Insurance Company Names Information

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Insurance Company Names Information
If you're involved in an accident, "The first thing to do is let your insurance company know you were in an accident and provide all the specifics of it," Salvatore says. "From the second of the accident, keep good records." Use your smartphone (or keep a notebook in your glovebox) and write down the time, date, plate number, make and model of their car, their registration information, license number, name, insurance company and contact information.
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If the police are on the scene, Salvatore says, take their names and badge numbers. Get the names of any witnesses and note whether emergency medical personnel were called. "Photos are helpful. Take pictures of the car and the license plate," she says. "If the claim is straightforward, you may not need any of it, but if a problem occurs, you need all the information possible." Again, with the prevalence of smartphones these days, this is all quite easy to do.
From filing the claim to resolving it, every insurance company's methods are different. However, the essentials of the process are fairly standard. You'll only see part of the process, though. All negotiations between insurance companies about payments and reimbursements will be carried on behind the scenes.
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Filing Your Claim
As with Cutler's case, it's standard for your insurance carrier to call soon after you report an accident. During that call, "We'll match the person to their policy, determine what happened in the accident, find out about any injuries, the extent of damage to both vehicles and get some demographic information," says Mike Flato, a process business leader for Progressive Insurance. "We'll make sure everyone is OK; if not, what happened and then who'll handle the medical claims."
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After a claim is filed, your insurance company assigns you a claims adjustor, who is your contact from then on. Adjustors coordinate teams that look at medical reports, investigate the accident, speak with witnesses, view the scene, examine the vehicle damage, manage all the repairs and any medical treatments, check all coverages (how much your policy pays for medical injuries and property damages) and ultimately determine fault.
"The claims process is the business of the insurance company," says Salvatore. "Every situation is different, and the better organized you are, the easier the claims process is."
While adjustors work, medical treatment and auto repairs start immediately, with each insurance company covering its own driver's injuries and property damages. This process of "making you whole" is known as indemnification. Your insurance company indemnifies you, not the other way around. Later, after the insurance companies assess fault, they will negotiate to determine which one will reimburse the other for claims paid.
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please read this article our blog  please read this article our blog please read this article our blog A former Vancouver insurance agent has been charged with theft and forgery for allegedly collecting about $15,000 in commissions by creating fictitious applicants for insurance policies.
Julie Anne Goss, 43, an independent agent for AFLAC, was arraigned last week in Clark County Superior Court.
The scam came to light after the owner of a restaurant in Battle Ground, Wash. told AFLAC that she’d received premium bills for two “employees” that had never worked there.
AFLAC investigated, and it turned out that Goss wrote dozens of policies for 15 people that either weren’t employees at the named businesses or apparently didn’t exist. In other cases, she wrote policies for real employees, but they said they hadn't applied for the coverage.
In each case, Goss stood to get a commission for the policy. All told, the investigator found, between August 2010 and January 2011, Goss wrote 91 fraudulent insurance policies and collected more than $15,000 in commissions for them.
The company canceled its contract with Goss in March 2011 and reported the matter to our Special Investigations Unit. After investigating further, we revoked Goss’ insurance license in January 2012. The charges against her were filed in late June.
If you suspect insurance fraud and you live in Washington state, please report it.The church insurance business is a game, a contest between the church and the insurer. You'd like to think you're working together, but let's be serious. The insurer wants to collect as much premium as possible from you while paying the least amount in claims, and the church is trying to pay the least amount in premium while getting the big problems paid by the insurer. It's a competition.

In any fair game both sides know and understand all of the rules, but that's not true of the church insurance game. The insurers know the rules, but the churches only know what the insurer or their experience has told them about the rules. It's sort of like playing poker and only one guy knows that two pair beats two aces, so when you show your pairs of 2's and 3's, he tells you his pair of aces wins and if you don't know better, you give him all your chips.

This website is designed to help even the playing field a bit by giving churches more knowledge of the rules of the game so they can compete evenly with, or perhaps even gain an advantage over, the insurance companies. I won't be discussing specific coverage at this site - that's a discussion you should have with your agent.

The most important post on this site is "What Your Churches Insurance Agent Doesn't Want You to Know". I've detailed many of the rules of the game in that post and it's a must-read for any church preparing to negotiate their insurance deal. There is also an audio version of this information which you can listen to my clicking on the player in the right-hand sidebar. Your church insurance agent won't like it, but nobody likes to lose an advantageous negotiating position.

I'm also going to use this site for two other purposes. I'm going to tell you some stories from my church insurance days, some funny, some irritating, but all true. Some of the things happened to me, and some I heard from others. I won't give you the names of the companies I worked for, the name of the agency or the people I worked with, nor will I mention the names of the church clients and prospects I worked with. There's no sense in poking the bear more than I have to.

I'm also going to talk about people management, or more correctly, how not to manage people. During my years in the church insurance business I was witness to and victim of some of the poorest people management skills I've ever seen in a person who was not the homicidal dictator of some banana republic. Think Hugo Chavez with a Lexus. That's why I describe myself as a "recovering church insurance agent". Whether you work in insurance or any other field involving people, these stories will be instructive.

This post will stay at the top of the page. New posts will appear beneath it.

Related Tags: Church Insurance, Church Mutual Insurance, GuideOne Insurance, Brotherhood Insurance, Philadelphia Insurance, Church Mutual, GuideOne, Insurance For Religious Organizations, Insurance For Churches, Church Insurance Programs, Church Insurance Agent
POSTED BY RICK MOORE AT 1:31 PM
LABELS: BROTHERHOOD INSURANCE, CHURCH INSURANCE, CHURCH MUTUAL INSURANCE, GUIDEONE INSURANCE, INSURANCE FOR CHURCHES, PHILADELPHIA INSURANCE A popular insurance text starts with, “The growth of federal and state legislation dealing with employment discrimination and sexual harassment, the changing legal views on wrongful termination, and the increasing tendency of aggrieved parties to turn to the courts for settlement of such disputes have caused insurers to specifically exclude coverage for such employment-related claims in the commercial general liability policy.”
To fill this gap, a number of insurers are offering employment practices liability (EPL) coverage as an endorsement to the commercial general liability policy or as a stand-alone policy. Independently developed by each company, the EPL coverage forms vary by company, however, most policies are similar in terms and conditions.

EPL policies are usually written on a claims-made basis, which means that for a claim to be covered, it must occur during the policy term. Extended reporting periods from one to three years can be added for an additional premium.

In addition to damages paid for judgments or settlements, the cost of defense is covered. However, it is usually paid from the limit of liability, not in addition to the limit of liability. Most EPL policies specifically cover back pay. Back pay is commonly awarded to successful claimants in discrimination and wrongful termination actions.

Typically, the definition of “insured” in an EPL policy includes the corporation, its directors and officers, its employees, and, in most policies, its former employees. Some policies limit the definition of “insured” to include only managerial employees.

The deductible for this coverage ranges from $1,000 to $250,000, depending on underwriting factors. One difference from other types of policies is that the EPL policy usually requires the insured to participate in losses exceeding the deductible. The amount that the insured contributes after the deductible has been satisfied is based on the “participation rate.” Participation rates are usually 5 to 10 percent, but can reach as high as 25 percent depending on underwriting factors.
There are a number of things to be aware of if you are already considering the purchase of a Medigap insurance including the following:

• Even if you have health problems, you can renew your Medigap policy so as long as you pay your premiums on time, you cannot be cancelled.
• Individuals can purchase insurance from any insurance carrier in their state provided that company is licensed by the state in question.
• Individuals who are covered by a Medicare Advantage Plan must cancel their policies before Medigap goes into effect. You can not have both.
• It does not cover things like long-term care and dental insurance.
• Medigap policies that were purchased after January 1st, 2006 do not cover prescription drugs. If you need this coverage, sign up for Medicare Part D.
• Only one person can be covered by a Medigap policy.
• Policy holders must have Part A and B Medicare coverage.
• You have to pay your Medigap premium in addition to your Part B coverage.

Make sure that you take these into consideration when you start shopping for your Medigap supplement coverage.

Who Benefits From Medigap Supplement Insurance?

The US Government worked with private insurance carriers in order to develop Medigap supplement insurance, especially for disabled individuals and the elderly in order to provide them with comprehensive health care that is administered by the government. The key benefit is that Medigap helps individuals pay for those additional costs that Medicare does not cover such as co-insurances, deductibles, and premiums.

Some services may also be covered, depending on the needs of the policy holder. In addition to this, coverage is oftentimes provided (where applicable) during deductible periods. Most importantly, and depending on the Medigap supplement insurance that the consumer opts for, there may be additional benefits that are not covered by traditional Medicare insurance even though Medicare will continue to pay for approved health care costs.

