Uncategorized – Page 3 – Strategic Benefits

Five reasons why taking a lunch break is so important

December 19, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

Time is a precious commodity. That’s why you almost feel guilty if you leave your work space and go to lunch. Who has the time for that, anyway?

Well, you do. And if not, you should make some. According to a wide range of studies, not leaving your work space and wolfing down a sandwich at your desk each day can have some serious long-term negative effects on your health. Likewise, getting away from your cubicle or office during the lunch hour can help you in a number of ways. Here are five reasons why taking a lunch break is so important:

1. Better health: Research shows that for better health, office workers should get up and leave their desk for at least two minutes each hour and if possible, take a longer lunch break away from their work station each day. Even better, get some fresh air.

2. Less stress: A recent study suggests that walking at lunch for as little as 30 minutes a day, three times a week can help you better handle on-the-job stress.

3. Better posture: Sitting in one position in front of a computer puts strain on your spine and muscles. Leaving the office at lunch can help you stretch your spine and muscles.

4. Increased productivity: Research shows that taking a lunch break gives your brain a chance to switch off and regroup and avoid the foggy thinking, tiredness and diminished productivity that can make afternoons drag.

5. Better concentration: By taking a walk at lunch with a friend or co-worker, you may find yourself better able to tackle the rest of your day. Walking and talking is a great anti-stress combination, research suggests. Socializing at lunch as opposed to staying in a cubicle with your computer screen is a ‘mind scrub’ that can help you be happier and more productive.

How do you handle health coverage if you’re self-employed?

December 5, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

If you’re self-employed, you don’t have the luxury of relying on your employer to handle health insurance coverage for you. On the other hand, you have a great deal more flexibility and choice when it comes to picking your own plan. But if you want to get a plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

What does it mean to be self-employed?

For the purposes of the Marketplace, you’re considered self-employed if you’re “a freelancer, consultant, independent contractor or other worker who doesn’t have any employees.” If you have at least one other person working for your business (not including yourself, your spouse, family member, or the business owner) who could be classified as an employee, you should consider purchasing insurance on the SHOP Marketplace for small businesses.

Applying for insurance means estimating your income

As a self-employed person, if your income fluctuates from year to year, it can be difficult to estimate. However, you must give the Marketplace an approximate net income for the year you’re seeking coverage.

Coverage is still mandated

No matter what your job status is – self-employed, employee, et cetera – you’re still at risk for paying a penalty if you don’t have qualifying health insurance. If you’re unsure of which plan to choose, talk to your broker today.

Two ways to avoid piling on the pounds over the holidays

November 22, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

If you’re trying to eat healthier and watch your weight, the holidays can be a challenging time. There are high-calorie and high-fat foods and drinks everywhere! Here are two ways to avoid piling on the pounds this holiday season:

Watch your portion sizes: It’s easy for portion sizes to get out of whack during the holidays. Watch your portion sizes during each meal and avoid grazing on holiday treats all day long. You may want to consider keeping a food diary of what and how much you’re eating throughout the day. Have healthier snacks on hand for when the holiday treats start appearing at the office.

Watch what you drink. Many holiday drinks have a lot of fat and calories. Try doing a web search for healthier versions of your holiday drink favorites. If you love eggnog, for example, try this Low-Fat Eggnog Recipe from The Food Network Channel. While you’re at Starbucks, ask about lower-fat alternatives to a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Try different varieties of sparkling water to stay hydrated without drinking high-calorie drinks.

Choosing your health insurance plan can be a beast

November 8, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

You have met the monster, and you are ready to do battle. You have your sword and your trusty shield. But when you finally face this dragon, it can be a little more hair-raising than you first realized.

Why is choosing a health insurance plan so difficult? The answer lies in the many different decisions you must make to slay this beast.

You don’t have an army

If you’re looking for personal health insurance for yourself and your family, you may not have an employer, company or union-sponsored plan (a.k.a., your army) to enter into this skirmish with you. This has its pluses and minuses. On one hand, costs aren’t as controlled as they might be. On the other hand, your choices for a plan may be expanded if you’re paying out-of-pocket or under the Affordable Care Act.

There are a lot of soldiers

There can be a lot of soldiers (a.k.a., types of health insurance plans) from which to choose, making the decision even more difficult. Do you need and/or want an EPO, HMO POS, PPO or different plan? And what do those initials even stand for anyway?* It can really help to have someone explain to you which are the foot soldiers, the cavalry and other kinds of warriors you’ll find on the health insurance battlefield.

