• The Coverage Corner

GoHealth in the News: Student Health Insurance

At GoHealth, we make it our mission to help individuals and families find the right health insurance – by any means possible! We blog about it, tweet about and dream about, of course. But lately we’ve become health insurance missionaries, spreading the gospel about finding health insurance coverage across the nation.

This past weekend, our Vice President of Consumer Marketing, Michael Mahoney, traveled to the fair city of Charlotte, North Carolina to visit their local CBS news station, WBTV. Consumer reporter, Kristen Miranda interviewed Michael about health insurance options for recent graduates and how GoHealthInsurance.com can streamline the process of obtaining it.

General Healthcare, Individual Health Insurance |

This is National Women’s Health Week

lovingapple
We keep finding out more and more about the month of May. Apparently, May 14th was National Dance like a Chicken Day. While this news is completely important and relevant to our readers, we thought we’d blog about a different May event – National Women’s Health Week (May 13-19).

Organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, National Women’s Health Week aims to empower women to make their physical and mental health a priority. This year’s theme is “It’s Your Time.”

One in every five American women do not have health insurance, making them much less likely to obtain preventive, primary and specialty care services. National Women’s Health Week offers encouragement and resources for this large sector of the population to become advocates for their own health, as well.

Visit the official website by clicking here. The health-related information is expansive, including:

  • Ways to get involved in Women’s Health Week events in your area
  • Online challenges to get active and improve your diet
  • Guidance for women experiencing mental health issues
  • An interactive health screening chart for women of all ages

It’s not too late to become a part of this positive movement. Get your health on, ladies!

General Healthcare |

Health Insurance Preparation for Pregnancy

newborn-babyFor many couples, the thoughts of baby planning don’t start with health insurance — but they should.

Prenatal care typically costs at least $2,000 out-of-pocket without insurance. The birth itself can range from $9,000 to $17,000 for a vaginal delivery without complications or $14,000 to $25,000 for a C-section without health insurance.

With health insurance coverage, a couple can expect to pay around $500 to $3,000 for the birth which is much more affordable for a family. And, prenatal care is covered to a certain amount.

To help consumers with baby brains, consider preparing yourself with these tips:

1. Have health insurance BEFORE getting pregnant. This is the most important thing to remember if you want health insurance to provide coverage for the pregnancy. If you are pregnant before you have health insurance, the coverage will not cover most pregnancy or prenatal related expenses and will only cover pregnancy-related complications.

2. Pick a hospital that you feel comfortable with. Many hospitals are now offering rooms that feel more like hotels to provide a better experience for the family.

3. Shop for the best hospital rates. Hospital rates for births and delivery rooms vary greatly and can depend on a number of factors. Also, ask about the average cost of care for a premature baby or for neonatal care.

4. Prepare for doctor visits. Find out how many doctor visits you are eligible for and how much those visits cost.

5. Be aware of new preventive care benefits due to health care reform. Reform requires health insurance plans to provide certain levels of preventive care without any cost-sharing to the patient. Some of these benefits include:

  • Folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant
  • Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling
  • Anemia screening for pregnant women
  • Gestational diabetes screening for women 24 to 28 weeks pregnant
  • Rh Incompatibility screening
  • Smoking cessation for pregnant tobacco users
  • Syphilis screening
  • Urinary tract or other infection screenings

6. See if the health insurer offers planning help or information on labor and delivery decisions. Some health insurance companies provide planning and support to help with the prenatal and delivery process.

Health Care Reform, Individual Health Insurance |

Health Reform Means Positive Shifts for Latinos

americanflagIn a little over a month, we will finally know the Supreme Court’s ruling on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA). As we wait patiently, GoHealth continues to keep the conversation about health reform going. Today, we focus on one segment of the American population that would benefit greatly by health care reform – Latinos.

Latinos make up the highest number of uninsured people in the country. Assuming the health reform laws go through, about nine million Latinos in America will be have more control over their own health care than ever before. For extensive information on how health care reform could potentially affect all Americans, visit HealthCare.Gov. Let’s take a look at how things would change in ways specific to Latinos.

Access to Preventive Care

Due to lack of health insurance, Latinos are less likely to seek out preventive care. Under reform, proactive approaches to staying well and preventing the spread of illness and disease are considered top priorities. Any preventive care is exempt from co-pays and deductibles.

