Protect Yourself from Surprise Medical Bills

As highlighted by Lester Holt on NBC Nightly News  two times this past week: once on Monday, May 9th, 2016, and the second on Friday, May 16th, 2016, your insurance may not be providing the protection you think. This could result in Major Surprises when you received your medical bills....

From NBCNews.com...

"How to Protect Yourself From Surprise Medical Bills" As this news segment highlights, Monday, May 9th, 2016, "How to Protect Yourself from Surprise Medical Bills-'Nearly one third of Americans are blindsided by surprise medical bills, including one woman who was billed $100,000 for services that she thought were covered by insurance.'"http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/how-to-protect-yourself-from-surprise-medical-bills-682309699919

This fact is astounding and worth repeating. Nearly 1/3 of Americans ARE surprised by their medical bills. They believe they are covered by their insurance and they are not.  In this segment a woman did her due diligence, researched her doctors and providers and received a surprise final bill of $100,000.00. That is not a SURPRISE bill anyone wants to receive. Between the time she researched her spinal surgery and the surgery was completed, her doctor that once accepted her insurance no longer did. To make matters worse, many of the hospital providers such as the anesthesiologist also did not accept her insurance even though the hospital was considered in-network.  You can Never Be TOO SURE.

Make sure to get a list of EVERY provider that will be treating you and check with your insurance ahead of time.  When you call your insurance be sure to get a reference number for your call, document the date and time you called, what will be covered and what you are expected to cover, and also document the representative's name you spoke with.

If there ARE surprises DO NOT be afraid to advocate for yourself and appeal.  There are appeals processes. Often times you will lose your first appeal, however keep on trying and take it as far as you need to go.  Often times, you are well within your rights and you can win.  If needed, get your local and state representative involved and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners: http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm.

Another corresponding story, on Friday, May 13th, 2016, from NBCNews.com...

As this news segment highlights, Friday, May 13th, 2016 from NBC Nightly News, "Sticker Shock: A Visit to the ER Could Land you in Major Debt"-Friday, May 13 · Clip 7 of 8

Sienna D' Andrea's parents were stuck paying $100,000 in bills for her emergency heart surgery, just one of many caught between insurance companies and hospitals.

  

Sticker Shock: "A Visit to the ER Could Land You in Major Debt"
http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/sticker-shock-a-visit-to-the-er-could-land-you-in-major-debt-685492803804?cid=eml_onsite

What happens, when you have to go to the Emergency Department?  You will not have time call ahead and find out who is covered and who isn't-it's an Emergency. If you go to an in-network hospital often times more than 20% of the Emergency Physicians are not in-network at that facility.  So you will have to be ready to dispute your bill. For one family, they too ended up with a bill of $100, 000 when their infant daughter was rushed to the ED and needed emergency heart surgery. Her mom had to quit her job to dispute the charges and now the family has reduced the amount owed to $10,000.  Fortunately their daughter is a healthy, thriving 3-year old.  

What has our society come to that a working mom had to quit her job to keep her family from medical bankruptcy?

The importance of these two stories is their is help and as a SOCIETY we must do something. You must make the investment to have great comprehensive insurance that fits your needs, and take the time to understand the insurance you have.  You don't have to have high premiums to have great insurance coverage for you and, or your family. Contact someone today so you are properly insured and you can begin fully understanding your benefits. 

Wouldn't you like to save money and have a sense of peace knowing you have a thorough plan? 

Be the Super Hero of your family and help your family to have Super Hero powers by having the best protection and insurance.

A Benefits Consultant can help you understand your coverage and how to fully research and understand your plan.

Please contact:
Stephanie Puryear
Benefits Consultant, Licensed Insurance Broker
Email: spuryear@myhst.com
Phone: (847) 530-8943
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-puryear-a472824b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SensoryStepsInc
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/spuryearHST/

WARNING-BIG INSURANCE HIKES YET TO COME!

