ROCKY MOUNT — Starting in July 2012, the town will cover health insurance expenses only for council members and not their dependents, the town council decided Monday.

If a council member wants to add a dependent, he or she has to pay the additional expenses — about $120 a month — out of pocket. The current employee-only plan, which council members can choose to participate in, costs the town about $179 a month, Town Manager James Ervin said.

Is such an alteration on the  health insurance policy in the area unfair in any way? Don’t these council members deserve the full benefits that every other employee usually has?

There is a huge difference that many aren’t aware of. Members of council are elected, they aren’t considered full time employees. This is one of the main reasons for the change in the insurance policy.  According to New Councilman Bobby Cundiff, the taxpayers seem to be paying too much for the council to enjoy the full insurance benefits.

Another reason for the change is to prevent people from running for council simply because of the health benefits that will be given to them and their families.This will try and help make sure that those who run are really sincere and don’t have any ulterior motives with them.

“Having the council member only, that’s reasonable,” Moyer said. “But adding family is too much on the taxpayer.

Additional information on this change of policy can be read here.

Rep. Chris Molendorp, R-Belton, has done the seemingly impossible. He has crafted and advanced legislation that would authorize the creation of the “Show-Me Health Insurance Exchange.”

It would be a quasi-governmental body designed to promote transparency and competition in the health insurance market and to help people who buy insurance on the open market and employees of small businesses enroll in affordable health care and dental plans with decent coverage.

The problem that this seemingly good idea house bill is facing is conflict of interest.  To add to the controversy is the fact that Mr. Moldendorp runs an insurance agency when not doing his legislative duties!

The politics of state health insurance exchanges are tricky because exchanges are mandated under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Federal regulators can step in and establish one if a state fails to have one in place by January 2013.

When creating new acts for such huge industries such as health insurance, there are a lot of risks that parties on both sides have to face.Sometimes no matter how noble the intentions of these proceedings are, people will always look at the personal benefits each side will have if the bill is pushed through.

Details can be found here.

5 Reasons Why You Should Get Health Insurance

These days, to have health insurance coverage is considered an investment.

You never know what might happen. It is better to be protected.

However, finding the right insurance can be a challenge. The sheer number of health insurance choices out there can literally make your head spin.

There are different health insurance plans that you get to choose from.

If you are one of those people that think of health insurance as a luxury, think again.

Your health is not one of the things you should scrimp on. After all, a healthy body is a person’s primary investment.

Without good health you will not be able to accomplish much. You still may be able to work but your output will be limited.

Here Are 5 Reasons Why You Should Get Health Insurance

1. Getting Health Insurance is Cost Effective

The cost of health insurance might be expensive. But not getting one can be even more so. A simple accident can wipe out your life’s savings. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

2. You Get Instant Access to Health Care

Health insurance is available to people of all ages and walks of life. Emergency medical insurance plans, for instance, gives you access to the emergency room of any hospital in America. Or it can give pregnant mothers access to quality care.Studies have shown that getting good medical care during pregnancy has lowered infant mortality. Take advantage of the medical coverage having a good plan can give you.

3. You Get More Savings If You Get Health Insurance Young

The competitive health insurance market of today has made getting health care more accessible to the general public. Getting a good medical plan can result in more savings later because in the long run, depending on your coverage, you won’t have to pay as much for medical fees anymore.

One thing about insurance is that the younger you are when you get it, the better. Your age is one thing that will influence your Medicare supplement quote. The older you become, the more expensive it gets.

4. You Get Health Insurance For Preventive Care

More and more health insurance companies are now offering preventive care in their packages. Health insurance plans online offer a variety of preventive care measures to choose from.Coverage usually includes blood test, lab exams, doctor check ups and annual physical exams.

Being vigilant with regards to your health can help you avoid bigger medical expenses in the future.

5. You Decrease Out of Pocket Expenses

Without a good medical plan, small things such as check ups and routine lab exams can result in more out-of-pocket expenses. It can also spare you from financial bankruptcy in case of occupational fatalities. So spare yourself the heartache and get the coverage you need.You’ll end up saving more in the long run.

Health Insurance for Young Adults

You have to be at least 18 in order to get individual health insurance. Those who are below 18 years old are usually still covered by their parent’s health plan so you don’t need to get your own just yet.

When you get health insurance for the first time, you should speak with a professional so that he/she can explain to you the different kinds of health insurance that are available.

A health insurance professional can elaborate the benefits that social security provides and the impact of insurance risk pools.

