Health Insurance ? Not As Straightforward As It Would Seem

Most of the seven million people covered by health insurance in the UK have a policy provided by their company. As such it is a useful benefit, but many of us assume that it will cover any kind of health issue and this is definitely not the case. The insurers exclude a wide variety of possible claims, and this article will explain those in detail.

Health insurance has a very specific purpose ? to get people suffering from short-term, curable health problems straight through to a consultant and to receive top quality private care in top speed time. Essentially, it's about jumping the lengthy NHS queues. However, there are many health problems that don't fit into this narrow band, and as such are not covered by a health insurance policy.

Be aware however that every policy is different, and only be reading your own policy documents will you be able to find out exactly what you are covered for. This article will give you the knowledge you need to understand your policy better.

Defining ? Chronic'

Illnesses and conditions etc fall into two main categories: ?acute' and ?chronic'. Short-term illnesses that can be fixed and cured are called ?acute', for example if you fell and broke your arm, this would be classed as acute. If, however, your problem is either incurable or deemed to be a long-term issue, then it will be classed as ?chronic' and subsequently you will not be able to make a claim.

What counts as ?acute' and what counts as ?chronic' is a hotly disputed issue between insurance companies and their customers. Diabetes and asthma are acknowledged as chronic, long-term conditions that cannot be cured.

The issues become more difficult with certain types of cancer. It often happens that the cancer is considered to be treatable at first, and then the diagnosis is changed at a later time to incurable. In this case, you would only be covered as long as the cancer was diagnosed curable. If the prognosis changes you will lose your cover. Insurance companies are allowed to reclassify an illness from acute to chronic at any time.

What about the long-term
If you need long-term treatment then you're out of luck. However insurers have different ideas on what constitutes long-term, you may be covered for 10 months or up to a year, but it probably won't be for any longer than that. Check your policy for details.

Does preventative medicine count?
Health insurance cannot be used to pay for preventative treatment, although that is another matter of contention. For example, a drug called ?Herceptin' can be used to help women who have ?HER2', a virulent form of breast cancer. The drug has helped reduce the risk of the cancer returning by an average of 50%. Many would call this an essential treatment, but some insurers call it preventative. Legal and General and Axa PPP will not pay for this treatment, however BUPA, Standard Life Healthcare, Norwich Union and WPA will.

Drugs not yet available on the NHS
You might think that it doesn't matter if the drug is available on the NHS, but it relates to the system of drug approval in England and Wales. Before a drug can be used in the NHS, it must be approved by The Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. The problem is, if it's not approved, the insurance company won't allow you to be treated with it. Huge delays affect the introduction of new drugs into the NHS because The Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence must first ascertain if the benefits of the drug justify the financial costs of adding it to the NHS treatments. As a result, the drug you need may not be approved, and if so, it won't be covered.

Aware of this problem. the Financial Ombudsman issued a compromise which stipulates if the insurer won't cover ?experimental treatments', then it should cover the cost of the approved conventional treatment. The policyholder is then free to undergo the experimental treatment and pay the surplus if it's more expensive.

Pre-existing conditions

A ?pre-existing condition' describes a condition or illness that you suffered from before starting your health insurance policy. You will have to provide details of all these when you fill out your application form. That way the insurer is aware of what they can exclude from your policy. Be sure to be truthful in the application form as the insurer can easily contact your doctor to see your medical history, and they often do ? having requested your approval first. They will also sometimes ask people to undergo a medical examination.

What counts as a pre-existing condition is also a potentially sore subject. If you fell off your horse years ago and fractured an ankle, you may find in later life that it starts playing up again and you need an operation to fix the problem. The insurance company may reject a claim, saying that it's a condition that occurred before the policy began. If that happens, you either pay yourself, or go with the NHS.

Some insurance companies write a moratorium provision into their policies, which allows some respite from a potential long list of pre-existing conditions. For example, you may be covered as long as you have not suffered from the condition for two years, with the condition first taking place in the last five years. These time frames are individual to insurance companies, read the small print first to see if your policy includes a moratorium provision.

The condition or illness is excluded

Health insurance is renewable on a yearly basis and at renewal time, you may find that your policy, and your premiums, have changed ? often not for the better.

If you are undergoing treatment at time of renewal, it's possible that your condition or illness will have become ?excluded' in the renewed policy, and that you will have to cover the cost of the rest of the treatment.

Because medical research is advancing so quickly, and the number of conditions considered treatable is increasing, the goalposts are always shifting as to what is chronic and what is acute.

The insurance companies are usually trying to cover their own backs. More conditions are being classified as acute, so they have to pay out more in claims. At the same time, newly introduced treatments and drugs are often expensive, so that's more expense to the insurer. To cover their losses, the insurers increase the premiums, and introduce some more exclusions. You have to watch out for this as you may renew your policy without realising that some very important details have changed.

So if have Health Insurance, or you are considering signing up to a policy, take this article into account and read the small print so you know exactly what is and isn't covered. And the golden rule: before getting treatment, always double check with your insurer first that it is covered.

About the Author: Safeguard is a uk critical illness insurance website. We provide a huge amount of information based around our products, to read more visit the critical illness information

Finding Affordable Health Insurance

Affordable health insurance - it seems, particularly today, those words just don't belong together in the same sentence. Health insurance monthly premiums are becoming the biggest single expense in our lives - surpassing even mortgage payments. In fact, if you have any permanent health problems, such as diabetes, or have had cancer at one time in your family history, your monthly cost could easily be more than the house and car payment combined.

Shopping for affordable health insurance can certainly be an eye-opener. If you have always had a health insurance benefit where you work - especially a state or federal employee - and now have to buy your own, you may not be able to afford the level of health insurance coverage you have become used to.

Affordable health insurance, however, is definitely available -if you know how and where to look.

