Category: Health Insurance

Everything you need to know about health insurance and step to choose the perfect health insurance company for you and your loved ones is unveiled here

Health insurance in Pennsylvania

Health insurance in Pennsylvania

chibueze uchegbu | February 15th, 2022


Are you wondering what health insurance in Pennsylvania is like? You’re not alone in this thought.

Choosing health insurance is one of the most critical decisions you’ll ever have to make for the purpose of providing a safety net for you and your loved ones.

No humans plan to get sick or fall into any unforeseen circumstances that’ll warrant access to health insurance, but these incidents are an inevitable part of humans.

So preparing beforehand for these undesirable instances through health insurance is one of the best things you can do for your family and yourself.

There are a ton of health insurance schemes in Pennsylvania you can access, but before we discuss that, let’s quickly look at key information about Pennsylvania’s health insurance.

Background Information about Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance

For the second time, Pennsylvania used a state-based exchange on the federal platform, and more than 337,000 residents enrolled in health insurance for the year 2021 open enrollment. Before this time, Pennsylvania used to operate a federally-facilitated marketplace for the residents.

This year, the state is going to be adopting Pennie for the open enrollment period. Signing up began late last year and ends early this year.

The average amount a full state-based exchange will cost $25 million a year, which means the figure is quite low compared to the $95 million Pennsylvania paid to use the Federal Exchange in 2018.

The idea of the cost savings is to fund a new reinsurance program designed to make state health insurance more affordable and accessible by many residents. This reinsurance program referred to as Act 42 was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf in 2019.

Now let’s talk about the available health insurance schemes you can key into in Pennsylvania to get yourself and your family covered in times of need.

However, it’s important to state here that this will depend on the types of health insurance you want and the different markets available.

 Available Health Insurance in Pennsylvania

Below are some of the available health insurance options available in Pennsylvania:

Pennie.com 

Pennie provides an individual or families with the ability to access high-quality care coverage, coupled with ease of applying for financial assistance.

If you’re a PA resident and are a citizen, U.S. national or you’re qualified for immigration status, you can apply for Pennsylvania’s insurance coverage via Pennie. Enrollment for this coverage opens within November 1 to January 15.

There are also special enrollment periods, which give the opportunity to anyone who’s experienced a recent circumstance in his life and would like to sign up during this Special Enrollment Period to access health insurance coverage.

Some of the changes include losing health care insurance through an employer, moving to a new area, and a change in marital status.

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance scheme for people aged 65 and above. This type of insurance is administered by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services with the mandate of providing coverage either directly or via private health insurance companies via four distinct levels namely:

  • The Medicare Part A, which is hospital coverage
  • The Medicare Part B, which rotates around the medical coverage
  • The Medicare Part C, which is the Medicare Advantages Part A and B together
  • Medicare Part C, which covers the prescription of drugs

If you’ve decided to key into Medicare, it’s then important that you know the right time to enroll. Also, you should consider enrolling immediately you become eligible for this coverage because enrolling at a later stage may cost a higher amount.

You can start the enrollment process for Medicare when you’re three months away from 65 and ends three months after clocking this age.

You’re still allowed to sign up even if you miss the initial enrollment period and this can be done from January 1 to March 31 each year, but some penalties might apply.

You may still be given an opportunity to make some changes to your plan as part of a Special Enrollment Period. This can be done around October 15 to December 7 annually.

Medical Assistance/CHIP

Based on your income status, you can qualify for free or low-cost health insurance through the Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid.

You can actually enroll for this type of coverage year-round, which means there are no deadlines for applying for this healthcare coverage.

COBRA/Mini-COBRA Continuation Coverage

COBRA gives you the privilege of maintaining the coverage you had while working with your former employer.

It’s not uncommon that when people are laid off, the company’s insurance coverage goes out of the window, which is what the COBRA is trying to bridge the gap here.

As time passes, if you’ll be continuing the COBRA coverage, you should be ready to pay for the portion of the premium your previous employer paid on your behalf for the coverage. You also must note that you can elect COBRA COVERAGE but you don’t necessarily have to do it.

Final thoughts

You don’t have to go through any hassles if you’re looking for health insurance coverage as a Pennsylvanian.

Do the research as there are many insurance coverages you can key into in the state, but this is also dependent on the type of plan you want and how much you’re budgeting for the coverage.

As a couple, the rate of health insurance coverage may be low, as the insurance rate will be based on the youngest partner’s age. So the best bet is to apply for the same plan rather than doing it individually as this may cost you an extra few bucks.

Frequently Asked Questions on Health Insurance in Pennsylvania

Here are some of the frequently asked questions on health insurance coverage in Pennsylvania:

Is it a law to have health insurance coverage as a Pennsylvanian? 

If you’re a resident of PA, you’re supposed to have health insurance coverage in compliance with the Affordable Care Act.

Don’t forget the state is using the federal exchange set up designed by the ACA, which also referred to as Obamacare.

What happens if you don’t have health insurance and you visit a hospital?  

You’ll be billed for every fees of the services you’re seeking for at the hospital if you don’t have an insurer to take this fees off your neck.

You’ll have to pay for doctor fees, hospital and medical costs, coupled with specialists’ payments.

This means you’re liable to pay some high bucks if you don’t own health insurance when you visit a healthcare facility. And sadly, the fees can get so high!

Is short-term health insurance available for purchase in Pennsylvania?

PA uses federal regulations regarding their health insurance coverage. This means the state has no regulation pertaining to the duration of short-term health insurance plans.

When you opt for short-term health insurance coverage in this state, you can have up to 364 days and the option of renewing for a total duration of up to 36 months.

Who is eligible for Medicaid program? 

To be qualified for Medicaid program, you need to be a resident of the state of Pennsylvania, an American, citizen, permanent resident or legal alien in the country and your financial situation must be characterized as low income.

You also should be a pregnant woman or someone that’s responsible for a child 17 years of age or younger to be considered for Medicaid program.

Similarly, you should be a person with disability or a family member within your household with a disability to be eligible for this coverage.

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Health Insurance in the Philippines

Health Insurance in the Philippines

chibueze uchegbu | February 15th, 2022


Sincerely, health care should always be the topmost priority of a people. This is because, as it is rightfully said, a healthy person is one who remembers to work.

Again, a country that thrives in everything is a country that takes its people’s health care seriously. The government of the Philippines got to understand these sayings and set up a health care system for its people.

We believe that part of what prompted the upgrading of the health insurance system in the Philippines was a result of having so many visitors in the Philippines.

Overview of health insurance in the Philippines

For people to come to the Philippines and live, they want to make sure their health can be covered. So, health care insurance in the Philippines has some level of good standard to it now.

As such, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the health care system in the Philippines 60th in the whole world.

It still did not stop there, the government of the Philippines keeps making the health care system better each passing year.

For better understanding, it is very important we explain health care insurance in simpler terms. Firstly, health insurance is a type of contract that pays for the hospital bills and drugs of an individual in full or in part. It is either the insurance company pay the hospital bills themselves or give out cash to their clients to pay.

More so, health insurance also covers prescription drugs, doctor’s visits, vision, and dental expenses.

This means that once an individual who has health insurance gets sick or has any kind of health emergency, the health insurance company that they use helps cover their medical bills. However, the coverage has to do with the plan the insured bought.

Types of health insurance in the Philippines

Firstly, in the Philippines, there are three types of healthcare insurance systems available to Filipinos.

The government-run health insurance system has been made very affordable to Filipinos. The private health insurance companies, and the Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). Of course, you can choose from either of them because the end goal is to get your health and your family insured.

However, private health insurance companies have their perks and all but they can be quite expensive for low-income earners to access. Also, HMOs have people it serves better. So, instead of going without having your health insured, it is better you check out the three and go with the one that suits your need.

Again, the expatriates in the country have a plan called the evacuation plan. This plan is also offered by private health insurance companies.

Government health care insurance in the Philippines

Government health insurance in Philippines has been made available for all citizens. It was done in a bid to curb the unnecessary diseases and illnesses that come with a lack of proper health care in the country.

In 2019, the Filipino government set up a healthcare system called the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, PhilHealth for short.

The program provides an affordable healthcare system for citizens that can not afford private and expensive health insurance companies. The beauty of PhilHealth is that it does not collect deductibles or allow co-pays for users.

Furthermore, the PhilHealth program is funded by the government and provides various health plans for the people that are enrolled in it.

These programs have different plans for different sets of people according to your age or income like:

Lifetime Members plan: This plan is for old and retired government workers who are from sixty years and above.

This set of people has paid the slated amount for health care regularly for a long period of time. Therefore, they are placed on a totally free health care insurance plan.

Formal sector plan: The government automatically provides a coverage plan for government workers In the Philippines.

Senior Citizen plan: The senior citizen plan covers old Filipinos that have never bought a coverage plan before. That is, an elderly Filipino that is sixty and above but did not previously insure falls into this plan.

Informal Economy plan: The plan is for immigrants that are working in the Philippines, and also the self-employed. However, this plan does not cover tourists in the country.

Sponsored members plan: Some local governments in the states subsidize some of these health care plans to accommodate their people. The sponsored member’s plan is for those people that their local governments subsidize.

It is important to note that, if you are not a citizen of the Philippines, you are not entitled to any government health insurance coverage. Also, if you are married to a citizen, you will be covered as a dependent.

As it stands, there are benefits that come with government health care insurance. Aside from being very affordable to the poor and retired citizen, the extra benefits include:

  • Maternity care
  • Laboratory tests
  • Out and Inpatients services
  • Surgeries
  • Catastrophic services

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

These HMOs are made up of a network of private organizations that come together to provide health insurance for their members.

It works for health emergencies. Just visit any accredited HMO hospital or clinic, show your card and get your needed medical attention.

Also, some private companies provide their workers with HMOs. Besides, If you are enrolled in this type of plan, you can only access health care plans from the health care providers in the network.

Furthermore, there are two popular Health Maintenance Organizations in the Philippines. The MediCard and the Maxicare.

Maxicare

The Maxicare healthcare corporation is among the top Health Maintenance Organizations. Basically, a group of doctors and businessmen came together in 1987 and formed Maxicare. Just for the sole purpose of providing great healthcare opportunities for the people.

Currently, Maxicare boasts of about twenty-four thousand networks of doctors and specialists, and about one thousand, four hundred hospitals and clinics.

Not only that, but Maxicare also has about one thousand dental services and it serves about 1.6 million people in the country. 

MediCard

This Health Maintenance Organization has a network of about forty-three thousand accredited doctors and about over one thousand hospitals and clinics in the Philippines.

MediCard opened its doors for a business close to three decades now and they are still strongly in business till now.

In furtherance, they offer lots of health care plans to their clients which are:

MediCard Family Individual plans: These plans are ready for families or individuals that want to get coverage for preventive health care, outpatients, hospitalization, health emergencies, or dental care.

MediCard VIP Plans: This particular healthcare plan can cover you even if you had an emergency outside the country. However, it still covers out-patients, dental coverage, and preventive health care.

The MediCard RxER: RXER is another better form of MediCard package that allows people of any age to join. The coverage offers ranges from trauma cases, out-patients, emergency cases, or preventive care.

MediCard HealthPlus: This plan covers Free-Standing Clinics for one full year, outpatient, and preventive coverage.

MediCard Kabayan: The overseas sponsors created this plan but still provide good health coverage for their beneficiaries in the country.

The MediCard Select: It gives room for the return of funds that were not used. It is another plan that provides varieties of coverage for its beneficiaries.

MediCared Health Check: The plan remains valid for a full year. This great plan gives you the opportunity to constant medical check-ups as often as you desire. Also, a discount on lab tests, and physical exams for once. You only get to pay P500.

My MediCard: This plan offers you medical check-ups with the MediCard doctors. It also comes with one-time oral prophylaxis and lasts for one year. This plan goes for just P3,600.

Benefits of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

  • Surgeries
  • Hospitalizations
  • Lab tests
  • Medications
  • Dental services
  • Outpatient services

Private health care insurance in Philippines

Private health insurance in Philippines is for the well-to-do in the country. However, they live up to their standards in the services they provide for their clients.

A little over 30% of the country makes use of private health care insurance companies. This includes the visitors like the tourists and the Expats.

Moving forward, the private health care insurance companies offer wider and more convenient plans. But as explained earlier, it costs a lot, especially if you do not earn much.

Still, private health insurance in Philippines still serves a great purpose for non-citizens in the country and it is better we speak about them in case a traveler wants to use their services. 

KanMend by FWD

If you are diagnosed with any of these critical illnesses and more, KanMend made it their duty to have them covered. That is if you are a member.

  • Major burns
  • Bacterial Meningitis
  • Heart and blood illnesses
  • Major organ failure
  • Occupationally acquired HIV/AIDS
  • Neuro-Muscular illnesses

Other benefits offered by KanMend include

  • Six months free konsultaMD telemedicine access
  • Covers up to forty-two critical illnesses
  • Critical illness starter plans

Sun Life Health care Insurance

The Sun Life health care insurance company is among the few private health care companies in the country.

In addition, they are among the best too by all standards. With Sun Life, there is a package for every member of your family, regardless of age. Some of their packages include:

SUN Fit and Well:

  • Coverage until an individual clocks hundred.
  • Life insurance coverage
  • Wellness benefits

SUN Senior Care:

  • Health and Wellness benefits
  • Covers 17 Advance-Aged Critical illnesses
  • Benefit for Specific Covered Surgeries/Conditions
  • Life Insurance

SUN Cancer Care:

  • Coverage until hundred years
  • Specialized health solutions
  • Life insurance coverage
  • Wellness benefits

SUN LifeAssure:

  • Coverage until seventy years
  • Covers thirty-six critical illnesses
  • Life insurance protection

SUN Healthier Life:

  • Covers until age seventy
  • Life insurance coverage
  • Simplified issue offer

SUN First Aid:

  • Covers for ten years
  • Hospitalization benefits
  • Life insurance cover
  • Money-back feature

SUN Maiden and SUN Maiden PLUS:

  • Covers till sixty-five
  • Female C.I benefits
  • Life insurance coverage
  • Maternity benefit option

SUN ICU Protect:

  • Covers till hundred years
  • Severity-based health insurance plan with ICU and major C.I benefits
  • Wellness benefits
  • Life insurance 

Manulife health care insurance

First and foremost, the company is also called Manulife Philippines. Mainly it has its headquarters in Canada from where it spreads its wings. Manulife has a good reputation even outside the Philippines. They offer health care packages in bundles known as HealthFlex bundles.

