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Empowering Consumers With Medical Insurance Information 

Why Doctors Need Own-Occupation Disability Insurance

Physicians buy individual disability insurance a lot, and there are several reasons for it. No other occupation can say that a larger percentage of them own individual disability policies. During residency you probably saw at least 5 or 6 agents give lunch and learn seminars on practice management and insurance, and most of them addressed individual disability insurance with you. You are also in an occupation that sees disabilities every day, none of you are foolish enough to believe you'll never become disabled. A computer consultant might not own DI because they believe if they can think and type that they can work, you on the other hand know better. Nobody is doing a lot of anything during cancer treatments, or because of severe back problems preventing you from sitting in a chair. Now that we understand a little bit more about why so many physicians own disability insurance, let's dive into what a physician should be looking for in a personal DI policy.

Own-Occupation Definition of Total Disability With Medical Specialty Language
Every policy is going to have a definition of total disability, it is the legal language that dictates when the DI policy will pay you a total monthly benefit. To read this definition, just open up your policy and read it. If you are evaluating several policy choices in the buying process, ask your agents for specimen policies. Don't just assume you have an excellent definition of total disability because somebody told you it is, read it in the policy, or in the specimen policy. The definition of total disability is what dictates whether or not you have an own-occupation, a modified own-occupation, or a gainful occupation disability insurance policy.

Agents will refer to a pure own-occupation, and a modified own-occupation policy as own-occ. They couldn't be more different from each other, and a pure own-occupation policy is all that a physician should own. A pure own-occupation policy can pay you a total monthly benefit if a sickness or injury prevents you from performing the material and substantial duties of your regular occupation, even if you are at work in some other capacity. A modified own-occ policy will pay a benefit for the same reason, but would reduce benefits by any other earned income during a claim. Essentially with a pure own-occupation policy you could double dip during a claim.

There are only a handful of carriers that go one step above a pure own-occupation policy for physicians, and offer you medical specialty language in the definition of total disability. If you have limited your practice to a single medical specialty, the insurance company will deem that medical specialty to be your occupation. Therefore if you were a diagnostic radiologist, and became disabled from performing the material and substantial duties of a diagnostic radiologist, you could collect your total monthly benefit even if you were still able to teach at a university or practice some other type of medicine. Very few carriers offer medical specialty language built into the definition of total disability, if you are a physician don't settle for any disability insurance policy that does not contain medical specialty language in the actual definition of total disability.

For more information visit www.Call2Insure.com or click the links below:

Dentists Disability Insurance Quotes

Doctor Disability Insurance Quotes

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Some Questions People Should Ask about COBRA and COBRA Alternatives

Understanding all of the provisions related to COBRA is daunting even to some professionals and so is information about COBRA alternatives. There are important deadlines that must be met if a person plans on continuing their health insurance after becoming eligible for benefits under COBRA. Most people realize they have more questions after they have had their meeting with the human resources department or received their written notification of COBRA benefits in the mail. It is imperative that people take action to get the answers they need so that they can make an informed decision about whether to continue with their employer-sponsored benefits or to choose a COBRA alternative. Here are some questions that are common:

 

What is COBRA? Most people don't even know what COBRA is much less have an understand about how to sign up for benefits. In short, COBRA is the acronym for a law enacted by Congress in the late 80s. It was set up to protect employees from losing health insurance coverage when there is a death of the sponsoring employee, a divorce, a job separation whether voluntary or involuntary, or a reduction in qualified hours for retaining health insurance coverage. COBRA is not health insurance.

 

What is a COBRA alternative? Any private health insurance can be an alternative to COBRA. Policies are available for purchase from licensed health insurance agents. Private health insurance policies are contacts made between the person covered and the insurance company, not the employer.

 

How long do benefits under COBRA provisions last? People can continue their employer-sponsored benefits for up to 18 months. This can be extended for a total coverage of up to 36 months if the person meets eligibility requirements such as disability.

 

How long do benefits under a COBRA alternative last? As long as premiums are paid, private health insurance policies last until the policy is canceled for nonpayment or the covered person chooses to cancel the policy.

 

How much will it cost for benefits under COBRA provisions? This is a question that can only be answered by the benefits administrator in the human resources department of the former employer. People who choose to enroll in coverage continuation under COBRA provisions must pay for 100% of all insurance premiums plus a 2% surcharge each month.

 

How much will a COBRA alternative policy cost? People can get free quotes from a licensed health insurance agent. Premium costs vary by the type of policy and the state where the individual lives. Rates are also affected by health and age.

