Posts Tagged ‘Health Insurance’

In today’s economy affordable health insurance is on everyone’s mind. With premiums increasing every year it is important to find the best insurance plan at the best rate. More and more companies are reducing the amount they are contributing to their employees’ health care plans and some are discontinuing their plans altogether. As a result of these factors more and more insurance companies are offering health insurance directly to consumers via the Internet. With these new Internet offerings it is important to know how to determine if an Internet health insurance policy is right for you.

Before Internet quotes one would call up their insurance agent and simply purchase their plan. No research was required because plans were not as widely available as they are today. Now insurance companies are plentiful and their plans are varied and diverse. The Internet makes it easier than ever to obtain quotes and information from multiple companies in an effort to choose just the right plan. In most cases, one only has to fill out a short form in order to get an instant quote from multiple insurance providers. There are several factors to consider when choosing a health insurance policy online.

If you are single and relatively healthy then you may only wish to purchase an individual plan. Individual plans usually pay a certain percentage and have a higher deductible and co pay since you don’t normally have to visit the doctor as much. However, if you are married and your spouse does not have coverage either you may wish to purchase a “Plus One” health insurance policy that covers only you and your spouse. If you have a family, which is considered to include you and multiple dependents, you may wish to purchase a family policy that covers every member of your family equally. Choosing the right plan for your current situation is the most important factor when evaluating online health insurance quotes.

Some plans only pay a certain percentage of the final bill from health care providers. If the plan only pays for eighty percent then you will responsible for twenty percent of the net bill. You want to try to find a plan with the lowest premium that pays the highest percentage. Sometimes coinsurance will offset this percentage so the amount of coinsurance is important when the policy pays less than one hundred percent of the net cost of health care.

Another factor to consider is whether or not the plan offers an HSA account. An HSA account is a savings account that is funded with pretax dollars that can be used to offset the cost of medical care. You can use it to pay for such things as co pays, over the counter and prescription medicine, and deductibles for hospital stays. Most of the time plans offering HSA accounts have higher deductibles, but if you pay into them on a regular basis and try to only deduct from them when absolutely necessary they can really help to offset the costs of health care.

Buying health insurance online can be a very effective way to find the right policy for you. Consider your current situation when buying a health insurance policy. Also, consider the percentage the policy pays, the deductible, the co pay for doctor visits, whether or not a drug plan is provided, and whether the plan offers an HSA account that will lower your net income for tax purposes and help offset regular medical costs. If you consider all of these factors then obtaining online health insurance quotes will be a snap.

Buying health insurance can be a daunting task. You want to get the most coverage you possibly can afford, but there are many factors to consider when determining which plan is best. The easiest way to research individual health insurance plans is to go to a reputable Internet website that provides side by side comparison of multiple plans from different companies. Luckily, this article does just that in order to report on the top four health companies for individuals.

WellPoint, Inc. of Indianapolis, IN operates one of the largest networks of insurance companies in the U.S. through a fleet of 45 companies. It offers specialty plans such as disability, dental, vision, and consumer driven health plans. WellPoint emerged from a series of mergers and is the Blue Cross and Blue Shield provider for multiple states including Indiana and California. WellPoint markets its individual health insurance plans through a network of independent agents as well as through an in-house sales force. WellPoint receives consistently good marks from reviews by its customers.

Next on the list of top rated health insurance companies is Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Anthem BCBS offers insurance in eleven U.S. states. Anthem offers several types of health insurance plans and gets top marks for responsiveness, customer service, and facilitating the correct treatment for its customers. A wide range of deductibles and types of plans are offered such as HMO, HSA, PPO, HIA, comprehensive and Medicare options. Anthem also offers its customers a convenient website so that they can manage their plans. Anthem receives the highest marks when it comes to customer service.

Third on the list of our top rated individual health insurance companies is Humana Group in Louisville, KY. Humana Group has built their business through Medicare offerings. They are the country’s second largest Medicare provider and is also their largest insurer. Humana provides health care insurance to more than 4.5 million consumers in all fifty states and Puerto Rico through its Medicare offerings and insures a staggering 11 million customers nationwide. Medicare has made Humana Group one of the largest health insurance companies. Humana Group offers both Medicare and normal individual health insurance plans.

