Reducing Employer and Employee Health Plan Expenses

Johnson and Johnson recently introduced a health care plan to most of its employees replacing a POS plan with an HRA (Health Reimbursement Plan). It is a special plan design and administrated by three insurance carriers. As a leader in the health care field this is again showing how a major company can introduce a plan which educates employees and gives them choice which are based on developing consumer awarness of medical cost and an opportunity to help reduce those costs.

'This is a major change "It's a whole new way for [employees] to think about the delivery of health services." In January, J&J replaced the point-of-service plan it had offered for the past 10 years to its 43,000 white-collar workers in the U.S., mainly located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida and California. Under the old plan, employees were responsible for a flat $15 copayment for physician office visits.

All of the other health benefit programs were eliminated by J&J, although employees in some parts of the country have the option of enrolling in an HMO. Sexton says that about 70% of the company's entire work force is enrolled in the new account-based plan. To ease the transition toward the new plan, J&J relied on a technique used to market its products to the public — brand extension. Since the company's health and wellness program is known as Healthy People, the new health plan is called Healthy People HRA — folding it into an already recognized entity.

Small employers can also avail themselves of these plans and offer them as an option to standard plans. One way of doing this is through employer contributions and incentives. Employees who become more aware of health maintance programs and develope an awarance of provider cost to help reduce eventual claims expense can achieve savings for both themselves and their employer.

As more and more larger companies develope HRA and HSA programs so smaller employer groups will follow suit as they see the opportunity to better provide benefits and control costs.

Preventing Health Issues and Advocating Healthy Life Styles

The first step in understanding how prevention affects health care costs is to define exactly what is meant by "prevention." Its broadest definition includes anything that prevents disease, including healthy lifestyle habits and programs that usually fall under the "wellness" umbrella. Its narrowest definition is preventive care such as screenings for various types of cancer and other health risks.

Ideally, a health benefits program should include both clinical screenings and healthy lifestyle programs. Over the past several decades, the focus has shifted toward providing more preventive care benefits, but a stronger focus on preventing disease is still needed.

Preventive care in the United States
Prevention takes many forms: vaccines that prevent disease completely; medications that reduce the risk of developing disease; screening tests that detect disease at an early stage when treatment is more effective; and lifestyle changes - smoking cessation, exercise, diet - that keep people healthy longer.

Through a combination of public education and the growth of managed care, the use and coverage of many preventive care strategies has become more common. But preventive health care statistics in the United States still fall short of expectations. For example:
An estimated 30 percent of the more than 20 million Americans with diabetes remain undiagnosed.

The lifetime risk of developing hypertension is approximately 90 percent for adults between the ages of 55 and 65, but one-third of those affected don't know they have it. Americans receive appropriate preventive, short-term and long-term health care as recommended by professional guidelines only about 55 percent of the time. Approximately 45 percent of the U.S. population has a chronic medical condition, and about half (60 million people) have multiple chronic conditions.

Preventable causes of death, such as tobacco smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity, and misuse of alcohol have been estimated to be responsible for 900,000 deaths annually - nearly 40 percent of total yearly mortality in the United States. One reason why the use of preventive care is not as high as it should be is the large number of uninsured.People without health insurance are much less likely to receive recommended preventive services and medications or have access to regular care by a doctor than those who are insured. But simply having health insurance isn't the solution - it's important to have a plan that encourages the use of preventive care. In one study, screening rates dropped 5.5 percent in insurance plans that introduced cost sharing during the study period, yet increased by 3.4 percent in plans that maintained full coverage.5 By reducing or eliminating cost-sharing in health plans, plan sponsors can increase the use of key preventive services such as adult immunizations and tobacco cessation programs.

Another is lack of education. People often don't consider themselves to be at risk, don't know what preventive services they should receive based on their age, gender and risk factors, or are unsure about their effectiveness.7 It took a concerted effort by doctors, parents, government agencies, health insurers, employers and advocacy groups to achieve higher vaccination rates for children.

Saving lives and money with preventive care.
While immediate costs may be higher in some cases, preventive care can provide significant savings in both short- and long-term health-related costs. Preventable illness and chronic disease are major causes of employee absenteeism and presenteeism (decreased on-the-job effectiveness), causing a financial drain on businesses. A recent study found that increasing the use of just 5 clinical services to 90 percent of the target population would prevent 113,000 premature deaths each year. At least half of the deaths from cancers could be prevented by greater use of established screening tests and existing knowledge. Chronic conditions account for 70 percent of all deaths in the United States and the costs associated with them account for more than 60 percent of national medical care costs.