 

These are just a few of the many questions people may have about health insurance coverage related to COBRA and COBRA alternatives. People should contact the benefits administrator at their former employer for questions about COBRA. Questions about COBRA alternatives should be directed to a qualified health insurance agent.

 

Since 2001 BestHealthcareRates.com has helped thousands of families and businesses to find the most benefits for their insurance budget. The company is committed to exceptional service and strives to achieve 100% customer satisfaction and Affordable Health Insurance for all. For more information about COBRA alternatives, visit www.BestHealthcareRates.com get instant insurance medical quotes.

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Why You Need Disability Insurance

Most people take it for granted that they are able to awake each day and earn an income to support themselves and their family. The ability to be independent in this regard is one of your most valuable assets. Additionally, most people do not understand that the chances of becoming disabled at some time during their working career are higher than they would imagine. Hence, disability insurance is available to protect your assets.

Disability insurance is insurance that is intended to replace your income if you should become sick, disabled, or hurt, and the illness or accident prevents you from earning an income in your occupation. Disability insurance will pay anywhere from 45% to 60% of your gross income during your absence from work.

It is important to note however, that not every policy is the same. Carefully scrutinizing the details and comparison-shopping is necessary when shopping for disability insurance. The least expensive policy is not necessarily a good choice. The odds of being paid a monthly benefit that will cover your cost of living while you are disabled are not improbable if you have purchased a low-cost insurance policy.

The purpose of this article is to provide useful information about the features of disability insurance, so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing your insurance policy.

Types of disability insurance

Short-term disability is as it name implies. This policy may pay benefits for two weeks up to two years. Usually, your employer provides short-term disability policies.

Long-term disability as it name implies, will provide benefits for an extended period. Long-term disability insurance usually lasts about 5 years. This type of insurance will also expire when the person turns 65. Some employers will offer this type of insurance as part of employee benefit package or will make it available at a specific cost.

The two main types of long-term disability insurance policies are non-cancelable and guaranteed renewable. A non-cancelable and guaranteed renewable policy means that the insurer cannot cancel or refuse to renew your policy as long as the required premiums are paid on time. However, the significant differences between the two policies are that with a guaranteed renewable policy the premiums can be raised, but only if it affects the entire class of policyholders. Under a non-cancelable contract, the premium payment remains in effect as stated on the policy. Consequently, initial premiums for guaranteed renewable policies can be less expensive than non-cancelable policies.

More Information

Click to get quotes for disability insurance including disability insurance for dentists

Disability insurance does not replace the need for a good major medical insuarance plan

Click to get family health insurance quotes and other medical insurance quotes

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How to Choose Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance

Many insurance companies offer additional benefits known as Medicare supplemental health insurance plans. All of these plans are to provide coverage for health insurance costs that are not covered by Medical. When Medicare changed the way of coverage and payment that was in place for a number of years, Medicare supplemental health insurance plans were created.

Some of the differences between the old insurance and the new are the new Medicare insurance does not cover as much of the costs for prescription drugs as the old. It also does not cover many of the preventive health measures required for older Americans. Medicare insurance can be considered a "back up" insurance policy for any item that Medicare will not pay for.

Currently, Medicare has 12 standard Medicare supplemental health coverage plans that are available to senior citizens. Each of these plans must cover the same areas of healthcare for seniors and the plans are strictly regulated by the government. If you are planning to buy a Medicare insurance plan, the best time to purchase is within six months of applying for Medicare.

Click Medicare Supplemental Insurance to read the full article.

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Connecticut Individual Health Insurance Regulations: What You Need to Know

Individual health insurance plans in Connecticut do not have to be guarantee issue. In fact, insurers have the right to decline any applications. When individuals apply for coverage, the application goes through medical underwriting and the insurer reviews the health history of each individual applicant, identifying pre-existing medical conditions. Through this process, insurers may accept or decline coverage depending on the health history. The insurance company may also come up with an individualized plan with limitations based on these pre-existing conditions.

Read the full story: Connecticut medical insurance

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Finding the Right Kentucky Individual Health Insurance

When it comes to providing financial security and medical well-being for your family, health insurance is vital. One medical emergency can drain a family's finances quickly, which is why purchasing the right Kentucky individual health insurance plan is one of the wisest investments you can make. With a plethora of plans to choose from, it is important to understand the details regarding laws in Kentucky that regulate individual health plans.

Read full story: Kentucky Medical insurance

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What is a Medicare Supplement?