 

Health Insurance Policy Information

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Health Insurance Policy Information
When I moved to Canada in 2008, I was a die-hard conservative Republican. So when I found out that we were going to be covered by Canada’s Universal Health Care, I was somewhat disgusted. This meant we couldn’t choose our own health coverage, or even opt out if we wanted too. It also meant that abortion was covered by our taxes, something I had always believed was horrible. I believed based on my politics that government mandated health care was a violation of my freedom.
When I got pregnant shortly after moving, I was apprehensive. Would I even be able to have a home birth like I had experienced with my first 2 babies? Universal Health Care meant less choice right? So I would be forced to do whatever the medical system dictated regardless of my feelings, because of the government mandate. I even talked some of having my baby across the border in the US, where I could pay out of pocket for whatever birth I wanted. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that Midwives were not only covered by the Universal health care, they were encouraged! Even for hospital births. In Canada, Midwives and Dr’s were both respected, and often worked together.
I went to my first Midwife appointment and sat in the waiting room looking at the wall of informational pamphlets. I never went to the Dr growing up, we didn’t have health insurance, and my parents preferred a conservative naturopathic doctor anyways. And the doctor I had used for my first 2 births was also a conservative Christian. So I had never seen information on birth control and STDs. One of the pamphlets read “Pregnant Unexpectedly?” so I picked it up, wondering what it would say. The pamphlet talked about adoption, parenthood, or abortion. It went through the basics of what each option would entail and ended by saying that these choices were up to you. I was horrified that they included abortion on the list of options, and fact that the pamphlet was so balanced instead of “pro-life.”
During my appointment that day, the midwife asked her initial round of questions including whether or not I had desired to become pregnant in the first place. Looking back I am not surprised she asked that, I was depressed at the time, (even though I did not list that on my medical chart) and very vocal about my views on birth control (it wasn’t OK, ever.) No wonder she felt like she should ask if I was happy to be having this baby. But I was angry about the whole thing. In my mind, freedom was being violated, my rights were being decided for me by the evils of Universal Health Care.
Fast forward a little past the Canadian births of my third and fourth babies. I had better prenatal care than I had ever had in the States. I came in regularly for appointments to check on my health and my babies’ health throughout my pregnancy, and I never had to worry about how much a test cost or how much the blood draw fee was. I didn’t have to skip my ultrasound because of the expense. With my pregnancies in the States, I had limited my checkups to only a handful to keep costs down. When I went in to get the shot I needed because of my negative blood type, in Canada it was covered. In fact I got the recommended 2 doses instead of the more risky 1 dose because I didn’t have to worry about the expense. I had a wide array of options and flexibility when it came to my birth, and care providers that were more concerned with my health and the health of my baby than how much money they might make based on my birth, or what might impact their reputation best. When health care is universal, doctors are free to recommend and provide the best care for every patient instead of basing their care on what each patient can afford.
I found out that religious rights were still respected. The Catholic hospital in the area did not provide abortions, and they were not required too. I had an amazing medically safe birth, and excellent post-natal care with midwives who had to be trained, certified and approved by the medical system.
I started to feel differently about Universal government mandated and regulated Health care. I realized how many times my family had avoided hospital care because of our lack of coverage. When I mentioned to Canadians that I had been in a car accident as a teen and hadn’t gone into the hospital, they were shocked! Here, you always went to the hospital, just in case. And the back pain I had endured ever since would have been investigated and cared for with whatever X-rays, Physiotherapy or even Surgery that was needed, which would have been at no cost to me. In our particular province, even chiropractic care was provided after a car accident by the provincial care insurance.When I asked for prayers for my little brother who had been burned in an accident, they were all puzzled why the story did not include immediately rushing him to the hospital. When they asked me to clarify and I explained that many people in the States are not insured and they try to put off medical care unless absolutely needed, they literally could not comprehend such a thing.I started to wonder why I had been so opposed to government mandated Universal Health care. Almost every western country in the world has Universal Insurance of some kind, except the USA. Here in Canada, everyone was covered. If they worked full-time, if they worked part-time, or if they were homeless and lived on the street, they were all entitled to the same level of care if they had a medical need. People actually went in for routine check-ups and caught many of their illnesses early, before they were too advanced to treat. People were free to quit a job they hated, or even start their own business without fear of losing their medical coverage. In fact, the only real complaint I heard about the Universal Health Care from the Canadians themselves, was that sometimes there could be a wait time before a particular medical service could be provided. But even that didn’t seem to be that bad to me, in the States most people had to wait for medical care, or even be denied based on their coverage. Depending on where one lived and how rural the area was, one’s access to care could be limited, and that was regardless of what country one lived in. The only people guaranteed immediate and full service in the USA, were those with the best (and most expensive) health coverage or wads of cash they could blow. In Canada, the wait times were usually short, and applied to everyone regardless of wealth. If you were discontent with the wait time (and had the money to cover it) you could always travel out of the country to someplace where you could demand a particular service for a price. Personally, I never experienced excessive wait times, I was accepted for maternity care within a few days or weeks, I was able to find a family care provider nearby easily and quickly, and when a child needed to be brought in for a health concern I was always able to get an appointment within that week.
The only concern I was left with was the fact that abortion was covered by the Universal Health Care, and I still believed that was wrong. But as I lived there, I began to discover I had been misled in that understanding as well. Abortion wasn’t pushed as the only option by virtue of it being covered. It was just one of the options, same as it was in the USA. In fact, the percentage rates of abortion are far lower in Canada than they are in the USA, where abortion is often not covered by insurance and can be much harder to get. In 2008 Canada had an abortion rate of 15.2 per 1000 women (In other countries with government health care that number is even lower), and the USA had an abortion rate of 20.8 abortions per 1000 women.
And suddenly I could see why that was the case. With Universal coverage, a mother pregnant unexpectedly would still have health care for her pregnancy and birth even if she was unemployed, had to quit her job, or lost her job. If she was informed that she had a special needs baby on the way, she could rest assured knowing in Canada her child’s health care needs would be covered. Whether your child needs therapy, medicines, a caregiver, a wheelchair, or repeated surgeries, it would be covered by the health care system. Here, you never heard of parents joining the army just so their child’s “pre-existing” health care needs could be covered. In fact, when a special needs person becomes an adult in Canada, they are eligible for a personal care assistant covered by the government. We saw far more developmentally or physically disabled persons out and about in Canada, than I ever see here in the USA. They would be getting their groceries at the store, doing their business at the bank, and even working job, all with their personal care assistant alongside them, encouraging them and helping them when they needed it. When my sister came up to visit, she even commented on how visible special needs people were when the lady smiling and waving while clearing tables at the Taco Bell with her caregiver clearly had Downs Syndrome.
I also discovered that the Canadian government looked out for its families in other ways. The country mandates one year of paid maternity leave, meaning a woman having a baby gets an entire year after the birth of her baby to recover and parent her new baby full-time, while still receiving 55% of her salary and her job back at the end of that year. Either parent can use the leave, so some split it, with one parent staying at home for 6 months and the other staying at home for 6 months. I could hardly believe my ears when I first heard it. In America, women routinely had to return to work after 6 weeks leave, many times unpaid. Many American women lost their jobs when becoming pregnant or having a baby. I knew people who had to go back to work 2 weeks after giving birth just to hang onto their job and continue making enough money to pay the bills. Also every child in Canada gets a monthly cash tax benefit. The wealthier families can put theirs into a savings account to pay for college someday (which also costs far less money in Canada by the way), the not so wealthy can use theirs to buy that car seat or even groceries. In the province we lived in, we also received a monthly day care supplement check for every child under school age. I made more money being a stay at home mom in Canada than I do in the States working a part-time close to a minimum wage job. And none of the things I listed here are considered “welfare” they are available to every Canadian regardless of income. For those with lower incomes than we had there are other supports in place as well.
If a woman gets pregnant unexpectedly in America, she has to worry about how she will get her own prenatal care, medical care for her child, whether or not she will be able to keep her job and how she will pay for daycare for her child so she can continue to support her family. In Canada those problems are eliminated or at least reduced. Where do you think a woman is more likely to feel supported in her decision to keep her baby, and therefore reduce abortions?
Since all of these benefits are available to everyone, I never heard Canadians talking about capping their incomes to remain lower income and not lose their government provided health coverage. Older people in Canada don’t have to clean out their assets to qualify for some Medicare or Social Security programs, I knew older people who went in for procedure after procedure, and we never heard about dwindling resources, kids paying for their parents medical expenses, or being forced to use up life insurance or funeral savings in order to get the health care they needed. I heard of inheritances being left even amongst the middle classes. Something I had only heard about in wealthy families in the USA.
And lest you think that the Canada system is draining the government resources, their budget is  very close to balanced every year. They’ve had these programs for decades. Last year Canada’s national debt was 586 billion dollars, the USA has 15.5 trillion dollars in national debt. Canada has about one 10th the population of the US, so even accounting for size, the USA is almost 3 times more indebted. And lest you think that taxes are astronomical, our median income taxes each year were only slightly higher than they had been in the States, and we still got a large chunk of it back each year at tax time.How will a divorce affect your health insurance coverage? During marriage, it’s common for one spouse to maintain health coverage for the entire family through his or her group health insurance plan at work. After a divorce, coverage for the other spouse and the children could terminate. State and federal laws offer protection to families in danger of losing health-care coverage, especially to children. But it’s important to re-examine your family’s health insurance situation before a divorce occurs to avoid serious complications afterward.
Health insurance coverage can be included in a divorce settlement

Because health coverage is such an important benefit, some divorce decrees stipulate that a spouse who provided health coverage for the other spouse or family during the marriage must continue to provide such coverage following a divorce. This is especially true if the other spouse didn’t work outside the home and has no immediate access to health insurance. Neither an insurer nor an employer can deny such court-ordered coverage when children are involved.

