Reduce The Deductible On Your Ohio Health Insurance Policy

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Reduce the deductible on your Ohio health insurance plan.  UnitedHealthcare and Assurant now offer reductions to your major medical deductible if you meet certain conditions. It’s very possible if you and other family members remain healthy, your potential Ohio medical insurance out of pocket expenses will come down. Here’s a quick look at each company’s program:

UnitedHealthCare’s “deductible credit” provides a 20% reduction to the deductible on your policy every year you don’t meet that deductible. This discount will be applied every year until you reach 50%, which is the maximum. The savings can be substantial, especially if you have a high deductible, such as $10,000.

So, hypothetically, if you rarely (if ever) met your deductible, you could effectively  lower your premiums by selecting a higher deductible, wait a few years and eventually it becomes that lower deductible you wanted! But you saved a few thousand dollars every year (assuming a family plan). This isn’t a bad concept! Maybe UnitedHealthCare’s Ohio health insurance plan is even better than we thought!

The most competitive plans offered by UHC are their “Saver 80,” “Copay Select” and HSA policies, so these plans may be best suited to consider the deductible credit during the purchase process.

Assurant offers a “One Decreasing Deductible” feature that uses “credits” twice per year in the amount of 10% of your current deductible. These “credits” accumulate are posted the first day of January and July once your personal policy has been in effect for 60 days. If you have met your deductible within the last 12 months, the credit still is applied.

It’s possible that your plan deductibles could decrease to $1,500 for an individual and $3,000 for a family. Total reduction could be as much as 50%-70%. Not too shabby! However, this benefit is only available on Assurant policies with 100% coinsurance. And in most areas of Ohio, Assurant’s rates tend to be rather high, although they seem to be reducing.

What about Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna and Medical Mutual? Not quite yet although Anthem does offer this benefit in Indiana. We expect more companies to offer a variation of this coverage within the next 12-24 months. And, most importantly, often, you are still better off with a policy from a company that does not have the vanishing deductible option. The rates and coverage may be superior to the companies that have it. Regardless, we’ll always give you an unbiased opinion, the lowest available Ohio health insurance rates and three easy ways to apply for coverage.

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Ohio Health Insurance Exchange Will Not Cover Abortion

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Abortion coverage will not be provided by the Ohio Health Insurance Exchange. John Kasich, Ohio’s Governor, signed a bill that prohibits the purchase of any policy in the Exchange that covers abortion. Naturally, opponents and supporters of the bill voiced their opinion on the legislation.

The group “Ohio Right To Life” generally supports the bill, agreeing that consumers have a right to health care, but not at the expense of a “death to an innocent child.” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is not happy with the bill and has threatened to sue the state of Ohio. Other smaller groups and organizations have also expressed strong opinions on this very contentious subject.

One of the key issues is whether citizens of the state should be forced to pay for abortions if “Obamacare” is fully implemented. Individual states are allowed to exclude abortion from covered benefits if it is stipulated by law. This recently signed bill actually originated in 2010 and had both Democratic and Republican support in June of this year. It would not be surprising to see other states pass similar bills.

Of course, the “Exchange” may never become a reality anyhow since it is part of the controversial Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act (also known as “Obamacare”). Currently, Buckeye residents can purchase a wide variety of policies at affordable rates through Ohioquotes.com or other websites, insurers or brokers. The purchase process is relative simply and usually, experienced unbiased assistance is available.

However, if the Ohio Health Insurance Exchange does ever go into effect (probably 2014 or perhaps earlier), consumers may not have the choices they have now, and may not enjoy the free advice of experienced licensed professionals. As a government-run entity, many questions still remain on how high medical rates will become and how quickly they’ll increase. Although federal subsidies will offset some of these costs (not all of them), it remains unclear who will ultimately pay for them.

Regardless of the future of the Protection And Affordable Care Act, Ohioquotes.com will continue to be the most respected reference for Ohio consumers. Ohioans like (and demand) to work with a local experienced firm that provides the lowest cost options and is available to explain in detail individual and family options. So…whether the Exchange gets off the ground or not, your best bet may be working directly with us, so we can guide you through the process. And as most of you know, we will continue to offer the lowest rates that are offered for private medical insurance here in Ohio.

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Can I Trust Purchasing Ohio Medical Insurance Online?

