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Ohio Individual Health Insurance – Making the Right Decision

September 27, 2011 By

Official statistics indicate that the proportion of uninsured Ohio residents increased over the past year from 11.6 to 12.9 percent. This is quite worrying considering the fact that Ohio has a high death rate due to cancer as well as one of the highest levels of air pollution in the United States. It goes without saying that those who live in Ohio who do not have health insurance should think seriously about purchasing a policy. Considering these important points below can help you make the right decision when you buy an Ohio individual health insurance policy.

Purchasing Affordable Individual Health Insurance OH – Important Considerations

Remember the following when you shop for Ohio health insurance for yourself and your family:

•    Qualifying for individual coverage: Purchasing an individual health insurance plan is usually tougher when compared to enrolling in an employer-sponsored group plan. This is because, with an individual policy, the health insurance company will scrutinize your complete medical history to decide whether it will offer you coverage and how much it will cost you to do so. Underwriting policies vary between companies. If you already have a medical condition, an Ohio health insurance company can deny you coverage. So it is best to apply for insurance before you have a medical issue.

•    Avoiding rescission: You become a victim of rescission if your insurance company issues a policy ,and then denies your claim because you are not eligible for coverage. To avoid rescission, always tell the truth about any medical conditions you may have, even if it is something you consider unimportant. Take care when you fill out your application. New reform is helping as it prohibits insurers from refusing coverage for individuals or groups except in proven cases of fraud or purposeful misstatement.

•    Choosing the right plan: Leading Ohio health insurance providers offer different types of Ohio individual health insurance plans and so choosing the right plan can be quite a challenge. Questions to consider:

-    Which type of plan do you need – PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), or Indemnity?
-    Compare deductibles, premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
-    Does the plan cover specialist care? If not what are your options and how much would they cost?
-    Are pre-existing conditions covered?
-    Do you have prescription drug coverage?
-    Does it cover adult preventive care?
-    Are special needs such as chiropractic care, dental, or vision covered?

Find a Reliable Health Insurance Agent

These are just a few of the important things you need to consider to make the right decision about Ohio Individual Health Insurance. Reading between the lines of a health insurance policy is not easy. It’s advisable to find a reliable health insurance agent who can help you find a comprehensive and affordable medical insurance plan.

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Ohio Short Term Health Insurance – Safety Net for Laid-off Workers

September 27, 2011 By

Ohio short term health insurance is a great option for unemployed persons as it offers coverage for unexpected catastrophes. Short term health plans are assuming great significance in these financially challenging times. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 2011 saw employers taking 1579 mass layoff actions, displacing 145.000 workers. Since the economic downturn, the number of workers filing for unemployment insurance has been rising. Things have been made worse with COBRA subsidies coming to a close on August 31, 2011. COBRA subsidies were a federal stimulus package to help laid-off workers continue their health care coverage. The end of these subsidies means higher health insurance expenses for those who lose their jobs.

If you are an Ohioan and between jobs, it’s possible to tide over these challenges by applying for a short term health insurance plan. Leading health insurance providers offer several options that provide a practical safety net for laid-off workers.

Short Term Health Insurance Ohio – Features

Short-term Ohio health insurance can help a person who is laid off get temporary health insurance coverage till he/she finds another job. It is different from other types of health insurance. The main features of short-term health insurance are:

•    Quick – The plans are simple and easy to apply for and coverage starts almost immediately.

•    Good basic coverage – Many short-term plans offer coverage that is almost similar to traditional plans. Doctor’s office visits, hospital charges, and emergency care are usually covered while prescription drug coverage is offered for an accident or illness that occurs during the plan period. This makes them a good safety net for the unemployed.

•    Limited underwriting – It is easy to qualify for Ohio short term health insurance plans as they involve only a few underwriting questions such as whether the applicant has a heart condition, diabetes, and so on.

•    Period of coverage – The period of coverage that a short term plan offers could be as few as 30 days or for as long as 12 months.

•    Competitively priced – Leading providers offer short-term plans that are competitively priced and come with attractive copays. Choices range from plans with low premiums and high deductibles, to those that have low deductibles, but a higher monthly cost.

Points to Note

•    The expenses for the treatment or cost of medication or pre-existing conditions are usually not covered in short-term plans. With recent reform, short term Ohio health insurance will exclude preventative benefits such as a physical or immunizations.

•    Short term medical insurance is non-renewable. Once a plan ends, you have to apply afresh.

Make an Informed Choice

Besides those between jobs, Ohio short term health insurance plans provide a safety net for many – part-time employees, divorcees who lose coverage under a spouse plan, early retirees and recent graduates who are no longer on a parent’s plan. There are many different kinds of short term policies in the market. To make an informed choice, get informed and knowledgeable advice from an established Ohio health insurance agent.

