A Breakdown of What You Can Expect to Pay When Staying Overnight in the Hospital
Medical Costs…can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em. Healthcare is a topic on everyone’s mind and while the opinions sway back and forth about universal healthcare, Medicaid, social security, and prescription drugs, the fact remains that healthcare is expensive. In a consumer market where hospitals can, and do, seem to charge whatever they’d like for procedures, it’s tough to get a clear breakdown of costs. Without the option to shop around (emergencies), patients are left with a bill feeling a bit helpless in the matter. The following is a breakdown of what you can expect to pay when staying overnight in the hospital.
Where the Costs Come From
First, medical supply pricing has no bounds. For example, in the supermarket, if you were shopping at a store that sold boxes of cereal for $50, you would make a consumer decision to purchase your cereal somewhere else! This simple example of free-market simply does not apply to emergency care and health care services. You don’t get to decide how much the material in your knee surgery costs; you don’ have much, if any, consumer power. Suppliers know this and are able to rack up a few thousand dollars pretty quick on an overnight or extended hospital stay.
Coding:
Where the costs actually come from is a computer with a coder using some universal codes to tell a billing machine what the heck the hospital has been doing to your body the last day or so. These codes trigger the services that you will eventually be billed for.
Other costs include:
Transportation to Hospital (ambulance, taxi)
Nursing care
Meals
x-rays (national average around $450)
Lab tests
physical services and physical therapy after treatment (not on hospital bill but something to consider)
Medications
Inpatient vs. Outpatient:
Inpatient care takes place at the hospital as a planned event. Insurance providers will sometimes have a large deductible, and then cover all additional costs of the care and not treat each day as a new treatment and therefore, a new deductible. Outpatient care takes place outside of a hospital and often doesn’t require hospitalization. It should be noted that insurance companies view these two types of care quite differently with different deductible and eligibility requirements.
How Much for Appendicitis and a Hot Meal?
This isn’t a balance sheet: the numbers on either side sometimes don’t add up. In a study by the Archives of Internal Medicine, the median charge for acute appendicitis admissions at 289 medical centers and hospitals throughout California ranged from $1,529 to almost $183,000! There is no set price for surgery and don’t be surprised by a $39 box of Kleenex. So what can you expect to pay? Maybe the answer is: the unexpected. While insurance will cover a lot of the costs (more on that below), nobody on a big health insurance plan can seem to articulate the parameters.
Insurance Coverage:
In Network? If you have the luxury to choose the hospital with which you will be admitted, it’s important to ask if it is in your insurance network. Further, during your stay, make sure the services offered are covered each and every time a new service is being provided.
As shown above, the costs vary widely between hospitals. Some insurance companies allot $1,000 for one stay in the hospital during a coverage year. While the $1,000 dollars certainly would no do much to cover the national average overnight stay of 15,734 (Comparative Price Report).
Co-Pay:
If insured, the co-pay is a small price to pay for the thousands of dollars saved. Get savvy with your understanding of your insurance plan to know which you’ll be paying a $50 co-pay and when you’ll be paying a $50,000 tab.
Deductibles:
Assuming you have insurance (which is certainly a good idea) then an overnight stay, or any stay, is going to cost you some or all of your deductible for that service. Here is a list of common premiums and deductibles. Deductibles and insurance premiums have an inverse relationship: the more you pay for a premium, the less you have in deductible. The less you pay for a premium, the more you pay for a deductible.
Lost Income:
Not that an overnight hospital stay isn’t costly enough, the loss of income from not being able to work is often forgot about. Unless your employer offers sick time (which even then is limited), an overnight stay at the hospital means no hourly wage. Here is some information on collecting workers compensation and disability.
Discharged:
When you’re discharged from the overnight stay(s), you should request an itemized breakdown of the services and charges you can expect to be billed. This might be tricky and it might try to be grouped like a shady business-expensed lunch. Demand it itemized so you can clearly breakdown what your insurance company will pick up the tab for and what you’re going to be responsible for. Overall, the question “how much is this going to cost me” can be complicated, but with some due diligence: finding out which procedures are covered and which are not, itemizing our medical bills, and understanding in-network and out of network costs, you can be a savvy overnight guest in any hospital in the country.