Studies indicate that prevention, early detection and chronic disease management would reduce the economic impact of disease by 27 percent, or $1.1 trillion annually by 2023 and the number of cases of chronic disease by 40 million. Flu vaccination reduced absenteeism by as much as 45 percent. Based on these numbers, you would expect that most plan sponsors would include coverage for preventive care in their health benefits plans. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

One study found that:
Only 57 percent of employers covered the flu vaccine. Less than 25 percent offered any kind of smoking cessation program. Colorectal cancer screening is offered by just over 70 percent of employers. Cost is the primary reason cited by plan sponsors for not providing more comprehensive health benefits that include preventive care. But some employers are beginning to realize that they can reduce absenteeism and presenteeism by investing in a healthy, productive workforce.2 In your role as a consultant, you can help your clients decide which preventive care services and programs will be most beneficial to their employee population.

Consumerism is also helping to increase the use of preventive care services. As consumers assume greater financial responsibility for their health care and become more informed about their risks, they're more likely to demand additional tests and procedures to protect their health.

Ask about the many Insurance Company special programs and benefits to help maintain health, healthy life styles and screenings for early detection of health issues. Contact, info@amsinsure.com or call 800-334-7875 or you can go online at http://www.amsinsure.com/ .

What can be the most agonizinag decission with Seniors?

Ask anyone with an older parent who is suffering from Alzheimer's, Physical limitations or just needs more care or around the clock assistance. When it comes to a parent or loved one we can agonize over so many thoughts; aside from economics there are many guilt producing barriers to arriving at the best decision. What that decision is can obviously be different for many, however the person most affected and may be better off with proper care in a day care setting, or home setting or perhaps senior care facility. Who is most affected, it is generally agreed by most professionals that the patient is the one whom needs to be considered. For the person making care decision, usually a close relative, they must put there feelings aside to assure that the person needing care receives the most appropriate care.

Where can a person go for assistance in a professional environment. There are community, religious and private organization which provide these services in reviewing a case to help get proper care. Today there are many books on the subject which are available to help get a good picture of issues and solutions, along with references that can be used to help plan and solve a situation which could bring about family crisis.

A good friend whose mother is 91 came to a sudden decision about two months ago. He was a full time care giver to his mother who had undergone open heart surgery. Prior to the surgery she exhibited no real signs of memory loss or disorientation, and after that surgery it became evident that she had. He sought out professional help with senior consultants and is preparing to arrange for his mother to enter a home which can best help her now and in the future by providing a safe enviorment with 24 care.

Another friend also in a similar situation found a community service organization and they are helping him to plan out the proper care and living arrangements for there mother including financial assistance.

Some family issues which a need for senior care can bring about are division among family members, unnecessary financial difficulties and other problems. A friend of mine recently related that his sister removed the mother from the home leaving the father helpless, and created a divorce of the parents, while the father ultimately was able to get into full time care these wounds may never heal.

Preplaning when you or a parent can best make decision's about future care is always something to seriously consider even if uncomfortable. Long Term Care can also be something which you can arrange for prior to need.

Consider the possibilities and if you are looking for resources, contact us at http://www.amsinsure.com/ for assistance. You can also email info@amsinsure.com .

How to legally terminate employee under California at-will employment laws.

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Give him 3 days to give you his own performance improvement plan and to rebut this warning. For transportation personnel, this also means disclosing recorded drug and alcohol abuse. One of the most trying parts about being a owner or Hr boss is dealing with problem employees. Decide whether you'll do voluntary or involuntary dismissals. Explanation of severance benefits in the lay off meeting. Because it is awkward for everyone, the dismissal of workers is not a common event. A difficult employee can easily be a safety hazard for your other employees as well as for him or herself. Will the company suspend the worker, will it dock pay, or will it fire the worker? Eventually, management will ask most supervisors to sack or layoff someone. If your small business doesn't have a conference room available, then use another manager's office, or use your own in a pinch.