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Obamacare in Ohio – Individual Health Insurance Premiums to go up, says…

September 27, 2011 By

The key findings of a forecast report by Milliman Inc., Seattle for the Ohio Department of Health Insurance are that the changes occurring as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will bring down the number of uninsured by 790,000, but increase premiums by more than 55% for the 735,000 residents who have Ohio individual health insurance coverage.

According to Milliman consultants, these trends are “primarily driven by the estimated health status of the new individual health insurance market and the expansion of covered benefits.” 1

Says Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Department of Insurance Director Mary Taylor, “This report clearly shows what I have long predicted; Obamacare will result in bigger government, unsustainable costs, and ultimately, less consumer choice.” 2

She had expressed her objections to Obamacare in a guest column3 earlier this year and come out vehemently against the costly Medicaid expansion, the proposed new health insurance regulatory bureaucracy and the market reforms that would make it difficult for states to regulate Ohio individual health insurance.

The Milliman report points that while the percentage of insured Ohio residents could go up by 7.9 percent in 2017, premiums would go up for those who have enrolled in Ohio individual health insurance plans. The study considered the potential behavior of individuals and employers based on income level, age, and health status to make these estimates.

If the PPACA is implemented and works as expected, PPACA would want major Ohio health insurance companies to sell policies that meet minimum benefits requirements on guaranteed issue, on a community-rated basis starting in 2014. Main predictions:

•    Individual health insurance market: Premiums for Ohio residents could increase by as much as 55 to 85 percent in 2014 (apart from the ongoing trend which is an average yearly increase of 7 to 8 percent nationwide).  The current health status of some individuals could cause their Ohio individual health insurance premiums to increase by 90 to 130 percent, while premiums may decrease for others.

•    Small group market: For employers with 2 to 50 employees, premiums are expected to register average increases of 5 to 15 percent in 2014, not including the annual medical trend increases.  While premiums may go up by 150 percent for some small groups, they may decease by 40 percent for other groups, depending on their current health status.

•    Government insurance market: There will be a dramatic expansion of government programs when the act is fully implemented. Up to half of all Ohio residents could be members of some type of government-subsidized Ohio health insurance plan, including Medicare. More than one million Ohioans are expected to enter the state’s Medicaid rolls in 2014 and more than 500,000 are expected to enroll in the government-subsidized Ohio health insurance exchanges.

Battles continue to be waged in court and Congress to block the implementation of PPACA

“Handcuffing states with Obamacare’s one-size-fits-all approach is not the reform we need.  Ohioans deserve a consumer-driven, market-based approach that provides adequate protections along with accountability, affordability and transparency.  We do not need a government-knows-best set of mandates,” says Taylor.2

References:

1http://www.ohioexchange.ohio.gov/Documents/MillimanReport.pdf.

2Ohio Department of Insurance press release, 9/20/2011

3Mary Taylor, President’s Healthcare Plan is Bad for Ohio and our State Insurance Market, Guest Column: STATE OF OHIO, DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE, June 24, 2011

Allison Bell, Ohio: PPACA Could Push 660,000 Out of Group Health Market, publ. 7/26/2011

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Ohio Open Enrollment – Time to Evaluate Your Medicare Coverage

September 21, 2011 By

The Medicare open enrollment period offers Medicare beneficiaries in all US states an opportunity to review their health plan and switch to a new one that accommodates new needs, such as a change in health status. Ohio health insurance companies offer various types of Medicare Supplement or Advantage Plans for Ohio residents. If your needs have changed since you enrolled in a Medicare plan, this is the time to evaluate your Medicare coverage and look at the options that will work better for you.

Ohio Medicare Enrollment Options

In 2011, Medicare’s open enrollment period is from October 15 to December 7.  This period is your chance to make changes to your Ohio Medicare Advantage, Supplement, Medigap plans or Medicare prescription drug coverage for 2012, which includes:

•    Change from Original Medicare PARTS A 7 B, to a Medicare Advantage, Supplement or Medigap Plan. Original Medicare does not cover everything. To close the gaps in this coverage, you can switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO or PPO) offered by private insurers approved by Medicare. Cost, additional coverage, and rules are different for different plans.

•    Switch from your current Medicare Advantage Plan back to Medicare Supplement or Medigap Plans.

•    Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan without drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.

•    Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes drug coverage.

•    Enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

•    Change from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

•    Give up your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

In select Ohio counties, there are $0 monthly plans premium in addition to your monthly Medicare Part B premium. Unless otherwise noted, out-of-network services are not covered. Some of the plans provide you access to several thousands of network doctors nationwide. Similarly, the Medicare Advantage Plans offered by other health insurance companies offers you more benefits for less money than Original Medicare for most services, and come with predictable out-of-pocket costs

Making the Right Decision during Medicare Enrollment

Open enrollment is the time when Ohio seniors should examine their Ohio Medicare plans, consider their health status and the various options available to them, and find which one is suited to their needs.  The best way to make the right decision during Medicare open enrollment is to get professional guidance from an independent health insurance agent in Ohio. With vast experience and knowledge in the field, a reliable agent can help you evaluate your Ohio Medicare coverage and make the changes necessary to improve your health insurance and drug coverage.