The costs of healthcare coverage have been rising significantly over the last few decades, and there appears to be no end in sight. In fact it’s estimated that today, roughly eighteen cents of every dollar Americans spend goes toward healthcare. And the percentage of personal budgets dedicated to medical bills increases by nearly eight percent every year. You may find yourself asking: Why is this happening? And what the heck can I do about it? When it comes to wondering what the deal is with rising healthcare costs, you’re not alone.
This breakdown from Health Insurance Online dives into the major factors contributing to the increasing healthcare prices in America. We offer insight as to what’s happening, and why. Even with the growing cost, there are plenty of ways to save big on healthcare, so read on!
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Only you can prevent Forest Fires, said the famed Smokey the Bear starting in 1944. It was a campaign with great intentions: prevent forest fires from ever starting and destroying beautiful forest. Although the campaign had nothing but good intentions, the message of preventing forest fires was criticized years later by wildfire experts for actually causing damage to forest ecosystems. In many cases, fire can be healthy and necessary for forests to regenerate.
The view of the National Forest Service has changed dramatically in their approach to containing and preventing forest fires as the research in fire science continues to expand. In its brief history, the National Forest Service has gone from a stance of complete prevention and repression of forest fires to one of appreciation and contained burning of natural fires; a total 180. There is still a lot we don’t know about fire ecology, but the methods and strategies for fighting these fires are constantly changing.
What does a forest fire have to do with health trends? More than you’d think. We know a lot about the human body, yet there is still a lot we have to learn. Trends and ideas have come and gone but we continue to evolve in the way we think about the food we consume. The same way the National Forest Service is evolving in their fight against forest fires, humans are evolving in their fight against obesity and diet related illness.
Keeping Up:
Celebrities, authors, and experts have always claimed to have the newest solution to the age old problem of losing unwanted weight. Usually these diets are sprinkled with inviting adjectives like easy, simple, fun, painless, and statements about how little you will actually have to work: 15 minutes a day, 5 minutes a day, no work at all! With so many diets and so many new and newer strategies, it can be almost impossible to keep track.
#1. Gluten Free Diet
Textbook: Diet excluding foods that contain the protein complex known as gluten.
Rise to Fame: Popularity of a gluten free lifestyle came to be mainly due to the increase in the previously undiagnosed celiac disease. In one study, the prevalence of celiac disease is estimated to be about four times as common as it was in the 1950’s.
Pro: The benefits of going gluten free for non-diagnosed celiacs are negligible while the deficiencies linked to the diet can be harmful. Clearly, if diagnosed with celiac disease, gluten free options are the only consideration when shopping or dining. Gluten can make someone with celiac disease experience headache, fatigue and nausea as well as some unwanted digestive problems. Avoiding gluten to avoid this pain is a good thing.
Con: If not diagnosed with celiac disease, there are not a ton of health benefits to hang on a gluten free diet. Obviously in moderation, bread, pasta, and even beer can be okay. As a diet, going gluten free is found to be unnecessary and difficult as gluten is in practically everything that tastes good. While the number of gluten free options is increasing, many gluten free advocates might forego a meal if unable to obtain their go-to gluten free dish. Others might miss the nutrients such as iron and fiber found in traditional breads which also contain gluten.
Alternative: If you’re feeling like jumping on the gluten bandwagon to lose weight, there will not be much variation by merely making the change except maybe an increase in the grocery bill. Instead of going gluten free, try only eating slow burning carbohydrates. These are the carbohydrates found in oatmeal (whole grains) beans, and vegetables.
#2: Paleo Diet:
Rise to Fame: Tracked on a line graph, this diet’s growth is closely related to the fast-paced extreme exercise movement known as CrossFit. Although the germination of the Paleolithic diet can be traced back to 1975, this diet takes a retro approach to eating. Designed to copy the dinner plate of a hunter gatherer, this diet consists of foods that can be hunted and fished.
Do:Quality meat free of preservatives. Eggs, fruit, nuts, seeds, vegetables, herbs and spices are also included in the mix. Contradictory to the common cliché, paleo enthusiasts begin with the beginning in mind. Where does the food come from? How did it get from origin to plate?
Don’t: Processed, high carbohydrates, dairy products, salt, processed oils. Pretty much anything that wouldn’t have been hunted or gathered.
Evolution: Commonly referred to as the cave-man diet, critics of this diet claim that it’s almost impossible to tell what the portion sizes or quantities pre-agricultural hunter-gatherers ate and at what frequencies. Although the notion of eating like a cave-man sounds awesome, the energy levels required of a caveman are far from the white collar, 25 steps a day society we’ve come to know and love.
