Posted by Rachel Ricks on Tue, Dec 07, 2010 @ 02:29 PM
I love my father-in-law a lot. We moved to Orange County, CA about 15 months ago to spend more time with my in-laws - okay and to enjoy the beach and the cooler weather versus the extreme heat of Phoenix summers. . .
A few months after we moved to O.C. my father-in-law experienced a heart attack and had to have a triple by-pass surgery. Huge scare - he was only 70 years old at the time - but he has diabetes and is overweight. Prior to the heart attack he didn't eat very well and did not excerise.
He lost about 20+ pounds after the surgery and was on a physical therapy program through his Doctor. He stayed on the path toward wellness even after being released from physical therapy and actually went to the gym with the membership we bought him for Father's Day.
My mother-in-law does the majority of the cooking and started finding lighter alternatives for their meals - low fat, whole wheat, sugar-free. He continued to look really good and have a lot more energy from his new diet and excerise program.
But all good things come to an end. . . it fades. . . good habits die fast and he has stopped execising. Stopped eating healthier alternatives. Has gained the weight back and his energy has slowed down. And don't try and talk to him about the changes - exercising or eating better - he gets very defensive and upset if you bring it up!
When we have insurance, we all need to maintain a certain degree of responsibility to the ones who are helping to foot the bill. Having health insurance is not like visiting the buffet line on the a cruise ship and saying, "I paid for my cruise, and now I can dig in all I want."
I insure my vehicle. It is only reasonable for the insurance company to expect that I will lock my doors to my car and that I at least moderately maintained my vehicle to prevent accidents. After all, if something goes wrong, they're on the hook (minus my deductible). If they find out that I leave my car's doors wide open all day, they have every right to either cancel my policy or bump up my rates to account for the higher risk I am asking them to assume with my careless behavior.
Perhaps this same principle should apply to health insurance, with personal responsibility being the expectation. People could get their checkups and follow the doctor's advice or run the risk of higher premiums and policy cancellations.
What part does personal responsibility play into finding good, affordable healthcare?
If you are shopping for individual health insurance in AZ or CA, give me a call at 1-800-604-3035.
Posted by Rachel Ricks on Wed, Dec 01, 2010 @ 05:48 PM
Call around and SHOP the best price for laboratory procedures and even Doctor care!
Recently I was out of town for the holidays - away from my regular Doctor and regular labaratories. I needed to find a lab to run some STAT (or ASAP results) blood tests for treatment I am undergoing (this treatment is not covered by my HMO medical plan).
So I was looking for a lab in Phoenix do blood tests - paying cash out of pocket. Not unlike if I was under an HSA (Healthcare Savings Account) plan where I had to be concerned with the cost of treatment because I was utilizing my pre-tax saved dollars for eligible medical expenses. In these type of plans you want to control the costs tightly.
I called Sonora Quest and the cost was $324 for the 2 bloods tests. Ouch! I called Labcorp of America and the cost was $125 for cash patients - much better - so I headed over there and got the lab test done.
Since I've been home - I found an even better solution - Direct Labs.com where I could have gotten my two blood test done for $113 - or about a $12 savings. DirectLabs.com offers a wide variety of important health and wellness blood chemistry tests directly to you online at discounted prices up to 80% off. Confidential results are available online in as little as 24 hours for most tests.
What I like is then it would have taken the guess-work out of finding the least expensive solution for my lab testing. I could have just ordered from them and not worried about calling around and shopping all the local labs.
Controlling your healthcare spending costs isn't easy - watch our blog and newsletter for tips from YourVirtualBenefits.com - health insurance for AZ and CA!
Posted by Rachel Romero on Mon, Nov 15, 2010 @ 09:36 PM
26% of the American population is uninsured.
One in three adults making between $44,000-$65,000 were uninsured at some point during the last year.
40% of all Americans live with a chronic illness.
According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 49.9 million people ages 18 to 64," or about 26.2 percent of the adult population, "had no medical coverage for at least part of the past 12 months. ... Moreover, when children 17 and under are factored in, the number of Americans uninsured for at least part of a year span numbered 59.1 million." Most people over age 64 have "universal coverage, thanks to Medicare," but older adults who skip doctor's visits because they lack insurance "are sicker when they reach 65," which "further taxes Medicare." The silver lining: "Public programs such as Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program have reduced the number of children without medical insurance from ten million two years ago to 8.7 million.”
The findings revealed that 3 million more people "went for a year or more with no health insurance" in the first quarter of 2010 than in 2008, and that half of the uninsured were above the poverty level. One in three adults under 65 who made between $44,000 and $65,000 a year, the "middle income range," were uninsured at some point during the year. The findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "have implications for U.S. healthcare reform efforts. ... Experts from both sides predict gridlock in Congress for the next two years in implementing healthcare reform's provisions" (Fox, 11/9).
The findings were released as one of CDC's 'Vital Signs' reports, a series that focuses on a different public health issue each month." The growing number of people without coverage "meant more people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma were skipping or postponing care, increasing the likelihood of costly complications. According to the report, 40 percent of Americans have one or more chronic conditions.