Additionally, you can customize this package and pay for only where you need coverage. It has some benefits that include:

  • Protection at any age but up to 100
  • Waiver of premiums
  • Additional health coverage in cases of heart attack, stroke, or cancer with assistance while you get better
  • Dividends that you can withdraw anytime

Caritas Health Shield

This health insurance company offers diverse health care coverage for its members. They have plans called MAX Health Care Program, Supreme Health Care Program, Kiddie Health Care program, Ultra Health Care Program, AND Enhanced Core 6 and 10 Health Care program.

PRU Life U.K

This health insurance company provides a health coverage plan called the PRUWellness. This coverage gives you daily cash benefits, bulk money when needed to cover your hospitalization costs.

The company will add the extra cash will also be added if you require surgery or ICU services.

Other features include;

  • Long-term hospitalization benefits
  • Daily hospital income benefit
  • Surgical expense refunds
  • ICU benefits   

Evacuation coverage plan

In the Philippines, private health insurance companies offer evacuation plans. This is mostly for the expatriates in the country.

The evacuation plan helps you to be evacuated to the places like Singapore in case of medical emergencies.

Besides, this plan can be a package on its own or part of a private insurance package. Since non-citizens can only access private health care insurance facilities, it is important for short-term visitors without their travel health coverage to buy this.

Private health care insurance benefits

  • Life insurance
  • Compensations
  • Lab tests
  • Prescription drugs
  • Financial assistance during the loss of income
  • Critical illness benefits

Finally, health insurance in Philippines is now within the reach of everyone. That is, from the rich to the low-income earners, down to the expats and the tourists.

Also, any age can now comfortably access any of the healthcare facilities available in the country. Undoubtedly, the Filipino government is doing right by the country in making sure health care coverage can be accessible to both the citizens and visitors.

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Medical Indemnity Insurance UK

Medical Indemnity Insurance UK

chibueze uchegbu | February 12th, 2022


What is medical indemnity insurance UK and why is it needed? If you’re new to the world of running your own business, or it’s the first time you’ve been tasked with sorting out your yearly insurance cover, you’ll surely have lots of questions.

You will probably be asking yourself, what types of cover do I need? One type of cover we are often asked about is medical indemnity insurance and what medical indemnity insurance actually is.

So let’s take a look at which businesses need medical indemnity insurance, what it covers, and everything else you need to know about this insurance.

To begin with, it’s worth pointing out that medical indemnity insurance is also known and referred to as medical malpractice insurance or cover.

If you see medical malpractice mentioned anywhere, we’re talking about medical indemnity insurance. This should prevent any confusion later down the line.

Overview of Medical Indemnity Insurance UK

In a nutshell, medical indemnity insurance covers you against a breach of your professional duties. If someone believes that there has been a breach of duty of care or omissions, or professional negligence whilst you and your business are carrying out medical work, there is a possibility that the person will make a claim against you.

This work usually involves providing care to your patients and medical indemnity insurance will cover you against legal costs and claims for damages associated with the perceived negligence.

What types of businesses need medical indemnity insurance?

Medical indemnity insurance is a cover relevant to all healthcare providers, including Hospitals, Individual practitioners, mental health clinics, Medical staff suppliers, Obstetric scanning, Aesthetic cosmetic practices, and complementary medical practices.

Medical indemnity insurance is an essential cover that can cover you against legal costs and claims for damages.

Is medical indemnity compulsory?

Medical indemnity insurance for doctors and other registered medical practitioners is a statutory requirement.

Insurance and indemnity is a complex area, which is why it is important to use an insurance broker that has specialist expertise in this field to ensure that you have the right level of protection in place and avoid any gaps in cover, which could lead to serious consequences.

What types of incidents does medical indemnity cover you for?

Whilst you’re working sometimes things don’t go according to plan, even in a healthcare setting. If an incident happens and one of your service users believes you have breached your duty of care, medical indemnity insurance can step in.

Here are some of the common claims* that medical indemnity insurance can cover you for: Misdiagnosis, Failure to diagnose, Surgical errors, Incorrect treatment, Prescription errors, Failure to provide a clean environment, and failure to adequately train doctors and other staff.

Professional Medical Indemnity for Doctors in the UK

Even if you are a safe doctor, indemnity is your extra coverage to protect you as a doctor in the UK in case of clinical negligence claims.

Yes, your NHS Trust will have provided you with coverage, but this coverage is more about keeping the hospital happy and safe than it is about ensuring your well-being.

That being said, this coverage also only takes into account claims from contracted NHS duties. So let’s first list out what IS NOT covered by your NHS professional indemnity:

  • Defense of medical staff in GMC disciplinary proceedings for stopping at a roadside accident, and other Good Samaritan acts not listed in your contract.
  • Clinical trials not covered under legislation.
  • Work for any outside agency on a contractual basis.
  • Work for voluntary or charitable bodies.
  • Work overseas

So at the end of the day, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and by keeping an extra coverage over your work, you are ensuring your security.

What is medical indemnity coverage for doctors in the UK?

We all know that doctors work hard to take care of their patient and they are trained to provide the best possible safe care. But things go wrong.

Medical Indemnity coverage protects a doctor against claims that arise out of professional negligence and breach of duty from the professional services, such as treatment and care that a doctor have provided to patients.

GMC’s Good medical practice requires doctors to have insurance or indemnity in place where necessary. GMC has regulatory powers to check whether doctors have adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity.

They can:

  • Check that any doctor practicing in the UK has adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity cover.
  • Remove a doctor’s license to stop them from practicing altogether, if they learn that they don’t have adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity or if they fail to give us the information asked for.
  • Refuse to grant a license to a doctor if they can’t assure them that they’ll have adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity in place by the time they start practicing in the UK.

A doctor must have adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity in place when they start to practice medicine in the UK.

Under the law, a doctor must have cover against liabilities that may be incurred in practicing medicine having regard to the nature and extent of the risks.

The type and level of insurance or indemnity a doctor requires depends on factors including where a doctor works, whether they are employed (and, if so by whom and for what services) or self-employed, and the nature of work they do.

Does NHS provide professional indemnity to doctors in the UK?

NHS bodies and organizations are financially responsible for the clinical negligence of their employees.

All NHS Trusts/ Health Boards in England, Scotland and Wales are members of the state-backed NHS medical schemes.

In England, indemnity is provided through the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST), which is administered by the NHS Resolution.

In Wales, indemnity is provided through the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts and Health Board by Welsh Risk Pool Services.

In Scotland, indemnity is provided by the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme (CNORIS).

NHS National Services Scotland is the Scheme Manager, with the Central Legal Office providing legal advice and guidance to Health Boards.

In Northern Ireland, each health and social care trust provides its own indemnity, funded by the Department of Health, Social Security and Public Safety.

The legal and professional requirement that all individual doctors hold adequate and appropriate clinical negligence indemnity cover is fulfilled through their Trust/Health Board, either through their membership of an NHS scheme or arranged directly.

But as mentioned earlier, it is still a better option to have additional indemnity coverage to cover all your work scopes.

Is Insurance different to Indemnity?

Indemnity works on the basis that the claim is covered as long as the cover was in place when the incident occurred, rather than when the claim is made.

Insurance is like your car insurance – you are only covered whilst the policy is in place and/or for a defined period after, called “run off”.

Any insurance arrangement needs to ensure cover is provided for any incidents, no matter how long after the incident the claim arises.

The run off period is insufficient in most insurance policies. There can often be a delay in a claim arising particularly in some cases involving children where it can be 10-20 years. The three major Medical Defense Organizations (MDOs) provide indemnity cover and not insurance. Insurance companies may limit the level of cover or have certain exclusions.

 The three key questions to ask about insurance apart from ensuring the cover is adequate are:

  • Will it cover me for criminal investigations?
  • Will it cover me for GMC investigations?
  • How long is the run off period?

So, it’s better to sign up for indemnity, not insurance.

What should be covered by indemnity?

  • Medical Negligence Claims.
  • Criminal and GMC investigations.

BMA (British Medical association) is a trade union and it does not cover medical indemnity for professional negligence claims for doctor in the UK but its function is to protect you in other ways.

From Rota discrepancy, contract checking, dealing with maternity pay to salary related issues to lobbying with related stakeholders regarding the overall well being of doctors in the UK is looked after by BMA.

How to apply for Indemnity coverage?

Firstly, you must decide who to apply with. The organizations most of us tend to go for are as follows:

  • Medical and Dental Defense Union of Scotland (MDDUS).
  • Medical Defense Union (MDU).
  • Medical Protection Society (MPS).

It’s best to obtain quotes from each, and see which company provides you with the coverage you need for the fee you’re willing to pay.

Ensure you complete the applications keeping in mind what your role in the hospital is and your title as well, so that you can get the most accurate quote.

So the steps on how to obtain indemnity coverage are as follows:

  • Decide on an indemnity organization
  • Contact several organizations, through their website in order to obtain a quote. Please only choose ONE to go with. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
  • Provide accurate information in the application
  • Make sure you give your correct role in the hospital, as well as provide the correct information for all of the questions asked.
  • Apply: Select an organization that works best for you, be it on cost, or the level of coverage you hope to receive. In general, all tend to work in the same way, but personal preferences and first-hand reviews should always take precedence to cost.
  • Setting up payment
  • Submit your application and set up a payment system. Direct debit tends to be the easiest.
  • Update as needed: Make sure to update your insurance coverage and profile information as your career progresses and your job changes.

When should I review my indemnity arrangements?

You should do this at regular intervals and whenever your scope of practice, private practice income or employment or contractual arrangements, change.

The terms of your insurance or the scope of your indemnity protection may require you to tell your provider if certain things happen, such as sanctions being imposed on your registration, or if you join the Specialist Register.

In all, you should also know how to be safe doctor in the NHS as this can be a completely new healthcare system for you.

So remember that indemnity is for your safety as well as the safety of your patients. It is something you will want to have but hopefully never use!

How it applies if you are medical personnel in Whales

If you are working as a locum General Practitioner in Wales, you will need to join the All Wales Locum Register and meet the requirements for the use of the All Wales Locum Register.

The Employment Services Division of NWSSP can advise on the application process. The Welsh government has published a statement explaining this.

You will need to maintain membership with an MDO or other indemnity provider or insurer to retain cover in respect of activities and services not covered by CNSGP or GMPI – including non-NHS or private work, inquests, regulatory and disciplinary proceedings, employment and contractual disputes, and non-clinical liabilities.

You must also have appropriate arrangements to cover you for liabilities that arise from your practice as a doctor whenever a claim is brought (such as ‘run off’ cover).

It is important that you assure yourself that you have appropriate arrangements in place for all aspects of your clinical practice.

If you are unsure about your current indemnity arrangements then you should contact your existing indemnity provider or insurer to check and potentially retain or arrange additional cover if necessary.

Insurance and indemnity when you’re working as a GP in Scotland or Northern Ireland

The 2018 General Medical Services Contract in Scotland sets out how the Scottish Government will work with partners, including medical defense organizations, to deliver the best solution for indemnity in Scotland.

Consideration is being given to the indemnity needs of partners, locums and seasonal GPs in the NHS.

However, unless similar schemes are introduced in Scotland, or Northern Ireland, if you are working as a GP in these countries you must arrange adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity as you will not be covered by the CNSGP.

Working as a private or independent GP

If you carry out any private or independent GP practice in any part of the UK, this work will not be covered by the CNSGP. You must arrange adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity.

I’m a locum

As a locum you should check any contract or arrangement that you enter into to make sure you have adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity in place.

If you’re working as a locum for an NHS or HSC body, indemnity for the organization will be provided by a clinical negligence scheme.

Furthermore, If you’re working as a locum GP in England you will be covered by the CNSGP for claims arising from incidents which took place on or after 1 April 2019.

If you are working as a locum GP in Wales, you will need to join the All Wales Locum Register. The Employment Services Division of NWSSP can advise on the application process.

Insurance and indemnity for medico-legal work

If you do medico-legal work (like providing advice, writing medical reports, or giving evidence in connection with a legal action, tribunal or hearing) and this work requires you to hold a license to practice, you must take out adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity.

What do you mean by adequate and appropriate?

The law says appropriate cover is cover against liabilities that may be incurred in practicing as a doctor having regard to the nature and extent of the risks of practicing as such.

What constitutes adequate and appropriate is a complex area and you need insurance or indemnity that covers the full scope of your practice.

Medical defense organizations and other organizations in the commercial insurance market can advise you about what level of insurance or indemnity is adequate and appropriate for your practice.

To get the best possible advice, you must give them accurate and up to date information about the scope and nature of your practice.

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Life insurance for diabetes

Best life insurance for diabetes

chibueze uchegbu | February 11th, 2022


What do you know about life insurance for diabetes? In most cases, if you have diabetes and the condition is under control, you may get life insurance.

However, coverage will almost certainly come at a higher cost than coverage for someone who does not have diabetes.

Life insurance may still provide financial security for your loved ones, regardless of whether or not you have a pre-existing ailment.

Therefore, life insurance is a worthy option irrespective of whether or not you currently have a pre-existing condition.

What are the possible reasons for a life insurance denial?

Providers may be unable to provide life insurance for diabetics in some conditions; for example, not all providers can assist smokers or clients with additional cardiovascular risks, such as angina, heart attack, or stroke.

