American Individual Health Insurance

Shooting at Colorado Movie Theater

2012-08-13T23:31:00.002-07:00

The recent shootout in Aurora, Colorado during the premier of the film The Dark Knight was simply surreal. A man shoved gas in the throng of moviegoers and right away fired at them several rounds of bullets which left 12 dead, 58 injured and the whole world shocked.

As the investigation wind down, more information came out revealing that the accused gunman, James Eagan Holmes, was actually a neuroscience student at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

The event, the perpetrator of mass murder seems lifted off the books---comic book, at that! As he was brought for arraignment, a pathetic sight is for all to see. Holmes was in a blank stupefied stare with a disheveled crop of hair dyed in flaming orange-red. He was at times mumbling to himself and simply wearing a flat affect most of the time.

He seems to be an incarnation of the Joker, the Riddler and Batman himself. All of who are psychopaths in their own right.

Court reports further revealed that Holmes was in the verge of dropping out of the neuroscience program and was actually under the care of the school’s student mental health services (what we call Guidance and Evaluation Center, around here) director, Dr. Lynne Fenton.

He reportedly sent a package to Dr. Fenton with unconfirmed contents. This was promptly taken by the investigators after the violent incident.

I cannot help but recall one of my classmate during medical school. She almost had every tell-tale sign of having psychotic disorder. She walked stiff like a robot (ala Robocop) wearing flat affect all the time, barely speaks (hardly audible when she does) and turns corners at right angles.

Though she was not violent, some red flags should have been raised when the screening of medical students came through. A psychiatrist who apparently breached the privacy and confidentiality agreement between clients and counselors told me that her drawings (used in evaluating the mental status of various personalities) were rife with eccentric sketches.

For prevention of violence, certain red flags should be noted. Those who threaten acts of violence or have identified targets are siren calls. They are meant to be involuntarily admitted to mental hospitals or other centers catering to mental health issues.

But not all cases are black and white. There are a lot of gray areas. In such cases, the burden is on the counselor or psychiatrist to make a judgment call whether to confine, institutionalize or not.

In the case of Holmes, the psychiatrist handling his case need not be accused of failing to notify authorities concerning the threat posed by the accused. The defense of insanity can be refuted considering that Holmes plotted the event for some time. He amassed high-powered guns for months, booby-trapped his apartment, loaded his car with fire-power, parked it near the theater exit, and even told the police officers that he is “the Joker”. Calculated, premeditated actions seems to be in place.

Preventing similar events in the country ideally should be done. But considering that event a medical school in the US and even in the Philippines cannot pinpoint which of their student are in line to follow suit what Holmes and other students who opened fire on campus grounds, we just have to pray that we are somewhere else.

MEDICAL INSURANC (Part IV)

2011-06-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Major medical coverage has another feature, coinsurance. This means that the insurer and the insured share in any expensive above the deductible amount. The insurer will always carry the bulk of expenses and normally pays 80% and the insured pays 20%. Other proportions may be used so it is important that you read your policy thoroughly.

Some policies dictate that certain types of medical expenses are not subjected to the deductible while other types are. For example it is non uncommon for no deductible to apply to initial hospital and/or surgical expenses up to a specified amount. In a case like this, the insured would pay no deductible in expenses but would first pay the deductible before major medical covered any additional expenses. The insurer and insured would then share in the remaining expenses at 80% and 20% or whatever the percentage is in their applied policy.

It is becoming more common for major medical polices to include a “stop-loss limit.” This limit would be a dollar amount that, when reached, the insured no longer participates in any further payment.

This is generally referred to as a stated maximum benefit. The lifetime maximum limits on health insurance might range from $100,000 to $1,000,000. Some policies can even have unlimited benefits. Just as the maximum benefit can vary, so can the amount of the stop-loss limit depending upon the insurer.

Supplemental major medical benefits supplement a basic policy that includes hospital, surgical and medical with an additional policy that covers the broader range of medical expenses.

Usually the basic plan will pay covered expenses with no deductible up to the policy limit. Beyond that limit, the supplemental policy operates the same as a comprehensive policy that provides no other first dollar coverage. This means that after the basic policy limits are exhausted, a deductible kicks in followed by the major medical coverage.

Just as the comprehensive major medical policy, a supplemental plan will more than likely include stop-loss limit as well as a maximum benefit limit.

