9 Jul

California Health Insurance Debate Continues: Will There Be Government Health Insurance?

Posted by thehealthquote in Uncategorized. Tagged: , , .

The California economy has been struggling for some time now. With the state deficit at $24.3 billion dollars and growing, things are starting to look desperate. Compounding this issue is the declining state of health care in California. Fewer doctors are available in emergency rooms, clinics are understaffed and overwhelmed with patient loads, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find affordable health insurance.

The lack of affordable health insurance plans providing adequate coverage has caused California legislators to open a discussion about a government-funded health insurance and health care plan. The belief is that creating a government health insurance policy to compete with private health insurance plans would help insure the 50 million California residents that are currently without health insurance coverage.

Naturally, the proposed government alternative health insurance plan is controversial for Californians. Some argue that the government-funded health insurance plans will put the private insurers out of business. Others are concerned about adding to the already enormous California budget deficit. The opposing argument is that competition of this nature will be healthy for the health insurance market, forcing the private health insurance companies to become more competitive with pricing. There are currently a number of private health insurance providers that offer affordable health insurance rates, but not all insurers have followed suit. Shopping around for health insurance quotes can tell you what the best price is for the type of insurance you need.

To read more on this topic, view coverage from the Sacramento Bee at http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1984973.html.

29 Jun

What to Expect from Your Doctor

Posted by thehealthquote in Healthcare Reform, Your Health. Tagged: , , , , .

With health care becoming more expensive and difficult to access, most people are grateful for the chance to even be seen by a doctor. Long wait times, expensive co-pays, and understaffed clinics eventually lead to subpar health care. Many patients don’t realize that their health care provider may not be giving them the treatment they are entitled to.

Here is a list of basic treatment standards that should be met by any physician you see:

  • Timely Care
    • If you are sick or experiencing side effects from a recently prescribed medication, expect to be seen by your doctor immediately. Serious medical problems should not require any sort of wait.
  • Availability
    • If it is not a serious issue, but you have questions regarding medication or a new symptom or complication, your doctor should be accessible by voicemail and return phone calls in a timely manner.
  • Attentive Listener
    • Your doctor should take the time to listen to what you have to say regarding your health concerns. They should ask relevant questions and make you feel comfortable divulging personal information.
  • Information on Prescription Medications
    • Your doctor (not your doctor’s assistant) should take the time to explain what medications they’re prescribing, how to take them, and what side effects may occur.
  • Easy to Understand
    • Your doctor should speak to you in a manner that you can comprehend. You should feel comfortable asking questions and should be given as much time as needed to discuss your treatment.

If you do not feel that your doctor is meeting these basic standards for care, try communicating first. Doctors, like the rest of us, can get caught up in their daily workload and unintentionally rush patients. Expressing your feelings to your doctor in a respectful way may be all it takes for them to slow down and provide you with the care you deserve.

If none of these suggestions work, it may be time to start looking for a new physician. Your health is important and having a doctor that is attentive and interested in your health and well-being is essential. Consult your family health insurance provider to find another health care provider near you that is covered under your health insurance plan.

For more information on the patient rights and safety, visit the National Patient Safety Foundation at http://www.npsf.org/. CNN also offers this helpful article on patient rights.

24 Jun

How to Avoid Health Insurance Scams

Posted by thehealthquote in Health Tips, health insurance. Tagged: , .

When shopping for health insurance, it’s important to be mindful of health insurance scams and fraud. There are, unfortunately, a number of scams out there that aim to take advantage of people in need of health insurance.

One way to avoid getting scammed on health insurance is to get your health quote from a trusted source. Trustworthy websites, such as TheHealthQuote.com, have a number of verifiers readily available to bring you peace of mind. Safe health quote websites will be verified with a seal on their home page from the Better Business Bureau. This means that they are a legitimate business in line with the BBB standards and expectations.

Another accreditation trustworthy websites will have is a seal from TRUSTe. TRUSTe concerns the information privacy and protection standards of such businesses. A seal from TRUSTe means that the website in question adheres to all government and industry standards regarding personal information security.

