Health Insurance Consumer Information and “Buyer’s Guide”

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The term health insurance refers to a wide variety of insurance policies. These range from policies that cover the costs of doctors and hospitals to those that meet a specific need, such as paying for long-term care. Even disability insurance—which replaces lost income if you can’t work because of illness or accident—is considered health insurance, even though it’s not specifically for medical expenses.

But when people talk about health insurance, they usually mean the kind of insurance offered by employers to employees, the kind that covers medical bills, surgery, and hospital expenses. You may have heard this kind of health insurance referred to as

comprehensive or major medical policies, alluding to the broad protection they offer. But the fact is, neither of these terms is particularly helpful to the consumer.

Today, when people talk about broad health care coverage, instead of using the term "major medical," they are more likely to refer to fee-for-service or managed care. These terms apply to different kinds of coverage or health plans. Moreover, you’ll also hear about specific kinds of managed care plans: health maintenance organizations or HMOs, preferred provider organizations or PPOs, and point-of-service or POS plans.

While fee-for-service and managed care plans differ in important ways, in some ways they are similar. Both cover an array of medical, surgical, and hospital expenses. Most offer some coverage for prescription drugs, and some include coverage for dentists and other providers. But there are many important differences that will make one or the other form of coverage the right one for you.

The section below is designed to acquaint you with the basics of fee-for-service and managed care plans. But remember: The detailed differences between one plan and another can only be understood by careful reading of the materials provided by

insurers, your employee benefits specialist, or your agent or broker.

Fee-for-Service

This type of coverage generally assumes that the medical provider (usually a doctor or hospital) will be paid a fee for each service rendered to the patient—you or a family member covered under your policy. With fee-for-service insurance, you go to

the doctor of your choice and you or your doctor or hospital submits a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. You will only receive reimbursement for "covered" medical expenses, the ones listed in your benefits summary.

When a service is covered under your policy, you can expect to be reimbursed for some, but generally not all, of the cost. How much you will receive depends on the provisions of the policy on coinsurance and deductibles. Here’s how it works:

The portion of the covered medical expenses you pay is called "coinsurance."

Although there are variations, fee-for-service policies often reimburse doctor bills at 80 percent of the "reasonable and customary charge." (This is the prevailing cost of a medical service in a given geographic area.) You pay the other 20 percent—your coinsurance. However, if a medical provider charges more than the reasonable and customary fee, you will have to pay the difference. For example, if the reasonable and customary fee for a medical service is $100, the insurer will pay $80. If your doctor charged $100, you will pay $20. But if the doctor charged $105, you will pay $25.Note that many fee-for-service plans pay hospital expenses in full; some reimburse at the 80/20 level as described above.

Deductibles are the amount of the covered expenses you must pay each year before the insurer starts to reimburse you. These might range from$100 to $300 per year per individual, or $500 or more per family. Generally, the higher the deductible, the

lower the premiums, which are the monthly, quarterly, or annual payments for the insurance.

Policies typically have an out-of-pocket maximum. This means that once your expenses reach a certain amount in a given calendar year, the reasonable and customary fee for covered benefits will be paid in full by the insurer. (If your doctor bills you

more than the reasonable and customary charge, you may still have to pay a portion of the bill.) Note that Medicare limits how much a physician may charge you above the usual amount.

There also may be lifetime limits on benefits paid under the policy. Most experts recommend that you look for a policy whose lifetime limit is at least $1 million. Anything less may prove to be inadequate.

Managed Care

The three major types of managed care plans are health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and point-of-service (POS) plans.

Managed care plans generally provide comprehensive health services to their members, and offer financial incentives for patients to use the providers who belong to the plan. In managed care plans, instead of paying separately for each service that you receive, your coverage is paid in advance. This is called prepaid care.

For example, you may decide to join a local HMO where you pay a monthly or quarterly premium. That premium is the same whether you use the plan’s services or not. The plan may charge a copayment for certain services—for example, $10 for an office visit, or $5 for every prescription. So, if you join this HMO, you may find that you have few out-of-pocket expenses for medical care—as long as you use doctors or hospitals that participate in or are part of the HMO. Your share may be only the small copayments; generally, you will not have deductibles or coinsurance.