If you’re the spouse who carries the health coverage, you may have to pay additional premiums to continue coverage for your ex-spouse and your children, depending on the policy provisions. Some group policies will routinely allow you to continue full coverage for your family even after your divorce. Of course, this may change if you later remarry and want to include your new family on your policy. In any case, the premium for a group family plan may be less expensive than single coverage for two adults.
If your family has individual health insurance

If the issue of health insurance is not included in your divorce settlement, you’ll need to do some scrambling around if your ex-spouse is the insured on the family’s individual health insurance policy. It’s very possible that the coverage provided to you and your children could be terminated. Talk to your insurance agent to determine if you’re still covered, and for how long. If you’re still included in the policy, find out how much the premiums will be over the next 6 to 12 months. Also, begin looking into new health insurance for you and your children.
Secure health coverage for your children

Hopefully, you and your former spouse can work out an agreement regarding health coverage for your children. The child support section of the divorce agreement assigns responsibility for providing the children’s health insurance. But if the noncustodial parent or that parent’s insurance company or employer refuses to cooperate, federal law provides for a court order that secures your children’s continued health insurance coverage. This court order, known as a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO), stipulates that custodial parents have the right to obtain health insurance coverage for their children through the noncustodial parent’s group health plan, if the noncustodial parent has such coverage. The children can’t be denied access to the plan, although limitations can be placed on the coverage. The order will not require the plan to provide additional benefits not actually offered in the plan.

The QMCSO can require that policy premiums be deducted directly out of the employee’s paycheck. Reimbursements for medical care are made directly to the custodial (nonemployee) parent, when that parent pays a provider. Also, the noncustodial parent can’t choose a medical plan that is unsuitable for the children. If you’re the custodial parent, get copies of your ex-spouse’s medical plan, medical claims and election forms, the summary plan description outlining your former spouse’s employee benefits, and the page designating the current insureds of the health plan.
Temporary coverage through your former spouse’s employer

Temporary protection may be available through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). This federal law was designed to protect employees and their dependents at companies with 20 or more workers from losing group insurance coverage as a result of job loss or divorce.

If your former spouse maintained family health coverage through work, you may (at your own expense) continue this group coverage for up to 36 months after the divorce or legal separation. Your cost of continuing COBRA coverage can’t exceed 102 percent of the cost to the plan for providing identical benefits to an active participant. Be aware that you have the right to pay the premiums in monthly installments. Also, you must pay premiums on time or you’ll lose your coverage. COBRA coverage will terminate sooner than 36 months if you remarry or obtain coverage under another group health plan. Certain governmental plans and church-sponsored plans are exempt from the act.

Several states have enacted their own laws that preserve a spouse’s eligibility for health insurance after a separation or divorce. Some of these laws may provide you with rights more generous than those offered under COBRA, so check your state’s laws first. Ask your divorce attorney or contact your state insurance commissioner’s office.

Also, if you’re over a certain age, it may be wise to purchase individual health insurance or to make sure your working former spouse maintains health coverage as part of the divorce settlement. Otherwise, when COBRA coverage terminates after 36 months, you may find that poor health in your later years presents an insurability problem or that the cost of coverage is exorbitant. In addition, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 may provide certain protection regarding pre-existing conditions.

This material was prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of John Jastremski, Jeremy Keating, Erik J Larsen, Frank Esposito, Patrick Ray, Robert Welsch, Michael Reese, Brent Wolf, Andy Starostecki and The Retirement Group or FSC Financial Corp. This information should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named Representatives nor Broker/Dealer gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If other expert assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. Please consult your Financial Advisor for further information or call 800-900-5867.

The Retirement Group is not affiliated with nor endorsed by fidelity.com, netbenefits.fidelity.com, hewitt.com, resources.hewitt.com,  access.att.com, ING Retirement, AT&T, Qwest, Chevron, Hughes, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, ExxonMobil, Glaxosmithkline, Merck, Pfizer, Verizon, Bank of America, Alcatel-Lucent or by your employer. We are an independent financial advisory group that specializes in transition planning and lump sum distribution. Please call our office at 800-900-5867 if you have additional questions or need help in the retirement planning process.

 

 

Health Insurance Broker

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Health Insurance Broker Information
In a recent survey, top ranking PEO executives offered up their opinions on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and what will be the reaction of employers. The first opinion from PEO leaders on this matter is devised from the fact  that some companies that currently provide insurance are being hit with huge premium increases. Before Obamacare, some clients had been receiving modest increases but now as a result of “community rating”, which is required by the ACA, premium increases have skyrocketed. The result of this could cause some employers to drop health coverage altogether and for others not to offer it.

Another thought is that some companies will provide coverage but they will have to cut wages to help pay the increased costs.  Some are finding that Obamacare is just “too complex” and these companies will probably have to increase wages and allow their workers to procure coverage through the individual exchanges as some of employees might find better options in the individual exchanges if they qualify for a subsidy.

The final opinion from the PEO execs is that many companies are revising their business structure to minimize or offset the increasing cost of insurance.  Most companies haven’t made final decisions and some are still trying to find “loopholes” within the regulations. One scenario is to keep workers below the 30-hour weekly threshold requiring insurance.  This means that many employees will lose hours and wages.  Other companies are striving to stay below the 50-employee ceiling that triggers the insurance mandate.  These companies are deliberately restraining expansion and that’s never a good strategy.  All of this clouds the Obamacare promise of universal coverage.  What matters for small and medium-size firms is the analysis between the gap of providing health coverage and the consequences of paying the tax penalties.  The wider that gap becomes in addition to the “hassle factor” of being compliant, the more likely it is that companies won’t be able to provide insurance for their employees.
Source: The Washington Post

Opinion: 
It seems clear that PEOs stand to gain plenty of new business as small to mid-sized businesses seek to avoid the additional administrative cost and headaches of dealing with Obamacare.
Historically, when hard markets occur or when comp carriers drop a PEO's policy, "fake" workers' comp providers seem to pop-up like weeds after a spring rain.  Unfortunately, this seems to be a consistent trend within the industry. As Work Comp markets dry up and coverage costs rise, the temptation can lure some PEO operators to the dark side.  PEO Agents and Brokers need to be on guard against questionable or downright fake work comp carriers for PEOs.

Here are a few of tips for you to bear in mind as you search for PEO solutions for your clients: 
 
Be aware if the PEO makes a change in carriers.
Check out the WC Carrier's status and rating. Don't fall for questionable rating services.  AM Best is the "best" (if not only) source. ( www.ambest.com ).
Confirm that your PEO partners are licensed within the states they do business.
The LL Roberts Group takes great pride in our due diligence processes, and PEO partner relationship management practices, as well as our "finger on the pulse" of the PEO Industry. Our Agents and Brokers can rest easy at night knowing that we are constantly monitoring the market place and our affiliates. If you have any questions or suspicions about a current or potential PEO partner or their carriers please feel free to call us.  If you believe you have discovered a case of "Fake Comp" please let us know as well.  We'll certainly be able to offer some  insight on your concerns. During the first month of grace period when the premium has not been paid, the insurance companies must continue to pay claims incurred by the patient.  During the second month if the patient is still delinquent the insurance company can pend any further claims.  After the third month if the insured has not paid the premium, the insurance company can terminate the coverage.

In the event that the premium is not paid during the grace period and the policy terminates backwards 90 days, doctors  and other healthcare providers in California will have to go after the patient to collect payment for all outstanding claims.


