why life insurance is important to us - Insurance

Everyone will agree that an appropriate life insurance plan is essential so that you can rest assured that the financial needs of your dependents will be taken care if something unforeseen happens to you. There are several important and compelling reasons why you should acquire a life insurance.

Once you have the right type of life insurance, you can feel confident that there will be adequate money for your heirs and dependents to lead an honorable life. Besides, you may have a loan liability, a car payment or mortgage that needs to be settled if you suddenly pass away.

If you suddenly fall seriously ill and run up huge medical bills or there is the urgent need to meet the funeral costs, your survivors need not feel helpless and suffer from paucity of funds. It is a grim fact that many families get into serious debts when the lone breadwinner suddenly passes away. If you have a life insurance policy with adequate cover, you can feel supremely confident that your dependents will not turn destitute in the event of your death.

Life insurance policies are important for a variety of reasons including debt repayment, income replacement, estate planning etc. Without a life insurance policy, your death could spell financial disaster for your heirs and can irreparably damage their financial future.

If you are a working spouse, chances are your family relies on your income for livelihood. A life insurance policy can help to replace that income at least for a short period till the family is able to explore alternate means of income. A life insurance policy can help them pay off whatever debts you leave behind. It is unfair that you should saddle your spouse or children with any unsettled debt burden.

If you have school-going or college-going kids, a life insurance policy can provide funds to pay the tuition fees and their educational pursuits will not be affected. If you happen to own a large estate to bequeath to your heirs, then there will be estate taxes to pay. A life insurance policy will come in handy to settle the liability and prevent liquidation of your assets.

Do not imagine that life insurance will only be payable to the beneficiaries after your death. Life insurance policies can also have a savings or pension component which can become a source of income for you post retirement – if you happen to live long enough.

Many people may not be aware that the right time to buy life insurance policy is when you are young, healthy, physically fit and free from ailments. The premium payable will be a small amount and you will be required to pay the same premium until the age of 65. This will mean tremendous savings and therefore the golden rule is the earlier you buy life insurance, the wiser you are.

is it better to buy insurance or save money - Insurance

Many people, when looking for health insurance quotes or other types of insurance premium pricing information, begin to feel like they would be better off just saving their money rather than sending it to an insurance company to make a premium payment. They often feel this way because they think that the likelihood that they will actually use the insurance that they are paying for is low, so they will spend all this money on premiums and then have nothing to show for it, which leads many individuals to decide that it would be better save their money and put it into an interest-bearing account and forgo the insurance policy.

Savings vs. Insurance

An insurance policy pays for large expenses - things it would likely take you years to save enough money to pay for on your own. And these expenses aren't just big in terms of cost, they are important. For instance, staying with the example of health insurance - let's say you need knee surgery. If you haven't saved enough money (tens of thousands of dollars) to pay for this and you don't have insurance, then you need to wait until you have the money in your account before you can get it done. That means you will have impaired mobility for years until you have enough to pay for the surgery. If you have insurance, however, you can get the surgery post haste. You can also get treatment for emergency medical needs and not have to leave the hospital wondering how you are going to pay for it.

Making Insurance Affordable

The real issue here is making sure that you can afford the insurance premiums you are paying. Avoiding insurance and trying to save the premium dollars will probably leave you high and dry when you actually need the money. But creating an insurance premium that you can actually afford to pay - and don't resent doing so - will be a better plan. Here are a few tips to help you do so:

1. Look for discounts: Whether they come from bundling several insurance policies through one insurer, from taking the necessary steps to be a low-risk customer, or from paying your entire bill annually, take advantage of all the discounts you can. They add up!

2. Get only the insurance coverage you NEED: No matter what type of insurance you're looking at, get only the amount you actually need to cover that individual risk. Being over-insured doesn't provide you with any extra protection. Insurance is meant to make you whole, so the insurance company isn't going to give you an extra payment if the value of what you are insuring wasn't worth that much (the exception here being life insurance, which pays out your death benefit in full).

3. Continually review your policies: Your lifestyle and situation can change continuously and when it does, so too should your insurance. Every year before you renew, make sure there isn't anything frivolous that you are paying for and no longer need and adjust anything else that could have a bearing on your premium.