Changes in Latino Health Disparities

Research will be conducted to learn more about the disparities in health care quality in Latino communities throughout the country. Using this information, initiatives are planned to increase ethnic diversity amongst health care professionals and build cultural training programs among health care providers.

A New Focus on Minority Health

The National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities will transition from a “Center” to an “Institute” with much broader scope and purpose. Also, the Office of Minority Health within the Department of Health and Human Services will elevate practices to monitor health, trends, and quality of care among minorities to evaluate the success of minority health initiatives.

Medicaid Funding for Puerto Rico and the US Territories

$6.3 billion in new Medicaid funding will be available to Puerto Rico and the Territories. Puerto Rico may develop a Health Care Exchange to make the process of comparing health insurance rates and plans more clear cut.

General Healthcare, Health Care Reform, Politics and Legislation |

Is the U.S. Doomed to Be Obese?

peardietIn the past few weeks, America’s obesity epidemic has been making the news more than usual. A new study released by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine indicates that more than 42 percent of Americans will be obese in 2030. As for people considered to be “severely obese,” the number is expected to more than double between 2010 and 2030.

Among children, obesity rates are staggering. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. If a parent is obese, it is 3 times more likely that their child will be.

The health problems associated with obesity have a significant economic impact on the U.S. health care system. The most recent information totaled the medical cost of obesity to about $190 billion. This figure is derived by looking at both direct and indirect costs related to obesity.

An example of a direct cost would be receiving medical treatment due to your weight problem. Indirect costs are the value of income lost from things such as decreased productivity, absenteeism and bed days.

As GoHealth has reported in a previous blog, the cost of health insurance coverage also increases dramatically when one is overweight or obese. Obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. People with a BMI between 25 to 29.9 are considered to be overweight.

Under the current law, health insurance carriers are allowed to raise rates based on a high BMI. In some cases, it can increase your monthly premium payment by over $500. If your BMI is too high, an insurance company will likely deny you health insurance coverage altogether.

As disconcerting as the recent predictions about obesity in America are, let’s not just surrender to the inevitable. We have the power to fight obesity and determine our own healthy futures. Here are just a few wise things to consider entering into your rotation:

    Get Your Move on and Your Grove on

    There are a ton of easy decisions you can make on a regular basis to be more active. It can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or riding your bike to work a couple times a week. Dancing also is an amazing way to get some exercise. Just get creative and integrate movement into your daily routine.

    Try to Keep It Cool, Daddy-o

    Stress is proven to cause us to over-eat. When you’re in freak out mode and just want to grab the nearest candy bar for comfort, stop and think about flipping the script. In the time it takes to devour some junk food, you can be focusing on your breathing and getting your heart rate down. Yes, we know it sounds easier said than done. But, try it every once in awhile. No point in being stressed and adding on pounds.

    Whet Your Whistle

    With water! Staying hydrated is a key to losing weight and staying healthy in general. Dieters who drink two full glasses of water before meals have been proven to lose more weight than those who do not. Also, water promotes muscle tone by lubricating your joints and helping your muscles to move and contract.

    There’s an App for That

    Get on your smartphone and check out all the cool apps you can download to help you stay healthy, keep track of your fitness, and monitor your eating habits. That’s what technology is there for – to make your life better!

General Healthcare, Individual Health Insurance |

Five Ways to Prepare for Retirement Health Care Costs

coldhardcashHow much should couples plan to spend on retirement health care costs? According to Fidelity Investments, they should set aside a little nest egg of – brace yourselves – $240,000! This shows why it is so important for adults, both young and older, to start thinking about health care costs now.

Here are a few ways to prepare for retirement health care costs:

    1. Start saving now. Open a Health Savings Account to save funds for retirement. There are many benefits to HSAs but these accounts allow individuals between the ages of 55 and 65 to save an extra $1,000 a year in the HSA account.

    For more detailed information, read GoHealth’s previous blog post on HSAs.

    2. Determine whether you need additional coverage. Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans may cost a little more out-of-pocket initially but typically provide more benefits than Original Medicare.

    3. Understand health care reform benefits. Due to the Affordable Care Act, seniors can utilize preventive care without a copayment or out-of-pocket charge to them. But, if a procedure is provided during the same visit as the preventive visit, then seniors may get charged. Always ask your doctor questions before receiving treatment to avoid surprising bills later down the road.