According, to a CNBC Health Care Article, by Dan Mangan, on Friday, April 22, 2016, "Woman who ran Obamacare warns of BIG insurance prices hikes".

Article Link:
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/22/woman-who-ran-obamacare-warns-of-big-insurance-prices-hikes.html

According to Marilyn Tavenner, who previously oversaw and ran the Healthcare.gov agency website and now works as an insurance lobbyist, after watching Healthcare.gov (Obamacare/ACA) lose major carriers like UnitedHealth due to high expenses and major financial losses the future is dismal for Healthcare.gov.  She predicts that insurance costs for premiums on the Marketplace or Healthcare.gov will sky rocket and people will literally see "sticker shock" for the 2017 calendar year.  These are the plans that become available in the fall.

With this prediction, there is no inclusion of what these plans may or may not include. If the current Marketplace is any prediction there were only be choices of HMO policies with major limitations and high premiums.

Therefore, now is the time to get your insurance plan. Just as impeding, if you can avoid the Marketplace, do so. You will save money, your plan will be more comprehensive, and you will have better option. You can seek out private plans through a Benefits Consultant.

Thus, this is the time to reach out to your personal Benefits Consultants, a Licensed Broker.  It is detrimental to your financial security, future planning, and your health/well being that you get health insurance.  Currently, the sooner the better is the motto to be had for this year.  Everyday you wait, the rates may be increasing.  It's never too late...however in this case, waiting may be extremely costly.

Show you and your loved ones they matter and get them insured.

Please reach out for help today!!

Contact:
Stephanie Puryear
Benefits Consultant, Licensed Insurance Broker
Email: spuryear@myhst.com
Phone: (847) 530-8943
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-puryear-a472824b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SensoryStepsInc
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/spuryearHST/

UnitedHealthcare Pulling Out of Obamacare!

"UNITEDHEALTH TO TRIM ACA EXCHANGES TO 'HANDFUL' OF STATES"

Another Major Medical Group is Pulling out of Obamacare.  UnitedHealth is that group.

Soon the only plans left in Obamacare/ACA plans will be limited HMO plans and the costs will still be extremely high except for those that qualify for subsided plans.

According to an Article by Tom Murphy a Business Writer for the Associated Press, Tuesday, April 19th, UnitedHealthcare is losing more money in Obamacare plans due to higher risks than projected.  They anticipate losing $650 million this year alone from Obamacare plans, and as a result they are removing their coverage from these plans in many states.

Article:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UNITEDHEALTH_ACA_EXCHANGES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-04-19-09-14-34

You can still get affordable insurance!! 
Seek out a Benefit Consultant, Licensed Broker.
You need to understand the plan and benefits you are choosing. As well, you need to know what benefits are included in those monthly premiums you are paying for.

Please let me help you find affordable, comprehensive insurance.

Contact:
Stephanie Puryear
Benefits Consultant, Licensed Insurance Broker
Email: spuryear@myhst.com
Phone: (847) 530-8943
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-puryear-a472824b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SensoryStepsInc
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/spuryearHST/

KEEP YOUR OWN STACHE! YOU EARNED IT! 

"Report Finds Billions Lost as Life Saving Drugs Are Found Being Thrown Away"

According to NBC Nightly News and an article by the Associated Press, April 11, 2016, 11:17 am ET "Medicare's Cancer Drug Experiment Annoys Specialists": http://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/medicare-s-cancer-drug-experiment-annoys-specialists-n554066.

Cancer saving drugs are being sold at astronomically high costs often with only one or two dosage sizes offered. Depending on a person's size and the dose of the drug needed; there is often additional medication left over, which ends up being thrown away.  The hospitals and medical centers still charge the insurance companies and patients for those pharmaceutical costs.  Medicare is adjusting the cancer drug reimbursement schedule to accommodate these charges and as a result many people will not be able to continue to get their medicines at their local doctor's offices and have to drive great distances to get what they need or they may not be able to afford their life saving treatment any longer.

Something MUST be done!  This is ridiculous.

Cancer statistics are astounding.

