Thursday, May 29, 2008

Self Employed Health Insurance

A dilemma on cost effective self employed health insurance solutions, has put the American health insurance consumers who are self employed at odds with health insurance coverage over the last few health years. Demand for affordable Self employed health insurance policies is constantly on the rise and health insurance consumers are wondering what to do about health and self employed health insurance rising at such a high self employed rate. Health insurance in general has been rising and health insurance consumers with health need to know about health insurance.


Self employed health insurance can be frustrating for health insurance consumers mainly because of health and self employed health insurance price. With this health insurance article we'll outline some self employed health insurance facts you can do to lower your health insurance costs. First, look at the self employed health insurance deductible. With health insurance the higher the self employed health insurance deductible, the more the health insurance consumer will save. Instead of a $600 self employed health insurance deductible check on a $1100 health insurance deductible. Next, self employed health insurance co pays with health. Instead of a $12 health insurance co pay try a $15 self employed health insurance co pay.

Next with health, check the self employed health insurance company out carefully. Health insurance companies should be checked out when getting a self employed health insurance plan. Ask the health insurance company questions and grill them on health and self employed health insurance customer service issues to ensure your health employees are getting a good health insurance plan.

We've solved the self employed health insurance industry problem by providing cheap health insurance plans for your self employed business. Free Health insurance quotes can be delivered via email by the click of a mouse. Shopping health insurance has never been easier for health insurance consumers than right here. If you are still not happy, please read this article Self Employed Health Insurance - What does that mean?

For more info visit Self-employed health insurance Quote and Affordable Health Insurance Blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ariful_Anam


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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Health Insurance - You Can Find The Best Insurance At The Cheapest Cost

It is hard to watch the television or read a newspaper today and not know that our country is having a health care crisis. Many people feel that they can not afford insurance and then there are those that feel they are healthy enough to not need Health Insurance. Let's get one thing strait that everyone needs health insurance because if you are young and healthy it is protection against a future accident or health issue that can cause you financial devastation. For all the others that feel that they can not afford it there are many options for you.


Learn how to find: Discount Health Insurance

Most states offer Medicaid that is available for low income families and you would be surprised to see how many families can qualify for this. You will need to fill out forms and get documentation to verify your income but all this worth is worth it to get the coverage you need. This is also a great way to get insurance for your children if they are not already covered.

Get some Advice about: Types of Insurance

Relatively cheap insurance can be found on the internet. There are a great variety of health insurance plans and if you do an extended search you will be able to find the health insurance that you need and it will be affordable. The cost vary greatly so do your homework to make sure that the companies have been in business for a respectable amount of time and that they are licensed to do business in your state. Get many quotes and check the benefits that best suit you and your pocket book.

Another option to find inexpensive health insurance is to check with local agencies and local insurance carriers. It is best to deal with individuals who deal with many companies so they can offer you many plans to choose from that have many benefits and a variety of prices. Remember that if you can not get the exact coverage that you want it is always better to have some coverage rather than none.

When is comes to finding inexpensive Health coverage make sure that you exhaust all of your options. It is important to be creative and look at everything that is available to you. All of your searching efforts will pay off in the end and you will find an affordable insurance policy.

About the Author

Bryan Burbank is an expert in the field of Discount Insurance. http://finddiscountinsurance.com

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

Life Insurance For Over 50's | Right Decisions Should Be Taken At Right Times

The word insurance in itself is very great, and then just imagine if one buys, the life insurance policies, then what would be the benefits of them. Yes, of course there are many benefits in buying or investing in any of the life insurance policies. They play a major role in our lives. Not only our present but also our future gets so very well secured. We need not have to worry once we have invested in any of the life insurance policies. There are many types of policies which we can benefit with, like the term insurance policy, the universal policy, the health policy, the whole term policy and so on. If you are interested to buy any of these policies then take the advice of the insurance policies experts and they will help you out.


Generally all the insurance policies are too good, but according to my personal experiences, I would suggest that the universal insurance policy is the best. This policy takes care of everything. Its format is such that it covers up the whole term and the financial declarations very easily. As we all are aware that fate strikes suddenly to us in any phase of life, either in good terms or in bad terms. At good times we all enjoy very much, but what about the bad times? Many of us are not even mentally or financially prepared to face the bad times. So in this case this universal insurance policy takes care of us and the financial crisis which we may have to go through at this time. On top of that this insurance policy also helps us to change our premiums payments according to our own benefits, e.g. like if for any reasons we are not able to pay the fixed amount of payment through the premium which we had fixed during the time of the investment previously, then this policy helps us out to change the amount of premiums which have to be paid according to our benefits for a few period of time and then it can be changed again. We can also stop paying the amount through the premiums for a certain period of time.

We cannot risk the lives of our dear ones so easily. All we have to do is to compromise a bit in our present expenses and save the future of our loved ones. In the earlier years all this was not possible and our great grand parents had no such experiences and well as the benefits, so they never invested for us in any such type of policies. But we are very lucky that we can very much benefit from all these types of policies and can get the future of our loved ones secured. If you have already invested in any of the life insurance policies, then it is too good and you need not worry. In fact you can suggest your friends and relatives also to invest in any of these life insurance policies and rest in peace. And if you have not invested anywhere in any of these policies, then my dear friends after reading this article, I hope you will take some wise decision to secure the future of yourself as well as your family.

About the Author

Angela has a lot of experience in life insurance for over 50"s and in the other areas of life insurance. Please visit: http://www.choicesinc.ca/life-insurance-for-over-50s/

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All about Getting Plastic Surgery Abroad

The United States is well-known for its state-of-the-art medical care, including plastic (or cosmetic) surgery. This being the case, why are so many people choosing to obtain their plastic surgery abroad?

The answer, typically, comes down to the "almighty dollar." Plastic surgery abroad is often much less expensive than if it were to be performed at a medical facility within the United States.

Since, in the US, "money talks," the insurance companies and the Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) either will not cover elective plastic surgery at all, or else will charge the patient an extraordinarily large deductable fee.