MEDICAL INSURANCE (Part III)

2011-05-19T14:05:00.001-07:00

American Individual Health Insurance: A gold-laden dose for better life
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Regular medical expense benefit is another category that is sometimes known as physician’s non-surgical expense. This coverage is for non-surgical services a physician provides and can sometimes be narrowly applied to physician visits while the patient is in the hospital.

If this is the case the benefit will most likely pay for a specified maximum number of visits per day, a specified maximum dollar amount per visit and a specified number of days coverage applies.

In other policies this benefit could be for non-surgical services performed by a physician whether the patient is in or out of the hospital. Once again there are limits such as $100 per visit up to 50 visits per year depending on the policy.

Other medical expense benefits fall into a category in addition to the hospital, surgical and medical benefits previously discussed. These optional benefits vary from insurer to insurer and may or may not include as part of their standard policies. Separate policies can sometimes be written to include these benefits. Some of them are:

Maternity
Convalescent – Nursing home
Emergency first-aid
Home health care
Mental infirmity
Hospice care
Prescription drugs
Dread disease
Outpatient treatment
Dental
Private duty nursing
Vision

We will not cover all of these options, but will let’s take a look at the most common.

Maternity benefits are sometimes included in policies subject to certain conditions and limitations. The most usual limitation is a 10 month waiting period designed to prevent the purchase of health insurance just to cover pregnancy and childbirth expenses. Interesting to note, however, group policies for employee groups of 15 or more are required by law to provide maternity benefits on the same basis as non-maternity benefits. This means that in a case such as this, the waiting period would not apply unless non-maternity benefits also
required a 10 month waiting period.

national basic medical insurance, industrial injury insurance and maternity insurance drug list (2009 edition) (bonus CD, a)

Aside from the group scenario above, many policies just exclude maternity benefits totally but make them available at extra cost. Where maternity benefits do apply, the benefit usually includes newborn care while the mother is in the hospital.

Other benefits that are sometimes available under the same maternity coverage might include cesarean deliveries, natural abortions and elective abortions.

Emergency First Aid Coverage applies to an accident that may call for immediate first-aid on the scene. This applies when a medical professional who just happens on the scene provides first-aid service he/she might bill the insured. Sometimes treatment like this must be performed without the knowledge or assent of the insured. Some policies offer coverage for such contingencies and normally must incur within a very short time after an accident.

Mental Infirmity historically has been excluded from most policies. However, in recent years more and more policies include this type of coverage but with limitations. The benefits are usually much lower than physical ailments and a stated percentage of the benefit paid for other types of medical care is included.

The Coverage Catalog: Coverage for Mental and Nervous Disorders : A Compendium of Public and Private Sector Health Insurance Plans

Common exclusions and limitations. Both disability income and medical expense policies limit or exclude coverage for certain types of injuries or illness. There is a difference between limitations and exclusions. The mental infirmity policy limitations we discussed above is an example, whereas an exclusion is completely omitted from any coverage.

It is important that you deal with a knowledgeable agent because state laws and policies may differ on specific items. Some items that fall into the common exclusions and limitations might be:

Pre-existing conditions as defined by your policy and dictated by state law.
Hernia however the growing trend is to cover the condition.
Self-inflicted injuries
Suicide
War and/or acts of ware that result in injury or death
Military duty
Non-commercial air travel
Injury while committing a felony
Injury, illness or death incurred while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics
Cosmetic surgery unless for surgery required as a result of an accidental injury or a congenital defect Dental expense, unless resulting from accidental injury
Vision correction such as eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses
Care provided by governmental facility which is normally covered by the Veterans Administration or by workers compensation
Sexually transmitted diseases
Experimental procedures
Organ transplant
Infertility treatment and services
Alcohol and drug abuse treatment

An end to preexisting condition exclusions for children.(IMPLEMENTING HEALTH REFORM)(Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act)(Interview): An article from: Family Practice News

Up to this point we have discussed “basic” benefits that are designed to cover some hospital, medical and surgical costs that are primarily considered to be minor. When purchased individually, these benefits can be substantially less than actual costs incurred.

Here is where Major Medical coverage enters the picture. Major Medical covers a broader range of medical expenses providing more complete coverage. Generally speaking, these more extensive types of policies fall into two categories:

1. Comprehensive. This is the more traditional basic coverage and any other type of medical expenses are
combined into a single policy.