Aetna Health Insurance Company is the last in our list of top rated health insurance companies. Aetna Health Insurance is a spinoff of the original Aetna Insurance Company, which has been doing business for 150 years. Reviews by consumers state that they have almost no problem with their network doctors. In most cases they don’t even have to worry about the forms and red tape that can be associated with making health insurance claims. Consumers also give Aetna’s customer service good marks. One consumer stated that every time they called they received a different representative, but they were always knowledgeable and very helpful.

Buying health insurance can be confusing and a little overwhelming with all of the options out there. One of the best ways to cut through the confusion is by visiting an insurance rating/quoting website that offers quotes from multiple providers. Most often the site will offer a means of comparing the features and benefits of plans through side by side comparisons. This article was written by doing just that. After comparing numerous companies that offer individual health insurance plans these four companies get some of the highest ratings in the industry.

Choosing the right health care provider can be a daunting task this day and age. Rising health care costs coupled with the current economic climate have put more pressure on the American consumer to make the right health care decision for their families and themselves. The good news, however, is that by having a good base knowledge of the standard terms and conditions of health care plans and by putting in a little bit of research, it is possible to find an excellent plan with the best health insurance company for your needs.

As you begin your research, you will quickly find that there is a wide range in pricing from plan to plan. This could depend on many factors, but generally speaking the deductible (the amount of money you pay in addition to your premiums when you receive treatment) is the key factor in the cost of a health care plan.

There are some additional factors to consider in regard to amount of deductible you are willing and able to pay. If you are young and relatively healthy, you may want to consider a plan with a larger deductible because you probably do not visit the doctor’s office often and do not need treatment from specialists. This will keep your premiums lower while still providing you with the security of knowing you are covered. On the other hand, if you have a family with young children you may want to opt for a plan with higher premiums that has a low deductible because you likely make many trips to the doctor throughout the year.

Another two phrases to be familiar with are Preferred Provider Organization or PPO and Health Maintenance Organization or HMO. With a PPO, you are allowed to see any doctor or specialist you wish, however with many plans your rates will increase depending whether or not your chosen doctor or specialist that is a Preferred Provider. This is an option that offers flexibility for a consumer who doesn’t wish to change physicians.

An HMO doesn’t offer the flexibility of a PPO and will require you to see only doctors and specialists that are part of the their network. The advantage of an HMO is lower rates. This is due to a partnership between the insurance company and its network of providers. When choosing between these two options it is important to decide what is most important for you. If you are a person who is more comfortable with a physician who has been caring for you throughout your life, a PPO might be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer lower rates and are okay with changing physicians, an HMO could be your best option.

It is important to consider these factors when you are researching all the different plans provided by the various insurance companies. If you do, the process of choosing a health care plan will be less confusing making it easier to choose a plan with the best health insurance company for you and your family.

Your health is important, and that means your health insurance is, too. For a number of reasons, however, it can be difficult to take control of your health insurance, and reduce your costs while increasing the effectiveness of the benefits your insurance provides. If you’re on an employer health plan, for example, this can be quite a difficult think to achieve. When it comes to health insurance, making the most of what you’ve got is more about learning how your insurance works, than it is about learning where you can save.

Do you understand what type of insurance plan you’re protected by? Do you know what type of plan you have? Don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t have a choice in the matter if you’ve got employer health care. Very often you can choose between two or more different types of health plan, particularly if you work for a large employer. Each plan is quite different, and if you’re not aware of the plan you’ve got, you may actually end up paying more than you need to for your healthcare. If you’ve got a plan that isn’t suitable for your family, that decision could have already cost you plenty.

This means it’s important to understand your choices before selecting a plan. Health plans aren’t all created equal—HMO, PPO, POS, FFS—and you need to understand what each plan entails, and how you can most benefit, before making a choice.

There are some crucial questions to answer before choosing a health plan. Think about the following questions, and how they apply to your health plan. Then consider how well that really works for your family.