If you plan it well and stay aware of discount opportunities, you will maximize your insurance premium dollars without sacrificing the coverage you need.

how to pull your insurance rates down - Insurance

When it comes to car insurance costs it's evident that most drivers are eager to learn about how to lower them. Sure, having the right amount of insurance is also very important, but when you're tight on cash and every dollar counts you might as well want to cut your costs this way. Moreover, a lot of drivers feel like they are forced to buy car insurance in the first place and want to keep these mandatory expenses to minimum. Sure, when you're obliged by law to buy something you start thinking how to get rid of it or at least make it less expensive. Some car owners choose to cross the line and drop car insurance altogether risking their driving license, vehicle and even freedom, depending on the state they are caught in. Sure, that's not the smartest thing to do if you don't want to have problems, moreover there are quite effective ways of lowering car insurance quotes without breaking the law. If you apply them correctly you may save quite a lot of money on auto insurance while still having the necessary coverage for your car. So here are some of the most effective ways to get competitive car insurance quotes:

Drive an insurance-friendly car

By insurance-friendly we mean a car that has all the necessary safety features, is not too fast and powerful, has good safety scores, low theft rates and is inexpensive to repair. Think of a mid-sized family car or sedan to get a general picture of such a vehicle. So if you're looking for low car insurance quotes for a luxury car or sports vehicle, you'll have a very hard time finding them (although, nothing is impossible).

Get all the discounts you can

Most insurance providers offer a wide range of discounts for different groups of drivers in order to encourage their low-risk status. For example, if you drive a low number of miles each year, then you may opt for low mileage discount. Drivers with good records and those who went to safety driving courses can also get lower premiums. Even buying different types of insurance products from the same insurer can give you lower car insurance quotes. So make sure to learn what discounts you may opt for before quoting.

Shop around before making a purchase

This is a very good tip for most types of purchases. Just like you shop around different dealers to get the best price on the car you want the same mechanism applies when it comes to car insurance quotes. Before making any purchase you should get as many car insurance quotes from different providers as you can and take some time to compare them. Each provider uses different algorithms for calculating their quotes and rates and you won't find two identical quotes for the same car among the provider you'll quote with. This means that if you get a fairly high car insurance quote with one provider chances are high that another provider will give you a more competitive quote. So when you're looking for car insurance quotes make sure to check all the available providers before coming to the final decision and making the purchase.

The role of life insurance in long-term planning for your special needs child - Insurance

 The parents of special needs children face many difficult challenges. In addition to being caregivers, parents of special needs children are often faced with the overwhelming task of providing for children after they've passed away. Although state and federal government programs can provide income and medical care throughout their lives, those benefits can be refused if parents or other loved ones unsuspectingly bequeath as little as $2,000 to special needs individuals.
An inheritance, which is intended to provide such basic necessities as eyeglasses, transportation or insurance, received without proper safeguards can wind up costing your special needs child crucial government services, such a Supplement Security Income (SSI), Medicaid or affordable housing. The answer for many families is to set up a special needs trust which, if properly structured, provides a financial safety net for children when parents are no long around to provide care.
What is a special needs trust?
A special needs trust is an estate planning tool that owns assets, including proceeds from a life insurance policy, for the benefit of an individual who is disabled or has other special needs--without jeopardizing government benefits. Unlike other types of trusts, a special needs trust is not considered an available asset to the beneficiary and therefore does not qualify as income under the rules that apply to SSI and Medicaid. A trustee is appointed to manage the assets, including the allocation of investments and the disbursement of funds.

 According to the Academy of Special Needs Planners, there are three main types of special needs trusts:

1. First-party trust: A first-party trust holds assets, such as an inheritance, for an individual with special needs. This type of trust allows the special needs individual to continue to receive SSI benefits. However, when the special needs individual passes away, any assets remaining in the trust are used to repay the government for the cost of medical care.
2. Third-party trust: This special needs trust can be funded by parents or other family members who want to help the special needs individual. The trust can contain all manner of assets, from homes to stocks, and the assets can be used to supplement government benefits. Rather than going to reimburse the government for the cost of medical care, when the special needs beneficiary passes away, the remaining proceeds of a third-party special needs trust can be passed on to other family members or a charity.
3. Pooled trust: Rather than serving one individual, a pooled trust contains assets for many beneficiaries with special needs. This type of trust is established by a charity and the assets are invested, while maintaining separate accounts for each beneficiary. When a beneficiary passes away, a portion of that person's trust goes to the nonprofit organization that manages the trust and the remainder reimburses the government for medical care.

Using life insurance to fund a trust
One of the best ways for you to fund a special needs trust is through life insurance. For parents of special needs children, life insurance proceeds can quickly fund a special needs trust. What's more, many types of life insurance--from term life to whole life or survivorship life--can be used. However, the type of life insurance you choose to fund a special needs trust depends on your needs and goals.