Health Plans for the Self-Employed

When you are self-employed, getting good health insurance coverage can be a challenge.

For those who want to get health insurance, employees just have it way easier. After all, their company usually shoulders their insurance plans.

Buying individual health insurance is decidedly more expensive when done on your own.

This is because the more insurance plans you get at once, the bigger the discount. So if you work for a corporation, either you get it for free or you won’t have to pay as much.

This is especially true for people who have any pre-existing conditions. Their situation makes them doubly hard to insure.

However there are many health insurance options available. There’s long term care insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, managed-care plans and packages which can be used together with a health savings account (HSA).

Buying health insurance online is a great convenience offered by many websites, and if you get Health Insurance early, these health plans can protect you from medical ruin in cases of illness or injuy.

Technorati Tags: affordable health insurance, coverage, dental insurance, employer, family, family health insurance, free health insurance, group health insurance, health, health insurance, health insurance companies, health insurance coverage, health insurance plans, health insurance quote, health plan, health plans, how to, individual health insurance, insurance, insurance quotes, life insurance, medical insurance, medicare, money, quotes

Health Insurance Agent

Figuring out what kind of health insurance to purchase is no mean feat.

This is especially true if you know nothing about health insurance.

Most people just go ahead and buy the first health plan they lay their eyes on.

As a result they usually end up spending more than they should.

In cases like these getting an insurance agent is a wise choice.

A good health insurance agent should be able to guide you on making the right health insurance choices.

A good sales agent usually has excellent interpersonal skills.

This is not surprising considering that you must have to have sales ability in order to sell.

With the right agent, finding health insurance quotes and getting the right coverage will be a snap.

What is the Lund Report?

The Lund Report is a news source that aims to educate and teach consumers about how the health care industry really works and the variety of financial products available to them.

It gives people facts and data to enable them to understand the system. Its news coverage concentrates on the main issues that plague consumers today such as increasing health care costs, lack quality standardization and unequal access to basic medical services.

The Medical Loss Ratio

Most insurance companies fritter away a large part of consumers’ premium money on executive salaries, administrative costs and marketing. But because of the Affordable Care Act, this will have to change.

This law requires insurance companies to spend 80 – 85 % of the money from premiums to increase the quality of health care.

This policy is called the “medical loss ratio” condition of the Affordable Care Act.

National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU)

The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) is composed of over 100,000 licensed and registered health insurance brokers, agents and consultants across the US.

The members of NAHU seek to provide quality advice and service to individuals who are seeking to purchase medical coverage.

The main goal of NAHU is advance access to good quality and affordable health insurance plans.

NAHU members assist millions of people by providing them with practical and sensible advice on the different kinds of health plans available to them such as defined benefit health insurance and individual health plans.

They offer insurance and financial services and enlighten you on what claim adjusters are and on how to submit claims.

Association of Online Insurance Agents (AOIA)

The Association of Online Insurance Agents (AOIA) gives insurance buyers an unbiased resource for choosing the right kind of insurance to get – be it business, family or auto insurance.

AIOA does not promote any particular insurance company. Rather, it backs the importance of an insurance agent in figuring out what type of plan would suit you best.

A lot of insurance shoppers make use of the internet to gather data and information about health insurance plans.

The AOIA’s insurance shopper reference list provides links and a wide range of options to choose from.

Advice You Can Get From Your Health Insurance Agent

Casualty Insurance

Casualty insurance, sometimes called liability insurance, is an avenue of insurance that is not concerned directly with life insurance. It covers the damages brought about by an individual or organization due to negligent acts.

It may also cover political risk insurance, fidelity, earthquake, surety bonds and terrorism insurance.

Health Insurance Exchange

Health Insurance Exchanges are standardized, state-regulated health insurance plans.

It is the major driving force of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Its aim is to increase the people’s access to affordable health care. Exchanges decide on which health insurance companies are permitted to join in the program.

Retirement Planning

As much as we hate to admit it, growing old is inevitable.

This is why we should make it a point to prepare for our retirement. The earlier we see to it, the better. Retirement planning is the process of setting aside financial resources and buffers for retirement.

The main objective of retirement planning is to attain financial independence. We can’t spend all our days working, especially not when we grow old and weak.

Planning out retirement will help ensure that we get to spend our last days comfortably.

Types of Financial Planners and Their Qualifications

Certified Financial Planner

A Certified Financial Planner is a certified and licensed individual who has managed to meet the requirements of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.