In other cases, they may want additional information from your primary care physician, for example, if you have diabetes and are presently pregnant or if the findings of your HbA1c test indicate that you have high blood glucose levels.

Factors that determine the cost of life insurance for diabetes

Below are the charges for the different types of diabetes;

The cost determinants of life insurance for people with Type 1 diabetes

Someone with Type 1 diabetes will most certainly have difficulty qualifying, much alone finding affordable coverage when it comes to life insurance.

In part, this is because someone with Type 1 diabetes must always utilize needles or medications to keep the illness under control.

Your life insurance premium will be taken into account by various criteria, including your age, blood sugar levels, food, activity, medication, and whether or not your diabetes is impacting other organs.

The cost determinants of life insurance for people with Type 2 diabetes

Patients with Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, “are far more likely to be uninsurable.” Generally speaking, Type 2 diabetes is more straightforward to control than Type 1 since people with Type 2 diabetes are still making insulin.

Though you may locate life insurance, be prepared to be bombarded with quotations. , having Type 2 diabetes has a “substantial influence” on the cost of life insurance.

In addition, younger candidates with Type 2 diabetes will notice more significant increases in rates than older applicants with the condition.

For example, consider the following for a term life insurance policy with a 20-year term:

  • Women with Type 2 diabetes who are 25 years old spend 215 per cent more on health insurance premiums than their non-diabetic peers.
  • A 55-year-old girl with Type 2 diabetes spends 68 per cent more on health insurance premiums than her non-diabetic peers.

HOW YOUR TYPE OF DIABETES AFFECTS YOUR LIFE INSURANCE

If you have diabetes, you may be able to get life insurance. On the other hand, your coverage options may be restricted, and a policy will almost certainly cost more since insurers may consider you to be a greater risk.

The kind of diabetes you have, in addition to other health problems, will have a considerable influence on how life insurance companies examine your application because each form of diabetes has a distinct impact on your health and therefore requires a different approach.

People with type 1 diabetes

Compared to those with Type 2 diabetes, people with Type 1 diabetes are deemed to be at higher risk, making it more challenging to obtain life insurance.

Type 1 diabetes is considered less controllable by life insurers, mainly because it frequently necessitates insulin to maintain control.

When analyzing risk, life insurance companies consider the age of the diagnosis because a diagnosis later in life implies fewer years during which it will influence your body and health.

Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, is frequently diagnosed in youngsters and teenagers, which means you’d be considered a more significant risk when asking for life insurance.

People with type 2 diabetes

Suppose you have type 2 diabetes and can control it with lifestyle changes or oral medication and have not experienced any problems.

In that case, life insurance companies will consider you to be a reduced risk for them to insure you. Being diagnosed in adulthood increases your chances of being evaluated positively by insurance and the rarity of the diagnosis.

Being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes should not prohibit you from receiving a life insurance policy as long as you are generally healthy and haven’t had any difficulties. However, having the condition will affect your life insurance grade and increase your pay.

Gestational diabetes

Pregnant women can develop gestational diabetes due to hormonal changes in the body; this is usually a transitory illness that disappears shortly after birth.

However, that’s not always the case, and it can lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes in particular females.

As a result, life insurance companies will consider you a higher risk and charge you a higher premium than a woman who does not have gestational diabetes.

If you are already pregnant and have gestational diabetes, you might want to hold off on applying for life insurance coverage several months after giving birth.

The issue may disappear after pregnancy, in which case you’ll have a better chance of qualifying for life insurance and will likely obtain reduced prices as a result.

Types of life insurance policies available for diabetes

Here are the different life insurance policies for diabetes;

Term life insurance 

Term life insurance is often the least expensive form of life insurance to purchase and maintain, and it ensures that your rates will not fluctuate throughout the policy’s term, which can be 10, 15, 20 or 30 years.

It is possible to replace your earnings during your prime working years with the proceeds of a term life insurance policy, which can also assist your family pay off debts.

Permanent life insurance 

The cost of permanent life insurance is higher than term life insurance. Permanent life insurance, such as whole life insurance or universal life insurance, offers a death benefit to your dependents in the event of your death and gives the ability to accumulate cash value within the policy whilst you are alive.

You can utilize the cash value to augment your retirement income or pay for medical expenses if you are disabled.

Permanent life insurance covers you for the rest of your life, as long as you continue to pay the required payments.

Guaranteed issue life insurance

With guaranteed issue life insurance, you will not be turned down for coverage, and you will not be required to undergo a medical exam.

A guaranteed issue life insurance policy maybe your best option as a last resort if you have severe diabetes and are unable to get a regular policy.

Guaranteed issue insurance provides death payments that are progressively higher in value. The death benefit would be reduced if you die during the first two years of owning the policy, and your beneficiaries do not get the whole amount.

Instead, they receive a sum equal to the premiums you paid, plus a tiny amount of interest.

Before you acquire this form of policy, consult with a life insurance professional to see whether you are turned down for other types of coverage.

Guaranteed issue life insurance is often more expensive than different types of life insurance due to the level of coverage you receive.

Group life insurance

It’s also a good idea to make the most of any group life insurance coverage you may have via your job.

This sort of life insurance protects all employees as a group, and none of the individuals is obliged to disclose any medical information about themselves.

Death benefits for group life insurance are often minimal, frequently consisting of a year’s pay or a lump sum.

If you can purchase additional coverage without showing “insurability,” take advantage of this opportunity.

HOW TO FIND THE BEST LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS DIABETES

These considerations will directly impact the types of policies you select as well as the amount of underwriting necessary to qualify.

Policy type

Term life insurance plans are the most affordable cost per dollar of coverage since they are only valid for a defined length of time, such as 10 or 20 years, and do not accrue any monetary value over time.

So, for example, if you’re apprehensive about your children’s ability to pay for college if you die due to diabetes complications, you may want to consider purchasing term insurance that will cover them until they reach the age of majority.

Most term plans also let you convert them into permanent insurance without going through any further underwriting, which means that you would not take diabetes complications into account if your situation changes.

On the other hand, permanent life insurance may be preferable if you are aware that you wish to leave an inheritance or guarantee that your spouse receives assistance regardless of when you die away.

Just keep in mind that permanent life insurance plans that have a cash value component, such as universal and whole life insurance, would be the most expensive choices to consider.

Because you are already paying higher rates due to your diabetes, you may wish to compare the cost of these policies to the price of a guaranteed universal life insurance policy, which is typically more reasonable.

Insured universal plans are less expensive than other types of insurance because they have little or no cash value component, yet they nevertheless provide lifelong coverage.

No health exam versus fully underwritten life insurance

No-medical-exam term insurance plans will typically provide a maximum of $500,000 in coverage, whilst no-medical-exam whole life insurance policies would typically provide a maximum of $50,000 in coverage.

The insurer will still want you to complete a diabetes questionnaire and provide data from your physicians even if you prefer not to have a medical exam.

In other words, even if you do not submit to a paramedical examination, your insurer will very certainly learn whether or not you have poorly managed diabetes or identified with complications.

However, suppose you suspect that you may be suffering from diabetes-related side effects or problems that are not yet detected.

In that case, a no-medical-exam life insurance policy maybe your best option. Consider the following scenario: you’ve been experiencing numbness in your hands and feet but haven’t yet been diagnosed with neuropathy.

Suppose you apply for a fully underwritten term life insurance policy, which is difficult during the paramedical test. In that case, you may not be allowed the opportunity to purchase the policy.

A further benefit of the insurer’s analysis is that the data will be accessible to other life insurance firms, including those that provide no-exam plans.

However, if you first filed for no-medical-exam insurance, the insurer would still consider you a more significant risk owing to your diabetes.

Still, they would only evaluate your risk based on your survey and medical records rather than your physical examination.

When applying for no-exam insurance or fully underwritten coverage, you must address the questions truthfully and completely.

If you fail to do so, they may revoke your life insurance coverage and may refuse your family’s life insurance claims if you die.

FAQs

What Is Diabetic Life Insurance?

Life insurance for diabetics is an agreement in which the person with diabetes pays the insurance company fees. The insurer provides a death benefit to the diabetic’s beneficiary upon the diabetic’s death.

How Much Does Diabetic Life Insurance Cost?

Several factors determine the cost of diabetics life insurance in addition to your attributes, such as your insulin dependency, blood sugar level and control, the length of time since your diagnosis, smoking history, the type of life insurance you desire, and your age at the time of application.

Is life insurance difficult to obtain for people with diabetes?

Since diabetes is frequently associated with other health problems—such as obesity—and is a potential risk for other medical disorders, it might be challenging to acquire affordable life insurance coverage as a person with diabetes.

Which type of insurance is best for people with diabetes?

John Hancock’s Aspire.

Is a high-deductible health plan benefits for people with diabetes?

Patients with diabetes should understand that enrolling in a high-deductible plan puts them at risk of skipping or delaying prescriptions.

Clinicians should know that patients with these plans may struggle to adhere to treatment recommendations.

Final thought on the life insurance for diabetes

Obtaining life insurance may appear complex if you have diabetes — but this is not always the case.

Numerous insurers provide reasonable life insurance for people with diabetes. As a result, do not automatically assume that you are uninsurable. You can locate the correct insurance for you by consulting with an independent broker.

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Best top 5 Types of Disability Insurance

chibueze uchegbu | February 10th, 2022


The present days’ lifestyles have brought humans a ton of risks to contend with. Irrespective of how odd it might seem to some, preparing ahead to tackle those risks is one of the best decisions anyone can make.

One of the ways through which you can prepare for unforeseen circumstances in today’s world is to subscribe to disability insurance.

This insurance provides you with coverage against untold circumstances such as accidents.

When you opt for disability insurance, you’re sure to get part of your income coupled with any medical expenses you might incur during the experience.

Types of Disability Insurance

It’s an insurance that offers your maximum benefits and coverage for both a short and long time period.

In this article, you’ll get to know the different types of disability insurance available. Let’s get started!

Short term disability insurance 

This type of disability insurance replaces a percentage of your income when you experience a temporary injury, which makes it impossible for you to work.

It’s an insurance that’s perfect for events that reduce your capability to perform duties at your workstation.

Events such as back surgery, pregnant teachers giving birth and whatnot are some of the instances where short term disability insurance can come into play.

You don’t necessarily have to be a part of a group to obtain short-term disability insurance because, as an individual, you can always get this coverage as well. As a qualified person for this type of insurance, you’ll get reimbursed for an estimated 60 per cent of your lost wages.

Sometimes, the coverage benefits may be as high as 70 per cent of the lost wages or can be as low as 40 per cent depending on the policy in play by the private insurance company.

You have an elimination period of 14 days before the benefits start, but you can expect to be reimbursed as fast as just seven days.

Long term disability insurance 

On the flip side, long term disability insurance is a type of income protection that is carefully designed to cover serious unforeseen circumstances that may keep an individual out of work for three or more months.

Also, this insurance covers those circumstances that might render the victim incapable of returning to work permanently.

This type of insurance is always referred to as a smart investment for any employee because it secures the financial future of the subscriber. This insurance coverage can be accessed by a private individual or a part of a group under the employee.

You’ll have to commit to making recurring premium payments, which is always a month-to-month affair.

Once you’re committed to this monthly subscription, the insurance company will ensure you’re covered financially when you suffer any long term unforeseen circumstances that make it unable for you to work for a ton of hours daily.

Long term disability insurance takes care of a certain percentage of your income – the actual benefit size is dependent on the policy. On average, the company offers from 60 to 80 per cent of your income.

Supplemental disability insurance 

Supplemental disability insurance is another type of disability insurance that provides coverage for you at the time of illness or injury. This insurance takes off the burden of bills when an illness reared its ugly head against you.

The difference between what you’ll receive from your current long-term disability policy and what you’d need to maintain your present lifestyle due to injury is covered with this type of insurance.

It provides you with coverage benefits that will deal with any trouble you might find yourself in.

You’ll need supplemental disability insurance if you’re looking forward to extending the monthly benefit maximum for insurance coverage. This type of insurance also extends the length of possible claim payments.

Mortgage Disability Insurance

This is an insurance that takes care of your ongoing mortgage payments for a specified period of time if you run into a sickness that makes you unable to perform your work. This is a type of insurance that is purchased with Mortgage Life Insurance.

With this type of insurance, there’s usually a waiting period of 60 days after the initial diagnosis, after which the coverage will kick off.

The coverage continues to run till you reach a designated maximum period of 2 years or till you resume back at work.

Furthermore, the insurance company will pay a maximum monthly benefit plus the disability insurance premium for your mortgage.

The cost of this type of disability insurance is by your age at the time of application and the amount of your mortgage payment – principal and interest inclusive.

Social Security Disability Insurance

Here’s another type of disability insurance that provides coverage for adults who have worked for years but unable to again due to a disability.

With this insurance, you and your family members are insured once subscribed to this because you’ve worked and paid social security taxes long enough to be able to access this coverage.

The level of your coverage with social security disability insurance differs from the others mentioned earlier, as this depends on your lifetime average earnings covered by social security.

Within six months of having the health challenge, this coverage will be disbursed, and it will take not more than one year prior to application.

You’re eligible to apply once you meet the minimum requirements. This also means your family member who is dependent on your will also receive benefits of the coverage because you cannot work for the time being.

Your application for the social security disability insurance will be considered if you cannot work due to an illness if you cannot do the same work as your past work any longer, or the committee decides that you cannot adjust to other work due to your medical conditions and if your expected day of recovery isn’t more than a year.

Final thoughts 

There are many types of disability insurance out there today, but what’s crucial is that you key into one that you believe will cater for your needs the most.

Though the availability of many options can make it a daunting experience for one to pick one, with highlighted points above, you should be able to subscribe for disability insurance that will work best for your needs.

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Disability Insurance for Individuals

chibueze uchegbu | February 10th, 2022


Disability Insurance for Individuals as its name suggests is the type of insurance product that provides income in a situation in which a policyholder is prevented from working and earning an income due to a disability.

