Anthem Ohio Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

The Ohio Anthem Lumenos Health Savings Account (HSA) may be the most unappreciated health plan in the state. When compared with other comprehensive plans or HSAs, it offers flexibility, competitive rates and lower out-of-pocket costs that make it an Ohio health insurance plan that should always be considered. The Lumenos is the “high deductible health plan” (HDHP) portion of the policy while the HSA contract allows you to pay for current health expenses and save for future qualified medical expenses on a tax-free basis.

Unlike most Ohio medical plans, the Lumenos HSA features just one family deductible, regardless of how many family members are on the policy. Once the deductible is met, 100% of all covered medical expenses are paid without any co-insurance. The lifetime maximum is also a generous $7 million per person.

Ohio Anthem Health Savings Accounts also feature adult and child preventive care coverage that is not subject to the deductible or waiting period. Routine office visits (subject to the deductible) receive “Network Repricing” which reduces out-of-pocket expenses by approximately 10%-25%. Lab test and X-ray costs are often discounted by as much as 50%-80%. Even MRIs receive discounts that are often more than $1,000.

Additional included coverages, that are sometimes not found in other plans, include home health care, skilled nursing and physical, occupational and speech therapy. A 24/7 NurseLine and members-only discounts on healthy lifestyle services are also provided for all Ohio Anthem policyholders. An additional benefit is that the Network extends to other states so you can continue to utilize coverage.

For additional information on Ohio Anthem plans, please visit Ohio’s premier website for Ohio health plans here, or instantly view and compare different plans by clicking on the “Get Instant Quote” button at the top of the page. We respect your privacy and do not sell or solicit your information. And your email is never shared. Once it is read, we respond and place it in a secure file.

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Ohio Health Insurance Companies

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

There are many Ohio health insurance companies that offer individual and family coverage to Ohio residents. Anthem Blue Cross, UnitedHealthCare, Medical Mutual and Aetna are the four largest carriers. But there are numerous other companies that offer medical coverage in Ohio

To help you select the most affordable Ohio health insurance plan, a comprehensive list of the major Ohio health insurance companies is listed below:

Anthem Blue Cross is the largest Ohio health insurance company, providing coverage to almost one out of every four insureds. A wide variety of plans are available, including “Blue Access Plan 2,” Anthem’s most comprehensive policy. The “Value” plans offer substantial discounts in exchange for limitations of office visit and prescription coverage.

UPDATE: In March of 2009, Anthem introduced three new Ohio health insurance plans. The “Premier” plan is a comprehensive policy featuring lower out-of-pocket costs. The “SmartSense” plan is a comprehensive plan with some limitations in benefits. And the “Lumenos HSA” plan ha some new features.

Medical Mutual of Ohio (MMO) is one of the oldest Ohio health insurance companies. Recently, they expanded their plan portfolio to include some lower-cost plans. Their smoker rates are very competitive, and MMO’s Health Savings Account (HSA) policies (Wellness plans) feature some of the best rates in the state. Their 0% coinsurance plan is very popular.

UnitedHealthCare (UHC) offers a broad range of polices at extremely competitive rates. After purchasing Golden Rule Insurance company a few years ago, UHC’s market share substantially increased. Rates are based on zip codes, as opposed to the more common county-rating system. At the very high BMI (Body Mass Index) ratings, UnitedHealthcare is not as forgiving as most other companies. One of UHC’s strong points is their large portfolio of Ohio health insurance plans.

Celtic has excellent temporary plans that are typically the lowest (or close to the lowest) cost. Their “Basic” plan has limited coverage but is very low-priced.

Kaiser offers medical coverage to residents of Northern Ohio. Ohio residents in the Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati areas will not be able to obtain a policy.

Humana is not always the lowest-cost Ohio insurance company, but offers comprehensive plans with solid coverages. They are one of the few Ohio companies to offer maternity coverage, and have a very popular policy (Autograph Share 80 plan) that allows six office visits and is competitively priced. Their “short-term” rates are excellent and you’ll see them featured on our website.