In step two, you should discuss the issue with the at will worker. For example, a discontinuance package will reduce the sting of termination, sacking on Friday will reduce the humiliation, and having a witness in the meeting gives you extra physical protection. Don't sack workforce without evidence and before taking the time to seriously consider the ramifications. Are you a timid owner or Human resource person? 9) How To Fire an employee For Off-Duty Behavior And Lifestyle. The information you collect for the employee during this meeting will help you set the tone for the next actions in which you will take.

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This Just In

The IRS has added three types of expenses to the list of medical expenses approved for deductions and reimbursement under a Health FSA, Health Reimbursement Arrangement or a Health Savings Account. The first expense is an annual physical exam. The second is full-body electronic scans. Although often performed without a doctor’s recommendation, the IRS considers such scans reimbursable because they serve "no non-medical purpose." (It matters not that this procedure is typically expensive and that cheaper and possibly more effective alternatives exist, such as X-rays.) The third is pregnancy tests, including over-the-counter tests. Anxious mothers-to-be can take comfort that the IRS did not limit the quantity of tests that can be reimbursed.

For details, see
Internal Revenue Bulletin
2007-50, Page 1154:
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/
irb07-50.

Free Samples Are Expensive click here for more information!

People who get free prescription samples actually spend more on prescriptions in the long run. One reason is that patients continue the medicines even when there are less expensive alternatives. The study was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Additional authors are from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Chicago. Younger patients and those not on Medicaid received more samples. Out-of-pocket expenditures were $166 during periods before patients received samples; $244 during periods while patients were receiving samples, and $212 during periods after patients no longer received samples.

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How to choose a Hospital! click here

Reputation is what health professionals rely on most when seeking medical care, so it pays to ask around. Check with your physician, friends and family to learn about there experiences and get referrals. A little known secret, at least today and perhaps not tomorrow is to ask the people who work at a hospital what they think, you'll be surprised at the candid answer you get.

You will want to consider the size of the institution depending on the procedure and whether they have the latest techniques and equipment to get the best results. Public resources that survey and rate institutions can be helpful as well as web sites that discuss hospitals and medical topics.

Look to professional forums regarding the experience and expertize of the professional you choose, as well as there education, background and training. Once again rely on those you know or other professionals for references regarding who will be providing your treatment.

When choosing a Hospital check into there patient to nurse ratio and general staffing as well as the level of the staff as there experience in assisting with procedures which you will be undergoing.

You can check with news publications, periodicals which rate and evaluate hospitals as well as government resource. The more informed you are will help to assure the best outcome for good results and recovery.

A little known fact about Social Security and collecting retirement early.

http://www.mymedicare.gov/

Once you makes a selection to start his social security, you can revoke it. Let's say you start social security at age 62 because you are laid off from work. The next year, you are offered work and decide to work a few more years. Because you are under age 66, you need to forfeit $1 of social security for every $2 you earn over $13,560 until you reache the year in which you reache full retirement age. You realize that it would have been better to wait to start social security.

You can elect to "turn the clock back." You can file for "withdrawal of application," -SS form 521- and pay back all benefits you have received (no interest!) . Then, at full retirement age (or anytime you choose), you can start your social security benefits again at a higher level because you are older.

Week of March 24, 2008

News in Health Care

Soaring costs and the slowing economy have put a damper on comprehensive health care reform efforts across the country, most notably in California earlier this year. More limited health care reforms continue unabated, of course, but the cost of comprehensive reform appears more daunting than ever. New Jersey, however, appears to be bucking the trend with a new that would cost an estimated $28.8 million in its first phase and $1 billion in its second phase. The plan (see below) includes an individual coverage requirement and creation of a new state-sponsored health plan. Supporters of the package vow the plan would be implemented without raising taxes. But an important player in the process, Governor Jon Corzine, provided the proverbial splash of cold water when he said that current budget circumstances will greatly impair the state's ability to achieve universal coverage. The governor, however, may announce support for a portion of the proposal. Whether New Jersey is able to join the small number of states with universal health care plans remains to be seen. But State Sen. Joseph Vitale, one of the architects of the plan, has a lot in common with many state legislators across the country in believing that the state has to try. "We can't wait for national reform," he said.