You aren’t in this battle alone

Think you’ve got to be a knight in shining armor, choosing a health insurance plan all by yourself? Not so! You are not alone – this isn’t one-on-one combat. A health insurance broker can be your trusty squire. They can arm you with information when you need it. Because when you make the best health insurance choice possible, victory over the beast … will be yours!

And in case you’re wondering:

EPO=Exclusive Provider Organization
HMO=Health Maintenance Organization
POS=Point of Service
PPP=Preferred Provider Organization

Everything you need to know about short-term health insurance

October 17, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

Short-term health insurance is generally cheaper than annual health insurance because there are significantly fewer conditions covered by these plans, and they’re charged based on a daily rate. If you’ve considered purchasing short-term health insurance in lieu of long-term insurance that typically allows you to renew each year, here’s what you should know before signing any forms:

Pre-existing conditions

The purpose of short-term health insurance is to cover an individual or family’s health expenses during a brief period of unexpected coverage gaps. Unfortunately, these types of insurance policies rarely cover treatments related to pre-existing conditions because those are considered to be long-term medical issues that cannot be adequately resolved with a short-term health plan.

If you have a pre-existing condition and need regular care for a medical concern, then a short-term health insurance plan might not be a good option for your situation.

Mental health coverage

Similar to the pre-existing condition exclusion, many short-term health insurance policies exclude mental health coverage because this is also viewed as a long-term concern. Many short-term policies last anywhere between 30 days to 12 months, but mental illness treatment, therapy and medications are possibly needed for much longer. If your primary reason for seeking out short-term insurance is to cover mental health related costs, then consider long-term health insurance for better access to the care you need at a price you can afford.

Maternity care

Short-term health insurance is not designed to help uninsured folks or people dealing with gaps in coverage pay for maternity-related costs like prenatal care, hospitalizations, newborn screenings and postpartum depression evaluations. However, there are several government programs available for pregnant women, so check the Department of Health and Human Services’ list of resources before researching short-term health insurance plans.

Travel insurance

Short-term health insurance is an excellent option for Americans traveling abroad and wanting to minimize medical costs if an emergency were to occur. Domestic health insurance plans typically do not cover medical expenses in other countries, so this type of short-term health insurance is ideal for international travelers. Just be careful about reading the fine print when it comes to what’s covered in what countries and up to how much. Some policies may even include side benefits like lost luggage insurance and trip cancellation coverage.

What do all those health insurance initials mean?

October 3, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

Do you know the difference between a PPO and a POS? Which type of health insurance plan is best for you and your family? Take a look below so you can make some headway through the alphabet soup of insurance coverage.

PPO

PPO stands for “Preferred Provider Organization.” Under this type of plan, you’re given a network of providers, and you’re free to see any of them (including specialists) without a referral. Sometimes, you are still required to choose a PCP (Primary Care Physician), but sometimes not.

HMO

HMO stands for “Health Maintenance Organization.” Just as in a PPO, you are presented with a network of providers. However, unlike a PPO, you must choose a PCP who will refer you for any necessary care. The provider network is also generally smaller than that of a PPO.

POS

POS stands for “Point of Service” and is a blend of the PPO and the HMO systems. Although you’ll still need to pick a PCP, you have the flexibility of going outside the designated network for care – provided you’re willing to pay a bit more.

EPO

EPO stands for “Exclusive Provider Organization.” In this type of plan, you still have a network of providers, but unlike a POS, there is no coverage at all if you go outside the network. The only exception is likely to be in the event of an emergency.

Choosing the right health insurance plan can be confusing

Even when you know what all the letters stand for, it can still be difficult to choose the right health insurance plan – and the above list is by no means comprehensive. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to contact your insurance broker about the best kind of coverage for you.

What services are considered “preventive care”?

September 20, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

One of the biggest accomplishments of the Affordable Care Act was mandating that preventive care services should be free-of-charge for consumers. There are numerous benefits of free preventive care: for individuals, this includes lower personal healthcare costs and earlier diagnoses for potentially life-threatening diseases; for society, this has led to decreased overcrowding in emergency rooms and improved levels of public health.

Although a law mandating zero-copay preventive care may seem to increase national healthcare spending (the mandate also applied to Medicaid and Medicare programs, after all), it actually does the exact opposite by nipping problems in the bud before they develop into full-blown health crises (e.g., massive flu epidemics are mitigated by free flu vaccines and someone with cancer has a much higher chance of survival if the cancer is detected earlier on).