2. Supplemental. This coverage usually begins with a traditional basic policy. That coverage pays first and the major medical coverage is added to include expenses that are not covered by the basic policy.

The primary distinction between supplemental and comprehensive major medical coverage is that supplemental plans distinguish between basic and major medical for reimbursement purposes. Comprehensive plans combine the two types to cover essentially all types of medical expenses.

Let’s take a more in depth look at comprehensive major medical benefits. There are two types of comprehensive major medical plans, one with first dollar coverage and the other without.

Just as the first term implies, first dollar coverage begins as soon as covered medical expenses are incurred. Without first dollar coverage, the insured must pay specified “deductible” amounts first.

When that amount of expenses incurred has been paid by the insure the policy begins reimbursing.

One Nation, Uninsured: Why the U.S. Has No National Health Insurance

MEDICAL INSURANCE (Part II)

2011-05-18T08:30:00.009-07:00

American Individual Health Insurance:
If these hospital walls could talk
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The broad definition of basic medical expense insurance in most states includes hospital, medical and surgical expenses. The purpose of this type of insurance is to cover a broad range of medical, hospital and surgical expenses as well as separate categories of medical expenses.

Let’s explore individual versus group coverage.

No matter how a policy is written, narrowly or broadly, medical expense insurance is designed to reimburse for the cost of care whether it results from injury or illness. Both individual and group policies are available to consumers.

Normally individual policies are more costly along with having limited benefits but generally speaking, both types cover the same medical services. Hospital expense benefits provide for expenses incurred during hospitalization. Indemnities usually fall under two broad groups:

Room and board – including nursing care and special dietary requirements
Miscellaneous medical expenses – including x-rays, lab work, medications, medical supplies and operating and special treatment rooms In some cases, benefits might be included for certain surgeries and related costs like pain killers given during a hospital stay.

Room and board benefits may be paid based on indemnity or reimbursement depending upon the particular policy. When paid on an indemnity basis, the insurer pays a specified rate per day that has been pre-determined and is laid out in a schedule within the policy.

The schedule will spell out the details of the benefit coverage as it pertains to length of stay. Once the length of stay has been exhausted, no more benefits are available. These are sometimes called dollar amount plans and typically the number of days is from 90 up to 365.

More commonly used is a reimbursement basis, also known as an expenses-incurred basis. With this type of coverage the policy will pay in one of two ways – the actual charges for a semi-private room or a percentage of the actual charges. There are no specific dollar amounts but a maximum number of days will still be specified.

Surgical Expense Benefits fall under two plans, scheduled and non-scheduled.

In the scheduled plan, surgical expense policies pay the fees incurred from the surgeons services and related costs incurred when the insured has an operation. Typical related costs include fees for an assistant surgeon, anesthesiologist and can even include the operating room when it is not covered as a miscellaneous item.

Basic surgical coverage can be included in the same policy as basic hospital and medical expense and are normally included in a schedule listing major commonly performed operations and the benefits payable for each.

This gets a bit tricky and you need to be aware of how the insurance company determines the benefit. Just because a specific surgery is not listed in the schedule does not necessarily mean that there is no benefit for it available. It might mean that the insurer indemnifies that surgery based on absolute value and the relative value of each procedure.

In other words, let’s say that the insurer determines that a certain surgical procedure has a prevailing value of $1500 and indicates that in the schedule included in your policy. That is considered the absolute value. Now, let’s say that there is another procedure not listed in the schedule that is say 50% less complicated as the $1500 procedure. In this case, the relative value would be $750 and that is the benefit amount that will be paid for the less complicated procedure.

Using a non-scheduled scenario, when surgical benefits are not listed by a specific dollar amount in a schedule, the policy will pay based on what is considered usual, customary and reasonable in a certain geographical area and is also known as UCR.

This non-scheduled type of indemnity is found most often in major medical and comprehensive policies which we will discuss further along.

As you might imagine, under this type of arrangement the UCR is determined by the amount that physicians in the local area usually charge for the same procedure.

MEDICAL INSURANCE (Part I)

2011-05-18T07:26:00.001-07:00

Every American patient have a choice
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If you recall, we explained that there are two broad categories of health insurance policies: disability and medical expense. Thus far we have covered disability. Now we’ll take a look at basic medical expense insurance.