New Cellular Phone Laws that Go Into Effect July 1, 2008 for California


Wireless Telephone Laws FAQs
Two new laws dealing with the use of wireless telephones while driving go into effect July 1, 2008. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions concerning these new laws.
Q: When do the new wireless telephone laws take effect?A: The new laws take effect July 1, 2008
Q: What is the difference between the two laws? A: The first prohibits all drivers from using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. (Vehicle Code (VC) §23123). Motorists 18 and over may use a hands-free device. Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle (VC §23124).
Q: What if I need to use my telephone during an emergency, and I do not have a hands- free device?A: The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department, or other emergency services agency.
Q: What are the fines(s) if I’m convicted?A: The base fine for the FIRST offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. With the addition of penalty assessments, the fines can be more than triple the base fine amount.
Q: Will I receive a point on my driver license if I’m convicted for a violation of the wireless telephone law?A: No. The violation is a reportable offense, however, DMV will not assign a violation point.
Q: Will the conviction appear on my driving record?A: Yes, but the violation point will not be added.
Q: Will there be a grace period when motorists will only get a warning?A: No. The law becomes effective July 1, 2008. Whether a citation is issued is always at the discretion of the officer based upon his or her determination of the most appropriate remedy for the situation.
Q: Are passengers affected by this law?A: No. This law only applies to the person driving a motor vehicle.
Q: Do these laws apply to out-of-state drivers whose home states do not have such laws?A: Yes
Q: Can I be pulled over by a law enforcement officer for using my handheld wireless telephone?A: Yes. A law enforcement officer can pull you over just for this infraction.
Q: What if my phone has a push-to-talk feature, can I use that?A: No. However, the law does provide an exception for those operating a commercial motor truck or truck tractor (excluding pickups), implements of husbandry, farm vehicle or tow truck, to use a two-way radio operated by a “push-to-talk” feature.
Q: What other exceptions are there?A: Operators of an authorized emergency vehicle during the course of employment are exempt as are those motorists operating a vehicle on private property.
DRIVERS 18 AND OVER
Drivers 18 and over will be allowed to use a hands-free device to talk on their wireless telephone while driving. The following FAQs apply to those motorists 18 and over.
Q: Does the new “hands-free” law prohibit you from dialing a wireless telephone while driving or just talking on it?A: The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving.
Q: Will it be legal to use a Blue Tooth or other earpiece?A: Yes, however you cannot have BOTH ears covered.
Q: Does the new hands-free law allow you to use the speaker phone function of your wireless telephone while driving? A: Yes.
Q: Does the new “hands-free” law allow drivers 18 and over to text page(?) while driving?A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer’s opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Text paging(?) while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.
DRIVERS UNDER 18
Q: Am I allowed to use my wireless telephone hands free?A: No. Drivers under the age of 18 may not use a wireless telephone, pager, laptop or any other electronic communication or mobile services device to speak or text while driving in any manner, even hands free. EXCEPTION: Permitted in emergency situations to call police, fire or medical authorities(VC §23124).
Q: Why is the law stricter for provisional drivers?A: Statistics show that teen drivers are more likely than older drivers to be involved in crashes because they lack driving experience and tend to take greater risks. Teen drivers are vulnerable to driving distractions such as talking with passengers, eating or drinking, and talking or texting on wireless devices, which increase the chance of getting involved in serious vehicle crashes.
Q: Can my parents give me permission to allow me to use my wireless telephone while driving?A: No. The only exception is an emergency situation that requires you to call a law enforcement agency, a health care provider, the fire department or other emergency agency entity.
Q: Does the law apply to me if I’m an emancipated minor?A: Yes. The restriction applies to all licensed drivers who are under the age of 18.
Q: If I have my parent(s) or someone age 25 years or older in the car with me, may I use my wireless telephone while driving?A: No. You may only use your wireless telephone in an emergency situation.
Q: Will the restriction appear on my provisional license?A: No.
Q: May I use the hands-free feature while driving if my car has the feature built in?A: No. The law prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using any type of wireless device while driving, except in an emergency situation.
Q: Can a law enforcement officer stop me for using my hands-free device while driving?A: No. For drivers under the age of 18, this is considered a SECONDARY violation meaning that a law enforcement officer may cite you for using a hands-free wireless device if you were pulled over for another violation. However, the prohibition against using a handheld wireless device while driving is a PRIMARY violation for which a law enforcement officer can pull you over.

