Individual Health Insurance

Individual Health Insurance or Group Health Insurance? If like the majority of people you think that group health insurance plans and individual health insurance plans are essentially the same thing when it comes to providing you and you family with protection against illness and injury then this article might just open your eyes. Most people believe that individual health insurance and group health insurance are essentially the same thing and that the only difference is that one is sold to individuals and that the other is sold to employers and other group organizations (such as clubs) to cover employees or members of the organization. In fact it is not quite as simple as that and individual and group health plans differ in a number of significant ways. One of the most significant differences is that a group plan normally has fewer limitations and does not usually require those covered under the plan to provide proof of insurability. In other words the mere fact that you are a member of the group to which the plan applies means that you are eligible for cover. Another important difference is that the contract for a group plan is made between the insurance company and the employer, union, trust, club or other sponsor and is not made directly with you as would be the case with an individual plan. This means that you have no power to negotiate changes to the plan to suit your own specific needs and that, where changes are made between for example your employer and the insurer, you have no real power to intervene. The great advantage for most people of seeking health cover through a group plan lies in the fact that it has fewer limitations and is generally cheaper than an individual plan. However, one significant disadvantage is that your membership of the plan is tied to your membership of the group and, in the case of employment, a change in your employment status will affect your cover. For example, if you retire, are laid off, quit, or simply suffer a reduction in your hours you could suddenly find that you and your family lose your health insurance. Now there is of course some protection for individuals who lose their employment through no fault of their own and the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) will allow you to retain your group scheme cover for a while (typically 18 months) while you make alternative arrangements. The drawback of course is that you still have to pay for cover and this can be very expensive since you will have to pay not only the employee contribution which you were paying while in work, but also the employer’s contribution since you are no longer on the payroll. The benefits to which you are entitled under COBRA cover may also be reduced in many cases. One other key difference between group and individual health insurance which is worthy of note here arises out of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. This essentially means that, where a group plan is in existence covering a group of twenty or more employees, the employer must make insurance available to all employees, including their spouses and dependants. Accordingly, there is no age limit imposed for cover and this can be particularly beneficial to older employees. These are of course only some of the main difference between group and individual health insurance but nonetheless represent a good starting point in helping you to decide between the two. Which you choose must of course be a personal decision but one important thing to remember is that health insurance becomes increasing difficult to get and more expensive the older you get and, even if you do decide to ’shelter’ under an employer’s plan, the day will surely come when you will be on your own and forced to seek cover outside of your employer’s scheme. Your employer’s scheme may be fine today but do not forget to view it not simply in terms of your present needs, but also in terms of your longer term needs. MedicalHealthInsuranceToday.com provides information on finding affordable health insurance plans and covers a range of subjects including temporary health insurance. Blue cross Blue Shield launches new individual health insurance … Since November, their SmartSense line of individual health insurance plans has been in the process of being launched in Colorado. SmartSense is tailored to fit your needs and is priced very …   Read more… How To Get Low Cost Health Insurance If You’re Laid Off! | Content … If you’ve been laid off or think you may be getting laid off, these are some tips that will help you get long term or short term low cost health insurance.   Read more…

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101 basic Student health insurane