Essentially this means there can be a 60-day period during which a medical provider who accepts exchange-level health plans is not going to be sure if or when he/she may ever get paid for the medical services provided "Fifty years ago, if you wanted to buy a house, you found someone willing to sell, and the two of you worked out all the details.  If you needed a mortgage, you got it.  If you needed a lawyer to draw up the deed, then you hired one.
But over the years, particularly as credit problems started to arise and the legal requirements got tougher, we began to see real estate brokers establish an expertise as the go-between – between the seller and the buyer.  These brokers have a much larger bank of knowledge than someone who only buys or sells a home two or three times in a lifetime. They understand the process, know home values, mortgage options, negotiation – they know far more about everything related to the transaction of buying or selling a home than most of us do.  Today, very few home transactions take place without a real estate broker to orchestrate them.
Unfortunately, the healthcare system (no matter what country you live in) has become so tenuous that patients really do need a go-between to help them navigate.  Doctors can't do it alone anymore, nor can nurses.  Without that expert to step in and shepherd us, we patients may succumb not to our disease or condition, but to the problems in the system that is intended to help us."

In order to help people cope with the system I am introducing the  the concept of empowered patient, this consists of 3 characteristics:
Knowing the bureaucracy: in andalucía this means the SAS web page, or salud responde for more specific queries  Now, we know it's more complex than that. That many everyday things (pathways*) are not regulated, so the personnel generates their own pathway.... usually with their convenience at heart, not the patients. With an advocate you have somebody that has worked inside the systems, and know all of it's tricks: this is not a small thing, this is priceless!
*pathways are roads that patients with the same condition should follow, usually they are done between the chiefs of the services involved but if it is not done, people invent one, it can be good or bad
An example: a friend of mine broke her ankle, in the costa del sol they they fittted the cast and told her that she should go to the CARE mijas to have it removed, but that she would have to go first to ask for an appointment and then to get it off. My friend of course, couldn't walk and she lives far away from the CARE. She hired a taxi and she did all of that..fuming. A patient advocate could have first spoken to the nurse and explain the situation to see if : they could call themselves or if they can remove it themselves in the costa del sol, much more nearer to the patient's home. If this didn't work, she could have threatened with a letter of complaint, if this also didn't work, she would have written the letter. and all of this time the difficult person is the advocate, not the patient.
knowing medicine-becoming an expert in YOU. this means that you have to research your conditions, you have to know how does your body works, it's the difference between the student that read the lesson beforehand an the other that just stumbled into the room! there is a big difference between the two!.
The problem is that the web is full-too full- of medical information, and lots of them are just plain wrong mumbo-yumbo trying to pass off as medicine.
How do you recognize the two?, this is where a patient advocate is invaluable. Not only to tell you where to read, but as you know when one is sick the last thing y one wants to do is learn about the complications of the condition!. So the advocate can do the research herself, summarize and explain it to do, in a way , educate you in your condition with the best information.This will be done in a easy language so there is a demystification of medical jargon.
Became a marketing expert,  and now you should be screaming WHAT!!!!!!, here's the thing: a) the doctor's time is very scarce, so you have to convey your message in a compelling and succinct way and b) there are cuts being done left and right, so you'll need to convince the Dr that you are the one that absolutely needs those resources!.
to do that you have to prepare for the consultation as for an exam (yes....)
 never getting the last appointment,
having your medical history correctly organized, I have a personal hypothesis that people with papers all mixed in a folder have worse outcome that those that have it all organized (hey! I have my opinions too!),
setting a GOAL for the consultations: what do you want to take out it?.
preparing your message. This is another aspect that the advocate can help you  coaching to get your message as it should be:  short (we doctors have a very short attention span...)with the facts and no elucubrations or theories that can, even unconsciously guide the doctor in the wrong direction

So, in this step you have received all of the information from your advocate, and you know how to relay it to the doctor.
Sometimes, even with all of the preparations, the doctor refuses to "grant" you your goal, for example you wanted a referral to endocrinology, and he refused. Here the patient advocate can be assertive for you, because it has been widely studied that when we are sick we are disempowered. Also, you don't want to get the label of the "difficult patient!!", so it's great to have somebody else.
A word of caution: patient advocates are not miracle workers  we will do that we can to help you, but we do not succeed 100% if the time. This has to be very clear, no strategy is failsafe  and sometimes we just cannot get what we need. in that moment, talk to your advocate (in civil terms) what are your other options...Gov. Pat Quinn is reviewing a bill passed by the Illinois General Assembly that critics say would limit the advice consumers will receive while picking policies on the state's health insurance exchange.
The new law was supported by some insurance groups, which fear brokers' commission-based business will be eaten away by the online exchange, which is set to open for enrollment on Oct. 1 for coverage required on Jan. 1.
The legislation, approved in May and sent to the governor on June 26, defines the role of “navigators,” government-funded positions created under the federal Affordable Care Act. Working through community groups, navigators are intended to help individuals and small businesses as they sort through their options on the exchange. Under the proposed law, navigators could distribute “fair and impartial” information but would be prohibited from recommending or endorsing a particular health plan.
“If we didn't have this type of regulation, it has the potential to render our license somewhat meaningless,” said Phil Lackman, vice president of government relations for Springfield-based Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois.
The pending legislation also prohibits navigators from accepting compensation based on whether someone enrolls in or buys a particular plan, which is traditionally how brokers are paid, in an effort to prevent navigators from improperly steering customers to one carrier or plan over another.
Illinois is among more than a dozen states that have enacted laws or have pending legislation that would restrict what navigators do, according to experts at the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms.
“A consumer should want competent advice,” said state Sen. William Haine, a Democrat from downstate Alton and a sponsor of the bill. “They shouldn't want a laissez-faire attitude toward competency, just as we do not want people who have little knowledge of the law giving legal advice.”
ARE OTHER STATES LAWS LIKE ILLINOIS?
Legislation like the Illinois bill is likely to create confusion as consumers are shuffled between brokers, navigators and other government resources, experts say.
“That makes what's supposed to be a pretty seamless experience full of cracks,” said Christine Monahan, a senior health policy analyst at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms.
Navigators will likely target low-income communities that insurance brokers typically don't serve, yet the law means that low-income consumers might not receive the same information that more affluent shoppers could obtain.
“Once again it will be up to the social sector to help people navigate because of how the legislation is trying to tie people's hands on this,” said Barbara Otto, CEO of Health & Disability Advocates, a Chicago nonprofit.
The bill would also apply to so-called in-person assisters, who essentially perform the same function as navigators but are funded differently.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will choose navigators in Illinois as part of a $2.3 million local effort. In-person assisters will be funded through $28 million in federal money to be awarded by the state to community organizations.
The state plans to announce those grants this month, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Insurance said. CMS anticipates naming navigators in August, according to the federal agency's website.
The pending legislation allows navigators to refer customers who acknowledge having an existing insurance broker to that person, except in some circumstances, including if the provider is not authorized to sell plans on the exchange. The past is gone forever - When it comes to Brokers working with Employers on Employee benefits plan design, PPACA/Obamacare has changed the game!  A the major component, Health Insurance has an entirely new set of rules and choices. Brokers who are not changing will become obsolete!

Its time for Brokers to quit pondering the future of reform and worrying about lost commissions and renewals. They need to begin offering Employers and Employees Strategies and Solutions for dealing with Reform! The Brokers business and financial future depends on creating new paradigms.


2014 is on the way! - With only 4 months to go until the traditional enrollment periods begin in October for a January 1st effective date, many Employers - and Brokers - have no idea what to do. Reading, or listening to, the barrage of media is enough to scare an owner to death. Just look at these Headlines:
ChiefExecutive.net - "Can CEOs Find Relief From Skyrocketing Health Costs?"
The Wall Street Journal "ObamaCare's Health-Insurance Sticker Shock"
The Washington Free Beacon - "Obamacare to Increase Premiums Nearly 100 Percent"
The good old days - In the past Employers were accustomed to a Broker stopping-by, gathering information, discussing price increases, and offering ideas about cost-sharing, higher deductible, and other bandage solutions. This year PPACA - and the mountain of HHS, DOL, and IRS guidelines - combined with the real threat of Taxes, Penalties, and Fees - presents a new, ongoing set of problems that have Employers searching for compliant Strategies and Solutions. To survive Brokers need to be at the Employer's side to assist in this time of confusion and need!

New competition - To take advantage of this disruption, competing Brokers - as well as PEOs, TPAs, Payroll Companies, Enrollment Companies, and Technology Companies, etc. -  are knocking on Employer's doors - actual or virtual - to steal business by offering options for dealing with PPACA/Obamacare. They are differentiating themselves in the Marketplaces with new Starategies and Solutions. As Nelson Griswold pointed out in the Employee Benefit Advisor, the competitors "Turn PPACA compliance into profit". In addition, the traditional service providers - who were in the Brokers' ally in the past - are becoming commission based competitors. They are offering Voluntary and Ancillary plans for the lucrative commissions. Unlike Brokers who are still worrying about their lost Health Insurance commissions and renewals, the Service Providers are discounting their services to gain the Voluntary /Worksite Commissions. What's a Broker to do?


