Posts about Insurance

Texas Association of Health Underwriters to Attend Capitol Conference

March 5th, 2010

Texas Chapter Joins Agents Nationwide at Annual Conference to Talk Health care Reform

Washington, DC — March 4, 2010 — Insurance agents from across the country will gather in Washington to voice opinions of consumers and the industry at the annual Capitol Conference. The Texas Association of Health Underwriters (TAHU), a statewide organization of independent health insurance agents, will have key leadership and executive committee members in attendance along with representatives from their 13 chapters across the state of Texas.

The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) will host the Capitol Conference from March 8 to 10th at the JW Marriott Hotel. Topics ranging from health care reform legislation and expectations to how health care reform could change the self-funded market place will be covered at the conference.

“We will meet with NAHU chapters from around the country to discuss trends in the industry, pending legislation and, most importantly, the needs of our consumers,” president of TAHU Rusty Rice said. “Even though there is talk of change in the nation’s healthcare system, our focus still remains providing our insurance consumers with the best possible coverage, knowledge and options.”

Rice will be joined by TAHU executive committee members Louanne Trebing, president elect, Joanna Antongiovanni, first vice president, Misty Baker, second vice president, Kelly Fristoe, treasurer, Travis Middleton, secretary, Tamela Southan, director of legislative affairs, and Jacqueline St. Hilaire, director of federal affairs.

For more information about the Texas Association of Health Underwriters and the annual Capitol Conference, visit www.TAHU.org.

About the Texas Association of Health Underwriters
A state chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters, TAHU is a professional organization of agents and insurance company representatives aiming “…to inform and protect the consumer by enhancing the professional growth of its members.” Since its founding in 1930, there are now over 200 state and local chapters of the NAHU servicing the insurance needs of millions of Americans. More information can be accessed at www.TAHU.org.

Your options for health insurance while you are a student

March 2nd, 2010

Getting student health insurance coverage is a must. You may ask why? Well, come to think of it, students have health needs that need to be attended to while they are still in school. While you think you can’t pay for this type of health option, you can get cheaper health insurance plans in the market. All are tailored for your specific needs. You can’t just turn your backs from getting your own health plan even when you’re still in school. There are schools that require you to have a health plan even before you enroll with them.

You might ask: “Why can’t I use my dad or my mom’s health insurance plan?” Well, there are some limitations with these plans. For instance, the insurance policy may not cover the areas where you will be studying. That will be a great problem if you’re going to college in another state. Plus, some family health plans may also have certain age limits for children. These ones vary from one insurance company to another. The most you can get covered is up to the age of 24. So, you’re only option is to get a plan with student health insurance coverage.

Now, you also want to know what your options are for getting student health insurance coverage. There are plenty. Just go to local venues and check on what they have for you. You may do the same thing with online venues. Since you are still a student, you will be given cheaper health insurance plans by these options. And you may be surprised that these provide great health benefits despite the minimal price attached to the plan. What makes these options even more ideal for students is that you are given varying payment options as well.

Adding to the low-cost fees for student health insurance coverage is another great thing – this health plan is portable, you can carry it anywhere you go. This means that even if you plan to go to school out of your own state, you can use the health plan to the best of your benefit. You no longer have to worry about getting another health insurance plan in that state. That will indeed lessen your burden when it comes to paying for the health plan. In addition to this, you can make arrangements with the insurance company as to when you want the plan to take effect.

But in order to enjoy all these conveniences with health insurance plans for students, you need to know whether you’re eligible for one or not. First things first – you should be in between the ages 17 and 29 to be able to get student health insurance coverage. Plus you should show proof that you’re indeed going to school. If you’re an undergraduate student, you should be carrying at least 9 credit hours. If you’re in grad school, you must show proof that you have full-time student status. Make sure that the school is accredited by the state as well.

There are indeed great options for those of you who are looking for student health insurance coverage. You can search for more options using online means. Get quotes then compare these plans to get the best health insurance policy. Make sure you get cheap health plans with great health benefits.

Looking for student health insurance coverage? You can browse health insurance options for students using this venue.

Affordable Health Insurance Unemployed – Your Options if You Don’t Have a Job

March 2nd, 2010

Who says that health insurance is tailored for those who have the means to pay for it? Now, there’s such a thing as affordable health insurance unemployed. In fact, you will find a lot of options in this type of health plan even if you don’t have a job. You can check on individual health insurance rates using various online and local venues. So if you’re unemployed at the moment, there’s no reason to worry about that anymore. You can still enjoy the health benefits that you had when you were still employed. Here are your options.