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Can I trust purchasing Ohio medical insurance online? Yes. When you buy Ohio health insurance through our website, any information you provide is kept private and the rates you are quoted are the best rates you can find from any broker, internet site or directly through an insurer.

Most applications are submitted online through a link you are provided on our website. You create your own log-in name and password that only you know. Any information you provide is electronically forwarded to the carrier. We do not view any of the details unless you allow it. Of course, we’ll help you throughout the entire process of applying for your health insurance plan.

You can also trust the other methods of purchasing coverage. Many customers here in Ohio prefer to fax or email the actual applications. We provide a secure email and fax system that ensures that only ONE person will receive your paperwork before the insurer receives the paperwork. Depending on the company, it’s possible you may not have to provide any type of billing information when you apply. Of course, we’re always happy to explain each company’s guidelines.

The plans you see on our website are the best policies offered by each Ohio health insurance company. There are more than 500 available plan combinations so we carefully choose the best 40-80 policies that provide the most benefits for the lowest price. We realize that’s still too many to consider, so upon request, we’ll look at your specific requirements, and pick out the best 4-8 policies. Just call or email us.

We understand that every individual or family has different needs. For some, low office visit copays and mid-range deductibles may be important. For others, high deductibles and cheap premiums may be what they are looking for. If you tell us what type of coverage you want, we’ll save you a lot of time and money by finding it for you.

Sometimes, Anthem Blue Cross is the best available choice. But many times Medical Mutual, UnitedHealthOne, or perhaps even a smaller company such as Celtic makes more sense. We’re here to advise you and make the decision-making process easy. We’re considered an extremely trustworthy resource for Ohio consumers that buy health insurance online. The combination of live assistance and modern technology is a potent combination!

So yes….it is indeed very safe to apply for medical coverage online in Ohio. We’ll help you qualify for the lowest possible rates and make sure you’re comparing the best health care policies.

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Ohio Supreme Court Rules Against Obamacare

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Obamacare health insurance took a hit this week when the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that an amendment blocking the controversial health care overhaul can and will be on the ballot in November. Ohioans can now vote to exclude themselves from a federal law that would require the purchase of medical coverage plans.

ProgressOhio had claimed that many signatures on the original petition should not have counted. But the Ohio Court disagreed, after considering the allegations and reviewing more than 400,000 signatures.

Currently Ohio health insurance rates are among the lowest in the US. Inexpensive individual and family plans are available at rates that are generally 20%-50% less than many other states. Ohioquotes.com provides free comparison shopping to consumers, who can freely select the company and type of coverage they want. It’s likely that freedom will be ending if national health care reform, in its present format, is fully enacted in 2014.

Jo Jingles of Reuters wrote an excellent article providing additional information. Here it is.

http://www.ohioquotes.com

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Your Health Insurance Quotes Are Free!

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Your Health Insurance Quotes Are Free! I’m probably asked a few times per week how much we charge, what are our fees, and are the Ohio health insurance quotes free? I assure you that we never charge any fees or charge you for any advice or information you get from this website.

Ohioquotes.com is the recognized trusted authority for Ohio health insurance rates, information, applying for coverage and Exchange information. With 30 years of experience, you won’t find a more unbiased resource for individual and family medical plans. Whether it’s Anthem Blue Cross, Humana, UnitedHealthOne, Medical Mutual or any other carrier, the rates you receive are the lowest each company offers.

And not only are the quotes free, but when you apply for coverage through our website, we’ll help guide you through the application, keep you updated on the progress, and review the policy to make sure the rate and coverage is acceptable to you. Whether you keep your policy 10 days or 10 years, we will always be available to help you with any coverage, billing or claim issues.

When the Ohio Health Insurance Exchange goes into effect in 2014, consumers will have the option of purchasing coverage through this “Exchange,” a myriad of plans, rates and tax credit jargon that will likely be very confusing. Assuming Obamacare is not repealed or stricken down by the Supreme Court, we will continue to provide guidance and assistance when applying for health insurance coverage. We will also provide advice and support regarding any tax credit issues.

And if you want to call us…the phone call is also free! If after viewing your quotes you need our help, just call us at (888) 513 6446. If you get the dreaded voicemail, we’ll try to return the call as quickly as possible. If you would like to be contacted by email, we’re available until midnight most nights!

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Ohio “Child Only” Health Insurance Plans

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Ohio child-only health insurance plans are not easy to find. Most of the health care providers do not offer this type of coverage due to some of the changes implemented with Obamacare. However, there is one option worth considering if you need to insure one or more children under the age of 19.