When you are looking for affordable health insurance, you want the lowest cost per year that will fit your budget, of course. But, even more importantly, you want a company that has a good record for paying without fighting with you on every detail. Just as there is a car for just about any budget, there is also affordable health insurance. You may not be able to afford a "Cadillac" policy - but then you probably don't need all the frills anyway.

Shopping for health insurance on the internet is the easiest and best way to find affordable health insurance. Here are five reasons why.

1. You don't need a local agent to help you submit the claims for health insurance. The medical provider does it for you. You save money because the health insurance company saves money by not paying the agent commission. This could amount to an 8% to 12% savings to you. 2. All the top health insurance companies are at your fingertips on the internet. Most local agents can only quote you from the few companies that they represent. They may not offer you what is best for you financially or health-wise but only what they happen to have available. 3. Health insurance companies have to be extremely competitive because it is so quick and easy to compare them with their competitors on the internet today. In the past you would have had to visit physically eight to ten agents to do a similar comparison. Most folks just didn't have the time or desire for that. 4. You can change your coverage, deductibles, and payment options with just a few clicks rather than going through the paperwork delay with a local agent (and then finding out he/she made a mistake - more delay). 5. Charging to a credit card means you aren't going to forget a payment and be without insurance. Also, it gives you another 30 days before you actually have to pay. Also, many companies today give an additional discount for "auto-pay".

The key, however, to finding affordable health insurance is realizing that the purpose of any health insurance is to protect you from a major financial loss - not to protect you from spending small money on clinic visits and sliver removal. These small expenses may be cumbersome but they generally will not hurt you. It's the $100,000 heart operation that will break you. That's the financial disaster health insurance was originally designed to prevent.

Also, keep this in mind. Health insurance, as with any insurance, is a gamble. You are gambling that you will draw out more than you pay in. Your health insurance company is gambling they will pay out less. The odds are in their favor for two reasons. They have all the facts for millions of families to average out, so they know the risk in advance. Also, they get to set the rules and the prices. The higher you set your deductible, the more risk you take. This is not a bad thing at all. You will most likely be the winner in the long run.

Yes, finding affordable health insurance is much easier than most people think.

By adding more of the risk with higher deductibles, spending a little time on the internet comparing eight to ten different companies, and deleting coverage that you will not likely need (such as maternity for many people) will make it likely for you to find your own affordable health insurance.

Daniel J Lesser is the creator of HotHealthInsuranceSecrets.com. A whole world awaits those healthy enough to see it. Find out how to stay healthy at an affordable price www.hothealthinsurancesecrets.com.

Health Insurance ? Not As Straightforward As It Would Seem

Most of the seven million people covered by health insurance in the UK have a policy provided by their company. As such it is a useful benefit, but many of us assume that it will cover any kind of health issue and this is definitely not the case. The insurers exclude a wide variety of possible claims, and this article will explain those in detail.

Health insurance has a very specific purpose ? to get people suffering from short-term, curable health problems straight through to a consultant and to receive top quality private care in top speed time. Essentially, it's about jumping the lengthy NHS queues. However, there are many health problems that don't fit into this narrow band, and as such are not covered by a health insurance policy.

Be aware however that every policy is different, and only be reading your own policy documents will you be able to find out exactly what you are covered for. This article will give you the knowledge you need to understand your policy better.

Defining ? Chronic'

Illnesses and conditions etc fall into two main categories: ?acute' and ?chronic'. Short-term illnesses that can be fixed and cured are called ?acute', for example if you fell and broke your arm, this would be classed as acute. If, however, your problem is either incurable or deemed to be a long-term issue, then it will be classed as ?chronic' and subsequently you will not be able to make a claim.

What counts as ?acute' and what counts as ?chronic' is a hotly disputed issue between insurance companies and their customers. Diabetes and asthma are acknowledged as chronic, long-term conditions that cannot be cured.

The issues become more difficult with certain types of cancer. It often happens that the cancer is considered to be treatable at first, and then the diagnosis is changed at a later time to incurable. In this case, you would only be covered as long as the cancer was diagnosed curable. If the prognosis changes you will lose your cover. Insurance companies are allowed to reclassify an illness from acute to chronic at any time.

What about the long-term
If you need long-term treatment then you're out of luck. However insurers have different ideas on what constitutes long-term, you may be covered for 10 months or up to a year, but it probably won't be for any longer than that. Check your policy for details.

Does preventative medicine count?
Health insurance cannot be used to pay for preventative treatment, although that is another matter of contention. For example, a drug called ?Herceptin' can be used to help women who have ?HER2', a virulent form of breast cancer. The drug has helped reduce the risk of the cancer returning by an average of 50%. Many would call this an essential treatment, but some insurers call it preventative. Legal and General and Axa PPP will not pay for this treatment, however BUPA, Standard Life Healthcare, Norwich Union and WPA will.

Drugs not yet available on the NHS
You might think that it doesn't matter if the drug is available on the NHS, but it relates to the system of drug approval in England and Wales. Before a drug can be used in the NHS, it must be approved by The Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. The problem is, if it's not approved, the insurance company won't allow you to be treated with it. Huge delays affect the introduction of new drugs into the NHS because The Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence must first ascertain if the benefits of the drug justify the financial costs of adding it to the NHS treatments. As a result, the drug you need may not be approved, and if so, it won't be covered.

Aware of this problem. the Financial Ombudsman issued a compromise which stipulates if the insurer won't cover ?experimental treatments', then it should cover the cost of the approved conventional treatment. The policyholder is then free to undergo the experimental treatment and pay the surplus if it's more expensive.

Pre-existing conditions

A ?pre-existing condition' describes a condition or illness that you suffered from before starting your health insurance policy. You will have to provide details of all these when you fill out your application form. That way the insurer is aware of what they can exclude from your policy. Be sure to be truthful in the application form as the insurer can easily contact your doctor to see your medical history, and they often do ? having requested your approval first. They will also sometimes ask people to undergo a medical examination.

