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Purchase Health Insurance And Save Some Money

 

 

There are many different types of health insurance, provided from many different companies. When you are searching for this type of insurance, adequate research and quality note-taking are two ways you can enhance your search. Before making your final decision, do your homework. The advice herein will get you started in choosing the best health insurance for you.

If monthly costs for health insurance are a concern, look a higher deductible plan. This option allows for you to handle smaller out of pocket costs as needed and the need for a deductible is only necessary when a more catastrophic event occurs. The minor incidents are easier to budget and allow you to save monthly dollars for your day to day life.

It is important that you take price into consideration when looking for medical insurance. Although having health insurance is very important, you do not want to end up losing it because you cannot afford the premiums. If a potential insurance company's premiums seem too high, shop around for another one. You can even try to negotiate a lower price with your preferred company.

Never let a health insurance agent pressure you into making a decision. If they try to tell you that what they are telling you is a one-time offer and it will disappear if you do not accept it, move along quickly. Health insurance scams are quickly becoming popular, especially since the economy has left many people with no coverage.

One of the health insurance options that may be offered to you during your employer's open enrollment season is an HMO. You might want to choose this option if you want to keep costs low and are willing to coordinate your care through a primary care physician. Under an HMO, the number of options you have for choosing a provider may be more limited than under a more flexible plan.

Getting health insurance after the fact is not really a great way to handle sickness or injury, but in some states in the country, you can actually get an insurance policy after you've fallen ill to help take the edge off of the bills. This is one of the new mandates with America's new healthcare legislation, and it can definitely help you out.

Many people who are self-employed face a quandary about health insurance. They know they need to be covered in case of health emergencies, and yet the cost of health insurance for individuals is so high as to be prohibitive for many. Some people get around this by buying major medical coverage only. This type of policy has a very high deductible, covers no preventive care - however, it will cover situations where the person will require admission to a hospital.

When considering health insurance policies, look carefully at which hospitals are utilized in your policy. Many people think about their doctors when choosing a policy, but few consider the hospitals. Making sure that the hospital closest to you is covered, or the hospital that your doctor practices at, can make medical emergencies easier to tend to in the future.

Before buying a health insurance policy you should shop around and visit state websites to see if you qualify to any special insurance programs based on your income. Many times these state websites will list companies that offer low cost health insurance programs rather than more expensive health insurance plans.

Purchasing a good health care policy is amongst one of the most important decisions of your life, and you should make an educated choice. Know what each individual policy offers, deductibles, and co-pays. What you don't want is to purchase a policy blindly and find out in the event of an emergency you don't have the coverage you need.

If you use prescription medications and are on a health insurance plan, check with your insurer to see if 90-day prescriptions are available in pharmacies. 90-day refills have long been available by mail, but now they are becoming available in local pharmacies - which means you get the full cost benefit of a 90-day prescription (essentially 90 days' worth of drugs for a 30-day payment), without having to wait for the medications to come in the mail. It's read more a tremendous deal and definitely worth checking out.

An insurance broker can be an interesting option if you don't have a large amount of time yourself. They will help to gather several options for you before you have to make a final decision. Although this will increase the initial price you pay as you must pay the fee, it can help in the long term.

If you're on the phone with your insurance company after applying for health coverage, it's okay to say I don't know! It's better to admit you have no idea about the answer to a question than to make up an answer, or fudge the truth. Tell them that they'll need to contact your doctor for that information and they'll do just that!

Buy a copy of your medical records. This will ensure that you will always have a copy, no matter which doctor you're going to. When switching health insurers you may end up having to switch doctors as well, so you'll have a record of every test and procedure you've already had done so you don't have to repeat them with your new physician.

Before signing up for a health insurance plan, you should compare at least 3 different quotes with different companies, to make sure you are getting the best price available. Don't bother with discount cards and indemnity plans, unless you absolutely, cannot get a full medical insurance plan and those are your only options.

Check to see if the health insurance your employer is offering you is a "grandfathered" plan as it could offer you many exemptions that a private insurer no longer can. The beauty of a group plan is that it is not covered by changes to insurance law, but new people can join at any time.

Do you have questions in regards to your health insurance? You can always reach your health provider with a simple phone call. There is usually a number for customer service that you may call and speak with someone from the insurance company. You can find out details about your policy much easier than trying to research on your own.

Check with your state to find out if you qualify for government health insurance or some type of subsidy for health insurance. Some states offer health insurance plans or subsidies for low income families or for children that come from low income families. Check out all your options to see if this applies to your situation.

Do all you can to lead a healthy lifestyle, as this will help keep your health insurance premiums as low as possible. Refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and avoid occupations or activities that are likely to cause injury. Doing so will result in lower health insurance premiums. Those who smoke, are overweight or engage in risky activities are more likely to need health care and must pay higher health insurance premiums.

Hopefully, the above article has made you think about purchasing health insurance. Your life may depend on the quality of your health insurance. When it really matters most, it's too late to improve your plan. It will always be to your advantage to be prepared ahead of time. Health insurance isn't cheap, but it's nothing compared to what your regret can cost you.

 

Is the Time Right for Skilled Nursing Facilities to Embrace Telehealth?

 

Peck launched his previous company, Call9, in 2014, pushing telehealth into nursing homes as a means of reducing unnecessary and costly emergency transports and hospitalizations. But the success stories were few and far between, Medicare rules for telehealth were far too restrictive and the reimbursements weren’t enough to support the programs. Peck folded Call9 in 2019, vowing to try again.

“We talk about the shift to (value-based care) all the time … but we haven’t made the switch,” he told mHealthIntelligence in mid-2019. “We need to flip that switch from fee-for-service … and start rewarding (providers) for bringing value to patient care.”

Peck now thinks that switch is happening. He launched Curve Health in April 2020, fortified by $6 million in seed funding and an ongoing pandemic that was fueling an embrace of virtual care.

In November, a study conducted by researchers at the University of California in Irvine and published in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine helped prove his point. The study found that a telehealth platform used by six SNFs reduced unnecessary transfers by as much as 80 percent.

READ MORE: Northwell Launches Telehealth Service for Skilled Nursing Facilities

“We have a lot of momentum now,” he said recently. “Doctors are using telehealth much more now (then before the pandemic), and payers want this as well. The world has changed even if our mission never changed.”

Peck says the coronavirus forced the nation’s healthcare industry to embrace telehealth much faster than it would have without the pandemic. For SNFs and assisted living facilities, that transition was much needed. They’ve always been on the front lines of the pandemic, dealing with people much more susceptible to catching the virus and incurring its worst effects, including death. A telehealth program could literally be a life-saver for them.

Curve Health is one of many telehealth vendors to jump into the space, and Peck says it’s important for SNFs to study the platform before choosing a partner. Some will partner with local physician groups or agree to partner with those recommended by the SNF, while others offer their own physician network. It’s also important to examine the technology used, to make sure SNF staff have an immediate link to an on-call physician and with nearby hospitals when triage and transfer are needed.

 

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