#3: Juicing:
Rise to Fame: Cue the infomercial! Juicing extracts the juice from vegetables and fruit. Take a garden, put it in liquid form and drink it down! It’s that simple. The rise in popularity is often credited to fad diets and a belief in juicing as a form of alternative medicine. Food is medicine!
Pro: If you hate fruits and vegetables, this is as good a way as any to force yourself to eat them.
Con: Don’t use juicing as your only source of fruits and vegetables. The skin and pulp are left behind when using a juicer and in many cases, those are the most nutrient filled parts! Certainly a diet based solely on vegetable and fruit juice would leave your body deprived of many essentials like fats and fibers, but it is a healthy alternative to other juices and drinks high in sugar and preservatives.
#4. Eat Clean Diet:
Rise to Fame: What’s not to like? Eating clean sounds plenty healthy and a lot of it is. Eating clean revolves around eating whole foods that are produced in a sustainable way. Organic products are popular and most of your diet can be found at stores like the Good Food Store and Whole Foods.
Do: Produce, beans, whole grains, grass-fed meat, wild or sustainable farmed fish and any sustainable meat. Like a database system or fueling a high performance vehicle, if you put good in, you’ll get good (energy and state of mind) out. Unlike the Paleo diet, clean eaters can enjoy grains and small amounts of dairy.
Don’t: If you put bad in, you’ll get bad (fatigue and laziness) out. This diet excludes alcohol, fast food, preservatives, and severely limits dairy. This is a way to keep toxins permanently out of your body.
Alternatives: While there is a formula to eating clean and the diet’s rules and regulations can really vary depending on whom you ask, the concept is simple and, well…clean. You don’t have to carry around a checklist counting points, you don’t have to give up everything under the sun, and it doesn’t cost a whole lot of money to sustain. If you’re looking to jump into the clean diet but want to dip your toes in first, try your local farmer’s market. Visit your farmers market or join a CSA!
#5. Four Hour Body
Rise to Fame:Tim Ferriss went from a four hour work week to a four hour body. Using life-hacks and bold claims such as losing 20 pounds of fat in 30 days (without exercise). Author Ferriss uses himself as a guinea pig testing countless hypothesis and in some cases debunking the truths that have always been held.
Do: Cheat on your diet once a week in the best way possible: whatever the heck you want! Eat the same meals over and over again with little to no variation. Legumes, Vegetables, chicken, beef, fish, and egg whites. Differences from Four Hour Body compared to clean and Paleo diet is that four hour body has strict rules about frequency of meals and highly limits variation from one meal to the next. Four Hour Body, in a very Four Hour Work Week kind of way, is more focused on lifestyle as well. For example, a mind has only so many decision points in a day. If you eat the same thing everyday, that gives you a decision point to use somewhere else! If you save time on food preparation (eating the same thing all the time) it gives you time to do other things you love and not spending it in the kitchen.
Don’t: white bread, white rice, potatoes, and other white carbs. Avoid fruit and dairy. And don’t forget to cheat once a week!
Results: While the diet is still up for debate, the simplicity can be deceiving. There are specific grocery lists, lean cooking methods, and expensive ingredients. Like any diet with the removal of carbohydrates, energy levels become a concern. Overall a fun read, and the four hour movement is catching wind.
The participation in extreme sports and risky hobbies have certainly grown in popularity. However, as fatalities and injuries continue to be prominent, insurance companies have raised rates for these thrill seekers. Only certain hobbies are rated as high risk and if you participate in them often, you could find yourself paying a lot more money per month on your insurance premiums. It is important to have adequate life and health insurance to minimize financial hardships. This article will give a few basics on how premiums are determined and what hobbies might be considered high risk.
What Factors Determine Your Premium
There are different factors that will determine how much you pay each month for your insurance policy depending on the state issued. Some of those factors include current health status, lifestyle choices, place of employment, and hobbies. Joining a bowling league would not be a risky hobby. However, skydiving or daredevil type sports would be an example of a risky hobby. Such activities put you at a higher risk for death which means insurance companies will have a higher possibility of paying out your policy in a shorter amount of time.