• Term life insurance: These policies provide insurance coverage for a set number of years; typically, from one to 30 years. Although term life is typically the most affordable life insurance policy available, a policyholder can outlive the policy term and leave a special needs trust without the needed proceeds. If you decide to purchase term life insurance to fund a special needs trust, you may consider buying convertible term insurance--this type of term policy allows policyholders to convert the term policy into a whole life policy sometime down the road.
• Permanent life insurance: A permanent life insurance policy (including whole life, universal life and variable life) provides insurance coverage for your entire lifetime. Lifetime coverage can be beneficial because the policy death benefit can fund the special needs trust no matter when the parent dies. Permanent life insurance policies provide both a death benefit and an investment feature called cash value.
• Survivorship life insurance: Also called second-to-die insurance, this type of life insurance policy insures the lives of two people and provides the death benefit after the death of the second insured person. Survivorship life insurance may be the optimal insurance vehicle to fund a special needs trust because policy premiums are relatively inexpensive, the funds become available after the second insured person dies (when funds may be needed most), underwriting is less strict because two lives are insured (rather than just one) and policies are available as either whole life or universal life.

 How funds from a special needs trust are used
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a trustee can use funds from a special needs trust to supplement government assistance, including authorizing the disbursement of funds for the following expenditures:

• Transportation, including a vehicle purchase
• Training programs
• Rehabilitation
• Insurance, including premium payments
• Trips and vacations
• Computer equipment
• Companion services and home health aides
• Athletic competitions and training
• Supplemental medical or dental care

According to HHS, using life insurance to fund your special needs trust can be beneficial because benefits are typically paid out without outside of probate court and without income tax deductions.
Although government benefits for your special needs child are awarded based on your family's income, after the child turns 18 the benefits are awarded based on your child's assets. But the Academy of Special Needs Planners advises parents to create a trust before children reach the age of 18. Setting up a trust now protects your child in the event of your unexpected death. It also allows other relatives to fund the trust with gifts from their own estates.

What is the difference between the life insurance death benefit and the face amount? - Insurance

 The death benefit is the amount paid to life insurance beneficiaries, whereas the face amount is the death benefit stated on the life insurance policy.
With a term life insurance policy the death benefit and the face amount is nearly always the same. The amounts could be different if there are additional benefits payable under an accidental death and dismemberment rider or other special provisions.

 With a permanent life insurance policy, such as whole life insurance, the death benefit could be less than the face amount if loans or withdrawls were taken against the cash value (the investment portion of permanent life insurance policies) and not repaid. In such a case, the outstanding loan is subtracted from the death benefit. For example, if the face value of a whole life insurance policy is $200,000 and there is an outstanding loan against cash value of $10,000, the death benefit would be $190,000.

What is AD&D? - Insurance

AD&D stands for accidental death and dismemberment. This insurance coverage can be added as a rider, an attachment to an insurance policy that alters a policy's terms or coverage, to a primary life insurance policy. AD&D can also be purchased as a standalone policy with clearly defined payout tables.
AD&D pays a benefit in the event of the loss of life or limb(s) in an accident. In the case of an AD&D rider, the benefit may provide two times, or in some cases three times, the face amount of the policy for specified types of accidents. According to the New York State Insurance Department, the accidental death must occur before a specified age, such as age 65, and deaths caused by illness are excluded.

What is an Annuity? - Insurance

An annuity is a tax-deferred insurance product that can provide income for a set amount of time--either a certain number of years or for a lifetime.
Annuities can be deferred or immediate. An immediate annuity allows investors to receive income payments immediately, but disbursement must begin within 12 months of the original issue date. Deferred annuities, on the other hand, allow investors to grow assets tax-deferred, and can be converted to income payments at a later date.

What is Cash Value? - Insurance

Cash value is the savings portion of your permanent life insurance policy. Provided that premiums have been paid as scheduled, cash value is funded through premium payments and interest. Cash value can be accessed by a policyholder through a loan or through withdrawal (as cash surrender value). Loans taken against cash value are deducted from the death benefit, the insurance benefit received by beneficiaries, and withdrawals are subject to surrender charges.

What is a Claimant? - Insurance

 A claimant is the person making a claim for payment from an insurance company. For dismemberment claims on an accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) policy, it may be the insured person who makes the claim. Otherwise, the claimant is usually the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

What is a Contestability Clause? - Insurance

A contestability clause is language within a life insurance policy that allows an insurance company to review the medical records of a deceased policyholder, within the first two years the policy is in-force, for evidence that the application contained a material misrepresentation. However, more commonly, life insurance policies have non-contestability clauses that limit a company's ability to contest a claim after a certain number of years.