In the United States, individuals can obtain disability insurance from the government through the Social Security System. They can also purchase individual disability insurance from private insurers.

How Disability Insurance Works

Most times, insurance products will protect against a specific loss, such as when a property and casualty insurance plan reimburses the policyholder for the value of the stolen property.

However, in the case of disability insurance, this compensation relates to the lost income caused by a disability.

For example, if a worker earned $40,000 per year prior to becoming disabled, and if their disability stops them from continuing to work, their disability insurance would compensate them for a portion of their lost income provided that they qualify.

In this sense, disability insurance essentially covers the opportunity cost of the now-disabled worker.

In practice, there are many conditions that a policyholder must fulfill in order to receive these payouts. This is particularly true in regard to the U.S. Social Security System.

To qualify for government-sponsored disability insurance, applicants must prove that their disability is so severe that it prevents them from engaging in any type of meaningful work at all.

By contrast, some private plans only require the applicant to demonstrate that they can no longer continue in the same line of work that they were previously engaged in.

The Social Security System also requires applicants to demonstrate that their disability is expected to last for at least 12 months or that it is expected to result in death.

As with all types of insurance, disability insurance plans will always carry more expensive premiums if their terms and conditions are more favorable to the policyholder. On the other hand, plans with less generous terms will typically carry lower insurance premiums.

Some of the key features that affect insurance premiums in disability insurance plans include the length of the elimination period, which is the length of time that the applicant must wait after becoming disabled before they can begin receiving benefits accrued; the benefit period, which is how long those benefits continue to be paid; and how strict the definition of “disability” is under the policy.

The cost of Disability Insurance

On a rough estimate, disability insurance typically costs about 2% of the annual salary of the person being insured.

Of course, the actual amount will heavily depend on the insurance carrier and on policy features such as those discussed above.

Different individuals will have different preferences in terms of how much they are willing to pay in exchange for greater or poorer protections from potential disability.

To better bring home the point, consider two hypothetical workers. Worker P is a professional working in a highly specialized field.

It took Worker P ten years of post-secondary education to become qualified in their field, and this has allowed them to generate a relatively large income of $250,000 per year. Worker Q, on the other hand, is a high-school graduate who regularly switches between jobs and earns about $30,000 per year.

Worker P knows that, if they become disabled, they may still be able to work in another field, but this would very likely require a significant loss of income. For this reason, they decide to purchase a relatively expensive disability insurance plan that has a flexible definition of disability.

Because of Worker A’s high income, they can easily afford their relatively high premiums. Worker Q, on the other hand, decides to opt for a plan with lower premiums even if that plan has a stricter definition of disability.

In addition to having fewer resources available to pay for premiums, Worker Q is also less reluctant to work in an area outside of their current occupation, since the nature of their work is less specialized.

Types of Disability Insurance

  • Short-Term Disability (STD)
  • Long-Term Disability (LTD)

Short-Term Disability

These policies have a waiting period of 0 to 14 days with a maximum benefit period of no longer than two years while Long-Term Disability policies have a waiting period of several weeks to several months with a maximum benefit period ranging from a few years to the rest of your life.

Disability policies have two different protection features that are important to understand:

Non- cancelable: it means the policy cannot be canceled by the insurance company, except for nonpayment of premiums.

This gives you the right to renew the policy every year without an increase in the premium or a reduction in benefits.

Guaranteed renewable: this gives you the right to renew the policy with the same benefits and not have the policy canceled by the company.

However, your insurer has the right to increase your premiums as long as it does so for all other policyholders in the same rating class as you.

In addition to the traditional disability policies, there are several options you should consider when purchasing a policy. Your insurance company gives you the right to buy additional insurance at a later time.

Coordination of benefits

The amount of benefits you receive from your insurance company is dependent on other benefits you receive because of your disability.

Your policy specifies a target amount you will receive from all the policies combined, so this policy will make up the difference not paid by other policies.

Cost of living adjustment (COLA) The COLA increases your disability benefits over time based on the increased cost of living measured by the Consumer Price Index. You will pay a higher premium if you select the COLA.

Residual or partial disability rider; This provision allows you to return to work part-time, collect part of your salary and receive a partial disability payment if you are still partially disabled.

Return of premium

This provision requires the insurance company to refund part of your premium if no claims are made for a specific period of time declared in the policy.

Waiver of premium provision; this clause means that you do not have to pay premiums on the policy after you’re disabled for 90 days.

Long-term disability

Long-term disability (LTD) insurance helps protect your ability to provide for your family and make sure that you have enough money to pay for essentials if you are too sick or injured to work.

But not all illnesses or injuries qualify as disabling conditions that would cause disability insurance to kick in.

Having some long-term disability insurance examples will help you figure out how long-term disability insurance works. Long-term disability insurance benefits may expire upon termination of employment.

Long-term disability insurance examples are a good way to show the benefits of long-term disability insurance.

Because not every medical condition or injury qualifies as disabling or is considered disabling enough to trigger the payout of limited insurance benefits. examples can be used to demonstrate the types of illnesses or injuries that may qualify for benefits.

When an insurance company is evaluating whether or not your condition is considered to be a long-term disability there are many factors that go into making that decision. That’s why it’s important that you have medical records that accurately show all of your symptoms as well as medical tests and other assessments.

For example, if your pain level is high and that makes it impossible to sleep so you have fatigue in addition to other symptoms that could be more disabling than just the original injury or condition that you have.

As a general rule, conditions that are recognized by the Social Security Administration as disabling should also qualify as disabling conditions for long-term disability insurance purposes, although that may not be true for every condition.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a list of the conditions it considers disabling that contains more than 200 conditions and any special requirements that must be met.

The conditions and requirements are published in the SSA’s Blue Book, which you can search through online to see if the condition that you have is listed in the book.

When the Social Security Administration is evaluating whether or not a condition is disabling when the person doesn’t meet all of the requirements that are in the SSA’s Blue Book they look at factors like:

Your age: If you’re older and become sick or injured it may be harder for you to go back to work than it would be for a younger person, so your age plays a factor in whether or not your condition is considered disabling.

Your education: If you haven’t had any formal education in any other field than the one you’re currently working in, you will be less likely to be able to pivot to another type of work. If you can’t do the work that you were educated to do, it’s more likely that you’ll be considered to be disabled.

Your work history: If you have been working in the same type of job your whole career or for more than ten years and you have no training in any other types of work when you can no longer do that kind of work, it makes your case that you are disabled stronger.

Your medical condition: If you develop a progressive illness that will only get worse as time goes on, that will impact whether or not you’re considered disabled because it means that you won’t recover and be able to go back to work.

No matter what your medical condition or injury is if it’s something that is progressive it’s disabling because there is no chance you will recover and be able to work again the way you did before your condition began.

What medical conditions typically qualify for long-term disability insurance?

When people think about not being able to work for a long time or becoming permanently disabled they usually think about being injured in a car crash or some other kind of accident.

But there are many illnesses that are typically considered disabling, especially if they make it impossible for you to continue doing the only type of work you’ve ever known.

What medical conditions qualify for long-term disability?

There are dozens of health conditions that may qualify someone to receive disability benefits from their long-term disability insurance.

Autoimmune disorders like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, and Fibromyalgia can be permanently disabling. So can diseases like HIV/AIDS, Degenerative Disc Diseases, and Crohns’s Disease.

Mental health conditions like Depression and Bi-polar Disorder also can qualify as permanently disabling if they are severe enough.

There are also conditions that can directly impact someone’s ability to work, like Osteoarthritis, which are considered permanently disabling in some circumstances.

There are medical conditions in every branch of medicine that typically qualify as permanently disabling like:

Neurological Disorders: Neuropathy, Parkinson’s, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Alzheimer’s (early onset), Bell’s palsy

Respiratory Disorders: Asthma, COPD, Emphysema, Sarcoidosis, Pneumonia, Chronic lung infections.

Cardiovascular Disorders: Chronic Venous Insufficiency, Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Coronary Artery Disease, Stroke, Periphery Artery Disease, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Back pain Carpal Tunnel Disorder

Fractures: Herniated Disc, Arthritis, Spina, Bifida, Tendonitis Sciatica

Other medical conditions like burns, vision loss, macular degeneration, and hearing loss may be considered to be disabling if they meet certain criteria.

Disability Insurance Benefits

There are other conditions and injuries that are considered disabling too, like some types of cancer. What illness qualifies for long-term disability depends on factors like the severity of the condition and how much medical evidence you have.

Whether or not a condition is qualified as disabling often depends on the details of your unique situation.

If your cancer is treatable then you might qualify for disability insurance benefits while you are in treatment and can’t work but you might be expected to go back to work once the treatment is successfully finished.

But the same cancer in another person might not respond to treatment and then that person would be permanently disabled.

That’s why it’s critically important to have as much medical documentation of your condition as you can get.

Make sure that you have multiple copies of any test results like MRIs, or blood tests, or PET scans. Biopsies, X-rays, and other medical test results will help prove that your condition is going to make it impossible for you to work.

Save all of the medical documentation that you are given by your doctor or the hospital and request your medical history from your primary treatment facility so that you will have a copy on hand.

What other scenarios qualify for long-term disability insurance?

If your medical illness is a pre-existing condition long-term disability insurance may not pay out any benefits.

It’s very important to get a long-term disability insurance policy in place as soon as you can so that if you do develop an illness, it’s not diagnosed before you buy insurance. Anything that is diagnosed before the long-term disability policy is active is considered a pre-existing condition and may not be covered.

How to apply for long-term disability insurance & Insights

All insurance is designed to help protect you against things that might happen, but long-term disability insurance can only help you protect you against qualifying illnesses or injuries that you don’t have yet.

Pre-existing conditions or injuries aren’t covered. Buying a long-term disability insurance policy now while you are healthy is the best way to prepare for a future where that might not always be the case.

If you haven’t already purchased long-term disability insurance you shouldn’t wait to get a policy. You can get a long-term disability insurance quote from your broker so that you apply immediately. You can sign up after you might have studied and understood the terms and conditions of the policy document.

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Top 4 Best Health Insurance Companies In Massachusetts

Pharm. Somtochukwu | February 7th, 2022


Today, we will be looking at the Health Insurance Companies In Massachusetts. Massachusetts is well known for its innovation due to its historical significance and revolutionary spirit.

The American Industrial Revolution was also born in Massachusetts. That drive for improvement and ingenuity continues to this day, with residents receiving some of the best healthcare in the country.

If you’re looking for the best health insurance companies in Massachusetts, this article will assist you in determining the best plan for you.

What Exactly Is Health Insurance?

Health insurance is a contract in which an insurer agrees to pay some or all of a person’s medical expenses in exchange for a premium.

More specifically, health insurance typically pays for the insured’s surgical, medical, prescription drug, and occasionally dental expenses.

Health insurance can either reimburse the insured for medical expenses incurred as a result of illness or injury, or it can pay the care provider directly.

It is frequently included in employer benefit packages to entice quality employees, with premiums partially covered by the employer but frequently deducted from employee paychecks.

With certain exceptions for S corporation employees, the cost of health insurance premiums is deductible to the payer, and the benefits received are tax-free.

The Average Plan Cost Of Health Insurance Companies In Massachusetts

For health insurance, Massachusetts residents pay an average of $385 per month per person. There are some things you can do to help reduce this cost.

Insurance companies consider a number of factors when determining how much you’ll pay:

Age

Because older people have more health problems, you may pay more for health insurance when you’re 50 than when you’re 20 or 30.

Tobacco use

Smokers pay a higher premium for health insurance than nonsmokers. In Massachusetts, smoking accounts for slightly more than 13% of the population.

If you smoke, there are numerous free and low-cost programs available to assist you in quitting. And if you don’t already smoke, don’t start. You will help to protect your health while also saving money on health insurance.

Body mass index (BMI)

A high BMI can be a risk factor for a number of preventable chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Reduce your BMI by exercising regularly and eating healthy foods.

Benefits Of Health Insurance Plans

The five major benefits of purchasing a health care plan are as follows:

1. Indemnity for medical expenses

The primary goal of medical insurance is to ensure that you receive the best medical care possible without putting your finances at risk.

Health insurance plans protect you from high medical costs. It covers, among other things, hospitalization expenses, daycare procedures, domiciliary expenses, and ambulance charges. You can thus concentrate on your quick recovery rather than worrying about such high costs.

2. Protection against critical illnesses  

Critical illness insurance is now available from insurance companies as a standalone policy or as a rider.

A policy of this type covers life-threatening diseases such as kidney failure, bone marrow transplant, stroke, and limb loss, among others.

You are entitled to a lump sum payment if you are diagnosed with any of the critical illnesses on your policy’s predetermined list. This sum may be used to cover the costs of your illness-related treatment, daily expenses, and any other financial obligations.

3. Benefit from a cashless claim

Many insurance companies provide a cashless claim option. You will not have to make any out-of-pocket payments under this arrangement.

Your insurer and the hospital will negotiate the hospitalization costs. To be eligible for this benefit, you must be admitted to one of the insurer’s network hospitals. To use the cashless facility, fill out a pre-authorization form and show your health insurance card.

4. Additional protection in addition to your employer’s coverage

Many businesses provide group insurance to their employees. However, such policies are not tailored to the specific needs of each individual.

Furthermore, you may be left uninsured in the event of a job loss or change in employment. Purchase a health insurance policy on your own to protect yourself against such an occurrence.

Types Of Plans Health Insurance Companies In Massachusetts Offer

Here are some of the different types of plans health insurance companies in Massachusetts offer.

Health Maintenance Organization

HMO plans include hospitalization, medical care, and preventive care. You are only covered if you receive your care from a provider in the HMO’s network (except in a case of emergency).

Most HMO plans require you to pay a copayment for each covered service. For example, you might pay $30 for an office visit and the HMO will cover the rest.