Student Health Insurance Basics Students need reliable low cost health insurance that provides flexible protection while they are away from the health care formerly provided through their parents. This insurance should be easy to understand and use, but good insurance does not necessarily need to cover smaller medical expenses. Availability Low cost commercial major medical health insurance is available to students in all states except Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Washington state. Low cost supplemental policies are available in these four states but major medical coverage is a "one size fits all" method in these few states so students must enroll in the same type of policies as adults. Most student health insurance is now issued online. Colleges and Universities often offer limited benefit plans directly through their own health services department. Note that if either the school address or the permanent residential address is in one of these problem states and the other address is not, then use the address where it is easier to buy coverage. Student insurance is valid everywhere in the U.S. Suitability, Exclusions and Limitations Students with serious or ongoing medical problems should not switch health insurance without considering the effect of pre-existing coverage limitations. Most student health insurance policies include limitations or exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions, including pregnancy. In most cases it makes more sense for a student to buy insurance that excludes coverage for reasonably predictable medical costs. For example, a student that uses an inhaler for asthma is smarter to pay for the medication outside of insurance and take a policy that excludes pre-existing conditions to save hundreds of dollars each month knowing that the financial risks are minimal. In contrast, an obese diabetic student with signs of complications and other medical symptoms should not take this approach because the costs are not known and may not be manageable outside of insurance. In this case the only logical option is the more expensive employer-provided policy or other guaranteed-issue major medical insurance. Popular brands The most popular student health insurance plan is the American Health Shield plan available in 44 states. This is a "plain vanilla" policy that covers ordinary and necessary medical expenses, including prescription, above the chosen deductible. Students typically choose a $500 policy deductible to save premium, but other options are available. The policy does not cover pregnancy expense or the cost of treating pre-existing medical conditions. This policy is available only to U.S. citizens. Other high quality choices for student health insurance are Celtic Insurance, Golden Rule Insurance, Simple STM and Secure STM. All of these policies can be issued on a semester-by-semester basis. Secure STM is available in 6 month, 12 month and 36 month policy terms. All of these provide coverage throughout all 50 states and allow treatment with any doctor or hospital. International students visiting the United States prefer the Inbound Immigrant policy. This policy actually provides more liberal benefits than it U.S. counterparts, but coverage must be purchased within 2 years after first arriving in the United States. U.S. students spending time studying overseas should consider one of the International Health Insurance polices available, depending on the length of their overseas stay.Other policies are available to students with special medical considerations. Coverage area&Coast Group insurance coverage provided by an employer or a university tends to focus on a specific geographic coverage area. In contrast, all MedSave.com insurance policies provide equal treatment with any U.S. doctor or hospital. Please note that if overseas travel is anticipated, a supplemental international health insurance policy should be added separately for the period of travel. Most individually purchased student health insurance policies cost between $50 and $100 per month. Payment can be made monthly or by semester (6 months). A small discount is available when paying for more than one month at a time. Price varies based primarily on location. Age and sex may also affect price of coverage since insurance companies know that young men, as a group, are the least likely to seek medical care and therefore have the lowest average expected medical expenses. How soon can coverage start? Coverage can be started as soon as midnight following online enrollment and electronic payment. Many health insurance companies now offer the option to allow an immediate download of the health insurance ID card immediately at the time of enrollment for students on the move. The most popular times to buy student health insurance are after graduation from high school because parental coverage usually drops off on July 1 and September when students prepare move to a new location. Thanksgiving seems to also be a common time for families to reassess their student’s heath insurance because many students who originally sign up with a school-sponsored plan at the beginning of the school year in September realize the coverage is inadequate by November and then switch to a commercial health insurance plan. Supplemental health insurance Students and their parents have recently become interested in purchasing supplemental health insurance like Basic Health Insurance to cover policy deductibles and other out-of-pocket medical expenses. This coverage provides cash benefits directly to the policyholder in addition to other coverage that may be made through other health insurance. This insurance should not be used in place of major medical insurance. PPO discount plans for graduates Almost everyone should consider coverage under a preferred provider discount plan for medical dental, prescription and other ancillary expenses. These plans provide a discount, perhaps about 25% on average, for out-of-pocket expenses that are usually paid in cash rather than by insurance. Remember that one plan covers the entire household, including students who are away at school. These non-insurance discount plans are inexpensive, ranging from $100 per year for a dental/vision plan to about $300 per year for a full medical/dental/vision plus plan. Most families find that makes good financial sense to have this benefit. See www.ehealthdiscountplan.com for more information. Other considerations Student medial insurance policies are not designed to provide full pregnancy coverage, or take over an existing plan of treatment for a pre-existing medical condition. Students with medical conditions should be fully aware of the laws known as COBRA and HIPAA. Nothing in the health insurance polices mentioned in this article overrides the specific provisions of these federal laws that provide the terms of health insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. Graduate Student Health Insurance - “Aetna can deny your claim for … Has anyone here had insurance through Aetna/The Chickering Group? If so, did you have any reasonable claims denied? The basis of your health insurance is a.   Read more… International Student Insurance Blog and News The International Student Insurance Blog and News provides students with health insurance and travel insurance information and resources from around the world.   Read more… State may mandate student insurance - News State may mandate student insurance,   Read more…

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health insurance solutions

Looking for health insurance? You’re not alone.

