Ohio Health Insurance

MYTH #1:  I DON’T HAVE A LOT OF CHOICES

The Truth: There are seven companies that offer individual health insurance and each one has, on average, six different plans. That’s over 42 plans to choose from.

MYTH #2: IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO LOWER MY RATE WITHOUT A DOWNSIDE

The Truth: Most people think that in order to lower their rate they have to give up benefits or choose a higher deductible. This is not true. You can choose a new plan on the market with the same benefits and save a significant amount of money

MYTH #3:  I CAN’T GET COVERAGE DUE TO A HEATLH CONDITION

The Truth: You would be surprised at the options available if you have certain health conditions. Of course, there are always going to be conditions that are automatically uninsurable. It is best to check with your agent and they can guide you toward the company that is most likely to offer you coverage.

MYTH #4:  IF I CHANGE PLANS I’LL HAVE TO CHANGE DOCTORS

The Truth: This is not correct. Most major carriers use two or three networks and most doctors participate in all major networks.

MYTH #5:  CHANGING PLANS IS JUST TOO TIME-CONSUMING

The Truth: This used to be the case but now we’re in the internet age. You can review plans in minutes and applications can be filled out online in five to ten minutes. There are no physicals needed to apply. Approvals used to take weeks and now take between 1 to 3 days. The truth is you could choose a new plan, lower your rate and be saving money within days.

#1:  SWITCH TO AN HSA-(Health Savings Accounts)

HSAs are sweeping the nation and becoming the most popular individual plan. The concept is simple; you pay for expenses below the deductible at a discounted rate and the carrier pays for everything after the deductible. Saving are significant – typically 50% less expense than traditional plans. How much could you save?
Family Tradition Plan – $510

HSA – $275

Savings – $2,820!

#2:  DITCH THE COPAYS

Yes, you only pay $25 when you see a doctor but the question is how much are those copays actually costing? There are many plans now on the market with no copays, however all doctor visits are still covered. You simply pay the network discounted rate, which is usually only $15-25 more than the Co-Pay. How much can you save? Here’s an example:

Family Plan with Copays – $425

Family Plan without Copays – $290

Savings – $1,620 a year!

#3:  CHOOSE A HIGHER DEDUCTIBLE

Most people when choosing a plan opt for the lowest deductible possible, however, you are paying for that low deductible in the way of higher premiums and not coming out ahead in the end. Choosing a plan with a higher deductible can save the average family $1,500 or more. How much can you save?

Family Plan with a $500 deductible – $680

Family Plan with a $2,500 deductible – $315

Savings – $4,380!

#4:  PURCHASE A NEW PLAN

Every year many carriers come out with new plans with low rates. When you choose a new plan you are typically getting the lowest rates in the market and can save 30% to 60% off your current premiums.

#5:  SHOP AND COMPARE

There are at least seven (7) major health insurance companies each offering six plans on average. That’s over 42 plans on the market for individual and families. Rates vary widely depending on the carrier and plan. It is a mistake to think that similar plans have similar pricing. One carrier could charge $600 per month for a PPO plan with a $1,000 deductible. Another carrier could charge $400 for the same plan.

Health care reform should not be used as an opportunity to use federal funds to pay for elective abortions. Health reform and specifically Ohio health insurance should be an opportunity to protect human life – not end it.

Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi’s 2,032-page government takeover of health care does just that.  On line 17, p. 110, section 222 under “Abortions for which Public Funding is Allowed” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run plan.  The Speaker’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions.

What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run plan.  It’s right there on line 16, page 96, section 213, under “Insurance Rating Rules.”  The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account – and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.

Section 213 describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run plan.  The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month.

A majority of Americans believe that health care plans should not be mandated to provide elective abortion coverage, and a majority of Americans do not believe government health care plans should include abortion coverage. Currently, federal appropriations bills include language known as the Hyde Amendment that prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, while another provision, known as the Smith Amendment, prohibits federal funding of abortion under the federal employees’ health benefits plan.

Speaker Pelosi’s 2,032-page health care monstrosity is an affront to the American people and drastically moves away from current policy.  The American people deserve more from their government than being forced to pay for abortion.

House Republicans are offering a common-sense, responsible solution that would reduce health care costs and expand access while protecting the dignity of all human life. The Republican plan, available at HealthCare.GOP.gov, would codify the Hyde Amendment and prohibit all authorized and appropriated federal funds from being used to pay for abortion. And under the Republican plan, any health plan that includes abortion coverage may not receive federal funds.

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TODAY TO TELL THEM TO VOTE NO FOR PUBLIC FUNDING OF ABORTION!

source: republicanleader.house.gov

Read the text of the latest Health Care Bill here for yourself!

Considering Dental Insurance? Think Dental Insurance is unnecessary? Read the statistics below and decide for yourself.