Motivating Employees with the Performance Review

Most managers and supervisors see the annual employee performance review as one of the most dreaded work tasks. Most employees, however, view it as one of their defining moments.Money incentives alone do not increase employee motivation levels. The development and communication of accurate performance reviews can significantly increase an employees motivation (and thus performance) levels. Towards completing an accurate employee performance review, consider the following tips:

Be predictable. Apply the same criteria and measurement standards for all employees with the same job descriptions. Also, avoid looking at performance reviews as an annual one-shot moment to formally praise or criticize an employee’s performance.
Be objective. Focus on the employee’s workplace behavior, and measure for improvement in the employee's performance. For example, you can account for the number of projects completed successfully.

Be open. Motivating employees require providing ongoing, periodic feedback. Gain added information and perspectives by talking with the employee’s peers, previous managers, current clients, etc.

Be diligent. Accurate performance reviews stem from a regular process of assessing information gathered throughout the year. Document any supporting evidence of performance levels in the employee’s HR file.

Be professional. Maintain a consistent and standard professional approach when writing and presenting the elements of the performance appraisals. How effective and respectful you manage the employee performance reviews often is often a major factor especially if you are ever sued for wrongful termination.

Be empowering. Work with the employee to create and agree upon action plans and goals to help the employee further succeed and grow with your company.

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Multi Life Disability InsurancePetersen International Underwriters is offering bigger premium discounts for multi-life disability insurance for groups as small as two people. For more information, info@amsinsure.com or 800-334-7875

Term InsuranceAmerican General introduced five additional term periods for its term life insurance product, AIG Select-a-Term. Previously, terms were available for years 10, 12 and 15 through 30, but now customers may also choose from terms of 31 to 35 years (depending on issue age and tobacco use status). For more information, info@amsinsure.com where we quote American General and 250 other companies.

Hospital Network Contracts with AetnaPrime Healthcare Services Inc. (PHS) entered into a multi-year managed care agreement with Aetna Health Plans. Aetna enrollees can get care at PHS hospitals. Aetna enrollees will be covered with full in-network benefits. “This dispels the rumor that PHS is adverse to managed care contracting and hopefully, paves the path for other managed care health plans to enter into contracts with fair and reasonable reimbursement,” said Prem Reddy, MD, FACC, FCCP, PHS’ Chairman of the Board. “We are ready and willing to enter into managed care agreements with other major health plans on terms comparable to Aetna’s,” said Lloyd Wilensky, PHS' Vice-president of Health Plan Operations.Prime Healthcare Services Inc. is a rapidly expanding hospital management company in Southern California. PHS owns and operates nine acute care facilities: Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, Chino Valley Medical Center, Valley Hospital in Victorville, Huntington Beach Hospital, La Palma Intercommunity, Montclair Hospital Medical Center, Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, Sherman Oaks Hospital and the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, and the West Anaheim Medical Center.

How do small business compete for a work force and compete with benefits for workers. A survey found that small business employees feel good about benefit packages and encourage them to work harder and perform better as well as keep them at their current employer.

Vendors of benefit products continue to design affordable products for health, dental, life, disability and pensions along with cafeteria style packages, voluntary packages and other sought after benefits.

Benefits can be tied to the employee’s general belief of his or her financial well being, which is a great concern of employees at small businesses. A high percentage of those surveyed in small business are concerned about the financial future for themselves and there families. Offering a strong benefit package is a sure way for growing companies to improve competitiveness and retain qualified talent in the new economy where the small business is the fastest growing segment of the economy.

Obtaining quality benefits for employees at reasonable cost can be an uphill battle for the small business owner. Without staff to do the research and have the expertise small business have to outsource and rely on providers for assisting them in reviewing the market in order to obtain affordable benefit which there employees can share some of the cost and each party together can benefit in savings and quality benefits.

When looking for benefits consider the following areas.

· Experience of the agency and employees in know the small business market
· Resources available on the internet with easy access for the employer and employee’s
· Availability of multiple products and markets with offerings that fit you business
· Value added services through quality affiliates which are at no cost or affordably designed for small business

To promote productivity, it is important that small business owners make every effort to accommodate the needs of their employees, who might be viewed as one of the primary assets of the company. The health of these companies is clearly an important factor in the health of the U.S. economy. A benefit package can mean employees are free of distracting worries and can focus on the job to be done. Thanks to the innovative products and services that are now available, the small business owners can develop an effective benefits package for their employees.