    4. Don’t be afraid to compare your Medicare options every year. Each year during the Medicare open enrollment period, health insurers offer new plans, get rid of older ones and can raise premiums. This is the time to compare your options to try to get a plan with a lower copayment, deductible or better hospital network.

    5. Understand what health insurance and Medicare covers. Many consumers need to consider purchasing long term care for nursing home and hospice costs. While no one knows whether or not they will need long term care, this type of care is expensive so purchasing insurance for it will help with those costs down the road.

General Healthcare, Individual Health Insurance |

May is National Stroke Awareness Month

doctorstoolsHow much do you know about strokes? It may seem like an odd question, but really – do you know what causes a stroke or what the risk factors are? Strokes aren’t reserved for unhealthy old folks – anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age, race or gender.

Since May is National Stroke Awareness Month, GoHealth thought we would take a break from talking about health insurance and dedicate today’s blog to the topic of stroke awareness.

What exactly is a stroke?

According to the National Stroke Association’s website, “a stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves through the body) breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.”

When talking about stroke prevention, it is important to make a distinction between the two types of risk factors: controllable and uncontrollable.

Controllable risk factors

Controllable risk factors fall into two categories: lifestyle factors and medical factors. As you may have ascertained, a lifestyle factor can usually be changed, while a medical factor would most likely need treatment.

  • Controllable Medical Risk Factors – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, circulation problems
  • Controllable Lifestyle Risk Factors – tobacco use and smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, obesity

Uncontrollable risk factors

This category of risk factors includes the following: age, gender, race, previous stroke or TIA, family history, Fibromuscular Dysplasia and Patent Foramen Ovale (hole in heart).

Warning Signs

There are numerous warning signs and symptoms of stroke. Recognizing them and acting quickly is the key to avoiding damaging effects.

  • SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body.
  • SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
  • SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
  • SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
  • SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.

If you have any of these symptoms, do not delay – call 911 immediately!

For much more valuable information about National Stroke Awareness Month, click here. Take care of yourselves and be sure to share this knowledge with a friend, loved one, or both.

General Healthcare |

Out-of-State Health Insurance Companies in Georgia

gaquarterDuring the health care debate leading up to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) many argued that consumers should be able to purchase health insurance across state lines. Basically, if you live in New York you could purchase health insurance from an insurer in New Jersey.

Proponents of purchasing health insurance across state lines thought this would make health insurance rates more competitive across the country and would allow consumers to save money by purchasing more affordable plans.

Currently there are three states that have passed laws intending to allow out-of-state health insurers to offer policies to residents including Rhode Island, Wyoming and Georgia.

Georgia passed the law almost exactly a year ago and many are considering it to be a failure.

Why?

Not one out-of-state health insurer has requested to offer plans in Georgia since the law was passed in 2011. Instead of health insurers flooding to Georgia to offer plans in the state, many aren’t jumping to the opportunity.

Reasons for the lack of interest could mainly be due to the fact that many health insurance companies are waiting until the Supreme Court makes a decision on health care reform. Instead of acting, many health insurers seem to be in a waiting pattern.

Another issue could be that health insurers are not interested in joining the market, spending money on advertising in a state they don’t have presence in and trying to maintain certain Medical Loss Ratios (MLR) as defined by the ACA. This all requires a lot of work and planning at a time when many health insurance companies are just trying to keep up with ACA regulations and deadlines.

While the experiment in Georgia is an interesting one, Georgia may have enacted the legislation at the wrong time. Either way, maybe health insurers will join the market in the future and provide Georgia residents another source for health insurance.

Health Care Reform, Individual Health Insurance |

Five Easy Ways to Save on Health Insurance

piggybankEveryone wants to know the secrets behind saving money. When it comes to health insurance, there are a few different things that consumers can try to take advantage of when it comes to reducing costs.

Get a high deductible plan that is compatible with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Individuals are only eligible if they have a $1,200 deductible but can save up to $3,100 a year for health care services. And, families are eligible for an HSA if they have a $2,400 deductible but are allowed to save up to $6,250 a year.


