Personal Finance Tips » Insurance Plans

5 Things to Look for in a Quality Dog Health Insurance Plan

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:26:07 +0000

When it comes to keeping your dog healthy and safe, having dog health insurance is an absolute must. Whether it’s an unexpected illness, an accident, or a routine check-up, it can become quite expensive paying for a trip to the veterinarian. By finding the right health insurance provider, you can rest assured that your dog will receive the proper dog health care. Here are 5 things to look for in a quality dog health insurance provider.

1. General check-ups

No matter how healthy your dog is, you are going to have to take your dog in to the veterinarian from time to time. You’ll want to give them the proper immunizations to avoid complications and diseases. This will also allow you to bring your dog in if you suspect any kind of dog health problem.

2. Prescription and medication

Veterinarian visits can cost a hefty price, but prescriptions are where you hand your arm and leg over. It is extremely expensive for many kinds of medications, but having the proper insurance can lower this price drastically. This way you can treat the dog health problem without it worsening.

3. MRI, Cat Scans, X-Rays

As mentioned, you never know what the future has in store for your dog. There is always the potential for an unexpected illness or an accident to occur. In such a case, having dog health insurance will allow you to identify the problem at an affordable price. In turn, you can quickly begin treating whatever is wrong with your dog.

4. Hospitalization

As with humans, it is expensive if your dog is hospitalized regardless of the circumstances. You want to find insurance that will allow you to get the proper dog health care. Having insurance will allow you to quickly get your dog into the hospital without questions and relieve you from the stress of worrying about how to pay for the visit.

5. Surgery/treatments

The last thing you want to look for in a quality dog health insurance provider is if it covers various treatments that may need to be performed. Whether it’s neutering your dog or having cancer treatment, you want to be prepared for the unexpected.

As you begin looking for insurance, you will find that many providers offer a few different insurance plans. In such a case, you want to consider your options and find the plan that works best for you. If money is not an option, the most expensive plan will give you complete coverage for your dog. If you aren’t willing to spend that much, weigh your options and find a dog health insurance that includes the necessities for you and your pup.

Home Insurance And Your Rottweiler Dog

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:54:52 +0000

Your home insurance rates and overall costs could be affected by the type of dog you own. A Rottweiler is one of those dogs. Whether you already own a dog, or are looking to get one, here are some things to consider.

Rottweilers may get a bad rap — especially the ones that make headlines because their owners did not train them properly. Of course, most Rottweiler owners do train their dogs properly and know how beautiful and sweet these animals can be.

The reality is, however, that you could be liable for thousands of dollars in lawsuits and high insurance premiums if your dog bites someone. Dog bites cost property and casualty insurance industry about $317.2 million in 2005, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Because of this, home insurance companies take into consideration the type of dog you own when they make decisions on your rate — or even if they want to provide coverage.

Other breeds of dogs that insurance companies may be concerned about are Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Huskies, Malamutes, Doberman Pinschers, Chows, Great Danes and Saint Bernards.

If you have home insurance and want to bring a new dog home, call your insurance agent or company and find out if they have any concerns.

If you’re shopping for home insurance and you already have a dog, make sure to mention that fact to the agent or if it asks in an online home insurance quote form. Make sure to get at least three or more quotes from different home insurance companies for comparison, as rates and underwriting may vary quite a bit between each company.

Also, the Insurance Information Institute has some suggestions about helping reduce the chance that your dog might bite, including: spaying or neutering; training and socializing your dog; not playing aggressive games such as “tug-of-war”; and making sure you always maintain control of your dog.

Affordable Health Insurance in Oregon – Low Cost Plans Online

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 06:34:12 +0000

Did you know there are major health insurance companies working hard to provide affordable health insurance in Oregon and the rest of America? A new way of designing health insurance plans, is bringing down the cost of health insurance for many Americans. You can learn more about these plans by shopping for health insurance online.

Oregon Health Insurance Plans

Shopping online for health insurance gives you many options. New online tools allow shoppers to custom build an insurance plan on their own. You can change deductible amounts, coverage amounts, add coverages, and subtract coverages you don’t need. One such plan is an HSA health care plan.

