| Do you ever feel like you know just enough about | | | | smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, a lack of exercise, |
| Health Insurance to be dangerous? Let's see if we can | | | | obesity are some of these poor health choices. In |
| fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Health | | | | addition, there are still rural areas where there is a lack |
| Insurance experts. | | | | of health professionals including doctors. |
| Health insurance is something that most people don't | | | | Today, health insurers offer discounts and incentives to |
| think about very often and yet it is something that | | | | people who love a healthy lifestyle. Often, a person will |
| when comes foremost to mind when a loved one is | | | | provide health information and a personal medical |
| sick. Health Insurance coverage varies across the | | | | history when buying health insurance. This history may |
| world, even across the different states in the United | | | | address questions such as smoking, weight, drug use, |
| States of America. | | | | and disease history. The incentives offered by health |
| Health insurance is a very specific type of insurance. | | | | insurance companies today may encourage individuals |
| With this type of insurance the insurer pays the | | | | to quit smoking or make other positive changes in their |
| medical costs of the insured if the insured becomes | | | | lifestyle. Many times, heath insurers will not insure |
| sick due to covered causes, or due to accidents. The | | | | pre-existing medical conditions. The medical history |
| insurer may be a private organization or a government | | | | provided will screen out such applicants. |
| agency. Health Insurance can protect a family from | | | | Because of the concern over pre-existing medical |
| financial devastation in case of serious illness. | | | | conditions, there are now state and federal laws that |
| Today, according to statistics from the US Census | | | | help ensure that those individuals with pre-existing |
| Bureau, many Americans, approximately 85%, have | | | | conditions can acquire or maintain health insurance, |
| some form of health insurance. Many people, about | | | | even if they need to change plans or providers. The |
| 60%, are insured through their place of employment or | | | | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act |
| through health insurance acquired personally. For about | | | | (HIPAA) is a federal law ensuring that all health |
| a quarter of the population, federal or state | | | | insurance plans nationally have a common set of |
| government agencies provide the insurance. These | | | | standards. In addition, states can also have laws |
| agencies may include Medicare and Medicaid as well | | | | regulating health plans including group health insurance |
| as various state funded health insurance plans. | | | | and individual health insurance. This means that the |
| I trust that what you've read so far has been | | | | laws regulating your health insurance protections may |
| informative. The following section should go a long | | | | vary from state to state. Keep in mind, that even with |
| way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may | | | | these laws, access to health insurance may not be |
| remain. | | | | protected in all situations. |
| Today, health insurance costs are rising, which is a | | | | COBRA continuation coverage can help you if you |
| concern to many people. Because of ongoing | | | | leave of change your job. Under COBRA, you may be |
| advances in medical care and in technology, medical | | | | able to remain in your old group health plan for a |
| treatment is more expensive. These advances help | | | | certain length of time. This can assist you in those |
| people to live longer. Today there are more senior | | | | times when you are between jobs or waiting for a |
| citizens than ever before - our population is aging. The | | | | new health insurance plan to cover your pre-existing |
| elderly population is more frail and prone to illness thus | | | | condition. Under COBRA, there are limits to what you |
| requiring more medical care than a younger population | | | | will need to pay to continue your coverage. |
| that is healthier. This also causes an increase in the | | | | When word gets around about your command of |
| price of health insurance. | | | | Health Insurance facts, others who need to know |
| Health insurance costs are also rising due to personal | | | | about Health Insurance will start to actively seek you |
| health choices made by individuals. Poor eating habits, | | | | out. |