Posted by Rachel Romero on Sat, Oct 30, 2010 @ 10:16 AM
The economy is hurting - especially in California - where it is projected that 22% of the population is unemployed and the under employed. Many of these people had group health insurance through their employer. They are now stuck trying to find or afford California individual health insurance.
Some people are surprised to find out that:
1. California Individual health insurance is less expensive than what their employers were paying for group health insurance - that is because:
2. Individual health insurance can deny health insurance to applicants - you go through medical underwriting - it is different than your group plan where all employees had to be accepted into the plan. Because of this - group plans have had a higher % of sick people on their plan than individual policies.
3. California individual health plans are starting to raise their premiums. . .it's always a good idea to shop your plan every 2-3 years to make sure you are getting the best deal.
One economist is blaming the economic condition for the increases in individual/family health insurance premiums. As families cut costs - the healthiest are dropping their medical coverage - leaving only the sick/or the worried about becoming sick continuing to pay for their individual and family coverage.
Another trend that we are seeing in the individual health insurance marketplace is people electing high deductible health insurance to save money on premiums - but because of the economy - they are delaying medical treatment since they cannot meet that high deductible.
In an ideal world - high deductible plans would be coupled with Healthcare savings accounts where people put money away tax-free and get to spend that money on eligible medical expenses tax-free. But in today's economy - the question is - who has money to save??
Looking for a quote on California individual health insurance? Make sure you are getting the best deal - click the button below for FREE, no obligation quotes.
Posted by Rachel Romero on Thu, Oct 21, 2010 @ 05:45 PM
One of my major focus as an independent health and life insurance agent is going to be finding the best Long Term Care coverages out there and start selling them in the Arizona and California markets.
It is no secret - there are 78 million baby boomers moving into their senior years. Some 70 percent of Americans who reach 65 will eventually require help with daily activities like dressing and feeding themselves, according to studies, and 20 percent will require assistance for more than five years.
Americans must basically fend for themselves in figuring out how to meet these expenses, unlike folks in Japan and much of Europe, where government-managed long-term care insurance is affordable and mandatory. ...
In this country, financing relies most heavily on the joint federal-state Medicaid program, which pays more than 40 percent of total long-term care spending, according to the Scan Foundation, and requires individuals to impoverish themselves to qualify.
A report by America's Health Insurance plans found that "Medicaid spending for long-term care is projected to total more than $3.7 trillion from 2008 to 2028 ... and to grow at a faster rate than both overall health care spending and the U.S. gross domestic product. And that surge in spending will only exacerbate state and federal budget woes" (Greenwald, 10/20).
We need to find real solutions. It is going to require us to pay for Long Term Care coverages to protect ourselves and cover our needs for the future. This idea of becoming destitute to qualify for Medicare is ridiculous. And the burden that the aging population is putting our their children is extraordinary. Planning must be done!
Posted by Rachel Romero on Tue, Sep 21, 2010 @ 11:29 AM
One of the hardest thing about being a health insurance agent is to get that prospect - somebody who really wants or needs an Arizona individual health insurance plan - but because of the Body Mass Index - they do not qualify.
There is no secret - we are getting more and more overweight as a nation - 65% of all Americans are now overweight or obese. Obviously being overweight causes many health problems - diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease.
When I get that prospect that is 5'3" and weighs 278 pounds. Most of the individual health insurance companies will not cover a person this heavy. It is sad. And if you are 5'3" and weigh more than 181 pounds you will pay more premiums for health coverage.
If you are lucky enough to qualify for an Arizona Individual Health plan - even if you are overweight, then the major criticism that exists in the marketplace right now is there is not good coverage for weight loss treatment.
It is crazy - most insurers will cover diabetes or sleep apnea - but not the underlying problem - obesity - that causes the diabetes or sleep apnea.
Some plans specifically exclude bariatric surgery a growing number are following Medicare's example and covering it, after studies documented its safety and effectiveness. But such operations are suitable only for a small subset of patients who are classified as morbidly obese and for whom nothing else has worked.
Many people who are overweight are frustrated and feel powerless and feel like their weight has become unmanageable. They need help to lose weight. Right now many insurance companies feel that these heavy patients are choosing to be overweight. That is is a personal choice and all about willpower.
To me this viewpoint - sounds a lot like how people viewed alcoholism - that it was not a disease - that it was about willpower to stop drinking. Fortunately, public opinion and health policy has shifted with alcoholism. Many plans now cover chemical dependency and alcoholism.
Hopefully, in the future a good treatment options for the overweight and obese patients will be covered by Arizona Individual Health plans routinely.
Posted by Rachel Romero on Wed, Sep 01, 2010 @ 09:20 AM
A recent article in the Los Angeles Times does not bode well for people that lost their job recently, have exhausted COBRA coverage and are now on insurance through the rules of HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability Act). This law protect people that would otherwise be excluded from individual policies if they previously where on group coverage or COBRA (and only have a gap of coverage of 63 days or less).