The Assurant “Short-Term” policy will approve a “child-only” policy (assuming the application is accepted and underwriting guidelines are met). Since it is a temporary policy, typically you can keep coverage for up to a year. However, during that time, we’ll help you find other affordable options that may offer the long-term protection you may need.

Deductible options range from $250 to $5,000. Subsequent coinsurance options are also offered at either 0%, 20% or 50%. Generally, we recommend the 0% or 20% options. A generous lifetime maximum of $2 million insures that major illness and disease will be covered. The unlimited lifetime benefit mandated by health care reform, does not apply to these Ohio child-only policies.

Office visits, prescriptions, emergency room charges, X-rays, lab tests and hospital expenses are all covered but subject to a deductible of your choice. Although the policy allows you to utilize your own doctors and facilities, we highly recommend you use providers in the Assurant network. Your out of pocket costs will substantially reduce and there are thousands of providers throughout Ohio.

There are exclusions to the policy including pre-existing conditions, self-inflicted injuries, dental and vision expenses, mental illness. A complete list of exclusions can be found in the brochure.

Certainly, we realize that if you need coverage on your child (without insuring an adult), the Assurant short-term plan is not the ideal policy. However, it will provide a temporary solution and most importantly, provide much-needed major medical benefits in the event of a hospital claim. And, as previously mentioned, even office visit and RX coverage is provided once the deductible has been met.

Another low cost option (actually, lower cost than Assurant) is Celtic Insurance Company, based in Chicago. They offer many deductible options ($500 to $5,000) and when you view your quotes, please take note of Celtic’s rates.

Please feel free to call (888) 513 6446) or contact us (contact form at top of page) if you would like to review your options. You can also view rates right now by clicking on the “Get Instant Quote” button at the top of the page. For “children only” policies, the Assurant short-term policy will be the only plan that is shown.

You can also review a brochure below:

Assurant Short Term Health Insurance

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Buy Ohio Catastrophic Health Insurance Or Ohio Comprehensive Health Insurance?

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

What type of Ohio health insurance should you buy? Catastrophic or comprehensive coverage?  Catastrophic plans will cost substantially less, but will not have non-preventive office visit or prescription benefits. Comprehensive plans will be expensive but feature low copays on office visits and prescriptions.

So…What’s the answer? I guess, based on my 30 years of experience in the business and ownership of the top Ohio health insurance website, you would expect an easy explanation. Well…it’s not so simple. To accurately answer that question, we have to somehow accurately predict your medical history for the next decade.

Perhaps comparing specific rates and coverage would help. So we’ll create a hypothetical family to use in our calculations. Both husband and wife are 40 years old and they have two children (ages 10 and 12). There are no pre-existing conditions and they live in the Columbus area.  Typically, they use their preventive benefits, but rarely have more than a few other types of office visits.

True Ohio catastrophic coverage (United Healthcare’s Saver 80 Plan) costs only $194 per month ($5,000 deductible) or $232 ($2,500 deductible). Although office visits and prescriptions are not covered, preventive benefits are provided at 100% coverage. If insuring major claims is your priority, this policy is ideal.

Comprehensive coverage in Ohio costs between $450 and $525 per month (United Healthcare Copay Select, Medical Mutual SuperMed One Elite, and Anthem Premier plans with $2,500 deductible). Most non-preventive office visits and prescriptions are covered with a copay and preventive benefits are treated similar to the catastrophic plans.

So…with savings of $2,500 to $4,000 per family, is it best to just purchase catastrophic coverage? Of course…there is no “right” answer to that question. It’s impossible to accurately predict medical expenses in advance. And a major illness with ongoing non-generic prescriptions could eat away at the savings very quickly.

Each individual and family is different and that’s why we take the time to review your specific details and make recommendations based on what’s best for you. Please feel free to call us anytime at (888) 513 6446 or contact us by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the page.

Buy Ohio catastrophic health Insurance or Ohio comprehensive health insurance?  View personal and family quotes from the top companies.

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You Just Lost Your Ohio Group Health Insurance At Work. Now What?

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

You just lost your group health insurance at work. Now what? Well…Don’t panic because help is on the way. There are many Ohio individual health insurance options to consider, and most of these plans offer office visit, prescription and preventive benefits. If you recently lost health insurance benefits in Ohio, individual and family policies are very affordable in most areas of the state.