According to the National Cancer Institute http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/statistics:

• "In 2016, an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 595,690 people will die from the disease.

• The number of people living beyond a cancer diagnosis reached nearly 14.5 million in 2014 and is expected to rise to almost 19 million by 2024.

• Approximately 39.6 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes (based on 2010-2012 data).

• In 2014, an estimated 15,780 children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 were diagnosed with cancer and 1,960 died of the disease.

• National expenditures for cancer care in the United States totaled nearly $125 billion in 2010 and could reach $156 billion in 2020."

                                         (NBC News Article) 

What should we do?  We need to demand change within our government and healthcare system!  This election is critical for ALL of us.

Also make sure you have adequate health insurance.  Besides health insurance, you want to consider Accident/Critical/Disability and, or Cancer insurance to help cover you and your family if you are sick with cancer to cover these drugs and all of the other expenses that come along with not being able to work, having huge medical bills, and often not receiving a paycheck while bills are still coming in.  Help yourself be prepared so you can have peace of mind for situations you do not want to worry about.

Contact:
Stephanie Puryear
Benefits Consultant, Licensed Insurance Broker
Email: spuryear@myhst.com
Phone: (847) 530-8943
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-puryear-a472824b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SensoryStepsInc
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/spuryearHST/

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Don't let them touch your Stache! Why healthcare in the Marketplace is SO EXPENSIVE!

People using the Marketplace & signed up Obamacare Plans, are sicker and therefore cost more money to insurers.

How can you save money and still be insured?
 

What does this mean for all of us?

According to the New York Times Article, March 30, 2016: "Newest Policyholders Under Health Law Are Sicker and Costlier to Insures" by Robert Pear. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/us/politics/newest-policyholders-under-health-law-are-sicker-and-costlier-to-insurers.html?action=click&contentCollection=Business%20Day&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

Since people the majority of people signing up on the Marketplace for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), are sicker than anticipated the premiums for the average Americans are sky high.  Regardless of age or need, if someone signs up for a plan on the Marketplace they are paying for those people that are sick, helping to cover the subsidies of those that cannot otherwise afford insurance, and also paying for things that they do may not need such as prenatal care, infertility/IVF, birth control, braces, and options that should not be included if not needed. Yet, people are paying for everything to keep the system from going broke, and the system is still going broke in all directions.

The insurance companies are carrying too much risk by providing coverage for so many sick people. The people purchasing insurance plans are paying too much money, often times for numerous things they do not need.

Instead, the system should be revamped.  Wellness programs should be incentivized.  As well, Americans should have a choice in the plan they purchase.  They shouldn't have to buy an umbrella plan that covers everything and then pay for things they don't need.  Rather, they should chose personalized plans that comprehensively fit their needs and pay accordingly.

YouTube: "Hilarious! Larry the Cable Guy's Epic Take-Down of Obamacare!" His comments are funny but true.

 

If you are healthy and do not qualify for subsidies, there is excellent insurance for you. Avoid the Marketplace. Avoid Tax Penalties and Fines.  Avoid living with worry about getting sick or having an accident.  You can find insurance.  In fact, if you seek out assistance with a professional, you will most likely save money in relation to your monthly premiums and your plan coverage will receiving a comprehensive plan.  

All you need to do is seek out a Licensed Benefits Consultant to help you find a customized plan that fits your individual needs in regards to your well-being and financial security. Consultations are free to determine your needs and provide you with preliminary, qualifying quotes.
 
Contact:
Stephanie Puryear
Benefits Consultant, Licensed Insurance Broker
Email: spuryear@myhst.com
Phone: (847) 530-8943
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-puryear-a472824b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SensoryStepsInc
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/spuryearHST/

KEEP YOUR OWN STACHE! YOU EARNED IT!

 

Are you Insured? Avoid Penalties-Tax Day is Almost Here.

Everyone DESERVES Medical Insurance...