If you’ve wondered what preventive care services are covered and how much they cost without insurance or ACA $0-copay mandates, continue reading to learn more:

Vaccinations

According to the Centers for Disease Control, routine vaccinations and other shots cost anywhere between $25 to $200 or more, on average. However, when you have insurance, immunization shots are considered preventive care, which means you can get the flu vaccine, tetanus shot, HPV vaccine and other shots free-of-charge. Vaccinations are scientifically proven to be beneficial when it comes to preventing outbreaks of serious and highly infectious diseases like the flu, polio, measles and STDs, so it makes sense why these fall under the umbrella of “preventive care.”

For Children

There are many different pediatric services covered by the preventive care mandate, including: autism screenings (18-24 month-olds), behavioral assessments (including mental health screenings from ages 12+), blood pressure screenings, immunization vaccines, vision and hearing screenings, and much more.

Of course, it should be noted that these services are provided free-of-charge to those covered by PPO health insurance when they use in-network providers, so don’t risk having to foot the bill by going out-of-network.

For Women

When it comes to $0-copay preventive services offered to women, there are quite a few services you might not realize are fully covered by insurance. Some of these services include: annual well-woman exams, mammograms, anemia screenings, STD screenings, breastfeeding counseling, and postpartum mental health screenings, to name a few. In many states, contraception is also covered free-of-charge.

In a world without $0-copay preventive services, women could pay a lot more for healthcare, such as $267 for a mammogram or $1,100 for a Mirena IUD.

Screenings for Adults

For all adults, screenings for a variety of cancers is the most common $0-copay benefit, though other covered preventive care services may include: alcohol counseling, blood pressure screenings, and obesity screening and counseling. Even if you think you’ll never need some or any of the services mentioned above, it’s still incredibly useful to have health insurance to guard against potential health risks without having to pay for these otherwise costly services out of pocket.

Pros and cons of PPO health insurance plans

September 5, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

Whether this is your first time shopping for your own health insurance or you’ve been with an HMO company for most of your life and you’re considering a switch, don’t jump into a PPO insurance plan before evaluating these pros and cons to see if it’s right for you and your health care needs:

Pro: Flexible Network of Providers

One of the biggest advantages of a PPO plan is that you have access to substantially more medical providers than you would with an HMO plan. You can switch doctors and facilities if you’re unhappy with your current ones, and you can easily find out who accepts your insurance by searching different services and doctors in your area through a PPO’s online search portal.

Con: Cost Confusion

HMO plans are relatively streamlined, while PPO plans aren’t as simple. First, you have to figure out the difference between in-network and out-of-network providers (and these providers may eventually change their status with your PPO insurance company). There are typically low co-pays charged for services rendered by in-network providers, while out-of-network providers may require co-insurance payments (percentage of the cost of services received).

There are also deductibles to think about with a PPO insurance plan (while many HMO plans have no annual deductible). HMO plans are generally cheaper in terms of monthly premiums, but you’re 100% responsible for costs incurred at out-of-network provider facilities, so the higher monthly cost for a PPO plan might be worth it just for the flexibility.

Pro: More Service Availability

A PPO insurance plan allows you to access a vast range of services, including preventative care, mental health services, prescriptions, specialist treatments, surgeries, fertility treatments and maternal care, physical check-ups, and much more. Depending on the available HMO plans in your area, a PPO may offer significantly more services than your typical HMO (especially since you’re not limited to one medical provider and get access to a fuller network of providers in your area).

Con: Unclear Rules and Restrictions

When you have a PPO insurance plan, there’s a small chance you might run into some issues with finding an in-network provider and figuring out claims and billing procedures for out-of-network doctor care or hospitalizations. For instance, some medical facilities’ websites say they accept a wide variety of insurance plans, but that doesn’t always mean they accept your specific plan or one of the doctors at the facility is a participating provider in your PPO network.

This can lead to some costly mistakes if you don’t directly ask them about their partnership with your PPO company before seeking treatment there. Furthermore, there may be a different company responsible for different services (for instance, some PPO companies have separate administrators for mental/behavioral health services), so as with any type of plan, it’s always a good idea to check with your insurance company well in advance of your appointment or procedure.