Of course there are exceptions to this problem. In many cases, a patient need not seek plastic surgery abroad at a less expensive cost if the reason for the surgery is medically necessary rather than elective.

For example, a child born with a cleft palate or a seriously injured burn patient will require extensive plastic, or reconstructive, surgery in order to achieve a more "normal" appearance and emotional healing. Insurance companies and HMOs will cover the cost of these surgeries since they are considered medically necessary.

Conversely, procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation, face lifts, rhinoplasty and other surgeries that are performed for the sole purpose of enhancing one's appearance are rarely, if ever, covered by HMOs and insurance companies.

Thus, an increasing number of Americans are seeking plastic surgery abroad. Even if the patient must personally pay for the procedure, it is much less costly than it would be in the United States.

This is most often because of the low cost of living in other countries, meaning that wages for top-quality physicians and registered nurses are lower. Having plastic surgery abroad passes these savings along to you. Procedures in the United States are more expensive because our cost of living so is very high.

What about standards of care? If you decide to obtain your plastic surgery abroad, the price of the procedure will be less, but will the quality of your surgery and post-surgical care be as great as in the United States?

Whatever medical facility you choose, look for a surgical staff whose credentials state "Board Certified F.R.C.S." (Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons) if the surgeon was trained in the UK, Australia or New Zealand.

When you have plastic surgery abroad at a qualified medical facility, you can be assured that you will receive the finest standard of care globally available, both in your surgical procedure and your post-surgical care.

About the Author

Beautiful You Holidays is one of the first and unique world renowned medical organizations in Malaysia, specializing in Cosmetic Surgery Abroad. For more Information on Plastic Surgery Abroad Check out http://www.BeautifulYouHolidays.com/

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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Full Scope Of Social Security Benefits

You work during your work life. You contribute. Your employer contributes. You retire. You draw the benefits. That is a key part of Social Security, but it is only a part. The rest of the protections in their own way are every bit as valuable and as necessary as retirement benefits.

For example, there is a disability benefit. If a young worker is on their way to work today and is disabled in an accident on a freeway and cannot work again, that worker under the social contract we have under Social Security has the ability not to become a pauper, not to have their family and children become paupers, but to be able to sustain themselves because they are part of this National, social contract in the insurance system where we have anticipated that that will happen to some number of people.

And we do not want those people's lives to be destroyed when a disabling accident happens, whether they are on their way to work, at work, or what have you.

In addition to that, we have, if we think of an even worse case, an instance where someone is a younger worker loses their life. We have a survivor's benefit so that again, you have a situation where the family is able to derive some support and some financial strength, but it comes off this National insurance contract that we have one with the other.

We hope this will not happen to us, but if it does or to the person next door or across town, then, we are tied into this arrangement where we provide this kind of insurance one to the other.

And it is a very important benefit. In every single day, there are younger workers in our society, workers up and down the scale to which these events happen, and families.

And the Social Security system kicks in. It is there when they need it. And thank God for it.

Finally, there is also health care protection in the Medicare Part A portion of Medicare. And so it is not just a matter of a retirement benefit per se in the sense of an income that comes in at retirement age, but it also is the very important and very valuable, very financially important support that comes through Part A of Medicare.

Any serious discussion of Social Security cannot be squeezed down to an artificially small definition of what it is, as important as that may be, namely, retirement benefits, but we have to understand this broader scope of the protections because that is really what ties the generations together.

This is really a cross-generational program. This is not just a matter of the younger workers providing a flow of income into the fund for retired workers, whether in their family or outside.

It is actually a cross-generational set of insurance protections so that younger workers have available to them at exactly the time they need it the most of a form of social insurance that they would not have any other way.

About the Author

Sammy Beanard has researched and written about social security and other issues.

To see more of his writing, visit his articles about social security index searches and license plate search sites.

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Whole Life Insurance Advice - How to Get the Best Rate

Whole life insurance is a great tool to both protect your family and grow your money. Here's whole life insurance advice that explains what whole life insurance is and how to get the best rate.

What is Whole Life Insurance?


Whole life insurance has two components: insurance to protect your family and an investment option that builds up equity known as the cash value. When you buy this type of insurance, part of your premium pays for the actual insurance and the rest is invested.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Whole Life Insurance

The main disadvantage of whole life insurance is that it costs more than other types of life insurance. However, it also offers many advantages:

* The premium does not increase as you get older.

* The coverage does not expire as long as you continue paying the premium.

* Your cash value continues to grow as long as you hold the policy.

* You can cancel or surrender your policy at any time and still receive the equity you've built up. You can also borrow against the cash value.

* Your cash value is tax-deferred until you withdraw it.

Finding the Best Rate

Because whole life insurance can be expensive, you need to comparison shop in order to make sure you're getting the best rate possible. The easiest way to comparison shop is to go to an insurance comparison website. On these websites you fill out a simple online questionnaire with information such as ...

* How much insurance you want to buy

* What your age is

* What your occupation is

* How your health is

Once you submit the application, you'll receive quotes from several A-rated insurance companies. Then all you have to do is review the quotes and choose the one that's best for you.

If you have questions, or need advice on how to lower your premium, the best insurance comparison websites have a chat feature so you can talk online with insurance professionals (see link below).

Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com/life-insurance.html or click on the following link to get whole life insurance rate quotes from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more tips and advice in their Articles section, and get answers to your questions from an insurance expert by using their online chat service.


About the Author

The authors, Brian Stevens and Stacey Schifferdecker, have spent 30 years in the insurance and finance industries, and have written a number of articles with whole life insurance advice.

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Visitors Medical Insurance

Foreign travel can be both exciting and challenging. Travel planning calls for a lot of thought and time. Often healthcare needs of travelers are overlooked. This oversight can turn an otherwise great trip into something out of a nightmare. These are some important steps you must take before you undertake any travel:

1. See your primary care physician and discuss your needs during your foreign travel. Ensure everybody is current with immunizations. Many Asian and African nations demand proof or certificate of vaccination. These requirements can be obtained from your travel agent.

