Published: Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Now that we’re about to start a new year, it’s a strong possibility that we’ll see some changes in the health insurance industry. What is a certainty is that the industry is poised for a shakeup of epic proportions; it’s just a matter of working out the kinks. Whether it will transpire this year, with all the challenges, will be interesting to say the least. With all the proposed changes to our healthcare system, it’s important to understand what is not likely to change. It also allows us to start fresh, with an understanding of basic insurance terminology.
Published: Wednesday, 24 December 2008
New year’s is a time when people can begin anew. Mistakes or missed opportunities can be left on the side of the road. The new year brings a sense of hope and renewal. A time when the slate is wiped clean and the future is bright. While the past may be written in stone, the future hasn’t happened yet and as such, gives us a chance to make it better than the past. Some people have made a career out of trying to predict what we can expect for the upcoming year. Some predictions, like alien first-contact, simply make us chuckle. Others, like stock market turnarounds are hopeful
Published: Wednesday, 17 December 2008
With healthcare access and affordability on the top of everyone’s agenda, we’re heading for a crisis that hasn’t been touched upon in either the presidential campaigns or legislatively. It’s something I have told my clients for years: The best health plan in the world is useless if you aren’t able to see a physician when you need one. With payments to primary doctors being slashed, many doctors have to see as many patients as possible just to continue practicing. Because of this and other pressures, doctors are increasingly moving away from insurance networks
Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2008
The holidays are upon us! I had always wondered about what they call “Black Friday”—that Friday after Thanksgiving that is the biggest shopping day of the year—and decided to venture out to see what all the fuss was about. Suffice to say, I was mesmerized by the electric feeling in the air and was able to get some great bargains in the process. For many of us, the frantic shopping, wrapping, planning parties, sending cards, etc., can leave us feeling frazzled. When we finally can relax, the warmth and joy during this time usually leaves us with a feeling that
Published: Wednesday, 3 December 2008
How I loved the holidays as a child. The chance to see family and friends, the wonderful aromas of turkey, ham (and of course cookies!) wafting through the air. And let’s not forget presents! Most Americans typically overindulge at the dinner table this time of year with the "resolution" to start fresh once the New Year starts. Physical fitness and diet aren’t the only things that we may be starting anew after December 31st. With 2008 running out fast now may be a time to take a look at what else might be running out—your health plan.
Published: Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Now that the presidential election, with all its advertisements, rhetoric, and debates is finally over, it’s time for us to put away our election signs, party hats, and hopefully our differences. It’s time for our elected officials to get to the business at hand. Affordable and accessible healthcare was definitely on the "short-list" of priorities this election and figures to be one of the hardest (some say, impossible) tasks to accomplish. There is hope that this time, unlike any other time in history, that anything can be accomplished. This election itself would
Published: Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Hard times mean hard choices. Whenever the economy has a downturn, people inevitably start looking for ways to save their money. Health insurance is no different. As with anything, there are right ways to go about it and wrong ways. The term, “penny wise and pound foolish” certainly applies. You get what you pay for. Let’s look at some ways you can maximize your savings and minimize your exposure.
Different stages of life and different family situations require different solutions.
Published: Wednesday, 12 November 2008
It’s a fact. People are living longer. At the turn of the twentieth century, mortality was very high for disease. With the advent of medical technology, even a heart attack doesn’t spell certain death in this century. Those that practice a healthy lifestyle have been shown to live even longer. So while the good news is we are living longer due to advances in medicine, nutrition and living conditions, the bad news is that the older we get, the more likely we will need some sort of long-term care and we may not be able to pay for it.
Published: Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Consumer confidence in our major financial institutions are at an all-time low. With so many insurance companies on shaky ground, now is a good time to take a look at ways to assess your insurance company’s overall strength.
Published: Wednesday, 29 October 2008
I like old TV programs. One of my favorites was the Six Million Dollar Man. He was kind of a realistic “superman” who put things right. You may remember the “We can rebuild him. We have the technology,” phrase at the beginning of the episodes. With the current state of affairs in our country we sure could use a “superman” to clean things up. With the election around the corner, I attempt to make sense of the one area in this election I feel I’m qualified to comment about—Health Insurance Reform.