One of the interesting things about HMOs is that they deliver care directly to patients. Patients sometimes go to a medical facility to see the nurses and doctors or to a specific doctor’s office. Another common model is a network of individual practitioners. In these individual practice associations (IPAs), you will get your care in a physician’s office.

If you belong to an HMO, typically you must receive your medical care through the plan. Generally, you will select a primary care physician who coordinates your care. Primary care physicians may be family practice doctors, internists, pediatricians, or other types of doctors. The primary care physician is responsible for referring you to specialists when needed. While most of these specialists will be "participating providers" in the HMO, there are circumstances in which patients enrolled in an HMO may be referred to providers outside the HMO network and still receive coverage.

PPOs and POS plans are categorized as managed care plans. (Indeed, many people call POS plans "an HMO with a point-of-service option.") From the consumer’s point of view, these plans combine features of fee-for-service and HMOs. They offer more flexibility than HMOs, but premiums are likely to be somewhat higher.

With a PPO or a POS plan, unlike most HMOs, you will get some reimbursement if you receive a covered service from a provider who is not in the plan. Of course, choosing a provider outside the plan’s network will cost you more than choosing a provider in the network. These plans will act like fee-for-service plans and charge you coinsurance when you go outside the network.

What is the difference between a PPO and a POS plan? A POS plan has primary care physicians who coordinate patient care; and in most cases, PPO plans do not. But there are exceptions!

HMOs and PPOs have contracts with doctors, hospitals, and other providers. They have negotiated certain fees with these providers—and, as long as you get your care from these providers, they should not ask you for additional payment. (Of course, if your plan requires a copayment at the time you receive care, you will have to pay that.)

Always look carefully at the description of the plans you are considering for the conditions of payment. Check with your employer, your benefits manager, or your state department of insurance to find out about laws that may regulate who is responsible for payment.

Self-insured Plans

Your employer may have set up a financial arrangement that helps cover employees’ health care expenses. Sometimes employers do this and have the "health plan" administered by an insurance company; but sometimes there is no outside administrator. With self-insured health plans, certain federal laws may apply. Thus, if you have problems with a plan that isn’t state regulated, it’s probably a good idea to talk to an attorney who specializes in health law.

Appropriate Care

HMOs, PPOs, and fee-for-service plans often share certain features, including pre authorization, utilization review, and discharge planning.

For example, you may be asked to get authorization from your plan or insurer before admission to a hospital for certain types of surgery. Utilization review is the process by which a plan determines whether a specific medical or surgical service is appropriate and/or medically necessary. Discharge planning is an approach that facilitates the transfer of a patient to amore cost-effective facility if the patient no longer needs to stay in the hospital. For example, if, following surgery, you no longer need hospitalization but cannot be cared for at home, you may be transferred to a skilled nursing facility.

Almost all fee-for-service plans apply managed care techniques to contain costs and guarantee appropriate care; and an increasing number of managed care plans contain fee-for-service elements. While the distinctions among plans are growing increasingly blurred, the number of options available to consumers increases every day.

How Do I Get Health Coverage?

Health insurance is generally available through groups and to individuals. Premiums—the regular fees that you pay for health insurance coverage—are generally lower for group coverage. When you receive group insurance at work, the premium usually

is paid through your employer.

Group insurance is typically offered through employers, although unions, professional associations, and other organizations also offer it. As an employee benefit, group health insurance has many advantages. Much—although not all—of the cost may be borne by the employer. While originally “group health insurance premiums were lower y lower (because economies of scale in large groups make administration less expensive) than “individual” or “family” coverage – this is often no longer the case. Health insurance laws have forced coverage for “pre-existing” health problems on group health insurers – driving up claims and, therefore, premiums. The advantage of group insurance, of course, is that: if you enroll when you first become eligible for coverage, you generally will not be asked for evidence that you are insurable. (Enrollment usually occurs when you first take a job, and/or during a specified period each year, which is called open enrollment.) Some employers offer employees a choice of fee-for-service and managed care plans. In addition, some group plans offer dental insurance as well as medical.