Basic medical expense policies provide for medical expenses that result from accidents and sickness. This is a loose term that refers to various medical, hospital and surgical benefits.

The broad category of medical expense coverage provides a wide range of benefits for hospital, surgical and medical care. Other benefits may apply as well, such as private nurses, convalescent care, and more.

Policies may be written as such that they may be limited to only one or two types of coverage like hospital or miscellaneous medical costs or surgical expenses. These are known as basic plans.

Medical Insurance Made Easy: Understanding the Claim Cycle

Other, more broadly written, policies may cover all expenses resulting from accident or illness using some specific exceptions.

Medical plans include fee-for-service wherein doctors and other providers receive a payment that does not exceed their billed charge for service provided.

Prepaid plans provide medical or hospital benefits in the form of service rather than dollars. Many things need to be considered when selecting a medical expense plan such as:

Specified coverage versus comprehensive care. In other words does the plan feature only specific benefits or is the coverage comprehensive?
Any provider versus a limited number of providers. Are you required to choose from a specific list of providers?
National versus regional operation. Is the plan limited to a specific geographical region or operate nationwide?
Insured versus subscribers. Are participants considered insureds (the person who receives the benefit) or subscribers (the person who is paying the premium)?

We are going to take a look at the limited coverage for hospital, medical and surgical expenses. Discussing this separately first, will help you to understand how the components are combined in major medical and comprehensive policies.

Medical Insurance: An Integrated Claims Process Approach

DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE (Last Part)

2011-05-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

Space for the Disabled
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Some disability policies use a probationary period that begins when a policy goes into effect and no benefits are paid during this period. It varies but is often 15 or 30 days and sometimes up to 60 days for long-term policies.

In addition to the probationary period some policies also include an elimination period. It begins when the policy goes into effect and can last for any length of time even up to a full year. This is usually left to the insured to decide as it is based on how long the insured can go without income after becoming disabled.

The primary advantage to a long probationary period is a low premium and allows the insured to use premium dollars to purchase a benefit that best suits their needs.

The benefit period, which is the length of time, can vary depending on the needs of the insured. They can be as short-term as 13 weeks up to long-term as long as age 65.

As a general rule the longer the benefit period, the higher the premium. Same as everything in life, we get what we pay for.

Benefit amounts for both short-term and long-term policies range from 50% to 66 2/3% of earnings with a cap on the maximum amount to be paid.

Other disability categories are confining vs. non-confining, partial, residual, recurrent, delayed, combined accident and sickness and non-disabling.

We won’t cover definitions of each category here, but do be aware of their existence and check your policy for a definition of coverage for these types of disability.

Most companies offer optional short-term benefits for an additional cost. A typical disability income policy might include all, some or none of the items below so it is important to discuss these with your agent. These options are:

Supplemental income – sometimes called an additional monthly benefit rider, provides additional income during the first several months of a long-term disability.

Hospital income – pays a stipulated amount per day when hospitalized extending for a certain period and can be up to 12 months.

Elective benefits or indemnities – provides lump-sum payments for certain injuries like fractures, dislocations, sprains or amputations of toes or fingers and is elected by the insured in lieu of weekly or monthly benefits stated in a contract.

DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE (Part II)

2011-04-29T07:17:00.001-07:00

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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Some things to consider when determining disability income needs are:

Establish the bare minimum required if income stops.

Determine your retirement needs if work ceases and the ability to pay into the retirement ends.

Allow for any benefit that might be offset by social security and workers compensation.

Some thought needs to be afforded to the possibility of “total disability.” That definition is important as it is always defined in a policy and different companies may use different definitions.

Interpretation is important as it pertains to the insured’s own occupation and any occupation the insured may be qualified to perform.

Occupation Insurance Agent Novelty 9"x12" Metal Aluminum Parking Sign

The first method used to determine total disability concerns the occupation that the insured is normally engaged in. In this case total disability might be defined as “the insured’s inability to perform any or
all of the duties or his or her own occupation.” This is determined by the insured’s occupation at the time that disability begins.

The second method is more restrictive defined as “the insured’s inability to perform the duties of any occupation for which he or she is reasonably qualified by education, training or experience.”

In other words, while you may no longer be able to conduct the duties of your current occupation you may be able to perform activities in a related field.

