Kentucky Health Insurance - Update on the New HealthCare Bill - Tanning Tax

Kentucky Health Insurance - Update on the New HealthCare Bill - Tanning Tax

Months ago you may have heard of a tax on botox in the news stories covering the new health care bill. They had inserted a 5% tax on botox and other cosmetic procedures which received quite a bit of backlash. In the weeks after this "botax" as it was referred to, doctors and industry groups lobbied against the tax arguing in part that it discriminated against women, who receive the majority of cosmetic surgery and anti

-aging injections. The site Stopcosmetictax.org, financed in part by Allergan, which makes Botox, stated that “it is unfair and insulting” to impose a penalty on cosmetic procedures sought primarily by women as if the procedures were unhealthy, like smoking.



Dr. David M. Pariser, the president of the American Academy of Dermatology, said his association proposed that an indoor-tanning tax be considered in place of the cosmetic tax, and that it contacted the offices of senators. “We made the case this will reduce health care costs by hopefully reducing skin cancer in the future — that’s the point — and also raise a little revenue now,” Dr. Pariser said.

The 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services will raise $2.7 billion over 10 years which is designed to offset some of the expense of providing health insurance for millions more Americans.

What do you think? Are you for or against this tax on indoor tanning? Leave a comment about these changes to Kentucky health insurance to let us know what you think.

Kentucky Health Plans - What To Think About Before You Shop

So you've decided to start researching new Kentucky health plans...but do you know what to do before you search? Here is a short and simple guide to assist you in what can be an incredibly overwhelming task.

1. What can you afford? How much can you or your family afford to spend monthly on your premiums? Its important to have an idea of what you can spend, however keep in mind your budget could be slightly unrealistic depending on your expectations of coverage and health conditions.

2. How much can you afford to be responsible for in medical costs should something catastrophic occur and your max out your deductible and/or out of pocket maximum? Deductibles can range from $250 to $10,000 for an individual and $500 to $20,000 for a family plan. THE HIGHER YOUR DEDUCTIBLE THE LOWER YOUR MONTHLY PREMIUM. This is key to take note of. The average deductible that we are currently selling to our clients is about $2,500 to $3,000 for an individual and $5,000 to $6000 for a family.

3. Are copays a necessity for your plan? There are now 2 main types of Kentucky health plans...with copays and plans without copays. The plans without copays are called HSAs (Health Savings Account). The most important reason to consider how important copays are to your plan is they significantly raise the price of your health plan if they are included. Consider getting an HSA and you could literally save thousands a year on your health premiums.

Questions? Not sure what you can afford? Not sure what a prudent deductible for your family would be? Contact the independent agents at One Source Benefits today for a free consultation!

More questions about Kentucky Health Plans? Contact us!

Kentucky Health Plans - Anthem HSAs

The Anthem HSA works just as others Kentucky health plans would work, except without the copays and with an excellent preventative benefit included in it. Why are there not any copays you may ask? Well, for two reasons mainly. Including copays in a plan takes away your control over where your health care dollars are being spent. With a plan such as an HSA you, the consumer, is fully in control of where each of your health care dollars is going. Also, all of the money you spend is applied directly to your deductible, whereas copays are not. Therefore, you are able to start chipping away at your deductible from day 1 of your plan. The second reason that it is good to have a plan without copays is that it will save you between 30 and 60% on your premiums. Why is this? When a plan includes copays the premiums must be raised to account for the extra money that the health insurance company will pay to a doctor each time a copay is paid by the consumer. For example, if you had cold symptoms and decided to go see the doctor with a typical copay plan you would just pay $30 to see the physician and then go on your way. Meanwhile, the health insurance carrier is paying close to $100 on the back end to take care of the actual cost of that visit. Keep in mind, your copay is not applied toward your deductible. Now, take this same scenario and apply it to a consumer who has an HSA plan. If his cold was bad enough to possibly need a prescription antibiotic and he went to see his physician he would pay the Anthem pre-negotiated rate and that amount would also be applied toward his deductible. If, in fact, he did receive a prescription he would pay for that in the same way as his office visit (that amount too would be applied to his deductible).

The benefit that sets the Anthem HSA aside from all others is the unlimited preventive benefit. This covers all well-child visits, immunizations deemed necessary by the state, yearly physical for adults, mammogram, pap test, colonoscopy, etc. This benefit is unlimited, there is no dollar cap on the amount that will be covered in preventive services. There is no charge or copay for any of these services. They are free to the consumer who pays their premiums for their HSA plan. This could save an individual hundreds of dollars a year in medical expenses, and even thousands for a family plan. What a great opportunity for savings!

More questions about Kentucky Health Plans? Contact us!

Kentucky Health Plans - Humana

If you are looking for Kentucky health plans then you probably realize that unexpected medical bills are probably the biggest hindrance on financial stability today. Most people do not realize the actual cost of medical services until they lose or are unable to obtain medical insurance.  Although preventing unexpected medical services is an unreasonable goal, limiting your financial responsibility is a very reasonable goal.  The way to do this would be to obtain proper medical insurance.  First, think of what services you may need coverage for.  For example, if you are planning on having a baby within the next few years, you may want to choose a plan that provides for maternity services.  If you are particular about the doctors that treat you, you will want to choose a plan that includes the doctors you would like to see.  You may want insurance for a short period of time, or be in transition.  Whatever your needs are, Humana is there for you.  The best way to remain healthy is through routine exams and knowing your own health.