What is convertible term insurance? - Insurance

Convertible term insurance is a policy that contains a provision allowing it to be converted to permanent life insurance at a later date. Because term insurance is often the cheapest life insurance available, many individuals start with a term insurance policy. However, once a term life insurance policy expires, purchasing a new life insurance may prove to be significantly more expensive because you have aged, and as a result your risk has increased, and if you have any had any health complications you may experience difficulty finding a new policy.

Permanent life insurance, such as a whole life policy, provide lifetime coverage so long as you pay the premiums. Convertible term insurance allows individuals to begin with a term life insurance policy and later convert to a permanent life insurance policy.

What is a life insurance death benefit? - Insurance

The life insurance death benefit is the amount of money paid to a designated life insurance beneficiary when the insured person dies.
For a term life insurance policy, the death benefit is almost always the same as the face amount. With a permanent life insurance policy, such as whole life insurance, the death benefit is the face value less any loans taken against the cash value.

What is a life insurance dividend? - Insurance

 A dividend is money paid, usually annually, by a life insurance company to the policyholder of a "participating" life insurance policy. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, life insurance policies that issue dividends allow you, the policyholder, to "participate" in the insurance company's earnings.
Dividends are actually partial refunds of your premium payments. When a life insurance company collects more in premiums than is necessary to maintain an insurance pool to pay current and future claims, the company issues a dividend to policyholders. The size of the dividend paid generally depends on the insurance company's investment returns and expenses. Life insurance dividends are not guaranteed.

What is the face amount of a life insurance policy? - Insurance

The face amount is the life insurance benefit stated on your life insurance policy. The face amount may differ from the actual death benefit paid to beneficiaries, particularly for whole life insurance policies.

For example, the death benefit could be higher than the face amount if the dividends of a participating life insurance policy were used to purchase additional insurance protection. However, the death benefit could also be smaller than the face amount if loans against cash value were unpaid at the time of the policyholder's death.

What is the free look provision? - Insurance

The free look provision is a period of time immediately following the issuance of a life insurance policy, between 10 and 30 days, during which you may legally cancel your policy with a full refund based. The free look period differs depending on the terms of your life insurance contract or the laws in your state.

What is a life insurance grace period? - Insurance

The grace period is the time frame immediately following a premium due date, typically 30 or 31 days, in which a life insurance policyholder may still pay the amount due without penalty and keep the life insurance policy in force. If payment is not received within the stated grace period, the policy will lapse.

What is guaranteed issue life insurance? - Insurance

Guaranteed issue life insurance, also known as guaranteed acceptance life insurance, is a life insurance policy that an insurer issues without the customary medical pre-screening. For some, guaranteed issue life insurance can be advantageous because it does not require a medical examination and asks few or no questions about your medical history. Guaranteed issue policies can insure nearly anyone, hence the name guaranteed issue, and are frequently purchased by those in high-risk occupations and in poor health.
Although guaranteed issue life insurance has several advantages, there are also a few disadvantages:

• It's expensive. With guaranteed issue life insurance, life insurance companies issue policies without evaluating your health. Rather than undergoing medical underwriting to determine rates, premium payments are usually based on age and gender and result in much higher premium rates.

• Small life insurance benefit. These policies typically feature small death benefits, the amount paid to beneficiaries when the insured individual dies.

• Death benefit clauses. The death benefit on guaranteed issue policies may be subject to a clause that allows the insurer to refund the premiums paid, rather than pay the full death benefit, should the insured individual die within the first two to three years of policy purchase. 

In addition to the above mentioned disadvantages, some policy premiums are expensive enough that after several years, the total amount of premiums paid is greater than the policy face amount. Many guaranteed issue policy premiums begin to out-pay themselves in about 10 years.
Before buying life insurance, guaranteed issue or any other type, be sure to shop around. No two insurance companies are alike and not all health conditions may prohibit you from buying life insurance. Keep in mind that life insurance companies rate health conditions differently and have unique underwriting criteria. Guaranteed issue life insurance may be more suitable for those who are unable to purchase life insurance after the medical screening.

To Insure Your Health - Insurance

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are becoming more popular as the cost of health insurance continues to increase.

An HSA is a special bank account that is set up in conjuctions with the enrollment in a high deductible health plan (HDHP).

You, your employee or an eligible family member can make tax free contributions to the HSA. The HSA will earn interest that is not taxed and any withdrawals to pay for qualified medical expenses are also not taxed. Any funds remaining in the account at the end of each year is carried over to the next year.

The contribution to an HSA each year is limited to the amount of the HDHP deductible or $2,650 for individuals and $5,250 for families, whichever is less. You or your employee may not contribute to an HSA once you or your eomployee becomes eligible for and enrolled in Medicare. Your or your eomployee can make withdrawals to pay for qualified medical expenses by check or debit card just as you would with any other bank account.