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Choosing a Suitable Ohio Short Term Health Insurance Plan

September 16, 2011 By

Short term health coverage is meant for people who are looking for temporary medical insurance for periods ranging from one to eleven months. You should consider a short term health plan if you are:

•    Between jobs
•    New employees waiting for coverage to begin at the work place
•    Part-time, temporary or seasonal workers
•    A new school graduate who is not on a parent’s health plan
•    Early retirees

Leading health insurance providers offer Ohio short term health insurance plans. However, choosing a suitable plan involves comparing offerings and signing up for one that offers reliable coverage.

Ohio Short Term Health Insurance Plans – A Comparison of Features

Well-known health insurance companies offer short-term plans with various kinds of benefits.

•    Most Ohio medical insurance carriers offer short-term plans that have features similar to traditional health insurance. Some of the short-term health insurance providers give complete coverage along with co-pays for doctor visits. Though the plans are expensive, most people like to have their office visits paid for with a co-pay rather than meet a high deductible first.

•    You even have a choice of short-term co-pay, value plans and plus plans. The co-pay plan offers convenient, predictable co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions. There are certain policies that come with a fixed deductible and coinsurance for the coverage period, offers more coverage than a value plan, and is ideal for covering predictable out-of-pocket expenses. It may be less expensive and feature a new deductible for each illness or injury.

•    With a limited number of underwriting questions, most Ohio health plans are comparatively easy to qualify for. The short term health insurance Ohio plans come with low premiums and coverage can begin the same day.

•    Certain plans are known for their flexibility and include prescription drug coverage. The application process is quick and simple, and coverage can start next day. In Ohio, the health insurance network is stronger in places such as Cincinnati and Dayton.

•    A recognized leader in health insurance throughout the United States offers competitively priced short-term health insurance plans which allow you to see any hospital in any state.

Getting the Right Short Term Health Coverage

Going without health coverage is dangerous, however young and healthy you may be. So choose to be covered at all times. Things you need to consider when buying a short term health insurance Ohio Plan are:

•    Does the coverage offered meet your needs, however temporary they may be?
•    Is the plan affordable – this is especially important if you are a student or unemployed?
•    What are the terms of the policy?
•    Is coverage easy to apply for and obtain?

Consulting a reliable health insurance broker is the best way to understand short-term health insurance plans, compare features and choose the right one.

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How to Choose the Right Ohio Individual Health Insurance Plan

August 10, 2011 By

Health insurance companies in Ohio offer several types of health plans. If you are employed, choosing a plan would not be complicated as most employers offer only one or two health insurance options. However, if you are shopping for coverage on your own, you would be faced with the question of how to choose the right Ohio individual health insurance plan from the multitude of choices available in the market.

Individual Health Insurance Coverage in Ohio – Choosing Right

If you are thinking of opting out of employer-sponsored health insurance, review your options thoroughly before you take a decision. Compare at least three or four plans before you buy. Considering the following points can help you make the right choice:

•    Anticipate your medical needs: Though you cannot predict a sudden illness or injury, there are some essentials you need to consider. For instance, choose a plan with maternity coverage if you plan on starting a family.

•    Consider cost of the basics: Do not go for a plan with a high monthly premium if your budget is limited. A policy with a high deductible (the amount that you have to pay before your health insurance takes over) would make more sense if you are in good health. You should also consider your copays (what you spend on an office visit or test) and your coinsurance (your share of health care expenses) when you buy a policy.

•    Do not choose a plan without an annual cap: Avoid plans that have no limit on your annual out-of-pocket costs which are unexpected (for example, office visits, prescriptions, trips to emergency rooms, and so on). A plan with yearly caps on what you pay for health care is the right choice. With health reform, annual dollar limits on coverage will cease by 2014.

•    Healthcare provider participation: Make sure that your primary care physician (PCP) and the specialists you consult are in the network of your plan. Most Ohio individual health insurance plans require you to pay most of the cost when you choose an out-of-network doctor, or don’t offer coverage at all.

•    Vision and dental care: Choosing a plan which offers options to add on individual dental insurance Ohio and vision coverage would be an advantage.

•    Coverage for prescriptions: Check out the plan’s medication coverage list to ensure that prescribed drugs are covered.

Professional Advice on Ohio Individual Health Insurance

The ideal option when it comes to choosing the right Ohio individual health insurance plan is to talk to an experienced health insurance agent. An established company would offer professional guidance to get health insurance quotes from various providers, compare individual health insurance plans in Ohio and select a suitable one.

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