Becoming a CFP is not easy. You would first have to meet many requirements and you must obtain a license before you can become a CFP.

CFPs give comprehensive financial planning services such as how to manage mutual funds, bonds and stocks.

Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)

A Chartered Financial Consultant has the highest level of educational knowledge when it comes to financial management.

This is because to become one, you would have to complete an extensive educational program. A ChFC has to take around eight college-level courses in financial planning from a highly esteemed, non-profit educator-The American College.

These are just some of the organizations you need to know about when choosing the right health insurance agent and financial adviser.

Technorati Tags: affordable health insurance, agent, agents, car insurance, coverage, health, health insurance, health insurance agent, health insurance agents, health insurance coverage, health insurance plans, health insurance quote, individual health insurance, insurance, insurance agent, insurance agents, insurance company, insurance quotes, life insurance, medical insurance

Health Insurance Calculator: 5 Types of Health Insurance Calculator You Can Use

Health care insurance cost does not come cheap.

Despite the proliferation of health care companies in America, many people still find it hard to pay for health plan premiums.

The foremost issue here is money.

Comprehensive life insurance costs are continually on the rise.

Medicare cuts employer coverage leaving many employees in the dark.

So how exactly does one go about in making a smart choice?

What’s the solution?

To help solve the dilemma facing many consumers, health insurance companies have started putting up health insurance calculators on their main websites.

Yes, you can use an online health insurance calculator to help you decide.

This can help make health insurance choices a lot easier.

Here are some links to sites containing health insurance calculators:

• http://www.money-zine.com/Calculators/Insurance-Calculators/Health-Care-Insurance-Cost-Calculator/

• http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx

• http://www.medindia.net/patients/insurance/Bajaj_Allianz_Insurance_calculator.htm
  

Are you underinsured?

You can utilize these free online insurance calculators to compare and contrast health care options that may help you in decreasing out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Most calculators will enable you to compare two medical policies at a time. It takes into consideration premiums, deductible, copayments and other benefits.

Every person’s need is different. The health insurance calculator will help you figure out how much life insurance you actually need.

Choosing the right plan will help decrease out of pocket maximums. There may still be Medicare but with the rising health-care costs, it is inevitable that Medicare cuts will occur soon.

Health insurance agents can only do so much. Ultimately, it is you who is going to decide. It is not wise to be too frugal when it comes to life insurance.

However, you also have to assess all your options. Life insurance needs calculator. The insurance cost calculator can help you decide just how much you should spend on your health plan.

Here are the 5 Types of Health Insurance Calculators You Can Use

1. Human Life Value Calculator

The human life value calculator helps you estimate just how much your family would stand to lose financially at your death.

A person’s economic value is usually directly proportional to the size of his family and income.

This is for those who have a husband/wife or dependent kids. Thus, if you are single, this calculator may not be of much help you.

2. Long Term Care Calculator

A LongTerm Care Calculator is used to compute the medical needs of people who are suffering from chronic injury or a debilitating disease.

Chronic care is expensive to maintain. Thus, it is always good to know what you are in for.

http://www.money-zine.com/Calculators/Insurance-Calculators/Long-Term-Care-Calculator/

3. Comprehensive Life Insurance Calculator

A Comprehensive Life Insurance Calculator can be utilized to approximate just how much life insurance you actually need.

It puts your insurance requirements into categories such as basic living expenses, outstanding debts and assets.

It bases your unmet life insurance needs on the present debts and assets that your have.

http://www.money-zine.com/Calculators/Insurance-Calculators/Comprehensive-Life-Insurance-Calculator/

4. 
   

   Simple Life Insurance Calculator

   A  Simple Life Insurance Calculator can be used to obtain an educated guess of how much life insurance you need by calculating your present monthly expenditures, debts, assets and future expenses.

http://www.money-zine.com/Calculators/Insurance-Calculators/Simple-Life-Insurance-Calculator/

5. 
   

   HSA Insurance Calculators

HSA Insurance Calculators show you how much you can save by changing your traditional insurance plan to that of a Health Savings Accounts Qualified one.

This lets you calculate the amount of money that can be offset by the deductible of an HSA plan which can lead to an increase savings and investments. Through an HSA account you can save more of wage earnings before taxes.

http://www.hsaconnect.com/calculators/hsa-tax-savings.php

If you are still trying to decide on what type of plan to get you can always go online and take a look the printable consumer guide many companies are offering on the official sites.

The guide provides general information on the different kinds of plans you can choose from. Health insurance plans differ in cost and coverage.