Some hobbies that would be labeled high risk are:
Skydiving
Motorcycle riding
Bungee jumping
Mountain climbing
Skiing
Scuba diving
It is important to note that it is not just life insurance rates that will increase. It is also individual health insurance. There are some risk hobbies that are not so obvious but definitely see increased rates. For example, a professional runner and a Mixed Martial Arts fighter will both pay several hundred dollars more per year. With the Affordable Care Act underway, there may be lower insurance rates available.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to enjoy the best that life has to offer. However, as you are well aware certain events can turn tragic without notice. To compensate for your increased possibility of death, insurance companies will offer you rates that are much higher than that of a healthy and less active person. Do not allow this to discourage you from doing what you want, simply talk with your life insurance company to find out ways you can cut back on your premium. Be honest about your lifestyle and risky hobbies as many insurance companies may not pay out if they find you lied. Knowing you options will allow you to protect your family and still enjoy those daredevil moments you just cannot live without.
Time Magazine released a startling piece on the unbalance of health care in the free-market economy. There seems to be an unfair balance of power favoring the suppliers and providers of health care. For the patient, an exchange with anyone on the other side of the health care counter can make them feel pretty powerless: sign here, sign here, and pay this price here. Before throwing in the $38 sanitary towel and surrendering your rights and your wallet at the door, understand that you have rights as a patient in America that are important to know before, during, and after a visit to the health care world. Here some patient rights you likely didn’t realize you had, and what they mean to you.
#1. Informed Consent:
Florescent lights, X-Ray Camera, Action. Too often, people feel rushed and intimidated when behind closed hospital or clinic doors. Slow down. You, as a patient, have the right to fully understand the medical treatment that is being given to you. Confused? Stop and get clarification. The right to informed consent states that you have the right to receive accurate and easily understood information, which means:
You are given the information about the possible risks and benefits of the treatment.
You are given information on the upsides and downsides of other options, including inaction (not getting treatment).
You have the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered to your complete satisfaction.
You feel comfortable making a decision that is in your best self interest based on the information you’ve received.
What Does It Mean For You:
While most of the time you’ll have doctors that follow this practice and even educate you on informed consent, it’s a valuable piece of information to have because it removes the intimidation and puts the ball in your court. You have the time you need and have the right to fully understand the benefits or concerns with the medical treatment before making the decision to undergo it.
Your End Of The Bargain:
It is your right, but also your responsibility to speak up if you do not understand the treatment or any part of the treatment plan. Once agreeing to the treatment, it is also the responsibility of the patient to follow the recommended treatment.
#2. Right To Refuse Treatment:
Under the informed consent right of patients; you have the right to deny treatment even if it has negative consequences to your health. Understand that you are ultimately responsible for any of the consequences associated with that refusal.
Decision Time:
Patients have the right to fully participate in the decision making process of their treatment. Patients who are unable to fully participate in their own healthcare decisions have the right to be represented by a parent, guardian, or family member.
#3. Access To Emergency Services:
Emergency service is one of the few areas of healthcare-without-insurance that’s covered by law. Under civil law, a treated person is responsible to pay for these services whether their healthcare provider fronts the bill or if they’re paying out of pocket, but the service itself must be available to all.
Unable To Pay:
If you have no insurance and are unable to pay, a private hospital can transfer you once stabilized to a facility for continued care.
Insured or not, you have the right to emergency services. While the textbook definition of “needing emergency services” is lengthy and academic sounding, know that if you’re in a situation where walking it off isn’t an option and immediate medical attention is necessary, the right of a patient to emergency services has your back.
Without regard to your ability to pay, you have the right to be informed of your right to receive medical attention. This is to prevent discouraging people from being treated based on ability to pay.
You have a right not to be transferred from an emergency care facility against your will.
#4. Right To A Copy Of Your Medical Records
Thanks to our trusty friends that designed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Acts of 1996 (HIPAA), issues regarding privacy and medical records help guarantee patients access to their health records. If we don’t give you a receipt your medical treatment is free! Well the law doesn’t quite state it this way, but you are entitled to a copy of your medical records at any time.
Why would you want them? If you find an error anywhere in your medical records, you can request that it be corrected or add information to your file if it is incomplete.
#5. Right Of Non-Discrimination
You have the right to respectful care from all members of the healthcare world at all times. This doesn’t mean you can file a lawsuit against the grumpy receptionist at your local pediatrician’s office, but it does mean that regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, current or anticipated mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or source of payment; healthcare providers must treat you with the same care and respect as the next person to walk through the door.