2. Study your current health insurance plan to determine if it offers adequate coverage overseas. If it is not clear check with your insurance company about what is covered and excluded during overseas travel.

3. If your current health plan doesn't offer coverage for medical expenses and medical evacuation it is prudent to consider foreign visitor insurance. If your travels are short term then you can consider a visitor medical insurance policy. If you are out on a long trip spanning several years then you can consider a more comprehensive international health insurance plan offering regular pregnancy and preventive healthcare benefits.

The premium for the plan is influenced by your age, the type of benefits and the length of coverage. It is best to speak to an experienced visitors insurance professional. Ask the right questions and ensure you protect your most important asset - health.

About the Author

Author Chiranth Nataraj is a qualified and well experienced health insurance professional. He often writes about visitors medical insurance and visitors health insurance.

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International Health Insurance

Traveling or moving to a foreign country is exciting and can be challenging. In both situations it is important to arrange for health insurance for your family. Your current health insurance will not cover you when you are abroad. If you are traveling for a short period, you will need coverage for any sudden sickness or injury. Most travel medical plans offer coverage in such situations. The plans can sometimes include coverage for bringing you back home for treatment.

Some plans can also cover sudden re occurrences of pre existing conditions. Review the brochures of the plans to understand exclusions. Travel medical plans are not designed to offer preventive care and extensive coverage for pre existing conditions and maternity. The plans expire once you come back to your home country or offer limited optional home country coverage. These plans are an inexpensive way to get comprehensive coverage. You can get immediate coverage.

If you are planning on living abroad for a long period of time you may consider the Global health plans. They are designed for international travelers, teachers, missionaries and other professionals who live abroad. They are a comprehensive solution for people who need coverage around the world including their home country. These plans offer preventive care, coverage for pre existing conditions and maternity. Some benefits may have a waiting period. The plans can be renewed for the duration of your stay. Some plans have networks of providers around the world along with assistance services to help you choose a provider. Applicants must fill out a health questionnaire. Plans have guidelines and requirements that must be met before they are issued.

The plan cost or premium will depend on: Your age, maximum coverage requested, deductible, type of coverage/benefits. Select a plan with the benefits you need. Whether you choose a short term Travel Medical Insurance plan or a long term Global Health plan understand the plan coverage, benefits and exclusions. Discuss your requirements with our licensed professional agents to find a solution that works for you.

About the Author


Suchi works in the Global Health Insurance industry. She often writes about International Health Insurance and provides online advice on International Travel Health Insurance.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Quit Smoking

There are many reasons why you might want to consider quitting smoking, but foremost among them are probably concerns about your health - by now, most people are well aware of the risks of smoking. It's not just about your own health though - you should also consider the health of people around you (including family members and other loved ones), who, even if they are non-smokers, are forced to breathe in your smoke just because they share the same living space as you (this is known as "passive smoking").


In these times of economic uncertainty, another good reason for quitting that probably springs to mind is the sheer cost of smoking - your habit may be costing you a small fortune - your money is literally going up in smoke. When thinking about the financial reasons for giving up smoking, it's not just that the cost of cigarettes that you should consider - smoking may well result in paying higher health insurance premiums, and these days, it's also possible that your employer may view smoking in a negative light, and that could well have a negative effect on your career.

Other reasons to give up smoking include the fact the fact that it can makes home, your clothes and you smell of stale smoke, it can stain your fingers and teeth, and in today's world, more and more people are seeing smoking as an anti-social habit.

Of course, whether to give up smoking or continue is in the end your decision, but you should think about all these issues carefully. If you do decide to give up, as you already know, it may not be easy - it's not uncommon for smokers to go through several failed attempts at quitting before finally becoming an ex-smoker. If you do decide to quit smoking, I would strongly suggest you discuss your plans with your doctor, who will no doubt be able to give you helpful advice and help you increase your chances of success.

About the Author

By S. Tanna. First published at Guide to Quit Smoking at http://www.guide2quitsmoking.com/

Note: The author is NOT a doctor or medical professional, and this article is NOT intended as medical advice. I strongly recommend that you consult your doctor if you n

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Warning About Life Insurance Lies

Millions of people have put their life insurance at risk because they lied about their health status. They face the possibility of having their life insurance and critical illness policies cancelled.

People cover up being a smoker or a healthy drinker, and people regularly give false information on their weight or health problems.


A study by Norwich Union of 2,500 customers found as many as one in 14 provided false information relating to their health or lifestyle. Other research showed a higher 15% of people who are not truthful when applying for insurance cover.

Currently insurers reject as many as 20% of claims due to misinformation, but this doesn’t deter people, where as many as 52% of men and 43% of women say they routinely lie about the state of their health in everyday life. Those who lie on insurance policies risk personal and financial disaster if they are found out.

Life insurance is a simple form of protection, which pays out a lump sum on the police holders’ death. These policies can be ‘for life’ or for a fixed term eg.25 years.

Over the past few years, life insurance premiums have fallen sharply as life expectancy has risen and competition amongst insurers has grown. But anyone outside the 'norm' - such as those who are overweight and those who smoke - will increasingly pay more for cover. According to financial website find.co.uk, a 20-year level term policy with a sum assured of £100,000 would cost about £13.50 a month for a 35-yearold male smoker. A non-smoker of the same age would pay about £8 a month - a saving of £64 a year or nearly £1,300 over 20 years.

There are other more simple ways to get better value of your life insurance premiums and save money without being fraudulent.

Insurers calculate your life insurance premium by using information about your health, age, occupation and lifestyle. Most people are unwilling to do measures such as losing weight or giving up smoking to get cheaper life insurance. To be eligible for discount you have to have quit smoking for at least one year to be classed as a non-smoker, but can wipe many pounds off your monthly premiums.