Forecasting the Labour Market by Occupation and Education: The Forecasting Activities of Three European Labour Market Research Institutes

There are some disability income policies that use another criterion to classify total disability. This is called presumptive disability and automatically qualifies the insured for total disability classification.

These conditions are:

Loss of use of any two limbs

Total and permanent blindness

Loss of speech and hearing

Presumptive disability may also be decided by using a loss of income test. If the earnings after disability significantly drop below pre-disability earnings by a given percentage the insured may be considered totally disabled.

Usually short-term policies cover non-occupational disability but most long-term policies cover both occupational and non-occupational sickness and accidents. Bear in mind, however, that occupational
benefits are usually reduced by benefits received form workers compensation and social security.

Other considerations are the probationary period, elimination period and the benefit period.

The Resurrection Hope in a Crucifying World: Crucifiction and Rejection of Love

2011-04-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

Self-sufficiency and Pride
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Crucifiction and Rejection of Love

By Anton Meemana

But, contrary to popular opinion, most people hate inner freedom and unconditional love deep down. It is too much for them to bear and care for. They may talk about it, sing about it, lament about its absence but deep down they do not know how to handle it once it is offered to them without restrictions, conditions and reservations.

We live in a world that rejects love and freedom. We live in a crucifying world, a world that rejects love, that tries to crucify it, that tries to eradicate it from the face of the earth. Crucifixion of Christ means rejection of unconditional love’s ultimate manifestation by us.

Reject Me - I Love It!: 21 Secrets for Turning Rejection into Direction (Personal Development Series)

Not everything about his death could be grasped by outsiders. One has to become an insider, enter into a path of discipleship, fellowship and intimate relationship with Christ in order to fully fathom and glimpse the deepest meaning and the broadest implication of his crucifixion. One has to walk his footsteps in order to see what it means to live in a crucifying world.

Crucifixion of Christ is never an isolated event, an individual phenomenon but is a cosmic event. Crucifixion of Christ means rejection of unconditional love by us. By crucifying Christ, we said NO to the gift of divine love. We committed the worst crime we could afford in history; that is, to kill Jesus, the author of life, and yet we remain unrevenged, unpunished, unharmed, free from retribution by God. When Jesus offers unconditional love, it can be a terrifying thing for some people. Either we want to destroy or annihilate what we are afraid
of or we want to run away from it, but Christ can never be gotten rid of for Christ is another name for love.

Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People to the Love of Christ

DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE (Part I)

2011-04-27T07:58:00.006-07:00

I Am Walking
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When a person becomes disabled and unable to work, at some point their income will stop. It might be sooner or later, but unfortunately, life goes on and daily living expenses continue to mount.

Disability income insurance is available to continue at least a portion of ones income while unable to work. It’s sad, but most people give more attention to life insurance than they do about income replacement should they become disabled.

Disability income insurance is available individually or sometimes as a portion of a group benefit provided by an employer in their group package.

Understanding Your On The Job Injury and The Independent Medical Exam

Individual policies are most often sold to self-employed and professional people. The amount of the benefit relates to earnings and is matched as close to after tax income as possible. Generally it is up to 60% of monthly net income and there is usually a cap on the amount.

When included as part of a employee group benefit package, disability income policies are usually more liberal than individual plans as far as limitations and exclusions. It is also much easier to acquire coverage. As a general rule, group plans are much less costly to all parties.

Disability income protection should be an element of your entire financial planning. The importance cannot be overestimated because it relates to your overall family finances. Whatever you situation may be, disability is one of the most important factors when you consider you inability to work and produce income.

Biggest Legal Mistakes Physicians Make and How to Avoid Them - Disability Insurance (Software for download)

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES (Part II)

2011-04-26T09:09:00.016-07:00

Falling Into Pieces--Life Without Health Insurance
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES

Accident benefits are most commonly paid for accidental loss of life (also called accidental death), accidental loss of limb or sigh (dismemberment), loss of time and/or income, hospital expenses, surgical expenses, and medical expenses like visits to the doctor.

Let’s expand a bit on dismemberment. As we said, this would be loss of limb or sight, however, different states have statutes that define dismemberment and they can vary from state to state. This is a subject that you need to discuss with your insurance agent to determine what actually constitutes dismemberment in your state.