Other things to look for are:

Current Licensing – ensure that the website you are using is appropriately licensed and current in every way. This information should be readily available on their website.

Familiar Companies – look for names you recognize such as Aetna or Blue Cross. Legitimate health insurance underwriters will work with larger, recognizable companies in addition to smaller, specialized institutions.

Cost – should not be an issue. Most health insurance quote providers can do it at no cost to you. Anyone that asks for money up front to provide you with quotes is up to no good.

22 Jun

Health Insurance Advice for the Unemployed

Posted by thehealthquote in Health Quotes, Healthcare Reform. Tagged: , , , .

3TV, an Arizona news station, did a story last night on what to do about health insurance if you’ve recently become unemployed. While a less than ideal situation, especially if you have health problems, there are ways to stay insured, even during periods of unemployment.

COBRA

Cobra health insurance is an extension of the coverage you had prior to unemployment. You need to apply to be covered by Cobra insurance within 60 days of becoming unemployed. This coverage is available for up to one and a half years after you lose your job. The drawback to Cobra is that you are paying the full premium price, including the portion your company had paid for you. Cobra can get pretty expensive this way.

Did You Know?
An upside to Cobra is that if you were laid off between September 2008 and December 2009, the US government will pay 65% of your monthly premiums.

HIPAA

Another option is a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) policy. This is an insurer of last resort policy. Everyone is protected by certain healthcare rights mandated by HIPAA. One such right is the right to insurance. This, however, does not mean affordable health insurance, and some of these individual health insurance policies can be quite pricey. Work with insurance providers to get health quotes so you can find the most affordable policy available. Getting health quotes from insurers will also help you decide if you should elect to choose extended health insurance (Cobra), or will resort to an individual health insurance policy.

For more information regarding unemployment and health insurance, take a look at this clip. For free, informative health quotes, visit www.thehealthquote.com.

11 Jun

MegaLife, United American? WATCH OUT!!

Posted by thehealthquote in health insurance. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Many people are easily sold on health insurance plans through companies like MegaLife and United American. They’re cheap, there’s good coverage and the require very little medical underwriting. It all sounds so glamorous so I can’t blame people that fall in these traps.

TheHealthQuote.com does not represent these companies. Why? Because it’s not true health insurance, rather these are plans that will put you in more hot water than you can imagine.

The problem with these companies is that they are not up front and honest with the people they insure. They sell you on fabulous benefits with a low price tag, but the truth of it is you will get what you pay for, especially when you don’t read the fine print.

For instance, these “wonderful” plans advertise no deductible and 100% hospital coverage for let’s say, $50/month when you’re 55 years old. You’re right, that sounds fabulous! Now, let’s read in between the lines. What they don’t tell you is that there is no deductible and they pay 100% of your hospital bills, up to a limit of $5,000-$10,000! Now since an average day in the hospital could reach $50,000, who is responsible for the excess costs? Take a guess…that’s you.

I only wish I could say that I was making up these statements or even exagerating. Unfortunately, we have people contact us daily who are now facing bills that they never imagined receiving. They tell us the same story time and again, “the person I bought it from said I wouldn’t have to pay anything, now I have these bills that I can’t afford.”

This story is just the tip of the iceberg with these types of individual and family health insurance plans. But I hope it at least makes you stop and think about what you’re purchasing before you sign the papers. Even if you don’t use one of our health plans, read the fine print and make sure you understand what your health insurance plan truly entails. We don’t want you being the next call with a horror story from one of these companies.

8 Jun

Why Is Healthcare So Expensive?

Posted by thehealthquote in Healthcare Reform, Heath Industry News. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

It’s no secret that the cost of healthcare is on the rise. Your health insurance premiums are increasing each year and your benefits are probably getting worse! One of the most common questions we get is, “why is healthcare so expensive?”

Wellpoint, the parent company of insurance carriers like Anthem Blue Cross and many others, recently sent out a release to explain where all of your money is going. They do their best to make it clear that the increases you receive each year are not due to insurance company profits, rather the majority of costs are spent towards member services like physician payments, hospital costs, drugs, etc.