Individual insurance is a good option if you work for a small company that does not offer health insurance or if you are self-employed. Buying individual insurance allows you to tailor a plan to fit your needs from the insurance company of your choice. It requires careful shopping, because coverage and costs vary from company to company. In evaluating policies, consider what medical services are covered, what benefits are paid, and how much you must pay in deductibles and coinsurance. You may keep premiums down by accepting a higher deductible. Tax year 2003 became the first year premiums for “individual” or “family” coverage became 100% tax deductible to the self-employed.

Pre-existing Health Conditions

Many people worry about coverage for preexisting conditions, especially when they change jobs. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) helps assure continued health insurance coverage for employees and their dependents. (As such – HIPAA does not apply in “Individual & Family” coverage.) Starting July 1, 1997, insurers could impose only one 12-month waiting period for any preexisting condition treated or diagnosed in the previous six months. Your prior health insurance coverage will be credited toward the preexisting condition exclusion period as long as you have maintained continuous coverage without a break of more than 62 days. Pregnancy is not considered a preexisting condition, and newborns and adopted children who are covered within 30 days are not subject to the 12-monthwaiting period.

If you have had group health coverage for two years, and you switch jobs and go to another plan, that new health plan cannot impose another preexisting condition exclusion period. If, for example, you have had prior coverage of only eight months, you may be subject to a four-month, preexisting condition exclusion period when you switch jobs. If you’ve never been covered by an employer’s group plan, and you get a job that offers such coverage, you may be subject to a 12-month, preexisting condition waiting period.

Federal law also makes it easier for you to get individual insurance under certain situations, including if you have left a job where you had group health insurance, or had another plan for more than 18 months without a break of more than 62 days.

While HIPPA does not apply to “Individual” coverage, as a result of the 80^th Legislative Session, Texas House Bill 2548 extends this protection:

Individuals approved for coverage receive pre-existing credit for prior group, government or church coverage when purchasing an individual policy. This bill provides the same credit for an individual policy and now allows the insured individual to transfer credit from one individual policy to another.

If you have not been covered under a group plan and have found it difficult to get insurance on your own, check with your state insurance department to see if your state has a risk pool. Similar to risk pools for automobile insurance, these can provide

health insurance for people who cannot get it elsewhere.

(TEXAS AND INDIANA ARE TWO OF APPROXIMATELY 45 STATES WHICH HAVE A “RISK POOL” PLAN AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF THEIR STATE WHO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ARE UNINSURABLE BY PRIVATE PLANS. FOR MORE DETAILS CALL ALLPLANINSURANCE.COM OR YOU MAY CALL US FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE POOL OR FACILITATION OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS AT: 1-800-856-6556)

What Is Not Covered?

While HMO benefits are generally more comprehensive than those of traditional fee-for-service plans, no health plan will cover every medical expense.

Very few plans cover eyeglasses and hearing aids because these are considered budgetable expenses. Very few cover elective cosmetic surgery, except to correct damage caused by a covered accidental injury. Some fee-for-service plans do not cover checkups. Procedures that are considered experimental may not be covered either. And some plans cover complications arising from pregnancy, but do not cover normal pregnancy or childbirth.

Health insurance policies frequently exclude coverage for preexisting conditions, but, as explained, federal law now limits exclusions based on such conditions.

You should also remember that insurers will not pay duplicate benefits. You and your spouse may each be covered under a health insurance plan at work but, under what is called a "coordination of benefits" provision, the total you can receive under both plans for a covered medical expense cannot exceed 100 percent of the allowable cost. Also note that if neither of your plans covers 100 percent of your expenses, you will only be covered for the percentage of coverage (for example, 80 percent) that your primary plan covers. This provision benefits everyone in the long run because it helps to keep costs down.

What Happens to My Insurance if I Lose My Job?

If you have had health coverage as an employee benefit and you leave your job, voluntarily or otherwise, one of your first concerns will be maintaining protection against the costs of health care. You can do this in one of several ways:

First, you should know that under a federal law (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly known as COBRA), group health plans sponsored by employers with 20 or more employees are required to offer continued

coverage for you and your dependents for 18 months after you leave your job. (Under the same law, following an employee’s death or divorce, the worker’s family has the right to continue coverage for up to three years.) If you wish to continue your group coverage under this option, you must notify your employer within 60 days. You must also pay the entire premium, up to 102 percent of the cost of the coverage.