What counts as a pre-existing condition is also a potentially sore subject. If you fell off your horse years ago and fractured an ankle, you may find in later life that it starts playing up again and you need an operation to fix the problem. The insurance company may reject a claim, saying that it's a condition that occurred before the policy began. If that happens, you either pay yourself, or go with the NHS.

Some insurance companies write a moratorium provision into their policies, which allows some respite from a potential long list of pre-existing conditions. For example, you may be covered as long as you have not suffered from the condition for two years, with the condition first taking place in the last five years. These time frames are individual to insurance companies, read the small print first to see if your policy includes a moratorium provision.

The condition or illness is excluded

Health insurance is renewable on a yearly basis and at renewal time, you may find that your policy, and your premiums, have changed ? often not for the better.

If you are undergoing treatment at time of renewal, it's possible that your condition or illness will have become ?excluded' in the renewed policy, and that you will have to cover the cost of the rest of the treatment.

Because medical research is advancing so quickly, and the number of conditions considered treatable is increasing, the goalposts are always shifting as to what is chronic and what is acute.

The insurance companies are usually trying to cover their own backs. More conditions are being classified as acute, so they have to pay out more in claims. At the same time, newly introduced treatments and drugs are often expensive, so that's more expense to the insurer. To cover their losses, the insurers increase the premiums, and introduce some more exclusions. You have to watch out for this as you may renew your policy without realising that some very important details have changed.

So if have Health Insurance, or you are considering signing up to a policy, take this article into account and read the small print so you know exactly what is and isn't covered. And the golden rule: before getting treatment, always double check with your insurer first that it is covered.

Safeguard is a uk critical illness insurance website. We provide a huge amount of information based around our products, to read more visit the critical illness information

Finding Affordable Health Insurance

Affordable health insurance - it seems, particularly today, those words just don't belong together in the same sentence. Health insurance monthly premiums are becoming the biggest single expense in our lives - surpassing even mortgage payments. In fact, if you have any permanent health problems, such as diabetes, or have had cancer at one time in your family history, your monthly cost could easily be more than the house and car payment combined.

Shopping for affordable health insurance can certainly be an eye-opener. If you have always had a health insurance benefit where you work - especially a state or federal employee - and now have to buy your own, you may not be able to afford the level of health insurance coverage you have become used to.

Affordable health insurance, however, is definitely available -if you know how and where to look.

When you are looking for affordable health insurance, you want the lowest cost per year that will fit your budget, of course. But, even more importantly, you want a company that has a good record for paying without fighting with you on every detail. Just as there is a car for just about any budget, there is also affordable health insurance. You may not be able to afford a "Cadillac" policy - but then you probably don't need all the frills anyway.

Shopping for health insurance on the internet is the easiest and best way to find affordable health insurance. Here are five reasons why.

1. You don't need a local agent to help you submit the claims for health insurance. The medical provider does it for you. You save money because the health insurance company saves money by not paying the agent commission. This could amount to an 8% to 12% savings to you. 2. All the top health insurance companies are at your fingertips on the internet. Most local agents can only quote you from the few companies that they represent. They may not offer you what is best for you financially or health-wise but only what they happen to have available. 3. Health insurance companies have to be extremely competitive because it is so quick and easy to compare them with their competitors on the internet today. In the past you would have had to visit physically eight to ten agents to do a similar comparison. Most folks just didn't have the time or desire for that. 4. You can change your coverage, deductibles, and payment options with just a few clicks rather than going through the paperwork delay with a local agent (and then finding out he/she made a mistake - more delay). 5. Charging to a credit card means you aren't going to forget a payment and be without insurance. Also, it gives you another 30 days before you actually have to pay. Also, many companies today give an additional discount for "auto-pay".

The key, however, to finding affordable health insurance is realizing that the purpose of any health insurance is to protect you from a major financial loss - not to protect you from spending small money on clinic visits and sliver removal. These small expenses may be cumbersome but they generally will not hurt you. It's the $100,000 heart operation that will break you. That's the financial disaster health insurance was originally designed to prevent.

Also, keep this in mind. Health insurance, as with any insurance, is a gamble. You are gambling that you will draw out more than you pay in. Your health insurance company is gambling they will pay out less. The odds are in their favor for two reasons. They have all the facts for millions of families to average out, so they know the risk in advance. Also, they get to set the rules and the prices. The higher you set your deductible, the more risk you take. This is not a bad thing at all. You will most likely be the winner in the long run.

Yes, finding affordable health insurance is much easier than most people think.

By adding more of the risk with higher deductibles, spending a little time on the internet comparing eight to ten different companies, and deleting coverage that you will not likely need (such as maternity for many people) will make it likely for you to find your own affordable health insurance.

Daniel J Lesser is the creator of HotHealthInsuranceSecrets.com. A whole world awaits those healthy enough to see it. Find out how to stay healthy at an affordable price www.hothealthinsurancesecrets.com

Help! I Lost My Health Insurance!

It can literally be one of the scariest places to find yourself - without health insurance coverage. When a simple trip to the emergency room can lead to thousands of dollars in charges, the last thing you need is to not have health insurance. But what options do you have? Graduating from college can be a true rite of passage into adulthood, because this is the time when most health insurance plans drop you from your parents' plan. Even landing a job right after graduation can still mean that you will have to go through a grace period before the company's health insurance kicks in. And if you have left a job for greener pastures, well...don't get sick or injured!

But do I even have options?

Well you probably do have options for health insurance coverage, but they may not be ideal. If you have quit your job, then you will have the option of extending your health insurance benefits for up to 18 months - thanks to COBRA. The only catch is that you will have to pay for those benefits out of your own pocket. Not exactly an easy thing to do without that paycheck rolling in every week.

Is that it? Is that my only hope?