More and more people are realizing they should think about their health before something happens to put it in danger. Whether you are healthy, haven’t seen a doctor in years, or have a medical condition or concerns, no one is immune from the possibility of a catastrophic accident or the diagnosis of a serious medical illness. Routine doctor visits and lab tests may be manageable costs, but hospital stays, operations, and illness treatments generate fees that rapidly soar out of control. By the end of 2008, health care costs are expected to reach 2.25 trillion dollars.Here at Minsurance.com want to help you understand individual health insurance options. We unravel the mysteries of the different types of health plans, discuss coverage options, introduce you to trusted healthcare providers, and inform you about health insurance considerations state by state. Feature articles are also available to help provide even more details tailored to your life situation.

Individual Health Insurance
Self-Employed Health Insurance
Student Health Insurance
Temporary Health Insurance
Family Health Insurance
Small Business Health Insurance
Travel Health Insurance

Most Americans have a hard enough time paying their rent or mortgage, clothing, gas, food, and basic monthly bills. Who has the extra cash for a family medical plan? Even with a half way decent employer, you would still have to pay at least $150 every week to cover the children and spouse. If you have no children, the health insurance doesn’t usually change. The only good thing is if you add more children the plan doesn’t change then, either. What do you do if you don’t have a spare $150 a week to devote to this? What are your options to provide in case of an emergency?
Having health insurance helps to protect us from high health care costs that most people could not meet in any other way. It helps us pay for health care, and it ensures that we have access to care when we need it. Research has shown that having health insurance is closely tied to the quality and timeliness of care.
It is very important to compare plans carefully to find the one that is best for your situation. Read and compare policies. You should contact each plan you are considering and ask them for a summary of their benefits. Be sure to ask questions if something is unclear. Also, ask whether your doctor or a doctor you may be considering participates in the plan. To be safe, you should also contact the doctor’s office to confirm that they will accept the plan.

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Self-Employed Health Insurance

If you are self-employed, or planning to start your own business now or after you retire, the following tips will help you find the best self-employed health insurance coverage options that will fit your budget.

Keep the Health Insurance You Have, For Awhile

The easiest way to ensure that you continue to have good health insurance after you leave your corporate job is to keep the same coverage by invoking your rights under health provisions in the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1986.

Under COBRA, you can leave your job and keep your current coverage for up to 18 months at group rates, so long as the company you’re leaving employs 20 or more people and you weren’t fired for gross negligence or incompetence. For more information about COBRA coverage, check with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Even so, expect the price tag to be a shock. Once you’re self-employed you’ll have to pay the full cost of the coverage, which is likely to be much higher than the amount you were paying as an employee. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, workers typically pay only 28 percent of their insurance costs.

Evaluate your health needs and budget, then conduct some initial research to find the best policy for you. Try out our sponsored to see just how affordable a self-employed health insurance plan can be. Consider the following expenses when researching for self-employed health insurance:

• Hospital expenses, such as room and board
• Costs associated with surgical procedures
• Office visits and doctors’ fees
• Expenses to treat illness or injury

Additional considerations may include coverage for:

• Prescription drugs
• Maternity care
• Vision care
• Mental health benefits

Keep in mind that these additional coverage areas will increase the amount of your premium. Identify your particular needs to customize your distinct self-employed health insurance plan. Check with your state regulations for more information about insurance for the self-employed.

Visit the individual health insurance plan section for more details about what to look for in a health plan. Also you can use this guide line.

Find a Reputable Health Insurance Agent
If you prefer to deal directly with an agent for your self-employed health insurance, do your homework. Interview a few different agents, and compare the price and coverage of the self-employed health insurance plans they offer.

Before you sign anything or make any payments, check with your state insurance commissioner’s office to find out if any complaints have been filed against the agents or the insurers they represent.

Pay More to Pay Less
Another way to lower your self-employed health insurance premiums and still get good coverage is to choose a plan with a high deductible, and combine it with a tax-free health savings account (HSA). You deposit pre-tax dollars into your HSA, and use that money to pay medical expenses that aren’t reimbursed by your health insurance. You can find more information about health savings accounts and HSA-eligible insurance plans at hsainsider.com.

Join the Crowd
If your business grows and you start hiring employees, you may be able to save money by getting health insurance for your business through a professional employers association that provides health insurance and other services to small businesses. The can help you find a group that meets your needs. 

Don’t Let Time Slip By
Under the law, you are guaranteed access to health insurance as long as you find a new policy within 63 days after you reach the end of your COBRA benefits. If you fail to arrange for new coverage within that timeframe, your health insurance application could be rejected or the new policy could exclude a pre-existing condition for up to a year.

