Reader question:

What’s the deal with those discount health insurance cards?

Martha

Great question.

Discount medical health insurance cards claim to be a great alternative for people who don’t have the money to be able to afford insurance. For that very reason, they may be a little attractive at first, especially to any of the millions of uninsured who have no other option. It would be a great idea to offer low cost health insurance to those who fall through the gap between government aid and medical self sufficiency. However, upon closer look, this discount medical health insurance cards aren’t all that they’re cracked up to be.

The business of discount health cards is growing fast, and many health insurance companies are now offering them as an affordable alternative to full on health insurance plans. What they do is give the card holder discounts on things like doctor appointments, hospital visits, and prescriptions. In some cases, they may be the only option for someone who can’t afford health insurance, and thus it won’t matter that that person is still footing the whole medical bill, just with a slight discount. However, for those who feel the need to avail themselves of this option, an eye should be kept out for the many cards that are fraudulent.

Many sellers of these fraudulent discount cards make it look like the cards are actual health insurance, when they aren’t. They are not regulated, and there’s no way to protect yourself as a consumer if you get one of these cards. Even the more normally legitimate businesses that offer the cards tend to make it look like the savings and discounts that you get from them are much more than they actually are. If you fall for this, you could end up paying more for a card every month than it’s saving you money.

Even if the discounts they promise are technically on the card, a lot of times there will be a bunch of under the table fees that will take those away, so that in the end the only thing that this card you have will be is a piece of useless plastic. It can have the effect of making some people who can barely afford their health insurance plan exchange it for a card, convinced by the companies that it is an actual health insurance plan, only to find themselves paying all of their medical bills.

There are many of these companies out there who are trying to steal your money without actually giving you anything in return. One company has already charged unwilling customers for cards that they never wanted, fraudulently using their credit card numbers.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Contrary to popular opinion, there are ways that you can save money on your health insurance coverage. There may never be plans that could be considered cheap, but if you know your needs, there is no problem getting low cost health insurance for yourself and your family, at least in comparison to other plans and, well, lacking health insurance altogether.

It is true that of the many Americans today that don’t have health insurance, many actually can’t afford any. However, there are also many of that number who don’t have health insurance because of misconceptions about insurance and the health care system. A lot of people don’t get health insurance because they think it costs too much, and, besides, they’re in perfect health. What they don’t realize is that some of the most expensive health care bills and some of the highest numbers in medical debt are billed to people who were otherwise in perfect health but were victims of bad luck or tragedy.

The first law of health insurance is that no matter what, it’s always more expensive to be uninsured. People who don’t have health insurance and then find themselves in something as simple as a small car accident can go through their savings, ruin their credit, and fall into huge debt. Even a minor ER visit can cost five hundred dollars.

If you can get insurance through your job, do it! It’s always cheaper, especially if you have previous medical problems that would make it hard for you to get medical insurance through anywhere else. Your employer foots part of the bill and you often get a choice of plans. And when you have a choice, compare, compare, compare. It’s frustrating and time consuming, but it’s the only way to save money and figure out what’s best for you.

Even when you find a plan that looks pretty cheap, cheap isn’t always best. The real deal breaker should be value. You don’t want simply the cheapest premium. You want the cheapest premium with the best coverage. This might be a little higher than that great quote you got, but it will save you more money down the line. Even if you do get a plan with great coverage though, remember that some expenses still fall through the gap. Things like mental health care and prescription drugs are the areas where even the best plans have little to no coverage.

As you were taught in history class, freedom ain’t free. The more flexibility that your health care plan gives you, the higher your premium will be. So it is up to you to decide what is more important to you: deciding who you go to for health care, or paying less on your premium. Less freedom of choice among health providers isn’t necessarily bad, so long as the physicians in the network are quality. And you can research a plan’s network before you sign up for it. Maybe not through the company itself, but there are a lot of sources online or off where you can find out about a certain plan’s track record.

One thing that might worry some people who are using employer based insurance is where they would be if they lost their job. Lucky for them, you don’t lose your health insurance when you lose your job. The government provides you with COBRA for a period of time after you lose your job. It can be more expensive, but it’s better than nothing and can ease a lot of minds.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

In Illinois, all of those with aching backs and hurting muscles are about to get a big break. The Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance in Illinois is going to start covering chiropractic care, an area of medicine that many people want and need, but that most health insurance providers won’t touch because they deem it to be something elective, or not medically necessary. Those who have to deal with aches and pains everyday, and for whom pain pills aren’t enough or aren’t acceptable, they are very necessary, and Blue Cross has come to the light.