Here’s a breakdown that the AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) compiled:

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As shown here, only 3% of your healthcare premium dollars are used to turn an insurance company profit. Hopefully that makes you feel a little better to know that while insurance companies are no question turning a profit, that’s not where the majority of their income goes.

The other constant variable that is seen repeatedly is lifestyle choices. For example, people who choose not to exercise and eat unhealthy, are more likely to have heart issues or even diabetes. The cost of their medical care is now increased, compared to the health conscience individual that exercised and watched their diet. Unfortunately, there are many Americans that fall in this category and they’re playing a large role in driving up health care costs.

Of course, there’s no one factor, so if you’d like to have more specific answers, you can check out this study by Wellpoint right here. It will help answer some of the frustrating questions as to why we must pay so much for healthcare.

It’s a topic that is never ending and always evolving. We all want healthcare reform in a way that everyone comes out ahead. While the Obama administration has put a priority on this issue, implementing changes will not happen soon enough. In the meantime, protect yourself, stay insured, find affordable health plans!

5 Jun

Tips on Family Health Insurance Quotes

Posted by thehealthquote in Health Quotes, Health Tips. Tagged: , , .

When shopping for family health insurance, there are quite a few aspects to be taken into consideration. Listed are some of the most important points to consider:

  • Provider network:
    • Is your current physician included in the plan?
    • Are the physicians that are available quality physicians in your area?
  • Maximum payouts & caps:
    • What’s the maximum payout should something unexpected occur?
    • What is the deductible required before full coverage kicks in?
    • What is the cap for how much the insurer will pay per year?
  • Flexibility:
    • If someone in you family requires specialized care for a chronic condition, gather family health insurance quotes that offer PPO (preferred provider organization) options. HMO plans are generally sufficient for young, healthy families but have more limited access to specialists.
  • Prescriptions:
    • What kind of medication options are the family health insurance quotes offering?
    • Are generic brands available?
  • Use comparison tools:
    • A number of companies and organizations, like TheHealthQuote.com,  offer free family health insurance quotes comparison tools. Take advantage of these tools to ensure that you get the best health insurance plan for your family at the lowest cost possible.

1 Jun

Medical Insurance for Kids – Deliberations during Health Care Reform

Posted by thehealthquote in Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , .

Many people are speaking out and advocating for the concerns of children during the ongoing health care reform discussions. Concerned that children’s needs, and legislation regarding medical insurance for kids, will be bypassed for more sensational issues, parents and activists alike have joined up to form organizations such as Speak Now for Kids. Speak Now For Kids is sponsored by the National Association of Children’s Hospitals, as well as a number of private companies that want to ensure that medical insurance for kids becomes more accessible and comprehensive.

11% of children in the United States are currently uninsured. Advocates of reform for medical insurance for kids want better government insurance provisions to guarantee that children always have the health insurance they need, without driving the family into bankruptcy or foreclosure. The massive health care reform legislation being drafted in Congress at moment will affect everyone living in the United States. It’s important that there are children’s advocates speaking on behalf of accessible medical insurance for kids; otherwise they might not have gotten as much attention.

Speak Now for Kids, the NACH, March of Dimes, and many other organizations are all encouraging parents and friends to reach out to Congress regarding children’s health care reform. If you’d like to get involved, visit SpeakNowforKids.org or the NACH at childrenshospitals.net.

14 May

Healthcare Reform Via Letters To President Obama

Posted by thehealthquote in Health Headlines, Healthcare Reform, Heath Industry News. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

Change is getting closer….

Health Care ReformInsurance companies, doctors, hospitals and drug makers joined with President Obama Monday in announcing a new voluntary commitment to reduce the growth of national health care spending. Cooperation from private insurance companies is imminent. In order to avoid a government takeover, they have no choice but to make changes in favor of the uninsured, unemployed and financially burdened population.

While no details were released as to specifically what changes will be made, they did reference a $2 trillion (yes, trillion) savings over the next 10 years. They also alluded to having a plan drawn up by summer!