Plans with Preferred Providers (PPP)

Preferred provider plans typically include hospital, medical, and preventive care coverage. These plans include a network of preferred providers that you can use, but they also include coverage for services provided by non-network providers. PPPs will cover a greater portion of the cost if you use a network provider.

After copays and deductibles, the plan pays 100% of a network provider’s service but only 80% of an out-of-network (OON) provider’s service.

It is important to note that if you choose to go OON while enrolled in a PPP, your provider may balance bill you for the entire cost of the procedure.

Major Medical Plans/Indemnity Insurance

Major medical plans typically cover hospital and medical expenses incurred as a result of an accident or illness.

Some may also include preventive care and office visits. These plans typically pay a percentage of your covered expenses.

For example, suppose the plan pays for 80% of your hospital stay and you pay the remaining 20%. You are covered by any licensed health provider under these plans.

Best Health Insurance Companies In Massachusetts

Here is a list of the best health insurance companies in Massachusetts listed below to get a quote and see if the healthcare provider you want accepts that brand of health insurance.

1. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Massachusetts

The first of the best health insurance companies in Massachusetts is the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts is well-known as a full-service health insurance provider, offering HMO and PPO plans to fit a variety of needs and budgets.

Before you sign up for BCBS health insurance, you can easily check to see if your preferred healthcare practitioner accepts BCBS health insurance through a comprehensive online search network of doctors and hospitals.

Obtaining a plan is also simple, and you have a number of options to further customize your health insurance needs for yourself and your family.

2. Fallon Community Health Plan

Members of the Fallon Community Health Plan have a variety of options, including an HMO and a POS plan.

You may be eligible for a subsidy to help pay for your insurance depending on your household type and income level. Prices for many common healthcare requirements are also very low.

Certain prescriptions are available for as little as $5, while office visits with your primary care provider have a $10 copay.

If you require lab services, such as blood tests, there is also a $0 copay, which allows you to save money while staying healthy. This makes it one of the best health insurance companies in Massachusetts.

3. TUFTS Health Insurance

Tufts is among the few companies to receive a perfect rating from the National Center for Quality Assurance, which independently rates private health insurance companies, the Tufts health plan’s quality of care is highly rated by its customers in terms of the quality of care as well as the rapidity of response to getting an appointment and getting claims taken care of quickly.

Tufts offers a variety of health plans, the most common of which is the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). this is undoubtedly one of the best health insurance companies in Massachusetts.

4. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Services, Inc.

Members of Harvard Pilgrim health plans receive a free annual physical exam and flu shot, as well as discounts and reimbursements for health and wellness services such as gym memberships.

Chiropractic and acupuncture visits are also available, making this a well-rounded plan if you want health insurance that rewards you for making the effort to live a healthier lifestyle. This is among the best health insurance companies in Massachusetts.

Tier Level Of Health Insurance Companies In Massachusetts

Here is an explanation of each level of coverage and who it is best for to assist you in selecting a tier level that fits your needs.

Silver plans

It is recommended that you start your search for health insurance with Silver metal tier plans. The premiums and deductibles for these policies are low.

For example, the cheapest Silver plan has a $74 monthly premium that is $74 higher than the cheapest Bronze plan but a $1,200 lower deductible.

Due to cost-sharing reductions, a Silver plan may be the most cost-effective health policy in some situations.

These discounts reduce the amount you pay for deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. However, cost-sharing reductions are only available if your household income is less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

Gold and Platinum plans

In terms of monthly premiums, Gold and Platinum plans are the most expensive on the Massachusetts marketplace, but they have lower deductibles and shared costs.

As a result, these policies are best if you anticipate having a lot of medical expenses and will need to use your health insurance frequently. One example is if you have a medical condition and require a costly prescription to be refilled on a monthly basis.

Bronze

Bronze plans are the least expensive, but they have higher deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.

Because of the deductible, you may end up spending a lot of money on minor medical expenses before coverage kicks in.

As a result, Bronze is best for young, healthy people who want emergency protection in the event of a very expensive medical issue.

Massachusetts short-term health insurance

Short-term health insurance is not available for purchase in Massachusetts, and any company offering one of these products is breaking the law.

The main reason for this is that the state requires all health insurance products to meet strict guaranteed-issue and rating requirements. Because they are medically underwritten, short-term plans do not meet the guaranteed-issue standard.

How to get a Health Insurance Policy in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, you can purchase a health plan in a variety of ways. Many people obtain their health care coverage through their place of employment. There are several other options for people who are unable to do so.

Using Your Employer or a Union

Over 70% of all employers in Massachusetts provide health insurance as a benefit to their employees.

Most of these employers pay a portion of the premium and provide a selection of health plans. You can select the health plan that is best for you from the options provided.

Student Health Insurance Plan for Qualified Students (SHIP)

If you are a student at a Massachusetts college or university, you can purchase a health insurance plan through your school. This SHIP id is only available to students and is only valid while you are enrolled.

Obtaining Directly from an Insurance Company

Residents of Massachusetts can purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company. And if you have a medical condition, the company cannot refuse you.

The company may occasionally direct you to purchase their health plan through an intermediary. A company that handles enrollment and premiums is known as an intermediary.

MassHealth

You may be eligible for MassHealth if you meet certain income requirements. This is a Medicaid program for eligible people that is funded by state and federal taxes.

Medicare

You may be eligible for Medicare if you are over the age of 65 or have a certain type of disability. More information is available by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security Office.

Other Government Health Insurance Programs

Through public health programs, the state and federal governments provide lower-cost health insurance to certain people.

This includes programs such as Indian Health Services, the Peace Corps, CommonHealth, Healthy Start, and others.

Avoiding unlicensed Health Plans

It is critical to consider the differences between your options when selecting a health plan. Some plans offer more generous coverage, while others may leave you liable for large medical bills. Shopping for health insurance can be difficult, but keep in mind that if a plan sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Discount

Do not buy a discount plan as an alternative to health insurance coverage. Discount plans charge a monthly fee in exchange for reduced-cost access to health-care services.

These plans are not insurance and will not pay for health-care services if you require them. Instead, they allow you to receive a discount on some of your medical expenses.

Discount plans may appear to be a low-cost health plan, but they are not insurance and do not satisfy your Massachusetts “individual mandate” requirement for health coverage.

Before deciding on a health plan, read the fine print

Before you sign up or pay any fees, always carefully review the plan’s benefits and limitations. That way, you’ll know ahead of time if the plan is right for you and your family.

Inquire about what benefits the plan covers and does not cover, as well as what benefits have limitations.

Examine the Warning Signs of a Scam

Do not be duped by phony health insurance plans sold on the internet or through unsolicited faxes or phone calls.

When using the internet, you should always exercise caution. Examine any website thoroughly for disclaimers like “this is not insurance” or “not available in Massachusetts.”

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Health insurance in Washington State

Health insurance in Washington State

chibueze uchegbu | February 7th, 2022


If you’re seeking information about health insurance in Washington state (not Washington, D.C.), then you’re in the right place.

Washington stands out as one of the first states to have a state-based health insurance program since the year 2011.

Residents can use the exchange to enroll in private health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (known as Obamacare) as well as public health coverage via Medicaid.

Choosing an insurance plan that meets your needs can be very cumbersome. The first step is to understand the difference between public health insurance vs. private health insurance. Which one is right for you?

Overall, most Americans are enrolled in a private health insurance plan, according to the US Census Bureau.

The rest may have health coverage through a public or government program like Medicaid or Medicare.

Employer-based coverage continues to be the most common, followed by 19% of Americans with Medicaid and 17% with Medicare.

Private Health Insurance

Private health insurance can be said to be any health insurance coverage that is offered by a private entity instead of a state or federal government. Insurance brokers and companies both fall into this category.

Here below are ways through which you can enroll in a private plan:

  • Licensed agents, such as e-Health
  • Health insurance offered through an employer (such as a group health plan)
  • Federal or state market place plans

Some private health insurance plans offer benefits that meet the minimum coverage requirements of the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). Other plans might offer different benefits, such as short-term or catastrophic coverage.

These plans may not count as private health insurance options, such as short-term plans and catastrophic coverage, may offer different benefits, but may not count as a qualified Health Plan under the Affordable Care Act.

Until 4 years ago, you might have had to pay a tax penalty if you had a plan that did not count as qualifying coverage. As at 2019, that penalty no longer exists.

Public vs. Private Health Insurance

Public health insurance is a choice for some Americans and includes these options:

Medicare:  federal program for adults over the age of 65 and certain disabled people.

Medicaid: a state-run public health insurance program that caters to low-income individuals.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), a subset of Medicaid, which offers a highly subsidized low- or no-cost health insurance for children.

One difference between public and private health insurance is eligibility. Qualifying criteria for public health insurance options include age and income. If you do not qualify, you can get private health insurance, and eHealth can help!

There are specialized brokers to help you find plans in any state, as well as a wide range of plans and a variety of services to help you manage your healthcare coverage.

Types of private insurance

Another difference between public and private insurance is the various types of private insurance plans that are available.

  • Enroll in a group plan through an employer
  • Select your own private plan through licensed agents at eHealth
  • Choose a plan through the state or federal marketplace
  • Enroll in short term coverage if you qualify

Finding the best health insurance coverage in Washington State 

The best health insurance coverage you can go for will depend on your income bracket and medical needs.

Besides individual health insurance, Washington offers Medicaid coverage through its Apple Health program.

Furthermore, the state has passed legislation that expands Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Households with incomes that fall below the federal poverty level can sign up for the federal government funded health care.

Before choosing a plan, make sure you analyze the premiums and deductibles for each tier and make your decision based on affordability bearing in mind your income level and savings.

Below, we have provided an in-depth look at each metal tier and broken down situations in which they make the most sense.

Start with Silver plans

It is best you start your search with Silver plans, as these policies have moderate premiums and deductibles. This policy would work best in most situations unless you are very healthy or expect a number of expensive medical bills.

In that case, Bronze or Gold coverage may work better for you. Silver policies are the only health insurance plans that offer cost-sharing reductions if your income is below the federal poverty level.

A cost-sharing reduction is an added benefit that decreases the amount you pay for co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles. For this reason, Silver tier policies can sometimes be the most cost-effective plan offered on the health insurance exchange.

Bronze: Best for young, healthy individuals

Bronze plans are the cheapest plans offered on the Washington Health plan finder marketplace. Even though these plans have a low premium, they have high deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, which make reaching the co-insurance level difficult.

For this reason, Bronze tier policies are best if you are healthy and want coverage in case of an extremely expensive, unexpected medical expense. Bronze plans are available to anyone in Washington.

Gold plans: Best if you have high medical expenses

The top and most expensive tier offered in Washington is Gold. These plans works best if you expect to have high medical costs during the year in view.

In this case, since the deductible is the lowest available, you would be able to reach it quickly and then have access to co-insurance with your health plan provider.

Private Health insurance in Washington State 

How Much Does Private Health Insurance Cost? Insurance companies decide on premiums based on several factors.

These include:

Your age: The older we are, the more likely we are to need healthcare. To account for this, insurance companies charge higher premiums to older plan members.

Whether you use tobacco: Smoking and using tobacco increases the risk of developing health issues.

Your location: Where you live has an impact on your health. It also impacts how much competition there is among insurance companies and how expensive it is to provide healthcare.

The number of people on your plan: An individual plan is less expensive than a family plan.

Insurance companies can’t charge you a higher premium based on your gender or on your specific health history. You can’t be charged a higher rate if you have diabetes, for example.

Many people get private health insurance through an employer. Employers typically pay for part of the costs of health insurance and employees pay for the rest.

Employees paid an average of $1,427 annually for individual coverage in 2018, according to The Commonwealth Fund.

They paid an average of $5,431 for a family plan. This comes to $118 per month for an individual plan and $452 per month for a family plan.

Private health insurance purchased on your own (not through an employer) is significantly more expensive.

According to eHealth Insurance, the average cost of an individual plan purchased on your own is $440 per month. The average cost of a family plan is $1,168. This comes to $5,280 per year for an individual and $14,016 per year for a family.

The first step to finding affordable health insurance is getting multiple quotes. There are sites that have a simple tool that allows you to get quotes fast by entering your ZIP code.

As you review your quotes, keep in mind that every insurance company determines its rates differently. The cost of health insurance is about more than just your premium, though. Here are a few other costs to consider:

Deductible: Your deductible has a big influence on your health costs. Your deductible is the amount you pay for covered health care before your plan starts paying.  The average deductible in 2018 was $4,328 for an individual plan and $8.352 for a family plan, according to eHealth Insurance.

Copayment: Your copayment, or copay, is a fixed amount you pay for a service. You might have  $10 copay for a doctor’s visit and a $20 copay for a specialist visit.

Coinsurance: Coinsurance is like a copay, but instead of paying a fixed amount, you pay a percentage of the cost. If your plan has a coinsurance of 20% and your doctor visit costs $200, you would pay $40.

Out-of-pocket maximum: Your out-of-pocket maximum is the most you would pay out-of-pocket in a year.

This total doesn’t include your premiums. Plans sold on your state’s health insurance Marketplace have a maximum out-of-pocket limit of $8,200 for individual plans as of 2020. The maximum out-of-pocket limit for family plans is $16,400.

HMO vs. PPO vs. EPO vs. POS

Another factor to consider when it comes to how to get health insurance is the plan type. Here are the 4 most common types of plans:

HMO: An HMO is a health maintenance organization. With an HMO, you choose a primary care doctor.

If you need to see a specialist, you typically need to get a referral from your primary care provider. HMOs have a provider network. You may not be able to see providers outside of your network. If your plan allows you to see out-of-network providers, you will have to pay more.

PPO: A PPO is a preferred provider organization. It allows you more flexibility than an HMO. You typically don’t need a referral to see a specialist. You can see providers outside of the provider network, but you will pay a bit more.