Before buying anything, it is best to read the policy so you can determine whether or not it is right for you.

Most people have a planned retirement age which is a good thing. The earlier you start preparing for your future, the better.

Selecting the right traditional health insurance plan using a Health Insurance Calculator can help ease the financial burden of medical emergencies that may arise during retirement.

Technorati Tags: auto, auto insurance, calculator, calculators, coverage, disability insurance, expenses, family, health, health insurance, health insurance plan, home insurance, hsa, income, insurance, insurance calculator, insurance calculators, life insurance, life insurance calculator

Health Insurance For Cancer

Getting diagnosed with cancer is stressful enough.

But what makes the ordeal even more so for cancer patients is the thought on how to survive the treatment process without going broke.

Luckily, with the right medical insurance this can be possible.

What is Cancer Screening?

Cancer screening is the process of looking for cancer even before an individual exhibits any signs or symptoms.

Regular cancer screening is important because it can help discover cancer at its premature phase.

This increases your chance of survival and makes treatment a lot easier.

Getting screened twice a year is what’s ideal but this can be prohibitively expensive for average income families.

If you are unable to do it twice a year, once a year will suffice.

There are many kinds of cancer: ovarian cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer to name a few.

Cancer screening will also assist in determining what type of cancer you have.

It will help determine how aggressive you cancer cells are in spreading and enable you to get early cancer treatment.

Of course, screening doesn’t protect you from cancer.

You will have to back it up with a healthy lifestyle to decrease the risk.

Stages of Cancer

Cancer is divided into four stages. Staging is based on three things: tumor size, extent of metastasis and nodes affected.

Stage 0 – Carcinoma in situ. This means that the cancer cells have started to invade surrounding tissue.

Stage I – The cancer cells are contained in a specific body part.

Stage II – The cancer cells are locally advanced.

Stage III – The cancer cells are locally advanced and affecting more lymph nodes and tissue.

Stage IV – The cancer cells have fully spread all over the body.

How is cancer is diagnosed?

There are many ways to diagnose cancer but a biopsy is the best way to do so. This method is the only way to determine for sure whether or not the cancer you have is benign or malignant.

In a biopsy, a piece of the cancer tissue is incised and scrutinized whether it is made up of cancer cells or not. There are also imaging tests such as MRI, CAT scan and PET scans. Your doctor may also ask you to undergo laboratory exams and genomic tests.

Early diagnosis vastly increases your chances of survival compared to those that are diagnosed at a late stage.

Quality Cancer Care

Experts agree that when it comes to cancer, it takes an indomitable spirit for a person to survive. But a strong will and a fighting spirit is not enough. You must also back it up with treatment.

Getting quality cancer care plays a big role in the healing of a cancer patient. If you were fortunate enough to have discovered cancer in its early stages and focused on treating it then your chances for survival are high.

Late Stages of Cancer

Many changes are sure to occur in the late stages of cancer. The progression may be different in different individuals but the process is more or less similar.

The body will start slowing down. The cancer patient will start spending most of his time sleeping. There will be symptoms such as noisy breathing, difficulty in swallowing, loss of appetite, fatigue, restlessness and cold hands and feet.

Discussing the later stages of cancer may be a sensitive subject for the cancer patient’s family but this will help prepare them for what is to come.

Limits for Cancer Treatment

Science and technology has made treatment of cancer successful. However there are still limits for cancer treatment. Regular treatment is important.

But paying for treatment is not enough. More than that, it takes a strong will to survive something like cancer. Weak willed individuals who do not bother to put up a fight have little chance for survival. You have to show that you’re really fighting and that you don’t want to die of cancer.

Surviving Five Years With Cancer

A decade ago, if you had cancer you were dead. Maybe it was the treatment or the attitude of people towards it, but during that time people with cancer simply did not last long.

Now it is not uncommon for cancer patients to survive for more than five years. In fact, the news in fraught with storied of those that have survived cancer.

Affordable Care Act

People with pre-existing health conditions often find it hard to qualify for health insurance plans. Insurance companies tend to be unfriendly towards people with preexisting conditions, leaving them with only the state-funded high-risk pool as an option for health insurance coverage.

If they do get coverage, it does not include treatment for their pre-existing condition. But the passing of the Affordable Care Act has changed this.

The Act has led to the creation of the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). Its aim is to bring affordable health care coverage to people who have not been able to obtain one because of a pre-existing condition.