Accidental Death Benefit can also be referred to as “principal sum.” This type of coverage should not be confused with life insurance. There is a world of difference between the two. Life insurance policies will generally regardless of the cause of death. An accidental benefit is paid ONLY if the death is accidental as opposed to a death by natural causes or illness.

CIGNA: America needs more AD&D. (accidental death and dismemberment insurance): An article from: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management

The person who received the death benefit is called the beneficiary. The policy owner has the right and responsibility of naming beneficiaries. Usually there is a primary beneficiary however he/she can assign a second and even a third beneficiary.

The primary beneficiary is the first person in line to receive the benefit in the event of the death of the policy holder. They can also name a second beneficiary who would receive the benefit in the event the primary beneficiary dies before the insured. Some policies can include a third beneficiary who would be in line after the first two.

There is much more to be learned about accidental death policies, but we would like to mention one important element before we move on. An accidental death may not be instant. A person can die as a result of an accidental injury months after the accident occurrence. Read your policy carefully because most stipulate that the accidental death benefit will only be paid if death occurs within three months of the accident.

Hold on tight: accidental death and dismemberment insurance sales are on the rise. What's driving this trend?(Health/Employee Benefits: Accidental Death ... An article from: Best's Review

Individual Health Insurance Word for the Day

2011-04-26T07:26:00.009-07:00

Exclusions

Excluded
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Specific conditions or circumstances for which the policy will not provide benefits.

Commonly excluded conditions are the following:

Pre-existing conditions
Non-traditional treatments
Common Drug Benefit Exclusions
Mental health treatment
Cosmetic surgery
Home care and private nursing care

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES (Part I)

2011-04-25T07:27:00.010-07:00

Forewarned: Take Action, Get A Health and Accident Insurance
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/

Guide To American Individual Health Insurance

Different Types of Health Insurance Policies

Health insurance is a legal contract between two or more parties that promises certain performance in exchange for considerations. A health insurance policy is considered a unilateral contract. This is because only one party (the insurer) is required to fulfill their obligation. While a policy owner may decide to terminate premium payments, as long as the payments are paid the insurer must meet their responsibility under the contract.

A health insurance policy can provide just one or any combination of certain benefits:

Hospital, medical and surgical expenses resulting from sickness or an accident
Accidental death or dismemberment
Disability resulting from accident or sickness (sometimes this can also be referred to as “loss of income” or “loss of time” )

An accident is an injury that occurs accidentally. A sickness is an illness or disease that is not the result of an accident. Knowing the difference is important because policies may have different provisions that apply to accidents or sickness. Also, there are some companies that sell a separate accident policy that does not include sickness.

The terms accident and sickness are widely used and often interchangeable in any discussion of health insurance. They are often abbreviated as A&H and A&S. Health insurance is also referred to as medical insurance.

Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

As we discussed above, health insurance is designed to protect again two types of economic loss. Loss of income and expenses for medical care which places them in either of two broad policy categories:

Disability income policies
Medical expense policies

Disability income policies can also be referred to as loss of income, loss of time or replacement income. This type of policy will pay benefits to an insured who is disabled and can no longer work to earn a regular income. Payments can be weekly or monthly depending on the policy.

Medical expense policies are represented by a wide range of coverage from very minimal to comprehensive packages with multiple coverage. Some include both accidents and illnesses, various hospital expenses and other costs pertaining to medical care such as:

Accident and sickness policies
Hospital policies
Basic medical expense policies
Major medical expense policies
Comprehensive medical expense policies

52 Healing Habits - How to Transform Your Health, in Body and Soul, One Simple and Powerful Habit at a Time!

Any of these policies might cover various combinations of the above and may be paid in a lump sum.

Accident Policies. Some policies cover only accidents and not illness. As you might imagine, policies like this are very specific about what is considered an accident.

It is important to understand what is defined as an accident as it pertains to the health insurance industry. . .an accident is an event that is unforeseen and unintended.

Keep in mind that any discussion of this type of policy also applies to any type of policy that includes accidental coverage not just accident specific policies.