EPO: An EPO is an exclusive provider organization. It combines aspects of an HMO and a PPO. You have the more restrictive network associated with an HMO.

If you see an out-of-network provider, you pay significantly more. You also have the freedom to see specialists without a referral.

POS: A POS is a point-of-service plan. You can see any provider in your network without getting a referral. If you want to see an out-of-network provider, you do need a referral.

Private Health Insurance carriers in Washington State 

Choosing private health insurance is a big decision. You can get multiple quotes fast using your ZIP, but which plans are the best?

It all depends on your health needs. You can choose from 15 Washington health insurance companies for 2022 individual and family plans.

Thirteen offer plans on the exchange. Here are the 15 health insurance companies, based on our research:

2022 Washington Health Insurance Carriers

  • Asuris Northwest Health
  • Bridge Span Health
  • Community Health Network of WA
  • Coordinated Care
  • Health Alliance North West*
  • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest
  • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington
  • Life Wise Health Plan
  • Molina Healthcare of Washington
  • Pacific Source Health Plans
  • Premera Blue Cross
  • Providence Health Plan
  • Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Orego
  • Regence BlueShield
  • United Health care of Oregon

The Comparative Advantages of some key insurance firms in Washington state

  1. Best for Travel: Blue Cross Blue Shield

If you’re somebody who often travels for work or who splits time between locations, Blue Cross Blue Shield is the plan best suited for you. Blue Cross Blue Shield has plans and network providers in every state.

It also has reliable coverage options if you travel or live overseas. Blue Cross Blue Shield is made up of independent companies, so you choose a plan that serves your area and get the local company informed about your travel or other needs. This one of the most things to consider about health insurance in Washington state.

  1. Best for HMO: Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente isn’t available everywhere, but if you fall under one of its service areas, it’s worth considering. Kaiser Permanente is unique in that it’s both an insurance plan and a care provider.

This means better coordination when it comes to your welfare. In some of Kaiser’s service areas, you can go to a Kaiser facility for routine check. You can see multiple providers and pick up prescriptions all in the same place.

  1. Best for senior citizens: United Health care

Do senior citizens need private health insurance? Most of them have Medicare, right? Medicare covers a lot, but it has a lot of out-of-pocket costs, too.

Many senior citizens purchase a private Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan to work with their public Medicare coverage. United Health care has partnered with AARP to offer a variety of plans for senior citizens.

It offers Medicare Advantage plans, which typically have low premiums and include prescription coverage. It also offers Medicare Supplements, which typically have higher premiums but lower deductibles.

  1. Best for Preventive Care: Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare has been in business since 1980. It was founded by a doctor to serve the needs of low-income patients.

Today, Molina serves patients of all income levels with an emphasis on preventive care and wellness. It has an extensive network of providers and hospitals. Its plans provide affordable coverage for your day-to-day healthcare needs.

  1. Best for Availability: Cigna

Some insurance companies can be pretty difficult to contact. They might only be available during business hours, which is when most of us are actively at work.

Cigna is available 24/7, which makes it easy to talk to someone when the need arises. It also offers a user-friendly mobile app so that you can access your insurance info on the go. Cigna offers affordable co-pays and low-cost preventive care.

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Best health insurance companies in Michigan

chibueze uchegbu | February 6th, 2022


Unarguably, health insurance companies in Michigan are doing excellently well for the residents of the state.

A saying goes thus, a healthy state is a wealthy state” and this could be true for the state of Michigan. The last we checked, more than two million Michigan residents enrolled in Medicaid healthcare.

Also, a little over two hundred and seventy-six thousand buy themselves individual health care in Michigan’s healthcare marketplace. Over a million residents got their healthcare coverage from their employers.

Now, no law in Michigan state punishes you if you don’t have health insurance. Still, almost the whole population has gone out of their way to ensure their health. Talk about a state that takes its health seriously, talk about the state of Michigan.

Speaking of health insurance companies in Michigan, there are different types of them. And as they are different, so are their services.

Firstly there are some very affordable health insurance companies in Michigan and there are very expensive health insurance companies too.

However, being affordable does not mean they do not offer very good healthcare services to their consumers.

More so, aside from the privately-owned healthcare companies in Michigan, the government provides free and very low-cost healthcare services for families and individuals who can not afford to use the private healthcare marketplace.

Since 2013, more families opted for the free healthcare plan, and that has greatly reduced the number of residents without healthcare coverage in the state.

Health insurance companies in Michigan

Moving forward, we have listed some good healthcare companies in Michigan. Good here means, great services, affordable healthcare packages, and quality general healthcare.

Blue Care Network:

Blue Care Network of Michigan came out of Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance company. The company provides its consumers the wellness and disease management services.

Also, their health care insurance package includes supplemental Medicare and indemnity. Blue Care Network works with about one hundred and thirty thousand hospitals and nineteen thousand primary and specialty physicians across the state.

It is among the largest Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) in the state of Michigan. They also provide health care services to over seven hundred thousand residents.

Address20500 Civic Center Dr, Southfield, MI 48076, United States
Phone+1 800-662-6667
Website: click here
Founded: 1981

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan:

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is a non-profit company and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. They offer a wide range of healthcare services to the residents of Michigan.

In 2016, the health care company received approval from the state government to offer forty-four health product options in the state.

Blue Cross Blue Shield offers the lowest priced Catastrophic health plan in about seventy-two counties in Michigan.

HeadquartersDetroit, Michigan, United States
Founded1929
Type of businessIndependent

Oscar:

Oscar health Inc was created in 2012. It began selling health insurance in 2013.

Though it has its headquarters in New York City, Oscar has wide coverage in the state of Michigan. Its customer service and benefits are among the best in the state.

Though it’s still a start-up company, it provides health care services to a particular number of states in America.

In Michigan, Oscar health care provides health care plans in four different metal tiers which are: platinum, bronze, silver, and gold.

These plans come with specific rules like, as you pay for your medical services, you would reach your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum at the same time.

Furthermore, Oscar provides health care insurance that you can fully customize but it depends on the number of employees that they have.

Once you buy an Oscar health care plan, you will receive a welcome kit that includes policy benefits.

These benefits are gym membership repayment of $409 per year and up to $209 per covered spouse.

Additionally, Oscar provides you with a concierge team that will help with your insurance. They are a group of well-trained professionals who can provide you with on-demand help during emergencies, urgent hospital needs, find you doctors, and answer your questions.

HealthMolina:

HealthMolina was established in 1980. It is another good health care insurance company that offers health insurance coverage to individuals through government programs.

The government programs that aid the services of HealthMolina are Medicare and Medicaid.

Physical health plan:

Address1400 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912, United States
Phone+1 517-364-8400
Website: Visit here

Physical health plan company offers permanent life insurance coverages for their customers throughout the United States. They make this life insurance plan modifiable for anyone in need of it.

Life Insurance plans are lengthy plans that run for like 35 years and they will expire. At the end of the coverage, you might want to renew it or drop it.

Total Health Care:

Total Health Care offers plans for disease and complex case coverage for their customers with chronic diseases. They offer services that suit small businesses, large businesses, and individuals and families.

Total Health Care also runs a program called Smarter Health Wellness Programs. This program helps you stay as healthy as you should be.

More so, Total Health Care has a contract with the state of Michigan to provide patients with coverage through Medicaid and the state’s Child program.

They work with many pharmaceutical companies to provide pharmacy services.

Address: 3011 W Grand Blvd #1600, Detroit, MI 48202, United States
Phone: +1 800-826-2862
website: Visit here

UnitedHealthcare:

UnitedHealthcare is a multinational health care insurance company and number eight in the world for largest health care company.

It was established in 1977 and has a market capitalization of $400.7 billion. UnitedHealthcare provides commercial group insurance across the United States. So, the company has an HMO plan with access to specialists and out-of-network coverage.

McLaren Health Plan:

Mc Laren Health Plan has been operating with license under the state of Michigan Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).

It has been in business since 1998 and now, providing health coverage for two hundred and sixty thousand members.

In 2015, McLaren Health Plan was given the license to operate and serve every county in the lower arm of Michigan state.

Furthermore, McLaren received the pinnacle award in 2013. This award was from the Michigan Association of Health Plans.

Address3245 Beecher Rd G, Flint, MI 48532, United States
Phone+1 888-327-0671
website: Visit here

More so, the company offers the following services:

Large group health plan: Has to be purchased directly from the company. They have plans made for employers with fifty and above employees.

Small group health plan: you can purchase directly from McLaren Health plan. It was made for employers with fifty or fewer employees.

However, McLaren health insurance plans provide fully-insured plans for small groups on the Health Management Organization (HMO) platform.

Health advantage: This plan makes the employer responsible for the cost of claims, using a third-party administrator to process the claims.

McLaren Medicare: With this, you have access to hundreds of qualified doctors, hospitals, and caregivers to choose from.

Medicaid: This plan is partly sponsored by the government of Michigan state. The plan is mainly for the blind, aged, disabled, and children.

Medicare supplement: The Medicare plan covers all or part of your deductibles and coinsurance.

Healthy Michigan: provides health care benefits to eligible Michigan residents aged 26 – 64 at a very low cost.

Meridian:

Meridian offers plans through Medicaid. That is, they provide government-based health plans for their consumers.

Priority Health:

Priority health also offers government-based health care plans like Medicaid, MIChild, and a host of other plans. These plans are made affordable just for everyone to fit into it and be carried along.

Health Insurance Michigan

The healthy state of Michigan has lots of companies working with the state to keep the residents fit and healthy.

Firstly, most of the privately-owned health insurance companies are now linking up with the state to make healthy living easier.

Again, these companies have reduced the price of health care coverage to the lowest for the benefit of the people.

Also, the bonuses that welcome you once you enroll can be very encouraging. Health insurance in Michigan is very beneficial because they are all working towards the good of the people.

However, before you choose a health insurance plan, you should be aware that your age determines the cost of health plans.

Meaning that, as you get older, your premium place becomes more expensive. Then you decide on your location because, even though it’s still the same state, prices of health care plans vary in counties.

So, from your county, you can now look around and pick an affordable and quality health care insurance plan. One that has benefits attached to it, a working coverage for you.

As you know, health plans are bought in metal tiers like Catastrophic, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Platinum.

Gold and platinum plans have higher and most expensive monthly premiums but the cheapest out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles.

Silver plans are perfect for you if you can’t afford the all high expensive plan. It has affordable premiums and out-of-pocket costs are very low.

Bronze and Catastrophic plans have the cheapest monthly health plan rates. This is the most preferable plan for you if you are still young and healthy. However, the catastrophic plan can not be accessible for anyone above thirty years.

In 2022, almost all the health insurance plans in the state of Michigan decreased by 2%.

By the way, you can still go for the short-term health plan but like the name, it will even vanish before you blink again and exhale.

In essence, short-term plans provide coverage for just one hundred and eighty days and in Michigan, renewal can be prohibited.

However, you have to enroll with a different health care provider in other to purchase another one. Again, short-term plans do not cover most of your health needs.

Free health insurance in Michigan

The state of Michigan provides free health care insurance plans for its residents through Medicaid and Medicare. However, you have to enroll and become eligible before you can access the services.

If you want to enroll in the government’s free health care plan, you have to go through HealthCare.gov. The plan can cover both families or individuals who are retired, unemployed or broke.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a health plan coverage jointly managed by the federal and state government. The program aims to provide free or very low-cost plans for low-income families and individuals. Medicaid is also for good for pregnant women, children, the elderly, and the disabled.

Firstly, for you to enjoy this free medical health care plan, you have to meet some requirements

  • Be a citizen of the United State.
  • Apply in the state you live in and prove that you are broke.

You can apply for your free medical care through the health care insurance marketplace or you get it directly from your state Medicaid agency.

MIChild

MIChild is a health care insurance program for children under the age of nineteen. This program is provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

It was created for children that are uninsured because of their family’s low income. Also, it has a $10 monthly premium for all the children in one family.

A child benefits from this program by having vision, dental and mental health services once they enroll.

Medicare

Medicare is another federal health insurance program for individuals of 65 and above. Also, Medicare was created for people with long-term disabilities.

Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act(ACA) which is sometimes referred to as Obama Care came into existence in March 2010. This has helped lots of people to become more in tune with their health.

Also, it helped the state of Michigan record a very high drop in people without health care coverage. So, a lot of families and individuals that could not afford private health care insurance became and stayed insured.

With the affordable care act, you will be able to be in control of your health. Since they signed it into law, young adults can now remain on their parent’s plan until they turn twenty-six.

To conclude, health insurance companies in Michigan should be applauded for ensuring that they give their best to this state.

If not, how else can you explain the excellent and satisfying services they provide to the residents? How else will you explain the high average of insured people in the state even without any penalty for not being insured?

More so, the government of Michigan deserves an accolade too. This is for keeping a vibrant, health-conscious, and a healthy state. Like we said in the beginning, a healthy state is a wealthy state, and that state is Michigan.

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Top 11 World health insurance companies

chibueze uchegbu | February 5th, 2022


Today, we bring to you everything you need to know about World health insurance companies.

There are numerous insurance policies that exclude coverage for losses that occur within the United States.

This implies that individuals who travel worldwide may be exposed to various uninsured obligations unless they obtain international insurance protection.

International insurance can compensate the policyholder for various losses that may occur when traveling overseas, including health care and other medical bills, travel costs, and lost or damaged goods.

International insurance protects those traveling overseas. It is especially critical for those traveling for an extended length of time.

International Health Insurance: What Is It?

International Health Insurance’s primary benefits include thorough worldwide coverage and global healthcare for people and families living abroad for a year or longer.

Typically, coverage includes inpatient and outpatient care, wellness, evacuation, dental, eye care, and a few additional benefits. Global health insurance policies are frequently renewed annually for the remainder of your life or until you choose a termination date.

The primary advantage of having a worldwide medical insurance plan is the flexibility to access health care regardless of your location on the globe. You will benefit from coverage in your present location and your home country.