• Do you have to choose a primary care doctor?
• Can you visit non-network healthcare providers? If you do, how much do you have to pay per visit?
• Do you have to get a primary care referral before visiting a specialist? If so, how much does it cost to visit a specialist without a referral?
• Do you have to pay co-payments or a deductible? If so, how much? What’s the single person rate as compared to the family rate?
• Does your plan cover preventative healthcare visits, such as for immunizations, well baby check-ups, and mammograms?
• Does your plan include prescription, dental, or vision coverage?

Does Your Plan Suit Your Needs?

Once you understand how your plan works, you can then determine whether it actually works for you at all.

For example, if you and your family are generally in good health, and only require preventative doctor visits for immunizations and other preventative healthcare, then choosing a low-deductible high-premium healthcare plan might be costing you unnecessarily. Not all healthcare plans cover these types of preventative visits, and you might be better off choosing a self-directed health plan that provides you with money to pay for preventative care, rather than reimbursing for treatment.

On the other hand, if you have several young children, and doctor’s visits are a frequent thing for your family, a self-directed plan may not work for you at all. In this case, you might be better off with a point of service plan that provides you with flexible network health care and the option to use a non-network provider.

America’s Best Health Plans Honor Roll

The 20 healthcare plans on this elite list outperformed hundreds of others

The America’s Best Health Plans Honor Roll recognizes the very best of the hundreds of the best Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid managed healthcare plans reviewed for this year’s U.S. News health plan rankings. Health plans (below) were scored from 0 to 100 based on data collected and analyzed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, managed care’s major accrediting and standards-setting body.

Best Commercial Plans

Search all Commercial Health Plans.

Best Medicare Plans

Search all Medicare Health Plans.

Best Medicaid Plans

Search all Medicaid Health Plans.

(Note: Identical scores are due to rounding.)

Source: http://www.usnews.com

Website - http://www.tuftshealthplan.com
Located - Watertown, Massachusetts
Phone - 617-972-9400
2007 Sales (mil.) - $2,200.0
Description - One of Massachusetts leading health insurers, Tufts Associated Health Plans (which, with its subsidiaries, operates as Tufts Health Plan) provides medical coverage to about 700,000 members. The company offers HMO, PPO, and point-of-service plans to both employers and individuals, as well as Medicare Advantage plans for retirees. Several of its plans include consumer-directed products such as health savings accounts and health reimbursement accounts. The company’s health care network includes some 85 hospitals and more than 20,000 doctors. With partner CIGNA, Tufts Health Plan also offers a nationwide health network called CareLink for multi-state employers.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

V.S.’s Full Review of Tufts Associated Health Plans, Inc.

This company has great plans available. Their co payments are competitive. I was really impressed on how they pay for certain services. Their prescription coverage is good. They have a mail order program where you order 2 months supply and get 3rd month free. The staff is veyr nice in answering your questions. They go all the way in trying to find out the answers.

HealthInsuranceResources.com’s Full Review of Tufts Associated Health Plans, Inc.

No two individuals are exactly alike. Every one has their own lifestyle, own lives to take care of, own income, own families, and dreams.

And it is also true that no two individuals have exactly the same medical needs.

As for Tufts Health Plan, that is what their service is all about.

Tufts Health Plan is one of the medical insurance providers in the United States that offers a wide range of distinct medical insurance plan options to their clients. Each option provides a different level of medical coverage and benefits according to the needs of their clients.

Let’s review what Tufts Health Plan offers to individuals with varying medical needs. Here are some of their medical insurance plans along with an overview of each works.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). Being a member of Tufts Health Plan’s HMO, you are entitled to access to one of the biggest network of physicians and medical facilities around the country. This privilege enables you to make your initial medical care decision of selecting a primary care physician (PCP). It will serve as your guide to your medical insurance policy with Tufts Health Plan by providing you referrals and paying a co-payment for every medical service you use under the medical insurance policy.