The New Health Insurance Solution: How to Get Cheaper, Better Coverage Without a Traditional Employer Plan

The Resurrection Hope in a Crucifying World: Infinite Singularity and Infinite Love

2011-04-24T05:09:00.003-07:00

In Awe
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Infinite Singularity and Infinite Love
Professor Anton Meemana

In the beginning of the universe, there was Infinite Singularity and that means that the universe began with Infinite Love, and the universe is governed and run by Infinite Love and it will also end (whenever and however it will end) in Infinite Love. And that Love shall never end. In the beginning, 15 billion years ago, an immensely dense and tensed fire ball exploded and gave birth to our universe. It was a moment of self-donation, self-sacrifice, self-immolation and self-giving. That Big Bang was a work of infinite divine love. It burst in order to give birth to a new dimension of cosmic existence. Bursting is birthing. It burst in order to birth forth.

Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church

Everything in the universe happens according to the Law of the Cross which is the law of self-donating and self-giving. One thing dies or sacrifices itself in order to give birth to a new cosmic dimension. There is no new life without death and there is no death without new life. The Law of the Cross is an all-embracing and over-arching reality; in spite of death, life continues and in spite of life, death continues. Nothing can escape its paradoxical dynamics.

Good Friday is the ultimate manifestation, the zenith, the supreme expression, the high watermark of this divine truth.

The Resurrection of the Son of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God, Vol. 3)

Guide To American Individual Health Insurance (Introduction)

2011-04-23T07:20:00.002-07:00

Funny Take On Health Insurance Premium
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If you want to spark a spirited debate at your next social gathering, just try bringing up the subject of health insurance. You will undoubtedly set off a firestorm of opinions.

Years ago, acquiring your first health coverage was almost a right of passage. You began your career and you were automatically enrolled in your employers health plan after your first 90 days of employment.

To ensure individual and family security through health insurance coverage for all Americans.

That still takes place today but the health care industry has metamorphosed into a gigantic monster gobbling up resources everywhere it travels. Rates keep going up at an astounding pace and more employers are cutting back on their plans or doing away with their health benefit packages entirely.

Naturally, no one document will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about health insurance. When it comes to health insurance there is no “one size fits all.”

However, what will do is provide with enough knowledge to weigh the options and make informed decisions regarding your own circumstances.

The most important tool you can have when looking for good health insurance is knowledge. Unfortunately there aren’t too many places where you can obtain that knowledge without having to spend months wading through the small print.

So, before discussing the various plans that are available, we must first grasp an understanding of the complex nature of health insurance. Therefore, our first chapters are written specifically to help you understand the terminology and different components involved so that you can make those informed decisions and present it in plain English. Let’s get to it!

Good Friday, Good News and Good Life: Easter and Resurrection Hope

2011-04-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

Easter Hope
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Easter and Resurrection Hope

Professor Anton Meemana

After the resurrection of Christ, there is no such a thing as ordinary time. All time is extraordinary, supernatural and consecrated. Time is resurrected, rejuvenated, redeemed and emancipated. So now we live, move and have our being in resurrected time for time is also a resurrected realty. With the resurrection of Christ, there is no reason for anxiety, worry and restlessness. We must feel sorry for those who worry.

The Hope of Easter

With the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, the whole creation is redeemed; our lives are on a trajectory of resurrection. Resurrection is the enfleshment of hope. Resurrection is the surest assurance of God’s infinite love. Even the tiniest act of love is ultimately recognized and restored by God. No love is ever lost in this universe.

Creation is eastering forth. The resurrection of Christ is also the resurrection of whole creation. Every creative act is an act self-donating and self-giving. Creating is resurrecting. Resurrection is the revelation of God’s creativity par excellence. As Saint Augustine says, “Resurrection is the greatest miracle of God.” We now live unto the resurrection of Christ. Christ lives in us now in order to facilitate our own resurrection someday.

Christ in Us...Hope of Glory (Easter Musical)

What happened to Christ at the resurrection is also going to happen to us in the future. It’s our true fate. We are born, live, and die to be resurrected one day. Eternal life is our destined life. Eternity is ultimate human destiny.

The one who loves will never die. To the one who loves whether the world will end today or tomorrow is an absolutely non-issue. When we live in love, we live in God and therefore we will live forever. But eternity is not prolongation of time (time continuing ad infinitum). Infinity is eternal now and it never comes to an end. The whole of eternity contains at this moment and to experience it is to experience eternal life.

The whole creation, for the meantime, is in preparation for the return of the resurrected Christ and we are eagerly waiting for the early return of its redeemer.