Quotes & Services for Small Business 2-50 Employees.

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Retirement and the Business Professional

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Many entrepreneurs who start or purchase a business do so for a number of reasons, both
emotional and financial. Social status, the freedom to be your own boss and the potential
for a high income are a few of the reasons commonly cited. For some, business ownership is also seen as a primary way to pay for retirement. If everything goes as planned, the business owner works hard and, over time, the business grows and becomes more valuable. When the owner reaches a certain age the business is sold, with the proceeds from the sale funding the retirement years.

The Realities of Business Ownership

Using the business as the sole means of achieving financial independence amounts to
placing a bet that the owner will be able to sell at the right time, the right price and under
the right terms. There are several reasons why this may not happen: · Business failure: Despite good intentions and hard work, businesses do fail. In 2003, for example, there were 612,296 new, small (less than 500 employees) businesses started in the United States; in the same year, 540,658 small businesses closed their doors, and 35,037 filed for bankruptcy.1
· Timing of the sale: Selling a business is a complex, often time-consuming procedure.
The actual process of finding a buyer, negotiating the deal, arranging financing and
finally closing the sale may extend over months or even years. · Proceeds: Depending on market conditions, the amount realized may not be enough to pay for retirement. Income taxes will inevitably consume some of the proceeds. The owner may have to accept installment payments, rather than a lump sum. · “I am the business”: The value of a business may depend largely on the skills and/or customer relationships of a particular owner. Diversification to Reduce Risk
A business owner who seeks to reduce risk will view his or her business as one asset
among many. In addition to the business, a diversified portfolio could include the following.

· Qualified retirement plans: Business income is used to fund employer-sponsored
qualified plans with a current deduction for contributions and tax-deferred growth.
· Nonqualified plans: Nonqualified deferred compensation plans are often used to
reward selected employees and serve to supplement qualified retirement plans.
· General investment portfolio: A business owner can develop a general investment
portfolio, outside of the framework of the business.

1 Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy: “Frequently Asked Questions.” See
http://www.sba.gov/advo/frequentlyaskedquestions, accessed 3/02/07.
Page 1 Presented by: John Beyer

The Need for Health Insurance

Most of us would agree that good health is an extremely valuable attribute. Those in poor
health generally have a lower quality of life as well as a reduced ability to work and earn
an income. Good health is frequently the result of biology (the genes you inherit), the life
style choices you make (exercise, diet, smoking), and appropriate medical care.
And even the healthiest among us need some medical care. Regular physician and dental
visits are a normal part of maintaining good health. Accidents, illness, and simply
growing older are other reasons medical care is necessary.

Paying For Medical Care

Medical care in the United States is, unquestionably, expensive. According to statistics
compiled by the federal government, over 20% of personal consumption expenditures are
directed to medical care.1 For those needing medical care, there are three basic choices:
· Don’t go: Not seeking medical care when it is needed can result in small, treatable
health problems becoming much bigger ones, with sometimes fatal consequences.
· Pay out-of-pocket: Paying for medical care from your own pocket can quickly exhaust
your assets. Huge medical bills are one reason cited as a cause of personal bankruptcy.
· Health insurance: Although the premiums can be expensive, for many individuals and
families, health insurance is the only practical way to provide needed medical care.

Sources of Health Insurance

There are three broad sources of health insurance in the United States today:
· Individually owned policies: The individual or family purchases a health policy
directly from an insurance company or health maintenance organization. Individual
health policies can be relatively expensive compared to group health insurance.
· Group health insurance: Group health insurance is typically provided through an
employer or another related group such as a professional association. The premiums for
group health policies tend to be less than those for individually owned policies.
· Government programs: For those age 65 and older, Medicare provides a base level of
health insurance. Medicaid provides health care for the impoverished. The federal
government has a number of programs to provide medical care to active duty and former
military service members. Some states have individual programs to provide health
insurance to low-income individuals and families.

The Choice Is Yours, affordable rates and great plans Shop Online link

While health insurance may be expensive, trying to pay medical costs out of your own
pocket, or not seeking medical help when needed, can be much more expensive.
1 Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States:2007. Table No. 656 Personal Consumption expenditures in Current and Real (2000) Dollars, by Type: 1990 to 2004.
Page 1 Presented by: John Beyer

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