Recently a new life insurance policy was launched offering lower premiums to vegetarians. Animal Friends Insurance offered a 6% discount on its life insurance for non-meat eaters, because medical evidence suggested they were less likely to suffer from major illnesses than those who ate meat.

Norwich Union is now considering challenging the rest of its two million UK customers to come clean about their health status. People who have found to have been dishonest could see sharp increases in their premiums or even have the policies cancelled. Insurance fraud is covered under the Fraud Act 2006, which defines fraud as being committed when a person makes a ‘false representation.’ Using a fraudulent health insurance policy could result in up to ten years imprisonment, a fine, or both.

So its better to be honest on your life insurance, make steps to get discounts and seriously shop around for the cheapest policy.

About the Author

Drew is an author of several articles pertaining to Life Insurance. He is known for his expertise on the subject and on other Business and Finance related articles.

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Money Saving Ways to Remove Stress from Buying Insurance

ealth insurance. Life insurance. Car insurance. Of the three, health insurance creates the highest anxiety, simply because health care costs continue to rise at the fastest rate in U.S. history. But you can take the stress out of buying insurance with these eight money-saving tips.


1. Do your homework. It's important to create a balance between all three, necessary insurance coverages. The greatest majority of Americans cannot afford adequate insurance coverage, period. But creating a plan that includes saving for insurance coverage is less stressful than giving up.

2. Comparison shop. You can buy a stronger insurance policy or get insurance you don't already have by cutting down the cost of your current insurance. Comparison shop. Go to unbiased resources such as the magazine Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org), because they have no conflict of interest when they offer ratings due to their not accepting marketing dollars. Make it a habit to revisit your coverage once a year.

3. Think "group coverage." If you are self-employed or working for an organization that does not provide insurance, consult professional organizations in your field to learn if "group" self-insurance is available that can offer lower rates than individual-only policies.

4. Investigate a provider's ability to deliver what he promises you before you sign the bottom line. A.M. Best provides free access to its Insurer Ratings Directory at its Web site at www.ambest.com. Contacting the Attorney General's office for your home state will provide more information for you. Do a "google.com" search, too, for the latest news and reports on the reputation of insurance companies.

5. Don't make mistakes on your insurance application. If you make a mistake or leave out any information (especially on many of today's health policies that will void your policy over the smallest mistakes or omissions), you risk being declared ineligible. When you need your insurance is when some insurers will go over your policy word by word searching for any mistakes. So don't make mistakes.

6. Always pay for your insurance coverage with a check, not cash. You need a paper trail to prove you have coverage and have made your payments in a timely fashion. Keep your records in a safe place.

7. Do your homework before saying yes to supplemental insurance. Don't pay for supplemental insurance you don't need. Also ask yourself: Is this policy really just a company that provides discounts that you can negotiate yourself or find by comparison shopping?

8. If you are over the age of 50. If you are 50 or older, or approaching that age, consider joining the American Association of Retired Persons (www.aarp.org). The richest corporations have powerful lobbyists to win tax breaks and cost savings from Congress every year. The AARP combines its large membership voice to equal the lobbying clout of many top corporate interests.

In our world today, purchasing insurance for your medical needs, your life span and your car can create high levels of stress. We hope our tips help to lower your stress level.

About the Author

Ruth Klein is an award-winning business owner, best-selling author and marketing and time management consultant whose clients range from solo entrepreneurs to the Fortune 500. Sign up to receive Ruth's 7 Part Mini-Course on Branding and Productivity. http://tinyurl.com/25tqo5

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Discount Dental Plans - An Affordable Alternative To Dental Insurance

America is in the midst of a healthcare crisis. Close to 48 million Americans do not have any health insurance and many are underinsured. Even more Americans lack good dental care. Statistics show that as many as 7 out of 10 Americans do not have an affordable dental plan. This is a serious situation because dental and gum disease can effect your general health. There is evidence that the bacteria from diseased gums and teeth may cause inflammation in the body which can eventually lead to heart and coronary artery disease. Preventive dental care can avoid these serious complications. In addition, a pleasant and healthy smile can help you feel confident and secure when you meet people, and can even help you perform better at a job interview.

While most families realize the importance of good dental care, the cost of dental treatment has become prohibitively expensive in the past few years as has the cost of dental insurance. If you work for a large company, you may be able to obtain a traditional dental insurance policy. This will help with some expenses; however, most dental insurance plans have limits on how much an individual can spend on dental treatment per year. Typical annual dental plan yearly maximums are as low as $1,000 per patient. Treatment to save just one tooth with a root canal and a porcelain crown to protect the devitalized tooth will easily top this limit. What if a family member needs more extensive work than this?

Another problem that patients have with dental insurance is that there will usually be a waiting period of up to one year for pre-existing dental conditions to be covered. If you have a serious dental problem, waiting a year before treatment can be initiated will only lead to a worsening of the condition meaning more costly treatment will be required in the future. Most dental insurance policies also have a missing tooth clause. This means that if a bridge or partial denture is needed for a tooth that was missing prior to treatment; the patient is not covered and must pay out of pocket.

Most traditional dental insurance plans offer very limited or no coverage for orthodontic treatment (braces) even though good tooth alignment can prevent more serious dental problems later on. In addition, cosmetic dentistry and dental implants are rarely covered. Another problem with dental insurance is the long claim forms that must be submitted. This is a hassle for both the patient and dental office alike.

Clearly for many families, a dental discount plan offers an affordable alternative to costly dental insurance. These dental discount plans are readily available to individuals, the self employed, as well as businesses. For patients with ongoing conditions or who need extensive restorative work, a dental discount plan is clearly the better choice because they will save much more with the discount program. Savings with a good dental discount plan typically range from 25% for specialist treatment (periodontists, oral surgeons, endodontists, etc.) to 80% for exams. Most major dental procedures such as fillings, root canals, crowns and bridges, dentures, and orthodontic treatment offer savings from 50% to 60% and even more when done by a general dentist--literally cutting a family's dental bill by more than half. In addition, patients will enjoy instant savings, no limits on visits or services, no age limits, no waiting period, and no paperwork. As an added benefit, many discount dental plans also offer value added services such as a prescription card, and savings on chiropractic and vision care.