A Medicare Supplement (also called "Medigap Insurance") policy is private health insurance specifically designed to supplement the Original Medicare Plan. This means it helps pay some of the health care costs ("gaps") that the Original Medicare Plan doesn't cover (like coinsurance and deductibles). Medicare Supplement policies may also cover certain things that Medicare doesn't cover. If you are in the Original Medicare Plan and you buy a supplement policy, then both plans will pay their share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered health care costs. Medicare Supplement policies are sold by private insurance companies.

A supplement policy is not a "Medicare Advantage" (like an HMO or PPO) because it's not a way to get Medicare benefits. Insurance companies can sell you only a "standardized" Medicare Supplement policy. Standardized supplement policies are identified by letters (A through L). In some states, like Texas or Louisiana, you may be able to buy another type of Medicare Supplement policy called Medicare SELECT. Each type of supplement policy offers the same basic benefits, no matter which insurance company sells it. Usually the only difference between policies sold by different insurance companies is the cost. Medicare Supplement policies must follow Federal and state laws. These laws are designed to protect you.

What Medigap Policies Do Not Cover

Medicare Supplement policies do not cover long-term care (like care in a nursing home), vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, and private-duty nursing. Any new supplement policy is guaranteed renewable. This means the insurance company cannot cancel your policy as long as you pay the premium. Although some policies sold in the past covered prescription drugs, no new Medicare Supplement policies are allowed to include prescription drug coverage. If you want prescription drug coverage, you may want to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) offered by private companies approved by Medicare.

When is the Best Time to buy a Medicare Supplement?

The best time to buy a supplement policy is during your open enrollment period. This period lasts for 6 months and begins on the first day of the month in which you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this period, an insurance company can't use medical underwriting. This means it can't refuse to sell you any supplement policy it sells, make you wait for coverage to start, or charge you more for a policy because of your health problems. If you buy a supplement policy when you have a guaranteed issue right, the insurance company can't use a pre-existing condition waiting period at all.

Note: You can send in your application for a Supplement policy before your open enrollment period starts. This may be important if you currently have coverage that will end when you turn age 65. This will allow you to have continuous coverage. It is very important to understand your open enrollment period. During this period you can buy any supplement policy the company sells. If you apply for coverage outside of your open enrollment period, there is no guarantee that an insurance company will sell you a policy. After your open enrollment period ends, insurance companies are allowed to use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application and how much to charge you for the policy.

Comparing Medicare Supplement costs

The cost of supplement policies can vary widely. There can be big differences in the premiums that different insurance companies charge for exactly the same coverage. As you shop for a policy, be sure you are comparing the same type of Supplement policy.

What is Medicare SELECT?

There is another type of supplement policy called Medicare SELECT that is sold in some states, including Texas and Louisiana. Medicare SELECT can be any of the standardized Supplement Plans A through L, however, you must use specific hospitals and, in some cases, specific doctors to get your full insurance benefits (except in an emergency). Medicare SELECT policies generally cost less than other Medicare Supplement policies, however, if you don't use a Medicare SELECT hospital or doctor for non-emergency services, you will have to pay some or all of what Medicare doesn't pay. Medicare will pay its share of approved charges no matter which hospital or doctor you choose.

What is The Best Way to Find the Correct Medicare Supplement? The best way to find the best policy for your particular situation is to consult a professional who specializes in Medicare Supplements.

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California Medical Insurance - How to Find the Best Coverage

Are you a California resident who is currently in need of medical insurance coverage for yourself? If you are, you will need to buy California individual medical insurance coverage, if you are only requesting coverage for yourself. When it comes to getting California individual medical insurance coverage, there are many insurance buyers who spend days or even weeks searching for the perfect plan. While it is advised that you do not purchase medical insurance on a whim or rush to make a decision, getting California individual medical insurance coverage for yourself doesn’t have to be that complicated.

When it comes to getting California individual insurance coverage for yourself, there is a good chance that you don’t want to spend more money than you have to. However, at the same time you also want to make sure that you are supplied with enough medical insurance coverage, right? Great insurance coverage with a great price is what many people, possibly just like you, are looking for. The good news is that you should be able to find exactly what you are looking for. To find out how, you will want to read on.

As you likely already know, the first step in getting a California individual medical insurance plan involves examining all of your options, provider wise. In the state of California, there are a number of insurance providers that offer California individual medical insurance to residents, just like you. One of those companies is Blue Cross Blue Shield of California. For the largest selection of California individual medical insurance plans to choose from, you will want to examine a number of different medical insurance plans, possibly from different companies.