The article starts out by saying: "State regulators have quietly given insurers permission to raise maximum premiums for most of the 20,000 who depend on the coverage of last resort. Some are paying an extra $7,500 this year." Ouch. When you've lost your job - and are starting over as a self-employed person or with a smaller company that does not offer group coverage - paying an extra $7,500 per year for health benefits hurts!
The increase was prompted by an outside actuary firm that sought to find a formula for calculating premiums - State officials said the actuary developed a uniform calculation -- based on a larger number of enrollees -- that led to reliable rates with gradual increases.
The downside was that the formula also pushed up the maximum price tag for the majority of consumers, particularly for those ages 50 to 64, the largest group in the high-risk pool.
It is always a good idea to try and shop your coverage - but if you on HIPPA eligible coverage you may have no choices. Raising your deductible and contributing to an HSA plan can be an option to keep costs down. Read more about California HSA plans.
Posted by Rachel Romero on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 @ 12:52 PM
I just read a very disturbing article about how many people are forgoing recommended continuing coverage for their cancer. Crazy enough it is predicted that 2 million Americans—roughly one in six cancer survivors—decide to forgo at least some of their recommended follow-up medical care because of the cost, according to recent research.
These people have health insurance but they still [may] have difficulties with high deductibles, copayments and other out-of-pocket costs. Her findings, published in the medical journal Cancer, come after analyzing annual government surveys of more than 30,000 households from 2003 to 2006. And those surveys were taken before the recent economic downturn and continued high unemployment. These days, even more cancer survivors are believed to be skimping on, delaying or totally avoiding medical care because of money concerns. Cancer has always been devastating to mind, body and finances. "But we're hearing more and more of these stories than we used to," says Anna McCourt, a supervisor at the National Cancer Information Center, a round-the-clock call center operated by the American Cancer Society (phone: 1-800-227-2345). "People say they must choose between getting care or meeting daily living expenses—putting food on the table and paying their mortgages and utility bills," she says. "Because of out-of-pocket costs, they're avoiding tests they know they need, they're taking half doses of medication to make it last longer. But if you freeze because you can't afford heat this winter, cancer medication isn't going to be that helpful anyway."
AZ Critical illness coverage is about $60 per month on average and can really save you from making these tough decisions on continuing care by paying a lump sum at the diagnosis of cancer. Check out the AZ Critical illness coverge page for more details or to request a quote.
Posted by Rachel Romero on Wed, Aug 25, 2010 @ 10:47 PM
"The Big C" it's called in the latest Showtime original series - CANCER. It strikes fear in most people's hearts - I know it does for me personally since almost all my family members have died from some form of cancer - and my wonderful Mom is a living survivor of 2 rounds of non-Hodgkins and 2 different types of breast cancer. So I'm intimately familiar and astoundingly terrified of cancer.
There are some recent reports from the American Cancer Society that show that cancer costs more in productivity and lost life than AIDS, malaria, the flu and other diseases that spread person-to-person.
Chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes account for more than 60 percent of deaths worldwide but less than 3 percent of public and private funding for global health, said Rachel Nugent of the Center for Global Development, a Washington-based policy research group.
Lung and related cancers account for $180 billion of the $895 billion total. Smokers die an average of 15 years earlier than nonsmokers, the report says. Heart disease follows cancer, with an economic impact of $753 billion.
"Heart conditions usually hit people towards the end of their life. The cancers struck people much earlier in their life cycle," said the lead author, cancer society health economist Hana Ross.
Cancer has a huge economic toll globally - but of course a big toll financially in your own life. Should you be diagnosed with cancer do you have disability income to cover your lost wages as you take time off to deal with your treatment? Do you have the funds to pay for alternative treatment that could help save your life (but that might not be covered by your health plan)?
In the show "The Big C" she is given less than one year to live. She starts spending money wildly - installing a pool in her yard, burning her furniture, paying an overweight student $100 for every 1 pound she loses to give her motivation. Wild spending. But in the plotline her cancer is terminal. What about for those that have a hope to beat their cancer?
An Arizona critical illness plan can help fill in the gaps and provide relief right when relief is needed.
Posted by Rachel Romero on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 @ 11:54 AM
Orange County, California along with the rest of California has experienced record unemployment according to the latest report from the OC Register. Just under 10% for Orange County. This mass of unemployed is causing the the uninsured ranks to swell to almost 25% in some counties in California.
Think about that - nearly 1 in 4 Californians lacks health insurance. Health insurance systems are still too employer based and when you lose your job many people don't realize that they can get individual health insurance for California at pretty low rates. Most of the time you can get coverage for rates lower than charged to employers for group coverage. 50% of all bankruptcies are direct results of medical problems so going without health insurance in very risky.
The depth of this recession has really hit healthcare hard and too many California residents are badly needing health insurance. Hopefully, some will look into individual health insurance for Orange County - but of course nothing is free and when you don't have an income paying premiums can be difficult.
Get a quote for individual health insurance Orange County - we have short term policies too!