See what COBRA has in store for you. This Act which was launched in 1985, made it possible for unemployed individuals to enjoy the same health benefits they had with their previous group health plans. So if you don’t have a job at the moment, you may check if you’re indeed eligible for COBRA. You can do this by asking your former employer about these health benefits. Make sure you work on this right away. There’s a certain period of time for you to apply for your COBRA rights once you have been out of service.

You can also purchase short-term health insurance. Use what you’ve saved when you still have a job to pay for this one. You can use these affordable health insurance unemployed policies for the meantime, that is, while you’re seeking for work. There are those designed for six months to a year. These ones are ideal for those of you who are still actively seeking for greener pasture. You can get individual health insurance rates to check on what’s in store for you with this option.

You can also check health plan options using your state’s insurance department. There are states that offer affordable health insurance unemployed. What the insurance department will usually do is check on your family’s income capacity. Then they will offer you individual health insurance rates that will match your capacity to pay. There are low-cost coverage options that you can enjoy while you don’t have a job. Some may even come for free. Take advantage of getting covered with health benefits for your special needs.

You can also check individual health insurance rates using online means. There are companies accredited by the Better Business Bureau for this purpose. The good thing about this option is that you’re not just given affordable health insurance unemployed. You will also be given advice on the type of health plan that will suit your needs best. Plus, you can also compare what one company offers over those of others. You can request quote on insurance premiums free of charge.

Now, will you still say that affordable health insurance unemployed is far from reality? With all the great options specified above, there’s no reason to doubt that you still have the chance to get covered while you’re still looking for work. The rule of thumb in getting the best policy is to check on individual health insurance rates. For sure, you will find a health plan that is designed to match your needs.

Do you want to get an affordable health insurance unemployed? You can check on individual health insurance rates using this site.

How to get the best unemployment health insurance.

March 2nd, 2010

You’ve enjoyed group health plans ever since you started working for different companies. But what happens if you become unemployed or if you suddenly decide to switch to a freelance job? Most people might think that these events signify the end of health insurance. But just because you don’t have an employer doesn’t mean you can’t get unemployment health insurance. The most practical one is an individual or private health plan. It’s best to get individual health insurance quotes online and compare plans before deciding which to take. Here are other great pointers to help you get the perfect individual plan.

* Consider you and your family’s needs. See if any one of you needs prescription medicine. List down the hospitals and doctors you prefer. You might also want to check any pre-existing conditions. All these factors must be taken into consideration when shopping for unemployment health insurance. If your spouse has regular allergies, for instance, then he or she will be seeing an allergy specialist regularly. You can also save a lot on prescription medicine if this is covered in the plan.

* Collect individual health insurance quotes online. This saves you precious time and money, since a lot of sites feature multiple carriers. Some sites even have online agents who can draw up comparison charts among different unemployment health insurance plans. Others even feature an online premium calculator, which can help you figure out how much you need to pay for certain benefits.

* See how much it would cost to include emergency care in the benefits. Check what costs, like surgery, hospitalization and emergency care go into the deductibles. You should also check what constitutes “emergency care” in the different unemployment health insurance plans. Some plans, for instance, might list a broken bone caused by an accident as part of emergency care. Others might not consider an allergy, which was treated in the emergency room, as part of emergency care. Remember that emergency care is one of the most costly things in a health plan. It’s best to read the details and fine print.

* See if there are any plans in your state that offer “group of one” insurance. Some states consider sole proprietors as eligible to apply for group health insurance as a “group of one.” This gives you all the benefits of a regular group health insurance, even if you are an individual. If your state does not offer this, there’s still hope. If work from home and have at least one employee, you could still qualify for group rates.

* Research on different health plan terms. Studying and comparing individual health insurance quotes online won’t do any good if you don’t understand the terms used. Find out what “deductible” means or ask an agent what “out-of-pocket expenses” refer to. Understanding these different terms can help you decide which plan is the best one for you.

Individual health plans can be the most practical medical insurance plans if you are unemployed or self-employed. Make sure that you get the best and most practical one for your needs. Research, check your needs and study different insurance terms. Remember to collect and compare individual health insurance quotes online. All these things will direct you to the best health plan for you and your family.

