Posts Tagged ‘health insurance ny’

Healthy NY Insurance Changes

Monday, December 5th, 2011

healthy ny carriersAs a country, we are standing at the cusp of formative health insurance changes that we will all have to learn all over again. Everything that we thought we knew and understood is experiencing great changes and yet we still remain unsure of what the outcome will bring. All of the health insurance providers today, including healthy NY began some time ago in order to help citizens who found they were turned away because health care was not affordable. In the early beginnings, only citizens with a comfortable income had the means to pay for medical health care and in emergency situations, hospitalization.

A new burgeoning class of citizens was growing and settling fast and medical physicians that made house calls were paid with sheep, goats, eggs, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables. This was acceptable, but the medical physician required paying patients in order to remain in practice and serve for the better good.  Of course, there were those rare occasions when family members of a child would volunteer to remain at the hospital and work off part of the expenses while being available for the child. Soon after health insurance providers began to become established in every community across the nation such as Empire Blue Cross healthy New York.

For a small fee, each potential subscriber would be guaranteed to receive medical assistance and hospitalization in the case of surgery or disease instead of being turned away because of an insufficient payment system. This one particular gesture on the part of the Mayo brothers, which later instituted the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN, that helped transform the entire medical community and the health insurance industry began to grow. Over the decades it did not take very long before more health insurance providers such as healthy NY insurance began to establish themselves as a guiding light to the majority of the burgeoning middle class.

This ground working relationship was working well until after the Second World War when employers began to offer health insurance protection to lure the young returning servicemen into their employ. A once simple health insurance policy became more detailed with acceptable coverage and changed from a basic major medical or catastrophic type of health insurance into the more personalized type of health insurance plans that we see today. The health insurance providers such as Atlantis healthy NY that was organized by a small group of medical physicians in 1995 has grown and continues to evolve.

Now, the people find that we are once again standing at the cusp of a new form of health insurance and medical health care and are uncertain as to the ultimate outcome. Many of the medications that we have grown with are no longer available, over the counter medication must be signed for before purchase. Medical physicians are deciding which group of patients they will assist and hospitals today are crowded and short-staffed causing great pain to the very individuals who took an oath to help. Health insurance providers now have a book of pre-existing medical conditions they will not cover for a period of time forcing citizens to turn to the state for medical assistance with the institution of offerings such as the healthy NY program.

Healthy NY: Doubts about Health Care

Monday, November 28th, 2011

obama healthcareThere are many citizens today that are beginning to doubt whether our health care system and health insurance system will ever be resolved. Who has the most concern regarding the new changes that are slowly seeping into our everyday lives? All American citizens are concerned with the new changes that are still developing through the instructions of the federal government. Empire Blue Cross healthy NY is only one of the many health insurance providers that are trying to comply with the mandatory changes that are infiltrating into our health insurance system.

When you consider the subtle battles that are ensuing, it is easy to understand why the various health insurance providers are struggling to make ends meet and continue to keep their subscribers satisfied. At the present time the different health insurance providers, including healthy NY insurance, is trying to balance a few main issues that have been at the forefront.

1. A financially sound Medicare system far into the future
2. Controllable medical health care costs
3. Reasonable pricing regarding prescription medication
4. The assurance of suitable, consistent health insurance coverage
It does seem to be amazing that now, all of a sudden we are experiencing so many problems with the medical health care delivery system and the high cost of health insurance.  Healthy New York is not alone in experiencing the amount of time that is spent with paperwork and other documentation. This is causing a delay with the amount of time it is taking to remit payments to medical physicians, community hospitals, and laboratories.

When you consider the constant increase in health insurance and the decrease in medical health care it is easy to understand that as a nation that is in the midst of a major crisis that will take some time to find the amicable solutions. Medical prescriptions that patients rely upon are experiencing a shortage and technology is fading into the distance at a time when both are in demand. The healthy NY program is trying to accommodate by searching for different ways to address the needs of the patients without causing alarm, but it becomes more difficult with the passage of time.

The most recent changes such as permitting children to remain on the family health insurance plan until the age of twenty-six, permitting all children with pre-existing medical health conditions to receive immediate health insurance coverage, and the increase in health insurance premiums is causing problems for the entire industry.

Healthy NY Insurance Conflicts

Monday, November 14th, 2011

health insurance conflictAre you one of thousands of individuals around the country each year that received a letter of rejection from your health insurance provider? You have been a faithful Empire Blue Cross healthy NY subscriber for a few years and this is the first time you submitted an insurance claim, right? You are probably sitting down, scratching your head because you were under the impression that you were covered for most medical incidents and now you are finding you are not. It may be too late, but you still want answers.