Ohioquotes.com is located here in Ohio so we completely understand the situation you are facing. We have designed this website to specifically help persons that may be losing coverage or have just lost coverage. Most of the plans can be paid month-to-month so your immediate out-of-pocket expenses are reduced.

Most likely, your group health care benefits were very rich in benefits, with low deductibles on hospital visits and low copays on covered office visits and prescriptions. Also, any emergency room visit probably featured low copay. Although you can duplicate your benefits with an individual policy, the cost would be very high with most carriers. For that reason, other alternatives should be considered.

If you’re concerned with only securing coverage for a few months (perhaps six months or less), a “temporary” (short-term) policy might be a wise choice. Although this type of plan places a deductible on the vast majority of benefits, premiums are extremely low and policies are often approved within 24 hours. Many persons that have lost group benefits will select this type of coverage until they have a clearer picture of how long they will be without health insurance.

However, you may not be able to renew a temporary plan if you develop a serious medical condition such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease. Also, pre-existing conditions are not covered which should be strongly considered when selecting the type of coverage you apply for. We’re always happy to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of plans like this.

Ohio Major medical policies for individuals and families that have lost their group health care benefits through their employer are also an option to consider. Costs for major medical coverage have remained low and plans can be paid on a monthly as-needed basis. Large expenses such as hospital and emergency-room charges are one of the benefits of this type of policy. And although most office visits and prescriptions are not covered, catastrophic plans are often used to bridge the gap between one group plan and another.

Low-deductible medical plans that feature low copays are the most expensive type of coverage. And while they closely resemble company group plans, they may not be the most appropriate choice, considering the premium and the length of time the policy is kept.

We realize that many Ohioans are losing their group health insurance at work. We’re here to help. Please call us any time at (888) 513 6446. And of course, you can view rates by clicking on the “Get Instant Quote” button at the top of this page.

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What About Ohio After Federal Judge Declares National Health Care Law Unconstitutional

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

The national health care law, that affects all Ohio citizens, (Obamacare) is unconstitutional, according to a ruling this week by Federal District Court Judge Roger Vinson in Florida. So far, four federal judges have ruled on the constitutionality of forcing citizens to purchase health insurance. Two have upheld the law and two have ruled against it.

Here in Ohio, individual and family health insurance coverage remains unaffected (for now). The recent required preventive benefits mandate will remain in place along with a few other changes that had been made, such as the elimination of lifetime maximum limits. Ohio health insurance rates continue to be a “good buy” compared to almost every other state. Of course, if the bill is allowed to pass, most experts agree that rates will increase (perhaps substantially) in 2014.

My Opinion

Based on my 30 years in the health care business, I expect (and any others agree), that we’ll see a Supreme Court decision in 2012 to determine the fate of the bill. The majority of Americans are not particularly happy with the bill and I have a feeling the court will rule 5-4 in favor of the repeal.

What bothers many Ohioans are the “backroom deals” that were used to sway votes in Congress along with the fact that most members of Congress never bothered to read the bill. Also, shortly after the bill was passed it became very obvious that Ohio individuals and families would NOT be able to keep their present health care coverage exactly as it was. This, despite President Obama’s guarantee, that policyholders would be able to maintain their existing coverage.

A Better Health Care Reform Idea

While some type of reform of the current system is needed, we don’t want Ohio health insurance rates to surge. Perhaps a better idea last year would have been the increased utilization of Health Savings Accounts, added financial incentives to those that pay for their own coverage and increased funding for the high risk pools for those with major health issues. Oh…and reading the legislation you’re voting on always helps!

You can keep up to date on Ohio health insurance reform information by clicking here. And of course, to view, compare or apply for quality health care at the lowest available rates, please click on the “Get Instant Quote” button at the top of the page. You can also call us at (888) 513 6446 any time.

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Will Obamacare Raise Your Taxes?

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

As the US House of Representatives prepares to vote on the repeal of Obamacare, I thought it may be important to review the many tax increases Americans will face, unless Obamacare is changed or repealed. The good folks at atr.org have put together a comprehensive list (see below) that is worth reading.

We need health care reform and many of the recent changes, such as mandatory 100% preventive benefits, are quite beneficial. But at the same time, the country can’t afford all of the proposed mandates, and unless changes are made, we may face a very gloomy scenario. Perhaps increased utilization of Health Savings Accounts may be where we should be focusing most of our attention.