Compare different unemployment health insurance and get the best individual health insurance quotes online. Our online agents will be more than happy to assist you.

Other health insurance for unemployed alternatives

March 2nd, 2010

One of the benefits of holding a job in a large company is getting a good health insurance plan. But sadly, when you lose your job, you also lose your group health insurance. Don’t fret, though. There are many plans that offer health insurance for unemployed, which you can consider. Options such as COBRA, public programs and even individual health plans are all affordable options if you’re unemployed. Read on to compare health insurance plans specifically for the unemployed and pick the best one for you.

1. COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985). This law allows you to continue with the group health insurance you had with your former employer. COBRA can cover your for a limited period, only, though. But that will give you enough time to find a new job or shop for other health insurance for unemployed. COBRA premiums are more expensive than your regular group health insurance. Because of this, it’s advised that you weigh the pros and cons of COBRA first before applying for it.

2. Your spouse’s group health insurance. Your spouse probably has his own employer group insurance. You can be added as a dependant to this, if you lose your job. You have to apply for it quickly, though, to take advantage of it. Often, a spouse’s group insurance has a wide coverage, including pre-existing medical conditions. But like COBRA, the premiums are expensive. It might be wise to other compare health insurance plans first before taking this option.

3. Short-term health insurance. This is sometimes referred to as temporary insurance. This type of health insurance for the unemployed can guarantee coverage from 1 to 36 months. Short-term health insurance is a popular option since it’s less expensive than COBRA. Its affordable price tag has a trade-off, though. Short-term health insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing medical conditions. Federal subsidy cannot be applied here as well.

4. Public programs. Different states offer programs and health insurance for low-income earners or the unemployed. You can ask around for the requirements of eligibility for this type of insurance in your state. Usually, it is based on age, residency, income, medical condition and previous health plan options. This type of health insurance for the unemployed costs very little. Some people don’t have to pay, if the are eligible for a no-cost plan. Application is a long process, though. Be prepared to wait long lines and to fill out a lot of forms.

5. Private market insurance or individual health plan. If you live a healthy lifestyle and are still young, you might want to get this type of health plan. Because you are still at the prime of your health, premium for individual plans are still affordable. It’s best to compare health insurance plans before deciding on one. Look at the different benefits and see if you can afford an individual plan.

Unemployment shouldn’t be the end of the world. Nor should it be the end of your health plan. There are many different health insurance for unemployed that you can consider. Shop around and compare health insurance plans. Options such as COBRA, short-term health plans and public programs make it affordable for you to secure medical coverage even when unemployed.

Find out more about health insurance for unemployed. We can help you compare health insurance plans. Visit our site today.

Innovative Startup Aims To Make It Easier To Shop For Health Insurance

March 1st, 2010

Sterling, VA – February 24, 2010 – hCentive, Inc. (www.hcentive.com), a health insurance exchange founded by serial entrepreneurs offers an easier way to shop for health insurance. With the rising cost of healthcare, more and more employers are reducing medical benefits, increasing premium contribution from employees or outright refusing to offer health benefits. This has forced increasing number of people to shop for health insurance in the individual market where the process of buying insurance is archaic and very complex leaving consumers confused and looking for help. This is the business opportunity hCentive is after. hCentive is building a web based portal which will allow consumers to shop and buy health insurance online and also manage other aspects of their healthcare like choosing the right provider or reconciling their medical bills.

According to Sanjay Singh, Co-Founder and CEO of hCentive, “In the Healthcare debate which is going on in the country, we have seen very strong lobbying effort on behalf of the health insurance companies and healthcare providers. Missing from this discussion is the voice of the healthcare consumer. Our aim is to bring the consumers back into this equation by empowering them with unbiased information and tools so that they can make the right choices managing all aspects of their healthcare”.

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner had recently said – “As a consumer you need to shop around. A different provider may prove to be a better value for a particular individual or family’s needs, and all of them are looking for new customers.” As per Manoj Agarwala, President and COO of hCentive – “This is the founding belief of hCentive – to give unbiased choice and unbiased recommendation to the healthcare consumers, that is in their best interest”.

hCentive is co-founded by three serial entrepreneurs who have already been part of two successful start-ups together.

