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Thursday, June 4, 2009

Cheap Medical Insurance In Tampa Florida -- Steps to Better Rates

By Chimezirim Odimba

Do you want to get superior Tampa Florida medical insurance for a lot less? There are tips you must take note of and implement if you're really committed to getting considerable discounts. Following are some of such things...

1. The pharmaceutical industry has big brand names. If you buy name brand drugs, your rates will be more. Just in case you don't know, the law stipulates that every drug must consist of the same active ingredients whether they are brand name or generic. The inactive agents are the only differences between generic drugs and brand names.

Therefore, by going for brand names you truly aren't enjoying more value even though you are paying a lot more. Discuss with your doctor about this.

2. You'll get a more affordable health insurance quote Tampa Florida if you make your payments by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This authorizes your insurance company to automatically withdraw your payments from your account when due. This reduces an insurer's overhead by eliminating the need for payment notices or checks. Your rate is therefore brought down in line with the cheaper cost of providing insurance to you.

3. For people who have a pre-existing condition that makes it hard or too expensive for them to find private personal health insurance coverage, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) insurance should offer a cheaper alternative.

4. You can make considerable savings on health insurance in a number of states if you run a home business. Such states require that insurance providers offer home based businesses similar rates with other (bigger) businesses.

And all it takes for your home business to be eligible is just one employee.

You can have your spouse or older kid work as an employee. Moreover, you will still qualify if that single employee works only part time.

This will give your extra savings since group rates are usually lower than individual Florida health insurancerates.

To know if your state provides such or if your home business is qualified, contact your state's department of insurance.

5. Even though you're warned against self-medication, there are situtions where you should not visit a doctor. Take, for example, a viral infection like flu. A visit to your doctor will really make no difference in your health if you understand what to do. Your doctor will probably do things you should have done for yourself at home in a situation like that.

There's no way you can justify spending $100 for something you should have dealt with by yourself. I also think there are little home incidents that your first aid box will take good care of. It is to your advantage to learn how to take care of simple home incidents especially if you have kids. There are many things that you can (and should) handle if you have invested the time to learn and as well have a well-equiped first aid box.

But even in those cases if you are not sure visit a doctor because it's better to lose money than to endanger your life. And, for people who have some experience with first aid, know your limits. The law stops you from doing certain things if you're not a certified medical doctor. Having the right balance is a must in this and other matters. If you do this right you will pay less in health insurance and still not put yourself at any risk.

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Health Insurance -- Smart Steps To Better Discounts

By Chimezirim Odimba

You will be astonished to read that about twenty percent of all American don't have health insurance of any sort. This report can be relieable because it is from the American Census Bureau. And this would have been worse knowing that it was group health plans that have made health insurance possible for most of those who have it.

This becomes a big issue as this suggests that many Americans would be without health on account of the withdrawal of group health insurance by many employers. This situation is because of the rising cost of health care.

This implies that for most persons to have any form of health insurance, they would have to provide for themselves. The importance, therefore, of knowing how to get cheaper health insurance premiums can't be overemphasized. Let's see proven steps to reduce your individual health insurance rate.

1. Smokers attract rates that are twice or more that of individuals who don't smoke. It's a well known truth that smokers are prone to many health conditions and that they also die young.

If smoking leads to specific health conditions, then it makes a person a high risk and that attracts higher rates. If you can stop smoking you will attract rates that are considerably reduced when you reapply after twelve months.

2. People with excess weight get a lot more in rates than individuals with normal weights. There's something called Body Mass Index (BMI). It is used to calculate a prospect's rates.

If your Body Mass Index rating is high, your premium will be high. You're overweight for your height and sex if your BMI is high. Now don't postpone it for when you can lose 30 pounds because shedding 5 pounds can reduce your Body Mass Index rating which leads to lower rates.

3. Despite the fact that most people have realized that smoking increases their rates, they may not know that this also applies if they use other tobacco products. Chewing or snuffing tobacco, for example will cost you in higher premium.

So, you will help yourself get less expensive rates if you stay away from tobacco use in any form.

4. You'll attract cheaper rates if you elect to pay your premiums annually and not monthly. Notwithstanding the fact that this option is often more convenient, it costs more for some reasons.

Each check that is processed attracts a charge. While annual payment attracts just one check and therefore one transaction for a year, monthly payments attract twelve. You'll then have to pay the sum of twelve transaction charges.

That is just part of it: Insurers also incur higher administrative costs for your monthly payments. For instance, it costs some money to send payment notices each and every month.