There are many advantages to Health Savings Accounts which include:

  • Funds in HSAs college interest
  • HSA funds roll over year to year
  • Funds are saved for future medical costs and retirement health costs
  • HSA contributions are deductible from income taxes
  • There is a catch-up period between the ages of 55 to 65, which allows consumers to save an extra $1,000 in the HSA

Pick a health plan with a limited network. Health insurance plans with limited networks are able to negotiate cheaper rates. But if you travel a lot or commute to work, this may not be the best option.

Mix and match health insurance policies. Many consumers tend to go with one group health insurance plan instead of comparing the group plans or plans on the individual market. For example, say a married couple has a health insurance policy with one employer but it may actually be better financially for the husband to stay on his work’s group plan and the wife to stay on her work’s group plan. It all depends on how much a company passes on to the employees in terms of premium costs for dependents.

Review your health insurance and care needs over the years. Health care needs change over the years so if you have one plan that you enjoy and are comfortable with, call your health insurer to change to a same plan with a different deductible. As consumers age, they tend to use health care services more, so it typically makes sense to lower the deductible and pay a little more in monthly premiums.

Understand the risk you are taking on. Many consumers go for the plans with the lowest monthly premium but may not understand that they are responsible for the $5,000 deductible after utilizing health care services.

For example, there is a plan that has a $2,500 deductible and costs about $88 per month. That same plan is available with a $10,000 deductible and costs about $56 per month. A consumer paying $32 more per month means that the consumer will only be responsible for $2,500 in case of an illness or injury instead of $10,000. And, that big of a difference between deductibles can put someone into medical debt.

Group Health Insurance, Individual Health Insurance |

Compare & Contrast: Student Health Insurance Options

gradhatSo, you’re under 26 and in school full time. That means you can join or remain on your parent’s health insurance policy, opt for a university plan, or find your own individual health plan. Consider these pros and cons.






College/University Student Health Plan

Pros

  • On average, campus plans can cost much less than an individual policy or being added as a dependent to a parent’s plan. Premiums for a university-funded health insurance plan can be as low as $30 annually, although the average is about $850 per year.
  • Fewer bills to manage. At many schools, the cost of your university plan can be included in your tuition.
  • Very little choice on coverage and benefits to tailor to specific needs.
  • College plans act more like temporary health insurance than individual health insurance and may not cover as many benefits or health care providers.
  • Typically more restricted health care provider network
  • Coverage ends after graduation, requiring you to find coverage elsewhere before landing a job.

Cons

  • Very little choice on coverage and benefits to tailor to specific needs.
  • College plans act more like temporary health insurance than individual health insurance and may not cover as many benefits or health care providers.
  • Typically more restricted health care provider network
  • Coverage ends after graduation, requiring you to find coverage elsewhere before landing a job.

A Parent’s Health Insurance Plan

Pros

  • Sometimes it is more affordable to add a dependent on to an existing health plan rather than purchasing a new one.
  • With a parent’s plan, you will likely already have a general idea of the benefits and network of doctors available if your parents have been on the same plan for some time.

Cons

  • You may find that your parent’s plan doesn’t cover out-of-network providers, which may be necessary if your school is far from home.
  • You may not have access to college health clinics if they’re not included in your parent’s plan network.
  • You could have problems joining a parent’s plan. For example, their plan could be “grandfathered,” meaning it may not allow you to be added as a dependent.
  • If you can join, your parents will have to pay extra for adding a dependent to their current plan. Some employers have started passing much more of the cost for dependent policies on to employees.

Individual Health Insurance

Pros

  • With a parent’s plan, you will likely already have a general idea of the benefits and network of doctors available if your parents have been on the same plan for some time.
  • You may find that your parent’s plan doesn’t cover out-of-network providers, which may be necessary if your school is far from home.
  • Full flexibility of choosing tailored coverage for your health and budget needs.
  • Your coverage won’t end after you graduate.
  • Many colleges require students to purchase health insurance. This would eliminate the cost of paying for mandatory student health insurance through universities.

Cons

  • If you have pre-existing conditions, you could be denied coverage or not have benefits related to that health condition.
  • Depending on your situation, it may be more affordable to stay on a pa rent’s plan or choose a university plan.

To check out our Student Health Insurance Survival Guide in its entirety, click this link:

Student Health Insurance Survival Guide

General Healthcare, Group Health Insurance, Individual Health Insurance |