Generally All That Is Required For Backpacker Travel Insurance Is a Basic Policy

February 25th, 2010

While many backpackers have a relaxed attitude about travel insurance those that take the time to put a basic backpacker travel insurance policy in place can make their journey without the risk of high medical costs ruining a great holiday.

As a general rule backpackers are single, young and not keen to pay high insurance premiums for benefits they do not consider relevant to their circumstances. The reality is that backpackers have few concerns about traveling other than falling ill or meeting with an accident that leaves them hospitalized for a lengthy period of time and incurring huge medical bills as a consequence. As a result they are generally not seeking disability or death cover but rather unlimited overseas emergency medical assistance and hospital expenses. They may also want backpacker travel insurance to cover off a nominal amount for the loss and replacement of credit cards or travel documents and stolen luggage or personal effects.

Purchasing backpacker travel insurance online is often much cheaper than the travel insurance that may be offered by a travel agent. In Australia there is quite a lot of competition for online insurance and basic backpacker traveler insurance that provides adequate cover for young travelers is readily available at a cost that is within their budget.

Whether you are looking for backpacking travel insurance that covers you for emergency hospitalization and the medical bills that you might incur when you are traveling either internationally or backpacking locally around Australia, there is basic backpacker travel insurance available online at a very low cost. Cheap backpacker travel insurance does not have to mean compromised cover, it simply means that you are not paying for cover you deem unnecessary – luggage delay for example will generally be of little concern to a backpacker taking his or her time traveling the world – an extra day waiting for bags is of little consequence.

The beauty of travel insurance for backpackers is that it is designed with backpackers in mind: policies for single trip, multi-trip, or even annual trip travel insurance are also available but there will be a premium for this. There are insurance plans and policies to cover hitchhiking, trekking, road trips, boat trips whatever traveling you have in mind on your backpacking holiday. If you are planning more dangerous activities such as skiing then you can cover for accidents but again this will obviously increase your backpacker travel insurance premiums.

When you purchase a basic backpacker travel insurance plan you are not buying hidden extras which simply won’t apply to you, you are not paying for add-ons that are more likely to suit some high flying tourist slipping on a spilt martini along glass tiles of the roof top pool of some ritzy five star hotel. No, with backpacker travel insurance the policy is tailor made for the type of risks and dangers a traveling backpacker is far more likely to encounter. A basic backpacker travel insurance policy will cover emergency hospitalization, hospital and medical bills along with up to say $2000 cover for loss of credit cards, stolen travel documents or lost luggage.

If you have any other car insurance questions please visit http://www.1cover.com.au/travelinsurance/

Finding affordable health insurance during a bad economy made easy at Healthinsuredirect

February 3rd, 2010

Denver CO - One of the concerns of health insurance customers these days is that the cost of their personal and family health insurance policies are increasing drastically making it difficult for them to provide proper health cover for their families. In a bad economy, customers are highly conscious about cutting back on their personal expenses in all possible ways. Some times people, in an effort to reduce their expenses, totally ignore their health insurance. However, this is not a prudent approach to save money. If something goes wrong, one will be forced to spend money from their pockets. To avoid such huge financial risks, it is best to get proper health insurance covers for the entire family.

Nonetheless, one should look for affordable health insurance yet keep their expenses under control rather than totally ignoring health insurance. This forces every family to look for cheap health insurance quotes.  One of the best ways of finding cheap health insurance quotes is through comparison shopping. However, not all customers have the required time to get quotes from multiple companies and compare their quotes. It is a highly time consuming process and moreover, not everyone knows how to compare quotes.

Healthinsuredirect.com comes as a great solution to all these concerns. Health insurance customers need not have to spend a lot of time on the internet or calling their insurance companies to get quotes. This website allows users to get multiple quotes from top insurance companies. Users need not have to fill online quote request form multiple times. Customers just need to fill a simple form once, and they will get all the quotes they need in a short time. Customers will be able to compare quotes from the top insurance companies and get the cheapest health insurance quote. This is one of the fastest ways of getting the cheapest health insurance quotes. This website removes the need for depending on insurance agents. Customers will be able to get top insurance quotes right from their desk any time of the day or night. Customers cannot find a more convenient way of getting their health insurance quotes.