Individual Mandate Excise Tax (Jan 2014): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the higher of the following

Exemptions for religious objectors, undocumented immigrants, prisoners, those earning less than the poverty line, members of Indian tribes, and hardship cases (determined by HHS)

Employer Mandate Tax (Jan 2014):  If an employer does not offer health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit, the employer must pay an additional non-deductible tax of $2000 for all full-time employees.  This provision applies to all employers with 50 or more employees. If any employee actually receives coverage through the exchange, the penalty on the employer for that employee rises to $3000. If the employer requires a waiting period to enroll in coverage of 30-60 days, there is a $400 tax per employee ($600 if the period is 60 days or longer).

Combined score of individual and employer mandate tax penalty: $65 billion/10 years

Surtax on Investment Income ($123 billion/Jan. 2013):  This increase involves the creation of a new, 3.8 percent surtax on investment income earned in households making at least $250,000 ($200,000 single).  This would result in the following top tax rates on investment income

*Other unearned income includes (for surtax purposes) gross income from interest, annuities, royalties, net rents, and passive income in partnerships and Subchapter-S corporations.  It does not include municipal bond interest or life insurance proceeds, since those do not add to gross income.  It does not include active trade or business income, fair market value sales of ownership in pass-through entities, or distributions from retirement plans.  The 3.8% surtax does not apply to non-resident aliens.

Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans($32 bil/Jan 2018): Starting in 2018, new 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac” health insurance plans ($10,200 single/$27,500 family). For early retirees and high-risk professions exists a higher threshold ($11,500 single/$29,450 family).  CPI +1 percentage point indexed.

Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax($86.8 bil/Jan 2013): Current law and changes:

Medicine Cabinet Tax($5 bil/Jan 2011): Americans no longer able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin)

HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike($1.4 bil/Jan 2011): Increases additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.

Flexible Spending Account Cap – aka“Special Needs Kids Tax”($13 bil/Jan 2013): Imposes cap of $2500 (Indexed to inflation after 2013) on FSAs (now unlimited). . There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children.  There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education.  Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education.

Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers($20 bil/Jan 2013): Medical device manufacturers employ 360,000 people in 6000 plants across the country. This law imposes a new 2.3% excise tax.  Exemptions include items retailing for less than $100.

Raise “Haircut” for Medical Itemized Deduction from 7.5% to 10% of AGI($15.2 bil/Jan 2013): Currently, those facing high medical expenses are allowed a deduction for medical expenses to the extent that those expenses exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI).  The new provision imposes a threshold of 10 percent of AGI; it is waived for 65+ taxpayers in 2013-2016 only.

Tax on Indoor Tanning Services($2.7 billion/July 1, 2010): New 10 percent excise tax on Americans using indoor tanning salons

Elimination of tax deduction for employer-provided retirement Rx drug coverage in coordination with Medicare Part D($4.5 bil/Jan 2013)

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike($0.4 bil/Jan 2010): The special tax deduction in current law for Blue Cross/Blue Shield companies would only be allowed if 85 percent or more of premium revenues are spent on clinical services

Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals(Min$/immediate): $50,000 per hospital if they fail to meet new “community health assessment needs,” “financial assistance,” and “billing and collection” rules set by HHS

Tax on Innovator Drug Companies($22.2 bil/Jan 2010): $2.3 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to share of sales made that year.

Tax on Health Insurers($60.1 bil/Jan 2014): Annual tax on the industry imposed relative to health insurance premiums collected that year. The stipulation phases in gradually until 2018, and is fully-imposed on firms with $50 million in profits.

$500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives($0.6 bil/Jan 2013)

Employer Reporting of Insurance on W-2(Min$/Jan 2011): Preamble to taxing health benefits on individual tax returns.

Corporate 1099-MISC Information Reporting($17.1 bil/Jan 2012): Requires businesses to send 1099-MISC information tax forms to corporations (currently limited to individuals), a huge compliance burden for small employers

“Black liquor” tax hike(Tax hike of $23.6 billion).  This is a tax increase on a type of bio-fuel.

Codification of the “economic substance doctrine”(Tax hike of $4.5 billion).  This provision allows the IRS to disallow completely-legal tax deductions and other legal tax-minimizing plans just because the IRS deems that the action lacks “substance” and is merely intended to reduce taxes owed.

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