Patient Responsibility Is Key!
Remember that while you do have rights, responsibility is your end of the bargain. In order to receive the right to accurate and understandable information, it is your responsibility to provide correct and complete information about your medical history.
Physicians United Plan (PUP) provides Medicare related products to the Florida area.
PUP offers individual healthcare plans that are specifically designed for individuals eligible for Medicare that live in the Florida area. The locations include Brevard, Osceola, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Pasco, Lake, Pinellas, Marion, Polk, Miami Dade, Seminole, Orange and Sumter. All individuals that are of Medicare age living in these areas can qualify for Physicians United Plan Insurance.
PUP is completely accredited by the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission. At first this organization was known as just a local provider, but over time Physicians United Plan Insurance has gained more recognition and become the leading healthcare provider in the Florida area. The benefits that can be obtained differ from those that are possible with just traditional Medicare Part A or B. With Physicians United Plan coverage, you will receive prescription coverage. Therefore, you will not have to obtain supplemental insurance that is necessary through the use of Medicare.
Physicians United Plus prides itself on proving the highest level of service to Medicare aged individuals. New enrollees can expect the very best plans that will cover all of their healthcare related costs. Understanding the coverage that you need can be extremely difficult, but professionals at PUP will help you every step of the way. You can expect the proper level of coverage at a rate that is affordable.
The type of coverage that is possible through Physicians United Plan insurance includes many services that are not offer on certain Medicare plans. These plans are known as Medicare Advantage plans. This includes prescription drug coverage, emergency care at any hospital worldwide, vision screenings. hearing checkups, dental cleanings and guarantees on out-of-pocket payments. You even get access to gym membership. With PUP, you will receive full body health and wellness features. In addition to the beneficiary’s monthly Medicare Part B premium, you will have a $0 monthly plan. What also comes standard is the reduction of up to $50 for Medicare Part B Premium. This is completely affordable compared to other Medicare related products.
The coverage that can be obtained through Physicians United Plan insurance is extremely favorable and adds services and benefits to the level of healthcare provided by Medicare. Although the fees vary based on county, you will notice that co-pays are also favorable. It is important to ask the enroller any questions or concerns you may have. PUP is a great choice for choosing Medicare products in Florida.
Like many other Americans, you’ve probably asked yourself: What is happening with health insurance reform? How does it apply to me?
We have heard the words Obama Care, healthcare reform, and The Affordable Care Act, and many of us are wondering what they actually mean. Here is the breakdown: In 2013 congress passed the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obama Care. This new law has been labeled as ‘health insurance reform,’ or ‘healthcare reform.’ So now that we have the words straight, how does all of this apply to you, me and the rest of the country?
The ultimate goal of the Affordable Care Act is to make health insurance more available to people with various income levels and health concerns. The actual law is 900 pages long, but is available for anyone to read at: http://www.gpo.gov. In regards to an average person’s busy schedule we will condense this law into a few bullet points.
A quick note: each state has different rules regarding health insurance, and your rights do depend on where you live.
If You Have Health Insurance Now
There are no longer lifetime limits to your benefits. This means your coverage will be there when you need. You also now have the right to appeal a benefit you do not agree with, and your insurance can not cancel your coverage if you get sick. Preventative care is also covered, such as cancer screenings.
Children & Teens
Children under 19-years-old cannot be denied coverage if they get sick and an insurance company cannot deny coverage for a child’s preexisting condition. There is a catch though – until 2014 an insurance company can charge higher premiums for sick children, and some insurers have threatened to end ‘child-only’ policies.
Your college graduate is able to stay on your health insurance until they turn twenty-six. Your insurer cannot charge you a different health premium for that child. Your teen does not have to be financially dependent on you, a student nor do they have to live at home to qualify. This coverage does not extend to your child’s spouse or to their children if they have any of their own.
Pre-Existing Conditions
You cannot be denied coverage if you have a pre-existing condition. Premiums are not based on pre-existing conditions, but rather are based on age.
Medicare
If you qualify for Medicare, you no longer have to pay out-of-pocket for preventative tests and exams. If you have had to pay full price for drugs, you will receive a 50% discount on brand-name drugs and a 7% discount on generic drugs. The discounts will increase until the year 2020.
Insurer Responsibilities
Your insurance company must publicly post and give reasoning for an increase in rates. States will determine if this increase is reasonable. The ability to reject rates depends on each state’s individual laws.