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a non-profit, charitable health organization that is committed to eradicating cancer as a main health problem. They do so through by promoting education, research and service.

Technorati Tags: american cancer society, breast cancer, cancer, cancer insurance, cancer patients, cancer survivors, cancer treatment, coverage, disease, doctor, doctors, expenses, health, health care, health coverage, health insurance, health insurance plan, health plans, insurance, insurance companies, insurance company, insurance policies, insurance quotes, medicaid, medicare, states, treatment

Guaranteed Issue Insurance

Guaranteed Health Insurance Plan

There are individuals who are not eligible for health insurance due to pre-existing medical conditions such as people with arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease or heart disease.

Cancer and health insurance also normally don’t go together.

The extensive treatment required by this condition is just too much for most insurance companies.

Even if they do managed to get a health plan, chances are treatment for the pre-existing condition is not going to be covered.

There are benefit limits imposed.

For those who are in this dilemma, a guaranteed issue health insurance is the answer.

A guaranteed acceptance life insurance policy will help take care of medical bills when you need it most.

What is an Indemnity Health Insurance Policy?

An indemnity health insurance policy, otherwise called a “fee-for-service” plan, is one of the most popular health plans in the market today.

It permits you to select your own physician and hospital. It also gives you the liberty to decide on the type of health care service you want to receive.

You can change or add to different parts of the policy to suit your requirements.

Just like a real health care plan, you can add mental health coverage, obesity insurance coverage, heart attach insurance and preventive services

Who is America’s largest PPO (Preferred provider organization)?

With more than 40 million Americans utilizing its health insurance products and services, Multiplan is considered as America’s largest PPO.

It has more than 550,000 participating providers which give quality health services to its consumers.

Depending on your plan, PPOs usually cover regular health check-ups, emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Services are not completely free.

Check-ups are co-paid and you may also have to pay 30-40 % of ER visits and hospitalizations.

A.M Best Company, Inc &A.M. Best Rated Insurers

A.M Best Company, Inc is a credit rating, full service organization that is recognized by the United States Security and Exchange Commission as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO). It was founded by Alfred M. Best in 1899.

It measures the capacity of an insurance company’s ability to pay claims. It also measures the strength of the financial instruments that insurance companies issue.

Getting the right health plan

With the wide range of health insurance plans available, choosing the right one can be a challenge. In cases like this, it is best to turn to experts.

A licensed insurance agent will be able to give you insurance quotes and makes suggestions as to the plan that would fit you best.

What is a pre-existing waiting period?

Health insurance plans usually have pre-existing waiting periods. This is the amount of time between the application and approval of your health plan. This is not counted in your creditable coverage unless otherwise specified. During this time, you are not yet able to use your health plan.

What is Graded Benefit Life Insurance?

Sometimes your health history can make it tough for you to get an individual insurance plan. If you are in this predicament you can opt for graded benefit life insurance.

With this kind of insurance there are no medical examinations, no lab exams and no questions.

Graded benefit life insurance provides an alternative for people with pre-existing medical conditions who find it hard to get good coverage.

Health Care Cards

A health care card is a card issued by the government to allow people access to cheaper medication and other health care services.

Health care card application is pretty simple. First, you have to determine if you are eligible to apply for one. Then fill up the application form and submit it together with all the requirements.

Defined Benefit Health Insurance

Defined benefit health insurance plans permit chosen employees to use a specific amount of money that is set aside by the company on health services.

Companies usually set aside a budget expressly for medical services for their employees. This gives them the liberty to select their own health service. These plans provide a wide range of coverage such as check ups, prescriptions, office visits and emergency room visits.

Some people find it hard to qualify for health insurance due to pre-existing conditions. But this does not mean that you should give up. Buying health insurance is not an easy decision to make. What you need to do is look around even harder so you will find the plan that will best fit you and your needs.

Technorati Tags: accident, agent, coverage, death benefit, guarantee issue, guaranteed acceptance, health insurance, health insurance plans, health plan, health questions, hospital, insurance, insurance companies, insurance quotes, insured, issue health, issue life insurance, life insurance, life insurance policy, major medical, medical exam, medical questions, Pre-existing conditions, premiums

Technorati Tags: citizens, coverage, expatriates, global health, global health insurance, global insurance, global medical insurance, health, health insurance, health insurance plans, home country, insurance, insurers, international health insurance, international insurance, international medical insurance, medical coverage, medical insurance, quotes, travel, travel health insurance, travel insurance, travel medical insurance, usa