Get Moving - Schedule a meeting with current and potential Clients and offer them Strategies and Solutions. Here are 25 ways to get started:
Answer questions and address concerns they have about PPACA/Obamacare.
Make sure their current plan documents are compliant. Help them avoid hefty Penalties, Taxes, and Fees.
Run through a timeline for Reform Implementation.
Help calculate the Full Time (FT) and Full time Equivalent Employees (FTEs).
Explain how Reform differentiates between Small and Large Employers.
Determine if they qualify for Tax Credits as a small business? - Help them with the paperwork?
Determine if their Employees qualify for Subsidies?
Explain the Play or Pay options. Help determine what is best for them and their Employees.
Review the Penalties, Taxes, and Fees.
If they have a Union Negotiated Contract, help determine when they need to make changes to be compliant?
Explain Self-Funding as an alternative to a Fully Insured Plan? If appropriate, assist in selecting a TPA. Help select stop-loss coverage.
Explain Qualified Health Plans (QHP) and the Essential Health Benefits (EHBs). Most Employer's major concern this year will be the Health Plan, Compliance, and Cost!
Explain Exchanges (Marketplaces): Federal, State and Private.
Review the "Metallic Plans" - Bronze, Silver, Platinum, and Gold. Explain the "Actuarial Values".
Determine if introducing HRAs and/or HSAs combined with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is appropriate.
Assist in selecting a Carrier(s) for the Health Insurance Plan(s).
Suggest a "Menu" of Voluntary/Worksite and Ancillary Benefits utilizing the best-of-class of Carrier/Providers as well as Plans, Programs, and Services to meet the Needs and Price-Points of the Employees.
Suggest pre-taxing Employee contributions for qualified Plans under Section 125 and tax-advantaged Reimbursement Accounts. Assist them with the Model Plan Documents and in selecting the TPA?
Work with them in dealing with Part-Time and Seasonal Employee's.
Determine what Plans could be offered to the Part-Time and Seasonal Employees.
Discuss Defined Contribution (DC) as an alternative Benefit Plan Design to assist them in Budgeting Benefit Costs and in offering a Menu of Employee Benefit Choices.
Offer a Private Exchange Platform - utilizing emerging technologies - for offering the Benefit Plan Choices
Help design and implement the Education, Communication, Enrollment an Data Management Processes. Help co-ordinate the Enrollment.
If appropriate, discuss the Insurer's Medical Loss Ratios (MLRs) and the impact on your  revenues - as well as your capacity to provide required services. Start discussing a shift to a partially "Fee Basis" Model!
Let them know you will be at their side to assist as new Guidelines and Regulations roll-out to keep them compliant and avoid Penalties, Taxes, and Fees - Become Their Trusted Advisor!

 

 

 

Health Plans Information

Source(google.com.pk)

Health Plans Information
The celebration following the federal government's increase in the estate tax exemption to $5.25 million is, perhaps, destined to be short lived.  President Obama’s proposed budget plan for 2014 came out on April 10, and proposes substantial changes to the estate and income tax code.  These changes would mean real changes in estate planning.



According to the budget plan, the federal estate tax rate will increase from 40 to 45 percent. The individual exemption equivalent will be reduced from $5.25 million to $3.5 million, and it will not adjust upward over time to keep pace with inflation. This means that as time goes on and inflation increases, people will surpass the exemption mark due to appreciation in the value of their estate, and be subject to federal estate taxes. Further, these changes are proposed  as "permanent changes" meaning that they will not sunset or lapse in time.

The lifetime gifting exemption equivalent is also affected, since the gift and estate taxes use a unified exemption.  The maximum amount that a person can leave his or her family in combined taxable lifetime gifts and inheritance is thus reduced from $5.25 million, which increases with inflation, to a non-adjusting maximum of $3.5 million.

Limiting Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts

More surprising and substantive changes are proposed for sophisticated estate plans. A GRAT (grantor retained annuity trust) is a tax-reducing trust popular for giving assets to family members while retaining an income benefit for some defined period of time.  The grantor puts his or her assets into the trust and receives  an annuity which pays a fixed amount each year. Gift tax is paid when the GRAT is created and the tax is based upon the present value of the remainder of the trust, meaning that the value of the gift, for gift tax purposes is substantially less than the actual fair market value of the assets.  One of the real challenges in such planning is that if the grantor dies before the trust ends, the assets become part of the grantor's taxable estate,and the purpose for the trust, reducing estate taxes, is frustrated.. If the grantor survives the term of the trust, any assets left to the beneficiary — usually the grantor’s children — are tax free. GRATs have typically been short-term trusts to make it more likely that the grantor survives beyond the term of the trust.

The proposed budget will require a minimum trust term of ten (10)  years for all GRATS. This defined longer term makes it more likely that the grantor may die during the trust’s existence, and increases the chances that the trust does nothing to reduce the value of the taxable estate. If death of the grantor occurs within the ten year term, the trust is taxed as part of estate, effectively losing nearly half its value to federal estate taxes.  The proposed budget, therefore, limits greatly the attractiveness of  GRATS as an estate planning option.

Eliminating Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts

The proposed budget also effectively eliminates intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGT).  An IDGT  is used to freeze the value of appreciating assets for tax purposes. This strategy allows the grantor to be the owner of the assets for income tax purposes but it removes the value of the assets from the grantor’s taxable estate. As the value of the trust increases, the transferor receives the income earned by the assets (and pays tax on the income) but the assets grow outside of the transferor’s estate.

Under proposed budget:, there would be no separation in the tax codes for this trust. Estate or gift tax would have to be paid on the trust at the time of the owner’s death. This would make the IDGT obsolete.

Signalling a Change?

Perhaps the most significant change reflected in the proposed budget is that the federal government has, once again, returned to a  lack of appreciation for the benefits of certainty and stability in estate and business planning.  Among the reasons that many celebrated the recent changes to the estate tax code (recent being changes adopted at the last minute, less than six months ago), is that the inflation adjustment and portability provisions signaled, to some,  an appreciation for long-term stability and certainty.  It appeared to some that having resolved the estate tax exemption amount, and having adjusted it automatically for inflation over time,  the federal government was, in effect, acknowledging the need for stability and certainty, eschewing uncertainty, and detrimental periodic and last minute legislative changes.

Of course, perhaps the proposed budget is really the "same as it ever was."

This article is based in large part on an article by Phoebe Venable, entitled "Obama's Budget Plan would Hit Estate Plans Hard," published May 11, 2013, in the Tennessean, and available Medicare officials have proposed changes in hospital admission rules in an effort to reduce  the rising number of beneficiaries who are placed in "observation care" but not admitted to the hospital.  When a patient is placed in observation care, but not formally admitted to the hospital, the patient is often rendered ineligible for nursing home coverage. Patients must spend three consecutive inpatient days in the hospital before Medicare will cover nursing home care ordered by a doctor.

Observation patients don't qualify, even if they have been in the hospital for three days because they are outpatients and have not been admitted.  If the patient was in the hospital for three days, but under observation as an out-patient, and then is referred to a nursing home, the patient is solely responsible for the cost of care in the nursing home.

Adding insult to injury, these patients also often realize higher out-of-pocket costs than admitted patients while in the hospital, including higher copayments and charges for non-covered medications. Observation is generally cheaper than inpatient care for insurers and hospitals, but the opposite can hold true formany  patients. Many patients have supplemental coverage that picks up the portion of her hospital bill Medicare does not pay, but observation patients without other coverage typically pay 20 percent of hospital outpatient services, which isn't required for inpatient care.