About the Author

Helene Zemel, M.A., M.B.A., is a Senior Regional Sales Director for AmeriPlan USA. For more information visit: Health Plans Plus. For a discussion on healthcare issues and alternative medicine choices visit her blog at: Health Plans Plus Blog

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

How to Buy Health Insurance

‘Health is wealth,’ as they say. However, in today’s day and age, buying health insurance is as important as staying fit. Healthcare services are very expensive. Without health insurance you could find yourself struggling for years to pay off just a few days in the hospital. Here are some ideas for obtaining health insurance.


Step 1
Determine whether you need an individual policy for yourself or a policy for your whole family. Several associations and organizations offer health insurance for members. Check your affiliations to see if any group you belong to does so. This could save you a lot of money.

Step 2
Check if you already have insurance from your employer. Premium payments for this are automatically deducted from your monthly pay checks. Alternatively, you may have a job package which offers free insurance. If you are a student your university will provide you with coverage, requiring you to pay for it along with your tuition fees. But, if you are self-employed you will need to get health insurance on your own.

Step 3
Find out if you can legally obtain coverage trhough your previous employer during the period while you are unemployed. The Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985, popularly known as COBRA, allows for coverage during periods of unemployment.

Step 4
Go online and visit Web sites of companies that offer health insurance to individuals, such as Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) and UniCare. (See below.) Check the maximum health coverage limits. Choose a policy which insures you for at least $1 million as the top limit.

Step 5
Compare policies offered by different companies. There are Web sites that do this. See below.

Step 6
Look up "health insurance" in the Yellow Pages and contact insurance agents in your area specializing in health insurance.

Step 7
Discuss plans with friends, family and colleagues.

Step 8
Choose the best plan for you. The fee-for-service plan, although a common choice, can be expensive as the premium is high and sometimes you have to pay out of your own pocket if the expense exceeds a certain limit.

Step 9
Choose doctors and physicians carefully. You should choose a specialized physician relevant to your medical condition. You will need to do this if you are choosing Preferred Provider Plan (PPO) health insurance.

Step 10
Opting for a point-of-service plan, the other type of plan, leaves the decision to choose a specialist with the doctor whom you contacted first at the time of treatment. HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) require you to choose from doctors within their association.

Tips & Warnings


# If you want to lower your premium payments, choose HMOs over PPOs or POSs.
# Be honest and upfront about your medical history. Disclose all your relevant health details to your insurance company or agent. If you give inaccurate or incomplete information, the insurance company might refuse to pay your claims and could terminate your policy.

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Insurance Marketing Tips

Anything can be marketed effectively, and the basic principles of marketing remain the same, no matter what's being sold: You focus on what the benefit is to the person who's buying the product, you emphasize the points of differentiation between your product and the others in your market segment, and then close with the pitch.

We're going to make an example out of insurance marketing here to illustrate the point. The reason for insurance marketing is because everyone needs insurance, and the market is saturated with a lot of products competing. Writing insurance marketing tips for a saturated market is an example of how you, as an internet entrepreneur, can make money by being a liaison to local businesses in your area.

So, let's look at the big questions from up top �" what's the big benefit for taking insurance? It's buying a specific sort of peace of mind. It's providing coverage in case there's a disaster. Let's focus that into marketing insurance: "Wouldn't you like to know that your family will be taken care of, if something happens to you?" is one way to state the benefit. Another one is "It's cheaper to buy insurance for your car than to get into an accident without it. And while you may be a good driver, can you be certain of everyone else?" Both of these are fairly straightforward ways to insurance marketing and its benefits to the end customer.

Now, when I write insurance marketing tips, I'm constantly looking for the edge, the out �" the hook. What makes this product work for the reader and prospective buyer?

To answer that question, I start with doing some research on Google, and look for page ranks for specific permutations of insurance buying search terms, like "cheap health insurance" or "cheap life insurance" or "auto insurance Michigan" �" anything that will help narrow down the search fields. Then I look at what others are doing on those pages that pull up. It is extremely important to understand what your competitors are doing. It helps you keep track of market trends and makes sure you keep your edge.

Are they competing primarily on price, or are they competing on features? Insurance is a mature product category, so it's difficult to differentiate on new features. Difficult doesn't mean "impossible", though. There are combinations of features on policies that can form a competitive advantage; in the field, these tend to be short lived, because someone else will notice what you're selling and emulate it. Unlike technology where an advance can last for six to eighteen months before you get significant product penetration from competitors, writing a new policy package doesn't take much (indeed, they'll figure it out from your own marketing text…)

So the other differentiators are on price (which is the primary driver in insurance policies) and service (which is where insurance companies trying to maintain margins on policies try to set themselves up as upscale.

About the Author

David Ledoux is an author, speaker, trainer and mentor to entrepreneurs. His newest report The Small Business Death Sentence can be downloaded for free at http://bigmoneyfreetime.com

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Questions to Ask When Shopping for Health Insurance

Purchasing health insurance can be a frustrating task, but its well worth the time to search until you find the right policy for you and your family. A solid understanding of the coverage and how it applies will make the shopping process easier and can save you a lot of money.

Understanding health coverage begins with asking some questions. You should begin by asking your agent questions about who is covered under the proposed policy.

Who is entitled to benefits under my insurance policy? Will my children be covered if they move out of the house? What if they graduate from college? What if they get a full-time job? My spouse has health insurance coverage through his/her job. Will the group policy cover all the medical needs of my family?

There also are important financial issues you must understand before selecting health insurance. Determining the best possible benefits you can afford is one of the more difficult aspects of insurance shopping. Relevant questions to ask include:

How can I lower the cost of my premium? Will my premium come down if I do not have claims? Can I increase or lower my deductible or copay? If someone in my family gets sick will my premium be affected?