If COBRA does not apply in your case—perhaps because you work for an employer with fewer than 20 employees—you may be able to convert your group policy to individual coverage. The advantage of that option is that you may not have to pass

a medical exam, although an exclusion based on a preexisting condition may apply, depending on your medical history and your insurance history.

If COBRA doesn’t apply and converting your group coverage is not for you, then, if you are healthy, not yet eligible for Medicare, and expect to take another job, you might consider an interim or short-term policy. These policies provide medical insurance for people with a short-term need, such as those temporarily between jobs or those making the transition between college and a job. These policies, typically written for two to six months and renewable once, cover hospitalization, intensive care, and surgical and doctors’ care provided in the hospital, as well as expenses for related services performed outside the hospital, such as X-rays or laboratory tests. Another possibility is obtaining coverage through an association. Many trade and professional associations offer their members health coverage—often HMOs—as well as basic hospital-surgical policies and disability and long-term care insurance. If you are self-employed, you may find association membership an attractive route, however, you will often find the “discounted rates” (or what are described as such) available to association members – are in reality higher than those for a more “user-friendly” plan available through an independent broker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the first thing I should know about buying health coverage?

A. Your aim should be to insure yourself and your family against the most serious and financially disastrous losses that can result from an illness or accident. If you are offered health benefits at work, carefully review the plans’ literature to make sure the one you select fits your needs. If you purchase individual coverage, buy a policy that will cover major expenses and pay them to the highest maximum level. Save money on premiums, if necessary, by taking large deductibles and paying smaller costs out-of-pocket.

Q. Can I buy a single health insurance policy that will provide all the benefits I’m likely to need?

A. No. Although you can select a plan or buy a policy that should cover most medical, hospital, surgical, and pharmaceutical bills, no single policy covers everything. Moreover, you may want to consider additional single-purpose policies like long-term care or disability income insurance. If you are over 65, you may want a Medicare supplement policy to fill in the gaps in Medicare coverage.

Q. I’m planning to keep working after age 65. Will I be covered by Medicare or by my company’s health insurance?

A. If you work for a company with 20 or more employees, your employer must offer you (through age 69) the same health insurance coverage offered to younger employees. After you reach age 65, you may choose between Medicare and your company’s plan as your primary insurer. If you elect to remain in the company plan, it will pay first—for all benefits covered under the plan—before Medicare is billed. In most instances, it is to your advantage to accept continued employer coverage.

But be sure to enroll in Medicare Part A, which covers hospitalization and can supplement your group coverage at no additional cost to you. You can save on Medicare premiums by not enrolling in Medicare Part B until you finally retire. Bear in mind though, that delayed enrollment is more expensive and entails a waiting period for coverage.

Q. I’ve had a serious health condition that appears to be stabilized. Can I buy individual health coverage?

A. Depending on what your condition is and when it was diagnosed and treated, you may be able to buy health coverage. However, the private insurer may do one of four things:

• provide full protection but with a higher premium; as might be the case with a chronic disease, such as diabetes;

• modify the benefits to increase the deductible;

• exclude the specific medical problem from coverage, if it is a clearly defined condition, as long as the insurer abides by state and federal laws on exclusions.

• decline you altogether, as might be the case with a chronic disease, such as diabetes.

Q. One of my medical bills was turned down by the insurance company (or health plan). Is there anything I can do?

A. Ask the insurance company why the claim was rejected. If the answer is that the service isn’t covered under your policy, and you’re sure that it is covered, check to see that the provider entered the correct diagnosis or procedure code on the insurance claim form. Also check that your deductible was correctly calculated.

Make sure that you didn’t skip an essential step under your plan, such as pre admission certification. If everything is in order, ask the insurer to review the claim.

HOW DO I LOWER MY HEALTH INSURANC E PREMIUMS?

Most of us complain about the affordability of health insurance but are unwilling to be a part of a solution which demands anything of ourselves. This is human nature. Ironically, most consumers (whether employers offering group insurance or individuals acquiring health insurance for themselves or families) are over-looking or dismissing the greatest vehicle created to date to not only mitigate ever-increasing premiums (cutting them by as much as 50%) but to provide themselves with meaningful financial benefits as well. This while investing the same dollars for their own future they would otherwise spend with an insurance company for what is probably going to be a less than equal benefit. The vehicle which can achieve all this is the “Health Savings Account”. According to Paul Zane Pilzer, a "world renowned economist"; adjunct from professor at New York University for 20 years and New York Times bestselling author - "A Health Savings Account is the only tax-advantaged investment vehicle that offers permanent rather than temporary escape from state and federal income taxes."