Healthinsuredirect.com helps health insurance customers save a great deal of time as everything happens in just few clicks from wherever they are. One of the best things about this website is that it does not cost anything to use the online quote request tool. Finding the best rates for health insurance just made easy, fast and economical at www.healthinsuredirect.com

Cheap Holiday Insurance: Spend your holiday safely

February 2nd, 2010

While carrying out the hectic daily routines, at some point of life, a person feels like taking a holiday break from work. Holidays are for fun and relaxation. But, if you cannot enjoy it completely, then its of no use. One can enjoy aholiday only when he is completely tension free. He should not have any sort of tension at all, not even a minor one. Covering a holiday with insurance makes a holiday tension free, as it makes sure that your are financially well covered, no matter wherever you go. Cheap holiday insurance is a package which covers every aspect of the expenses that generally arise during your vacations. The whole package covers basic expenditures like reservation of hotels, air fares and cab rentals. Then, it also covers the expenses on emergency circumstances such as lost of luggage, delay or cancellation of flights, medical treatment for accidents and other illnesses etc. It lets you cover your holidays easily without paying too much.

Holiday insurance provides such a support which one needs badly on his tours. There may be any kind of harm to you like it can be loss of your luggage, your money, sudden ill health, accidents, flight delay, cancellation of hotel bookings and many more. In such a situation, it is always advisable to take the help of the holiday insurances. Thus, one should look for cheap holiday insurance as it will be very profitable. One should approach for such an insurance policy which covers all your holiday events that will be carried out by you during a year. Such insurances are said to be annual insurance policies. Their advantage is that the rate of premium is same for every holiday plan. Thus, one is not required to pay high rates based on the place to which one is going as every time the rates will be same. This will be beneficial for you. Low premium is actually what makes cheap holiday insurance a popular option. Otherwise, if one goes for single event insurance policies, then he may have to pay more as they cover certain particular places like there are insurances for snow boarding, skiing and mounting. But, such policies ultimately cost high.

Online process is the best way to search for and to obtain the loan. Good online searching can get you best loan deal ever. Internet shopping can facilitate borrower to compare various rates in the market and to sort out the best one. Also, you need not move out of your house and stand in line to avail the loan. Simply you need to fill up the online application form with some of your personal details and send it to the lender. You will get your money deposited into your bank account on the same day or the next business day.

James Roy is Insurance advisor of Holiday Travel Insurance UK.For any queries related travel insurance, annual travel insurance 90 days, 90 day travel insurance, senior travel insurance visit http://www.holidaytravelinsuranceuk.co.uk

Reliance General Insurance introduces Instant Online Renewal of Health Insurance Policies

January 28th, 2010

Reliance General has introduced a direct online link wherein one can directly enter their previous policy number for Health Insurance and then ask for a direct Online Renewal of the old expiring policy.  One can use any credit card of any bank in India for renewing the affordable health policy online. On confirmation of the payment, the policy can instantaneously downloaded & printed from the website. This process takes only 5 minutes to complete and one has a new policy document with oneself in an instant. Hence, one does not need to visit the branch or call up an agent for the same.

The key features of Reliance Healthwise Policy are:

-          Instant Policy

-          No Paperwork

-          No Medical check-up till 45 years

-          24×7 Cashless Claims facility across 4000 hospitals & nursing homes

-          Extended Coverage for Pre & Post Hospitalisation Expenses

-          Medical Treatment at home is also covered for the first time

-          Added Nursing Allowance

-          Allowance for expenses of accompanying person of the insured

-          Tax Benefits under Section 80D

The coverage offered by Healthwise Policy includes:

Hospitalisation Expenses – The policy will cover expenses incurred for room and operation-theatre charges, doctors’ fees, cost of nursing, medical tests, medicines, blood, etc.

Day-Care Treatment – The policy will cover expenses incurred towards technologically advanced treatment that does not require hospitalisation for 24 hours.

Domiciliary Hospitalisation – We also provide cover for treatment administered at home, subject to specified conditions.

Pre- and Post-Hospitalisation – Reliance Healthwise covers medical expenses for treatment up to 60 days before (and up to 90 days after) the hospitalisation, depending upon the plan selected.

Donor Expenses – In the event of a major organ transplant, this policy will cover hospitalisation expenses incurred on the donor.  Reliance general Insurance also offers the Reliance Critical Illness Policy and Individual Mediclaim Policy. One can get details of these policies on the Reliance General Website.

For further details on the Reliance HealthWise Policy, please visit Compare Health Insurance