Archive for August 2009
Health Insurance: How to Apply
August 24, 2009 | 
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If you’re wondering how to apply for health insurance, be aware that application is the second step of the process — after you’ve researched different policies and compared prices and benefits. Whether you apply online or off will depend on your comfort level with the computer, and also whether you’re applying via a group plan.
Before you sit down to fill out an application, you should gather information you will likely need when filling out an application. The names and addresses of doctors for yourself and your family members, the dates of the most recent visits, and information about your most recent insurance policy,
Through Your Employer
If you’re enrolling in a health insurance plan through your employer, you probably won’t need a medical examination, but you may have to wait for the company’s next enrollment period before you can apply. However, if you’re a new hire, you likely can apply immediately. The application process for enrolling in a group plan is quite simple, because most plans will enroll everybody, regardless of pre-existing conditions and current state of health.
Just fill out an enrollment form, which includes personal information like: name, address, social security number, designation of the primary insured and all dependents (including the names, ages, dates of birth and social security numbers for all dependents), employment information including date of hire, and the type of health insurance coverage you select. You’ll probably have to provide information about your prior health insurance coverage, including the insurance company name and policy number.
The completed application goes back to the benefits coordinator, who will process your form, and you’re finished.
On Your Own
If you’re not applying for group coverage, the steps are similar, except you’ll be handling all the paper work yourself. Some insurance companies will send an insurance agent to discuss the application process with you. In these cases, the agent will often work with you to gather the necessary documentation, coordinate an in-home medical examination, and collect your pre-payment check.
The whole process is so simple that some people decide to apply for health insurance online. To do so, just visit the health insurance company’s web site where you’ll find an online application form. You’ll have to provide the same type of personal and employment information as above, and you’ll just enter it onto an online application form. When you’re finished, click the submit button and the system takes over.
Applying for health insurance online really is painless, reliable and fast. However, if you are not comfortable providing that amount of personal information over the internet, it’s probably a good idea to apply for health insurance offline.
Either way, don’t wait until you need it. Because then it might be too late.
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Posted in Insurance | 
Tags: Current State, Dependents, Health Insurance Coverage, Insurance Agent, Insurance Companies, Social Security Numbers | 
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Health Insurance – Types of Health Insurance
Health is wealth. Is it true? Yes, Of course, everyone wants to be healthy, and that’s why we say that health is the greatest wealth in the world.
To understand the field of health insurance, it is useful to start with the most basic things. Health insurance is basically a promise of an insurance company to provide you health care services (medical, visit to the doctor or emergency room, hospitalization and other medicine expenses) in exchange for commissions.
Types of health insurance
1. Point-of-Service Plans (POS)
2. Fee-for-Service Plans
3. Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
4. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
These four types of health insurance may have four different names, but they provide medical care to people. Most affordable plan is “FREE-SERVICE PLAN”. It has got some limitations. the organization has obtained the preferred supplier of several options, but this is the most expensive. It’s up to you to decide what type of insurance is the best and which one you would like to purchase.
Short Term Health Insurance
Short-term health insurance is often a cheaper alternative to COBRA.
To cover unexpected illnesses and accidents. Pre-existing illnesses and routine medical procedures are not covered. You can get the coverage the next day, when answering a few simple questions about your health. Short term health insurance is an affordable option for temporary health insurance needs and is also a viable alternative to COBRA.
Long Term Health Care Insurance
The need for long-term care (LTC) was raised by many things: a slip and fall, post-operative recovery time, or a general reduction in its ability to take care of themselves, either because age or illness. The reason that requires long-term care can result in many types of care. Generally,
the types of due diligence long term divided into two categories:
Skilled Care
Basically, the goal of quality care is taken to help you better. Skilled care has nothing to do with how you’re ill. It has to do with the technical skills that nurses and doctors should help you better. Medicare defines it as “rehabilitation services that require technical skills or professional personnel such as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and physical therapists and professional.” Skilled Care is usually received in hospitals or skilled nursing homes, but can also be received in your home.
Non-skilled Care
Non-skilled care or custodial care is provided for those who need help on a regular basis. This type of therapy does not require professional training and can give a qualified family member. People who need Non-skilled care can be physical or mental limitations resulting from chronic or cognitive problems.
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Health Insurance Comparison Tips To Finding The Best Providers and Coverage Online
Health insurance is less expensive than the other types of insurance coverage. Finding the coverage that is right for you can be easy if you compare the different plans that are available. Below you will find some tips when it comes to health insurance comparisons.
Talk with your employer and see what kind of coverage that you have available with them. Going through your employer will be the easiest and the best comprehensive coverage that you can get. Plus it will be quite a bit cheaper being that most employers will pay a portion of the premium for their insurance, and you will be responsible for all of it if you use a different company.
If you have been laid off or are unemployed, you should look into the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or more commonly known as COBRA. This is great coverage especially if you have recently lost your job. You can stretch your coverage for up to 36 months under your employers insurance. But be prepared, you will be responsible for the full amount of the premium, the employer will not continue to pay their portion if they do not employ you.
Finding a company that has a local office is a good idea. This way you can sit down directly with an insurance agent and have them explain all of your options, and what each of them covers. There are so many options available that it is hard to sort through everything on your own.
There are several different plans that are available, ones such as, Fee-for-Service, Point of Service (POS), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO) and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO). Each one has their own options, with fee-for-service you will have the freedom to choose whatever doctor you want to use, where as with POS and PPO’s you will be required to choose a doctor from their list. And HMO’s are the most restrictive policies of them all.
Be sure to check the prescription drug coverage that each plan offers. The easiest way to do this is to check the price of the most common medications that you take and compare that price with each company. This will give you a better idea than just trying to read what they cover and wonder if your meds are allowed.
You will want to check the policies renewal clause. Most companies have an automatic renewal policy and your premium should not increase regardless of any medical history. Take into consideration your medical conditions, some insurances will make you wait a certain period of time before you can be seen for certain conditions. So it is very important that you check health insurance comparisons.
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