There may be circumstances when health insurance coverage covers you at a limited capacity or not at all. Ideally, you should know what coverage is offered before choosing a policy. Ask these questions:

Does my policy include a network of physicians from whom I must (or should) seek treatment?

If I seek treatment from a physician who is out of my network, how does this affect me and my insurance?

About the Author

To read much more about health insurance topics, including health insurance for self employed people, visit MedReliance.com.

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Health Insurance Providers Ease the Problems of Healthcare Services

f you live in the USA, you probably see lots of TV commercials or receive promotional letters from different health insurance providers. If you are like many other Americans, most of those medical policy messages fail to impress you or their glossy informational papers end up in your trash. But did you ever stop to think that you may be throwing away your quality of life or at the least, your ability to access good healthcare services?

Insurance policies are important even though their costs are fairly high. Nothing in life is certain. If you exercise regularly, eat and drink in moderation and take nutritional supplements, you are still at risk due to accidental injuries, viral or chronic diseases and other major hereditary or genetic illnesses. Owning more than one medical insurance policy from a variety of health insurance providers may be a godsend.

Healthcare services like preventive care (similar to the HMOs, healthcare maintenance organizations), long-term care, hospitalization coverage and major medical insurances along with a travel-related healthcare insurance provider's policy is the way to go - believe me, I'm not trying to make more sales for health insurance providers either. Emergencies happen and you really don't want to be caught short without some medical care insurance or limited coverage policies.

We want you to have the latest, best information on how to effectively bill, buy the policies and programs or block the denied claims or settlement payment refusal strategies of health insurance providers and medical insurance policy issuers.

If you are hunting for an individual, family, small business health insurance plan or if you plan on becoming a healthcare services provider who is looking for reasonable health insurance providers, we hope you diligently search for the most cost-effective resources, terms and policy programs you are able to find.

About the Author

Bill Thomas is editor of Healthcare Insurance Providers.Info - the site helps you buy policies or wisely handle the hassles of healthcare insurance providers & medical insurance policy issuers. If you use or provide healthcare services, our tools, articles & programs will help you succeed. http://www.healthcare-insurance-providers.info/

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Friday, May 9, 2008

Colon Cancer Prevention Guide

Colon cancer can kill you. I say it out right away to get this off the table. But I don't want to write about death. I'd rather write about prevention and what you can do TODAY to help reducing your risk of becoming sick with colon cancer. Of course, the best prevention is to detect colon cancer as soon as possible and then treat it accordingly before it starts spreading. Regular screenings for colon cancer, including detailed fecal occult blood tests, sigmoidoscopy and maybe even polyp removal, greatly reduce your risk of having a colorectal cancer. But these steps might not be an option for everyone.

We all know how expensive healthcare is and that the health care insurances will not pay for everything that can be done and if they actually do pay - you are probably facing a significant deductible. Let's be honest - not everyone has the financial strength to for those deductibles.

But there are many other things you can do to lower your risk include the following:

Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes has been clearly identified as causing cancer and has been linked to colon cancer, too. Don't think smoking would just cause lung cancer.

Increase your exercise and workout habits. Fitness is not only providing you with more energy, but it also helps to reduce the risk of becoming sick.

Take an aspirin or baby aspirin every day. Because of potential side effects, this is not recommended for everyone. Talk to your primary care physician first.

Eat healthy. Eat a variety of fruits and veggies every day. One apple a day keeps the doctor away, right!?

Reduce your weight. Don't take that growing belly for granted. It's not good for you. Ask your doctor for assistance and find out what your desired weight should be.

Overall a healthy lifestyle is your best weapon against any illness - not just cancer. Still, there are no guarantees. A family history of colon cancer can throw all these efforts out the window, but on the other exactly these efforts may help you to beat the odds and to fight off the cancer development.

Important: People of age 50 and higher carry a much higher risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer. Even if you do not go to recurring annual exams with your doctor, age 50 should trigger you to schedule a colon cancer screening and to actually go there. Believe it or not, but some people schedule the screening and then are afraid to go because of the results. Don't let this fear stop you. Ignorance will not help to fight off the illness.

Conclusion. Colon Cancer prevention is a 2 step process. Step one are those things you can do yourself and do not require any medical assistance. The second step is regular screening and testing. This is where you depend on having a good doctor and a good health insurance, too. In general from age 35 and up you should go to annual physicals. If possible start even earlier.

About the Author

Colon Cancer can eventually be prevented. Read more about Colon Cleansing Programs at the Colon Cleanse Experts.

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Critical Illness Insurance Cover - Why It's A Must

When you are young fit and healthy, it is hard to plan for the day when that might not be the situation; health cover afforded by critical health insurance should not be underestimated. After all, you are providing for the financial needs of your family in the future if something untoward happens where you will no longer be around to help them in person.

Research has shown that planning for critical illness is a wise move as statistically the chance of this happening is actually high, so much so that insurance providers now offer this type of policy quite routinely.

These studies make for somber reading when you consider around one in five men will contract one of these conditions before they reach retirement age. This figure reduces, but only slightly, for women with around 15 percent having a severe health condition before retirement.

Of course, most people do not actually feel they require critical illness insurance and would explain why they are so reluctant to start a plan. Although this type of protection is taken out for many reasons, the majority of people use it to protect their mortgage repayments but these days, critical illness cover and life insurance can be linked directly with mortgage repayments.

Increasingly, the internet is being used to buy insurances online and this is now extending to illnesses that are long term or critical. In a rush to provide this type of health coverage, many details are not looked into fully and a number of problems have arisen from attempting to do this online. This is because many insurance providers who offer this type of coverage wish to have the applicant take a medical examination by an independent physician to ensure there is nothing untoward right from the start. If you have to make a claim on your critical illness insurance policy, the last thing you want is insensitivity or apparent non co-operation from your insurer.