Before you panic, just relax. The solution is short-term health insurance. As the name implies, this solution offers you health insurance options for a limited period of time. Most short-term health insurance benefits are available for 30 to 180 days. Depending on where you live, you may be able to obtain these benefits for up to a year.

And short term health insurance is the same as what I had at work?

Well, if you mean that you have coverage in the event of a hospital visit or sudden illness, then yes. You also can pick your own doctors and hospitals, which is actually an advantage over some health insurance plans offered by employers. But there are definitely coverage limitations on short-term health insurance plans.

So what am I not covered for?

That really is the million dollar question, isn't it? Well, routine medical exams are not covered by a short term health insurance policy. Any kind of preventative care is also out the window with this type of coverage. Plus, you can forget about dental and optical coverage with short-term health insurance. For obvious reasons, this sort of health insurance also does not cover medical costs relating to a pregnancy nor, anything having to do with the childbirth itself.

No offense, by why should I bother with short term health insurance?

Because a simple trip to the emergency room can cost thousands of dollars, and any emergency procedure and hospital stay can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Hey, short- term health insurance is not supposed to be the long-term solution. It is just a way to make sure you are covered while you are not on any employer's health insurance plan. And it can help you avoid going into serious debt, should something happen to you when you are not otherwise covered on a health insurance plan. For that reason alone, it is definitely worth the expense.

Albert Medinas has developed and maintains the website Health Insurance Resources, which answers the most common questions people have about Health Insurance. Please visit us at http://www.healthinsuranceresources.ws today.

Help! I Lost My Health Insurance!

It can literally be one of the scariest places to find yourself - without health insurance coverage. When a simple trip to the emergency room can lead to thousands of dollars in charges, the last thing you need is to not have health insurance. But what options do you have? Graduating from college can be a true rite of passage into adulthood, because this is the time when most health insurance plans drop you from your parents' plan. Even landing a job right after graduation can still mean that you will have to go through a grace period before the company's health insurance kicks in. And if you have left a job for greener pastures, well...don't get sick or injured!

But do I even have options?

Well you probably do have options for health insurance coverage, but they may not be ideal. If you have quit your job, then you will have the option of extending your health insurance benefits for up to 18 months - thanks to COBRA. The only catch is that you will have to pay for those benefits out of your own pocket. Not exactly an easy thing to do without that paycheck rolling in every week.

Is that it? Is that my only hope?

Before you panic, just relax. The solution is short-term health insurance. As the name implies, this solution offers you health insurance options for a limited period of time. Most short-term health insurance benefits are available for 30 to 180 days. Depending on where you live, you may be able to obtain these benefits for up to a year.

And short term health insurance is the same as what I had at work?

Well, if you mean that you have coverage in the event of a hospital visit or sudden illness, then yes. You also can pick your own doctors and hospitals, which is actually an advantage over some health insurance plans offered by employers. But there are definitely coverage limitations on short-term health insurance plans.

So what am I not covered for?

That really is the million dollar question, isn't it? Well, routine medical exams are not covered by a short term health insurance policy. Any kind of preventative care is also out the window with this type of coverage. Plus, you can forget about dental and optical coverage with short-term health insurance. For obvious reasons, this sort of health insurance also does not cover medical costs relating to a pregnancy nor, anything having to do with the childbirth itself.

No offense, by why should I bother with short term health insurance?

Because a simple trip to the emergency room can cost thousands of dollars, and any emergency procedure and hospital stay can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Hey, short- term health insurance is not supposed to be the long-term solution. It is just a way to make sure you are covered while you are not on any employer's health insurance plan. And it can help you avoid going into serious debt, should something happen to you when you are not otherwise covered on a health insurance plan. For that reason alone, it is definitely worth the expense.

Albert Medinas has developed and maintains the website Health Insurance Resources, which answers the most common questions people have about Health Insurance. Please visit us at http://www.healthinsuranceresources.ws today.

Student Health Insurance: Is Your Child Covered?

Watching your children fly from the nest is not an easy thing. Watching them stumble and fall in their quest for independence is even more difficult.

According to experts, at least 30 percent of young adults over the age of 19 have no health insurance. This puts their education and financial future at risk--and limits their chances of succeeding on their own.

So what can you, a seemingly helpless parent, do to help insure your college-bound student succeeds and thrives?

The Obvious Solution

The most obvious answer is student health insurance. When your children leave home, student health coverage can provide them the financial protection they need for those unexpected times of illness.

It picks up where you leave off by covering health and medical expenses during a vulnerable, transitional time in their lives. And it's a great way to keep your children sheltered when they need it most--in your absence.

In fact, young persons covered by student health insurance policies don't have to worry whether their insurance will pay for needed doctor visits or prescriptions; and they don't have to scramble to find a way to pay for health care when they're ill. They simply pick up the phone and call their doctor; grab their insurance card and go.

That brings a lot of security and peace of mind&mdashto parents and children alike.

The Options

If you're looking for health insurance coverage for your newly-independent student, you'll find several options available.

Family Health Plan Coverage
If you have a "major medical" or individual health plan purchased on your own, your child should be covered under your plan until the age of 19. Some states have increased this age limit to 25, as long as your child stays unmarried; attends school full-time; remains financially dependent and lives at home.

If, however, you're covered under an HMO (health maintenance organization), your child's medical care is normally covered only within your own health service area (except in the case of emergencies). If your child attends school outside this region, routine medical visits and procedures may not be covered.

If you're considering keeping your student on your own health policy, talk to your insurance provider to make sure coverage is available where your child will live. If so, the insurer can help your student find a doctor in the appropriate area; tell you what services are covered, and let you know their approximate cost.

University-Sponsored Health Insurance
Nearly all educational institutions now offer school-funded student health insurance policies. Prices are generally reasonable, costing less than $100 per month for a single student and around $200 for a married couple.