Aetna began offering individual Ohio health insurance plans in 2005. Since that time, they have added many new plans, including the low-cost “Preventative and Hospital Care” policy. Overall, Aetna’s Ohio rates are extremely competitive. Their “Value” plans have become more popular in recent years. They limit the number of covered doctor visits but the rate is attractive.

Time Insurance (formerly Fortis) Company, offers more policy options than almost every other carrier. But, unfortunately, their rates in Ohio are extremely uncompetitive, and they also receive an unusually high number of consumer complaints.

UPDATE: May 2011. Time (also known as “Assurant”) has reduced the number of consumer complaints. They are the only carrier in the state that offers “child only” policies.

For a personalized recommendation based on your needs or an instant Ohio health insurance quote, please click on the “Get Instant Quote” icon at the top of the page or email eharris@ohioquotes.com While there are dozens of Ohio health insurance companies available to the consumer, we’ll personally select and review the handful of plans that will be your best options. And unlike many other websites, we never sell or give your information to any other person or company.

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Online Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Did you really go online and request an Ohio health insurance quote? Well…let me guess what happened. You received 26 phone calls the first day, and about 15 calls every day for two weeks. If you went on multiple websites, you may still be getting calls!

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The 10 Best Ohio Health Insurance Plans

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Boy…are you in trouble! I hear you have to find health insurance for yourself and your family. And you don’t have a clue where to start, what to look for or who to ask. Well, join the thousands of consumers that are in the same boat (I’ll refrain from any more puns).

Here’s the good news. You live in Ohio, so your Ohio health insurance rates will be fairly low compared to most states. In addition, there’s a wide variety of plans to choose from.

Oh. I get it. There are TOO many plans. They all look similar. And the guy from New Jersey tells you buy his plan and the telemarketer from Florida say she’ll tell you which plan is the best…AFTER you give him your credit card information. Sheesh! And let’s not forget the slick salesperson that quotes you a price, but can’t provide the coverages in writing.

To help you out. I have listed below 10 of the best available health insurance plans to Ohio residents. Yes, you will have to medically qualify. Also, rates will vary according to your age and zip code. And of course…if you don’t smoke, you’ll be getting a healthy discount.

So here we go…

Anthem Blue Access Plan 2 $25 Copay on office visits. No deductible on prescriptions.

Anthem Luminos HIA Health Savings Account. Top- notch with preventative coverage

Medical Mutual SuperMed One. Solid policy.

UnitedHealthCare Copay Select. No frills and straightforward.

Celtic Preferred Select. Celtic’s very best policy.

National Life No Claim Allowed. OK. I’m just making sure you’re still with me!

Medical Mutual SuperMed One has. I like Anthem’s better, but this one isn’t bad.

UnitedHealthCare HSA 100. Nice policy. Skip the UHC  HSA 80.

Anthem Blue Access Plan 3. 100% coverage after the deductible.

Aetna PPO. Barely makes the list. Good policy, but not great.

Are you ready for for my Bottom 10? I have some doosies, but I’ll spare certain companies the embarrassment.

UPDATE June 2011: It’s hard to believe but I wrote this post about three years ago. Plans change and as I look at this list, most of these policies have changed and some aren’t even offered any more. It might be best to visit the main site (Ohioquotes.com) and view current Ohio Health Insurance options.

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How your weight (BMI) affects your Ohio health insurance

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for people. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that it correlates to direct measures of body fat. BMI can also be considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat. Additionally, BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that could possibly lead to health problems.

Of course, the BMI can be very subjective, and in fact, each health insurance company interprets the figures in a different way. Some Ohio health insurance carriers tend to be a bit more “forgiving” than others. And of course, a few companies hvae very strict guidelines, especially if you are taking multiple medications.

