Medicare open enrollment periods keep changing. Of course, the best source for information is the Medicare Open Enrollment Center at Medicare.gov. I thought I would highlight some important information here though.

This year, open enrollment . . . → Read More: Medicare Open Enrollment Tips For 2012]]> Do You Need To Use The 2011 Open Enrollment For 2012 Plans?

Check The Dates For Medicare Enrollment!

Medicare open enrollment periods keep changing. Of course, the best source for information is the Medicare Open Enrollment Center at Medicare.gov. I thought I would highlight some important information here though.

This year, open enrollment starts earlier, and it also ends earlier. Hopefully, this helps people get enrolled, and get their new plan cards and benefit sheets all set up by January 1st, 20112. The first of January is when plan changes will be in effect!

The open enrollment period from October 15th to December 7th of 2011 is when you can:

• Choose a Part “D” prescription plan to help pay for medicine.
• Chose a Part “C” Medicare Advantage plan to help manage medical service costs. Note that some Medicare Advantage (MA) plans also include prescription coverage.
• This is when you have the option of selecting a new plan, staying in your current plan, or going back to original Medicare coverage.

Every year, some plans change, some terminate, and some new ones are added. If you are satisfied with your current MA or Part D plan, you may not need to make any changes. If your plan is changing, or you would prefer a different plan, you should start doing your research now.

Where To Compare Medicare Health Plan Options

You can find out a lot about current, and future, Medicare health plan options at Medicare.gov. This is true for MA, prescription plans, supplements, and the original Medicare Part A and Part B.

You may also want to get some help from a private insurer or local agent.  We offer Medicare Supplement Quotes, plus quotes for MA and prescription plans.

We also offer a short tutorial so you can compare Medicare health plans. You can also take a moment to learn the differences between Medicare supplements vs. Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Prescription plans.

Other Important Dates To Remember

• September 1 – 30: Notice to Review Eligibility for Extra Help – If you get extra financial help, this is when you should get a notice that it is time to make sure you still qualify. You should complete and return the form within 30 days.
• September 30th – Notice of Plan Changes - By this date, you should have gotten a notice from your current MA or Part D plan of any changes for next year.
• October 1st: New Marketing Materials - Private insurance companies will start marketing new and current plans. You should also be able to find updated information about these plans on the insurance company or Medicare website. Agents should have updated information to supply you.

January 2012 Open Enrollment Note: The old open enrollment period that started in early January has been discontinued. Between January 1st and February 14th, 2012, you may dis-enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, and return to original Medicare. You may also join a Medicare prescription plan and purchase a Medicare supplement if you wish.

However, some Medicare doctor’s practices are getting stressed. Doctors say they . . . → Read More: Concierge Health Plans and Medicare]]> Medicare seems to be giving medical service providers a tough time these days. They have imposed tighter restrictions and reduced fee structures for many types of medical service providers. Some of this reform is well overdue, and I would not argue that point.

However, some Medicare doctor’s practices are getting stressed. Doctors say they have to rush in order to fit in enough patients so they can operate at the same profit level and keep the rest of the staff. In response, a few practices have imposed membership fees and will only seem “members” who pay these fees to join the practice.

The fees are usually about fifteen to eighteen hundred dollars a year. In return, patients are assured of more time with doctors, quicker appointments, and personal (“concierge”) service. Even the best Medicare health plan will not pay these fees though other services could still be covered.

The medical service providers say they do not want to cut out poor people, but do want to provide better quality care to members they have. US health reform experts worry that this new trend could leave a wider gap between poorer and richer patients. Doctors who do not require a few may get even busier as they try to accept patients who left concierge practices.

Heath Insurance Declines

if you work for a company that lacks group heath insurance, you will probably try to . . . → Read More: High Risk Health Insurance Updates]]> According to recent figures, about 60 percent of people in the USA are lucky enough to get group medical benefits from their job. Many of the rest rely upon government programs or private health insurance.

Heath Insurance Declines

if you work for a company that lacks group heath insurance, you will probably try to find an individual or family plan from a private insurer. This is an acceptable choice for many self employed people contract workers, or employees of companies that do not have group plans. However, private insurers do not have to admit every applicant for an individual or family policy. This means that many people who have a pre-existing heath condition, like heart problems will be disapproved.

State and Federal High Risk Health Insurance Pools

If you have been rejected, you can turn to a high risk pool. Every US state has a program to cover people with pre-existing conditions. Since health reform passed, the federal government is also implementing a new national high risk pool to supplement the state plans. The exact details of the state and federal plans will be different in different areas. For example, premiums could vary by county. The medical providers could also be different in different parts of the country.

Find links for state and federal high risk health insurance pools here.

