Helpful Health Insurance Tips
It's true that you can always use some good tips on health insurance to make sure you get the right coverage at the right price and you will find some practical tips in this article to make that a reality. You don't need to do it on your own if you take advantage of this helpful advice.
In order to save money on your health insurance plan, pay attention to changes in policy before you renew each year. This can save you from encountering unexpected charges because of a change in benefits. If significant changes have occurred in your plan, it could be more cost effective to switch to a new one.
Sign up for a flexible spending account. If you are paying for your own health insurance costs, consider the move to an HSA. An HSA is a Health Savings Account that you can contribute towards, tax free, and then withdraw the money, also tax free, for any medical costs you face.
If you need more health insurance, do not take out a second policy. Instead, add a "rider" to your current policy. This is usually far less expensive. Only in some instances, is it more cost efficient to take out a second policy. If the person is in excellent health, you may want to shop around.
If you don't have health insurance or enough coverage to take care of your medical bills, some credit card companies have special plans specifically for health care. These cards can be used to pay your providers as needed and then you make monthly payments to the credit card company. Be sure to read the fine print, as some have introductory offers that may end before you pay off your debt.
Look for a health insurance plan with broad coverage. This is especially important if you like to travel. Insurance companies with smaller coverage can make it difficult to find a doctor should you be outside of your normal living area. Broad coverage includes many more doctors and hospitals, so it is a must for travelers.
It's cheaper for the company you work for to get group health insurance than it is for you to purchase your own, so your premiums through your employer's plan will be cheaper, even if your coverage is the same. The best way to avoid high individual rates is to join a trade group which offers insurance to members.
If you are unsure about what you are reading in the health insurance policy that you are considering, do not hesitate to have someone else read over it. You do not want to be surprised down the road when you learn that something is not going to be covered and you are going to have to pay for it out of pocket.
When looking for a new health insurance plan, you definitely need to understand what the coverage is and what it entails, in your policy. When your deductible is met, the policy becomes the agreement by your insurance company, to share your medical costs. The resulting coverage can range from 100% and down. Sometimes, coverage can vary within the policy itself, depending on the circumstances. Regardless of the deductible, it is important to consider your coverage, especially for major illnesses and emergencies.
Before signing documents committing yourself to a certain insurance policy, make sure to read the fine print. There may be details to the policy that the insurance provider did not tell you about. These details could cost you a significant amount of money, and prevent you from getting the proper care.
You should consider that certain companies will have a surcharge for having a spouse on a health insurance policy if your spouse can access insurance from an employer. It is possible that it is simply more affordable with two separate policies, so compare all scenarios.
Having health insurance is important. Health care costs can be expensive, especially if you need an emergency surgery or are in an accident. Routine visits can also add up quickly. Health insurance gives you piece of mind, knowing that if something happens, your insurance will help cover the out-of-pocket expense.
Even if you don't personally qualify for Medicaid, apply for all of your family members in case one of them does. This can remove them from your insurance policy and reduce your premiums significantly. Remember to reapply for Medicaid yearly as your financial situation may change or the rules for Medicaid itself may be altered.
Many states offer inexpensive health insurance for people who fall into lower incomes, like the unemployed. This may actually save you money compared to joining the COBRA plan, and will definitely be comparatively inexpensive compared to a private insurer. Check with your state's Health Department to see if they offer this service.
When having to choose between an HMO or a non-HMO plan, think about whether or check here not you want someone else deciding when you want to see a specialist. If you have a doctor you trust completely, you should be fine with waiting for a referral to see a specialist. If, however, you like being more in control, you might want to consider a non-HMO insurance option.
If you want to move states and are doing your research to choose which state to go to, health insurance variations should play a part in your choice. For example, New York is one of the most expensive states to be insured in, so it may not be a great choice.
Regardless of what health insurance you currently have, either through your employer, the government or private insurance, it is essential to stay on top of current health insurance news. It is important to find a health insurance company that has the coverage you need at a price you can afford.
Telehealth changing care from outer space to local clinics
A coach for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team beams an ultrasound image of a player's ankle from the locker room to a nearby hospital. Doctors diagnose a fracture.
A similar ultrasound device, miles above on the international space station, peers into astronauts' chests and examines how their lungs weathered a recent spacewalk.
Welcome to the world of telehealth. Those examples are a few from the field, more narrowly defined as telemedicine. Telehealth uses digital technology to project a doctor's presence in places as different as rural Kansas and outer space, without the patient ever stepping into a physician's office.
Telehealth made a shaky debut in the early 1990s, when high costs, regulatory barriers and plodding Internet speeds hampered its acceptance. But today, improved technology and falling costs have made innovations like videoconferencing, home medical monitoring and digital records available to more Americans.
It has even become a White House priority.
"The 21st century health care system is using a 19th century paperwork system," President Bush said during an address last month in Baltimore.
Bush cited the subject in his State of the Union address this year, asking Congress for $100 million to improve health care information technology. A presidential committee has said it will release a report in June recommending that federal agencies make it an integral part of the nation's health care planning.
Interest in better medical oversight has spiked since a federal study in 1999 estimated that 98,000 people die annually from medical errors that occur in hospitals -- some of which could be prevented by computerized systems to check prescriptions, monitor drug interactions and offer better access to records.
"Patients will be the greatest winners," said Jeffrey Dunbar, who founded a telemedicine firm in the mid-1990s and now works for Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. "The technology has come a great way ... We have taken a quantum leap in the past five years."
https://edition.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/05/10/tele.health.final/index.html
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZiSk2MOF17UdugnGNqOAojsLDrM0Qu-pLwshdGqch_M/edit?usp=sharing