GagesMomColie asked:


I have no health insurance and cannot take my son to a dr and do not have money to pay a huge ER bill. He has a nasty ear infection. What can I do to treat it so no damage is caused? He is 18 months old.
I live in Utah and all the free clinics are closed.

blank asked:


http://www.californiahealthline.org/Articles/2009/5/26/Proposals-to-Cut-Health-Spending-in-California-Face-Opposition.aspx

This article explains a little of what’s going on, but basically, to reduce the budget deficit, our governor wants to cut Healthy Families, which is a low cost health insurance program for children from families who make too much to qualify for medi-cal, but are not able to afford private insurance. Couldn’t he find somewhere else to cut the funds from, instead of taking insurance away from children when the rest of the country is trying to expand coverage for children?

My son is on Healthy Families and I don’t know what we’ll do if it gets cut. I currently pay $21.00 per month for his insurance, and if they cut the program, I will undoubtedly be paying in excess of $100 per month for less coverage. Does this seem like a stupid program to cut to anyone else? Sorry, I know this isn’t much of a question, but I’m really frustrated by it!

You get your group health insurance renewal letter from your insurance carrier, you insurance agent or a letter from each of them. They notify you that your rates are going up.

Did you ever wonder what factors contribute to this increase?

Here are the 6 factors that can affect your renewal premium rates:

1. Change in Base Rate

The change in base rate reflects changes due to medical and drug prescription cost trends in your city. Increases in the cost of medical treatments and the cost of prescriptions in your geographical area will have an impact on your base rate.

2. Change in Age/Gender

These changes are based on the demographics of your group.

If your plan uses age banded rating, rates may increase as employees move into a higher costing age band. With age banding, the price brackets are generally broken into five year segments. So, the insurance company provides a different rate for each employee, based on the age of that employee. An older employee will pay a higher the premium than a younger employee.

Similarly, some plans set health insurance rates based on gender. If you have such a plan, changes in the number of women and men enrolled in your group plan will affect the premiums.

3. Group Size Adjustment

Changes in the number of employees enrolled in your plan can affect the cost of the plan’s premium.

4. Change in Area Factor

Where the employees enrolled in the plan live influences the cost of the insurance. Premium amounts are base on the member’s home address.

So, if you have new employees living in higher rated areas or you have employees that move into higher rated areas, the premium will increase.

5. Change in Industry Factor

The type of business you run – what industry it is categorized as – can also impact premium cost. Occasionally, an insurance company will re-evaluate their pricing based on industry. If they raise the rates for your industry, this increase will be reflected upon renewal of your policy.

6. Risk and Compliance Adjustments

These adjustments are based on the overall rate level change to the group and reflect the claim and use history of the group.

Please note that you may have a policy that does not take every one of these factors into consideration. Check with your insurance agent to see which ones your plan includes.

The good news is that these rate change factors can also result in lower premiums if changes to your group profile are favorable.

By: Corinne Mitchell

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Byron D asked:


I do not have health insurance. I will need to get it on my own. I have a Rx that needs filled every month. I don’t smoke, Im 27 M and am in good shape. I would like to stay around/below $100 per month and I want the lowest deductible possible.

asked:


I’m 31 and I have a pre-existing condition (open heart surgery 2004).
I take coumadin daily and get my blood checked every month at Jacksonville Heart Center. I’m looking to take another job with much better pay. The only problem is they don’t offer health insurance yet. I’ve been quoted at $180-$190 a month that do accept pre-existing conditions. Is there anyone cheaper that is not just some fly by night company?

blackgayjewishpride asked:


Both my mother & brother had polyps removed from them; they had health insurance. I DONT. Can anyone recomend a low cost health insurance that would inclued COLONSCOPYS? I dont drink nor smoke, but i am a few pounds over weight. Thank You.

simmerinbreeze asked:


Kaiser would not take me back, after I had lapsed. I am normal, with aches and pains of most anyone, but afraid of being denied coverage at any new application!
I am about to re-appeal my Kaiser denial. I need a real person to contact at Kaiser Individual Plan Appeals in Pasadena. Also, anyone know of a Kaiser patient advocate (or similar title)? Third, Who should I contact at the CA Dept of Managed Care, if necessary? Thanks!

Life can change from certainty to uncertainty in the blink of an eye. It only takes a split second to have a car accident, fall down the stairs and break your leg, or find out you have a serious disease. Although it would be useless to spend hours worrying about the possibility of things happening to you, it’s also sensible to be prepared, just in case. It’s good to feel secure, knowing you have a plan in place. One of the easiest and most helpful things to put in place is health insurance. The tricky part is finding affordable health insurance, so you don’t end up with money worries as well as health concerns!

When you’re feeling fit and healthy, it’s very easy to think you’ll never need health insurance. Sometimes having a family prompts people to take out health insurance, in case the kids get sick. Most of us rarely consider we might need a stay in a hospital. And yet reality is that these things do happen, and if they do, it will probably be when you least expect it. And that’s the time you can thank your lucky stars you took out affordable health insurance.

When trouble strikes, you’ll be very glad you have a plan in place. Most of us never stop to wonder what it would cost us to spend 3 days in hospital. A lot more than you will want to pay out of your own pocket, that’s for sure! This is even more of a [roblem when you're young - it's easy to believe we're indestructible at the age of 20, for example. And yet a 20 year old has a much higher risk of being hospitalised after an accident. Illness, too, can strike, even at that age. For example, a girl I was friends with in college became very ill with little warning. She was hospitalised, and found to have meningitis. Very serious. Even more serious, when she finally left hospital, was the bill for over seven thousand dollars.

Young or old, it doesn't matter- it's always wise to check out the options when it comes to health insurance. You can find an affordable health insurance plan online.

There are plenty of sites that can help you find an appropriate plan. With so many options out there, there will be an affordable health insurance plan that's right for your circumstances. Don't get into a panic about having to pay big dollars - chances are, if you're currently healthy, that your payments won't be that bad. One thing is for certain - if you suddenly find yourself in a situation where you need health insurance, you'll be more than happy that you spent the money. Start searching for an affordable health insurance plan today. You can't start too soon!

By: Felicity Walker

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