Ohio white-collar retirees from  Delphi Corp. could be getting some help with their health care costs after a tentative agreement was reached between the bankrupt company and a committee representing those retirees. The settlement must be approved by Delphi’s creditors and the bankruptcy court.

The company will contribute $8.75 million into a separate fund that will be established to subsidize medical costs for salaried retirees.

The fund also covers the cost of creating a Voluntary Employees’ Benefit Association (VERA), a system that covers health care insurance costs with tax-free funds. A national health care program will be selected to manage the fund.

Delphi estimates that it will cost the typical retiree between $300 and $660 per month to maintain coverage, while family coverage could cost as much as $1,800 per month. Dental coverage would cost between $45 and $125 extra, depending on whether individual or family coverage is requested.

Earlier this year, a U.S. Bankruptcy judge allowed Delphi to abruptly terminate health care and life insurance benefits for its current and future salaried employees.

Affordable Ohio Health Insurance Plans offers professional local advice to Delphi employees. All major Ohio health insurance companies are researched to find high quality Ohio health care at the guaranteed lowest available cost.

Expanding government health care programs must be stylish. Everybody is getting into the act. First Obama.  And now, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland wants to give health insurance to every child in Ohio. A nice gesture, but the method is quite cost-ineffective.

Marc Kilmer of “The Times-Gazette” in Hillsboro, says it best:

Much of the problem of uninsured children could be solved by simply getting those eligible signed up for coverage.

Instead, politicians like Governor Strickland want to expand coverage to those with higher incomes.

Children in families with higher incomes not only have a lower uninsured rate than children who are already eligible for the program, their parents are more likely to be able to afford private coverage.

 

The remainder of Marc’s article is found here.

 September 2009 Update: It appears that the “public option” is off the table. That’s good news for everyone.

Consumer-driven health care (CDHC) refers to health insurance policies that allow policyholders to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and other medical-payment plans to pay routine medical expenses. Separately, a high-deductible health insurance policy covers the catastrophic claims. The combination of these two plans generally costs less than conventional Ohio health insurance plans. The balance (if any) of a pre-funded spending account is kept by the policyholder and “rolled over” to the next year.

Sound complicated? Maybe a bit. I (myself, wife and two children) have this type of coverage so I can personally endorse the idea.

The folks at Humana are quite effective at explaining the concept. I think you’ll find this video quote informative.

There are hundreds of Ohio health insurance plans. Coverages range from high-deductible catastrophic plans to comprehensive plans with small out-of-pocket expenses. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are also available and growing in popularity.

Ohioquotes.com, the premier website for Ohio health insurance plans, reviews popular Ohio policies each month. This month, all four reviewed plans are readily available, easily underwritten, and quite affordable.

Anthem Value Plan Two office visits per person (per year) are included, subject to a $30 copay. Brand-name formulary and and Generic non-formulary prescription are included. Like many Ohio health insurance plans, some preventative care and diagnostic services are included. And a generous $5 million lifetime limit is also built into the policy.

UnitedHealthCare Copay Saver Plan  One of many Ohio health insurance plans offered by UnitedHealthCare. A $35 copay applies to the two allowed office visits per person per year (including wellness). Generic prescriptions are subject to a $15 copay while non-generic prescriptions are not covered. The lifetime limit is $3 million and maternity coverage can be added as a rider.

Aetna Preventative And Hospital Care 3000  Perhaps Aetna’s most affordable Ohio health insurance plan, this policy is HSA compatible. The principal feature of the policy is the outstanding preventative care coverage. Annual routine GYN exams, routine physicals, and Paps/Mammograms are not subject to a deductible. A $1 million lifetime limit is included.

UnitedHealthCare Saver 80 Plan One of the least expensive Ohio health insurance plans, this plan is designed to cover catastrophic claims. Major medical and emergency room charges are covered, along with most routine hospital expenses. Office visits are not covered, although a drug prescription discount card in included. $3 million of lifetime limit coverage per person is included in each policy.

Affordable Ohio health insurance plans are available, and often can be approved in less than a week. The application process is simple and physicals are rarely required.

Congress has passed the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” which was signed into law by President Obama. This act includes a 65 percent subsidy on the cost of Cobra premiums for nine months. The Cobra recipient will only pay 35 percent of the overall Cobra premium for that period.

The coverage expires on the earlier of the date the individual becomes eligible for major medical employer-sponsored coverage or Medicare, nine months, or the end of the maximum required period of Cobra continuation.

The Cobra subsidy is available, if:

*You were layed off between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009; and

*At the time of your layoff, you were covered by a group policy provided by your employer; and

*Your annual income is less than $125,000 or your annual family income is less than $250,000; and

*Your prior employer must still be actively in business.

This subsidy is not retroactive and will only apply from the date of the law’s passage. If you are already enrolled in Cobra, and began paying premiums before the Act effective date, you will not receive a credit for the Cobra premiums you paid prior to the effective date.

However, if you were layed off on or after September 1, 2008 and did not Select Cobra within the 62-day window, you are allowed to become eligible for Cobra again, as long as your former employer still exists and offers group coverage.

Despite the 65% subsidy, it is still very possible that Cobra’s rate will be substantially higher than an Ohio individual health insurance plan. And, of course, the Cobra subsidy only lasts for nine months, leaving open the possibility that a chronic health condition could occur, thus, making it more difficult to qualify for an individual or family health insurance policy.

Additional Cobra details can be found from the United States Department of Labor. 

If your Cobra coverage is close to ending, we’ll find an affordable Ohio health insurance plan to meet your needs. For an instant quote where you can view and compare your options, please click on the “Get Instant Quote” button at the top of the page.