Avoid Tax Penalties and Fines

According to a recent NBC News Article, from January 27, 2016: "Healthcare Fines Press Millennials as Deadline Appears" by the Associated Press: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/obamacare-deadline/health-care-fines-press-millennials-deadline-nears-n505101, even with looming deadlines and penalties increasing; many millennials are still taking a big risk and opting out of Obamacare due to the Marketplace Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance plans high monthly premiums, deductibles, and large out-of-pocket expenses. 

Too many young people are struggling to find jobs and feel that they have too many bills, such as student loans to add yet another bill to their never-ending mounds of debt.  Yet, the risk if something were to happen or if they were to get sick could be astronomical.

As human beings, we should all have empathetic concern for one another.  Healthcare should not be a privilege, it should be a basic equality that we all have.  We need to take care of each other.  Every person DESERVES medical insurance and medical care that is the finest one can receive while being affordable and attainable. A parent should not have to decide whether or not to mortgage her house and give up everything they have just to pay for treatments and medicine to keep their child alive; and this is still happening in our country everyday. 

Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been set up with the idea to cover everyone.  While this idea has merit and follows along with the point of this post, the way the plan has been written is not sustainable for the long-term. As a result; healthy, middle class people are paying high premiums to cover plans for those that are very sick and help subsidize those that cannot afford premiums without financial assistance.  As a result, small business owners, entrepreneurs, people that are self-employed, or those without insurance are out of luck.

There is so much confusion about the ACA and how it works, that there are multiple websites and skits to try and help people see the common ground along with the parody.  Unfortunately, when it's your life, it's more of a travesty. 

If you are healthy and have a reasonable income, there is insurance for you.  Avoid the Marketplace. Avoid Tax Penalties and Fines.  Avoid living with worry about getting sick or having an accident.  You can find insurance.  In fact, if you seek out assistance with a professional, you will most likely save money in relation to your monthly premiums and your plan coverage will receiving a comprehensive plan.  

All you need to do is seek out a Licensed Benefits Consultant to help you find a customized plan that fits your individual needs in regards to your well-being and financial security. Consultations are free to determine your needs and provide you with preliminary, qualifying quotes.

Contact:
Stephanie Puryear
Benefits Consultant, Licensed Insurance Broker
Email: spuryear@myhst.com
Phone: (847) 530-8943
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-puryear-a472824b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SensoryStepsInc
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/spuryearHST/

Let's Remember LOVE...and maybe, together with Love and Empathy, we can find a way to make it a little better for everyone!

Educate Yourself!

You should know your medical records like you know your credit score.

New York Times Blog Article, "Let patients Read Their Medical Records" by Dhruv Khullar, M.D., March 31, 2016 11:00 am: NY Times Blog Article-Patients Reading Their Medical Records.

Just as you should know what is documented in your credit report and what your credit score is, you should also know what is in your medical records, according to Dr. Khullar, I completely agree.  This is a right that many people are unaware of, yet they should be very educated and knowledgable on.

Your medical records are reviewed by the medical professionals that see you and form a mental story and opinion of you, often only after reviewing your chart.  Many times there things that may be inaccurate or no longer consistent with what is happening in your life.  Sometimes things in your medical chart may not even be true.  Your narrative, which is the most important part of your medical story, should take center stage...not your medical files filled with history that may or may not be accurate.

Medical professionals are not the only ones reviewing your medical charts.  Whenever you want to get new insurance; such as health, disability, and life...your medical chart and history will be reviewed from the past previous five years. This can not only cause you to be denied a solid plan, it can also cause your premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses to sky rocket.  So be an informed consumer, not only with your credit, with your health history too.  Make sure everything's accurate. It's for your benefit.

    Reynaldo Leal for The Texas Tribune

Seek out a benefits consultant for assistance with understanding your medical needs, plans, and future needs.

Contact:
Stephanie Puryear
Benefits Consultant, Licensed Insurance Broker
Email: spuryear@myhst.com
Phone: (847) 530-8943
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-puryear-a472824b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SensoryStepsInc
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/spuryearHST/