Archive for the ‘Health Savings Accounts’ Category

A Health Insurance Dilemma

Posted on: March 13th, 2006 by Bill No Comments

A Health Insurance Dilemma

Brief:

This is another example of how Health Savings Acounts – HSA’s can drastically lower the cost of health care coverage.

The article also offers helpful tips on how to encourage employees to participate.

You can read the full article here.

Aetna Health Insurance

Posted on: May 27th, 2009 by Bill

Aetna continues to be one of the leading health insurance carriers for Florida small group and individual markets. Aetna health insurance plans offer a great balance between premium, coverage, and underwriting.

Starting in July of 2009 there are brand new Aetna small group insurance plans at very reasonable prices.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Posted on: May 27th, 2009 by Bill

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Florida’s top carrier offers several types of plans to fit your needs. Although some may be too expensive they have several very affordable plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield HSA’s – Health Savings Accounts have some of the lowest rates I have seen for Florida health insurance plans.

Cut Your Health Care Costs Now

Posted on: March 8th, 2006 by Bill No Comments

Cut Your Health Care Costs Now

Brief:

This is one of those articles that you need to read!

Nine ways to lower health insurance premiums.

  1. Shop Around for Health Insurance- even in good years
  2. Consider Health Savings Accounts
  3. Find a broker (like me) who works FOR YOU
  4. Tweak the finer points of your health insurance plan – consider higher deductibles
  5. Careful who you are covering
  6. Be your own insurer – get a high deductible plan
  7. Jump in the pool
  8. Outsource it
  9. GET HEALTHY

You can read the full article here.

Do-It-Yourself Insurance

Posted on: March 3rd, 2006 by Bill No Comments

Do-It-Yourself Insurance

Brief:

Health insurance premiums are rising steadily, and as they do more employers are finding the increased cost prohibited. This article uses the PGA as an example.

Their dilemma was how to provide the caddies with health insurance. Adding them to the group plan would have created an administrative nightmare, and would cost and estimated $1.4 million a year.

The solution was to give each caddy a predetermined amount of cash and let them buy their health care coverage from a health insurance company offering individual health insurance policies.

Pros:

  • Individual health insurance costs less than group sponsored health insurance. On average individual health insurance costs is about half the price of an emloyer sponsored group plan.

Con:

  • Individual health insurance companies can medically underwrite. This means that they can decline people in poor health. Employees with pre-existing conditions may be unable to get health insurance.

    You can read the full article here.

GAO: High-deductible insurance on rise

Posted on: June 8th, 2006 by Bill No Comments

Health Savings Accounts are becoming more popular as people try to lower their medical insurance premiums.

According to the government accountability office the number of people opting for high deductible health plans increased from 3 million in January 2005 to more than 6 million in January 2006.

High deductible medical insurance plans offer significantly lower healthcare premiums and when coupled with a Health Savings Account offer the consumer additional tax deductions. The increased popularity of Health Savings Accounts can be attributed the rising cost of healthcare coverage.

The trick to finding the best health insurance policy is to find the balance between your risk exposure and your monthly premium. Don’t be afraid of a high deductible medical insurance plan. If you want cheap health insurance, health savings accounts are the way to go.

This is especially true if you are looking for medical insurance in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, where medical insurance premiums tend to higher than the rest of Florida.

You can read the full BusinessWeek article here: GAO: High-deductible insurance on rise

Health Savings Accounts Cut Costs

Posted on: January 10th, 2006 by Bill No Comments

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Health savings accounts cut costs

Brief:

“It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Health Savings Accounts and I recommend them to just about everybody I talk to.”

Now that HSA’s have been available for a while they are starting to gain in popularity. This article provides some key statistics demonstrating this.

  • Insurance Giants like Humana, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare have entered the market.
  • HSA customers have accumulated over $141 million in their Health Savings Accounts. This money used to go to the insurance companies or just got lost in the health care system.
  • 45 million Americans don’t have health insurance.
  • People insured by traditional insurance plans (HMO’s, PPO’s, and POS plans) pay an average of $200 more per month in health insurance premium.

Comments:

The hardest part of getting an HSA is understanding how it can help you. You have to give it chance and be patient. If you have a good agent ask questions.

Insurance Plan Shows Potential

Posted on: January 26th, 2006 by Bill No Comments

Insurance Plan Shows Potential – Tallahassee Democrat

Brief:

Florida State employees can now get Health Savings Accounts. The important thing is that the HSA’s have premium savings of about $400 per year for an individual, and about $1,330 per year for families. PLUS the state is also contributing to the employees HSA, $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families. PLUS-PLUS The employee gets to keep the HSA money when they leave.

What a deal! If you are an individual you get health insurance that is $400 a year less AND you get $500 for nothing. Families save $1,330 on premiums and get $1,000 for nothing. So state employees now have an extra $900 – $2,330 in their bank accounts if they get a health savings account in Florida.

OK so here is the bad news only 1% of the employees (844 employees) opted for this plan (one of them is Gov. Busch). I can’t believe that so few have taken advantage of this.

If anyone reading this is a State employee please contact me so I can explain this to you. HSA’s are great for everybody, but in this case it is even better because the state covers a good portion of the cost for the employee.

Top 10 Issues for the Health Care Industry in 2006

Posted on: January 21st, 2006 by Bill No Comments

PricewaterhouseCoopers Forecasts Top 10 Issues for the Health Care Industry in 2006

Brief:

PricewaterhouseCoopers released a report high lighting the Top Ten Issues the health care industry is facing.

  1. Medicare Drug Plan (also known as Medicare Part D) – will put negative pricing pressure on the pharmaceutical industry.
  2. Uninsured (over 45 million Americans) – Hospitals and other providers are seeing the “bad-debt” levels rise.
  3. The Rise of the Health Care Consumer – $10 co-pays are OUT, (plans are too expensive when you have to pay for your own insurance), High deductible health plans and HSA’s are IN. This causes the consumer to be more conscious of their medical spending.
  4. Wellness is IN, Fatness is OUT – consumers with poor health are paying more for their health insurance, if they can get it.
  5. Patient Safety – investments in IT will help reduce errors and improve tracking and reporting.
  6. Diminishing Drug Pipeline – pharmaceutical profit margins are slipping.
  7. Pay for Performance – increased emphasis on reimbursement being tied to performance.
  8. Report Card Fever – increasing demand for transparency in health care.
  9. Technology Backbone – Slow adoption of technology causes many issues in the health care industry.
  10. Labor Shortages – increases in automation, outsourcing, subsidized training, aggressive recruitment and retention.

_Healthcare Reform

Posted on: August 4th, 2009 by Bill


This video on Healthcare Reform is definitely worth watching.

It might take a couple of minutes to load. You can also follow this link http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1199148604