An HSA health care plan can be designed with a deductible from $1000 to over $5000. This deductible flexibility allows you to get major health care protection at a low monthly price. HSAs use a network of doctors and hospitals to provide health care at discounted prices. Doctor visits and preventive health care are included in most plans and can also be adjusted to fit your needs.

Today, more than 3 million Americans are covered by an HSA health insurance plan. That number is expected to rise to between 25 million and 30 million people by 2010, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. After learning more about the cost savings of an HSA, you may want to be one of these smart health insurance shoppers.

Health Insurance in Oregon Quotes

One of the best ways to find affordable Oregon health insurance is to go to an insurance quote website and request quotes. Immediately after you complete their short form, you’ll get several low cost quotes while still online. After you have your quotes, you can compare the different policies and see if one will work for you. It’s that easy!

The Advantages & Disadvantages of PPO’s – HMO’s

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:42:12 +0000

There are countless different options that are available when it comes to health care insurance. Each one offer something different and it depends on the individual and what they are looking for. One of the more popular health insurance choices are managed care plans. The two most popular plans being the Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) or the Preferred provider organization (PPO). This article will examine the advantages and disadvantages of the two plans.

The HMO offers many advantages which can be quite beneficial. The HMO allows for lower health premiums that will affect both employee and employers for worked based health insurance. The low cost of these plans make it very attractive for these individuals. Employers love it because they don’t have to pay that much when it comes to monthly premiums. Employees love it for the same reason, it saves them some money. Another advantage lies with the fact that there is a wide selection of physicians and hospitals on HMO plans and this mean there is bound to be some close to where they live.

The major disadvantage of a HMO plan is that you are only allowed to go to a prescribed list of doctors. This is known as the HMO’s private network and if you do plan to go outside, the HMO will not cover this care. If you do get permission, then the HMO will charge you a substantial amount or at times the entire cost. The HMO has another disadvantage of when it comes to the use of specialists. If you have used a certain specialist for years, depending on the medical condition; When it comes to see that specialist, you need to be referred by the HMO to see them. If you do not follow this, you may be asked to pay the entire cost of the visit.

The PPO has many advantages. One such advantage is that with a PPO plan, you have a greater choice in the type of physicians that you can choose from. You are not limited like an HMO plan. This works especially well as you can receive referrals for specific doctors in the event that you move. Another big advantage of the PPO is the fact that you do no have to report to primary care physician. The HMO your PPC is responsible for every aspect of your health care. So with the PPO if you need to see a specialist, you do not need to get a referral or anything to go and see your specialist.

The PPO is not without its disadvantages. The PPO is more expensive than your typical HMO plan. They also will not pay the full cost of coverage, if you decide to go and get medical care outside of their network. The cost for this may vary and it may

In the end both the HMO and PPO have their own advantages and disadvantages, this all depends on the individual or the employer. They need to weigh the options of both managed care plans and see which one will fit and benefit their lifestyle. Each one has its highs and lows so choose wisely.

How to Get Low Cost Maternity Health Insurance

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:00:20 +0000

Fifteen percent of American women do not have maternity health insurance and face overwhelming medical bills, especially if there are medical complications. Here’s how to get low cost maternity health insurance that could save you from financial disaster.

What is maternity health insurance?

Maternity health insurance is a health insurance plan that includes maternity coverage. As of this writing there are no stand-alone maternity health insurance plans.

You can purchase one of the following types of plans to get maternity coverage:

* An indemnity plan which lets you choose your own doctor and hospital, but is the most expensive type of plan.

* A managed health care plan (HMO, PPO, POS) that assigns you to a network of doctors and hospitals that you use for your medical care. These are the cheapest types of plans.

What does maternity health insurance cover?

Standard maternity health insurance policies cover your doctors expenses, your hospital fees, and your prescriptions drugs – basically all your maternity medical expenses.

Can I get maternity health insurance if I’m already pregnant?

