Should I Negotiate My Rate with My Doctor?
Posted by Todd Fries | Filed under Health Insurance
Absolutely! Don’t be shy about asking your doctor how much he’ll charge for any particular procedure he recommends, or you want done. Patients who don’t have insurance discuss their medical bills, why shouldn’t you? Here’s a great article by FreeHealth.com that goes into more detail on how to negotiate with your doctor.
Many doctors think that since you have insurance, you shouldn’t be concerned because the carriers “pay anyway”. But don’t forget, your plan has a deductible, co-payment, and coinsurance. Even with the most comprehensive plan, you will incur some of those costs if your calendar year’s “maximum out of pocket” is not met. You don’t want to leave your doctor’s office only to find out a month later when you get the bill you owe way more than expected.
If you need a test or an operation, ask your doctor to recommend more than one facility so you can not only get the best doctor, but compare what each specialist charges.
Check out this CBS Report and learn how one woman pays only a fraction of her medical costs.
A CBS News Report: Negotiating With Your Doctor - “In order to cut down on administrative costs, many doctors have been negotiating their bill directly with patients. Wyatt Andrews explains how paying cash can save patients a bundle.”
Obama’s Latest Healthcare Initiative
Posted by Todd Fries | Filed under Health Insurance
Where do we stand as of today?
President Obama has stated on numerous occasions he is not looking to “take over” or “replace” government subsidized programs such as Medicare/Medicaid. At this point he does not want to wipe out a current system of Health Care that insures over 200 million people. Even with all its flaws it is, for the most part, still working for a majority of the people. And since everyone that’s 65 automatically is eligible, its probably not as pressing a system to fix as insuring the 60 plus million who have no insurance at all.
So for starters, the president is focusing on the privatized health care system in order to decrease the vast amount of uninsured in this country. There are many parts of the current privatized Health Care system that do work, so Obama wants to build on that, in addition to offering some alternative options.
What Obama essentially wants congress to pass is “Healthcare Reform” in which every American bears responsibility for owning Health Insurance, but is provided a “hardship waiver” if they can’t afford it.
Who will qualify for that hardship waiver at this point is anyone’s guess. It will most likely bare some similarities to the government subsidized programs already in existence such as Healthy Families. Obama’s health reforms would most likely include some type of tax credits for employers as well as additional tax credits for the self-employed.
In addition, his reform would require Health Insurance companies to discontinue the practice of declining new business coverage based on pre-existing conditions. For anyone who has applied for Health Insurance in the past and was declined, this change will be well received!
Insurance carriers seem to be willing to accept this trade-off because they will have a much larger pool of applicants to insure. This is based on the current 46 million uninsured individuals that will now be “required” to obtain some form of Health Insurance. Hospitals are strongly advocating for this as well since it is more and more difficult for them to operate profitably because they are forced to absorb the costs of the uninsured.
Yet as we all know, there’s still a large and growing opposition to Obama’s Health Care Reform stating that Obama, “is stepping on individual rights by mandating coverage, expanding governments hand in the Health Care industry, and creating a pathway to socialized medicine”. Regardless, the consensus is that some type of mandate is needed to control the costs of rising Health Insurance premiums, and insure the uninsured.
The debate continues on the best and most effective method to reform Health Care. The President advices us all that the best thing to do to keep this reform moving forward is to stay informed. Therefore, I will continue to keep you updated on new developments as they come in.
Why Does My Health Insurance Premiums Keep Increasing and What Can I Do?
Posted by Todd Fries | Filed under Health Insurance
Health insurance premiums rise primarily due to four reasons:
1. Advances in medical technology means higher claims costs.
2. Price inflation for medical services is greater and exceeds inflation in other sectors of the economy.
3. Health Insurance Costs shift from the uninsured and those receiving Medicare and Medicaid over to the private sector
4. Consumer lifestyles, such as smoking, physical inactivity, obesity and heart disease.
So What Can I Do?
As consumers, we really have no control over the first three, but we can take control of our own lives by eating healthier, exercising, and not smoking. If we all make a conscious effort to live a healthier lifestyle, it will not only benefit us individually, but collectively, as a society. We will need less medical care and eventually we can start to stabilize the cost of Health Insurance because people will have fewer claims.
If you live in California, don’t hesitate to contact me to review your current plan. We can make sure you’re in the most cost effective health plan that meets your needs. If you’re currently uninsured, it can be a lot less expensive than you think! I’ve worked with students and freelancers who end up paying less than $150/month! Especially if you’re willing to consider a higher deductible.
You may even be eligible for an HSA (Health Savings Account) which offers some great tax benefits if you’re self-employed and want to open an additional IRA.
Call me anytime to discuss.
(323) 464-TODD (8633)
toddshealthinsurance@gmail.com
What are H1N1 Swine Flu Symptoms?
Posted by Todd Fries | Filed under FAQ, Medicine
Pandemic or Panic?
People are afraid of what they do not understand, causing panic and overreaction. With the proper knowledge, precautions can be taken to insure your health and that of your family. So here are the facts as we know them about H1N1 otherwise known as “Swine Flu”.
WebMD breaks down the facts and answers the most asked about questions. What are the swine flu symptoms? Are you protected with the flu vaccination? How is it passed on? What precautions can you take to avoid illness?
So although the US Government has declared swine flu to be a public health emergency and advises us to take precautions, “The World Health Organization has not declared swine flu to be a pandemic.”
If you think you are exhibiting symptoms of H1N1, visit your physician. If you do not have a health care provider and need help finding one, feel free to contact me.
When Do I Need Maternity Health Coverage
Posted by Todd Fries | Filed under FAQ, Health Insurance
I know I want to have kids, but I’m not actively trying right now. When do I need maternity coverage?
This is the number one question I’m consistently asked. The fact is, once your pregnant, insurance companies consider that a “pre-existing condition”.
Therefore if you:
- Don’t currently carry maternity coverage on your health insurance plan before you become pregnant or
- Purchase a health insurance plan that covers maternity after you become pregnant
You will not be able to change over to a plan that covers maternity once you become pregnant. There are some health insurance carriers that will let you switch to a maternity based plan once you become pregnant if your plan doesn’t cover it, but you will pay a very high deductible-usually at least $5,000.00.
IMPORTANT: if there’s any chance you think you will be pregnant within the next year or two, carry a plan or purchase a plan that covers maternity! If you’re in the California area, contact us for more information.
