| Puzzled by Your Insurance Coverage? Let's | | | | |
| OverHall the Pieces!by: Janet L. Hall | | | | 2. Should both spouses carry their company's |
| | | | plan or just one plan? |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | 3. Which is the best plan for you? |
| | | | |
| (A special note to those of you that live | | | | Find out your family's health history to help |
| outside of the United States. It would | | | | you determine what type of coverageyou should |
| beimpossible for me to try and cover all | | | | be looking at. |
| types of health insurance and coverage thatis | | | | |
| offered around the world. I do hope this | | | | 4. Should you get or be concerned about |
| article will help guide you as to whatyou | | | | Long-Term Health Care? |
| should be looking for in your area of the | | | | |
| world when it comes to healthinsurance.) | | | | Depends on your family history and your |
| | | | finances. It is suggested that youshould |
| Health insurance, you either have it or you | | | | start thinking about this type of insurance |
| don't. But wait a minute. Even if youhave | | | | when you are in your 40's. |
| health insurance you might not have it, | | | | |
| meaning, you might not have thecoverage | | | | However, the premiums are lower the younger |
| you'll need for your particular illness or | | | | you are. Also, check with youraccountant |
| injury. | | | | about this type of insurance as the premium |
| | | | cost * could be apossible * deduction on your |
| If you work for a company, chances are they | | | | Federal Tax Form. |
| offer what I like to call * boiler | | | | |
| plateinsurance *. Take it or leave it. If | | | | 5. What about Disability Insurance? |
| you're self-employed, chances are you can | | | | |
| getthe coverage you want but you also end up | | | | This is also know as Income Replacement |
| paying * big time * for it if you | | | | Insurance if you should becomedisabled (NOT |
| don'tunderstand the products and options | | | | the 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 | | | | |
| insurance coverage because her husband | | | | 7. Are there any Federal Laws concerning |
| handled all * that *. Shewoke him up one | | | | Health Insurance? |
| night asking him if their insurance covered | | | | |
| them if they shouldget Alzheimer's. | | | | Yes! Let me list but two:a. Employers with 25 |
| | | | or more workers are required to offer |
| He tells her, "Yeah, we're covered, go back | | | | employees thechance to enroll in an HMO.b. |
| to sleep and stop worrying." | | | | COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget |
| | | | Reconciliation Act of 1985) requires ifthe |
| But she wasn't so sure if he really knew and | | | | business you work for has 20 or more |
| thought she had better find outexactly what | | | | employees and you leave your job orare laid |
| their insurance covered. | | | | off that you can continue to get health |
| | | | coverage for at least 18 months. |
| What exactly does your insurance cover? More | | | | |
| importantly, what DOESN'T IT | | | | If you don't have insurance, find out if you |
| | | | qualify for any state or government runplans |
| COVER? You need to know and understand what | | | | or do some research to find out what type of |
| your plan covers BEFOREyou need to use your | | | | insurance 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 | | | | researching health insurance is by the |
| have done some research and hereis a sampling | | | | |
| of what I have discovered. | | | | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |
| | | | (formerly know as the Agency for |
| You've got PPOs, POSs, HMOs, and COBRA. | | | | |
| You've got Indemnity or Fee-for- | | | | Health Care Policy and Research). On their |
| | | | site you can find a 14 page article, |
| Service plans and Government run plans such | | | | |
| as Medicare, Medigap or | | | | * Checkup on Health Care Insurance Choices * |
| | | | that includes a checklist and aworksheet for |
| Medicaid. Then there's Disability, Hospital | | | | you to use. Click on |
| Indemnity, Long-Term Care, and | | | | |
| | | | They also have a very informative article, * |
| Nursing Home Plans. Let's not forget Dental | | | | Choosing and Using a Health Plan *at |
| and Vision! | | | | |
| | | | As you can see, there are a lot of pieces to |
| You want and need to have health insurance to | | | | the insurance puzzle. Now it's up toyou to |
| protect yourself and loved onesfrom financial | | | | take the time, make the time, to find all the |
| disaster if you or they should fall into an | | | | pieces you and your familyneed to complete |
| illness or injury! | | | | this * crazy * puzzle! |
| | | | |
| So I'm writing to urge you to get out your | | | | The Organizing Wizard, Janet L. Hall, is a |
| health insurance policies and take agood look | | | | Professional |
| at them. See if your policies need an * | | | | |
| OverHall *. Call the provider ifyou don't | | | | Organizer, Speaker, and Author of 'Secrets of |
| understand something or you have a question. | | | | a Professional Organizer and How-To Become |
| | | | One.' She is the owner of |
| Get the family together for an hour or so and | | | | |
| talk about the coverage youcurrently have and | | | | OverHall Consulting and Organizing By Phone. |
| write down any questions that come up. | | | | Subscribe toher FREE organizing newsletter at |
| | | | or visither web site at |
| Listed below are several questions and | | | | |
| answers I came up with: | | | | Copyright ( c ) 1999, 2000, 2001 by OverHall |
| | | | Consulting |
| 1. Do you have a choice in the type of plan? | | | | |
| | | | P.O. |
| ASK | | | | |