MINIMUM DEDUCTIBLE 2008

INDIVIDUALS: $1,100

FAMILIES: $2,200

WHAT YOU CAN DEPOSIT INTO A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT IN 2008

INDIVIDUALS: $2,900

FAMILIES: $5,800

MAXIMUM OUT-OF-POCKET WITH A “QUALIFIED” INSURANCE POLICY

INDIVIDUALS: $5,600

FAMILIES: $11,200

THE THREE PRIMARY ADVANTAGES OF THE “SAVINGS ACCOUNT” ARE:

1) CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GOING IN

2) APPRECIATION IS TAX-FREE

3) WITHDRAWALS ARE TAX-FREE (WHEN USED FOR QUALIFYING MEDICAL EXPENSES).

THE LOWER PREMIUMS OF THE HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT INSURANCE PLAN MAY BE THE LEAST BENEFIT OF SUCH - DEPENDING ON YOUR PRIORITIES AND THE PLAN PARAMETERS. For example, for a 50 year-old couple, the difference in a health savings account insurance and a traditional PPO copay plan might be:

“HSA” INSURANCE TRADITIONAL COPAY PLAN

DEDUCTIBLE: $3,000 $2,500

CO-INSURANCE: 100% 80%

OUT-OF-POCKET: $3,000 $9,000

MONTHLY PREMIUM: $550* $591

$6,492 OUT-OF-POCKET DIFFERENCE IN WORST CASE CALENDAR YEAR

(INCLUSIVE OF PREMIUM AND CO-INSURANCE DIFFERENCE)

*PREMIUM WILL BE MUCH LOWER IF YOU CHOOSE A PLAN WITH EQUAL CO-INSURANCE AND OUT-OF POCKET. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?

It is our job to provide you with comprehensive health insurance quotes which include the most competitive Health Savings Account qualified insurance quotes available to you. You will find all these quoted when you click on the following link and enter your personal information:

http://prospectzone.com/quote/info1.jsp;jsessionid=edctteuF4ucigayEkfIHr?message=&zip=&source=

Comparing Plans

Whether you end up choosing a fee-for-service plan or a form of managed care, you must examine a benefits summary or an outline of coverage—the description of policy benefits, exclusions, and provisions that makes it easier to understand a particular

policy and compare it with others.

Look at this information closely. Think about your personal situation. After all, you may not mind that pregnancy is not covered, but you may want coverage for psychological counseling. Do you want coverage for your whole family or just yourself? Are you concerned with preventive care and checkups? Or would you be comfortable in a managed care setting that might restrict your choice somewhat but give you broad coverage and convenience? These are questions that only you can answer.

Here are some of the things to look at when choosing and comparing health insurance plans:

Health Insurance Checklist

Covered medical services

Inpatient hospital services

Outpatient surgery

Physician visits (in the hospital)

Office visits

Skilled nursing care

Medical tests and X-rays

Prescription drugs

Mental health care

Drug and alcohol abuse treatment

Home health care visits

Rehabilitation facility care

Physical therapy

Speech therapy

Hospice care

Maternity care

Chiropractic treatment

Preventive care and checkups

Well-baby care

Dental care

Other covered services

Are there any medical service limits, exclusions, or preexisting conditions that will affect you or your family?

What types of utilization review, pre authorization, or certification procedures are included?

Costs

How much is the premium?

$_____________________________________________

Are there any discounts available for good health or healthy behaviors (e.g., non-smoker)?

__________________________________________________________________

How much is the annual deductible?

$_________________________________ per person

$_________________________________ per family

What coinsurance or co-payments apply?

_________________________________% after I meet my deductible

$_________________________________copay or % coinsurance per office visit

(Does the convenience of this benefit justify the additional premium for such?)

$_________________________________copay or % coinsurance for "wellness" care (includes well-baby care, annual eye

exam, physical, etc.)