When you are looking for an individual health insurance plan it pays to do some research. You want to be able to get the coverage you need without breaking the bank. Humana offers affordable plans.  Having an understanding of what you are reading helps tremendously.  If there are any concerns or questions that you have, there are customer service representatives ready and more than willing to help you.  For now, we can help by defining some of the general terms used in the healthcare insurance field.  “Premium” is a term you may or may not be familiar with.  Premium refers to the amount you will pay for you insurance on a term basis.  That basis could be monthly, biweekly, or even weekly.  “Deductible” refers to a predetermined amount you would be responsible to pay before full benefits kick in. These are just a couple of common words that are fluent in healthcare insurance plans.  It is very important that you become familiar with them.

Do you have more questions about affordable Kentucky Health Plans? Contact us or leave a comment!

Kentucky Health Plans - Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

Searching for Kentucky health plans? What’s important to you when you think of medical coverage? Most people worry about the financial aspect of their healthcare. Let’s face it, healthcare is one of the most expensive things you will invest in. Although the expense is certainly worth it in the long run, it still does not change the financial burden it can be on a family. If you do not have insurance, you may worry that you will not be able to cover the bills if you are admitted to the hospital. You may also be concerned about the expense incurred for visiting Urgent Care or even your primary physician. If you get sick, these bills can stack up and become hard to handle without insurance.

Do you have to pay for your own health insurance? If so, you are probably looking for something comparable to what you would have if you were to obtain insurance through an employer. If this is the case, you may want to look at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield for their individual health insurance plan. They have affordable rates and various plans that will fit all your needs. Before enrolling in any plan, you should make sure you understand the benefits offered. A representative can assist you with that part. They are there to answer any questions you may have. Everything from participating providers to the difference between the HMO and PPO plans to co-pays and premiums will be information available to you.

Many plans have deductibles. You should understand what your deductible is and what it means. Basically, this means that you have to pay a certain amount of money before your full benefits kick in. You will learn the term “premium” instead of “payment.” Much like our car insurance, we pay premiums. Your premium will be the amount you pay on a term basis. Usually, this will be on a monthly basis but could be on a weekly or biweekly basis. The website can be used as a helpful tool to define other healthcare lingo you may not be familiar with.

There are a variety of plans available to meet the needs you may have. You should become familiar with each plan, as there may be need to change your plan down the road. Family, marital, and overall healthcare needs change. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is prepared to assist you with these changes. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is a household name and accepted in all 50 states.

Do you have more questions about affordable Kentucky Health Plans? Contact us or leave a comment!

Kentucky Health Insurance - 5 Myths

Kentucky Health Insurance - 5 Myths

MYTH #1:  I DON’T HAVE A LOT OF CHOICES

The Truth: There are four companies that offer individual health insurance and each one has, on average, six different plans. That’s over 42 plans to choose from.

MYTH #2: IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO LOWER MY RATE WITHOUT A DOWNSIDE

The Truth: Most people think that in order to lower their rate they have to give up benefits or choose a higher deductible. This is not true. You can choose a new plan on the market with the same benefits and save a significant amount of money

MYTH #3:  I CAN’T GET COVERAGE DUE TO A HEALTH CONDITION

The Truth: You would be surprised at the options available if you have certain health conditions. Of course, there are always going to be conditions that are automatically uninsurable. It is best to check with your agent and they can guide you toward the company that is most likely to offer you coverage.

MYTH #4:  IF I CHANGE PLANS I’LL HAVE TO CHANGE DOCTORS

The Truth: This is not correct. Most major carriers use two or three networks and most doctors participate in all major networks.

MYTH #5:  CHANGING PLANS IS JUST TOO TIME-CONSUMING

The Truth: This used to be the case but now we’re in the internet age. You can review plans in minutes and applications can be filled out online in five to ten minutes. There are no physicals needed to apply. Approvals used to take weeks and now take between 1 to 3 days. The truth is you could choose a new plan, lower your rate and be saving money within days.

If you have any more questions regarding Kentucky Health Insurance don't hesitate to contact us!

Kentucky Individual Health Insurance

Kentucky individual health insurance plans, like in most states, are generally more affordable than other types of health insurance plans.  However, the cost of a Kentucky individual health insurance plan can widely vary.  Those who live in Kentucky will find that individual health insurance plans and policies will vary due to their own circumstances and will also very depending on if the policy is through an employer or if the individual has bought a policy outside of their employers' and through an independent agent who represents a variety of insurance carriers.

There are multiple components that will mold and shape the prices of each individual's health insurance plan.  The age, postal zip code of residence, health condition and lifestyle specifics will all be determining factors in the cost of a Kentucky individual health insurance plan.  For instance, smokers will pay more for their individual health insurance plans in Kentucky than non-smokers.  Persons who have pre-existing medical problems or who are overweight will also generally pay more than those with no pre-existing medical conditions and who are not overweight.  Lifestyle specifics such as these fore mentioned factors have been even more prevalent to the insurers due to our present economic problems.  Any resident of Kentucky who is in decent health with minimal pre-existing issues will find that there are many insurers willing to offer a fair price on an individual health insurance plan.  Even the residents of Kentucky who do have pre-existing conditions or other lifestyle specifics that might raise their insurance rates will find that there still are insurers that can offer them a fair deal.

If you are shopping for a Kentucky individual health insurance plan, your best option is to shop around for the best rates.  There are many insurance providers in Kentucky that are ready and willing to work with those who are in need of this important coverage.  If you are not offered a health insurance plan through your employer or do not like the insurance offered through your employer, the internet is the best way to shop for insurance and find the quotes and other information you will need.  Online, you will be able to find all of the Kentucky insurers and compare their quotes with ease to find out which insurers are offering the best individual health insurance plans.