Small changes, big health benefits

August 16, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

When it comes to adopting a healthier lifestyle, a number of small changes can really add up to some big health benefits. Here are some small ways to adapt your daily routine for a healthier you:

Drink more water. Your body needs water to function properly. Keep drinking water through the day to stay hydrated and alert and help prevent headaches. Try to also limit the amount of soda and caffeine that you drink.

Eat some fruits and vegetables. These foods have vitamins and minerals that are necessary for our body to function properly. If you aren’t eating enough of these, consider swapping out that processed snack for a bowl of fresh fruit or a plate of crispy veggies.

Get enough sleep. Everything seems worse when we are tired – including our lack of healthy choices through the day. Make sure you are taking the time to actually give your body a rest with proper sleep.

Get some type of exercise each day. Daily exercise helps your body and your mind. The key is to be active in ways you enjoy. You also will want to mix up your exercise routines so you don’t get bored.

Take some time to do nothing. Even a few minutes of quiet can help reduce stress. Simply pause in your day, take in deep breaths and be in the moment.

Surround yourself with positive people. If your friends are negative, they will only add negativity and stress into your life. It is OK to let a friend go or distance yourself from one for a while.

Say no to those activities that don’t add to your life. It is OK to decline invitations to events or to say “No” when asked to take on more responsibilities. Make sure you are controlling your time and energy in ways that keep you healthy.

4 questions you must ask before using your health insurance

August 1, 2018/in Uncategorized/by Clifton Waite

When it comes to consumers and health care, CNBC said it best: “Asking everyday Americans to navigate health insurance is like asking passengers to fly the plane. Without proper education and access to information, it’s nearly impossible to avoid turbulence along the way.”

If you’re like millions of Americans who are confused about what your health insurance plan actually covers and what all those numbers and seemingly random charges are on your medical bill, then here are four crucial questions you should always ask before seeking healthcare treatments:

Are You an In-Network Provider?

A major problem on the rise in the US is surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers. Astonishingly, there are several states where it’s acceptable (even normal) for an in-network hospital or medical facility to have out-of-network doctors and other medical professionals working for them, which leads patients to mistakenly believe their care will be mostly covered by insurance. Worse yet, some online listings for facilities and providers on your insurance company’s website may be out-of-date!

Unfortunately, this happens more often than you might think. A poll from the New York Times and Kaiser Family Foundation suggested that 2/3 of Americans who have dealt with out-of-network bills didn’t even realize their provider was out-of-network before receiving treatment.

To avoid these costly mistakes, the first thing you should ask a receptionist, nurse or doctor when you call or visit their office is: “Are you a participating provider under my health insurance company?”

Is This Covered by My Plan?

A 2014 study from the American Institutes of Research found that a whopping 42% of Americans were unlikely to check whether a service option or prescription would be covered by their plan before proceeding with the treatment. This can lead to thousands of unexpected medical bills that you previously assumed would be covered by your health insurance plan.

To prevent this from happening to you, be completely upfront about your plan and insurance company with your doctors beforehand. There are many different plans available under the same health insurance company, so don’t assume your service will be covered just because you’re receiving it from an in-network provider.

How Much Does a Particular Service or Drug Cost?

A 2014 survey from CNBC found that just a third of Americans negotiate their medical bills with hospitals, and only a third of Americans know how much a procedure costs beforehand. Would you ever agree to ordering a large meal at a restaurant without knowing the price of each appetizer, entree, beverage and dessert beforehand? Of course not, so why would you take an even bigger risk by not asking for the cost of medical procedures before you undergo them?

It’s extremely important to know what (and how much) is covered by your particular health insurance plan before signing any paperwork. This requires you to carefully read through your coverage benefits offered by your insurance provider and possibly speak with a health insurance expert for further assistance before you pursue any medical treatments.

Additionally, be sure to ask a any provider who prescribes you medication about generic options. Insurance companies almost always charge more for name-brand drugs, so don’t get stuck with a larger medical bill because you overlooked a more affordable medication option with the exact same chemical makeup as the name-brand drugs.

Can I Get an Itemized Bill?

Did you know that you’re entitled to an itemized list of expenses on your medical bills? The problem here is that most consumers don’t understand all the various codes and terminology you might find on a typical medical bill. Fortunately, you can either look these codes up yourself (you may very well find an error, depending on the service you’re being charged for and what you actually received from your doctor) or you can speak with a trusted health insurance professional about what you were charged for and how legitimate that charge may be.