Smokers are unfortunately treated as higher risk applicants; this includes anyone who has smoked within the previous year, and as a consequence they are placed in a high risk category. Whilst smoking is considered a serious risk to a person's health, there are other considerations that are taken into account; for instance the work or pastime may be dangerous, you may be in poor health generally or age may be against you.

However, the purpose of applying for critical illness insurance protection is to make sure that even if a terminal illness is diagnosed, surgery is required or even a period of unemployment, that benefits will be forthcoming to cover living expenses. If you have family responsibilities then there can be no debate about the benefits of having an insurance plan set up and in place should the worst happen.

About the Author

For everything you need to know about Critical Illness Insurance go to: http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.com

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Thursday, May 8, 2008

Universal Life Insurance | Different Kind Of Health Insurances

Few things are as important as health insurance. Many countries have what is called "single payer" healthcare. Health insurance for everyone comes out of taxes. If you get sick, you are automatically covered. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way in America. Without health insurance, a serious but treatable illness could be a death sentence. This is why it is important to always be insured.


I knew someone who was travelling overseas. She was young and in good health, and figured she didn't need health insurance - she had scarcely been sick a day in her life. She was in South America, when she started to feel nausea, and dizzy spells. At first she ignored them, but they soon grew worse. She returned to the United States and went to a doctor, and discovered that she had cancer. A doctor's visit, combined with a battery of tests can, by its self, cost hundreds of dollars. Treatment for cancer can run into the thousands, or even the tens or hundreds of thousands easily. She was unable to afford this kind of expense, and grew sick and eventually passed away. It was a tragic and avoidable death - if she had been insured, things might have turned out much differently.

There are several different kinds of health insurance. The most traditional kind is called a Fee-For-Service plan. It has the advantage of giving you a greater range of choices than any other health care plan - you can go to any doctor you want to. You pay a monthly premium, and also have a deductible, perhaps $250 or $500. This is the amount of medical expenses which you have to pay in any given year before your insurance takes effect. After that, it pays a majority of further medical expense while you pay a small portion, often around 20%.

Another type is called the HMO or Health Management Organization. An HMO has a staff of doctors, often in one or several central locations, which it requires all of its patients to go to. Although you don't have nearly the number of choices you do with a fee-for-service plan, your health costs will be much lower. There is a small fee charged for each visit to a doctor, but most other costs are covered by your insurance.

Most professionals are insured through their jobs. Their bosses are able to buy insurance at group rates, which saves money, and so they can offer their employees cheaper insurance than they could purchase on their own. Unfortunately, the way health insurance is set up can cause serious problems for an employee who develops a serious or chronic condition. If they wish to leave the company, they will not be able to find new insurance to cover them, because of their pre-existing condition. Other insurers will not want to cover them, because their condition means that their healthcare costs are likely to be higher than the amount of money which they pay for coverage. Therefore, they may because of their illness, be unable to leave their company, even if their job is unsatisfying. You can even look out for more information on internet for various types of Universal life insurance

About the Author

Donald is a professional who recommends universal life insurance you will find more, for more please visit: http://www.choicesinc.ca/universal-life-insurance/

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Life Insurance Toronto | Difference Between The Different Policies Available

If you are worried about your family's future then waste no time and check out what you can do for them while you are alive and also what you can do even if you are not with them. In today's uncertain world any thing can happen to you and you can find that your family is in deep financial trouble. You can take the advice of a local insurance agent who can guide you with the best of possible insurance policies which can take care of your family in future.

You can also lookout for the information on the internet also. There are many different policies available in the market to suit the needs of different individual with different kind of benefits too. All you have to do is to choose which one suits you the best of them all.

One should select a policy taking into considerations of all aspects in the life, that there can be sudden death to you by an accident or by any illness, or even if in a situation where a person has to spend his entire earnings onto the medical treatment due to a prolonged illness. This is when a person thanks a God that he had an insurance policy which took care of his all needs. One should always be prepared for any uncertainty that may happen at any given time.

Although the word life insurance may sound complicated, but once you do some kind of research then you will find it very easy. You can do some research by getting in touch with various companies providing life insurances or you can even log on to internet where there are many search engines which can provide you with lots of information about life insurance with just at the click of button.

I had a neighbor who met with an accident one day and he was hospitalized for more than three months. Three months? Just think with the kind of expenses that he had to go through. When he came out of the hospital, he found himself highly indebted with all the medical bills that had been incurred during the treatment. Believe me it took more than five years for him to repay all the money that he had taken as a loan from a bank to repay his medical bills. Had he taken a health insurance all his expenses would have been taken care of? This is when I realized that how important it is to make ourselves confident and financially secure with the help of these policies.

I would also like to give a suggestion to everyone that a term life insurance policy really helps you. The name and the working is very simple. All you have to do is to do some research and choose the right kind of policy which suits you the best and benefits you the most according to your requirement. You can get an option to choose from a fixed term insurance policy or a permanent policy. The basic difference between both the policies is that a term life insurance comes at a very affordable rate, where as permanent life policy is slightly costly, but you get an added advantage of getting additional financial support for you and your family for your entire life. In case if you have purchased a term life insurance policy and during the period insured any thing happens to you then the entire money is given to the person who is nominated by the insurer.

About the Author

Fred is a busy career man who recommends life insurance Toronto and if you want to find more information please visit:http://www.choicesinc.ca/life-insurance-toronto/

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When Do You Have to Incorporate and What is Involved?

Incorporation is one of any number of ways to structure a business. These include a limited liability company, an S-corporation and a C-corporation. Each structure has benefits and drawbacks, and it is important to decide which type of corporation works best for your situation, or if it makes sense to consider other options like operating without a corporation or working through an umbrella company. Understanding the options, however, is always a good place to start.

