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The BlueCross BlueShield Association provides health care insurance to 99 million members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico through a national federation of 39 independent BlueCross and BlueShield companies. More than 90 percent of hospitals and 80 percent of physicians in the U.S. contract with BlueCross BlueShield, according to the BlueCross BlueShield Association. The insurer, that dates back to 1933, is based in Chicago.
If you work for a company, there's a good chance you obtain your health insurance coverage through your employer. If so, you are probably enrolled in some type of group health insurance plan. Group health insurance coverage is available for groups of all sizes. The types of plans available can vary greatly, as can their costs to you and your employer.
The Affordable Care Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 2010 is projected to reduce health-care premium costs for millions of Americans and small business owners. The potential benefits of the legislation still stirs up debates, however, and some insurers who offer cheap-but-limited health-care coverage will have to change their policies. In any case, consumers still need to shop around for affordable health insurance that provides useful benefits.
The federal government allows some taxpayers to deduct some of their health insurance costs on their tax returns. In 2010, Congress enacted the Affordable Care Act, giving eligible taxpayers some new opportunities to deduct the costs of obtaining health insurance coverage. Most of the new laws take effect in 2011 and have sunset periods or expiration dates for when the law is no longer applicable.
Private health insurance policies cover millions of individuals and families across the United States each year. These plans are individually owned and bought directly from insurance companies. Flexible coverage options are one of several benefits that come with private health plans. However, individuals with less than good health may find it expensive or difficult to obtain private health insurance.
Secondary insurance occurs when there are two or more insurance policies, especially health insurance, covering a single individual. Individuals usually only need one type of insurance and don't even consider buying a second policy. Sometimes family circumstances, however, lead to a need for secondary insurance: In these cases, individuals need to decide if they want to keep the secondary insurance or rearrange insurance policies so that only one policy is in effect.
While you probably understand the need for health insurance, you may be confused by the variety of insurance options available. There are different types of policies, as well as various levels of coverage that affect diverse ages and lifestyles differently. Choosing a policy is easiest when you understand your own coverage needs, as well as the laws governing insurance and the types of policies available to you.
Paying for medical treatment out-of-pocket is outside the realm of affordability for many families and individuals. Health insurance offers an option for receiving medical treatment at a reduced cost, but requires a monthly premium payment. Health insurance pricing methods make it difficult to know if you're getting the best deal possible, but there are several factors that will impact what you pay regardless of what insurance you have.
Finding affordable health insurance information is easy online. Every major health insurance company offers a variety of health plans at different costs. Visit their websites to find a wealth of plan information, obtain quotes and apply for coverage. Other websites offer the opportunity to compare different plans at once. Information about public health plans, often available to those with no or little income, such as Medicaid and Medicare are available on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and your state's department of insurance websites.
UCare Minnesota healthcare plans have an identification card that indicates your insurance benefits or member discounts to participating providers. Doctors, dentists, chiropractors, pharmacists and other participating providers will ask to see your UCare ID card before processing insurance claims or offering health insurance-based discounts. UCare, like most health insurance providers, uses acronyms and abbreviations on their health insurance ID cards making it hard to understand exactly what information is being given to these providers when you present your UCare ID card for services or discounts.
Regence Blue Shield is a health insurance company that provides health coverage to members in the state of Washington and parts of Idaho. The company is part of a larger network of Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance plans operating in the northwest United States. Four types of resources are available to help you locate a Regence Blue Shield agent who can provide information about health insurance options.
Obtaining health insurance starts with gaining basic knowledge about medical coverage. Private health insurance coverage comes in a variety of programs, including indemnity and managed care plans. Public programs offer coverage funded by state, federal and local governments and include policies for seniors, children, families, the disabled and veterans of the Armed Forces. Once obtained, health insurance can defray the cost of medical care, paying all or a portion of doctor bills, hospital expenses and prescription medications costs.
Honorably discharged veterans of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines (World War II), Reservists and Coast Guard, who have given active military service, qualify for benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Some of these benefits include life insurance, health insurance, loans and unemployment insurance.
Self-employed or unemployed people can get health coverage by purchasing an individual health insurance policy. These policies offer many, though not necessarily all, of the same coverages as a group health policy, and sometimes the purchaser has the option of adding extra features. Insurance companies that offer individual coverages have more leeway in whom they can exclude for particular medical conditions, and they also require the patient to submit a medical history as part of the application process.
In contract law, the parties to a contract may agree upon an amount of "liquidated damages" one party must pay the other if it fails to uphold a certain obligation under the contract. Liquidated damages are intended to protect parties against the damage that could occur if certain obligations aren't met on time.
MinnesotaCare is a publicly sponsored health insurance program. It provides health insurance to working families who lack access to affordable coverage and don't qualify for Medicaid. MinnesotaCare program generally relies on state-funded assistance to cover more Minnesotans, but receives some federal funding. The program serves approximately 107,000 adults and children in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) administers the program. It's also responsible for determining eligibility for the program--a function it also shares with county human services agencies for some enrollees. In addition, certain counties also have elected to manage MinnesotaCare cases for enrollees in their communities.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky established the Kentucky Access program as a way to provide affordable coverage to more uninsured Kentuckians. The program creates a large risk pool of people considered high-risk due to a chronic illness or preexisting condition. The state then permits insurance companies to sell individual health plans to program participants at a cost lower than what they would otherwise pay in the individual market. The program is funded by the state tobacco tax, state health insurance assessments charged to insurance companies operating in the Commonwealth, and participant premiums.
The health information management (HIM) field deals with the information in patients' medical records which may include office and hospital notes, x-rays and other diagnostic data. HIM professionals are responsible for organizing records and keeping them up-to-date.