Your employee owns the HSA so that your employee can keep the account even if he changes health insurance plans or jobs. However, if the owner of the account is not enrolled in an HDHP, he can no longer make contributions to the account.

An HDHP is a health insurance plan that has a high deductible of, at least, $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for families, adjusted each year for the cost of living. Despite the high deductibles most HDHPs will cover preventative care in full. To be enrolled in an HDHP, the enrollee cannot be covered by any other health insurance coverage, including under a spouse's plan, that is not a HDHP.

An HSA provides a method for you or your employees to reduce health insurance costs by enrolling in a less expensive HDHP as long as you or your employees are willing to finance, through the HsA, the medical expenses that are incurred, up to the amount of the deductible. 

You should consult with a tax advisor to determine eligibility requirements and tax advantages before you decide to participate in an HSA.

If you and your employees decide that an HSA is a good alternative to the more traditional health insurance plans, The United State Federation of Small Businesses (USFSB) can offer you, from selected carriers, this less costly option.

Another way USFSB can help you reduce your costs for medical services is through the use of a Medical Discount Card. It is important to note that this is not insurance. The Medical Discount Card can be used, at participating health care providers, to obtain reduced cost for the services that are rendered as long as you are prepared to pay for the services at that time.

3 Health Insurance Misconceptions - Insurance

Misconception #1:

Co-insurance

Co-Insurance levels should be given careful analysis when buying insurance. A health insurance plan premium with an 80/20 or 20% co-insurance level is much higher typically than is a 50/50 or a 50% plan. Co-insurance or shared costs between the insured and the insurance company normally have stop losses or Maximum Out-Of-Pocket amounts to protect you against a catastrophic event. Make sure there is, and you know what the stop loss is on the plan you are looking at. Let's further examine and break down co-insurance.

Example:

Health insurance plan A has a $2,000 deductible and is an 80/20 plan. (Meaning you co-insure 20% after your deductible of $2,000) Let’s say your stop loss (maximum out of pocket) is $3,000, (which means you're total out of pocket would be $5,000 on this plan and the plan costs $380 per month for a family of 5.

On the other hand health insurance plan B has a $5,000 deductible but is a 100% plan. (Meaning you have no co-insurance after your deductible of $5,000) Your stop loss (maximum out of pocket) is zero after your deductible and this plan costs you $290 per month.

Both plans have 100% coverage after your stop loss, (maximum out of pocket) has been met.

Your stop loss (maximum out of pocket) for plan A would be $5,000 per year. ($2,000 deductible + $3,000 co-insurance).

Your stop loss (maximum out of pocket) for the plan B would be $5,000 per year as well. ($5,000 deductible + $0 co-insurance).

Your total risk "potential loss" or exposure would be $5,000 in any given year on either plan.

So in this example, on plan A you would be paying an extra $1,080 per year for the exact same out of pocket catastrophic exposure compared to plan B.

Wouldn’t it make more sense financially to select plan B as opposed to plan A? When it comes to choosing a health plan these are the things most people overlook, or fail to understand. When you choose Colorado Health Solutions to represent you, we will inform and educate you of these types of things to make sure you select the right plan at a price you can afford.

Misconception #2:

Deductibles

Health insurance companies will charge you a "fool's premium" for a very low deductible. By "fool's premium" we mean that to lower your deductible from say $2,000 to $500, they will charge you an additional $2,880 a year. So unless you manage to have a catastrophic event in the first 6 months of your plan, you will always be the loser. Look carefully at the cost for different deductibles and ask yourself a couple questions:

How much does it cost for the next lowest and the next highest deductible?

How many months will it take before you have lost the advantage of the lower deductible by paying the difference in premiums?

Of course you could wind up in the hospital next month and call me up with an "I told you so". However, 99% of you will never reach your deductible. There is normally a trade off between costs and benefits and typically it's represented graphically by a curve of "diminishing returns".

Misconception #3:

Co-pays

A $20 doctor office co-pay is much more expensive than a $40 doctor office co-pay! How you ask? Let’s take a closer look.

Let's assume that the premium associated with a $20 co-pay is an additional $174 per month in premium for a family of 4 when compared to a $40 co-pay. (This is a real scenario)

In this scenario you would be paying an additional premium of $174 per month ($2,088 per year) to protect yourself against a "potential loss" or exposure of $20 each time you visited the doctor’s office. To come out even with the $20 co-pay you'd have to visit the doctor about 105 times a year to come out even! Don't pay a "fools premium" for benefits that are offset by increased premiums. It pays to do a little math when looking at cost versus benefits when purchasing health insurance. Again we can help you decipher this and choose the right plan.