You made an appointment with your medical physician because you could not understand why you were suddenly feeling very tired and during certain times during the day you were experiencing dizzy spells. Once in a while is not an earth shattering experience as everyone does experience these feelings. The difference for you was that it was becoming an everyday occurrence and you believed it was time to be checked out by a medical physician. You did not give your health insurance NY a second thought because you thought you were covered for most of the cost, especially if it became necessary for a few lab tests and blood tests.

You have been an insurance subscriber for about eight years and never submitted a claim form before because you have been able to pay out of pocket for the minor incidentals. The medical physician conducted a few in house tests, but then decided he wanted you to drive over to the community hospital for further testing. Your hospital stay was not an all-day affair and within a few hours you left and drove back to your house. The medical physician called a few days later and asked you to come in and have a discussion. The medical physician has diagnosed you with prostate cancer, which was a shock for you to hear.

You took out your healthy NY insurance policy to see if you were covered because you already knew that cancer in any form is considered a pre-existing medical condition. You called the health insurance provider, and spoke with the receptionist and was told there was no reason why you could not submit an insurance claim. Now, with the letter of denial you are wondering how you will pay for the perpetual medication and treatments you will need to undergo.

Your health insurance provider is already aware of how expensive your medication and long-term medical treatment is going to be and the insurance provider is trying to operate a business. The healthy New York insurance policy you currently are subscribed will pay the insurance provider portion, but now you will have to fight for the right to receive assistance when you require it most. Look, the health insurance provider is in business to reach out and help individuals to the best of their ability, but they need to watch the bottom line or they will soon be out of business. When the health insurance provider is no longer able to remain in business, no one is helped.

Decreasing Long-Term Care

Monday, November 7th, 2011

decrease health careEveryone today is aware of how expensive long-term care is and how families are torn apart when the unspeakable issue rises to the forefront. Most family members choose to place this on the back burner because this can be a very delicate topic to discuss. Long-term care can break a family apart in a very short amount of time because of the added expenses that are involved. Long-term health insurance is very different from the Empire Blue Cross-healthy NY policy you have been subscribing to over the decades.

If you have not purchased a long-term health insurance policy it is never too late to begin, but it is expensive because of the medical coverage it entails. Couples that neglected to research the prospects will find there is no inexpensive health insurance NY policy that will cover long-term medical issues as well as the long-term health insurance or catastrophic health insurance. Many couples try to request assistance through Medicaid, but the list of rules that must be followed will leave the remaining family members destitute and no family want to endure such treatment.

This can be a very difficult situation for the family that was not prepared for this type of catastrophic even to occur. In general, not too many people are prepared because these are issues that will happen at a moment’s notice such as a heart attack that leaves a family member completely incapacitated. Considering how each family reacts to emergencies, there are certain aspects to long-term care that the family can do if they are willing. If an elderly spouse is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and after living with the disease for decades is now in the end stages you will need medical assistance.

However, your healthy NY insurance is no match and Medicare health insurance will only cover certain expenses. If you are financially able to have all family members share the added expenses to keep another as comfortable as possible you can hire an outside aid to stay at the home. The aid will need to be covered with one of the healthy NY program insurance policies for medical assistance in case of injury while at the home, but this arrangement will help to keep the costs lower than they would be ordinarily. The financial ability to keep a family member in the home instead of being moved to a nursing home is always the best choice. Nursing homes are very expensive and unless you are familiar with the background of the nursing home, you are taking a risk.

The majority of nursing home patients are not permitted to leave the premise and that makes it more of a prison than a home. The other unknown is the staff members at the nursing home.  Although most are kind, educated, and very helpful, there are others that will abuse the patients. It will be your responsibility to gather all the pertinent information that you are able before even considering what life in a nursing home will do to your family member. There are some individuals that never adjust and the nursing home will go out of their way to over medicate and to keep the individual calm, quiet, and compliant. Let the buyer beware.

Healthy NY Insurance for Entrepreneurs

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Thealhy ny entrepreneurhere are so many health insurance providers that it becomes very difficult to decide which of the providers will offer you the best health insurance NY policy for the price. The best way to begin the search is with yourself and family members if you have the responsibility of dependents. Obviously, you are searching to maximize the benefits received, but there is only one way to begin and it will take time. One of the first things you need to do is make a list of your previous medical records. By keeping everything in consecutive order, you will begin to assess a scenario that will help to guide you down the path of most concern.