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What is COBRA?

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What is COBRA?

    The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA) requires most employers with group health plans to offer qualifying employees and/or their spouses and dependents the opportunity to temporarily continue their group health care coverage under the employer’s plan if their coverage otherwise would cease due to termination, layoff, or other "qualifying event". This coverage, however, is only available when coverage is lost due to certain specific events.  Group health coverage for COBRA participants is usually more expensive than health coverage for active employees, since usually the employer pays a part of the premium for active employees while COBRA participants generally pay the entire premium themselves.  It is ordinarily less expensive, though, than individual health coverage.

There are three elements to qualifying for COBRA benefits.  COBRA establishes specific criteria for plans, qualified beneficiaries, and qualifying events: 

Plan Coverage - Group health plans for employers with 20 or more employees on more than 50 percent of its typical business days in the previous calendar year are subject to COBRA.  Both full and part-time employees are counted to determine whether a plan is subject to COBRA.  Each part-time employee counts as a fraction of an employee, with the fraction equal to the number of hours that the part-time employee worked divided by the hours an employee must work to be considered full time.

Qualified Beneficiaries - A qualified beneficiary generally is an individual covered by a group health plan on the day before a qualifying event who is either an employee, the employee’s spouse, or an employee’s dependent child.  In certain cases, a retired employee, the retired employee’s spouse, and the retired employee’s dependent children may be qualified beneficiaries.  In addition, any child born to or placed for adoption with a covered employee during the period of COBRA coverage is considered a qualified beneficiary.  Agents, independent contractors, and directors who participate in the group health plan may also be qualified beneficiaries.

Qualifying Events - Qualifying events are certain events that would cause an individual to lose health coverage.  The type of qualifying event will determine who the qualified beneficiaries are and the amount of time that a plan must offer the health coverage to them under COBRA.  A plan, at its discretion,  may provide longer periods of continuation coverage.

Qualifying Events for Employees:

• Voluntary or involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than gross misconduct

• Reduction in the number of hours of employment

Qualifying Events for Spouses:

• Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee’s employment for any reason other than gross misconduct

• Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee

• Covered employee’s becoming entitled to Medicare

• Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee

• Death of the covered employee

Qualifying Events for Dependent Children:

• Loss of dependent child status under the plan rules

• Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee’s employment for any reason other than gross misconduct

• Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee

• Covered employee’s becoming entitled to Medicare

• Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee

• Death of the covered employee

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Get a better Night Rest

Do you wake up refreshed and ready to face the day? If not, your not a lone. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, about one in five adults aren’t getting enough sleep. And more than 50 million Americans have some kind of sleep disorder. "A lot of people don’t think much about about feeling sleepy," says Anil Rama, MD medical Laboratory in North West. "The symptoms develop so gradually that they think it’s normal to be sleepy during the day." The importance of sleep - With us its rounds-the-clock demands and obligations, modern life leaves many of us bleary-eyes. "Technology has given us more gadgets to spend time on, and more people are working longer hours or holding down two jobs," says Dr. Rama. ‘Sleep ends up being sacrificed.People just cope with ti by lining up at the coffeehouse every morning." If you miss an hours of sleep now and then, it’s problem.But when you don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis, your family and social life suffer,m work performance declines, and your body struggles to fight off infection. Chronic sleep problems have been associated with a higher risk of depression and may even increase the rick of heart disease and cancer. If you have difficulty falling asaleep for more than four weeks, talk to your doctor.Sleep disorders come in many forms–insomnia, sleep apnea(where you stop breathing for 10 second or longer while sleeping), and restless leg syndrome are just a few examples. some disorders can be diagnosed and treated easily, while others require testing before treatment can be recommended. Beyond counting sheep- Sleeping pills, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, can be helpful for occasional or short-term use. But frequent use of sleep medications can cause daytime drowsiness and memory problems, as well as dependence. They may also lose their effectiveness after prolonged use and can prevent you from getting the deep,restorative sleep you need. Tips for an easier bedtime 1) Develop a routine- Go to bed at the same time every night, and get up at the same time every morning (even on weekends.) Read,listen to music, or take a warm bath before bed to help you relax. 2)Create a sleep environment- Reserve the bedroom for only sleep and intimacy. Don’t lie awake in bed at night for longer than 15 to 20 minutes.Get up and do something relaxing — such as reading– until you feel sleep.Try going to bed later when you are sleepier, rather than tossing and turning for hours before falling asleep.Consider using a white noise machine to eliminate distractions. 3) Cut back- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and tocacco before bedtime. Cut back on Fluids in the evening to avoid having to get up to use the bathroom. 4)Get active. Getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day helps improve deep sleep.Avoid working out two hours or less before bedtime.