Advantage HMO. The Tufts Health Plan Advantage HMO is referred to as a front-end deductible HMO which offers greater medical coverage at competitive prices. It works just like the traditional HMO, with several key differences such as the following:

• Its front-end deductible feature is applicable to in-patient medical care facilities, outpatient diagnosis, and other medical services. After you have satisfied the deductibles of your medical insurance policy, it will fully cover the specified medical services stated on the policy.
• Laboratory work and testing (whether routine or preventive) is covered 100 percent without deductibles or co-payments.
• Specialist consultations (routine) are covered with a co-payment for every visit.
• Emergency room care is covered with just a co-payment and no applicable deductibles.

POS (Point of Service). It is one of the most flexible medical insurance policies of Tufts Health Plan. You will be given access to their extensive network of physicians and medical facilities, plus the privilege of going directly to a preferred specialist without referral for covered medical services. Once your PCP authorized the medical care, all you need to pay is a co-payment for the covered medical services.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). Once you are a PPO member, you decide on the level of medical coverage you want as well as the physicians you want to see. No limitations, no PCP. You are in charge. Your employer will set the co-payment limits and no deductibles are applicable for this policy.

Advantage PPO. Once you are enrolled in Tufts Health Plan Advantage PPO medical insurance policy, you are not limited to a single network. You are entitled to a higher level of medical benefits once you select them or when said level is provided in their network. However, you are also given the freedom to use medical services from any licensed doctors, medical facilities, and specialists.

These are just some of the medical insurance policies provided by Tufts Health Plan. There are just plans that are meant for your varying medical needs. Include Tufts Health Plan in your priority options and see the difference it can make to your life.

Source: http://www.tuftshealthplan.com

Website – http://www.humana.com
Located – Louisville, KY
Phone – 1-800-486-2620
Employees – 28,900
2008 Sales (mil.) – $28,946.4
Description – Medicare has made Humana a big-time player in the health insurance game. The country’s second largest Medicare provider and one of its top insurers, Humana provides Medicare Advantage health plans and prescription drug coverage to more than 4.5 million members in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It also administers managed care plans for other government programs, including Medicaid plans in Florida and Puerto Rico and TRICARE (a program for military personnel) in 10 southern states. Additionally, Humana offers health plans and some specialty products (group life and disability insurance, for example) to commercial employers and individuals. All told, it covers more than 11 million members in the US.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

Max’s Full Review of Humana Group Health Insurance

Humana has been my health insurance plan for the last three years. I was surprised to see how fast my enrollment to their scheme was done. When I gave the basic information they have asked for in the online form, they responded back with a list of plans and the deductibles for the various plans. I was able to customize the plan and the plan was entirely mine. You could know how happy I was when I got insurance plan for me and my family according to my expectations and dreams.

Harward’s Full Review of Humana Group Health Insurance

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana Insurance company has more than 9 million medical members. My friend suggested me to take this insurance and its almost two years since I have received good care from Humana. The main thing that attracted me was that Humana provides full replacement health coverage. Sounds interesting, right? So, do not give a second thought when it comes to insurance and you will never be dissatisfied with their customer service. So get it now and leave your worries behind.

Pierre’s Full Review of Humana Group Health Insurance

Hi friends, Humana is one of the top most health insurance company. It is known for its good customer services to the people who are in need. It provides the best health insurance and financial services that are designed to meet the cost and needs of an average person. I joined in this company for insuring my life.

Source: http://www.topinsurance.org

Website – http://www.aflac.com
Located – Columbus, GA
Phone – 1-800-992-3522
Employees – 8,292
Revenue (bil.) – $16.6
Description – Aflac’s clients may not welcome accidents and illness any more than a visit from Gilbert Gottfried, but at least their coverage will keep them from financial ruin. Aflac (whose popular ads feature a valiant duck voiced by comedian Gottfried) sells supplemental health and life insurance policies that cover special conditions, primarily cancer. It is one of the largest sellers of supplemental insurance in the US and is an industry leader in Japan’s cancer-insurance market (with 14 million policies in force). Aflac, which is marketed through and is an acronym for American Family Life Assurance Company, sells policies that pay cash benefits for hospital confinement, emergency treatment, and medical appliances.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

jasyjen’s Full Review of Aflac Health Insurance Company

If I had given this review two years ago, it would have been very negative.  I’ve had Aflac for about ten years and my representative was just horrible.  He was never around to service the account, and I’d simply forgotten all about it.

