I tend not to trust slick advertising. Do I need to read a book? Are there trust-worthy, friendly, smart professionals who can meet and talk with you about this? What are they even called??
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Let me start by saying - I am not sure how it works in your state, but in Nevada; a lady who is pregnant can not get individual coverage until she delivers AND and expecting father can not get indivdiual coverage as well. This is because of the risk associated with covering a newborn. Because you are self employed - do you have a LLC, C or S corp? If so, are both you and your wife listed on the articles of incorp or the list of managers? If so, and both of you work for the company - you may qualify for Group Coverage. In the state of Nevada, pre-existing exclusions for pregnancy are not allowed on group plans. Find a good broker to discuss your options.
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Let me start by saying - I am not sure how it works in your state, but in Nevada; a lady who is pregnant can not get individual coverage until she delivers AND and expecting father can not get indivdiual coverage as well. This is because of the risk associated with covering a newborn. Because you are self employed - do you have a LLC, C or S corp? If so, are both you and your wife listed on the articles of incorp or the list of managers? If so, and both of you work for the company - you may qualify for Group Coverage. In the state of Nevada, pre-existing exclusions for pregnancy are not allowed on group plans. Find a good broker to discuss your options.
Source
Do you think health insurance in Australia is worth it?
Or are public hospitals just as good?
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For people who really believe that private hospitals are better than the public health system, I think they should feel free to use them and therefore may want health insurance to help cover those costs. However, I am not one of those people. I think that the public system is quite satisfactory and it deserves our advocacy. Irrespective of this, if you have the money you are perfectly entitled to be a private patient (in a private or public hospital) if you choose, whether or not you have health (hospital) insurance. It just means that you won't have a private fund that you can make a claim against. Having said that, most people who advocate private treatment do not realise that when you are treated as a private patient and do not have a fund to handle the costs for you, you can still make a claim with medicare to be reimbursed some of the costs. The amount reimbursed will be based on the medicare scheduled fee, and of course only applies to services that medicare has an item number for. This is no different to visiting a GP or specialist who refuses to bulk bill. You take your bill to medicare, and they will pay you a proportion (usually 75-85% of the schedule fee) and you carry the remaining cost. Further, there are a couple of medicare thresholds which apply when you're medical expenses exceed certain levels. One relates to gap payments (the portion between the schedule fee and the amount medicare normally reimburses) and the other relates to out of pocket expenses (any expenses over and above the schedule fee). You have to be pretty sick (or have a lot of sick dependants) for these thresholds to kick in, but it's still excellent that they are available. Unlike private funds, medicare doesn't place a maximum amount that they will reimburse you in any given year. In fact, under medicare, the more your medical expenses are, the more medicare will end up paying (due to the thresholds mentioned above). It bothers me that many, many, taxpayers are members of private funds purely because of the medicare levy surcharge and the lifetime healthcover rules. This gives the health funds a captive audience, to the extent that I think that people who have "extras" cover are being subsidised by those with hospital cover. Next time you receive information from your health fund telling you how much in every dollar is paid out in benefits, giving a breakdown, you'll see that for hospital cover only fund members, a very large part of your contribution goes towards funding benefits that are not available to you! So, it's not really a question of whether health insurance is worth it because market forces are not really permitted to decide. Fund memberships are artificially propped up by people who have done their maths and have worked out that it's going to cost them more in medicare levy surcharge than it will to pay for the least expensive hospital cover available, but might otherwise be happy to be covered purely by medicare. That's not much of a choice. Personally, I believe that Medicare is one of the best things that our federal government provides because it's available to everyone - not just the wealthy and not just the extremely poor, and I don't want to see it eroded. There seems to be a prevailing belief that by discouraging people from using the public health system, this somehow helps it. It won't. That's the kind of logic that leads to services being reduced "due to lack of utilisation". I would like to see a public health system that even people who can afford to go private will want to use, purely by choice. And if almost everyone uses it, why should anyone begrudge their tax dollars supporting it? And of course, everyone (rich or poor) should pay the same price, which again is not what happens when the private system is utilised. By increasing the use of the public system there will be strong political motivation to ensure that it's well funded and maintained for the benefit of everyone. What's happening with health insurance would be analogous to the fire brigade being segregated into public and private sectors. We all benefit from having the fire brigade available. Whether our house is the one burning down or not, we like to know that we can call on the fire brigade to spring into action and that our taxes ensure that this service is available to us. We don't pay a fee depending on how big the fire is or how big our house is or what have you. The fire brigade does it's best to help everyone equally. We don't feel a need to call on a private fire brigade that will charge us more money to do the same job and sends us silly leaflets in the mail or extinguishes fires exclusively with holy water while they set us up with a deck chair and a colour tv to watch, and subsequently we don't need to subscribe to special insurance to try and offset those (potential) costs. Yet this is effectively what we are doing to our health system. It's ridiculous!