Mandatory Health Insurance
By January 1, 2014 everyone is required to have health insurance. If you do not have insurance the IRS will send a reminder, and there will be a fine. This fine will increase every year that you do not get insurance.
The number one question on everyone’s mind: Who pays for this? Obviously if everyone now has healthcare, and many of them signing up for government programs, the tax payer will be affected. If you earn more than $200,000 as an individual taxpayer (or more than $250,000 for a couple), you will see an increase in the amount you owe for Medicare taxes beginning in 2013. Also in 2013, if your income is more than $200,000 ($250,000 as a couple), you will pay a 3.8% tax on some of your investment income.
All in all the recent health care reform’s goal is to increase the availability of healthcare, while also trying to keep costs down. There are some exceptions and a lot of ‘fine print’ to read when it comes to these laws. Your best bet is to ask your healthcare provider questions about your personal plan, and any changes the Affordable Healthcare Act could bring.
A huge percentage of Americans depend on their employer-provided health plan for their health insurance. Still, there are certain situations when people would need to obtain private health insurance, especially with the most recent health reform law that mandates every American to get health coverage. When the time comes to find a private health insurance, there are a few things to keep in mind.
These days, the situations when people would need to acquire their own health insurance would have to do with their employment status. You may need to purchase your own health coverage if you are self-employed, unemployed, if you are working part-time, or if you are running your own business. Children leaving college can still be covered under their parents’ health plan until they reach the age of 26 or if their own employer provides them coverage.
Should you lose your job due to retrenchment, downsizing, or voluntary resignation, you will be eligible to get health coverage under COBRA but you will have to pay for the full cost of the policy. When COBRA coverage runs out and you still haven’t found a new employer who will provide you with coverage, then you would have to shop and purchase your own coverage. If in case you are not eligible for COBRA, then you need to find your own coverage immediately.
There are companies who offer limited health coverage for their part-time employees but mostly would not. So if you are working part-time, expect to look for and pay for your own health coverage. Similarly, if you are self-employed and cannot get coverage from your partner, you have to look for your own health coverage. If you set up a business and hire employees, you may be compelled to give your employees health insurance. But even if it is not legally required, you may want to consider offering health insurance because your competitors will most likely offer it and you do not want your employees to be lured away by these competitors just on the basis of a health plan. Small businesses today can obtain health insurance for their employees that are not too heavy on the budget; these are also considered group plans with their own special rates.
Sometimes insurance companies may decide to drop you from the plan if you have a chronic or serious medical condition. This can happen regardless if you have been a loyal plan member for years and years. You can seek the help of an agent who can find a health plan that will correspond to your particular condition.
It is hard to go about life without a health insurance since a slight emergency such as a fractured bone can cost you a lot of money if you’re uninsured. It is for these seemingly small accidents that health insurance really counts. Accidents cannot be predicted so you would be insuring against something that can take place just anytime.
Reading the news can sometimes turn you away from buying health coverage. All you see are news about the rising costs of health care, but what you may not be seeing is that health insurance comes in different forms and sizes and with varying prices. So while you may not be able to afford the health coverage provided by a large company for their employees, you can certainly find one that would suit your budget. Always remember that having health coverage, however limited, is always better than not having coverage at all.
The first thing to look at is the type of insurance you can get. You have the option to purchase a health plan from a preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, high-deductible health plan, point of service plan, or a consumer-driven health plan. After picking a plan, you should establish a deductible that you can take on comfortable. The insurance deductible is that portion of the health plan that is shouldered by the participant. The rule is if you set a high deductible, your insurance premiums will go down. Think about the amount you can handle to pay for. If your cash flow is not that high, you may want to go for a high deductible plan.
Shopping for a health plan is so much easier these days with the Internet. Most plan providers offer their health insurance online and provide excellent customer service to guide prospective buyers in choosing a plan that suits them. Keep in mind that plans vary by location and the premiums for every plan can be different by zip code. When you get a quote from the website, what you are getting is the lowest price for a plan with the assumption that you are in tip-top shape. So give allowance for when you actually buy the policy and provide your medical history.
It will be very difficult to make an apples-to-apples comparison with regards to health plans because companies really differ when it comes to plan features and costs. The idea is to get all the features you want at a cost you will be comfortable with. You should definitely go for the reputable insurance companies as they have the capacity to offer really affordable plans just because of the sheer size of their business.