One might think that patients would object to the practice, but sadly, patients are usually wholly unaware that they are being treated as out-patients, since they are, after all, in a hospital.  This lack of notice and knowledge renders the patient impotent to protect his or her own interests, and to control his or her costs. Hospitals are simply not required to tell patients they are under observation care.  Most do not.  A few web portals have come up with their unique healthy diet plans that are helpful in meeting the nutritional requirements of the body. The sites can provide healthy eating tips that can help you in controlling the sugar intake. The consumption of excessive sugar can become the main reason for diabetes type two, heart diseases and immune dysfunction. You can adopt healthy eating plans available on the sites for a better life. Fast Food Statistics gathered from across the globe have showcased that consumption of greasy burgers and fries can increase the weight and lead to obesity. Healthy eating guidelines stress that consumption of fast food on a regular basis is not good for the body. Consumption of Quarter Pounder with cheese can add around 510 calories to the body. Out of the above mentioned 510 calories, around 230 calories increase the fat in your body. This is sufficient to indicate that fast food does not help in achieving a healthy body.
Every day a number of cases of obesity are being reported around the world. In such a situation, people often wonder what could be the healthy foods to eat. If you too have been thinking about it for long and are truly perplexed then you must switch to organic foods without any delay. One can easily find certified organic foods that are not just healthier but tastier as well. Once you adopt the healthy diet plans you can start consuming farm fresh fruits and vegetables that do not have any toxic chemicals and observe a great change in your skin texture. The body will respond positively towards natural and pesticide-free food products.
Fruits are an important source of nutrition for the body and are an integral part of healthy diet plans. Fruits like bananas, berries, apples and tomatoes can undoubtedly be called as the richest sources of vitamins. They help the body in gaining energy without contributing to the fat. You must get an idea about fruit nutrition fact to know more about the presence of essential vitamins like Vitamin C and B-complex in fruits. Fruits are an integral part of a fasting diet as they help in the removal of toxins and replenish the energy in the body. You can gain further information about healthy living by browsing through relevant websites. Family Dental Health Plans is a verified source for AmeriPlan discount dental and health plans information. User-friendly access and direct approach makes it stand out of the rest. AmeriPlan dental plans offer an affordable dental plan that is hassle free and is convenient to approach. With the help of this information, people have been able to understand the importance of discount dental plans as compared to insurance resources. Flexible and available for any age group, budget and health care needs, AmeriPlan Corporation has served most affordable and high quality dental care with a large network of participating dentists who have agreed to offer their services at discounted fees.

The website is a broad and well-searched foundation of knowledge that helps people to get more accurate information and opinions about the discount dental plans that meet their specific healthcare needs. AmeriPlan Corp. was started in 1992 with an idea that health care treatment fee should be budget friendly and the quality of treatment should not only reachable to those who can pay high amounts. With a successful work span of more than 20 years, the corporation has made it flexible for AmeriPlan members to choose from seven different personalized dental health plans options. Depending on the kind of expectations one has, AmeriPlan dental plans has served to many individuals and families requirements. At FamilyDentalHealthPlans.com, information about various plans with incorporated features, easy providers’ look up and a direct link to join AmeriPlan Corp. is a real help to those who are going to be AmeriPlan member for the first time.

For anyone looking for dental care savings, AmeriPlan dental health plans is a hassle free solution that helps individuals to make an informed decision.
No annual limits to any plan; members will have the discounts on most dental care services all year long.
No tiresome paperwork hassles.
No health restrictions – there is no need to wait for comprehensive dental treatment plans.
Consumers pay affordable membership fees
Available directly to individuals, families, businesses and groups.I suffer from poor eyesight and intense seasonal allergies, but I'm thankful that health issues occupy just a small portion of my life. Even though I'm rather healthy, I sometimes find myself needing access to accurate health information. I can get a long way by searching for health facts online, but I also need to incorporate what I find with my own history of conditions and treatments. I didn't even realize I had allergies until my early twenties -- for more years than I care to admit, I'd forget that the "cold" I came down with in April was suspiciously similar to the one I had at exactly the same time the year before. I've often been overwhelmed when trying to determine or track a condition, because my personal record of health information is either nonexistent, or it's spread on forms and receipts from (at least) a dozen doctors and five insurance companies.

Working as an engineer here on the health team, I've been excited to participate in building tools that will help me and others manage our personal health information more effectively. Many innovators in the healthcare industry have worked hard to make results of doctor visits, prescriptions, tests and procedures available digitally. By using the GData protocol already offered in many Google products, and supporting standards-based medical information formats like the Continuity of Care Record (CCR), our health efforts will help you access, store and communicate your health information. Above all, health data will remain yours -- private and confidential. Only you have control over when to share it with family members and health providers.

This week, we hit another important milestone. We launched a pilot with a medical institution committed to giving patients access to their own medical records: The Cleveland Clinic. A large academic medical center, Cleveland is one of the first partners to integrate on our platform. Because of their size and reach with patients who already have access to their medical records online, Cleveland has been a great partner for us to test out our data sharing model. Patients participating in the Cleveland pilot give authorization via our AuthSub interface to have their electronic medical records safely and securely imported into a Google account. It's great to see our product getting into the hands of end users, and I look forward to the feedback that the Cleveland patients will provide us.

Cleveland is just the first of many healthcare providers that will securely send medical records and information via Google APIs at your request. We've been hard at work collaborating with a number of insurance plans, medical groups, pharmacies and hospitals. While this pilot is open initially to just a few thousand patients, I see it as an important first step to show how Google can help users get access to their medical records and take charge of their health information.It was disappointing—infuriating actually—to learn that some of the nation’s health insurance companies are trying to take advantage of their current customers by manipulating plan years. They are doing so to avoid having to pass on to these customers the benefits of national health reform.

These insurers are reaching out to current customers, taking advantage of their uncertainties, and luring them to switch to health plan years that begin in 2013. By substituting 2013 plans for their current plans that run through early 2014, customers will lose important Affordable Care Act (ACA) protections that must apply to plans issued on or after January 1, 2014. For example, plans issued in 2014 must offer a comprehensive range of benefits and have rates based only on the customer’s age, geographic location, number in family, and tobacco usage. Discrimination based on gender or pre-existing conditions is banned by federal law in 2014 plans. Health insurance insider turned critic, Wendell Potter, recently wrote in detail about this outrage in the Huffington Post.

So insurers are trying to have the best of both worlds. They want all the goodies the ACA offers them, including hundreds of millions of new customers (many of whom will only be able to afford coverage because they qualify for the federal financial help in the form of advance premium tax credits and cost sharing subsidies available under the ACA), but they also want to deprive their existing customers of the benefit of ACA reforms.

Fortunately, insurance regulators can and are protecting customers from such manipulation. Illinois Department of Insurance Director Andrew Boron issued Bulletin 2013-07 on April 29, 2013, telling Illinois health insurers that they won’t get away with such manipulation. “The Department will not approve…filings for such arrangements,” the bulletin says. That should bring these threatened manipulations to an end in Illinois, and we hope regulators in other states take similar actions.

Health insurance has been baffling to most individuals and small businesses. The federal government, many states, and many non-profit organizations are working hard to inform citizens of the reforms, benefits, and opportunities the Affordable Care Act has already brought and the major improvements coming in 2014. Actions like these plan date manipulations simply have no place in the picture. Thank goodness regulators can and are stepping it to ensure a happy ending. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that enacts a critical part of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) by making Medicaid coverage available to all low-income adults in Illinois. Today’s action delivers on a major priority announced by Governor Quinn in his 2013 State of the State address and is part of his agenda to improve the health of the people of Illinois and increase access to quality health care.

“In the home state of President Obama, we believe access to quality health care is a fundamental right and we proudly embrace the Affordable Care Act,” Governor Quinn said. “This legislation will greatly improve the health of hundreds of thousands of people across Illinois, strengthen our health care system and create thousands of good jobs in the health care field. Thanks to this law and our shared commitment to increasing access to health care coverage in Illinois, the people of Illinois will be healthier and have a higher quality of life.”

Sponsored by State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Senate Bill 26 will make Medicaid coverage available to adults with annual income below 138 percent of the federal poverty line, which is $15,860 for individuals and $21,408 for couples. The measure is expected to enroll 342,000 people by 2017. Currently, Medicaid is only available to children, their parents or guardians, adults with disabilities or seniors. Enrollment for the newly eligible population will begin Oct. 1 with coverage starting on Jan. 1.

Under the ACA, for the first three years, coverage of newly eligible adults will be 100 percent federally funded. The reimbursement rate will phase down to 90 percent by 2020. State officials estimate this will bring more than $12 billion in new federal funding to support the state’s health care system from 2014 to 2020.

“The Affordable Care Act gives Illinois the resources to provide critical health care services to a population that desperately needs it,” Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Julie Hamos said. “Under Governor Quinn’s leadership, we are reforming our health care system so that it focuses on delivering coordinated care and keeping people healthy through better preventive care, not just paying the bills when they become sick.”

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, Illinois is also increasing access to health coverage through the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace, another major feature of the ACA. The Marketplace, which also launches enrollment Oct. 1 with coverage starting Jan. 1, will be accessed through a user-friendly website where individuals, families and small businesses will be able to compare health care policies and premiums and purchase comprehensive health coverage. Those with income between 138 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level will receive subsidies on a sliding scale if they obtain coverage through the marketplace.

 

 

Health Insurance Comparison Information

Source(google.com.pk)
Health Insurance Comparison Information
It isn't stunning to actually realize that a lot of the students don't perceive the importance of college health insurance. The price of healthcare is increasing from the day and hence it's crucial and get a college student to actually be ready for any such unforeseen circumstance.

A lot of the students have become active in extracurricular activities like sports that render them liable to injuries, together with serious ones now and then. Conjointly, every daythe world is unpredictable you can't predict whenever medical emergency could strike. This can be where college health insurance can be seen in handy and could provide safety against the high cost of medical treatment at a really low cost.