These costs plus a profit margin for this feature is included in your premium making it more than a comparable profile that pays annually every year.

5. If you take part in high risk or dangerous sports you will attract expensive rates. It is therefore compulsory to quit such dangerous sports if you are looking for cheaper rates.

6. If you drive irresponsibly then expect to pay higher health insurance rates. Speeding tickets and other traffic offences can effectively increase your health insurance premium. The simple reason is that if you're such a driver, you'll most likely require medical attention for injuries than a very cautious driver.

Improving your driving history and developing a good driving culture will reduce your rates. Super-fast automobiles like fast muscle cars and super bikes will attract a more expensive health insurance rate. The higher likelihood of a crash means someone could be injured and require to make a claim.

7. Those whose lines of duty expose to hazards get higher premiums. Switching to a less-hazardous vocation will bring down your premium by a good margin. A person who works in a nuclear plant can't attract similar rates with a clerk in the neighborhood grocery.

8. What you're prepared to contribute to payments for each visit to a doctor has a bearing on your rate. This is your co-pay. Increasing your co-pay reduces your costs. If you hardly ever have to see a doctor, you will lower your rate considerable by selecting a high co-pay.

9. You'll pay less for a group plan than you will for an individual plan. So for those who have the opportunity of using a group plan, it offers you an the avenue of paying lower rates than otherwise.. This should be of particular interest to elderly people, smokers or overweight individuals who usually have to pay expensive premiums.

A group plan will help you make considerable savings if you have a pre-existing condition that makes individual health insurance either too expensive or almost impossible to come by. A group plan is a good way of lowering your rate without lowering the quality of coverage you get.

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Monday, June 1, 2009

Health Care Insurance Savings: 7 Sure Ways

By Chimezirim Odimba

You can lower your rates dramatically by compromising the quality of coverage you enjoy. That's NOT advisable. Nevertheless, you can pay much less for superior coverage if you have the right tips and take necessary precautions. I'll explain how...

1. Even though this may not be an issue for most folks it should be mentioned...

Beside the fact that you're putting your life at risk, using banned or yet-to-be-approved drugs will raise you premium. Abusing drugs also will make you spend more in health insurance. Along these lines, stop self-medication for both its dire implications and the fact that it will increase your rates.

2. An HMO will will get you health insurance at a cheaper rate. They are a more affordable alternative than traditional health insurance. Just bear in mind that with the lower cost also come restrictions in the choice of hospitals and medical professionals you can use.

For individuals who want limitless choices in who and where to get health care, a traditional health insurance plan is recommended.

For such folks, cost can be reduced by a great margin if they take the time out to shop extensively for cheap rates in traditional health insurance. If you shop extensively you will pay far less for any plan you elect to use.

However, if you are willing to bear its limited choices, you will pay less with an HMO.

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3. Using a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is another way you can cut down on cost. It costs more than an HMO and also gives you more choices.

You can consider your needs and what your profit would be for either using a PPO or regular health insurance. If saving is your main aim than more choices then use a PPO.

4. You can insure your kids through state plans if you need to cut down your spend. There are criteria that must be met before you are deemed qualified for such.

But check if you are qualified as this will cost you nothing or very little in most cases. If you have a child with a special ailment, you will spend less if you insure such a kid through a state plan.

5. Information is is crucial if you want to make savings. You will be able to make choices that will get you the best. In addition, you will also be in a position to take advantage of opportunities as they come.

The U.S has many toll free numbers where you can get help on health related matters. One of such numbers is that of the National Health Information Center: 1-800-336-4797

6. There are persons who may not qualify for special health insurance for low-income earners and at the same time find it very difficult to pay for standard health insurance. If you're among such individuals, you'll benefit much if you get a discount medical card.

A discount medical card qualifies you to take advantage of a network of health care providers who have agreed to give card carriers medical services at a lower rate. These cards aren't given by any health insurance carrier.

You can make use of this option if you have a medical history that has made health insurance providers either reject you or give you a rate that is very expensive. One advantage of a discount medical card is that everyone is welcome. Simply make your monthly payments and you'll use a network of doctors who will charge you lower for their services.

7. If you want to reduce your rate then join a group health expense sharing plan. This is a plan where a group of individuals collectively give themselves health insurance coverage. You can find such groups in large organizations.

Each group usually creates its own set of rules, the type and scope of coverage given, restrictions if any and more.

Try to locate groups like this and see if any of them will suit your individual health insurance needs. You can expect your cost to be cheaper if you locate a group that fits your needs.

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