For example, a 5-9 male weighing 201 pounds is considered a “preferred” risk with Anthem. Yet, according to the BMI Index, this same person is just two pounds away from being considered “obese.” Yet, UnitedHealthcare will assign a “standard” risk classification to the same person. Most Ohio health insurance companies have multiple levels of establishing the rate, and of course, weight is not the only criteria used.

As an Ohio broker, part of my job is to take into consideration the BMI of the applicant (along with other factors), and determine which carrier can offer the best coverage at the most competitive price. Whether it””s catastrophic, comprehensive or HSA coverage, each situation is different, and I try to take ample time to research which plan(s) are the best choice.

To determine BMI, there are many online sites that will allow you to perform the simple calculation.

One such site is http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

For additional information on Ohio health insurance plans or obtaining an Ohio health insurance quote, please click on the “Get Instant Quote” button at the top of the page. Or…feel free to speak to a live person by calling (888) 513 6446. We won”t bite and we also never share your information with any other person or company.

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Different Ohio Anthem Plans

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

It”s quite a dilemma considering that there are major differences when comparing coverages. Therefore, I”ll try to briefly review some key points that you should be aware of.

Blue Access A PPO with three different product designs, each with several different deductible levels to help you get the right combination of benefits and monthly premium. Plan Two is perhaps the most popular. It features $25 copays on covered office visits with multiple copays on office visits.

Blue Access Value The product design features the same comprehensive inpatient hospitalization benefits as the Blue Access contract, but only includes two office visits per person (per year). There is also coverage of generic and brand name formulary prescription drugs. Premiums are typically lower with this type of policy.

Blue Access Economy Another low-cost plan that limits office visits (three per person, per year). Limited prescription coverage, and once again, premiums are typically lower.

Lumenos HSA Plans There are many variations of Anthem”s HSA contract. Different deductibles allow you to choose a policy that fits within your budget. HSAs offer tax advantages and other cost-saving features that may be an option worth considering.

For complete details on any Anthem (Ohio) policy, please feel free to visit http://OhioQuotes.com.

2009 update-Anthem has added three new plans to its extensive portfolio. Please see recent blog posts for details.

2010 update-Most Anthem plans have been updated and for current information and current Ohio Anthem Blue Cross information, please click on this link.

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Health Savings Accounts (HSA) explained…

Original post from: Ohio Health Insurance Quotes

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) were created by the Medicare bill signed by President Bush on December 8, 2003 and are designed to help individuals save for future qualified medical and retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis.

Here in Ohio, most major health carriers offer HSAs. Rates can vary, so it is a good idea to shop around for the best rate/coverage in your area.

What is a Health Savings Account (“HSA”)?
A Health Savings Account is an alternative to traditional health insurance; it is a savings product that offers a different way for consumers to pay for their health care. HSAs enable you to pay for current health expenses and save for future qualified medical and retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis.

You must be covered by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) to be able to take advantage of HSAs. An HDHP generally costs less than what traditional health care coverage costs, so the money that you save on insurance can therefore be put into the Health Savings Account.

You own and you control the money in your HSA. Decisions on how to spend the money are made by  you without relying on a third party or a health insurer. You will also decide what types of investments to make with the money in the account in order to make it grow.

How much does an HSA cost?
An HSA is not something you purchase; it’s a savings account into which you can deposit money on a tax-preferred basis.  The only product you purchase with an HSA is a High Deductible Health Plan, an inexpensive plan that will cover you should your medical expenses exceed the funds you have in your HSA.

What Is a “High Deductible Health Plan” (HDHP)?
You must have an HDHP if you want to open an HSA. Sometimes referred to as a “catastrophic” health insurance plan, an HDHP is an inexpensive health insurance plan that generally doesn’t pay for the first several thousand dollars of health care expenses  (i.e., your “deductible”) but will generally cover you after that .  Of course, your HSA is available to help you pay for the expenses your plan does not cover.

Ohioquotes.com is the state”s leading authority for Ohio HSA plans. Instantly, you can view, compare or apply online for Ohio Health Savings Accounts.

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