But, my new representative is wonderful!!!  She reminded me of my policy and actually assisted me in getting two claims processed.  They were very minor accident claims, but within a week I received two checks totalling over $ 500.00!!!!  I was so pleased, so THRILLED, that I sent my rep flowers!  I would never have seen that money if it wasn’t for her!  I wuv her. 

If you’re not familiar with Aflac, it is a insurance policy that is in addition to your normal policy.  They offer many different ones, but I have the accident/wellness policy.  Every year, they send me a check for $ 60.00 just for getting my annual physical.  EASY MONEY.  Plus, if we get injured on the job or off the job, we can file a claim to receive money.  I actually received more money than I paid out when my son broke his finger!!  You can’t beat that.

I have the premium automatically deducted from my paycheck at work, so I never even miss the money.  And they remove what I owe BEFORE they take out taxes, so it actually helps me pay less to the taxman.  Works for me!

jgogo’s Full Review of Aflac Health Insurance Company

AFLAC has very good programs that are affordable and they can tailor things to meet your specific needs.  The representatives are friendly and helpful in choosing a plan best suited for your needs.  What plans do they have? Well they have extended insurance plans if you are sick and need to take time off from work, all at reasonable monthly premiums.

I was having  a baby and my policy covered two weeks with full pay and an additional  two weeks since I had a C-section.  Great coverage, and they paid it out promptly.

The representatives are knowledgeable about their products and do  not try to sell you something you do not need,and they explain everything in detail.

Quack Quack for AFLAC!

JonsGirl’s Full Review of Aflac Health Insurance Company

Aflac, the insurance company no one should live without.  The insurance company that pays you and not your doctors or hospital.  For about a dollar a day you can have the peace of mind in knowing that if something should happen……such as an accident that keeps you from working you will have money to pay your bills, buy groceries…………live.  If you are diagnosed with cancer you will receive cash to take care of your family when you are too sick to work……………an insurance company that will make sure you are taken care of when you can’t do it for yourself.   Aflac………the insurance company no one should live with out.

Source: http://www.viewpoints.com

Website – https://www.aetna.com
Located – Hartford, CT
Phone – 1-800-MY-HEALTH
Employees – 35,258 (2008)
Revenue (bil.) – $27.6
Description – Aetna thinks you ought’a have some life insurance. As the life insurance subsidiary of health care giant Aetna, Aetna Life Insurance Company offers group life and individual life insurance policies throughout North America. Aetna Life Insurance was founded in 1853 as a spinoff of Aetna Insurance Company. After more than 150 years in operation, the company has more than 20,000 group life contracts in force. The parent company’s operations are focused on accident and health insurance, while life insurance accounts for less than 10% of total earned premiums.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

Anonymous’s Full Review of Aetna Health Insurance Company

We’ve been very pleased with Aetna HMO’s in-network doctors.and hospitals.
I have not had any major health issues, so I see my primary care doctor only once a year for a checkup. I do not have any prescription medicines.

Since 2002, my husband has had 5 surgery / emergency conditions (colon cancer, severely bleeding ulcer, 2 strokes and a broken leg) and each event required 3 days in the hospital with many tests and occasionally specialists. We never had a problem with any of our doctors getting paid by Aetna. The hospitals and doctors submitted the info directly to Aetna and we did not have to be involved.

But since 2002, our premiums have gone up 540%.

Rebecca W’s Full Review of Aetna Health Insurance Company

due to various health issues and I never got the run around when I called. I believe the Aetna reps are amazingly knowledgeable since whenever I called I may have gotten a different rep but I still got a person in that knew what they were talking about and what needed to be done. The representatives at Aetna treated me like they really cared about my issues and concerns and I didn’t have to keep calling back a hundred times a day to get results. I really liked it when they helped me find a doctor in my local area that accepted their insurance coverage; it made it fast and convenient for me and saved me a lot of travel time of the road. I am truly appreciative of the positive attitudes that the representatives have and the level of professionalism used by Aetna’s claim department processors.