If your child receives financial aid or scholarship monies, most school-funded plans allow him or her to use these means to help pay for health insurance coverage. This provides a way for some students and their parents, who could otherwise not afford health care, to maintain much-needed coverage.

Individual Health Plans
If neither a family plan nor school-sponsored plan is available, your child should strongly consider purchasing an individual health policy of his or her own.

Although individual health insurance plans can be expensive, many insurers offer discounts to full-time students.

Insurance shopping services like InsureMe.com can help your student find an individual health policy at an affordable price. You'll find them online at insureme.com.

American College Student Association (ACSA) Health Coverage
Another option unknown to many students and their parents is coverage through the ACSA. This organization offers health insurance, short-term insurance, study abroad coverage and dental insurance to students at any college or university.

If your student needs health coverage for the short term, ACSA health coverage may be just the ticket. Depending on the term selected, this type of policy may last from three months up to a year.

To contact the ACSA, call (888) 526-2272.

Making the Right Choice

Finding affordable student health insurance at a great price isn't always easy. But there's almost nothing as important when your children transition from home to school.

By spending time analyzing the options, you can make the right choice for your students--and keep them healthy and happy for years to come!About InsureMe

InsureMe, an Englewood, Colorado-based company, links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in auto, home, life, long-term care and health insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with health insurance leads every year. For more information, visit insureme.com.

Penny Hagerman is a copywriter and insurance information expert based in Denver, Colorado. She holds a BA in Communications/Journalism, and contributes years of writing and editing experience in print media and Internet communications through her informative articles.

Online Health Insurance: The Truth About Cheap Quotes

Looking for low cost health insurance quotes? Good. You are taking that most important step of shopping around for the best price. But more importantly, you undstand that it is important to have health insurance, and perhaps, even more importantly, understand that the real purpose of health insurance, as for any insurance, is protection. That is, you do not get health insurance to act as a sort of discount off the price of doctor and hospital services. The point of insurance is protection in the event of catastrophe. Yes, health insurance costs are high and continue to rise, but do not forget that the reason you are seeking health insurance quotes online--and even offline--is to insure you get the most protection (not discount) for the best (lowest) rate.

Getting health insurance quotes is now extremely easy with the use of the Internet. Take advantage of online insurance quote availability to get an idea of the range of premium prices offered. Even if you don't want to buy online, you will have a better understanding of what the insurance agent is talking about, and when it comes time to put ink on the contract, you will be making a more informed decision. Remember, too, that quotes are free and come without obligation.

When you look for cheap health insurance quotes, online or off, you must also consider type of health care you want and what that means in terms of how your care is delivered to you. Health insurance is a much more than a matter of co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles. When you get a health insurance quote, you are getting a quote on a certain kind of plan. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a single "best" plan. You will find that there are some plans that will serve your needs better as an individual, and plans that will be better for both you and your family's needs. Plans will vary according to what services they offer, and you will probably have to make some hard choices as to what services are most important. No plan will pay everything; there will always be out-of-pocket costs associated with your medical services, though some plans will pay more for the services you deem most important. So, health insurance quotes are really the tip of the iceberg to a very important subject.

Cheap Health Insurance Quotes and the HMO, PPO, FFS/indemnity plan, and POS.

*HMO--An HMO is a health maintenance organization. An HMO contracts with doctors, hospitals, and other medical providers to form a sort of network. As a member of an HMO, you are required to use the providers in that network. You pay the HMO a certain amount of money per their payment arrangements in order to receive medical services.

*PPO--A PPO is a preferred provider organization. A PPO is similar to an HMO in that there is a network of medical providers that you can use. However, the PPO does not require you to use that network and allows you see doctors and go to hospitals out of network. Normally, you do not need a referral to see doctors out of network. However, in that event, you do pay more for the service. That is, the amount of coverage is less.

*POS--A POS is a point of service plan. A point of service plan is very much like an HMO except that POS doctors can refer you out of the network of providers to see a specialist. In a POS, you would not refer yourself, and if the plan does refer you out of the network, you do pay more for the service.

*FFS--A FFS or indemnity plan, is a fee for service plan. In a fee for service, you are billed by the service. You are usually not required to use a network of providers. That means you choose which doctors, hospitals, and specialists you want to see and use. Because you make the decision about who you see and where you go, there is no need for a referral to see a doctor. The only limiting factor is whether or not the provider accepts the insurance of the fee for service plan insurance.

Low Cost health insurance quotes have a lot going on behind the scenes. Seeking an online quote? Now you have a better idea of what that quote is for. When you visit an insurance agent to talk health care, be sure to look thoroughly into the options available to you. Your health insurance quote represents a package of insurance services, and it is important for you to understand the relationship between the quote and the services you may be purchasing.

Evan Davis works in Medicare customer service, and is the webmaster and owner of Instant Health Insurance. Find cheap health insurance quotes online at http://www.find-health-insurance-online.com

What to Know When Shopping for Health Insurance

What to Know When Shopping for Health Insurance

Between the rising cost of health insurance and the various types of health policies, finding a plan to fit your health needs and your budget can seem overwhelming. So how can you sort though these variables and find a policy that works for you?

Doing Your Homework

Doing a little research before you start shopping for health insurance will go a long way once you start comparing quotes and policies.

You can start by reading up on the types of policies available in your area and determining what you want and need out of your health insurance--from prescription drugs to coverage of pre-existing conditions, you'll want to identify these necessities from the outset.

To learn more about health insurance in your area, contact your state's Division of Insurance (DOI). This underutilized resource was developed to educate and protect consumers on the topic of insurance and has many guides and publications to help you make informed decisions about health insurance. And the more you know, the better decisions you'll make!

Shopping Tips

Under most state laws, health insurance policies are not regulated by the government. This means that insurers can sell different health insurance policies for very different prices. While that may seem complicated for the consumer, it's actually a benefit. This means that you can get health insurance quotes from multiple insurers and select the best health insurance policy for you.