Having foreign health insurance lets, you pick the hospital or doctor who will conduct your medical examination and treatment. Additionally, with international medical insurance, you have the option of choosing a private hospital over a public one, ensuring that you receive complete, timely, and superior care.

Benefits of the Global Medical Insurance Plan

International Health Plans provide complete coverage for anyone living outside of their native country for a year or more. The finest plans include the following:

  • International medical treatment, including inpatient and outpatient
  • The liberty to pick any hospital, clinic, or physician
  • Emergency aid and a hotline are available 24 hours a day.
  • Evacuation, repatriation, and hospitalization in an emergency
  • Coverage on a global scale, including your native nation
  • Payment options include GBP, EUR, and USD.

May include additional benefits including dental, vision, maternity, prescription medicines, and other coverage alternatives in international healthcare plans. While some of these features are included in the standard plan, others are available as add-ons for an extra charge.

WORLD HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES

All worldwide health insurance policies and insurance companies have their advantages and disadvantages. While this list is subjective, the finest international health insurance companies are listed in no particular order.

Cigna International

A very big and capable global insurance firm with offices and activities worldwide, Cigna is a great place to work.

It serves more than 86 million people in more than 200 countries and has virtually limitless resources to devote to serving its expat health clientele. Cigna offers a very broad and capable medical network that expat healthcare consumers may use once they have been approved for coverage by the company.

In addition to providing exceptional service, their rates for their worldwide health plan are quite competitive. You could be protected for a range of treatments with a Cigna Global Health Choices insurance coverage, including inpatient, outpatient, day client, psychological health, and cancer treatment.

The insurance is available in three levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. For Platinum and Gold level members, maternity benefits are accessible after a 12-month waiting period—additional alternatives for evacuation, wellness care, and dental and vision insurance coverage.

The global health plan will cover you worldwide, except for the United States, but you may upgrade to include coverage in the United States for an additional fee. There is a 6-month limit on your time spent in your country of citizenship, and the plan provides you with a free choice of medical providers within your coverage zone.

The Cigna plan is great for expatriates seeking the finest international health insurance from a well-known, capable, and first-class firm in the insurance business. The policy is not the lowest available, but it is rather competitive for an expat looking for comprehensive coverage for their family while living abroad. Furthermore, there is no upper age limit as long as you are and stay an expat in a foreign country.

GeoBlue Global Medical Services, Inc.

GeoBlue Global Medical is a medical insurance plan designed for US citizens traveling overseas or expatriates residing in the United States. GeoBlue is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association that provides short-term travel medical coverage and long-term international coverage.

In addition to US nationals residing overseas, the GeoBlue Xplorer package is now accessible to expats living in the United States.

Their base plans are more costly than some other alternatives, but the extra money is worth it if you become ill or injured while on the plan. Other alternatives with similarly high levels of coverage are priced at a cost that is equal to or less than the premium level options.

International Medical Group

They provide a comprehensive selection of travel medical insurance and international health insurance options.

Founded in the United States, IMG’s Global Medical Insurance plan is available in three different plan choices: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. IMG’s Global Medical Insurance plan is available in three different plan options.

Expats can also choose between two different coverage areas: worldwide or worldwide plus and this excludes the United States, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Singapore, and Taiwan from consideration.

The plan is suitable for people seeking lower-cost alternatives in global healthcare. After the waiting time has expired, only the Platinum plan provides maternity care. The insurance may be quoted and purchased online through our website, making the process very simple.

The IMG plan provides expatriates with a wide choice of deductible levels, the option to pick their medical provider, and access to a large network of medical providers. It is not recommended that foreigners over the age of 60 purchase the IMG plan; instead, they should choose the Allianz or Cigna policies.

Aetna International

As a global health insurance company with over 160 years of expertise, Aetna has practiced worldwide benefits for more than 55 years. It is expanding its global network to reach you wherever you go.

They have been honored with important accolades like “Top IPMI Plan” and “Health Insurer of the Year,” among other distinctions.

An international brand, Aetna offers competitive prices in addition to exceptional features and customer service.

Aetna International’s Pioneer plan offers four options to pick from 1750, 2500, 4000, and 5000 plans. Every one of the four plan levels includes comprehensive coverage for hospitalization and cancer treatment and emergency medical evacuation and repatriation.

Allianz Worldwide

Since 1890, Allianz has been a significant and well-known European-based health insurance service provider with a global network of offices.

As a capable insurer with a great worldwide medical network, they are a fantastic choice for expats looking for a high-quality provider that will stand behind the products and services they provide via Expat Financial. Allianz provides a total of three levels of care: Essential, Classic, and Premier.

You can choose just to be insured for hospital-related treatment, or you can choose to be covered for other alternatives such as outpatient care, dental care, and repatriation.

Maternity care is provided after a waiting period has passed with the Premier plan. It is possible that certain residents in certain countries will be eligible to apply for this comprehensive international health insurance plan.

IntegraGlobal

The company is based in the United Kingdom with service offices strategically located throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. The company provides health insurance to groups and individuals with specialized protection and safety, such as expatriates, marine professionals, and other specialized risk exposures.

IntegraGlobal strives to provide one-of-a-kind worldwide health alternatives that provide you with superior protection at a reasonable price, as well as hands-on, unrivaled personal care.

Generali Global Assistance

The Generali Group, which dates back to 1831 and is a subsidiary of Europ Assistance, specializes in health insurance for firms with worldwide mobile staff and employee groups.

There are three distinct “core plans,” which are referred to as Select, Classic, and Premier, and three different outpatient choices. Compliance is ensured around the world, including North America.

Bupa Global

Bupa is a health insurance company headquartered in the United Kingdom with offices in Australia, the European Union, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Bupa also has offices in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East.

Its partner GeoBlue provides health insurance coverage for US individuals traveling overseas or relocating to the United States of America.

Expacare Global Healthcare

This organization has over 35 years of expertise and offers underwritten products by insurers from the Lloyd’s of London insurance market.

The majority of expats who want to live in one of the EU member states will benefit from this option. Individuals and families, international students, groups and corporations may benefit from their customized plans.

A-Plus International Healthcare

A Plus International is an Asian firm that has teamed with AXA to provide health care coverage for travelers outside of the country.

It is possible to acquire add-ons to A Plus’s four separate overseas insurance plans: Hospitalization; Global 80; Global 100; and Global 100 Plus.

Hospitalization is the most comprehensive of the plans. Its Southeast Asia Plans are only available to Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam and are not available to anyone else.

ALC Health

With a spectrum of creative and responsive international health insurance policies that reflect the habits of today’s expatriates, international travelers and world citizens. ALC Health has been looking and safeguarding the health of individuals, their families, and foreign firms from all over the world for more than ten years.

It is important to note that ALC Health represents the variety and individuality of clients by combining a diverse range of language abilities with an in-depth understanding of cultural identities and the protection our clients require.

The policy provides coverage for the following items:

  • All covered are chronic diseases, cancer, alternative medicine, HIV/AIDS therapy, optometry, immunization, wellness, and preventative screenings.
  • Provide competitive premiums and a variety of excess options, payment plans, and currency alternatives to customers.
  • Ensure that participants who leave a group plan continue to have insurance coverage.
  • Your ALC Health membership package will be sent to you, including all of the information you want.
  • Provide a complete quote as well as an online purchase option.
  • Accept new participants up to the age of 74, and give lifelong renewals to those who have already entered.

CONCLUSION

When you’re on the lookout for a global health plan, we hope that the information in the preceding list will be of use.

Health insurance when traveling overseas is a significant decision, and it makes sense to deal with a specialized business such as one of the global health insurance carriers listed earlier to make the best possible decision.

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Long Term Disability Insurance (LTD): $5000 Great?

Pharm. Somtochukwu | February 3rd, 2022


If you become unable to work due to illness or injury, disability insurance can help you pay your bills.

Disability affects more people and occurs more frequently than you might believe. The illness causes more disabilities than injury, including common ailments such as heart disease and arthritis, and the majority of disabilities are not covered by Workman’s Compensation.

Some firms will provide their employees with both short and long term disability insurance. A short term policy assists you quickly following an occurrence, whereas a long term policy provides cash protection for disabilities that can persist for years.

You can also pay for supplementary coverage on top of your employer-provided benefits to help provide further financial security.

Long Term Disability Insurance

Many firms provide long term disability insurance plans that function in conjunction with their short term disability insurance policies, such that when the short term disability insurance plan terminates, income replacement benefits under the LTD plan begin.

Long term disability insurance for permanently disabled individuals may continue until the employee’s normal retirement date or until the employee becomes eligible for Social Security disability benefits (discussed later), though some policies provide more limited income replacement benefits, such as for up to 24 or 36 months. Paid long term disability insurance is also integrated with other sources of income when possible.

According to the BLS, most employers pay the entire price for LTD insurance plans, and employees are eligible for LTD insurance after a three to six month waiting period after being disabled.

Long term disability insurance(LTD), like short term disability insurance, does not provide job protection; the requirements to keep an employee’s job and reinstate the employee after an LTD absence are generally determined by an employer’s internal policies and practices, as well as state and federal laws such as the FMLA and the ADA.

The tax effects of receiving long term disability(LTD) insurance vary depending on whether the employee paid the entire cost, a portion of the cost, or the employer paid for the entire plan.

Do I Need Short Term Or Long Term Disability Insurance?

The most significant distinction between short term disability insurance(STD) and long term disability insurance(LTD) is the amount of time you will get benefits if you are unable to work. This is known as the benefit phase.

Short term disability insurance, as the name implies, is designed to cover you for a limited time following an illness or injury that prevents you from working. While policies differ, short term disability insurance normally covers you for 13-26 weeks and can replace 40-70 percent of your income during that period.

Long term disability insurance, on the other hand, is meant to give benefits for a longer period, and benefit periods for long term disability insurance are typically mentioned in years: 5, 10, 20, or even until you reach retirement age, depending on your plan.

Long Term Disability Insurance Pregnancy

Although pregnancy is not a disability, debilitating problems can emerge during and after childbirth. The medical difficulties discussed above describe some of the factors that sometimes prohibit new mothers from returning to work.

Existing medical conditions raise your risk of developing a debilitating condition.

  • Epilepsy
  • Asthma
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Blood pressure is too high.
  • Obesity (Body Mass Index over 30)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Maternal age advancement
  • Several pregnancies
  • Smoking
  • Abuse of drugs and alcohol
  • Fibromyalgia

Short Term Disability Insurance

Employers may provide short term disability insurance (STD) plans that replace all or part of an employee’s income in the event of a temporary disability. An employee’s job will generally be determined by an employer’s internal policies and practices, as well as state and federal laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which will be discussed later.

Because many firms offer paid-time-off programs that cover shorter-term absences, short-term disability insurance often has a short front-end waiting period, such as seven days, before payments begin.

This waiting period also deters the misuse of disability insurance benefits. Income benefits are distributed on a planned percentage-of-pay basis, often 60% to 75% of the employee’s base pay, and benefits may be coordinated with other income such as paid sick leave to ensure that income benefits do not exceed 100% of base pay.

As a matter of plan design, an employer can allow or restrict the supplement of paid sick leave or other benefits in conjunction with short term disability insurance. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average length of short term disability insurance coverage is 26 weeks.

Employers in other states may optionally offer fully contributory, partially contributory, or noncontributory short term disability insurance policies.

The tax consequences of income benefits received are determined by whether the employee paid the entire cost of the plan, a portion of the cost of the plan, or the entire cost of the plan was paid for by the employer.

Disability Insurance For Maternity Leave

When you go on maternity leave, you’ll need a financial plan to help you deal with the temporary loss of income.

This frequently entails pooling all available resources, including sick leave, savings, vacation pay, short term disability insurance, and long term disability coverage. Coverage waiting periods, benefit restrictions, exclusions, and handicap criteria are frequently included in the benefits. You must guarantee that you have appropriate financial resources available when you need them long before you begin your leave.

Pregnancy and other illnesses are typically not differentiated in company sick pay policies. They pay a percentage of your income, and the benefit normally lasts six weeks. After a normal delivery, an OBGYN will usually tell you that you can return to work.

If you develop an unexpected postnatal medical issue, your sick pay benefits will often be reduced after a short amount of time. Short-term disability payments are terminated based on the period specified in your company’s plan.

If you stay disabled, your employer-sponsored group long term disability plan will normally cover a portion of your income. To maintain a consistent source of income, you must assess your business plan before the need arises.

Life Disability Insurance

Life and disability insurance are critical for your entire family. It’s difficult to consider or plan for, but if you were to have a fatal or incapacitating accident or disease that interfered with your capacity to provide for your family, life and disability insurance might help you keep your family’s financial well-being.

The potential of life insurance to provide money for a surviving family’s continuous living needs and financial goals related to education, employment, and retirement is an evident role it plays. However, for families with special needs children, life insurance plays an even more important role.

Disability Insurance For Individuals

Individual disability insurance is appropriate for anyone who does not have disability insurance via their employer.

It’s also an option for high-income people who want to supplement their coverage. Not only may you purchase this coverage on your own, but it also follows you even if you change employment.

If you want more protection, you may wish to supplement your long term or individual disability plan with additional coverage.

Supplemental disability insurance can be an excellent addition for employees and individuals who want to preserve a larger portion of their salary, bonuses, or commissions. You could even be able to obtain a policy through your employer.

  • Cost-influencing factors

Several things will influence how much you pay. Work with heavy machinery, for example, may pay more than someone who sits at a desk all day.

Your health also has an impact on cost, as persons with a history of disabling ailments such as back injuries, arthritis, and asthma may have to pay higher premiums.

Other factors include the elimination period, which is the amount of time you must be handicapped before receiving a benefit, and the benefit period, which is the amount of time an insurance company will pay for a benefit.