Private insurance companies will not insure you if you’re already pregnant, but some states offer Medicaid health insurance, or plans such as California’s Medi-Cal, to low income families. To see if your your state has a low income maternity health insurance program, visit your state’s department of insurance website.

If you’re pregnant and don’t qualify for state sponsored maternity health insurance, the best thing you can do is call the hospitals in your area and see if you can negotiate a cheaper than normal rate. Most hospitals will give you a discount if you pay cash.

Where can I get cheap maternity health insurance?

The best way to get cheap maternity health insurance is to go to an insurance comparison website where you can get rate quotes from multiple insurance companies.

Individual Health Insurance Product Review

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:36:10 +0000

Celtic Insurance has put together the type of plan that 90% of the paying public wants. From personal experience the cost is one of the most competitive. Despite being very competitive price wise it is very benefit rich. First of all the lifetime maximum is $7,000,000 as compared to the usual $5,000,000 for most other companies. Office calls are just a $15 copay for the first 6 visits per year in the ppo plan. Most companies are putting a limit to the number of visits under the copay, but I think 6 visits per year is a reasonable allowance. The trend for most health plans is not to include Lab and X-ray under the copay. This plan covers the first $200 for lab and X-ray for non-preventive office visits plus when the Plus Option is selected, $300 per year for preventive care, which includes $50 for an eye exam. Also included in the Plus Option is the prescription copay option which can also be purchased as an option all by itself. The copay is $20 for Generic and $40 for preferred brand drugs after a $100 annual deductible on brand only. Also included in the Plus Option is Supplemental Accident coverage. This covers accidents and injuries 100% up to $500 per person per occurrence. The one benefit that sets this plan apart from all the rest is the Healthy Lifestyle Program. This is not an option. It is included with the base plan. This benefit encourages healthy lifestyles as the name implies. The insurance company will pay 25% of eligible programs that improve physical health up to $300 per person per year. This could be a program at a health club or a program to stop smoking. Another unique standard benefit is $3000 for ambulance including Air Ambulance. Most health plans do not include Air Ambulance.

For those not wishing to say within a PPO network, there is also an “Any Doc” plan with a $35 copay for office calls to any doctor, regardless of any network affiliation.

This is also an excellent plan for a child only plan because the Plus Option with the preventive care also includes immunizations. There are a few drawbacks however. First of all, on a child only plan the child must be at least 6 months old and there can be only one child per policy. This can make the plan more expensive than plans with other companies that allow more than one child per policy. Note, if a parent is on the plan with the child, the age requirement is reduced to 6 weeks.

Richard Evans

Bridge Out! Consumer-Driven Health Plans will Change How We Get Care

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 08:21:01 +0000

Bridge Out: A road sign you really never want to see. Its appearance in your path means that there has been a failure and that you have to find a new way of getting where you want to go. The rise of consumer-driven health plans indicates that the era of managed care failed to control the increased cost and demand for care and that many things about the way we receive healthcare in the US.

In late August 2006, Wellpoint, one of the nation’s biggest healthcare insurance providers, has gone on record stating that in 2007 they will the first insurer to have consumer-driven health plans in all states and for all types of people (from major employers to small groups to individual plans).

“Our customers who choose these consumer-driven products will have new opportunities to lead healthier lives because of this first-of-its-kind national offering,” Wellpoint CEO, Larry Glassock

The press release also goes on to share:
“we’re empowering consumers through unique and robust online tools and incentives that encourage and reward them for choosing to live healthier lifestyles… Consumers who choose Lumenos will be eligible for extensive preventive care and personal health coaching, as well as smoking cessation and weight management programs. In addition, most consumers will receive financial rewards for completing various wellness programs.”

WOW! That sounds great, right?!?!?! Well, I always read these things and think about what my parents and my in-laws know about healthcare/ health policy and what they would think.

So for those of you who are not familiar with this new type of health plan, their implementation will produce significant changes in how care is reimbursed. Consumer-driven health plans are designed to shift some of the financial decision-making and responsibility to the individuals who consume healthcare services. Health savings accounts and high deductibles are key components to this new type of health plan. The thought behind all of this is to allow patients to determine how best to spend their healthcare dollars.

