| Puzzled by Your Insurance Coverage? Let's OverHall | | | | just one plan? |
| the Pieces!by: Janet L. Hall | | | | 3. Which is the best plan for you? |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | Find out your family's health history to help you |
| (A special note to those of you that live outside of | | | | determine what type of coverageyou should be |
| the United States. It would beimpossible for me to | | | | looking at. |
| try and cover all types of health insurance and | | | | 4. Should you get or be concerned about Long-Term |
| coverage thatis offered around the world. I do hope | | | | Health Care? |
| this article will help guide you as to whatyou should | | | | Depends on your family history and your finances. It |
| be looking for in your area of the world when it | | | | is suggested that youshould start thinking about this |
| comes to healthinsurance.) | | | | type of insurance when you are in your 40's. |
| Health insurance, you either have it or you don't. But | | | | However, the premiums are lower the younger you |
| wait a minute. Even if youhave health insurance you | | | | are. Also, check with youraccountant about this type |
| might not have it, meaning, you might not have | | | | of insurance as the premium cost * could be |
| thecoverage you'll need for your particular illness or | | | | apossible * deduction on your Federal Tax Form. |
| injury. | | | | 5. What about Disability Insurance? |
| If you work for a company, chances are they offer | | | | This is also know as Income Replacement Insurance |
| what I like to call * boiler plateinsurance *. Take it or | | | | if you should becomedisabled (NOT the same as |
| leave it. If you?re self-employed, chances are you | | | | Worker's Compensation if you get injured on the |
| can getthe coverage you want but you also end up | | | | job). |
| paying * big time * for it if you don'tunderstand the | | | | 6. Should I get a Medical IRA? |
| products and options available in the market place. | | | | 7. Are there any Federal Laws concerning Health |
| A friend told me about a female executive she had | | | | Insurance? |
| met who knew nothing abouther family's insurance | | | | Yes! Let me list but two:a. Employers with 25 or |
| coverage because her husband handled all * that *. | | | | more workers are required to offer employees |
| Shewoke him up one night asking him if their | | | | thechance to enroll in an HMO.b. COBRA |
| insurance covered them if they shouldget Alzheimer's. | | | | (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of |
| He tells her, "Yeah, we?re covered, go back to sleep | | | | 1985) requires ifthe business you work for has 20 or |
| and stop worrying." | | | | more employees and you leave your job orare laid |
| But she wasn't so sure if he really knew and thought | | | | off that you can continue to get health coverage for |
| she had better find outexactly what their insurance | | | | at least 18 months. |
| covered. | | | | If you don?t have insurance, find out if you qualify |
| What exactly does your insurance cover? More | | | | for any state or government runplans or do some |
| importantly, what DOESN'T IT | | | | research to find out what type of insurance you |
| COVER? You need to know and understand what | | | | need and canpurchase. |
| your plan covers BEFOREyou need to use your | | | | The best site on the internet I found while |
| insurance. | | | | researching health insurance is by the |
| I don't claim to be an insurance person but I have | | | | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |
| done some research and hereis a sampling of what I | | | | (formerly know as the Agency for |
| have discovered. | | | | Health Care Policy and Research). On their site you |
| You've got PPOs, POSs, HMOs, and COBRA. You've | | | | can find a 14 page article, |
| got Indemnity or Fee-for- | | | | * Checkup on Health Care Insurance Choices * that |
| Service plans and Government run plans such as | | | | includes a checklist and aworksheet for you to use. |
| Medicare, Medigap or | | | | Click on |
| Medicaid. Then there's Disability, Hospital Indemnity, | | | | They also have a very informative article, * Choosing |
| Long-Term Care, and | | | | and Using a Health Plan *at |
| Nursing Home Plans. Let's not forget Dental and | | | | As you can see, there are a lot of pieces to the |
| Vision! | | | | insurance puzzle. Now it's up toyou to take the time, |
| You want and need to have health insurance to | | | | make the time, to find all the pieces you and your |
| protect yourself and loved onesfrom financial disaster | | | | familyneed to complete this * crazy * puzzle! |
| if you or they should fall into an illness or injury! | | | | The Organizing Wizard, Janet L. Hall, is a Professional |
| So I'm writing to urge you to get out your health | | | | Organizer, Speaker, and Author of 'Secrets of a |
| insurance policies and take agood look at them. See if | | | | Professional Organizer and How-To Become One.' |
| your policies need an * OverHall *. Call the provider | | | | She is the owner of |
| ifyou don't understand something or you have a | | | | OverHall Consulting and Organizing By Phone. |
| question. | | | | Subscribe toher FREE organizing newsletter at or |
| Get the family together for an hour or so and talk | | | | visither web site at |
| about the coverage youcurrently have and write | | | | Copyright ( c ) 1999, 2000, 2001 by OverHall |
| down any questions that come up. | | | | Consulting |
| Listed below are several questions and answers I | | | | P.O. Box 263, Port Republic, MD 20676 |
| came up with: | | | | All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to |
| 1. Do you have a choice in the type of plan? | | | | reproduce, copy, or distribute solong as this copyright |
| ASK | | | | notice and full information about contacting the |
| 2. Should both spouses carry their company's plan or | | | | author isattached. |