Features Of Disability Insurance For Individual

When shopping for a plan, inquire about which features may be appropriate for you. Many Guardian plans, for example, include the following features:

  • Waiver of premium

A waiver of premium for disability is a provision in an insurance policy that stipulates that if the insured is disabled and receiving benefits, the insurance company will not force them to pay the premium. Unlike other insurance companies, we will continue to waive premiums for six months after you have recovered and your benefits have ended.

  • Hospice care benefit

If you are accepted to a certified hospice program, you will be considered incapacitated (eligible for benefits), and the policy elimination period will be waived in many situations, allowing you to receive payments sooner.

  • Unemployment premium suspension

Suspends premiums while you are unemployed, allowing you to stop paying premiums but keep your policy. However, coverage is halted while you are unemployed, so if you become incapacitated during that period, you will not be compensated.

  • Occupational rehabilitation and modification and access benefit endorsement

Assists in the payment of occupational rehabilitation charges as well as the cost of modifying your workplace to accommodate physical restrictions.

  • Disability Insurance Examples

Disability insurance normally costs about 2% of the person being insured’s annual wage. Of course, the exact amount will vary depending on the insurance company and policy characteristics such as those mentioned above.

Individuals will have various preferences in terms of how much they are ready to spend in exchange for better or worse disability protection.

As an example, take two hypothetical employees. Worker X is a highly skilled professional in a highly specialized industry.

Worker X received 10 years of post-secondary school to become qualified in their area, allowing them to earn a comparatively significant salary of $250,000 per year. Worker Y, on the other hand, is a high-school graduate who alternates between jobs regularly and earns around $30,000 per year.

Worker X understands that if they become incapacitated, they may be able to work in another sector, but this will almost certainly result in a considerable loss of revenue. As a result, they decide to buy a somewhat expensive disability insurance policy with a flexible definition of disability.

Worker X’s substantial income allows them to easily afford their somewhat high premiums. Worker Y, on the other hand, chooses a lower-cost plan, even though it has a stricter definition of disability. Worker Y is less hesitant to work in an area outside of their current occupation because the nature of their work is less specialized, in addition to having fewer resources accessible to pay for premiums.

Health And Disability Insurance

Disability is frequently misunderstood as a health concern. As a result, little effort is done to include people with disabilities in the health sector, which is also frequently disregarded in national disability strategies and action plans to implement and monitor the CRPD.

Attaining the best possible quality of health and well-being for everyone will be feasible only if governments recognize the need for a paradigm shift, realizing that global health goals can only be met when disability inclusion is core to health sector priorities, such as:

  • Universalism in health care without financial hardship
  • Protection during a health emergency
  • Access to cross-sectoral public health measures such as water, sanitation, and hygiene

Disability inclusion is crucial to obtaining universal health coverage without financial hardship since people with disabilities are more likely to be:

  • Three times more likely to be denied healthcare services
  • Four times more likely to receive poor care in the healthcare system
  • 50 percent more likely to incur catastrophic healthcare costs.

Disability inclusion is crucial to improving health-emergency protection since people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, which includes:

  • Directly as a result of increased infection risk and access hurdles to healthcare
  • Indirectly as a result of limits imposed to limit viral spread (e.g., disruptions in support services).

Disability inclusion is crucial to improving health and well-being since people with impairments are more likely to be:

  • 4–10 times more likely to be subjected to violence
  • At a higher risk of nonfatal injury in road traffic accidents

Children with special needs are:

  • Three times more likely to be sexually abused
  • Two times more likely malnourished.

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Health Insurance companies in Virginia

Best Health insurance companies in Virginia

chibueze uchegbu | February 3rd, 2022


You know, it sounds a bit off to speak about states in the U.S with good healthcare insurance companies without talking about the state of Virginia.

Health insurance companies in Virginia are good, affordable, and live up to the expectation of the residents.

Besides, you will be surprised at the various benefits your affordable healthcare plan could bring to you.

Most times, people search for health insurance coverage plans that can be affordable and useful to them but they end up getting discouraged and tired.

Also, lots of factors contribute to this discouragement people feel after setting about to get the services of health insurance companies.

Nevertheless, we are all about the bright sides of life and that includes talking about health insurance companies in Virginia. If you don’t mind, let’s get down to business.

Introduction to Health Insurance Companies in Virginia

To start with, a lot of health insurance companies have opened their doors for business in the state of Virginia.

More so, they all provide health coverage plans but they are not very similar to each other. Health care plans vary from company to company.

You only have to carefully find out which company provides the coverage that is good for your needs.

For the good of everyone, we took out time to make some research about the health insurance companies in Virginia, and from our findings, you can decide on the company door you’d likely be knocking on, or not.

  1. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

Firstly, Anthem has been in business in the state of Virginia for the past 50 years. In fact, they provide healthcare coverage for most residents in the state and they have been ranked the fifth largest healthcare company in the United States.

They have a great nationwide network that helps people travel without any worry about their health coverage. That is because they work in line with thousands of healthcare facilities and doctors.

Furthermore, Anthem allows its customers to buy disability, dental and life benefits. That is among the goodies they offer to the people using their health coverage plans.

Here’s is a list of their affordable packages.

Catastrophic 855:

This is the cheapest of their plans for: $40 copay on first three pcp office visits. $8,8550 deductible and 0% coinsurance applies to most other none preventative expenses. You must be under 30 or prove to be very poor before you can apply.

Bronze 8200:

40% coinsurance. $8,220 deductible. Deductible applies to all non-preventative expenses.

Bronze 5500: $5,500 deductible with 35% coinsurance. 40% copay.

Bronze 5800 online plus: 25% pcp office visits copay. $5,800 deductible. 30% coinsurance.

Bronze X5900 for HSA-HSA eligible plan. $5,909 deductible. 35% coinsurance. Deductible applies to all non-preventative expenses.

  1. Cigna

Cigna boasts of over one hundred and eighty million users in over thirty countries. They have quite a large network all over the country and offer easy access to hospitals and doctors.

Cigna offers different plans for its users in Virginia. If you are below sixty-five years old, this is the list of their plans that can benefit you.

Cigna Connect 7000: $7,000 deductible. 40% coinsurance. Zero charges for any virtual medical attention.

Cigna Connect 6750: 40% coinsurance. $6,700 deductible.$8 preferred generic drug copay. $30 pcp office visit copay.

Cigna Connect 5500: $5,500 deductible. 40% coinsurance. $20 pcp visit copay. $10 preferred generic drug copay.

Cigna Connect 1500: $1500 deductible. 25% coinsurance. $20 pcp office visit copay. Prescription drugs must meet deductibles and coinsurance.

Cigna Connect 2000: $2,000 deductibles.25% coinsurance.$8 preferred generic drug copay and $20 generic drug copay. $50 preferred brand drug copay.

Cigna Connect 6500: $6500 deductible with 40% coinsurance. $20 pcp office visit. $4 preferred generic drug copay. $30 urgent care copay.

Cigna Connect 3500: $3,500 deductible with 40% coinsurance. $25 and $75 copays. $5 preferred generic drug copay and $25 generic drug copay.$75 preferred brand drug copay.

  1. Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser is a highly top-performing health care company. Not your kind of regular, if you ask us. Kaiser offers health care insurance services in Virginia, Hawaii, Washington, DC, and a host of other states in the U.S.

So, when it comes to the best health insurance companies in Virginia, Kaiser Permanente should be among the top three.

We have listed some affordable plan options they have.

KP VA Catastrophic 8550/0/Vision: First three pcp office visits are 100% covered. 0% coinsurance applies to most other non-preventive expenses. $8,550 deductible.

KP VA Bronze 7500/40%/vision: #7,500 deductible. 40% coinsurance.

KP VA Gold 1700/25/Vision: $25 & $60 office visits copays. $60 urgent care copay. 30% coinsurance. $1,700 deductible. $15 and $60 generic and preferred brand drug copays.

  1. Optima

Optima is a large health care insurance coverage provider.

Currently, they provide coverage for at least, four hundred and fifty thousand persons in the state of Virginia. Also, they have not less than twenty-five thousand doctors, hospitals, and health facilities working with them.

Optima operates in Virginia Beach, Richmond, Newport News, Roanoke. They have a business plan for employees, family plan, and individual plan.

Again, Optima is in partnership with another insurance company called Sentara Healthcare. This makes Optima provide a type of special services to its users.

  1. Piedmont

Piedmont is a health care provider that serves the locals very well. It has its primary coverage in counties like Prince Edward, Campbell, Cumberland, Nottoway, Bedford, among others.

Free health insurance companies in Virginia for adults:

Obviously, when it comes to free health insurance companies in Virginia for adults, we all simply turn around and focus our gaze on Medicaid. You see, taking care of the adults for free in Virginia is what they know how to do too well.

Since 2019, adults between 19 and above till 65 years in the state of Virginia can now enroll in low-cost or free health insurance plans suitable for them.

For instance,  if you are an adult and want to enroll for health insurance coverage, you must be qualified for it or have an income that is within the limit.

However, adults that are 65 years old and above, blind or disabled can qualify for full health care coverage. But if you do not belong to this category of adults, you may not be qualified for full health coverage.

That is, you must have a certain amount of money in your medical bill before you become qualified for Medicaid.

Medicaid in Virginia covers:

  • Doctor’s visits
  • Regular check-ups
  • Hospital care
  • Prescription drugs
  • Immunizations
  • Dental Care
  • Mental health care

Medicare in Virginia:

Now, Medicare has a part A (hospitalization and skilled nursing cost) and it costs $1,484 deductibles for you to meet up each benefit period.

Therefore after meeting up with your deductibles, you will get $0 coinsurance payment per day for inpatient hospitalization.

$371 per day for a period of sixty-one to ninety days. Also $742 per day for ninety days and beyond. This lasts for a period of sixty days.

Medicare part B (medical insurance cost)

$203 deductibles

20% coinsurance payment after you meet your deductibles. Beyond your deductibles, you are responsible for whatever Medicare part B covers.

Medicare part C called a Medigap plan does not have the same cost. Part C covers the coverage of parts A and B and a part of  D. Sometimes, it includes, dental and vision plan benefits.

Medicare part D (prescription drug)

This plan may include deductibles to be paid off before the plan takes over for the prescription. Moreover, your prescription coverage will be split between you and your plan.

Health insurance in Virginia:

Firstly, health insurance in Virginia was formerly the business of the federal government but in 2020, the State government of Virginia took over the duty.

Though there are plans for the residents to move fully to a new enrollment system by the state but currently, everyone that needs health insurance in Virginia still goes through the normal HealthCare.gov route.

The state of Virginia health insurance marketplace offers its services to individuals, families, and a little group health insurance coverage.

So, if you do not have your own health insurance coverage or from your employer, because you are self-employed, then you should enroll in the affordable care Act insurance also called Obamacare.

Obamacare gives the residents of the state of Virginia access to the federal health insurance marketplace. Even if you are eligible for Medicaid or Family Access Medical Insurance Security(FAMIS), you can still remain and benefit from the Obamacare program.

Meanwhile, there are short-term health care insurance plans that can benefit you according to the services provided by UnitedHealthcare.

The short-term plan could be for you:

If you know you did not apply for Obamacare also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), maybe because you did not qualify or you missed the enrollment period.

Maybe you are looking for another health care coverage to help you with Medicare.

You might be waiting for your new job’s health insurance coverage to kick in.

Just maybe you are not yet 65 years old.

Again, you are waiting for your Affordable Care Act to kick off.

If you fall into these categories, you rightfully need short-term health insurance coverage.

Remember, it is called a short-term plan for a reason. You only get to make do with it until you get a suitable long-term health care insurance plan.

Benefits of short-term health care insurance plan

  • You get to pick how long you want to be covered
  • Fast and flexible health care coverage
  • You won’t be penalized when you decide that you’re no longer interested
  • You can go for another short-term plan once you finish with the current one
  • Low premium plans
  • No coverage requirements

Disadvantages of short-term health insurance plan

  • They do not cover pre-existing conditions
  • Not guaranteed
  • It is limited and may not cover all your medical needs.
  • They are meant to be temporary

Short term insurance Companies in Virginia:

  • UnitedHealthOne
  • National General Accident and Health
  • Companion Life Insurance Company
  • Hospital and doctor insurance plan:

This plan pays cash for your medical services. You also get benefits even if you are covered by another plan. Again, there are no deductibles and copays.

Accident insurance:

Sadly, health emergencies do happen all the time especially when you do not expect them. This plan gets you ready even before the emergency comes.

An accident insurance plan with UnitedHealthcare pays your bills regardless of other plans you might be on.

Also, you will be receiving a fixed amount for any other incident related to an accidental injury.

Dental insurance carriers in Virginia

  • Americas life insurance corps
  • CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Golden Rule insurance company
  • Humans
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • SureBridge
  • Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company
  • National General Insurance Company

Best cheap insurance companies in Virginia:

Surely, you can find some quality yet affordable insurance companies in Virginia.  The state has a very robust health insurance industry that can take care of your medical concerns. All around you, you can see an affordable health plan.

Although, we all know affordable is relative but you never can tell. You only need to do your own research for what best works for you.

However, we have a list where you can begin.

  • Anthem HealthKeepers
  • Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co
  • Group Hospitalization and Medical Services Inc
  • CareFirst BlueChoice
  • Optima Health Plan
  • Oscar Insurance Company
  • Piedmont Community HealthCare HMO, Inc

Medical Assistant Programs:

Medical Assistant health care programs in Virginia have different coverage plans for whoever is interested to indulge. By the way, this includes different categories of people and their health needs.

Moreover, the eligibility for qualification differs accordingly too. If you want to enroll, you will be screened according to your age, income, health needs. So, you must meet the requirements, both financial and nonfinancial before you can enroll.

Conclusively, health insurance companies in Virginia, both private and the free ones offer different health care insurance plans with varying amounts. With your low-income still, there is always a health care company, even the government-owned that works with your budget.

Besides, in Virginia, you can sign up for your health insurance through the federal health insurance exchange at healthcare.gov.

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