$_________________________________% copay or coinsurance for inpatient hospital care

With this completed checklist at hand, scan the market for virtually every type of plan available by going to: http://allplanhealthinsurance.com and clicking on the Texas or United States flag. For assistance in interpreting the results and to research the likelihood of your being approved for coverage – do not hesitate to call us at: 800-856-6556

Other Forms of Health Insurance

In addition to broad coverage for medical, surgical, and hospital expenses, there are many other kinds of health insurance.

Dental Insurance is a always a good thing when someone else (employer) is paying the premium. But is it such a value when you bear the entire cost yourself?

Dental "Insurance" sounds better than a dental “discount plan” doesn't it? But what if no employer is paying for it? What if you need major work now and can't afford to meet a 12 month waiting period? What if the work you require costs a lot more than your annual maximum benefit (usually limited to $1,000) or you would like cosmetic work? In those situations - true dental insurance isn't going to be of much help. Then again - what if you insist on going to your own dentist and your dentist is not in anyone's network? In that case - a dental discount plan isn't going to do you a bit of good.

To fully understand the advantages of true dental insurance vs. a dental discount plan, go to: http://allplaninsurance.com/dental.htm

Hospital-Surgical policies, sometimes called basic health insurance, provide benefits when you have a covered condition that requires hospitalization. These benefits typically include room and board and other hospital services, surgery, physicians’ non surgical services that are performed in a hospital, expenses for diagnostic X-rays and laboratory tests, and room and board in the hospital.

Benefits for hospital room and board may be a per-day dollar amount or all or part of the hospital’s daily rate for a semi-private room. Benefits for surgery typically are listed, showing the maximum benefit for each type of surgical procedure.

Hospital-surgical policies may provide "first-dollar" coverage. That means that there is no deductible, or amount that you have to pay, for a covered medical expense. Other policies may contain a small deductible.

Keep in mind that hospital-surgical policies usually do not cover lengthy hospitalizations and costly medical care. In the event that you need these types of services, you may incur large expenses that are difficult to meet unless you have other insurance.

Catastrophic coverage pays hospital and medical expenses above a certain deductible; this can provide additional protection if you hold either a hospital-surgical policy or a major medical policy with a lower-than-adequate lifetime limit. These policies typically contain a very high deductible ($15,000 or more) and a maximum lifetime limit high enough to cover the costs of catastrophic illness.

Additionally, there are “Specific-Medical Event Indemnity Policies” under which the insurer agrees to indemnify the insured against specified costs or losses which may be incurred in the future (which means that if the insured incurs such costs or losses then the insurer will pay them instead, up to an agreed maximum). These policies can take various forms. One form is a “Hospital Indemnity” policy. For example, an insurance company can agree to pay (indemnify) the insured $1,000 for each day the insured spends in the hospital. It can agree to pay $4,000 for each day in an intensive care unit and up to $20,000 for each surgery. In other words, you are paid a specific cash benefit for each day you are hospitalized, generally up to a designated number of days and /or for each specific medical event. These cash benefits are paid directly to you, can be used for any purpose, and may be useful in meeting out-of-pocket expenses not covered by other insurance. These amounts not only off-set what an insured will pay to meet their deductible and co-insurance but can cover excessive charges or out-of-network expenses not covered by a policy.

Hospital indemnity, Surgical and Specific Medical Event policies frequently are available directly from insurance companies by mail as well as through insurance agents and brokers. Ask questions and find the right plan to meet your needs. If you purchase a hospital indemnity policy, periodically review it to see if you need to increase your daily benefits to keep pace with rising health care costs.

Some policies contain limitations on pre-existing medical conditions that you may have before your insurance takes effect. Others contain an elimination period, which means

benefits will not be paid until after you have been hospitalized for a specified number of days. When you apply for the policy, you may be allowed to choose among two or three elimination periods, with different premiums for each. Although you can reduce your premiums by choosing a longer elimination period, you should bear in mind that most patients are hospitalized for relatively brief periods of time.

Specified or dread disease policies provide benefits only if you get the specific disease or group of diseases named in the policy. For example, a policy might cover only medical care for cancer. Because benefits are limited in amount, these policies are not a substitute for broad medical coverage. Nor are specified disease policies available in every state.