What is in your plan must depend on what you need. It is very likely to find a plan that has all the features you want. There are just some considerations you need to think of such as whether you need prescription drug coverage and what type of prescription coverage you want. Look at the out-of-pocket expenses such as co-insurance and co-payment. Ask yourself if you need dental and vision coverage or if you require pregnancy benefits. If you already have a physician that you go to all the time, see if they are accredited with the plan you are getting so you would not have to pay the extra costs of going to a doctor that is not part of your plan’s network.
Something is wrong. Your head hurts, but not like a headache. It’s been hurting all day and it’s actually starting to affect your decision-making and distort your vision. Do I need more sleep? Am I dehydrated? After a quick browse on WebMD you cannot seem to pinpoint the symptoms. As your mind begins to wander to worst-case scenarios, you decide it best to drive yourself to the emergency room and have an expert take a look but you don’t have a ride. This article explores everything from the ambulance ride to the final bill.
To Visit, or Not to Visit:
It might be easy to error on the side of caution. And while nobody is going to tell you to avoid the emergency room if you feel it necessary, consider that in 2011, more than 18 billion dollars could have been saved if patients experiencing problems that were considered non-urgent used preventive health care and not leaned on Emergency Rooms to care for them. Here is a helpful guide to determine whether to visit an Emergency Room or an Urgent Care Facility.
The Ambulance Ride:
The Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (as well as many others) advise calling an ambulance when any other method of transportation is inadvisable. Whatever the situation, ambulance rides are sometimes necessary and can save a life. According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 15% of all emergency room visitors arrived by an ambulance and 43% of all hospital admissions originate in an emergency room. Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year, neither the emergency room nor the ambulance have the luxury for a break.
If you ever find yourself in an ambulance, here are some important tips. And you should also be happy to note that ambulance drivers pass rigorous certification examinations and will know how to provide immediate life-saving care in the event of an emergency. Now, if you’ve made the decision to take an ambulance, don’t be taken by surprise at the costs that show up later. Ambulance rides do not operate under the same fare system as taxi-cabs or rickshaws. No, this potentially life-saving lift can cost up to $900 in some states. Find out if your health insurance will cover your ambulance ride.
Waiting Room:
Waiting in an emergency room is painful for more reasons than one. First, there is the obvious presence of people in discomfort ranging from mild to agonizing: agonizing gets seen first. You can see the 10 most common reasons for an ER visit here. Then there is the wait itself. Billboards promoting average ER wait-times can be seen at 25 minutes, well below the CDC statistics putting the average wait times nation-wide at 58.1 minutes. In a study by Press Ganey, a consultant for around 10,000 health care facilities, the average time spent for a visit to an emergency room was 4 hours and 3 minutes.
Here are three tips to avoiding busy wait times at the ER:
1. Don’t Get a Case of the Mondays: Mondays are the busiest day. People that become ill over the weekend will generally wait until Monday to visit the ER because…well…they don’t want to spend their weekend in the ER! If at all possible, avoid getting hurt or sick on a Monday (we know how ridiculous that is).
2. Call your doctor while you’re driving to the ER: Sometimes it helps to have a physician in your corner or in the ear of the ER front desk. They can better explain how you’re feeling and speak hospital language. It hurts over here isn’t quite going to get you to the front of the line.
3. Don’t Leave: If you’ve been waiting a while and are getting frustrated. Don’t leave. This isn’t Denny’s where you can just leave the lobby to go home and make yourself some pancakes. If your condition has changed or if you feel you have been waiting too long and are getting concerned, ask to speak with the nurse in charge or the shift supervisor.
4. Here are some more helpful tips when in the Emergency Room.
Seeking Medical Attention:
The time finally comes when the doctor or nurse is ready to see you. Prior to ever finding yourself in the Emergency Room, it might be a good idea to review your health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. It might save you a great deal of money in the long run and impact the decisions you make during these moments of medical attention. You will be evaluated by a nurse and registered as a hospital patient. At this time you will provide medical information and consent for medical treatment.
Treatment:
Your doctor will review your medical history (see previous) and may order additional tests. There may be consultations with other doctors, nurses on staff and other specialists. It truly is a team effort to make sure you’re taken care of, properly diagnosed, and cared for. According to accounts at Riverside Hospital, once you are stabilized and emergency treatment is rendered, a decision is made to admit you to the hospital or send you home with instructions for following care. It’s no choose your own adventure novel, but the staff is working in your best interest to keep you healthy and safe.