If you buy into traditional economic theory as applicable to the healthcare industry, this is not a bad way of trying to control skyrocketing costs. Since the price of services has a direct impact on demand for services, in theory , this type of plan has the potential to reduce duplication of services and unnecessary utilization of higher levels (more expensive) of care. In very simple terms, if patients are required to share some of the financial responsiblity of their care, then they are more likely to choose the cheapest, most effective care.

There are at least two very big ‘rubs’ to this plan. First, in order to to be able to make appropriate choices, consumers will need to know the cost of the care. While it seems easy enough, a physician or facilities’ billing rate for a service is significantly different than a contracted rate. And a contracted rate or allowable charge is significantly differerent than the acutal amount paid for services by an insurer or other third party payer. So healthcare consumers will need to understand all of these to be able to make the appropriate choices. Also healthcare providers will need to set up a system to be able to accurately inform the consumer the costs for a service. While this seems easy enough, it becomes increasingly complex when one understands that every, single, solitary insurance plan is different in regards to deductible, copay, contracted rate and reimbursement rate.

Second, in order to be able to chose the cheapest, effective treatment, healthcare consumers will have to know and understand their treatment options. This means that they will need to better understand the science behind their illnesses as well as the science behind the possible treatments. This would be a whole lot easier if we went back to the old world model of having healthcare providers that were able to develop rapport and a trusting patient-provider relationship. In the past, providers were given the time and opportunity to really partner with individuals, understand the complexities of care and develop a truly individualzed treatment that best fit the patient/consumer’s need. However, in the days of the 15 minute visit, this becomes increasingly difficult to do.

President Bush’s recent executive order [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060822-2.html] pushing for many things including transparency of pricing information is an attempt to address the issue of understanding the financial aspects.

However, how do we make sure individuals have the information they need to be able to get the best treatment value? In reality, physicians and healthcare providers, because of their ability to understand and evaluate individual cases and circumstances, are the best resources for helping individuals make these decisions. However, they will likely need to develop new ways of doing this that are cost and time efficient. If healthcare providers do not develop these new ways, consumers/patients will be left to fend for themselves.

If consumers do not adequately educate themselves or access resources/advocates that will assist them, then this plan too is doomed. Costs will not be contained, health will not be preserved and access to appropriate, effective care will continue to be compromised.

Dental Implant Insurance – Will It Put Its Money Where Your Mouth Is?

admin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:17:11 +0000

Your dentist has recommended dental implants as the long term solution to your oral problems. You are tired of having repeated procedures on your teeth, only to have them revert to their painful ways. And you’re getting older, so you know that time is not on their side.

The only thing which has kept you out of the implant chair, in fact is your lack of dental implant insurance coverage. You know you are looking at a priced tag of between $1000 and $2500 for each implant, depending on what the dentist discovers when he measures you jaw’s bone density.

But, just as dental implants are expensive, so is dental implant insurance, if you can find a plan which covers it. Most dental insurance coverage dates back to the days before dental implants were so readily available, and may offer only the skimpiest of coverage, for teeth lost in accidents. If you want the implants just to replace teeth which are feeling their age, you may be out of luck with your dental insurance provider

Try Your Medical Insurance

But you may also have an alternative: your medical insurance. If you need to have multiple dental implants, the procedure may necessitate reconstructing your jaw to realign your bite and ability to chew. Consult with your insurance provider about your situation, and do not commit to anything until you know where you stand. As a heads-up, Medicare will only cover essential dental procedures are necessitated by disease or accident, and involve reconstruction.

Restrictions On Dental Implant Insurance

While many dental insurance providers consider the dental implant process a form of cosmetic surgery, there are some insurance companies which will offer dental implant insurance for a sizeable premium, but there is a catch. You may have a waiting period in excess of a year before you qualify for the coverage, and even then dental implant insurance will not cover implants made necessary because of pre-existing conditions.

