Negotiated rate means Discounts!
Laboratory Charge Example
On a recent annual check-up office visit, the Doctor ordered several blood tests. Doctor's don't keep track of "participtating" providers, that's your job as a consumer. Member's of Anthem Blue Cross of California have exclusive use of their website which gives you an up to date list of participating providrs. Participating providers are the ones who offer discounts to members.
Comp. Metabolic Panel (14) 51.00
Lipid Panel 99.00
Hemoglobin A1c 78.00
Prostate-Specific 114.00
Venipunctures 30.00
Total 372.00
Membership discount 306.32
Total due LabCorp by patient, $65.68. That's a huge discount and one you receive when you become a member of Anthem Blue Cross.
Contact us today. We can help you become a Blue Cross member at
GreenInsuranceServices.com and we'll show you other benefits like: 24hour nurse line, discounts at Gyms, optiocians, and other medical service providers.
Maybe you don't have a choice
At
GreenInsuranceServices.com, everyday we speak with people about choosing the best health insurance plan for themselves, their family or their business. Budget vs. monthly premium is where we like to begin. What can you afford?
Underinsured
Many of us in California have had to make financial choices based on a new economic climate. The highest deductible health insurance plans are the cheapest, but can you afford the out 0f pocket cost if you face a serious medical event?
The cost of health care is out of sight. Today's
New York Times has an article about the varying cost of health care and how it's impossible to shop for health care services because costs of procedures are not available.
The number one reason for bankruptcy nationally is having to pay for medical bills.
Our services are free. We're happy to discuss with you, based on your personal needs, what the best choice of health insurance would be based on your financial circumstances. You can email us at greeninsuranceservices@gmail.com or call 888-475-3131. We can help you choose a plan if you're new to the market or help change your coverage to find more affordable health insurance in California.
What to compare when buying health insurance in California
At
GreenInsuranceServices.com we point out to people shopping for a health insurance policy, one of the most important numbers to compare is the "annual out-of-pocket maximum". A nice feature of our website is your ability to compare plans side by side, benefit by benefit.
Deductible, premium, maximum annual out-of-pocket
Wether you're comparing an HMO plans PPO or HSA the above numbers are the most important in terms of getting the best plan for your montly premium.
Anthem Blue Cross or Blue Shield of Calif., which is best?
Many people we work with don't know Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California are two entirely seperate companies. When you're comparing coverage you'll note both companies have similar plans. Your job is to decide, based on premium and benefits, which companies plan would best suit your health insurance needs and monthly budget.
Applying online
Once you've made your choice, the online application process for both companies is easy. It's important to have the details of your medical history at hand when completing the application. This will save you time and make issuing the policy quicker.
Take Action
We're surprised every day that people don't take the time to compare their coverage and select a less expensive plan. How much would you have to save each month before you take twenty minutes to compare coverage and save?
Medicare Supplements fill the gaps
So Baby Boomers turning 65 are told they need Medicare Supplement insurance to fill the gaps Medicare does not pay. What are those gaps?
They mostly have to do with out-of-pocket expenses in you are hospitalized. Here's an example:
Under Medicare Plan C, if you are hospitalized Medicare will pay for all but $1,132 for the first 60 days. You Medicare Supplement policy will pay the $1,132. If you are in the hospital past 60 days Medicare pays all but $586 per day. You Medicare Supplement policy would pay the $586 per day.
Skilled Nursing Facility
You must have been in the hospital for at least 3 days and enter a Skilled Nursing Facility within 30 days after leaving the hospital. From the 21st. to 100th day Medicar pays for all but $141.50 per day. The Medicare Supplement pays that $141.50 per day charge.
If your turning 65 this year let us know. We'll get a Medicare packet out to you right away and we're always ready to answer any questions you have about signing up for the best Medicare Supplement.
Baby Boomers turning 65
It's reported 8,000 baby boomers, born in 1965, are turning 65 this year. Now's the time to sign up for Medicare and purchase a Medicare Supplement insurance policy.
Medicare has gaps in coverage
You'll discover that Medicare does not cover all medical charges you might face. That's why you need to supplement your Medicare with a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan.
Medicare.gov is an excellent sight that will walk you through the process of signing up for Medicare. They suggest you start the process, apply, six months before you turn age 65. You also need to sign up for Medicare Part D. That's the Medicare drug benefit. If you delay signing up for this benefit you will be penalized and will be required to pay additional premium each month you delay applying for this coverage.
Our job at
GreenInsuranceServices.com is to help you with the process and suggest the best Medicare Supplement Insurance for your area and needs.
Contact us and we'll send you a complete packet that spells out what Medicare pays for and what your Medicare Supplement will fill in the gaps.
You need to take action
It's important to sign up for Medicare near your birthday. For a short period you're guarnteed coverage no matter what your health history has been with few exceptions.
This whole process may be confusing. Most government things tend to be confusing. Most people we've worked with a confused about Medicare Part D and the doughnut hole. You can contact us at greeninsuranceservices@gmail.com or go to our sight.
Happy birthday boomers, you've made it this far.
Small Business Health Insurance
Yesterday I met with the owners of a boutique that sells prosthetics to cancer patients. There are two owners who are currently the only employees and they need a health insurance plan for themselves. They requested quotes for Blue Shield of California.
At GreenInsuranceServices.com we've helped many small business owners obtain health and dental insurance plans along with other employee benefits like disability income coverage as well.