The state plans have aided many thousands of people get health insurance when they could not qualify for individual major medical. However, in some states, they were quite expensive. Some people did not take advantage of the high risk health plan because it cost too much. Some of the plans also have waiting periods so pre-existing conditions would not be covered right away. This could be a big problem for people with an acute need for health care.

The federal high risk health plan was developed because of this big problem. Since it is subsidized by tax money, the premiums should be more afordable. You canread more about the state and federal plans on the World wide web. Simply search for the high risk health plan for your state. The website should explain the plan, how to qualify, and how much it costs. Each site should also have information about the new national high risk health plan. You can decide if either option will be an acceptable solution for your health coverage needs, find an application, and get covered.

Low Income or Job Loss Health Plan Options

The programs will not solve the problem for everybody who is battling to find health coverage though. If you have lost your job, or have a low income, you still may not be able to afford the plan. If you read the plan information, and do not think you can afford it, call for information about possible subsidies. If that still does not help you, you may need to look into some low income health insurance choices that you may qualify for. Programs like Medicaid and CHIPS can help some families find affordable coverage.

Get more information on unemployment health insurance here.

Just like you have to find auto insurance before you have an accident, it is always much better to buy health plans before you get sick. Sometimes things do not work out that way, but you shoul take the time to consider your choices!

If you are planning for retirement, and especially if you are approaching retirement age, you have probably considered adding life insurance to your portfolio of financial products. Most of us have had some coverage in the past, either through work . . . → Read More: Do You Need Retirement Life Insurance?]]>

Does Your Family Need Your Life Insurance?

Who Needs Retirement Life Insurance?

If you are planning for retirement, and especially if you are approaching retirement age, you have probably considered adding life insurance to your portfolio of financial products. Most of us have had some coverage in the past, either through work or a term policy we bought when we were younger. But that may have expired, or getting ready to expire, so we wonder if we need more.

What Is Life Insurance For?

This is the big question you need to figure out. Think about some typical reasons that people purchase policies.

• Death Benefit – When you pass away, your policy will pay a death benefit to your named beneficiaries. This is the primary reason to have coverage.
• Other Benefits- Some policies also have other benefits. Permanent policies, for example, can grow a cash value that can be used as a benefit. Term, whole, or universal life may have added riders that cover disability, critical illness, or even long term care. It may be attractive to cover other risks with your policy, though of course, you can find other products that are more targeted to those needs.

Do you need these benefits for your spounse or other people you care for?

I understand that people do purchase coverage for other reasons. Some want to protect a business or leave money to charity. But we are going to address the most common reasons that people purchase coverage. They want to make sure that people they leave behind, usually a spouse, children, or grandchildren, are well taken care of.

First you have to think about who you are benefiting with your coverage. If you are concerned that your spouse, or other family members, would have a tough time without any income you provide, you may consider purchasing coverage so they will get a death benefit.

But if they will already be comfortably retired with income from social security, a pension, annuities, etc., your need for life insurance may not be that great.

Then look at the secondary benefits. Optional coverage or a cash value may be very valuable, or they could be better addressed with other insurance products or by saving your premiums to fund savings or investments. Most financial experts will tell you that life insurance products are not really efficient savings products. Others make a very good arguement that the convenience of combining a policy with some asset building gets people to build an asset they never would have put money aside for otherwise.

How To Learn More About Retirement Life Insurance

If you are still not sure what you need, you should probaby start exploring your options. Some things you will need to learn about are:

• The types of life insurance you can buy – Explore term and whole life (or universal or variable).
• How much does life insurance cost? Of course, the price will depend upon many different things. Some of these are your age, health, amount of coverage, and type of policy.
• Are there better ways to meet your goals? Would you be better off by building an annuity or just keeping your money to pay of debt?

Visit here  to learn more about Guaranteed Senior Life Insurance. You can also get free online quotes so you compare policies and prices from the comfort of your home or office.

We can provide you with information to understand the most popular health plans. If you visit this article – PPO vs HSA vs. HMO – you will be able to understand the differences at a glance. However, this page does not resolve one important question . . . → Read More: When Is A PPO Better Than An HSA Health Insurance Plan]]> Is A PPO or HSA Health Insurance Plan Better?

We can provide you with information to understand the most popular health plans. If you visit this article – PPO vs HSA vs. HMO – you will be able to understand the differences at a glance. However, this page does not resolve one important question This question is all about finding out which plan – PPO or HSA -  is better for you!

If you have no medical insurance, or if are just considering a new plan, be sure and consider the pros and cons of each kind before you trust your health to one.

PPO Health Insurance – Many Americans are familiar with this popular type of health insurance. You get a network of medical service providers with the plan. For the highest level of coverage, you must use this network. If you want to step outside, you may still be covered, but will be expected to contribute more towards the cost.