The advocates sent this letter to the President, outling some changes that must be made in order to provide affordable and sustainable healthcare.

Some topics included in the letter, a preview of what’s to come….

…Physicians and hospitals working together to create higher standards of quality and efficiency.

…Using better practices, therapies and proven clinical prevention to avoid unnecessary hospitalization.

…Implementing common sense improvements with things like health information technology to reduce the cost of doing business.

Most people are logical enough to know that a government healthcare takeover is not the answer. Instead, with the help of government, private insurance companies should be held accountable for changing their practices, which will open doors to the uninsured.

Healthcare is changing day by day. Ultimately, providing Americans access to affordable health insurance is what needs to happen. With the collaboration of these key companies and white house officials, progress is happening and change will come!

In the interim, do what you can to protect yourself from joining the uninsured group of Americans. Protect yourself from outrageous, unexpected hospital bills. Affordable health plans are out there. Run a quote on our website for proof!

30 Apr

I Don’t Want The Swine Flu Either!

Posted by thehealthquote in Health Headlines, Health Tips, Your Health. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

If you’ve been able to avoid hearing about the swine flu, how did you do it? Worries about this latest strain are all over media headlines. The fact is, the common flu kills tens of thousands of people every year! So why is everyone freaking out about this particular flu?

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CNN.com had a very helpful FAQ article today that helped people understand why so much of the world is in pandemonium over this. Here are some highlights!

Q: The common flu kills tens of thousands every year, and there has been one swine flu death in the country. Why is there such concern about the swine flu?

A:Experts are nervous that, as a new strain, the swine flu will be harder to stop because there aren’t any vaccines to fight it and that over time, it might transform into something more deadly as it passes from human to human.

Q: Will a flu shot help prevent swine flu?

A: The seasonal flu vaccine doesn’t protect against the strain of swine flu. “At this point we don’t see that there was a protective value from that vaccine for this new strain,” said Dr. Richard Besser, the acting CDC director at a news conference Tuesday.

Q: What medicine is available if I get sick with the swine flu?

A: The antiviral medicines Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) have shown they can kill the new flu strain. You should take the medicine within two days of contracting the flu. The medicine is more effective when taken in the early phase of the infection. The federal government is releasing nearly 13 million doses of antiviral medications to states to stem the spread of swine flu.

Q: How can you tell whether you have a common flu or swine flu?

A: The symptoms of the current swine flu and seasonal flu are very similar. Reports suggest that this flu virus may result in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea more often than the typical flu. Doctors in Mexico have reported seeing sudden dizziness as well. There’s no way to tell for sure without getting tested. If you’re feverish or have other flu-like symptoms such as a cough or a sore throat, you should see a doctor.

One positive aspect is that the swine flu cases appeared near the end of influenza season. Had the outbreak occurred in January or February, public health officials would have had greater difficulty because of the number of people infected with the common flu.

Q: Is it still safe to eat pork?

A: Yes, pork is safe to eat. You cannot catch swine flu from food, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists. Also, there is no evidence touching raw pork infected with the virus poses a risk, the USDA says. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees kills all viruses.

Q: How does a person contract swine flu? Does it come from pigs?

A: Swine flu may have come from pigs originally, but it is now being spread from among people. The virus spreads the same way the seasonal flu does. When an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person, the latter is put at risk. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. An infected person can pass the virus to another before any symptoms even develop.

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The swine flu is no joke. While it’s nothing to start wearing face masks over, it’s something that should be monitored.

Most importantly, if you’re concerned with what appears to be symptoms of the swine flu, visit a physician. We realize many people, both employed and unemployed, are without health insurance coverage right now. Please don’t let that prevent you from seeing a doctor. A visit to the doctor’s office may cost anywhere from $65-$125, a small price in comparison to the major medical bills you could incur by contracting this flu.

Hopefully this will be a wake up call to the inunsured population. Glance through our website, TheHealthQuote.com, to find affordable health plans that will help you get to the doctor if you need to go!

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