Last year Blue Shield simplified their small group health insurance plans that makes the process somewhat easier.
For this group we initially started out with 24 options. By first comparing costs, we quickly eliminated the HMO options. HMO's, over the past few years has gone from being the least expensive choice for coverage to becoming the most expensive choice. That left us with about 20 PPO options. We then explored high deductible plans that are compatible with HSA's. This did not seem to be the most cost effective choice for this group. Sometimes, with larger groups the HSA option can be the best choice but not in this case.
Expense Vs. Benefits
Our approach to any health insurance plan is to get the most bang out of your health insurance buck. They appear to have chosen one of the middle priced PPO options. I left them with the proposals and all paper work that is needed to complete the businesses application for coverage.
Call to Action
If you have a small business or are reviewing your health insurance plan, we offer a free service to help you compare coverage and make a wise choice in today's health insurance market place. Call or send an email to get the process started.
Declination
Last week John applied for a Blue Shield Health insurance plan through our site, www.GreenInsuranceServices.com He applied online which is a simple process. Our job, a lot of the time, is to answer people's questions about medical histories and if they could get a health insurance policy. John didn't contact us but we get an email when someone applies for coverage through out site. We get basic information about the applicant. John said he is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 285lbs. Had John contacted us we would have advised he not apply for coverage because his height and weight are beyond underwriting guidlines. Yes, insurance companies "underwrite" the appliactions and decline coverage for people who they know will have above average health problems. Based on this guys build, he is a candidate for problems that accompany obesity.
Options
John has the right to contact Blue Shield and appeal the decision if he thinks the decision was made in error. Every applicant has the right to appeal a declination if they have good reason. The new proposed federal health insurance legislation will deny the insurer to right to decline coverage if it ever goes into effect.
If John goes to work for a business in California that offers employees health insurance he will get covered. Group insurance in California can not deny coverage based on medical history or build.
If John has his own business, has an employee or employees, he could apply for Group Insurance coverage and he, again, would be covered. The business has to be a real business and most insurers require the business must be active for at least 6 months. Insurers will typically ask for tax records to show proof of legitamcey of the business.
Our job is to help you get insured. Let us know if you have questions about the process.
Renewing your group health insurance?
I was reviewing a clients health insurance renewal with
Health Net. This is a small group, two employees in a high tech company. They currently have one of the best HMO plans that costs over fifteen hundred per month. Ouch. That's a lot of premium for two employees but the are 47 and 50.
We ordered proposals from Blue Shield of California small group. Our job at
GreenInsuranceServices.com is to offer suggestions to help reduce their health insurance costs along with other employee benefits.
Consider an HSA option
HSA's are high deductible plans. The insurer pays nothing until the deductible is met, then they pay 100%. This can be a gamble but, by doing the math a plan switch makes sense. The HSA premium is over half less than the HMO premium. The company can save over $700 per month by switching to the HSA coverage. That's an annual savings of over eight thousand dollars. The maximum potential loss is $9,000. If both employees maxed out their medical expenses in the year, very unlikely, they would almost be even. The concept is to stay healthy and keep those dollars in the employer's pocket instead of giving the money to an insurance company. If you don't have medical expenses in the year the insurer wins and you lose.
HSA plans can save your company lots of money
If your health insurance is renewing, contact us and we'll provide you with alternatives, for free, and discuss the positives and negatives of switching coverage.
Dental Crisis
The Sonoma County Press Democrat featured an editorial today discussing the dental crisis we face for our children in the community.
You might think obesity is the number one risk for kids but it isn't. Tooth decay is number one. Many people don't have dental insurance and many employers have stopped offering dental insurance to employees and their families.
In these tough economic times I know a lot of friends who simply can not afford to go to the dentist. Last week I had my teeth cleaned. The bill was $159. Does that seem like a lot to charge to you? It does me.
It seems to me, over the past five or ten years dental charges have really gone up and certainly out paced inflation.
There is a state program for poor families to get some dental costs paid by the State but very few dentists accept the payments. I don't blame the dentists for not participating in the State program because they lose money on each patient.
The number of days kids have missed school because of dental issues is amazing. The schools lose millions of dollars each year because of those missed days.
I don't have a solution to this problem but the Press Democrat says it will offer suggestions in future articles.
At GreenInsuranceServices.com we offer dental insurance plans for individuals, families and small businesses. We would be happy to send you information or get free dental insurance quotes. Contact us online or by phone and we'll get the information to you right away.
Generic vs. Name brand drugs
Pharmacuetical sales people spend their time talking to doctors about the latest drugs available. Then doctors start prescribing the new, name brand, expensive drug. Are the new drugs really a better choice?
NPR had a radio show last week that illustrated how these new drugs add to the overall cost of health insurance in California and across the country.
Their example was a young man who was taking two drugs of a chronic condition. The doctor suggested he try a new pill that combined both medications. She did not mention that the new drug was ten times more expenisive than taking the drugs seperately. Her rationale was that the patient was more likely to take his medication if it were only one pill instead of two. He still pays a co-pay but the additional expense is passed on to us, the consumer, by higher health insurance premiums.
The same scene is repeated daily with people who take Lipitor. Generics are now available for Lipitor yet many consumers continue taking Lipitor rather than switching to a lower cost generic because of advertising and doctors suggestions. Do doctors get kick backs from pharmacuetical companies. Yes they do.
We're always looking for ideas to reduce health care costs and health insurance costs at GreenInsuranceServices.com Send us your suggestions and questions.