HSA Health Insurance – The “HSA” stands for Health Savings Account. The plan comes with a savings account and a higher deductible major medical insurance plan.

The insurance pays for more severe illnesses or injuries that run up bills over the deductible amount. The savings account is in place to pay for smaller health expenses like routine checkups, minor illness, emergency room visits, and maybe even some things that major medical does not cover. If you choose a higher deductible major medical plan, the saving account can be used to pay for that too!

Some others things you may be able to pay for out of the HSA are dental or vision care.

The IRS has set rules on the amount that you can contribute to the HSA, but up to that amount, contributions are tax deductible. Any money you do not use keeps rolling over from year to year, and it can be withdrawn when you reach retirement age.

So an HSA plan is better for people who like to control their health care expenses, and also for people who are disciplined savers! The tax deduction can also benefit families who need it.

But now you may see the downside. Many people enroll in an HSA plan because of the advantages, but then they neglect contributing to the savings account. Then, when they do need to pay for medical services, they end up paying out of pocket anyway.  People who never build up their heath savings account will not be satisfied when they do need to pay the bill.

When Is A PPO Better Than An HSA?

So a lower deductible PPO plan may be better for people who want a simpler way to have health needs covered, and those who are concerned they will not make contributions to the actual account.

When Is An HSA Better?

If you are very good about controlling your spending, a discipline saver, and can take advantage of HSA tax deductions, an HSA health plan may be better.

There are some pros and cons of getting term life that does not require a medical physcial exam. First let us explore this topic of getting  a policy with no phsyical a bit.

In today’s . . . → Read More: No Medical Exam Term Life Insurance Pros and Cons]]> What Are The Advantages (and Disadvantages) of No Medical Term Life

There are some pros and cons of getting term life that does not require a medical physcial exam. First let us explore this topic of getting  a policy with no phsyical a bit.

Some insurance laws are federal, . . . → Read More: How To Resolve Insurance Complaints]]>

50 State US Insurance Departments

If you have insurance questions or problems that you cannot get resolved by your local insurance agent or company representative, contact your state insurance department for help. For your convenience, we have listed the insurance departments for all 50 states in the US.

Some insurance laws are federal, but the individual states usually regulate insurance. That is why available plans vary by state. They must conform to state laws. Rates may differ by states, or even by zip code, because insurers believe that the costs of doing business will be higher in some areas than others.

Resolving Insurance Complaints

Contact Your Insurance Company or Agent

If you have a problem with a claim, you should try to contact your insurer or agent first. Many errors are caused by innacurate forms or simple clerical mistakes, and you can get them fixed in a few minutes.

Even if a phone call to your insurer does not resolve a claim error, it will give you a chance to understand why you did not have your claim settled the way you expected it. Make sure you keep careful notes so you understand why you insurer decided to act the way it did.

Contact Your State Insurance Department

If you are still not satisfied with the resolution of your claim, it may be time to call or write your own state’s insurance department. They regulate all insurers who do business in your state, and they are their to protect consumer’s rights.

Is it time to call a lawyer?

If your state insurance department cannot help you, it may be time to consult with a lawyer. Many lawyers offer a free initial consultation. Then it is time to decide if your problem is worth taking to court. ]]> http://nomedical.net/how-to-resolve-insurance-complaints/feed/ 2 http://nomedical.net/50-state-insurance-departments/ http://nomedical.net/50-state-insurance-departments/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:31:15 +0000 David http://nomedical.net/?p=35 If you have insurance questions or problems that you cannot get resolved by your local insurance agent or company representative, contact your state insurance department for help. For your convenience, we have listed the insurance departments for all 50 states in the US.

Some insurance laws are federal, but . . . → Read More: 50 State Insurance Departments]]> 50 State US Insurance Departments

If you have insurance questions or problems that you cannot get resolved by your local insurance agent or company representative, contact your state insurance department for help. For your convenience, we have listed the insurance departments for all 50 states in the US.

Some insurance laws are federal, but the individual states usually regulate insurance. That is why available plans vary by state. They must conform to state laws. Rates may differ by states, or even by zip code, because insurers believe that the costs of doing business will be higher in some areas than others.

State Departments of Insurance List: Get the Contact Information Here!

This article applies to you if you do not have access to a group health plan from an employer, and are not sure where to purchase health insurance on the individual or private market, if you cannot . . . → Read More: No Medical Insurance]]>

If You Have No Medical Insurance….

NoMedicalExam.Net

Also refer to this larger resource on things to do if you have no medical insurance policy:

http://nomedical.net/nomedicalinsurance.html

This keep changing all the time. We tried to present a good overview, but this list may not be complete. You may have new programs in your community. Health reform is supposed to be fully implemented in 2014, but progress is being made all the time. So you may also want to check with local resources for more information.