The very first step to actually owning a college health insurance is to actually check your college website. If you do happen to actually be a full time student, it is a possibility which you are already lined under the college health insurance. This is definitely indisputable fact that not several students are tuned in to.

Typically, the premiums for college health insurance are deducted every quarter at the facet of the tuition fees. Since the number is nominal, it is a possibility which you generally are not aware which you are already lined under college health insurance that even includes that dental plan !

In spite of this, if you do happen to look for which you don't utilize a college health insurance, you'll contact the college authorities to assist you get lined under the current insurance theme. One other various is to actually purchase you a separate insurance cover from any one the service providers.

It's advisable that one should check out the policy details and compare the premiums from numerous health insurance providers before enrolling for one. It is a possibility which you will land yourself a negotiate. In spite of this, typically obtaining an insurance cover independently seems to actually be costlier than group insurance that would be provided across the college.AHLAlerts: American Health Line’s Blog
Your Daily Health Care News Update
BLOGGER VS. BLOGGER: Calif.’s ‘Apples to Oranges’ Comparison of Premium Prices Does Not Add Up
with one comment

When California officials recently announced a premium rate structure for health plans that will be offered through Covered California — the state health insurance exchange — they noted that the prices are lower than what some observers were expecting. Officials said premium rates submitted for next year’s individual market ranged from 2% higher to 29% lower than the current average premium for small business plans in the state’s largest metropolitan areas.

On the Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog,” Sarah Kliff noted that while the premium rates “appear to be significantly less expensive than what forecasters expected,” they “really underscore the big role that the tax subsidies play.” Kliff writes that the subsidies are available to residents who earn less than 400% of the poverty line, or $45,960 for an individual. “For the 2.6 million Californians who will receive federal subsidies, the price is a good deal less expensive.”

At Bloomberg‘s “The Ticker,” Lanhee Chen questions whether the Affordable Care Act will “actually lower health insurance premiums.” He writes, “The only way Covered California’s experts arrive at their conclusion is to compare apples to oranges — that is, comparing next year’s individual premiums to this year’s small employer premiums.” By doing this, “Covered California is creating for itself a very favorable and already higher baseline from which to compare next year’s individual health insurance premiums.”

OUR TAKE: Although Kliff accurately notes that the ACA’s insurance subsidies offer lower-income residents “a good deal,” Chen demonstrates how an individual earning more than 400% of the poverty line will see premiums rise. Going forward, states should think about comparing prices for plans offered through the exchanges in a way that does not skew results and mislead consumers.It is very important that you get yourself insured, but do not just pick the first plan that you see. Health care is very important, but it can also be very expensive. You need to do a health insurance comparison before you pick your plan. Here are a couple of tips that can help you find a quality plan at a quality price.

There are hundreds of companies out there that can insure you, and each of those companies has hundreds of different plans. This might make it seem impossible to do a proper health insurance comparison. However, if you use the internet, you can compare multiple companies and plans very quickly.

There are websites on the internet that are designed to compare companies for you. All you have to do is fill out a form with your basic information, and you will be able to find out about different plans and different prices with the click of a button. If you are going to use the internet, you are going to have to have a little bit of knowledge about health care. You are going to have to read through these plans yourself, and you are going to have to make your own decision.

If you need a little bit more help, you can talk to a health care agent. These people are trained to do a good health care comparison and can usually point you in the right direction. The downside of using an agent is that it is going to cost you money. If you have questions about health care, you will probably benefit from using an agent, but most people decide to skip this step.

If you can educate yourself on basic terminology like HMO's and PPO's you should be able to find your own insurance by shopping online.When one is offered health coverage at their place of employment there are many variables to consider. There are generally two main options and possibly one other that one can consider. Health insurance comparison is something one should think carefully about when making a final decision.

The two main types of coverage are generally an HMO or a PPO. In some cases some firms do offer an EPO. An HMO is generally less expensive than a PPO. An HMO can sometimes be limiting in some services and in most cases will need referrals from one's primary doctor to see a specialist.

A PPO can sometimes have a high deductible before the coverage will kick in. This type of insurance has the freedom to select an doctor or specialist within their network without first getting a referral from their primary doctor. If one does decide to go out of their network the co-pays and services received will be slightly higher.

If an employer does offer an EPO this kind of coverage would be the combination of an HMO and PPO. One does not have to schedule an appointment with his primary doctor to get a referral and his co-pays and services received are covered without any additional costs like a PPO. The prices that he will pay will likely be the pricing structure of an HMO with the privileges of an PPO.


Selecting the right kind of coverage will vary from individual to individual will differ as each person has a different degree of issues. For the individual that might have chronic illness like diabetes or asthma might want to consider a EPO or PPO. These types of chronic issues need specialized care and a direct link to the specialist of one's choice.

All three types of health coverage will have a co-pay of some sort and the amounts will differ depending on what the employer's type of coverage they have selected for their employees. Most office's will want the co-pay to be paid up front before services can be administered. Most accept major credit cards, debit cards and personal checks while other want cash or a check. Each office will have different policies so one should always double-check before arriving at one's appointment.

Health insurance comparison information should always be looked through completely before one makes a decision. Asking the necessary questions that one might have is always the best policy when in doubt. This is especially important if one had family members attached to their coverage.

 

 

 

International Travel Insurance Information

Source(google.com.pk)
International Travel Insurance Information
To purchase or not to purchase travel insurance, that is the question. If you have done some research or talked to a travel agent, you might have been told that insurance is absolutely necessary. After all, you have put a lot of money into airfare and booking your hotel. But does that mean you need to spend more on insurance?

Travel insurance was created to make sure your money is refunded should something go wrong at the last second. This includes many circumstances that would prevent you from traveling, like illness or a flight being canceled due to inclimate weather. If your plans are put on hold, at least you will get your money back. But there are ways this insurance can help you while you are on vacation as well.

When taking travel tours abroad, check and see if your normal health insurance will cover you in a foreign country. Often, plans either do not cover you, or are just not accepted abroad. Should this be the case for you, then invest in travel insurance. This way, you are sure to be covered if you need medical attention while on vacation.

Unfortunately, travelers these days need to be aware of terrorism when they travel abroad. Should terrorist activity occur where you are about to vacation, your airline is not necessarily required to refund the cost of your ticket. However, if you have travel insurance, you will be covered.

Flight cancellation is another eventuality covered by travel insurance. Any number of things could prevent you from leaving the ground. You might have scheduled your vacation during the worst snow storm in twenty years, or maybe you airline just goes out of business. Travel insurance protects the money you have invested in your ticket. Perhaps circumstances in your life prevent you from taking advantage of vacation deals. Should somebody in your family die or become ill, you can cancel your plans without penalty. Whatever may happen to prevent you from leaving, you are covered.

If you loose your luggage, you will also be covered by travel insurance. Usually, the baggage is returned by the airline; though, sometimes, it is simply misplaced and never found. Or, your luggage might be returned with items missing. Travel insurance gives you the money to replace anything that can’t be found so you can enjoy your trip as planned.

When deciding on a specific insurance company, it is a good idea to research your options before choosing. Different plans work best for specific vacations. Perhaps you are not buying a plane ticket, but taking a cruise. If you travel often for business or pleasure, you can even purchase a policy that covers you for extended periods of time. These plans save you the hassle of buying a policy for each individual trip. Ask questions before you make a final decision to be sure that you are getting all the coverage you need. You wouldn’t want to insure yourself, only to find that your particular vacation disaster is not covered under your policy.


Know more about Visitor medical insurance and plans for the duration of travel.International Journey Insurance

With the exceptionally high – and growing – costs for medical treatment around the world, as well as the increasing uncertainty of travel, taking out travellers insurance is a no brainer.

It’s difficult to measure the peace of mind and financial security provided by a travel insurance policy which provides 24/7 contact, response and advice in medical or accident emergencies, and vital financial back-up if your itinerary is thrown into turmoil causing you to miss flights and accommodation bookings, your luggage lost, your passport stolen or the myriad of other instances that can – and occasionally do – happen when we travel.

Overseas travellers cover should always include unlimited emergency medical evacuation from a leading emergency response organisation, plus unlimited medical and hospital cover as not negotiable core items.

Cheap Medical Only cover provides protection for these vital aspects, as well as Personal Liability, if you’re in a financial position to carry the expense if any other mishap, such as theft or travel delay, occurs.

Domestic Journey Insurance

Many travellers never think of purchasing journey cover when holidaying or travelling within Australia, yet plans do still go haywire and important items are lost or stolen.

Great cover to have, unless you are free-wheeling, is to protect against cancelled accommodation, trips, tours and cruises, performances and more whether you have paid in full or laid down a substantial deposit. Remember to take this policy out from the time you book and pay.