We hope this will help you now or sometime in the future, what I tell my clients is this...You already pay enough for your health insurance, don't pay more than you have to!

Health insurance carriers are coming out with new more affordable plans all the time, how will you know if one is right for you? Would your agent call you if there was one better suited for your needs? Most likely not! Most agents/brokers will only talk to you if there is something in it for them! We here at Colorado Health Solutions have a completely different attitude and approach, if there is something that becomes available best suited for you and your family we will let you know!

There has been a new major medical plan that was just released that is on average 20-40% less than many of the other carriers. If you'd like to get a quote on this plan to either get health insurance or lower your premiums just visit our website today, we'd be happy to help. Again, don't pay more than you have to when it comes to your health insurance!

How Does Dental Insurance Benefit the Policy Holder? - Insurance

Dental insurance is the type of insurance cover which takes care of the expenditure related to our teeth as well as the cost incurred in maintaining them. Teeth are an essential part of our existence and due to the crucial role which they play they need to be taken care of as well. The situation is further compounded by the delicate nature of this body part due to which insurance becomes an imperative condition.
Brushing our teeth twice a day or even more is something which is inculcated into our habits since our childhood but it surely does not act as a guarantee against tooth ache and tooth decay. The problem is most of us are unable to resist sweets and this inevitably leads to cavities which need to be filled or even worse, root canal treatment. This is the time when the possession of a dental insurance policy comes in handy as it takes care of majority of the expenditure, if not all, pertaining to the treatment.
Dental insurance is offered by a number of different insurance companies and hence its rates vary in accordance with the plan offered by the particular company. While it is the policy seeker's objective to purchase an insurance plan which covers teeth as a part of health care, the onus is on the insurance provider to offer different plans at varied rates and differing in terms of coverage as well. However, dental insurance is not just related to cost but procedures and specific requirements as well which may vary as per the type of dental treatment desired.

Searching for an insurance policy entails the same procedure as that employed while shopping for other types of insurance like car, life and so on. The recommended course of action for the seeker would be to invite policy quotes from a number of providers and then select an appropriate policy after comparing them thoroughly. After having found a policy of his choice, the seeker is required to sign on the policy after which he is bound by law to make regular monthly payments to the insurance company in form of premiums.
As long as the monthly premiums of the amount stipulated are paid on time, the dental insurance company is responsible for bearing as much as eighty percent of one's dental bills. But it is always advisable to read the fine print in this matter so as to avoid unpleasant surprises later on.

Gum Disease Can Be Serious - Insurance

If you are serious about your dental health one thing you should do is be checked for by a dentist on a regular basis for gum disease.  It is also called periodontal disease and can be an indicator of more serious underlying health conditions like diabetes.
A lot of people have experienced gum disease.  If you have noticed some bleeding while brushing or flossing this could be an early indication that you are heading for gum problems.  Swelling and pain can be an indication of this condition also.
The reason you should seek immediate help is that if you procrastinate this could develop into a serious condition and result in infection which can lead to tooth loss not to mention the pain you will experience.  Early detection and treatment by your dentist can result in the avoidance of tooth loss and pain.
Another alarming piece of information about this condition is you may have the disease and not even know it.  While it can cause tooth loss it also can result in bone loss.  Don't forget it can point to warnings of possible diabetes, heart disease, some types of cancer and reduce the overall quality of your life.
Beside bleeding and swelling some other warning signs of periodontal disease are gums that are receding, loose teeth, sores in your mouth and bad breath.
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms we have been discussing in this article where do you go from here.  Since this condition can develop into serious health problems you should schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.
If you have developed gum disease there is a good chance that you haven't been to a dentist in a long time.  One reason may be dental visits can be very expensive and if you are like a lot of people there isn't enough money available to cover this extra expense.

If you find yourself in this situation there is a good affordable option that will allow you to go to the dentist on a regular basis.
A good place to start looking would be a discount dental plan.  You will find it to be very affordable for both individual and families.  It will give you some good choices of dentists in your area and the discounts on most dental procedures are very generous.
I can make this search for this affordable plan and dentist in your area very easy.  Just keep reading and hopefully you will find a good option to start you on your journey to cure gum disease.