While you might assume that you want to search for California individual medical insurance plans based on price first, you may want to refrain from doing so. To get an accurate price estimate, you will need to request a California individual medical insurance quote. While these quotes can be done over the phone or online, in a matter of minutes, you will want to save your time. First, you will want to examine the California individual medical insurance plan that you are interested in. What does it include coverage wise? For instance, is prescription coverage available? What about the use of a counselor, and so on? Before examining the cost of a California individual medical insurance plan, you will want to make sure that it is one that you can actually use.

Once you have found a California individual medical insurance plan, or even a number of them, that can give you the coverage that you need, you may want to think about requesting an insurance quote. That quote, as previously mentioned, will give you a good idea as to how much you could expect to pay to get medical insurance coverage for yourself. If that price quote is within your price range, you may have found yourself the perfect California individual medical insurance plan.

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Individual Student Health Insurance: Why You Should Choose It

Student health insurance is very important for every post-secondary student to carry. In fact, it is offered by practically every college and university. Most colleges even make carrying health insurance a pre-requisite for enrollment. They sometimes require that their students carry the policy endorsed by the school only. For those students lucky enough to attend a school that allows them to carry the health insurance of their choice, there are many good options available if you take the time to shop around.

 

You might be asking yourself why you should even bother looking for individual student health insurance. Here are the top 3 reasons.

1)      You can save a lot of money by doing so.

2)      It allows you to get a policy that fits your needs and preferences.

3)      You don’t have to pay for coverage you will never use.

 

If you happen to be a very healthy student who does not use healthcare providers on a regular basis, you may find that you can save a significant amount of money by opting for individual student health insurance coverage. School sponsored student health insurance plans are similar to group insurance in that rates are set according to the average needs of the students at the school. Therefore the healthier students help to pay for the ones who are not as healthy. Individual student health insurance is a more affordable medical insurance option because it is based only on your health and history. You can also make adjustments to the individual policy to further reduce the premiums you pay.

 

Individual student health insurance allows you to choose a policy that fits your needs. The college’s plan may be an HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, that restricts the healthcare providers you can see to only ones that belong to the plan. If you have your own physician and it is important to you to be able to see him or her, you may want to opt for a plan to which he or she belongs, or a PPO that allows you the choice of who you want to see.

 

You may also find that school sponsored health insurance plans offer coverage that is too comprehensive for your needs. If you rarely, if ever, get dental care beyond basic preventative care; have no need of vision coverage and almost never take prescription drugs, you do not need to carry these types of coverage. Self-insurance, where you take the risk of not carrying this type of coverage, is a very economical way to go. There are also discount cards and other types of discount plans that are available to help with such costs, should you encounter them.

 

Individual student health insurance plans are easy to find and offer good yet affordable medical insurance. After checking the policies and guidelines of your school in regards to health insurance coverage, take some time to learn about the different types of coverage available and the different plans out there. Make your choice only after carefully comparing a variety of quotes from different insurers who offer student health insurance.

 

Get a free online quote from multiple insurance companies at once by using the quote tool found at our website.

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Health Insurance For Individuals - Having the Wrong Insurance Will Cost You More Than You Think

With the present economic situation we are in, finding an affordable insurance is important. Without the proper coverage, you are in the risk of experiencing financial devastation. A stay in the hospital does not only require you to pay for the treatment, especially if the case is serious.

You have the burden of paying for a long list of different fees and services. If your employer doesn't pay for your health insurance, you yourself have to apply. That is why having the right insurance is necessary and looking for one shouldn't be that difficult.

Be sure to know the type of coverage you would like. It is always good to dig deeper and see some details that might be important to you. For instance, you have to check the amount you pay for seeing a specialist or the number of visits you can have every year. Details like the amount you pay for emergency cases and the percentage the company pays are also important.

Once you know the type of coverage you want, the next step is to look for the best company that would best cater to your needs. For instance, you have to know if the company provides good customer service. You can check such information by searching the internet or you can try to contact their hotline to check. Check if they have a simple claim process. These details might be simple but they are useful, especially during emergencies.

With the help of the internet, searching for insurance coverage becomes easy. That is all you need to get different quotes from the best companies. There are different websites that can provide you such information. Use a website that will allow you to compare rates from different companies. Once you have done so, you are sure to find a coverage at a competitive price.

BestHealthcareRates.com offers instant health insurance quotes allowing visitors to compare all of the top insurance plans side-by-side making is very easy to find the right plan. Representing all types of PPO & HMO insurance plans you will be sure to find the best plan to meet your needs. Compare hmo vs ppo medical insurance plans.

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