• 32% of Americans site bad breath as the least attractive trait of their co-workers
• 38.5 total days spent brushing teeth over a lifetime
• 73% of Americans would rather go grocery shopping than floss
• 60% of people don’t know that a sore jaw, when combined with chest pain can signal a heart attack – especially in women
• Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles landing on it when the toilet is flushed
• Toothpick is the object most commonly choked on
• Drink 3 or more sugary sodas a day? You have 62% more dental decay, fillings and tooth loss than someone who drinks less than that
• 51,000,000 school hours are lost each year due to dental related illnesses
• $500,000,000.00 spent on gum by people under the age of 18 each year
• The average person only brushes for 45-70 seconds a day versus the recommended time of 2-3 minutes
• Women smile on average 62 times per day
• Men smile on average 8 times per day
• Kids laugh about 400 times per day
• Adults laugh about 15 times per day
• Did you smile in your school yearbook photo? You are more likely to have successful careers and marriages
• 50% of people consider the smile the first facial feature they notice
• 80% or people are not happy with their smile
• Those who responded to this survey were 7 times more likely to have smile enhancement procedures than face lifts

What’s your conclusion? Let us know! Leave a comment below.

These days, everybody needs to save money and especially those looking for Ohio health insurance. People are looking for ways to cut corners and lower their expenses any way that they can. When you can’t afford to forego health insurance (and no one EVER should), don’t fall into the common mistake many Americans are currently making. Don’t even for a moment consider checking out discount Ohio health insurance plans. These plans state that can save you a lot of money and keep you protected when you need it most. However, the truth is that they will not keep you protected. You will get what you pay for with these plans (and that is not much).

Medical debt is the #1 cause of bankruptcy filings in the United States today. As sad as that is, it could have been avoided for the most part if people had spent their money on health insurance coverage instead of expensive houses, cars, and other unnecessary material items. Don’t get it wrong. Some people just plain can’t afford health insurance, no matter what. However, a lot of people give up that coverage in search of something much better: consumer goods satisfaction. People get a weird sense of comfort and pride in their personal belongings, and there is nothing that is more wasteful than spending $400 a month on a Lexus payment when you could have purchased the cheaper brand and had the extra money for health insurance coverage. Most of the discount health plans you will see advertised will not save you from this medical debt should something happen to you. In fact, they will do the exact opposite. These plans simply provide you a discount on medications and office visits. They will not protect you in the event of surgery, a hospital stay, pregnancy care, necessary blood work, etc.

Recently we have been speaking with too many people who are being taken advantage of by independent insurance agents.  We would like to caution you against applying for a “mini-med” or discount insurance plan.  These are plans that happen to be much less expensive than a comprehensive major medical plan and so it is easy to sell a plan such as this to a prospective client. Unfortunately, those plans will not provide any of the benefits that you would expect from an insurance plan.  When push comes to shove they will not provide the coverage you would like to have should something happen and you need to cash in on your benefits.

It is so easy for an independent agent to sell this plan because of its low cost, however what they are failing to tell you is the lack of benefits as mentioned above.  Whenever searching for a medical plan we would encourage you to ask your agent for the plan benefits and what they include and do not include.

Another great option to check out is the health savings account instead of traditional health insurance coverage. These plans are great alternatives to the more expensive regular Ohio health insurance policy, and can save you a lot of money on your health insurance costs. These health savings accounts are available through all major carriers such as Humana, United Health Care, Assurant, Anthem and others. These companies might have good deals for you, but they might not always be the best choice. Just take the time to find out what your options are, and make sure you choose the best one for your needs that will truly take care of you when you need it most.

Tracy McManamon is the owner of one of the most helpful sites for Health Insurance. Visit his site today for a free quote or to find out more!

As the healthcare debate lingers on past the August deadline many Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about their health coverage, particularly the cost of said coverage. Across the state, as households are fighting to fend off foreclosure or cutting back on spending, there has been an influx in health policy cancellations. It is terrible that it has come to this, but know that there are tools to aid you in your search to find affordable health coverage.

One of the most crucial things to note, first and foremost, is that you should never allow your health policy to lapse, this could prevent you from receiving health insurance in the future. Just last week I had a client who had decided that their insurance policy was too expensive so they decided to just stop paying the premiums. Soon after, the policy was cancelled. However, during that time her husband had been diagnosed with a severe form of migraines and was receiving injections to handle the pain. Unfortunately, those injections made him ineligible for coverage. Had they called an agent before stopping their payments they would’ve been able to transfer them to a different plan within that same carrier to bring down the monthly premiums and her husband would still have coverage. Please know there are other, more prudent, options than just discontinuing your payments to your health insurance carrier.