Source
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For people who really believe that private hospitals are better than the public health system, I think they should feel free to use them and therefore may want health insurance to help cover those costs. However, I am not one of those people. I think that the public system is quite satisfactory and it deserves our advocacy. Irrespective of this, if you have the money you are perfectly entitled to be a private patient (in a private or public hospital) if you choose, whether or not you have health (hospital) insurance. It just means that you won't have a private fund that you can make a claim against. Having said that, most people who advocate private treatment do not realise that when you are treated as a private patient and do not have a fund to handle the costs for you, you can still make a claim with medicare to be reimbursed some of the costs. The amount reimbursed will be based on the medicare scheduled fee, and of course only applies to services that medicare has an item number for. This is no different to visiting a GP or specialist who refuses to bulk bill. You take your bill to medicare, and they will pay you a proportion (usually 75-85% of the schedule fee) and you carry the remaining cost. Further, there are a couple of medicare thresholds which apply when you're medical expenses exceed certain levels. One relates to gap payments (the portion between the schedule fee and the amount medicare normally reimburses) and the other relates to out of pocket expenses (any expenses over and above the schedule fee). You have to be pretty sick (or have a lot of sick dependants) for these thresholds to kick in, but it's still excellent that they are available. Unlike private funds, medicare doesn't place a maximum amount that they will reimburse you in any given year. In fact, under medicare, the more your medical expenses are, the more medicare will end up paying (due to the thresholds mentioned above). It bothers me that many, many, taxpayers are members of private funds purely because of the medicare levy surcharge and the lifetime healthcover rules. This gives the health funds a captive audience, to the extent that I think that people who have "extras" cover are being subsidised by those with hospital cover. Next time you receive information from your health fund telling you how much in every dollar is paid out in benefits, giving a breakdown, you'll see that for hospital cover only fund members, a very large part of your contribution goes towards funding benefits that are not available to you! So, it's not really a question of whether health insurance is worth it because market forces are not really permitted to decide. Fund memberships are artificially propped up by people who have done their maths and have worked out that it's going to cost them more in medicare levy surcharge than it will to pay for the least expensive hospital cover available, but might otherwise be happy to be covered purely by medicare. That's not much of a choice. Personally, I believe that Medicare is one of the best things that our federal government provides because it's available to everyone - not just the wealthy and not just the extremely poor, and I don't want to see it eroded. There seems to be a prevailing belief that by discouraging people from using the public health system, this somehow helps it. It won't. That's the kind of logic that leads to services being reduced "due to lack of utilisation". I would like to see a public health system that even people who can afford to go private will want to use, purely by choice. And if almost everyone uses it, why should anyone begrudge their tax dollars supporting it? And of course, everyone (rich or poor) should pay the same price, which again is not what happens when the private system is utilised. By increasing the use of the public system there will be strong political motivation to ensure that it's well funded and maintained for the benefit of everyone. What's happening with health insurance would be analogous to the fire brigade being segregated into public and private sectors. We all benefit from having the fire brigade available. Whether our house is the one burning down or not, we like to know that we can call on the fire brigade to spring into action and that our taxes ensure that this service is available to us. We don't pay a fee depending on how big the fire is or how big our house is or what have you. The fire brigade does it's best to help everyone equally. We don't feel a need to call on a private fire brigade that will charge us more money to do the same job and sends us silly leaflets in the mail or extinguishes fires exclusively with holy water while they set us up with a deck chair and a colour tv to watch, and subsequently we don't need to subscribe to special insurance to try and offset those (potential) costs. Yet this is effectively what we are doing to our health system. It's ridiculous!
Source
Can you get Lasik without health/vision insurance?
I don't have health or vision insurance, but would like to get Lasik, and would be willing to pay the full amount. Do these places offer some form of insurance to cover potential problems with the operation, since I'm uninsured?