Cover should also include personal liability, travel delay, additional expenses if you’re laid up sick or injured and accidental death. Rental vehicle excess may also be included and can be substantially cheaper than through the rental company.

Compare and Buy Online for the Best Deals

Purchasing travel insurance online is the best way to buy cheap, reliable travel cover. Buying online has been around long enough to have had all the bugs ironed out and is now a fast and secure way to compare companies and make the wisest, cheapest purchase for you.

Online browsing to find journey insurance is easy and convenient and, with the sense of excitement you’re probably already feeling, will probably also be fun. It can take a while to examine all your options, so you can simply bookmark the sites that interest you most in case you run out of time and can then pick up where you left off another day.Having taken the decision to take up residence in another country, one major factor towards your financial peace of mind is the undertaking of international health insurance coverage. For some expatriates, qualification for a local government health plan may be possible. However, bear in mind that in many smaller and less-stable countries, any government plan coverage is going to be minimal or completely unsuitable to your needs. You may also find that a government health insurance plan is not going to be available to you once you leave that country.

Fortunately, many companies are able to offer health insurance coverage for expatriates with the most basic of these plans including cover for hospital stays, which may also include fees for physician and consultants, surgeons and anesthesiologists. Even some prescription medication is covered by these basic plans.

Some comprehensive international travel insurance plans can be compared favorably to domestic health plans. Consultant sessions, visits to the outpatient department, therapists, and even emergency dentistry are included. It is also not uncommon to find the use of specialists such as radiologists, pathologists, and oncologists being covered, as well as any charges incurred by the use of ambulances.

There are even more extensive coverage options for insurance internationally. Whilst the premiums will be higher, the covered benefits are more extensive. Some of the benefits that can be taken include chiropractor consultations, organ transplants, rehabilitation, and psychiatry. As well, diagnostic services such as x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging scans, and other lab work can be included.

Many international travel insurance plans will include basic emergency travel medical coverage and evacuation coverage. For an additional fee, most international health plans can provide the costs of use of a top of the range medical facility anywhere in the world, including the transport costs, and then a discounted fare to return to your home country after you've recovered from illness.

Not everyone, however, can be covered by a global health insurance plan. Some companies will refuse to cover you if your job is considered as hazardous or dangerous or involves you working in hazardous areas, while others will cover you at a very high premium. Pre-existing conditions aren't usually covered either, whether the condition was known or not. However, some companies might cover a pre-existing condition for an additional premium. A lot of international health insurance plans don't provide cover for childbirth or pregnancy, while others will cover it for an added premium.

The cost of a comprehensive international travel insurance plan is usually about twice the price of a basic plan. You can either choose to have the full 100% of your expenses covered, but to save money on premiums, you could choose to have the international health insurance plan cover up to 80% of the expenses while you cover the rest. You can also save money on the premium by paying a deductible. Before making a final decision on any international health insurance plan, be aware that age, and even gender will have a bearing on the insurance plan premiums.The world is a big place and people love to see it in person. With all of the exotic locations that international travelling offers, it is no surprise that millions of people travel the world every year. Some people take short trips and vacations, while serious travelers do it full-time. These travelers leave their lives and sense of security behind in exchange for a life of freedom on the road.
With so many people exploring the realms of the world, there is no shortage of travel blogs. Travelers share their personal experiences and give advice and suggestions to other prospective travelers. From the amateur traveler to the seasoned, full-time traveler, each person has a story to share.
Lonely Planet – Travel guides, discussions, suggestions on places to see, and traveling tips.
Blogabond – Collection of travel blogs from independent travelers discussing their personal travels around the world.
Vagablogging: Rolf Potts’ Vagabonding Blog – One man’s personal blog entailing all of his travels, thoughts, pictures, and advice.
Old World Wandering – A couple recounts their journey through Europe and Asia, on their way to live in Shanghai.
Karie and Scott: Our European Adventure – A couple discusses their traveling experience through Europe as they make their way to Barcelona.
Family Travel – A family tells their travel stories and gives tips and advice to other families that want to travel together.
Uncornered Market – After a couple quit their jobs to see the world, they detail their adventures through China, Germany and other countries.
Soul Travelers 3 – A family of three share their stories as they travel around the world.
The Lost Girls – Three friends travel the world and share their stories, tips, and advice for other travelers.
Globestompers – A man talks about his world travels after he gave up his life as a sales executive in favor of traveling.
One Year on Earth – Newlyweds take one year to travel all over the world.
Travel Betty – A blog targeted to women travelers, written by a woman that has seen many parts of the world.
Ott’s World – A woman takes a year off from corporate America to travel to all of the places she always dreamed of going.
Trail of Ants – A man named Ant discusses his two-year trip around the world.
Vagabonding – A man named Mike talks about his one-year journey through Asia and Africa.
Overland Tales – A man takes not only one, but two trips around the world and details his travels.
Renny BA’s Terella – A man tells about exploring all the things Norway has to offer.
Reflections in the Nile – An English woman speaks about her journey and experiences in Egypt.
Olga, the Traveling Bra – A humorous blog following the travels of Olga, a black and lacy bra.
Michael J. Totten – A journalist tells his daily story of living and traveling in the Middle East.
Candy from Strangers – A woman with a love for candy travels the world to experience candy from all over the world.
Everything, Everywhere – One man’s detailed account of traveling the world on his own.
Hedgehogs Without Borders – A young couple’s 18-month trip around the world and their eventual engagement.
One Week Job – A man works his way around the world, taking on different jobs at every destination to pay for his trip.
Ed’s Gone South – A man journeys across South America on a motorcycle.
The World by Sea – Two friends tell their story about traveling the world on a boat, including their charitable efforts at different destinations.
Lifecruiser – A husband and wife travel around Sweden and other countries on a boat.
Eating Asia – A food-focused blog about a couple’s journey through Asia and the foods that they dine upon.
Amateur Traveler – A compilation of stories, tips and advice from different world travelers.
Killing Batteries – Highly detailed blog from a travel writer giving specific information about each place he visits.
Viator Travel Blog – Numerous travelers share their experiences and give advice and helpful suggestions.
Nomad 4 Ever – Inspirational blog by a man traveling in Southeast Asia and living a nomadic lifestyle.
Nerd’s Eye View – A woman’s journal about her travels around the world, capturing the perspective of the stereotypical “nerd”.
Budget Trouble – An outspoken woman shares her experiences traveling all over the world.
Notes from the Road – Beautiful photographs compliment one man’s blog about his world travel destinations.
Underneath the Mango Tree – A writer details his own experiences traveling to different places around the world.
Chris Around the World – A travel journalist gives advice and tips on travel and details her own personal travel experiences.
The Practical Nomad – Writer tells of his own journeys around the world and gives practical information on travel, including advice on destinations and getting the best deals.
Contemporary Nomad – Two men leave their jobs and their lives behind to travel the world.
The Professional Hobo – A writer left her secure lifestyle to travel the world, getting some of her expenses paid by trading labor for accommodations.
The Tranquilo Traveler – A man focuses his travels on Central America.
Wanderlust and Lipstick – A blog geared toward women that travel the world. Includes the experiences of different women travelers, advice, and suggestions.
A Luxury Travel Blog – Focused on the finer side of traveling. Includes luxurious destinations suggestions and advice on fine dining and accommodations.
The Man in Seat Sixty-One – A man’s account of traveling through different countries by train. Includes tips and advice for other train travelers.Here’s the best way to survive a kidnapping: don’t get kidnapped! If you think you may become a target, keep a low profile online. Watch what you, your family and your friends post on facebook. Disable the GPS.  Use proper passwords.  (This means giving up ‘1234’ and ‘pass.’)  Vary your work routine- most people get abducted from the car whilst driving to and from work.  Change up your schedule, and use different routes. If you have Kidnap & Ransom coverage as part of your travel insurance plan, be discrete. Who knows who might overhear you? Most people who get kidnapped have failed to follow basic safety rules.

If you do get abducted, don’t resist. While violence is always a possibility in such situations, it becomes a certainty if you struggle. The captors have the advantage in every way, starting with the element o

f surprise. Chances are they know a lot more about you than you know about them. Realistically assess your situation. If you don’t have a very good chance of escape, don’t struggle. Otherwise, you’ll end up kidnapped, bruised and bloody, instead of just kidnapped.

Once kidnapped, obey the reasonable demands of your abductors. You want these people to like you. Get to know them. Use the universal topic of Family. Avoid politics. Don’t antagonize them. They may be as nervous as you are, and they have guns.

You’ll be bored, scared, hungry, uncomfortable, bored. Rinse and repeat. Stay mentally alert. Bake a cake from scratch in your head. Do some sit ups. Make a chess set or a deck of cards. Do some push ups. Don’t get too upset when your kidnappers cheat at poker.  Keep physically fit. Exercise can provide structure and routine to your day, as well as relieve stress.