Make a list of all your monthly expenses, beginning with the most expensive item down to the mundane items when they apply. You will begin with your mortgage payment or rental payment and continue from there. Remember to separate your personal monthly expenses from your monthly business expenses to receive a more accurate picture of what your requirements are. It will be difficult to locate an affordable health insurance policy when you are an independent contractor, but you will have some control of what is contained in the health insurance policy to help bring down the annual cost.

Shopping around and gathering information will help you to decide the health insurance provider that will offer you a low cost healthy NY insurance policy with the most in benefits. You will also want to consider a higher than usual annual deductible when you will benefit from lower monthly premium payments. However, this is not always the best way to go. It is a personal decision to be made depending upon what your personal and business related issues are at the moment.

Where do you go from this point? You begin by making an appointment with a few of the health insurance providers you chose. It would also be a good idea to speak with a tax consultant to get your bearings as to how much you will be permitted to deduct for the package plan through the Emblem healthy NY insurance policy you are expressing interest. The range varies from thirty-five percent of the annual cost to as high a one hundred percent, but there are many variables. Making the time for this research will offer you valuable insight as to the best route to proceed.

Now you will have plenty of knowledgeable information to meet with a few health insurance providers to consider putting a health insurance plan together. Will this be for only you or will you be adding family members to the insurance policy. Talk with the prospective health insurance provider and discuss a feasible insurance plan that will meet with your satisfaction. Regardless of whether this is going to take a little time, the effort to acquire a plan under the healthy NY program is well worth the wait.

The ability to attain a formidable health insurance policy that will offer you medical protection and in the long term, assist with keeping your business in tact is more than worth the effort expended. If you think you are having problems now, think about how you will feel when you lose your home, livelihood, and business because you were unable to meet the mounting expenses.

Healthy NY Personal Insurance or Medicare

Monday, October 17th, 2011

healthy ny medicareWell, when it comes to choosing a health insurance policy are there too many choices or not enough choices? Are you designated to remain with the myriad of traditional health insurance policies or are you old enough to take advantage of the Medicare health insurance policies? Have you done your best to remain as healthy as possible or have you neglected yourself over the years. You were employed for many years with a larger corporation. The result is that you have a 401K, an IRA, an employer sponsored COBRA insurance plan, and more than one life insurance policy, right.

Yes, you have made a few major accomplishments and have taken care of the needs and requirements of your family members. Now, you want to begin a new journey by starting a business of your own. One of the obstacles is the search for a cost saving health insurance NY policy that will be as adequate as the group health insurance policy you were accustomed through your prior employer. Although you have made a few telephone calls, you appear to be very disappointed with the information you are receiving.

Next year you will be celebrating your sixty-fifth birthday and will be eligible to enter the Medicare health insurance plan, which is the government run health insurance that you have heard so much about over the years. Medicare health insurance is a government sanctioned, sponsored insurance policy, along with the State run healthy NY program for individuals that qualify, which are mainly the population of senior citizens. There are many others who have already enrolled with Medicare to reduce the cost of the annual health insurance policy, but you still have family members that you are responsible.

Is it better for you and your family members to utilize the employer sponsored COBRA health insurance that you were paying into for many years? After all, you can utilize this type of health insurance for at least eighteen months before you need to begin shopping around. If you decide to go with the Medicare health insurance, will you still be required to purchase a healthy NY insurance policy to cover your family members? It does appear there are more questions than there are answers.

Perhaps you could discuss your options with other small business entrepreneurs and find out if the local Chamber of Commerce offers a group health insurance that would be inexpensive to purchase. This would serve to protect you, your family members, and the few employees you hire along the way. As long as you do not enroll with the Social Security Administration, there is no reason why you are not able to find and enroll with the low cost healthy New York insurance policy of your choice.

Once you enroll with the Social Security Administration to begin collecting on your benefits, you are obligated to enroll with the government run Medicare health insurance program. In many cases, the creative individuals that enroll into a group health insurance policy through the local Chamber of Commerce fare much better than the creative individuals that enroll into the Medicare health insurance program. This is one you will want to think through carefully before making a final decision.

Healthy NY Insurance Viability

Monday, October 10th, 2011

healthy ny insuranceThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that was passed in March 2010 left the people with much uncertainty as to how this monumental change to our health insurance system was going to operate in the future. Although so much time has passed, the people are still uncertain and the facts are slow to see the light of day. Small businesses, independent contractors, individuals, and families were waiting for a better offering of the high priced Atlantis healthy NY insurance, but it continues to remain elusive. The people were promised that all health insurance policies were being reduced in cost per annual premium, but the cost has continued to rise instead.

