Useful Tips For Choosing A Health Insurance Policy
You don't have much if you don't have your health. If you don't have your health insurance in order, life can be a series of waiting for the other shoe to drop as you wait for an injury or illness that may or may not occur. If you need help in getting and understanding the world of health insurance, then read on for some great tips.
It's a good idea to research your state's insurance regulations to make sure that you have the best health coverage possible. Different states will have different rules regarding health policies and what they have to cover. You can usually find these on the state's government web site, or you can call or write for help.
When purchasing auto insurance, you can keep costs down by naming your spouse, if you have one, as a driver on the policy. Many insurance companies will first offer a discount for a combined policy rather than holding two separate policies for the same household. Plus, marriage is seen as a stabilizing effect that reduces your risk.
Expect that there will be loopholes in any health insurance policy. Thoroughly peruse your policy in order to avoid being surprised when someone tells you that a particular issue is not covered under your policy. Be ready to take care of the cost for specific procedures and medications that insurance will not cover.
If you and your spouse are both eligible for health insurance through your individual workplaces, compare the two policies to see which one will benefit your family most. You may find that it is going to be cheaper to carry individual policies through your workplaces. Keep the surcharges that some companies charge for dependents when comparing the two.
In some cases, insurance companies will charge you extra for adding your spouse to your plan if he has the option of getting insurance through work. It might be cheaper to each have separate coverages with your employers. To find out the right way to go, calculate both scenarios.
Learn the differences between HMO's, PPO's, and POS plans and determine what will be the best fit for your health needs. They all have benefits and negatives that will affect the way you pay for and use your insurance. HMO's require provide less flexibility but higher cost, PPO's give you more options however the fees can be pricey. A POS plan combines aspects of both HMO's and PPO's.
Watch out for fees and hidden costs, especially due to lack of coverage for certain items. You may be surprised about how much you're paying out-of-pocket despite having health insurance coverage. Prescriptions can be a big contributor to high out-of-pocket costs. Some doctors don't think of generic (and cheaper) versions of medications, and just prescribe the brand name medicine. Make sure you explore your options. The price of medication can be different at each pharmacy.
If you use prescription medications and here are on a health insurance plan, check with your insurer to see if 90-day prescriptions are available in pharmacies. 90-day refills have long been available by mail, but now they are becoming available in local pharmacies - which means you get the full cost benefit of a 90-day prescription (essentially 90 days' worth of drugs for a 30-day payment), without having to wait for the medications to come in the mail. It's a tremendous deal and definitely worth checking out.
It was made clear in the article above that insurance is one of those things that you really need but just don't realize it. Too many people learn about it the hard way and that is heartbreaking. By studying this article and taking advice on life insurance, you can make informed decisions and that is the easiest way to learn.
Telehealth could save NHS money and help treat patients
Mobile phones, the internet and digital televisions could help the NHS treat patients and manage costs, according to a new report from Audit Scotland.
Telehealth is a way of treating of patients in remote areas in a separate location from the clinicians.
This could include a consultation between a patient and a doctor using video-conferencing.
The report called on the NHS to do more to consider telehealth when introducing or redesigning services.
It said NHS boards in Scotland must look at new ways of delivering care, particularly as the health service was facing growing demand.
According to the public spending watchdog, the £5m telehealth system, which has the potential to save about £1,000 per patient per year, has been largely ignored by the boards.
There are about 70 small initiatives across Scotland which have identified the benefits of telehealth.
These benefits include less travel, faster diagnoses and fewer hospital admissions, according to the review.
However there have been limited opportunities for clinical staff to gain experience of using it, and more education and training was needed.
Auditor General for Scotland Robert Black said: "Telehealth could help to provide a range of services efficiently and effectively.
"Where it has been used, patients, doctors and nurses generally like it."
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland director Theresa Fyffe said: "If the benefits of telehealth are to be capitalised upon, education for training and staff must be improved."