* A limited liability company, or LLC, can be very beneficial for small businesses or single person enterprises. The paperwork involved in establishing an LLC is much less extensive than either an S-corp or a C-corp. Requirements differ from state to state, but an LLC does not require stock to be issued or a board of directors.
* An S-corp is a smaller corporation that has a limited number of shareholders. One of the main benefits of an S-corp is that the profits from the company pass through the corporation to the partners. The partners pay taxes on the profits of the company on their personal income tax.
* A C-corp has no limits on size or type of shareholders. Any company that properly fills out the paperwork for incorporation and pays the incorporation fee can become a C-corp. A drawback of C-corps is that the business profits are taxed, and then the profits are paid to shareholders are taxed again. This leads many people to feel that C-corps suffer from double taxation.
* An umbrella company is a type of firm, sometimes called an employer of record, that provides a business infrastructure for you and is the legal entity you contract with clients through. The advantages of this type of situation vary by provider, but typically involve coverage under the group business insurances, simplified tax filing, access to benefits, and more. Legally speaking, under this type of arrangement you typically become a W-2 employee of the firm, however for operational purposes you still function like an independent contractor or consultant.

What are the Benefits of Incorporation?

There are a variety of reasons that a company would benefit from structuring itself as a corporation. The liability for the individual is reduced. Because a corporation sets the business apart from the individuals involved in the business, the partners are shielded from lawsuits and their personal assets are protected.

Another reason that someone may choose to incorporate is to reduce their tax burden. The structure of a corporation makes it much easier to track profits and losses and deduct business expenses. This reduces the tax that the partners must pay.

While it is difficult for many sole proprietorships to receive funding, a corporation, even if it consists of the same people, has a much easier time receiving money from investors or lending institutions. From another financial standpoint, a business that runs as a sole proprietorship is nearly impossible to sell, while a corporation is much easier.

How to Incorporate

Incorporating your business is not complicated, but the requirements vary from state to state and the paperwork can be time consuming. While it is very possible to incorporate by yourself, there are also many services available that will complete the corporation paperwork for you for a fee. Many lawyers will also complete the corporation process for you.

If you decide to complete the corporation process yourself, there are several steps that you must complete. Because the exact requirements differ from state to state, it is important to check the website of your secretary of state to get the details. Many secretaries of states' websites will also include all of the necessary forms that you can download from your computer.

Also, to begin the incorporation process you will need to choose a business name. The first step is perhaps the most simple; the next can be more complicated. You need to determine what type of structure you want your company to have. All three types of corporations, LLC, S-corp and C-corp have benefits and drawbacks. You will have to decide what type works best for your company. If you decide on an S-corp or C-corp, you will need to name a board of directors, which will need to be added to the bylaws, another necessity of incorporation. If you are establishing a C-corp or S-corp, you have to determine how you will issue shares of the company. Once you file your paperwork and pay the incorporation fee, you will receive your certificate of incorporation.

The process of incorporation can be extensive, depending on how much paperwork you have to compile. If you already have informal bylaws, and know who will be sitting on your board, the process can be relatively straightforward, with some help from the state's secretary of state office. If you are starting a new business and have no partners or bylaws, you may find it easier to hire an attorney to establish your corporation for you.

Other Options

Given the benefits stated above, it is not surprising that many individuals want to incorporate their business. However, the process can be long and filled with red tape, and maintaining the corporation on an ongoing basis means a bit of extra work. Depending on the situation, if an individual is self-employed as a professional consultant or freelancer, they can consider working with a portable employer of record or umbrella company. In this situation, workers can remain independent in their practice but can also enjoy the benefits of W-2 employment. Most employers of record offer everything from access to group health insurance to general liability insurance.

No matter what direction you wish to take your business, be sure to get all the facts. Often, individuals take the path of least resistance or go after too much, too soon. In the business world there is no telling what achievements or obstacles lay around the corner. Knowing all of your options is your first line of defense.

About the Author


Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to management, employment opportunities and Back Office Operations

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About Health Insurance for Overseas Travel

Thirty years ago, the world we live in is comfortable, green, and very suitable for living. Now, can we still consider this world like that? With all the sickness around us, how can we be so sure that this world is still a good place to live in? The problem is that we don't have a choice...

We cannot go and live in space! This environmental problem is getting on its worst state that instead of being safe, we are slowly being drawn to various diseases. The answer to these diseases lies on our hands. But with scientific technology losing grip of answers, where do we run? Thus, many people are now turning to health insurance plans as investments. Health insurances have been around for quite a long time now, allowing the consumers secure their health benefits by ensuring that there is money available in case of emergency health crisis. There are government agencies that provide health insurances while others can still purchase from insurance companies.

These health insurance plans work like policies between a company and an individual. Both parties agree to sign a contract that may be renewed annually or for some, in monthly basis. There are several forms of payment obligations depending on the agreement. The health insurance system also has several terminologies like the premium, which is the amount the individual pays to the health plan to avail of the health coverage, the exclusions, which means not all cases are covered, the coverage limit, which sets the amount the individual is entitled to and the capitation, which is the amount paid by the insurer to a health office, or health care provider to assure that the provider agrees to treat the all the members of the said insurer.

In our present day, health insurances have evolved to cater to more specific needs. There is now this thing called the health insurance for overseas travel. As we all know, travel is always, if not, often an exciting venture. When a person embarks on a journey, there are always the thrills of being in a new place, discovering new things and of course, there are also unpredictable accidents. These unexpected situations may bring the traveler into a predicament. Therefore, a worldwide health travel insurance must come hand in hand with the booking of the international flight. The worst scenario that could happen abroad is not having the financial capability to cover the health need. It is often the case that when accidents happen in a foreign country, the chances of the expenses are more likely to double up. Adding up to this are the hassles of language barrier, difference in the medical system and culture will surely intensify the problem.

Having a health insurance for overseas travel therefore, is like cradling yourself and making sure that you are protected. The financial problem will be lessened thus being able to travel with a peace of mind. The best thing nowadays is that the price of this health insurance for overseas travel is very competitive. Many companies are offering it for a relatively cheap price. There is definitely no excuse for getting one. Health is always wealth. It is something that must never be taken for granted. It is an investment for the family.

About the Author

Read further information about how to find the right health insurance for overseas travel and the cheapest travel insurance policies

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