If you are finding it difficult to make ends meet and would like to seek out a more affordable option for you or your family your best bet would be to get an independent agent to assist you. Most agents have access to all of the carriers in the state and they know the plans inside and out as well as who has better rates at any given time. There is no fee to have a broker and they will offer you the exact same rates as if you were to go direct through the carrier. All rates are mandated by the Ohio Department of Insurance. After reviewing your needs with you the agent will ask you a few simple questions regarding your current health. From this information he/she is able to go out to the market and shop the best values and present those to you in the form of a proposal. The agent can then take you through each plan and explain all of the individual benefits to you.

There are two great options in terms of keeping your premiums lower. The first is a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA is similar to the old MSA (Medical Savings Account), but much more flexible! They combine the pretax treatment of a health flex spending account, the portability and roll-over characteristics of a 401(k) plan, and the tax-free distribution of a Roth IRA. Basically, to put it in plain English you would set up a savings account at a bank of your choice. You can put as little or as much money into that account as you like (up to the IRS yearly limit) and it is completely tax-deductible! This money can be used for all of your office visit fees, to meet your deductible, for eyeglasses, contacts, dental, over the counter (OTC) medications, and so many other options! Whatever you don’t use rolls over to the next year. These will not only help you to save for health expenses such as surgery, but also, it will help more families “get the health care they need at a price they can afford.”

Some health insurance companies, such as Anthem BCBS will also cover your preventive care at 100% if you enroll in an HSA. This includes well-child visits, immunizations, pap smears, mammograms, and colonoscopies. Also, most HSAs have 100% co-insurance, so that means that once your deductible is met the health insurance company covers all remaining expenses in that year at 100%.

The second option available is called a value plan. With these plans the consumer receives a certain number of copay eligible office visits (usually 3 or 4 per person per year) instead of the typical unlimited office visits. By capping the number of these visits the health insurance carriers are able to keep premiums lower, therefore saving you hundreds of dollars a year. These are great options for college students, young couples and healthy individuals who are not running to the doctor every month.

In closing, it would be incredibly beneficial for you or your family to do a bit of research, with the assistance of a broker if you prefer. You will find that there are numerous options to maintain your peace of mind by having insurance, yet at the same time to lower your monthly premiums.

Tracy McManamon is the owner of one of the most helpful sites for Affordable Health Insurance. Visit his site today for a free quote or to find out more!

If you’re looking for reasonably-priced health insurance, you’ll want to do some research in order to be prepared before starting to look for Ohio quotes. There are literally hundreds of options out there. That being said, the best consumer is an educated consumer. It will get you a lot farther if you know some of the inner workings of the health insurance system when delving into quotes. Every individual’s and family’s needs are different, so it is would be imprudent to try to give you some exact numbers of what health insurance will cost you or your family. However, throughout this article we’ll help you by giving you a few tips on what questions to ask when getting health insurance quotes so that you are able to find what fits your needs best.

Look for: Options in Deductibles

As with car insurance, you can choose to have a high deductible (which reduces your monthly premiums). This may be a good option if you are young, in fairly good health, and especially if you have some money set aside in the unfortunate case of an accident or extended illness. The hope, ideally, would be that you would not ever be in the situation of needing to pay for the deductible. Yet, you have still have coverage.

This may not be the ideal plan for a family (especially with young children); as there are more people relying on the plan. There is a greater likelihood of different family members meeting that deductible.

Deductibles can range from $0 to $10,000 for an individual and $500 to $20,000 for a family. It is important to know that the higher your deductible the lower your monthly premium. Especially in today’s economy most families are choosing a higher deductible (between 5K and 10K) in order to keep those monthly expenses a bit lower. So in researching a policy, look for quotes that include deductibles at several different levels.

Look for: Lower Cost Options

Value Plans are a great option when trying to keep your health insurance costs down. With these plans the consumer receives a certain number of copay eligible office visits (usually 3 or 4 per person per year) instead of the typical unlimited office visits. By capping the number of these visits the health insurance carriers are able to keep premiums lower, therefore saving you hundreds of dollars a year. These are great options for college students, young couples and healthy individuals who are not running to the doctor every month.

Look for: Quotes that are Inclusive of your family members AND their needs.

If you need to see specialists, or want specific coverages such as vision or therapy, included in your plan, make sure you specify that when speaking with your agent so that they know exactly what types of plans to quote for you. Be open with your broker and they will in turn look for quotes on a plan that covers everything that is important to you and your family.

Armed with those facts, you’ll be able to discuss the options available-with an agent, online, or over the phone-for your quotes for Ohio health insurance. They will provide you with the quotes and also walk you through the benefits that are included in those plans.

Tracy McManamon is the owner of one of the most helpful sites for Free Health Insurance Quotes. Visit his site today for a free quote or to find out more!