Dental Insurance - HMO or PPO - What's the Difference and Which Is Better? - Insurance

There are several important differences between HMO and PPO dental insurance plans. If you are trying to decide which one to go with you will want to answer several questions, the first being, does your choice of dentist matter to you? With PPO dental plans they usually have a wide network of dentists to choose from.
With HMO's you usually have a very limited number of dentists to choose from. This does not mean that HMO dental plans are inferior however because where your choice of dentist is limited, you make up for it with savings on the more major restorative procedures.
The way this works is that first off, PPO plans always have a calendar year maximum of $1,000, $1500 or $2000. That means that the insurance company will not pay claims on your behalf once you have reached this threshold.
HMO plans usually do not have any maximums, which only means that if you have extensive restorative work that needs to be done (think dental implants, inlays, onlays, multiple root canals/crowns) the savings will be substantial.

Another difference is that with HMO plans, all services are tied with copays, usually not more than $280 for the most involved procedures. With PPO plans you pay percentages which can be much more when it comes to the major restorative work.
What is the bottom line? If you don't anticipate needing extensive dental work done and just want coverage for preventative care, x-rays and fillings and choice of dentist is important to you, a PPO plan will be just fine for you. If you know that you need some more major restorative work done and choice of dentist is not so much a concern as is saving on the work that you need to have done, an HMO plan may be a better fit for you.

How to Find Your Optimum Dental Insurance Quotes - Insurance

The advice that you really should shop around is truer for dental insurance quotes than for most other forms of comparison shopping.
The reason is that dental procedure itself, whether it's a simple filling or extraction right through to root canal surgery, can be a very expensive job; while you don't want to be paying too much in premiums, neither will you appreciate finding come crunch time that you are under-insured.
Dental insurance is like any other insurance in one fundamental: that is establishing the perfect combination of benefit versus budget. What do you need, or think you'll need? What can you afford?
The essence of your reasoning will be whether you have existing dental conditions that are going to need attention in the foreseeable future, or maybe if you're young you'll simply want to take basic and logical precautions. Clearly a basic forward-plan without known problems will cost you less than one that takes into account existing rot, caries and cavities; such conditions will, of course, be picked up by your dentist, so don't try to pull a swiftie.
Having said that, it must be acknowledged that different health insurance companies will make differing offers, which is to be expected, but values will vary; it comes back to what suits you best.
Think seriously about a pre-paid dental plan, as distinct from a straight-out dental insurance cover. The significance here is that your need is specifically targeted, and can be adapted to meet your situation.
Obviously if your plan is to protect against routine and predictable future treatment, such as fillings, extractions and caps, then you'll opt for a plan that is cheaper, more affordable. If you're older and know that you're in for some serious attention, you'll pay the higher premium for the more expensive treatment. If you're shopping for a pre-paid dental plan, you must make a detailed comparison of all the offers and prepare for yourself an ideal fit. Don't pay for anything you don't need, and by the same token don't skimp in the belief that "you'll never need that item."

Here's an important and often overlooked consideration: is your dental plan more economically beneficial as a personal as distinct from family plan? It is not at all uncommon to find that a family plan, with all its provisions, works out to be cheaper than several individual plans to cover the same number of people in one family.
In any event, have a good look around for dental insurance quotes and consider your options with incisive gravity.

Things to Ask Before to Buy an Individual Health Insurance Policy - Insurance

First of all you need to consider 5 important questions, when you are shopping for an Individual Health insurance Plan
1.Do I desire short-term coverage or long-term coverage?
First make a decision whether you need long term coverage haul or for a set stage. Your coverage is assured renewable, if you choose a long-term coverage plan. If you decide a short-term coverage plan, it may be easier to be relevant and your coverage may star faster, but you can not renew your plan when you coverage ends.
2.How much amount I prepared to give out of my personal pocket?
Insurance for Health payment work is similar to insurance for car premiums: the superior your deductible, the inferior your premium.
Health Insurance premium work like to car insurance premiums: the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. The key is to locate a balance among the deductible you are ready to pay and the premium you can afford. If you want an advanced deductible, but you are worried about saving sufficient to cover it, think a plan that's well-matched with a Health Saving Account (HSA).
3.Did my doctors in the network?
The majority of individual health insurance plans are Preferred Provider Organization or PPO Plans. When you go away to a "preferred" or "in network" contributor in your plan's network:
You plan cover a better share of the cost
The provider can't "balance bill" you for amounts in overload of what the plan allows
If you desire certain doctors, make sure they're in the network for the plan you're considering.

4.How do I need to give for doctor's office visit?
You are almost certainly common with co-payments: Set amount you pay directly to providers when you require medical care. When you buy for Individual Health Insurance, you'll most likely have a choice of plans. Some contain co-payments for doctor's office visits, while others need you to gather a deductible first. The type of plan you choose is a matter of individual preference.
5.What elective coverage do I require?
With the majority employer-based health insurance, things like dream and dental reporting may be division of the plan. But this coverage is elective with many Individual Health insurance Plans and may price additional monthly premium.