So what exactly should you be looking at when comparing policies? Here are a few important questions to ask:

Does the policy cover all major medical expenses?
What's the monthly premium?
What are the choices for deductibles?
What percentage does the insurer pay after the deductible is met?
What coverages are included in the policy?
Does the policy cover prescription drugs?
Does the policy cover preventative care?
Are your doctors and health care facilities inside of the policy's network?
What is the cost for seeing a physician outside of the policy's network?

While you will certainly think of more questions to ask potential insurers, this list should get you started. Remember, the more you know, the better decisions you'll make!

Protecting Yourself

As with most areas of business, there are a few untrustworthy insurers out there who ruin things for the good guys. That's why it's a good idea to investigate your insurer and his or her credentials before signing a health insurance policy.

You can check your agent's credentials, as well as the company's customer satisfaction rating and financial standing through consumer-serving sites like AM Best or the Better Business Bureau. Doing a little behind the scenes work on your insurer beforehand will save you the stress and financial loss of doing business with a dodgy insurer.

You can also protect yourself by knowing your rights and privileges before signing on the dotted line. Most states now require insurers to cover certain benefits, such as mammograms and prostate exams; your local DOI will have more information on mandated benefits and other rights and privileges.

Most insurers will also offer a free-look period of 10 or so days to review your policy and make any final adjustments or decisions. If you decide you don't want the policy during that free-look period, you are entitled to a full refund and your policy will be cancelled without penalty. As a general rule, if your health policy doesn't contain a free-look period, you're probably better off purchasing health insurance from someone else.

Applying Lessons Learned

Now that you've gotten a few pointers on shopping for health insurance, you can get started and determine your needs, get the facts, shop for health insurance quotes and compare prospective insurers for price and service. Taking things one step at a time will make the task of finding cheap health insurance less daunting--and get you on the road to savings success!

About InsureMe

InsureMe, an Englewood, Colorado-based company, links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in auto, home, life, long-term care and health insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com.

Megan L. Mahan is a copywriter and insurance expert based in Denver, Colorado. She holds degrees in French and English from the University of Iowa and lends her writing and editing expertise in print media and Internet communications through her informative articles.

Affordable Health Insurance...

Finding affordable health insurance is possible, there are many companies that will help you to find health insurance that will meet your requirements and stay within your budget. The fact is that many people simply do not know where to look for health insurance. Connecting with a company that is capable of hunting down health insurance providers can take the hassle out of buying health insurance. For individuals who do not want to use a company to locate affordable health insurance there is the Internet.

Thousands of people in the United States simply go without health insurance because they think they cannot find affordable health insurance. This would explain why there are many individuals in the United States who choose to go without health insurance. Those who do not have health insurance will be less likely to visit a doctor. This means that a lot of times illness and other ailments are not diagnosed until they have developed.

There are numerous different things that will determine what your monthly health insurance will be. Your health insurance rates will change depending upon the kind of policy you have. For example, do you only need health insurance for yourself, or your entire family? The answer will have an impact on any quotes you receive. Are you young, or are you in your senior years? Most health insurance companies adjust your premium based upon your age. Are you self-employed, or are you receiving health insurance through your work? This will also affect the cost of your health insurance.

You never know when an accident might happen and you need a trip to hospital for stitches or a broken bone. These bills will add up quickly but if you have health insurance, you can get the help you need without the worry of receiving a huge bill. If you can't afford to pay off your medical bills, your credit rating could even suffer. If you have health insurance, you can prevent these problems from ever happening and your credit will be protected for your financial future and your health.

Another way you can make sure that your insurance rates are lowered is to increase the amount of your health insurance deductible. High deductibles equal lower monthly premiums. Anyone that has existing health problems which require extensive medical treatment may find it necessary to have a higher monthly premium.

Simply by researching health insurance options online and spending just a couple of hours searching may well save you money every month. Get a variety of quotes from insurance companies which meet your health and budget needs and you will find affordable health insurance. You may also find that purchasing health insurance online can save you money.

For family health insurance Please visit us at http://www.4insurancehere.com

Understanding Health Insurance

Health insurance is a necessity for everyone who wishes to maintain or improve their health. Whether you use your health insurance for regular checkups, chronic and debilitating illnesses or unexpected emergencies, you will find that carrying an insurance policy can result in a significant cost savings for you and your family. Those who carry health insurance often have a difficult time understanding what is covered under their policy and where they can go to obtain the services that they require. Without this necessary information, it is likely that many health insurance holders do not receive the maximum benefit that their insurance provides.

We all need health insurance to receive financial assistance for the maintenance and restoration of our health but we don't all receive all of the assistance that we are eligible to receive. Most of us are aware that our health insurance will cover at least a percentage of certain treatments such as office visits, hospital stays and surgeries and prescription drugs that fall under their list of covered drugs but many of us don't know what is offered beyond these basic services. Not all health insurance plans cover the same treatments so the only way to fully understand what is covered in your plan is to read your policy carefully. Some examples of inclusions that are not well known include speech classes, hearing aids, gym memberships and a variety of other features. The only way to know for sure if these items are covered is to review your policy carefully or contact your health insurance provider. You may find a variety of services or treatments that are covered under your plan that could amount to a significant financial savings.

Knowing what is covered under your health insurance plan is very important but it is equally important to understand what is not covered under your insurance plan. You should review your plan carefully to ensure that the services that you choose will be covered by your health insurance plan. Sometimes treatments that are deemed medically necessary by your doctor will not be covered by your health insurance plan. In this case it may be necessary to bear the burden of this expense in order to maintain or restore your health. If your claim is denied because your provider does not consider the treatment necessary, then you have the right to file an appeal. You should carefully review the provider's policy to ensure that you fully understand the appeal process before filing your appeal. Your claim may still be denied even if you follow proper procedure but the possibility that you will lose your appeal as a result of improper filing is greatly reduced. You should review your insurance plan carefully before undergoing preventative treatment to determine whether or not the treatment will be covered. In an emergency you may not have the opportunity to review your policy before authorizing treatment but you will have the opportunity to appeal if the treatment is not covered.