Discharge:
You may have prescriptions and instructions for the days and weeks following your visit. This is the time to ask questions. You have the full face-to-face attention of a Doctor. Take advantage and ask them now. It is important that you understand discharge instructions fully. One CBS news study found that only 49% of discharge patients could report the treatment plan back when quizzed. Write down the plan, record it, send yourself a voicemail; anything to help you remember the steps after ER.
Admitted To The Hospital:
If you are requiring specialized or extended care, you are admitted to the hospital and moved to a room as quickly as possible. Although this hospital survival guide is meant for planned admittance to a hospital (not so lucky for ER patients), the information is still useful.
The Wonderful Land of Medical Bills:
A recent study showed that the average cost of a visit to the ER for over 8,000 patients across the U.S. was $2,168 (The Atlantic). Although hospitals cannot legally deny treatment of a patient in need of immediate care, they do have the right to vigorously collect fees resulting from the stay and medical bills can linger for a lifetime. What you can certainly expect is the unexpected. Emergency room costs are bafflingly unpredictable. A trip to the emergency room for a strange headache, for example, can run anywhere from 15 bucks to $10,000 in fees! If you’re trying to avoid fees, the first trick is to stay out of the emergency room, but only if you safely can. Hopefully this article has helped articulate what to expect in a visit before, during and after a visit to the emergency room. Just remember to stay smart and stay safe!
Getting health coverage after graduation can be tricky, but making the right decisions can save you a lot of money.
If you’re just out of college, you are lucky if your parents are able to include you under their health care coverage. In fact, part of the health reform law allows your parents to include you in their coverage until you reach the age of 26. Fresh graduates can either take the coverage provided by their parents’ health coverage or search for ways to purchase health coverage on their own for the first time.
The first thing you would discover is that buying health coverage can be expensive and coverage features can be quite complicated. There are a few tips that can help fresh graduates sift through the tons of information they will come across in selecting the appropriate health insurance coverage for them.
The best way to have health coverage is still through your parents’ policy. You should stay on it for as long as you can, which is until you reach the age of 26. The rates of a group policy are lower and employer-provided health insurance is partially shouldered by the employer. If you have found employment before the age of 26, you should still stick to your parents’ coverage as purchasing health coverage through your own work would still cost more and deliver fewer benefits.
Another reason for asking your parents to keep you in their health coverage is because as a fresh graduate you do not expect to find a company that you will stay with for a long time. Moving from one company to another means switching health care providers and going through wait-out periods before you can enjoy full benefits over and over.
If you do not have the option to obtain coverage through your parents’ health plans, you should look for a company that offers full health benefits. There are many companies the offer health benefits even to part-time employees. There are contractual employment opportunities where you can still acquire health benefits at lower rates.
If you have been enjoying the low-cost health coverage provided by your school while you are working on your degree and you plan to acquire new coverage once you secure employment, how can you ensure that there are no gaps in your health coverage? What you can do is to apply for interim insurance that offers coverage for a limited period of time while you are in between health policies. People who are in between jobs can apply for COBRA coverage that offers health insurance for as long as 18 months. The counterpart of COBRA for fresh graduates is GradMed, which offers low cost health coverage for up to half a year after you graduate from your course.
Some graduates need to take prescription medication for their medical conditions. With or without insurance, the cost of medication can still take its toll. There may be prescription assistance programs being offered in your community which you can apply for. You can obtain information on these government-subsidized programs from your doctor or local pharmacy. You may also find information online.
Your last option would be to seek out discount policies being offered by plan carriers that you can purchase while you wait for a better job. These discount policies are really cheap but they offer about 65% of the coverage that you would get from employer-provided plans. But still this type of coverage is better than not having any. Almost all insurance carriers offer these types of plans so you should still shop around for the best coverage you can find for the price you are able to pay.
Everybody needs health coverage at all times. Health insurance has become a necessity in our lives today. Going without it can mean high costs probably more than you can pay for, which would mean you can be in debt quite quickly for just one ailment or accident. If you are a fresh graduate then you are in a good position to look carefully for the type of work that will not only provide job satisfaction but offer a sound health plan that can cover you against illness and accident. So think about your options carefully and take a lot of time looking for a company that can provide adequate health coverage for you.
