Birthday rule – This rule that was adopted by health insurance companies is used to determine the primary payer between two parents that has common dependents. In this rule, the parent with the earlier day and month of birth will be the primary carrier of the insurance.
Deductible – This refers to the fixed sum that you need to pay before the official start of the insurance policy.
Subscriber – This term deals with the insurance policy holder. This may also be called as enrollee or contractee.
Co-pay – This refers to the payment for the rendered services.
Co-Insurance – A part of the medical services fees that you need to give after paying for the co-pay and the deductible.
Archive for 'Basic Information'
Some Helpful Health Insurance Terms
Categories: Basic Information | February 10th, 2010 | by Administrator | no comments
Health Economics: Fundamentals and Flow of Funds
Categories: Basic Information | November 25th, 2009 | by Administrator | no comments
According to recent reports, healthcare has increased its share of U.S. GDP from 5.7 % in year 1929 to 14.7 % in year 2002. It is expected that its share almost certainly will continue to grow, given the increasing number and proportion of elderly. The Healthcare has also had high rates of price increases compared to the remainder of the economy. For about 44 million Americans are lack of insurance coverage and the rising prices for prescription drugs have fueled a political debate about what direction healthcare should take. The healthcare economy has characterized the search for market power and increased resources. It discusses the major healthcare issues in conjunction with providing a review of Health Economics: Fundamentals and Flow of Funds by Thomas E. Getzen
Mandatory Health
Categories: Basic Information | October 20th, 2009 | by Administrator | no comments
The health-care contract between American workers and their employers began when Franklin D. Roosevelt left health care out of his New Deal. Labor restrictions, tax breaks and accounting rules induced employers to offer private health insurance to workers. In 1940, 21 million Americans were enrolled in company-sponsored health plans; by 1950, 142 million. Privatized health insurance seemed like a glorious triumph for capitalism. Keep government out; let industry thrive!
Health-care expenditures in the U.S. totaled $27 billion in 1960; in 2005, $2 trillion. Oh, workers paid their part, in the form of premiums and co-pays. But as benefits grew more generous, employees’ contributions shrank, from 48% of all health-care costs in 1960 to 15% in 2000.
Importance of Health Insurance
Categories: Basic Information | September 10th, 2009 | by Administrator | no comments
Wal-Mart have recently been on the news because the company neglected to provide health insurance plans for their employees. Companies are always looking for ways to maximize profit without considering they well being of their workers. That’s the reason why much of our taxes are going to pay for the health insurance of minimum wage workers. No one should disregard the need for health insurance. Health insurance provide us with an easy way to ensure our future. If you’re still young and healthy you can be sure that you can get an affordable monthly rate. Take no chances with your future. It just takes one accident to put you out of commission
State expands its healthcare policy
Categories: Basic Information | February 17th, 2009 | by Sherill | no comments
Good news: President Barack Obama has created a policy where $634 billion worth of reserve funds will be channeled into providing more healthcare for those who are not currently covered by healthcare. This is especially beneficial for those who have recently lost their jobs, and are looking to the State for support for their healthcare needs.
There are going to be some problems, of course, and some analysts are cynical of whether this new plan – and the amount the US government will put out – will benefit the US economy in the long run.
Of course, this still boosts confidence that the economy will be doing better in the following months, and those who have lost their jobs have something to fall back on while they are looking for new jobs.
Public or Private Health Care – Which One Works?
Categories: Basic Information, Guide | December 15th, 2008 | by Sherill | no comments
With many changes to the health care system proposed, choosing the best one is becoming harder as cash becomes harder to come by and jobs are lost. The passing of the SCHIP Bill adds coverage for more children but with vague coverage and more discussions slated to make it work properly. But it is a sign that reform is underway and the many uninsured people of America may again get the insurance protection they deserve. Your health being one of the most important factors in life, having access to health care may it be private or state sponsored may be enough to help you through these troubled economic times.
The reforms to the health care system has long been in the works and was in order for it has decayed so much that millions have lost their ability to have any form of health care. The current changes may or may not increase your chances of getting health care but it does narrow the gap for those who are within those who cannot afford private insurance but are earning enough not to be covered by state sponsored care. That gap has narrowed and it might be eliminated if the changes continue, but worsening economic conditions may prolong the process a bit more than many may want.
Indemnity Plan Pros and Cons
Categories: Basic Information | November 27th, 2008 | by Administrator | one comments
Image Source: health-insurance-expert.info
An Indemnity or Traditional Plan gives more liberty for you to select which physicians or medical institutions to use, however, it may entail bigger out-of-pocket expenses and additional paperwork for you. In an Indemnity plan, you can consult the physicians or medical specialist you like without need of referrals. Even if you want to get your primary care from only one physician, your insurance provider will not obligate you to select a primary care physician (PCP). But this will mean more expense for you. If you have this kind of liberty, you will have to pay a yearly deductible prior to your insurance provider paying on your claims. After paying your deductible, your insurance provider will now pay your claims at a set percentage (as provided for in your policy) of the “usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) rate” for the service. The UCR rate is the usual amount doctors and other health professionals charge in your area for a particular service or procedure done.
Does Your Health Insurance Plan Work For You?
Categories: Basic Information | October 9th, 2008 | by Administrator | no comments
Image Source:readinghospital.org
Even if you say you are not sickly, or you take very good care of yourself, there will be times when you will need hospitalization due to a lot of reasons and if you are not prepared, then your pocket will have a hard time adjusting to the all bills that suddenly need to be paid, that is why you need to get the best health insurance plan that will help you in times of need. First think about all your insurance choices. Consider the health needs of your family before signing up for anything. There are two kinds of health insurance: private and government health insurance. The private health insurance is signed up for by the person and if you ahve a job, you will also have insurance coverage as one of your benefits. The health insurance coverage given by the government maybe done on a local, state or national level. Medicare is a health insurance plan given on a national level. This insurance is for those 65 years of age and above and to people with disabilities. The other various government provided insurance are Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), health care benefits for the veterans, the military and qualified American Indians.
Covering Pre-Existing Conditions
Categories: Basic Information, Feature, Guide | September 30th, 2008 | by Administrator | no comments
You’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, and you know how expensive treatment can be. So you’ve decided to get health insurance to help you with the costs. Wait! Before you even apply for health insurance, read this tip.
A Pre-existing Condition is any illness or ailment that you’ve been diagnosed with and treated for over a specific period of time, by licensed medical practitioner. The time frame varies, depending on your insurance provider, from a year to 24 months. Moreover, any illness that is diagnosed within a specific time frame after your coverage starts may also be considered as a pre-existing condition. This is if the doctor determines that your illness may have started even before your coverage, and may or may not have manifested its symptoms already. In some cases, illnesses that are considered as genetically hereditary (such as asthma) may also be considered a pre-existing condition.
As the insured, you should know that any claims or consultations for this condition is usually not covered by the insurance company. It’s a necessary protection for the insurance company, and a way to keep premiums down. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get health insurance, though. You will still be covered for any illness that will occur after your coverage starts.
How a Health Insurance Works
Categories: Basic Information | June 2nd, 2008 | by Administrator | no comments
What are the procedures behind a health insurance policy? A health insurance program is basically a legal contract between an individual and an insurance company. Before sealing an official health insurance agreement, all the health care specifications including the type and costs are specified. There are different forms of payment obligations for an individual who applied for a health insurance progam. Some of these are Premium, Deductible, Copayment and the Coinsurance. There may be exclusions in a health insurance policy, the payment for these exclusions will not be covered by the company and will be shouldered by the policy-holder.