Knowing which doctors you can visit can also be confusing. Some health insurance policies allow you to visit any doctor you choose while others limit you to the participating doctors in their plan. Also, whether or not you can see a specialist is often difficult to determine. Usually, the receptionist at the doctor's office will be able to tell you whether or not they accept your health insurance policy before you schedule your appointment. You can also call your customer service representative to inquire as to whether a specific doctor will be covered.

Health insurance can literally be a life saver but understanding your policy can be a nightmare. In most cases carefully reading your policy to determine the covered treatments as well as the exclusions and limitations may help you understand your policy better. If after reading through your policy you still have general or specific questions you should contact the customer service representative for your policy. They will be able to provide you with answers that will enhance your understanding of your policy. Knowing what is covered and what is not covered are the most common misunderstandings involving health insurance. It is also important understand your provider's appeal process in case you ever incur claims that are denied. In all cases your health may necessitate treatment that is not covered and you will have to make the difficult decision of whether or not to authorize the treatment.

Ray Shelton is the editor and writer for http://www.ww-health-insurance.com

Ray Shelton is editor and writer for http://www.ww-health-insurance.com

No Living Will & Power Of Attorney? HIPAA Law Shuts You Out

What do you mean I can't find out about my husband's accident injuries? Why can't we move my mother to the nice nursing-home down the street? The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA caused two of my clients to live through these very situations.

A husband and wife were involved in a terrible automobile accident. The husband was seriously injured. His wife wanted to make certain that the needed medical attention was given to her husband. The wife could not get any medical information from her doctor. Even though she was the wife, the new HIPAA law and regulations prevents her from receiving medical information without specific written authorization!

In another case, an elderly widow lady became incapacitated. Her two children wanted to place her in a nursing home so that she would receive adequate care. Even though they had a living will and health-care power of attorney for their mother, they were required to go to court and be appointed her guardians so that they could place their mother in the health care facility.

What is the HIPAA Law all about?

The HIPAA Law in a Nutshell

HIPAA took effect on April 14, 2003.

This legislation applies to virtually every physician, nurse, pharmacist, dentist, and health care provider in the nation. It impacts everyone's access to health care information.

What does this privacy act mean? The regulations stress that health care providers must limit health information to those who are intended to receive it. This means health care information cannot be released to any unauthorized person. This may mean you may not be able to receive medical records for your spouse or parent.

HIPAA Violation Penalties

The penalties for health care providers are staggering. For each disclosure violation, there is a $100 fine. If the violation is knowing, there are criminal penalties of a $50,000 fine and up to one year in prison. If information is provided or obtained under false pretenses, there is $100,000 fine and up to five years in prison. If the wrongful sale, transfer or use of the information was for commercial advantage, there is a $250,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison.

How does this affect you? To ensure an easy transition, you must have the appropriate medical release language to comply with HIPAA in three of your estate planning documents.

Documents to Update

The documents which need to be updated are:

 

• Your Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney
• Your Living Trust
• Your Durable Power of Attorney

 

What if I do nothing?

You may be forced to sign the doctor's or hospitals forms in a stressful emergency situation. These documents may not reflect your choices and may contain confusing legal and/or medical terminology. Or you may be unable to sign anything and may repeat one of the above scenarios.

If your documents were created before 2003 and have not been amended since, have your attorney review them for HIPAA compliant language. Are you missing some or all of these documents? Make an appointment today!

Visit http://www.stevenallen.com for tips and tools on Wealth Preservation. You can also subscribe to his monthly newsletter Secrets To Wealth Preservation. Steven W. Allen has been an Estate Planning attorney for over 30 years. He is a member of the Arizona Bar Association, National Lawyers Association, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and National Speakers Association. He is the author of four books including the most recent You Can’t Take It With You...So How Will You Leave It Behind?. Go to http://www.EstatePlanningDr.com for your 3 free chapters.

Deriving Due Care Practices from HIPAA and GLBA

Recent years have shown a trend in corporations being held responsible for information security negligence. In particular, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Attorney General of New York have been actively pursuing companies that fail to follow effective security practices. Many high-visibility cases illustrate how companies are being required to implement stronger security controls, the Guess case being a good example.

In June 2003, Guess, Incorporated agreed to settle FTC charges that it exposed consumers' personal information to commonly known attacks by hackers, contrary to the company's claims. "Consumers have every right to expect that a business that says it's keeping personal information secure is doing exactly that," said Howard Beales, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. The settlement required that Guess implement a comprehensive information security program that would be certified as meeting or exceeding the standards in the consent order by an independent professional within a year.

The Problem

A key reason why corporations demonstrate poor or inconsistent information security controls is the lack of a widely accepted and comprehensive set of good security practices. Standards bodies such as the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publish security standards with varying degrees of corporate acceptance and use. The Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) has identified the need for a universally agreed-upon collection of essential security practices and is currently developing the Generally Accepted Information Security Principles (GAISP)--although how well accepted these principles will be upon publication remains to be seen.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Final Security Rule and the Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA) Interagency Guidelines are customer privacy laws specifying the security rules that must be followed by the healthcare and financial services industries respectively. If entities covered by these laws fail to follow the required security practices they may not only be exposing their customers' private information but may also be subject to regulatory penalties and fines. These laws, in essence, define information security due care standards--the security practices that must be followed to avoid liability--for the healthcare and financial services industries. The entities covered by these laws, however, only represent approximately 25% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. Other industries must rely upon their best judgment to protect customer information--clearly not an effective approach as the cases mentioned earlier demonstrate.

