Health Insurance Options For Self Employed Individuals
It is important not to underestimate the importance your health plays in your life. Your ability to work, care for you and your family, as well as, functioning overall, stems directly from your physical condition. Obtaining the right health insurance, may be one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
Take out health insurance to protect yourself against financial ruin. If you take ill you may have to leave your job and without a regular income medical bills could easily bankrupt you. Just be sure to research any health insurance plan fully before you sign anything so you are aware of which health conditions it covers.
If you and your partner have been riding on a single health insurance policy and one of you is nearing retirement, sit down and have an open discussion about how that transition will occur. Coverages will change for the retired person and several alternatives are available. They can continue for a while through COBRA and afterwards, they can apply for a standalone policy if the premiums are not prohibitively high, but the important thing is to walk into those decisions proactively.
If you engage in dangerous hobbies or if your profession carries a level of risk, you may want to consider a change or be ready to pay more for your insurance. If your idea of a fun weekend is jumping out of planes, you'll be paying more for your insurance policy than someone with two feet on the ground.
It is usually cheaper to obtain insurance through group policies, such as those provided by employers, than obtaining an individual policy. Make compromises by settling for higher deductibles or less coverage. Just look around for the best type of coverage you can get for yourself by shopping around.
Be sure to get pet health insurance for your pet while he is young. Accidents can happen to pets at any age, and just as with people, insurance is more expensive for older pets. In fact, cats and dogs that are more than ten years old may not be able to get a new pet health insurance policy. Additionally, pets with a pre-existing condition may not be able to get health insurance.
Do your research about what was contained in the newly passed healthcare legislation before you purchase a policy. Insurance companies are doing whatever they can to get out of this, and they may stick it to you as a customer if you purchase your policy without knowing. Do your homework before committing.
Before finalizing a deal with a specific agency, be sure to read some consumer reviews about them. There are many websites online that allow consumers to make complaints about products or customer service and this is true of insurance providers as well. If you have seen that they have many complaints, it may be time to find another option.
If you have questions regarding insurance coverage, you may want to seek out an independent insurance agent. An agent can help you with the enrollment process and also answer any questions you have about private insurance coverage. These agents also know the state laws and regulations which can help if you have any questions.
Never enroll in a health insurance policy by paying with cash. You want to have a good solid record of what you paid and when you paid it. Paying with a check or a credit card is going to be the evidence that you need if anything should happen and you have to go to court to prove when you started your policy.
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 want to save money, you should choose an HMO plan. You will pay less every month, and very low or no deductibles. But you will be limited to a list of approved doctors and hospitals. If this list here satisfies you, choosing an HMO plan is the best decision.
If you have very good health and do not know of any medical issues that run in your family, then it is relatively safe to choose a minimum health insurance coverage. The price is linked to coverage. So, why pay for something you are not going to use?
Verify with your insurance provider that your medical records are filed with an accredited Medical Information Bureau. If this is the case, you can obtain a totally free set of your personal records annually.
Check to see if the health insurance your employer is offering you is a "grandfathered" plan as it could offer you many exemptions that a private insurer no longer can. The beauty of a group plan is that it is not covered by changes to insurance law, but new people can join at any time.
All health insurance prices can vary based on the state you are in. One of the best ways to save money is to do research on your state's insurance web site. You will get a list of the companies that are avalible in your area, and the prices that they cost.
Check to see if the health insurance your employer is offering you is a "grandfathered" plan as it could offer you many exemptions that a private insurer no longer can. The beauty of a group plan is that it is not covered by changes to insurance law, but new people can join at any time.
Begin educating yourself on what the basic types of health insurance plans are, in order to make the right choice for your needs. For example, you should know the difference between an HMO, which requires you to choose a healthcare provider from its network, and a PPO, which allows you more flexibility in choosing your doctor. Start by understanding the basic differences, then get more details on the type of plan that is more suitable for you.
As previously stated, knowledge is the key to making good decisions when buying health insurance. Take your time, and don't rush into anything until you're sure. If you follow the tips and tricks in this article then you will have the information and strategies that you need to buy insurance with confidence.
BBC News Cites Telehealth Study with Positive Results, Areas of Improvement
In a recent BBC article Washington correspondent, Silvia Martelli, said that millions of patients across the U.S. have seen a healthcare provider, from across all specialties, “in the comfort of their home.”
The article cited a national survey conducted by Harvard Business Review (HBR) and Press Ganey confirming this. They asked 1.3 million patients about their telehealth experience and the response to telemedicine was overwhelmingly positive.
Telehealth, or virtual care as it’s now more commonly called — a term becoming more entrenched by research firms like Gartner and its recent 2020 Market Guide for Virtual Care Solutions — has been available to healthcare providers for decades. When the pandemic exploded across the world, so did the use of virtual care. The safety and convenience of it became abundantly clear, and patients and providers alike flocked to the technology.
“COVID forced us to recognize telemedicine’s value.”
Dr. Eric Singman, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, as cited in the recent BBC article.
Prior to the pandemic, BBC’s Martelli reports that virtual care usage was around 1% of all medical encounters. In March 2020, virtual care accounted for 34% of all medical encounters. That was its peak. In July usage dropped to 22%, and since August it has held at about 15% of all medical encounters.
Other than care like procedures, complex surgeries, and anything relying on direct, hands-on patient care, it appears almost any visit can be a virtual one. With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), and ever-improving technological advancements, even those visits may one day become virtual. Read about the visionary future of virtual care in 2050 where our morning showers-of-the-future aided by VR and AI will be focal to our daily routines, according to eVisit’s CTO and on-staff futurist, Miles Romney.
In the BBC story Dr. Eric Singman, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, also said, “A patient’s health history is 90% of the diagnosis, and history is something we do verbally.” In fact, in some specialties like behavioral health, virtual care may be the preferred method of the encounter and could be considered better than an in-person visit according to Dr. Joe Kvedar, chair of the board at the American Telehealth Association (ATA) and professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZiSk2MOF17UdugnGNqOAojsLDrM0Qu-pLwshdGqch_M/edit?usp=sharing