Tom Milonas » benefits

New Grants Available for Families Struggling With Child Health-Related Expenses

Tom Milonas — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:42:24 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS (April 10, 2008) – UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) announced that new grants are available to help children who need critical health care treatment, services or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents’ health benefit plans.

UHCCF provides grants to families to help pay for child health care services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs, orthotics and eyeglasses.

Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants of up to $5,000 for child medical services and equipment by completing an online application at www.uhccf.org. Tax-deductible donations can also be made online.

To be eligible for grants, children must be 16 years of age or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States and be covered by a commercial health benefit plan.

“We are taking action to improve access to health care in America and are dedicated to helping more children and families this year and beyond,” said Matt Peterson, UHCCF president. “We encourage families who need assistance paying for their child’s medical needs to visit the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation Web site and apply today.”

“My son Bryson was born with Down syndrome and a heart defect, which would require open heart surgery,” said Jane Baker. “With the stress of knowing that our precious son was going to need major surgery, along came the worry of medical bills. Our caseworker told us about the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation. We were given a generous grant to help with our medical expenses. What a blessing UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation has been for us. I am so thankful that there are people out there willing to help and give in times of need.”

The foundation aims to help more children by increasing awareness of the foundation through fund-raising events, partnerships, newspaper and Web advertising, and a revamped multimedia Web site, www.uhccf.org.

About UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation
The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that strives to enhance either the clinical condition or quality of life of children who have health care needs not fully covered by commercial health insurance. The Foundation provides grants of up to $5,000 for costs associated with medical services and equipment. Foundation funding is provided by contributions from employees of UnitedHealth Group as well as individuals and corporations. While UHCCF receives contributions from UnitedHealth Group and its employees, individual and corporate donations to help provide assistance are deeply appreciated. To donate or learn more, please visit www.uhccf.org.

Source: United Health Care

10 Things you should know about Health Insurance

Tom Milonas — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:30:20 +0000

1. Insurance can be expensive, but not so much as not having any!

There are many ways to save money on insurance, but going without coverage isn’t one of them. Medical bills from even a minor car accident can delete your savings – a major illness can push you into bankruptcy.

2. Comparing options can be confusing!

There is no such thing as standard coverage. Benefits and costs vary widely from plan to plan. If you have choices, you’ll have to examine each one closely to find the best deal. This is where you need the expertise of a licensed agent.

3. Price should not be the only reason for choosing a plan!

What your insurance covers is just as important as, and sometimes more important than how much it costs. Your best value is the plan that addresses your particular needs.

4. Know your plan!

Your health insurance will cover you for a hospital stay, but how about doctor visits, prescription drugs and dental? Know and understand your coverage

5. HMO or PPO?

Plans with network generally cost less, but you are restricted to their doctors and hospitals. Freedom of choice can cost you more in premium.

6. If coverage is available from work, it may be your best deal.

Group coverage, when paid by an employer, is almost always a better deal than anything you can get on your own. In a group setting, you have far less chance of being declined due to pre-existing conditions. The risk is spread among all members of the group.

7. Check out your providers before you join!

A growing number of public and private sources compile information on the track records of individual doctors, hospitals, and health plans.

8. If you lose your job you are still entitled to insurance!

State and federal regulations protect you from losing your health coverage in the event you lose your job. Unfortunately, they do not protect you from high premium costs.

9. What if you and your spouse both work and are entitled to group plans?

If you and your spouse both get health insurance at work, you must decide whether it makes more sense to have two policies or for one of you to cover the other. If you have kids, you need to decide who’s going to cover them.

10. Ask questions about taxation.

Medical expenses, including insurance premiums, are not tax deductible until they exceed 7.5 percent of your income. However, if you’re self-employed or your employer offers a flexible spending account, you can get a tax break without meeting the threshold.

what is the difference between an advantage plan and a Supplement?

Tom Milonas — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:20:29 +0000

Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans are health plan options that are part of the Medicare program. If you join one of these plans, you generally get all your Medicare-covered health care through that plan. This coverage can include prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans include:

Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs)
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)
Private Fee-for-Service Plans
Medicare Special Needs Plans

When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you use the health insurance card that you get from the plan for your health care. In most of these plans, generally there are extra benefits and lower copayments than in the Original Medicare Plan. However, you may have to see doctors that belong to the plan or go to certain hospitals to get services.

To join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare. In addition, you might have to pay a monthly premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for the extra benefits that they offer.

If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, your Medigap policy won’t work. This means it won’t pay any deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing under your Medicare Health Plan. Therefore, you may want to drop your Medigap policy if you join a Medicare Advantage Plan. However, you have a legal right to keep the Medigap policy.

To compare Medicare Advantage Plans, go to the Medicare Options Compare.

Medigap (Supplemental Insurance) Policies

A Medigap policy is health insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare Plan coverage. Medigap policies help pay some of the health care costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn’t cover. If you are in the Original Medicare Plan and have a Medigap policy, then Medicare and your Medigap policy will pay both their shares of covered health care costs.

Insurance companies can only sell you a “standardized” Medigap policy. These Medigap policies must all have specific benefits so you can compare them easily.

You may be able to choose up to 12 different standardized Medigap policies (Medigap Plans A through L). Medigap policies must follow Federal and State laws. These laws protect you. A Medigap policy must be clearly identified on the cover as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” Each plan, A through L, has a different set of basic and extra benefits.

It’s important to compare Medigap policies because costs can vary. The benefits in any Medigap Plan A through L are the same for any insurance company. Each insurance company decides which Medigap policies it wants to sell.

Generally, when you buy a Medigap policy you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium. In addition, you will have to pay a premium to the Medigap insurance company.

You and your spouse must each buy separate Medigap policies. Your Medigap policy won’t cover any health care costs for your spouse.

For additional information on Medigap policies, including why you would want to buy a Medigap policy and information about what Medigap policies cover, please read our publication, Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.