Most companies certainly want to do the right thing and protect their customers' information, but avoiding legal liability and harm to their reputation are also factors that motivate them to implement appropriate information security controls. While most corporate information security professionals probably think they understand how to protect customer information, many wouldn't be comfortable attesting that their practices would protect their employer from liability. Lacking a commonly accepted set of security practices, many corporate information security professionals are uncertain how to secure customer information in a way that also limits their company's liability.

Proposed Solution

The best approach for companies that wish to protect their customer's information and potentially avoid liability is to implement the security practices required by both HIPAA and GLBA. There are 12 security practices in common between these two customer privacy laws. By following these 12 practices, companies will be practicing information security due care and can potentially avoid liability. Indeed, all of the security requirements mandated in the settlement of the cases mentioned earlier are among the 12 practices in common between HIPAA and GLBA.

What is Due Care?

Companies that handle the personal information of their customers may be breaking the law and not know it, as evidenced by the Guess case. This ignorance may partly stem from substantial gaps of prosecutable computer crimes that exist in federal criminal code and individual state criminal statutes. Federal and state criminal statutes are slow to evolve to adequately prosecute crimes based on the fast-changing technology of information systems. Companies and information security professionals may find little direction in criminal codes and statutes to help them avoid inadvertently breaking the law when it comes to protecting their customers' personal information.

Since there is little guidance for companies to follow when it comes to avoiding criminal or civil liability or harsh settlements from the FTC, they need to consider how legal standards are created in the first place. Legal standards are developed based on the concept of due care, which is the care that an ordinarily prudent person would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances. Failure to practice due care is equivalent to demonstrating negligence. Companies that demonstrate negligence relative to their information security practices are susceptible to lawsuits, fines, and other sanctions, whereas companies that practice due care should be largely protected from such punishments.

Where to Find Due Care Information Security Practices

Companies that wish to find due care information security practices need look no further than to two major federal laws that regulate the protection of customer information: HIPAA and GLBA. While both HIPAA and GLBA enacted a lot more than just customer privacy requirements, they both have spawned substantial regulatory guidance on security controls for protecting customer information. The regulations for HIPAA are called the Final Security Rule and those for GLBA are referred to as the Interagency Guidelines.

While some of the requirements in these regulations are industry-specific, there is a lot of commonality between the two. In particular, 12 security practices were found in both the HIPAA Final Security Rule and the GLBA Interagency Guidelines. The fact that these two sets of regulations intersect in 12 places is no coincidence. This is a clear signal from the federal government of the level of due care it expects the country's health care providers and financial institutions to practice. If these are the standards of due care that must be practiced by industries that represent about a quarter of the country's GDP, it stands to reason that other industries will be expected to follow these same practices.

HIPAA & GLBA Security Due Care Practices in Common

The 12 security practices in common between HIPAA and GLBA are all "high-level" practices. There are no specific technology controls. Some practices are required while others are required only if a risk assessment conducted by the entity determines that the practice is appropriate.

The HIPAA Final Security Rule and the GLBA Interagency Guidelines were designed to provide guidance to senior management. How the practices are implemented is left largely up to the companies to determine.

Following is the list of the 12 security practices in common between HIPAA and GLBA (please refer to the HIPAA/GLBA Due Care Practice Matrix in the Laws and Regulations section of the OpenCSOProject for detailed analysis and references):

 

1. Assess and Control Risk
2. Assign Security Responsibility
3. Appropriate Access and Authorization
4. Security Awareness and Training
5. Incident Response and Reporting
6. Disaster Recovery
7. Security Evaluation
8. Vendor Contracts
9. Facility Access Controls
10. Data Integrity Controls
11. Encryption
12. Security Monitoring Procedures

 

Validation from Recent Enforcement Actions

If the companies in the FTC settlement cases mentioned earlier had faithfully implemented these 12 practices, they would not have suffered any penalties and their customers’ information would have been protected. For instance, in the Guess case, the FTC ordered Guess to:

 

• Designate an employee or employees to coordinate and be accountable for the information security program (HIPAA/GLBA Due Care Practice #2: Assign Security Responsibility);
• Identify material internal and external risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of customer information that could result in the unauthorized disclosure, misuse, loss, alteration, destruction, or other compromise of such information, and assess the sufficiency of any safeguards in place to control these risks. At a minimum, this risk assessment must include consideration of risks in each area of relevant operation. (HIPAA/GLBA Due Care Practice #1: Assess and Control Risk);
• Design and implement reasonable safeguards to control the risks identified through risk assessment, and regularly test or monitor the effectiveness of the safeguards' key controls, systems, and procedures. (HIPAA/GLBA Due Care Practice #7: Security Evaluation);
• Evaluate and adjust its information security program in light of the results of testing and monitoring, any material changes to its operations or business arrangements, or any other circumstances that Guess knows or has reason to know may have a material impact on its information security program. (HIPAA/GLBA Due Care Practice #7: Security Evaluation)

 

These four requirements would have been fulfilled by following just three of the 12 HIPAA/GLBA Due Care Practices: Assess and Control Risk, Assign Security Responsibility, and Security Evaluation. The other settlement cases had similar requirements, also covered by the HIPAA/GLBA Due Care Practices. It is clear that the security practices required by both HIPAA and GLBA establish a basis of due care.

Conclusion

Companies are finding that they will pay the price for not maintaining strong security controls and protecting their customers' information. They must proactively implement and maintain prudent security processes to demonstrate that they are practicing due care. Until a universally accepted set of information security practices is produced, the best approach for companies is to implement the security practices required by both HIPAA and GLBA.

Marc R. Menninger is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and is the founder and site administrator for the OpenCSOProject, a knowledge base for security professionals. To download security policies, articles and presentations, click here: Security Officer Forums.