However, these plans do work well in conjunction with high-deductible, lower cost major medical insurance. More importantly, they can sometimes provide coverage – for pre-existing health conditions which may not be covered by your existing policy. For some excellent examples of this type of supplemental coverage, for please go to: http://allplaninsurance.com/uninsurable-texas-residents.htm

INSURANCE PRODUCTS FOR MEDICARE RECIPIENTS

Medicare supplement insurance, sometimes called Medigap or MedSup and (as of 2003) Medicare Advantage Plans are private insurance that helps cover some of the gaps in Medicare coverage. Part D Prescription Drug Coverage helps cover the cost of prescription medication for recipients.

Medicare is the federal program of hospital and medical insurance primarily for people age 65 and over who are not covered by an employer’s plan. But Medicare covers only up to 80% of your medical expenses and nothing “excessive” as deemed by Medicare. That’s where MedSup comes in.

All Medicare supplement policies must cover certain expenses, such as the daily coinsurance amount for hospitalization and 90 percent of the hospital charges that otherwise would have been paid by Medicare, after Medicare is exhausted. Some policies

may offer additional benefits such as coverage for preventive medical care, prescription drugs, or at-home recovery.

There are 10 standard Medicare supplement policies, designated by the letters A through J. Two additional plans, K and L, pay a reduced benefit of 50% and 75% respectively. With these 12 policies, it is much easier to compare the costs of policies issued by different insurers. While all12 may not be available to you, Plan A must be made available to Medicare recipients in most states.

Insurers are not permitted to sell policies that duplicate benefits you already receive under Medicare or other policies. If you decide to replace an existing Medicare supplement policy—and you should do so only after careful evaluation—you must sign

a statement that you intend to replace your current policy and that you will not keep both policies in force.

People who are 65 or older can buy Medicare supplement insurance without having to worry about being rejected for existing medical problems, so long as they apply within six months after enrolling in Medicare.

For a “short-course” in and examples of all three of the main types of “additional” coverage available to Medicare recipients, go to: http://allplaninsurance.com/medicare/medicare-supplement-medigap-advantage-part-d-insurance.htm

Long-term care policies cover the medical care, nursing care, and other assistance you might need if you ever have a chronic illness or disability that leaves you unable to care for yourself for an extended period of time. These services generally are not covered by other health insurance. You may receive long-term care in a nursing home or in your own home.

Long-term care can be very expensive. On average, a year in a nursing home costs about $40,000. In some regions, it may cost much more. Home care is less expensive, but it still

adds up. (Home care can include part-time skilled nursing care, speech therapy, physical or occupational therapy, home health aides, and homemakers.)

Bringing an aide into your home just three times a week—to help with dressing, bathing, preparing meals, and similar chores—easily can cost$1,000 a month, or $12,000 a year. Add in the cost of skilled help, such as physical therapy, and the costs can be much greater.

Most long-term care policies pay a fixed dollar amount, typically from$40 to more than $200 a day, for each day you receive covered care in a nursing home. The daily benefit for at-home care is usually half the benefit for nursing home care. Because the per-day benefit you buy today may be inadequate to cover higher costs in the future, most policies also offer an inflation adjustment feature.

Keep in mind that unless you have a long-term care policy, you are not covered for long-term care expenses under Medicare and most other types of insurance. Recent changes in federal law may allow you to take certain income tax deductions for some long-term care expenses and insurance premiums.

Disability insurance provides you with an income if illness or injury prevents you from being able to work for an extended period of time. It is an important but often overlooked form of insurance.

There are other possible sources of income if you are disabled. Social Security provides protection, but only to those who are severely disabled and unable to work at all; workers’ compensation provides benefits if the illness or injury is work-related; civil service disability covers federal or state government workers; and automobile insurance may pay benefits if the disability results from an automobile accident. But these sources are limited.

Some employers offer short- and long-term disability coverage. If you are self-employed, you can buy individual disability income insurance policies. Generally:

Monthly benefits are usually 60 percent of your income at the time of purchase, although cost-of-living adjustments may be available.

If you pay the premiums for an individual disability policy, payments you receive under the policy are not subject to income tax. If your employer has paid some or all of the premiums under a group disability policy, some or all of the benefits may be taxable.