Before you agree to dental implant surgery, go over your dental implant insurance policy with a fin-bristled tooth brush. You may be surprised to discover that your insurance carrier has left itself wiggle room and the implant you though you could afford is once again out of reach. If so, you’ll have to reassess. Perhaps your dentist will have a financing plant to see you through.

Compare Health Insurance Plans – PPO Or HMO Health Insurance

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:09:44 +0000

If you are searching for an individual health plan, or need to choose between company group benefits, you should understand your choices. The best choice for you will depend upon many things, including your health needs, budget, and the available health insurance types in your location. We tried to simplify one of the most common questions that consumers have, and that is the difference between an HMO and a PPO health plan.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) – This type of coverage includes a network of medical providers. Those providers include doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other service providers. The providers are included in the network because they agree to the networks terms, which include cost guidelines. In return, a medical provider can be assured of a steady stream of patients from being included on the published list.

An insured person must almost always seek a network provider in order to be covered. In return, they usually get the most coverage with the lowest copays and coinsurance compared to other types of health care plans. Managed care plans like this are usually very simple for the consumer to use, and the medical provider will handle most of the paperwork and billing.

In the case of an emergency, the strict network restriction will usually be waived, and that exception should be spelled out in the policy. If a covered person needs some service that is not included in the network, they may be covered if they can get pre-approval from the network. In any non-emergency situation, the insured person should always get a non-network medical service pre-approved by the insurer, and they should have that approval in writing.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) Health Plans – LIke HMO plans, PPO plans use a network of medical providers. If the insured person uses that network they will get the highest levels of coverage, and have the least out of pocket expenses. They will also be allowed to use non-network providers in an emergency situation, and may be able to seek exceptions in other special situations. Of course, these non-emergency exceptions should always be pre-approved!

But a PPO is not as restrictive because they also cover non-network medical services. They just cover them at a lower rate. For instance, a visit to a network doctor may only require a $20 copay. But a visit to a non-network doctor may require a $50 copay. In network hospital bills may be covered at 80% after a $1,000 deductible, but non-network hospitals may only be covered at 50%. These are just examples, and are not meant to represent the actual terms of any health insurance company.

Which Health Plan is Best?

No one plan works out best for everybody. Many people enjoy the simplicity of HMO plans, especially if they live in an area with a large and active network. Others want the freedom to seek medical services outside the network, and those people would probably be happier with a PPO. Of course, your choice will also depend upon what plans are available in your local area, and upon your budget and medical needs.

Tips for Getting Infertility Health Insurance

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 12:27:58 +0000

Health insurance for infertility treatment can be a complicated – and touchy – subject. It affects a lot of people – approximately 6 million women experience the pain of infertility each year in the United States. The health insurance laws in the state you live in may have a lot do with the extent of your coverage; for example whether your employer is required to provide infertility insurance or not.

One reason that infertility insurance is so expensive and hard to come by is because the procedures are so complicated – an in-vitro fertilization procedure can cost $10,000 or more. Not surprisingly, many insurance companies simply don’t provide – or provide very limited – insurance coverage for infertility.

There are some things you can do if you aren’t covered for infertility treatment under your health insurance. Firstly, make sure you read and fully understand your insurance policy – some policies exclude actual treatments only, some exclude diagnosis too.

Determine whether you live in a state that has mandatory infertility insurance coverage – New York, for example is one of several such states. Under the mandate, your state must ensure that insurers provide fertility insurance as part of a standard plan, or as an option to purchase for a reasonable price.

If you are shopping around for health insurance, never mention that you are looking specifically for fertility insurance, or that this may later be a concern. As this coverage is so costly, insurance companies have the right by law to turn down your application for insurance – without giving you a reason.

If you are denied coverage, it is also possible to appeal to your insurance company on the grounds that the fertility coverage is a legitimate and necessary medical procedure. To appeal any decision successfully, always obtain legal advice, and you may need the support of your doctor.

And if your insurance company just won’t cover it, the good news is that infertility treatment, like most medical procedures are tax-deductible. This includes the actual procedures as well as general physician’s visits, drug costs, etc.