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