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Many Lasik providers will allow you to make payments should you choose to use their services. You will need to discuss any follow up care with them before you decide to use them. Follow up care should be included in the initial cost of the procedure. At times you may need a minor adjustment to obtain the best results. When shopping around, make a list of questions, read on line about the procedure both benefits and problems with lasik. This way you make an informed decision. Use your judgment and their responses to gage if you want to use them or not. Do not go with the first one, shop around ask people who have used their services. Your vision is way too important to take chances with. There are people who have had it done and it has changed their lives. Some have had many problems. Should you have it done, DO WHAT YOU ARE TOLD TO DO ON YOUR PART! It can make the difference between success and a huge mistake. Good luck!
Source
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Many Lasik providers will allow you to make payments should you choose to use their services. You will need to discuss any follow up care with them before you decide to use them. Follow up care should be included in the initial cost of the procedure. At times you may need a minor adjustment to obtain the best results. When shopping around, make a list of questions, read on line about the procedure both benefits and problems with lasik. This way you make an informed decision. Use your judgment and their responses to gage if you want to use them or not. Do not go with the first one, shop around ask people who have used their services. Your vision is way too important to take chances with. There are people who have had it done and it has changed their lives. Some have had many problems. Should you have it done, DO WHAT YOU ARE TOLD TO DO ON YOUR PART! It can make the difference between success and a huge mistake. Good luck!
Source
My wife is 27 weeks pregnant and I don't have health insurance, how can I get one? NO GOVERNMENT PLANS?
I don't qualify for any government plan like medicaid or similar, I need private insurance and I am self employed so I have no group or company insurance, any suggestions??????
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o.k... hold onto your seat.... I can help! There is a company called AmeriPlan USA... they cover all pre-existing conditions.. even pregnancy! They are a discount health benefits company who , unlike insurance companies, actually sign contacts with doctors and dentists to offer discounted prices for their members! If you have to be hospitalized (for the birth) you can go to any hospitalof your choice, and if the bill is over $2500, they have a advocate who works directly with the hospital to get the bills lowered as much as possible for you (usually at least 50% off).. and then you can set up a interest free payment plan with the hospital!! (I just had a baby 6 months ago and that's what I did!) their basic health plan is $29.95 a month per household.. and if you want to add dental, vision, prescription drug coverage and chiropractic care it's $39.95 a month per household.. You can see the plans at this website.. and please call me for details, because I know you'll have questions.. if you don't have long distance, fill out the contact me form and i'll call you tomorrow if you wish about this. My family has one of these plans and love it and use it all the time! I sure hope this helps you out!
Source
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o.k... hold onto your seat.... I can help! There is a company called AmeriPlan USA... they cover all pre-existing conditions.. even pregnancy! They are a discount health benefits company who , unlike insurance companies, actually sign contacts with doctors and dentists to offer discounted prices for their members! If you have to be hospitalized (for the birth) you can go to any hospitalof your choice, and if the bill is over $2500, they have a advocate who works directly with the hospital to get the bills lowered as much as possible for you (usually at least 50% off).. and then you can set up a interest free payment plan with the hospital!! (I just had a baby 6 months ago and that's what I did!) their basic health plan is $29.95 a month per household.. and if you want to add dental, vision, prescription drug coverage and chiropractic care it's $39.95 a month per household.. You can see the plans at this website.. and please call me for details, because I know you'll have questions.. if you don't have long distance, fill out the contact me form and i'll call you tomorrow if you wish about this. My family has one of these plans and love it and use it all the time! I sure hope this helps you out!
Source
Need travel or health insurance for my mom whose over 70 years old. Can you recommend a good company/website?
Travel is from the Philippines to Sydney for at least 6 months.
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Squaremouth is a comparison site that specializes in long term international medical cover. Any nationality can purchase so long as they travel outside their home country. The policy is delivered immediately on screen and by email. Prices are in US$. International medical: http://www.squaremouth.com/visitors-insu… Travel Insurance US Residents http://www.squaremouth.com Travel Insurance UK Residents: http://www.squaremouth.co.uk
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Squaremouth is a comparison site that specializes in long term international medical cover. Any nationality can purchase so long as they travel outside their home country. The policy is delivered immediately on screen and by email. Prices are in US$. International medical: http://www.squaremouth.com/visitors-insu… Travel Insurance US Residents http://www.squaremouth.com Travel Insurance UK Residents: http://www.squaremouth.co.uk
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Health insurance covers OB/GYN include abortions ?
My health insurance includes coverage of ob/gyn and I'm wondering if abortion is included in ob/gyn ? Like will my insurance cover it ? I have medicaid/healthfirst in NYC by the way.
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health-quotes.isgreat.org - here is my health insurance plan. As I remember they can provide such a service.
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health-quotes.isgreat.org - here is my health insurance plan. As I remember they can provide such a service.
Source
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