Whether you are an employer shopping for a group disability policy or someone thinking of purchasing disability income insurance, you will need to evaluate different policies. Here are some things to look for:

Some policies pay benefits only if someone is unable to perform the duties of their customary occupation, while others pay only if the person can engage in no gainful employment at all. Make sure that you know the insurer’s definition of disability.

Some policies pay only for accidents, but it’s important to be insured for illness, too. Be sure, as you evaluate policies, that both accident and illness are covered.

Benefits may begin anywhere from one month to six months or more after the onset of disability. A later starting date can keep your premiums down. But remember, if your policy only starts to pay (for example) three months after the disability begins, you

may lose a considerable amount of income.

Benefits may be payable for a period ranging anywhere from one year to a lifetime. Since disability benefits replace income, most people do not need benefits beyond their working years. But it’s generally wise to insure at least until age 65 since a

lengthy disability threatens financial security much more than a short disability.

If you qualify for Medicare due to your disability, you are unlikely to receive a quality insurance benefit in the form of a Medicare Supplement policy and it will be too late to acquire a private policy. In this event – your best option is a Medicare Advantage Plans and, again, you can begin to research these at: http://allplaninsurance.com/medicare/medicare-supplement-medigap-advantage-part-d-insurance.htm

A Final Word

If you get health care coverage at work, you are almost certainly enrolled under a group contract. Generally, the contract is between the group and the insurer, and your employer has done comparison shopping before offering the plan to the employees. Nevertheless, while some employers only offer one plan, some offer more than one. Compare plans carefully!

If you are insured through a trade or professional association – you may or may not be enrolled in a “group” health insurance plan. If you have your pre-existing health condition “waived” for coverage beyond a 12-month waiting period; or – if you are declined for coverage altogether – you are most certainly enrolled in an “individual” or “family” plan and the offer of coverage was, in reality, only an endorsement of a particular company’s plan as a convenience to someone (hopefully the association members).

If you are buying individual insurance, or any form of insurance that you purchase directly, read and compare the policies you are considering before you buy one, and make sure you understand all of the provisions. Marketing or sales literature is no substitute for the actual (or specimen) policy or legal outline of coverage. Read one of the latter before you buy – preferably the “specimen policy”. If one is not provided, be certain to request one. Good agents and good insurance companies want you to know what you are buying. And don’t be afraid to ask your benefits manager or insurance agent to explain anything that is unclear.

It is also a good idea to ask for the insurance company’s rating. The A.M. Best Company, Standard & Poor’s Corporation, and Moody’s all rate insurance companies after analyzing their financial records. These publications that list ratings usually can be found in the business section of libraries.

And bear in mind: In some cases, even after you buy a policy, if you find that it doesn’t meet your needs, you may have 30 days to return the policy and get your money back. This is called the "free look."

ALLPLANINSURANCE.COM recommends that, before submitting an application to an insurance company, one call their state’s Department of Insurance. Give the Department the name or names of the companies you are investigating and they will provide you with the company’s financial rating (claim’s paying ability); number of policies written in particular years; complaints against the company; and unresolved complaints (among other things).

The Texas Department of Insurance can be reached at: 800-252-3439.

For information on the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool, please call us at:

800-856-6556

The Indiana Department of Insurance can be reached at:

317-232-2385

The INDIANA COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSOCIATION (ICHIA)

(a.k.a., the Indiana State Health Insurance “Risk Pool” for those uninsurable by private plans) can be reached at:

800-552-7921

**For more information about Kenton Henry – visit his “LINKED IN” PROFILE:

Health Insurance Consumer Information and “Buyer’s Guide”

ALLPLANINSURANCE.COM

Table of Contents:

Group Health Insurance

Individual and Family Health Insurance

State Insurance Risk Pool Plans for the Uninsurable

Pre-existing Conditions

Tax Deductibility of Premiums for the Self-Employed

What Happens to My Insurance if I Lose My Job?

Introduction

Making Sense of Health Insurance

Fee-for-Service

Managed Care

Self-insured Plans

Appropriate Care

How Do I Get Health Coverage?

Pre-existing Health Conditions

What Is Not Covered?

What Happens to My Insurance if I Lose My Job?

Frequently Asked Questions

Comparing Plans

Health Insurance Checklist

Costs

Other Forms of Health Insurance

A Final Word