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FAQs

Answers To Your Health Insurance FAQs

What is health insurance?                            How does health insurance affect me?

What are my health care options?              I don’t have health insurance. What are my options?

What does HMO,PPO,POS Mean?                 What is COBRA?

What is a Deductible?                                 What is Coinsurance?

What is Group Insurance?                        

What do I need to know about Managed Care Insurance: HMO, PPO, & and POS plans?                              What is the difference between the Student Health fee and the Student Insurance Plan fee?                    What are these monies used for? What does "three outside referrals" mean? How should they be properly used or protected?

How do you define "outside"? Does it cost me more to deal with an agent than it would if I dealt directly with an Insurance Company?

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What is an/a PPO,HMO,POS,HSA,INDEMNITY PLAN

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HOW DOES INSURANCE WORK?

PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization. This type of insurance will normally require you to visit doctors within a certain network in order to receive insurance coverage.
This type of plan normally will have a deductible and may include a co-payment for doctor visits.

HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization. While this type of insurance is generally much more affordable, there are more restrictions than a PPO plan. The network of available health care providers may be smaller and you will need to select a Primary Physician.  However, there are usually no deductibles and co-payments for HMO plans are normally lower than PPO co-payments.

POS stands for Point of Service. This type of health insurance is a hybrid between a PPO and an HMO. You will still need to have a primary care physician, but you will have access to more health care options within your network.  As with an HMO, there are normally no deductibles and co-payments are lower.

An Indemnity plan will allow you much more freedom in health care choices. This freedom comes with some drawbacks and will normally require you to pay a deductible and may also require you to pay for health care visits and submit your claim for re-payment from the insurance company.

A UCR (usual, customary and reasonable) rate will be paid out on your claims. This rate will be predetermined by your health insurance company before you purchase your policy.

You will not need to have a primary care physician with this type of insurance plan.

 HSA stands for Health Savings Account. This type of plan was introduced in January of 2004. Basically, you set up a “savings account” and this account is used in conjunction with an HSA insurance plan to pay for your medical costs.

Contributions to your HSA savings plan are made at pre-tax and you may invest these funds however you would like.

Unused funds in your account are tax free and may accrue interest year-to-year.

 

 

 

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I don’t have health insurance. What are my options?

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I don’t have health insurance. What are my options?

More than 46 million people in the United States are uninsured, and most are in working families. The government is looking for ways to provide more affordable health insurance and greater access to health care. Right now, there are a number of resources for women without health insurance. There are government-sponsored “safety-net” facilities that provide medical care for those in need, even if they have no insurance or money. Safety-net facilities include community health centers, public hospitals, school-based centers, public housing primary care centers, migrant health centers, and special needs facilities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently awarded more than $19 million to expand and strengthen these facilities. To find a facility near you, contact your local or state health department or visit the Bureau of Primary Health Care.

Other government-sponsored programs for uninsured women include:

* Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC). Provides healthy foods to supplement diets, nutrition education, and referrals to health care for low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5. Contact: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic.
* National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Provides free or low-cost mammograms and pap tests for women over age 39 who cannot afford breast exams or Pap smears. Contact: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp or 1-888-842-6355.
* Maternal and Child Health Services. State programs provide health care services for low-income women who are pregnant and their children under age 22. The federal government funds these programs and establishes general guidelines regarding services. Each state determines eligibility and identifies the specific services to be provided. The Title V State MCH Toll-free Hotline Directory can help you find services in your state.
* Indian Health Service (IHS). Provides public health care services to American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Generally, one must be an enrolled member of a Federally recognized tribe to be eligible for health services from the IHS. Non-Indian women who are pregnant with an eligible Indian’s child also may receive health care service from the IHS. Contact: www.ihs.gov.
* Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH). Federal grants are provided to states and territories that partner with local organizations to provide a variety of health services for homeless people who have serious mental illness. Contact: http://www.pathprogram.samhsa.gov.

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What are my health care options?

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What are my health care options?

