Archived Health Insurance Articles - Anthem Blue Cross Health Insurance Quotes Los Angeles South Bay

Shawn P Zenker Authorized Independent Agent

Archived Articles

Will You Take the Risk?

In the United States, citizens below 65 years old who are physically and mentally fit have only themselves to defray the cost of their own health care. For this reason, most Americans take out an insurance if only to soften the impact of any health care expense. However, if you sum up the payments on health care insurance over the years, you may be surprised with the resulting figures. In the end, you may even wonder if you really need health insurance and if it is worth gambling at all. Although there is no definitive answer to whether or not you should take the risk, you ought to weigh a number of factors before finally deciding on anything.

More than 40 million people in the United States are not covered by any form of health insurance. This count includes those who belong to poor families that are not eligible under the Medicaid program, those who are unemployed and hence do not enjoy any employer-sponsored health care plan, and those considered uninsurable or whose applications for individual coverage have been rejected. If you are mulling over whether to buy a personal health care insurance, know that individual plans may be more expensive than the insurance packages available through employers, and that their requirements are more stringent.

With all the different types of personal private health care plans with their varied ranges of coverage being offered on the market, it can be daunting to choose the right insurance plan and decide on the amount of coverage you may need. Before dismissing a plan that covers more than $5,000,000, think of the possibility of you needing major surgeries such as heart bypass for one, or even a minor procedure like the removal of your appendix or gall bladder. Ask around how much they cost and do remember that even ordinary ailments can lead to complications that necessitate expensive treatments.

Good for you if your employer offers health insurance as part of employee benefits because that means you’re automatically covered regardless of your existing health condition. On the other hand, applying for a personal coverage is subject to approval by the insurer and there is always the possibility that you may not be granted the coverage you want or need.
On the same note, a job-based health insurance differs from an individual health care plan in terms of limitations and portability. In cases of pre-existing medical condition before applying for a job-based plan, the period of what is to be excluded in your coverage is limited to a year or a year and a half. If you are covered on an individual basis, the state-prescribed limitations are followed. Although standards vary from one state to the other, the general rule is the exclusion of any costs associated with your pre-existing condition for the whole term of your insurance policy. The portability issue is also dependent on state laws so it is likely that your past coverage may not be credited to your account. In other words, even if you were able to acquire an insurance coverage, you will still need to wait for the lapse of your pre-existing condition exclusion period.

The thing is, whatever health care plan you choose, whether it is through your employer or as a private individual, you will still incur a lot of costs, more so if you are supporting a family or if you are dealing with a medical concern. The amount of coverage you need actually depends on your specific situation. Come to think of it, you may not even require medical attention in which case, all the money you paid on health care insurance can be considered as unnecessary expense. Nevertheless, medical attention is something that people will need even at least once in their life. Vehicular accidents, broken bones, and sudden health deterioration can happen to anyone even if we all follow a positive and healthy lifestyle. There is no way of anticipating these events or their severity and if you have neither ample financial resources nor a good health care plan, you could lose most of your assets or end up with huge debts. That would be the risk you’ll be taking. Will you be willing to gamble with your ability to defray the costs of treatment you, your spouse or your children may need? When deciding if you will buy that health insurance policy or not, try to weigh the amount of money you will spend on premiums as against the value you put on your life and health and that of your family.

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Are you shopping for HEALTH INSURANCE in CALIFORNIA or wondering what HEALTH INSURANCE options may be available to you?

Are you an INDIVIDUAL or a FAMILY looking for AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE?

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You should be aware that companies selling individual health insurance typically require a review of your medical history that could result in a higher premium or you could be denied coverage entirely.
Contact your local health insurance agent or APPLY For HEALTH INSURANCE ONLINE at www.californiahealthinsurancenow.com or call 800-560-2443 to assist you in selecting and enrolling in a Online Medical Insurance Plan.

WWW.CALIFORNIAHEALTHINSURANCENOW.COM has some of the BEST HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS In CALIFORNIA.

Is your COBRA about to expire?

See below for information about your CALIFORNIA INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE coverage rights under the federal HEALTH INSURANCE Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

HIPAA (HEALTH INSURANCE Portability and Accountability Act)

HIPAA is a Federal law that does three things:
1) it makes it easier to take your HEALTH information with you when you change employers,
2) it sets very strict rules about the privacy of your medical records, and
3) it gives you the right to purchase INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE after you've used up your COBRA benefits (see "COBRA").
It was also very difficult to obtain insurance after COBRA benefits ran out. HIPAA improved these shortcomings.
If you have been covered by health insurance including COBRA and have exhausted all COBRA/CalCOBRA benefits with no break longer than 63 days, HIPAA gives you the right to buy INDIVIDUAL HEALTH coverage with few or no limits on pre-existing conditions.

COBRA

COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)Have you recently left your employer? COBRA allows former employees, retirees, and their dependents to temporarily keep their health coverage at group rates. It is more expensive than group insurance. Why? When you are employed, your employer usually pays some or all of the premium for your health insurance. COBRA participants pay the entire premium themselves.
You have responsibilities to make sure your COBRA coverage goes into effect and stays in effect. You must decide to accept or reject COBRA during a certain time period (usually 60 days away notification from employer). Your former employer's plan administrator must mail you the COBRA information and forms within 14 days after receiving notification from your former employer of the qualifying event. If you do not ask for COBRA coverage before the deadline you may lose the right to COBRA coverage. You must also be sure to pay your monthly premiums or you can lose your coverage.
You may be entitled to obtain an extension of coverage under CalCOBRA. When all COBRA/CalCOBRA extensions are exhausted, you can obtain individual health insurance under HIPAA (see "HIPAA").

HMO

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)
An HMO is a collection of hospitals, doctors, and other health services all organized under one network. HMOs keep costs down while providing a full range of health services. You usually pay only small co-pays when using services, no matter how many or what kind of services you use. In return, though, you must usually use the hospital(s), doctors, and other health providers in the HMO's network. In an HMO, you select a primary care physician. If you need a specialist, the primary care physician must first refer you to that specialist before you can see them.

PPOs

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)
In a PPO, insurance companies contract with doctors, hospitals, and other providers to form a "network."
You can sometimes get health care outside the network (someone or someplace not included in the network) but you will have to pay more. Unlike an HMO, you also have to pay a deductible and coinsurance.
Yyou usually can see a specialist without first being referred by your primary care physician, and you have much more freedom in choosing a doctor or hospital. PPOs in California are regulated by both California Department of Insurance (CDI) and Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC).

Choosing Your Doctor

If you like your doctor and he or she is not a member of the HMO network, you will probably want to choose a PPO so that you can continue seeing him or her.
It will be better than having no HEALTH INSURANCE at all.

HSA

HSA (Health Savings Account)
In an HSA, you contribute money to a special bank account to be used for medical bills. You get a Federal tax deduction on the money you contribute to your HSA, and if you use the money for medical expenses, you pay no Federal tax or penalty on it.
The HSA account can also earn Federal tax-free interest. Note: there is no California tax exemption for your HSA contribution, or for the interest the account earns.
HSA's always go along with a high-deductible HEALTH INSURANCE plan -- a $1,500 deductible, for example.

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