Health Coverage For All - Insurance

Individual health care plans are those purchased by individuals directly from an insurance provider. These types of plans allow the individual to choose their insurance company, plan features, as well as their level of coverage. Many times, the coverage will not be as extensive as those offered by group plans, but if an individual has no other option then an individual plan can meet their insurance needs. Most individual health care providers require more extensive medical checks than group insurance providers. Often, family members with pre-existing conditions will be denied coverage under an individual health care plan.
For individual looking for the best family insurance rates and coverage for the loved ones, group health insurance plans will be the best option. These plans often provide the needed coverage at affordable rates. Obtaining health insurance this way is usually the least expensive option, as individual plans can be expensive. However, if a group plan through an employer is not possible, the individual will need to contact several health insurance providers for comparison quotes. When purchasing individual insurance, it will be important to fully understand all of the terms associated with the policy.

Some of the information individuals may want to determine when researching health insurance is: what types of policies are available, what companies offer these policies, what the policy does and does not cover, and reimbursement procedures. Individuals will also want to ensure that the agent and the insurance company are reputable and are in good standing. Understanding how premiums can be paid, the effects of a higher or lower deductible, and the length of required waiting periods are important to purchasing the right insurance policy.

Individual Health Insurance for the Self-Employed Person - Insurance

There are many of us - about 40 million, in fact, who go without individual health insurance. The majority of those people are either self-employed or work for small businesses who don't offer insurance.
Things could be looking up for us. There are great tax incentives and government stipends to help pay for insurance - and you don't even have to look that hard to find it.
My advice to get started on finding the best individual health insurance plans is to get free quotes. And don't do it online. There are many companies that allow you to call in and they'll answer your questions for free while they give you your free quote.

You can think of questions you want to ask them, like:
What kind of plan is this? For example, it could be an HMO, PPO, or POS plan. Ask them to define the plan for you and what it offers.
You can also ask how restrictive the plan is. For example, if you want to work with a certain doctor or hospital, ask if the plan allows it. If not, ask what other plans are available to you.
Ask what the monthly premium is. You should also ask if the plan allows you to increase the deductible so that your monthly premium is lower. Just make sure you can afford to pay the deductible if and when the time comes.
Ask about the plan's prescription drug coverage.
Ask about copays (and again, if there are options to lower them).
Ask about what tax breaks and incentives you may qualify for (or what the plan allows for).
As you can probably figure out, you won't be able to get these answers very easily if you are searching for quotes online. It is so much better to talk to a live, certified agent when inquiring about individual health insurance.

Next, consider that the insurance agent you talk to on the phone will probably ask you questions like this (so have the information ready):
What is your age?
What is your smoking status?
What is your health history?
As you can see, they are easy questions. Don't wait. It's risky to live without insurance.

Understanding What Family Insurance Policies Do - Insurance

Many families have begun enjoying the benefits of having a family insurance policy. Life is financially stressful enough without the added burdens medical bills can add. This is why obtaining an insurance policy for an entire family is advantageous.
These types of policies cover some - many times all - of any medical expenses a family-unit may incur in the event that they become sick or hurt. Many people who do not have children or a spouse choose not to obtain medical insurance because they base their decision solely on themselves; however, those people with families care and think about the well-being of their entire family, and this often leads to them choosing to obtain an insurance policy that covers everyone, and this is when family health plans are beneficial.
It is always important to keep in mind that family-unit policies usually cost less money than obtaining a policy for each family-unit member. Family coverage plans typically provide more coverage than individual policies. Example being, male coverage policies do not cover maternity doctor visits in the event his spouse becomes pregnant; however, a family insurance policy will cover all maternity costs associated with the birth of a male's child.
These insurance policies often cover medications and prescriptions for a number of individuals, rather than just the policyholder. The costs of medications alone often provide enough financial benefits for obtaining a this type of coverage; this is especially true for families who have individuals that constantly have to consume some type of medication.
It is always wise to discuss package and benefit options with a company before actually purchasing a policy, because the policy provider agent can inform individuals of the most beneficial package they should purchase for their family.

When a person with immediate-relatives decides to purchase a medical coverage policy only for their self they are assuming that only injury or sickness will occur to their self; this is a risky option to assume, so it is always wise to purchase some type of package that covers more than one person. Each member of a family-unit always has some chance of risks to endure a sickness or injury, and with a family insurance policy each member can have some type of coverage. Making sure every member of a family-unit is covered with insurance can bring peace of mind to an entire family-unit, and this is mostly because each member can rest assured that they will not suffer as much financial hardship as they would if they were not covered.