Although we have been informed of a few changes to the health insurance policies, they are minimal at best. Most of the small businesses, individuals, and families are still unable to afford even the most inexpensive health insurance NY policy that is currently being offered. Many within the small business community have begun to allow the current health insurance policy to lapse. This is leaving many of their employees to search for an individual health insurance policy. Others are being added to the health insurance policy of a spouse when it is possible.
The small businesses, individuals, and families have been given a small victory in the purchasing of a healthy New York insurance policy because the federal government is permitting the annual deduction for the cost of the annual health insurance policy in part or in full. This may appear to be an incentive for many adult individuals to purchase a health insurance policy, but in reality this falls flat. When an individual or family is unable to locate health insurance that will fit into the current monthly budget it is pointless to make the purchase. You must have the funding to afford the health insurance policy in the first place.

The annual cost and the monthly premium cost has doubled in price over the past year and this is a direct result of the added medical features the government is now mandating for all citizens. The individual health insurance policy is being discontinued because children are permitted to remain on the family healthy NY insurance policy until reaching the age of twenty-six. You would think this is a positive move, but not everyone is happy with this new additive. This is one of the reasons why the family health insurance policy has increased in cost.

Another adjustment to the current health insurance policy is with the mandated elimination of pre-existing medical conditions as an excuse for the health insurance provider to deny coverage. This one move is costing the health insurance providers millions of dollars they are no longer absorbing. How much longer will the health insurance providers be able to remain a viable business? There are even more mandates coming soon that will hurt businesses, individuals, and families  along with the entire health industry including Atlantis healthy NY. Society smiles when they hear that something is free, but eventually we must all pay. Free to you means that someone else is paying twice as much for the identical service.

The Uninsured and Underinsured of Self Employed Health Insurance

Monday, September 5th, 2011

It is becoming very interesting that the uninsured living in the population and the underinsured are not necessarily the indigent or newcomers to our fine country. Statistically it is the self-employed and other individuals in general who can afford to purchase an affordable health insurance policy, but do not have any sound or logical reason to purchase one. Perhaps this is an irresponsible attitude, but the majority of these individuals even with families make enough money to pay their own way.

These are responsible individuals who will keep an active savings account and continuously add a percentage of their salary specifically for those times when hospitalization and surgery is recommended. These are individuals who just do not believe that having and maintaining a health insurance policy is necessary. Why does the government take it upon their own, to decide that every individual must carry a health insurance policy in general or a self employed health insurance for those creative individuals who work hard on their own.

Why is it so important for the government to mandate that everyone purchase a health insurance policy of any kind when it is not warranted?  The entire premise of establishing this unfounded law was to help the thirty million underinsured and uninsured to be afforded access to the health insurance being denied. Yet, when you look closer into the problem, you will find there are going to be about thirty million uninsured and underinsured remaining without the possibility of health insurance.

The majority are not children either. The majority that fall into one or the other category are young adults or individuals that are beginning to reach the retirement age, but they have no intention of retiring. Understand one thing, the basic no frills affordable health insurance policy is not that expensive. You still can choose a health insurance plan that will fall under the lower end and cover the basic incidents you may incur during the course of the life of the health insurance policy.

Individuals who are young and trying to begin a creative employment adventure may want to investigate the New York health insurance because if the annual income falls below the acceptable limits you may be able to afford a basic health insurance policy through the state. Most of the states have their own version that you can investigate and that will also satisfy your medical requirements and your wallet at the same time. There are other legitimate reasons for adults to be without health insurance coverage.

1. The most common reason for lack of health insurance is being in between employment
2. Individuals with catastrophic pre-existing medical conditions such as a form of cancer
3. Employees who had health insurance but were no longer employed
4. Self-employed individuals who are more interested in building up the new business

Self-employed individuals just are not concerned with not having any self employed health insurance when they are working hard to develop a new adventure. Many of these individuals plan to invest in health insurance at a later date when they have become more established, but there are still others who can pay their medical expenses. There are many individuals who go through their entire life without the need of a health insurance policy.

No Health Insurance

Monday, May 31st, 2010

There are millions of individuals of all age groups without any health insurance to help them as they go about their daily lives. Where do individuals and families go when they need medical health care and they have no health insurance coverage? You certainly are not able to visit the local medical physician in your neighborhood because the first question you are asked is who is your health insurance carrier?

When you explain you are without medical health insurance at this time, but you are able to pay cash for the medical physician’s services you are still refused an appointment, so where do you turn? Most individuals who are alone will turn to their local drug store and scour the shelves to see what is available for their own health care practices.

Other individuals with young children will turn to the emergency rooms of the local community hospital and hope their children will be afforded the needed health care and medication they so desperately need. You wonder why the local community hospitals are always filled to capacity in the waiting room.