Health insurance can be complicated and confusing. There are different types of plans:
Private Health Insurance

There are two major types of private health insurance:

1. Fee-for-service. The provider (such as a doctor or hospital) gets paid for each covered service. With this type, you go to a doctor of your choice, then the doctor or hospital submits a claim to your insurance company for payment. The insurance company will only pay the provider for “covered” services. Most fee-for-service plans have a deductible amount that you must pay each year before the insurance company will begin to pay for medical services. Many plans also require you to pay a portion of the medical expense—called “coinsurance.”
2. Managed care. Managed care plans have contracts with certain doctors, hospitals and other providers to provide medical services to plan members. The three main types of managed care plans are:

* Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). They provide health services for a fixed monthly payment, called a “premium.” This monthly premium is the same whether you use the plan’s services or not. The plan may charge a copayment for some services—for example $10 for an office visit or $5 for a prescription. HMO plans usually require you to select a primary care physician (PCP), who manages your care. As long as you use the doctors and hospitals that participate in the HMO, your out-of-pocket costs should be very small. The HMO Act of 1973 created this alternative to traditional health plans as a more affordable option.
* Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). This option offers more choices than an HMO, but premiums often are higher. Most PPO plans do not require you have a PCP to manage your care. You can keep your out-of-pocket costs low by using “in-network” providers.
* Point of Service (POS). This plan is similar to a PPO, but your care is managed by a PCP. For example, with a POS plan, you would need a referral from your PCP to see a specialist.

People who have private insurance either buy it themselves or get it through their employer, called “group insurance.” Group insurance obtained through an employer typically requires the employee to pay some of the overall policy cost.

Public Health Insurance (Please prefer video top of this FAQ)

The government also provides health care coverage for qualifying women through Medicaid, Medicare, and special interest programs. These plans serve those who meet certain financial, age, or situational requirements. Government health insurance programs include:

* Medicare. This is the national health insurance program for people age 65 or older, under age 65 with certain disabilities, and any age with permanent kidney failure. How you get your health care coverage depends on the Medicare plan you select. The Original Medicare Plan has three parts:

* Part A (hospital) covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, home health, and hospice services. Everyone over age 65 is entitled to Part A.
* Part B (medical) covers outpatient hospital, doctor, lab, and other services. Part B also covers preventive services important to women, such as yearly mammogram, Pap smear, bone density scan, and flu shots. Part B is optional. You have to purchase Part B.
* Part D covers prescription drugs. Part D is optional. You have to purchase Part D. Private companies approved by Medicare run these plans. Plans cover different drugs, but drugs that you must have to treat a health problem are covered.

Some people also choose to purchase a “Medigap” policy to help pay for medical services and supplies not covered by Part A and Part B. Costs for this type of private insurance vary by policy and company.

Medicare also offers Medicare Advantage Plans. These are health plans like HMOs and PPOs that are approved by Medicare and run by private companies. They are part of the Medicare Program, and sometimes called “Part C.” These plans provide all of your Part A and Part B coverage. Many also include Part D drug coverage. Your costs may be lower than in the Original Medicare Plan, and you may get extra benefits.

For more information, call 1 (800) 633-4227 (MEDICARE) or go to http://www.medicare.gov.

* Medicaid. Medicaid provides health care to certain low-income individuals and families with limited resources. Medicaid does not pay money to you. Instead, it sends payments directly to your health care providers. Medicaid is a state and federally funded program. Although the federal government sets general program rules, each state defines its own eligibility rules and runs its own program services. Qualification in one state does not mean you will qualify in another state. You must be a U.S. national, citizen or permanent resident alien in order to apply for benefits. For more information, call 1 (877) 0267-2323 or go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp

Note: Many states have become more flexible in their ability to serve families in need, especially if you fall into any of these categories:

* Pregnant—Both you and your child will be covered if you qualify.
* Children/Teenagers—May cover sick children or teenagers on their own.
* Aged, Blind, and/or Disabled—Nursing home and hospice care available.
* Leaving welfare—You may be able to get temporary assistance.

Call your local social security office for more information.

* State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This is a joint state and federal program that provides insurance for children of qualifying families. Families who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance may be able to qualify for SCHIP assistance. Eligibility and health care coverage varies according to each state. For more information, contact http://www.insurekidsnow.gov or call 1 (877) 543-7669 (KIDS NOW).

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