The program is called CAM, which stands for complementary and alternative medicine, and it is slated to start on the first of January. The problem that many consumers might find with it is that it is not an actual part of the coverage of their health insurance plan. Rather, it is separate, set up as a discount health insurance card. This does make things easier, as it means claims and referrals won’t be necessary like they usually are, though.

While the actual Blue Cross discount card is cheaper to begin with, it costs more than your usual health care plan if you have to end up using it. You pay the chiropractor or the practitioner of whatever type of alternative treatment you are getting, and the card is only responsible for giving you a discount. While it is a big discount, at twenty five percent, that is only the case if you work within the network that Blue Cross has chosen.

More and more people are becoming interested in alternative forms of health care, and Blue Cross is just the first health insurance company to have buckled under the weight of demands for coverage for this type of treatment. For those who cannot afford any other kind of health insurance, it might be a good start on getting some medical care, considering the lower costs.

Blue Cross is putting itself forward to help current and potential customers understand the program by providing them with a website called Healthy Roads. The website is still in its early stages, but it contains a load of information about different types of alternative health care. It also has a directory of alternative care providers who are part of Blue Cross’s program, and a bunch of products that might appeal to people interested in alternative health care. It’s a great source of information, even for those who do not have a Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plan.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Good news is coming out of Michigan for people with Diabetes, who have to face so many medical costs every year just trying to keep up with their condition. As of January 10th, health insurance companies under the regulation of the Michigan Department of Insurance are going to have to start covering supplies needed for controlling Diabetes, such as insulin, within ninety days of that date.

It’s been a long time since there has been any kind of reform of health insurance in Michigan, longer than ten years, so many see this as a welcome expansion of the system. The types of supplies for patients with Diabetes that will be covered by the new requirement, will include such things as:

• insulin
• oral medications
• insulin pumps
• blood glucose testing supplies
• physician and diabetes educational opportunities
• anything else needed to manage the condition

The vice president of the American Diabetes Association states that in the past, many families who struggle with the problem of Diabetes have had to wait, have had their claims denied, have been forced to go without their medications and supplies for lack of money, and these are things that are necessary for them to continue living. Why, she wonders, do we save other lives that are more immediately in danger, while letting Diabetes patients slowly lose theirs? This new program will save thousands of lives across the state of Michigan.

Called the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act, similar things have gone into law across forty two other states in the country. In those other states, though, the covered products still come with required co pays, which may keep some patients from getting their necessary supplies. the DCRA is the first to not require this.

One of the things that brought this about was the huge increase in cases of Diabetes throughout the state of Michigan. Sixty seven percent more people have it now than did in 1997, says the Center for Disease Control. of the 660,000 Michigan residents that have Diabetes, one third of them are not aware of the fact. Considering the ramifications of not taking care of your self properly when you have Diabetes, raising awareness alone could save many lives.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

When the new reform of Medicare went through and the seniors across the country received their new lists of rules and plan information, there was a wide cry of “WHAT?” echoing all across the nation. Health insurance is confusing as it is, and the way that the government made Medicare out to be has made it just more and more difficult for the seniors of the United States to get the health insurance care that they need in a timely manner.

Luckily, many states have information programs for seniors who are on Medicare, and the Ohio health insurance program is one of them. Called OSHIIP, it stands for the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program. It provides ways for those covered by Medicare and their family trying to help them to get fast medical care and to understand their coverage. Such convenient features as a toll free hotline make getting assistance with understanding your medical health insurance quick, easy, and calming.

Not only does the OSHIIP program provide you with information about Medicare insurance, but it has volunteers that can sit with you individually and help you interpret the Medicare possible plans and decide which one is the best for you. They can also help you find out many ways in which you can save money using Medicare.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Ohio health insurance companies are unique in taking an active part in the residents of their state’s health care, instead of just sitting back and listening to the money come in like some people might claim that most health insurance companies are doing. Over thirty million dollars is planned to be used to spread awareness of health problems and to provide basic care for Ohio residents without health coverage by the company Anthem Blue Cross over the next three years, and in the town of Solon, Ohio, the Ohio based company Medical Mutual is breaking ground with its new awareness program for citizens of the town.

