health insurance policy

Every election year, candidates make promises of sweeping health care and health insurance reform. The proposals this year cover a lot of territory. It is important to understand what some of the very specific projected changes might mean to average Americans.

Currently, prescription costs are among the most important reasons for choosing one health insurance policy over another. One of the hot button issues this year is the fact that Americans are paying far too much for prescription drugs. Both candidates are looking for way to fight these high costs.

Another facet of health insurance that is in the news is transparency of health care costs. This means that when you get your hospital bills, there should be an itemized list of what the actual costs were of the supplies and procedures. Both you and your health insurance company will need to know these facts to prevent being overcharged.

It is important to the presidential candidates this year to deal with malpractice issues between doctors and patients. Health insurance pays for the normal cost of procedures, but when something goes wrong, lawsuits often determine if malpractice insurance will pay. To these candidates, the key is in making it easier to meet the patient’s needs without malpractice suits.

Portability is a buzzword this year as well. Health insurance, according to both candidates, needs to be able to follow a person wherever they go. If they move from job to job, the health insurance should follow along. The worker should not have to start over, dealing with issues like pre-existing conditions and finding the right insurance all over again.

Chronic care has become one of the most widespread health insurance issues of all. About three-fourths of health insurance claims have to do with chronic and long lasting illnesses and diseases. The presidential candidates are determined to address this issue with a focus on better treatment and prevention.

Both candidates agree that both health insurance and the health care industry itself will thrive on improved information technology. It is interesting that many health insurance companies have worked to have top-notch information systems already. These proposed measures would only make it easier for the companies who are now doing their part.

However, the presidential candidates do not agree on what all the important issues are this election year. For instance, McCain wants to help middle class Americans with a $5000 tax credit per family and focus on Health Savings Plans more than health insurance. Obama has many plans such as better health insurance for the mentally ill, and research into AIDS and other devastating illnesses.

There are similarities in the subjects of both presidential candidates’ plans this year. It is important to learn more about the specific differences within each area of discussion and the general dissimilarity in their overall health insurance and health care schemes.

Jeff McClendon has been a specialist in the field of health insurance since 2006 counseling hundreds of individuals and families on medical insurance [http://www.advancehealthinsurance.com] policies which may be right for them. Find affordable health insurance quotes [http://www.advancehealthinsurance.com] for individuals and families.

Few people enjoy paying for health care. In fact, more than 50% of all people who have health care in New Jersey report that the cost of health care is a significant financial burden on their household. Health insurance has gotten so expensive that fully 17% of all New Jersey residents are without health insurance of any kind due primarily to cost.

So what can be done about the high cost of health insurance? Is it even possible to save money and get discount health insurance in New Jersey?

Well, actually there are a few things the average person can do to help bring the cost of health care insurance back in line.

If you have the opportunity to purchase group health insurance through your employer or through an association or organization that you belong to, you should seriously consider purchasing it. There are at least two reasons for this. First, group health insurance is almost always less expensive than individual health insurance and, secondly, group health insurance will often accept a person with a pre-existing condition that an individual policy will not.

So what are some of the things you can do to put together a health insurance policy that will save you the most money?

Start by getting all tobacco products out of your life. Smokers and people who use chew are going to pay more for health insurance. Period. By the way, never lie about your use of tobacco products in order to get insurance – your health provider will know instantly that you have lied and your insurance may refuse to pay for treatments you have already received.

If you are overweight you are going to pay more for health insurance. Losing weight is more difficult that quitting smoking for most people, yet being overweight is a prime reason that so many people pay through the nose for their health insurance. If you want to lower your cost of health insurance you need to lose at least some weight – losing even a little weight can bump you down into a lower weight category and that could save you hundreds of dollars each and every year.

Children under the age of 18 and some adults who meet certain income eligibility standards can qualify for low-cost or sometimes even no-cost health insurance through the state of New Jersey. Qualifying is easier than you think. To see if you or your children qualify for this health insurance please check out: http://www.njfamilycare.org/

How much of a co-payment can you afford? Many people are paying a 20% or 25% co-pay each time they visit a doctor. If you can afford to increase that co-pay to 50% you can lower the monthly cost of your health insurance by a substantial amount. This is a particularly good strategy for people who seldom see their doctor.

If you have other insurance policies, such as a homeowner’s policy or a life insurance policy it can pay you to get all of them from the same insurance company. This will earn you a Multi-Policy Discount.

If you’ve had a health insurance policy through the same insurance company for at least 5 years ask your agent if you qualify for a Long-Term Policy Discount.

How large of a deductible can you afford each year? Think carefully about this because you are going to have to come up with your deductible out of your own pocket every year before your insurance company will even begin to make any medical payments, but the larger your deductible the lower your monthly premium payment is going to be.

O.K., now put it all together. Create your low-price dream health insurance policy and then go online and find at least 3 different websites that will allow you to compare the price of your dream policy at several different insurance companies.

Don’t stop after making just one comparison. If you really want to find the absolute rock-bottom low price for health insurance in New Jersey you’re going to have to make your comparisons on at least 3 different websites.

Once you’ve done that then you can pick the lowest quote and feel confident that you have found the very best price and that you have truly saved money and gotten discount health insurance in New Jersey.

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