Anonymous Company’s Full Review of Aetna Health Insurance Company

We have aetna group insurance for my small business and have not had any compaints. Coverage options are to our liking, cost is reasonable, customer service was great and so far no complaints from any of my employees.

Source: http://www.insuranceusa.com

Website – https://www.bcbs.com
Located – Chicago, IL
Phone – 1-800-771-7758
Employees – 880
Revenue (mil.) – $182.7
Description – The rise of managed health care has had some of its members singing the blues, but the Blues — with more than 100 million members nationwide — aren’t complaining. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a federation of independent health insurance companies who license the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand names. Member companies — of which there are about 40 — own the rights to sell Blue-branded health plans within defined regions. The Association coordinates some national programs such as BlueCard, which allows members of one franchisee to have coverage in other service areas, and the Federal Employee Program, which covers more than half of federal government employees, retirees, and their families.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

SpeedyG’s Full Review of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Insurance Association

I pay about $350 per month… but the coverage has been superb. I’m an athlete and BCBS covered a foot surgery that I could’ve lived without, but having the surgery was imperative for me to get back to my level of activity after my injury. From the other reviews I see here it’s clear that that’s not always the case. Other than that, BCBS is accepted just about everywhere. They also have a good health hotline you can call when you’re not sure what the hell is going on with your body. Having a nurse on standby 24/7 is pretty cool. Anyway, I’ve been happy with them, if you can afford it, definitely get BCBS.

Kira’s Full Review of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Insurance Association

While I have good coverage for the most part, this company simply cannot process claims correctly. They will lose batches of claims we submit, such that we have had to send them registered mail. They will then “find” the original claim forms 6 months later. They will pay for a service one time, then deny it the next – the exact same service with the exact same provider. They will send us a check for a service, then send us a denial for the same service that they paid! The customer service people on the phone know next to nothing. If you ask them something they are reading an answer from a screen, if you ask them to further clarify, they just re-read what they just said. Also, my insurance has Magellan as a carve out to monitor hospital care and I was denied access to a hospital because they refuse to deal with Magellan – it is so draconian. In general the insurance employees who determine what is “medically necessary” have only a minimum of knowledge to make this judgement. These are nurses that are second guessing what doctors are prescribing, just from looking at some paper claims. I would seriously question the judgement of any doctor who would go to work for an insurance company anyway.

sonieb33′s Full Review of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Insurance Association

In January 08 my daughter turned 20. In June 08 she finally had waited out the 6 month pre-existing condition waiting period where you pay for absolutely nothing for 6 months. She then finally went to the doctor for a checkup (in June). Apparently at age 20 a dependent gets thrown off your coverage (who knew?), no questions asked and no warning. I called to ask a question in July 08 and at that time the bulldog customer service rep. must have realized my daughter was over the age limit. The next thing I knew my daughter was cancelled retroactively back to May 08. They never sent me a letter, email, smoke signal – nothing! Nothing to alert me to this fact. I didn’t find out until I suddenly got a bill for the whole amount of her doctor visit in June. I called, furious, and they actually agreed to pay for the doctor visit but did not offer me a chance at that time to continue her coverage via rider. She has gone for another few months without insurance as I explored different avenues and then found out that I could have continued coverage for her via a rider all along. Finally, I signed her up again with a rider two months ago – she had to go to the emergency room for an allergic reaction last night 11/25 and assumed she was covered…no such luck…she won’t be covered until Jan. 1, 09. I would like to know why it takes them one second to cancel someone but four months to add them…and why do they keep playing with my daughter’s insurance coverage?? Do they consider my daughter expendable or something? And how can we continue to pay for coverage for the rest of the family after we’re in hock up to our eyeballs with doctor bills which they have strategically avoided by playing around with coverage, dates, pre-existing conditions clauses and age limits?

Source: http://www.healthinsurancereviewer.com