One of the benefits of this program is that it will help educated residents of this Ohio towns about certain important things such as preventive medicine and healthy living habits. Many people only go to the doctor when they are sick or injured, and for this reason many medical conditions which could have been stopped or had their effect lessened are instead coming out more and more later in life. Most people don’t want to take time off of work to go to the doctor when they don’t need to, but as the Solon program emphasizes, need is very subjective.

It is a single educational event that will be held on April 21st of the coming year, and Medical Mutual hopes that everybody in the town of Solon will come and see what is to be said. Not only will it provide education, but it will provide advice on such necessary topics as healthy living and preventive actions.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Reader question:

I live in Indiana and don’t have health insurance. How does health insurance work in Indiana?

Rick

Here’s how.

The troubling thing about Indiana health insurance and that of many other states is that, if you are someone who is not in completely perfect health, it can often be difficult to get a health insurance plan with good coverage. In Indiana, companies get to reject you for many reasons including what your current health is and whether or not you have pre-existing conditions.

If you have a pre-existing coverage in Indiana that you developed within the last year, you may be in trouble. Some health insurance companies will cover you but exclude coverage for that condition, so you don’t have medical health insurance for what you need it for the most. Others might just not cover you at all, and you will have to look elsewhere. If your condition is from more than a year ago, it cannot be taken into account when considering an exclusion.

If you are going to get Indiana health insurane, you can either get it through the Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool, or CHIP; an individual medical health insurance plan that you buy from a medical health insurance company; or a plan provided by Indiana health insurance through the state that you can get based on income.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Reader question:

I’m seventy years old and have been living in Florida for six months. What kinds of programs does Florida have for health insurance for seniors?

Duke

SHINE.

Sorry, not trying to be unreasonably cheery. That’s actually the name of Florida’s health insurance program for seniors. SHINE. It stands for Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders and is the state’s subsection of the program, called SHIP, or state health insurance programs, that is existent in every state and territory of the United States. SHINE does not actually provide Florida seniors with senior health insurance–that’s what Medicaid is for–but it does provide them with plenty of very useful services.

SHINE is, essentially, a way to educated senior citizens living in Florida of what their options are when it comes to medical health insurance. It helps them decide what they want to do in the long run, and helps them disentangle the confusing red tape that is wrapped around the new, improved Medicare prescription program. This free education comes in the form of one on one counseling and group efforts.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Reader question:

If I am not a legal resident of the United States, but my child is, then can I stil apply for child health insurance for them? Would I be reported to the Immigration and Naturalization Service?

Gloria

Not at all.

The only thing that the people who run the KidCare child health insurance program in Florida are looking at whenever they are approving or denying applications for insurance coverage is the child. If the child is not a legal resident of the United States, then there will be a problem and the child will not be eligible for coverage. However, if the child has acceptable legal status but the parent does not, that does not come in to play at all.

Even if the parent who is applying for the insurance for their child does not have legal immigration status in the United States, the state of Florida will not report the parent to the Immigration and Naturalization services when the parent applies for child health insurance for their kid. A parent would only be reported to the INS if they were applying for something like cash welfare or food stamps and they are not legal or they have a deportation order out on them.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Reader question:

I’m a worried grandmother whose granddaughter has been getting sick a lot lately, but her parents don’t have the money for health insurance nor do they have the money to take her to the doctor. What can I, as a grandparent, do?

Millie

I’m glad you asked.

You would be surprised by how much exactly a grandparent can do, because according to state laws in Florida, they are not entirely without rights as concerns their grandchildren. It may be true that a grandparent is not allowed to apply for health insurance for a child, even when that child does not have child health insurance or any real way of getting it, but there are still some things that the grandparent can do.

According to Florida Statute Chapter 743.0645, you have the right to get health care on the behalf of your grandchild. This means that you can take your granddaughter to the emergency room or the doctor’s office, and can consent to major things. This right only comes, though, after the doctor on duty has tried many times to get in tough with the parent, and the parent has also not declared that the child can not be treated in such a way.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.