You will find the health insurance industry played a role in causing this build-up by negotiating with the health care providers to the point where they are not allowed to take in a patient, treat them, and accept a cash payment. Oh have we come a long way when the medical health care provider could make house calls without asking if you have any low cost health insurance to cover the expenses.

When you listen to the news reports, you will hear from time to time how we, as a nation have come a long way in the health insurance industry, yet have we. If you are unable to pull out your health insurance card to prove you still have health insurance coverage you are blatantly turned away with the suggestion you visit your local community hospital.

Private hospitals in your local area will refuse you medical health care  assistance faster than any medical health care provider so be sure you visit your local community hospital if you want an opportunity to see a medical health care physician. This includes children too and makes the entire situation very sad.

When you have a parent taking a child to the emergency room for medical health care do you think they stop to read the sign on the front of the building to see if it is a community hospital or a private hospital? Of course not, the child may have sustained a broken arm or broken leg while attending school and all the parent wants to do is get their child medical health care as quickly as possible.

Sadly, this same occurrence happens every day of the week to many parents at a time when they are upset because their child is hurt. To have everyone in the medical health care community turn his or her back on you is a travesty that is unacceptable, yet it still happens. Why is the medical health care community exempt when it comes to the private hospitals?

Sports Injuries the Average Non- Professional Can Claim

Monday, January 25th, 2010

No doubt athletes get injured all the time. Some of these injuries are minor such as a sprained ankle, but other injuries can be quite substantial causing serious injuries, disability, and death.  Sports injuries can broaden into various fields.  If you watch the TV show Dancing With The Stars and the show. So You Think You Can Dance, you will have noticed that even dancers are subject to ankle and hip injuries. The importance of health insurance coverage, personal injury liability insurance, and more is crucial for keeping these shows in operation.

What is to be noted as well is that because we all know that participating in any kind of sport has becomes a risk, sports players or participants in a sport even as seemingly innocuous as dancing is a risk. People who participate in these activities are said to have given their consent to level of risk involved.  In other word, they may not be covered for their injuries and their health care needs are in jeopardy.

That is in and of itself a hard pill to swallow.  You agree to dance, where did it it become necessary sign on the dotted line saying you agree to sustain injuries at your own risk? While the courts battle out what claims will be honored and which ones won’t; the bottom line still remains that individuals should carry health insurance to protect themselves against injuries sustained while participating in a sport; even one such as dancing, which is not generally looked upon as a sport in the first place.

In America, it would be foolhardy not to be responsible for our own health care.  One never knows when a sport related injury will occur.  We do not have to be a professional athlete to sustain injuries just going through the process of daily living can present some situations where accidents can occur. Of course, walking down the stairs and falling and would not be considered a sport’s injury. If the property belonged to someone else and you fell because the pathway was obstructed, that is a personal injury, which you can claim from the property owner’s insurance company, but it is not a sports injury. There are other situations; however, which would be considered a sports injury.

You do not have to be a professional or semi professional athlete to sustain injuries and be able to make a personal injury claim.  Health care coverage is important for professional and amateur alike.  These situations would include:  Team sports, motivation and team building exercises, exercise classes in community centers, swimming, injuries sustained in fitness clubs and gymnasiums, injuries sustained in military training exercises, and in school and university physical education classes.

The list does not stop there as you also can include motor sports of any kind including car racings boating and off terrain vehicle sporting, winter activities such as skiing, skating, snow shoeing and skidoo riding, and other outdoor summer activities such as horseback riding, bicycling, hiking, and climbing.  The potential list for places and activities is endless.

It is important to note that physical injuries sustained through normal playing of a sport may not be eligible for claim by most health insurance companies. Neither are errors in judgment on the part of the player, which led to the injury, such as not wearing proper protective gear. However there are still exceptions where claims can be made.

You will be entitled to claim if your injury was caused by a dangerous defect on the surface that you are playing on, such as a tile missing that caused you to fall or trip, and a stage that is warped and caused an injury while you performed your dance, or exercise. If the equipment you needed to use was defective such as when a child injured on a broken swing or trampoline this too can be considered a legitimate claim.

Negligence on the part of a referee, coach, or team instructor did to insure player’s safety could be cause for a legitimate health insurance claim.   You can also file a claim if: the instructor gave incorrect instructions on how to carry out the activity resulting in an injury, if there was little or no supervision in a public sport, if the players were rough and caused the injury and the facility or the equipment was not maintained. An example of the latter might to be running in the school gymnasium and tripping over a ball that should not have been there or a piece of paper on the floor and so on.

Make sure you are covered and avoid the hassles when sporting establishments refuse to compensate forcing you to pay out of pocket for health care expenses.