Easter in My Heart: Uplifting Stories of Redemption and Hope

Good Friday, Good News and Good Life: Death as a Promoter of Life

2011-04-22T17:15:00.001-07:00

Charles Sprague Pearce: The Death of the Firstborn
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Death as a Promoter of Life
Professor Anton Meemana

Jesus went to his death the way he went about his living with the same compassionate attitude. His death was the death blow to sins in the world: sins had neither power nor control over his life and his decisions.

The Resurrection of Jesus Prayer Cards - Package of 20

We attain ultimate human maturity at the moment of death. Death is the erotic climax of our spiritual growth, the orgasm of union and communion with God, the orgasmic joy in God, the ultimate erotic fulfillment and satisfaction in God.

When we have not lived properly, we are terrified of letting go. The real fear of life is not fear of death, but fear of life, that is, the fear of dying (or letting go of life) when we have not lived fully. Then we want to cling to the narrow security of material comforts of life at any cost.

Letting go is preparing for death and by so preparing for death every day, we begin to live truly. In this way of living, death is a decision, an ongoing decision to deepen the zest for life.

With Jesus’s resurrection, the apostles were able to see what they could not see before, that is, the universe is no longer the same. Resurrection caused an insurrection in the nether world. Now the universe is a transformed, renewed, rejuvenated, reformed, recreated and remade reality.

The Case for the Resurrection

Christ has absorbed everything unto Him. Whoever and whatever is not absorbed by Christ is not redeemed. But the good news is that nothing is left unredeemed, untransformed and unrenewed by Him. The whole evolving and emerging cosmos is embraced by him. The universe is an extension of his resurrected and glorified body. So, now human death too is a redeemed reality, a resurrected reality. We are born, live, and die unto Christ’s resurrection.

We are buried, entombed, enshrined and sepulchered in Christ’s resurrected body and nothing can exhume us from it. True life is life towards resurrection and therefore true life is absent without resurrection. Death is the window to resurrection. Resurrection is the micro chip, the compact disk of life, that is, the interpretative key of life. Everything we are curious to know about life contains in the resurrection of Christ.

The resurrection of Christ is not an isolated, individual phenomenon, something that happened to a single individual. It is a cosmic event. It has cosmic repercussions. Resurrection is a biospiritual reality, a theo-seismic eruption, a universal spiritual outburst. Resurrection is the cosmic Tsunami that shakes, stirs, tupsy turvies, our fixed, fixated, stymied and stagnated understanding of God and life.

The resurrection is the grand renewal of the universe. In it, the healing of our minds, the broadening of our cognitive, intellectual, emotional, ethical and spiritual horizons was accomplished. It is the healing of our emotional blocks, frozen feelings and ego-centeredness.

There is no reason to be afraid of in God’s universe. God is in charge of everything and nothing can stop us from loving and being loved. Death has no power over those who love.

Resurrection (Based on a Short Story By Max Lucado)

Good Friday, Good News and Good Life: Love will Never End

2011-04-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

By The Handhttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/103/

Love will Never End

The exact date and time of world’s end is a meaningless category to the person who loves for she or he lives truly in each second. The meaning of human life is in the quality of our love. How much I love, the depth of my love is the real me. It is my real identity, my true self, my authentic self, and my original self. To hope is to trust in the power of love. To hope is to cultivate unshakable and unbelievable faith in love. To hope is to allow God to work miracles in our lives.

Hope is the memory of the future (Gabriel Marcel). Hoping is coping up with every hopeless situation. To hope is to cling to God under any anxiety, under any despair, under any disappointment. The more hopeless, helpless, restless and desperate we become, all the more we must cling to God. Every attempt to keep hope alive is an acknowledgement of Christ’s resurrection. Hope which is not contaminated by human expectation is a real possibility with God. Hope will never disappoint us for it always comes from God. Hope and expectation are not the same. The more we expect, the more disappointed we become. Expectations always
kill relationship. The greater the expectation, the deeper the disappointment. But in hope there is no disappointment whatsoever.

When God Writes Your Love Story (Expanded Edition): The Ultimate Guide to Guy/Girl Relationships

Death is the moment of truth, the moment of revelation and reveilation. Death rounds off one’s fundamental option and orientation in life. Death becomes absolutely meaningful when we live a full life. Death cannot annihilate those who continue to love. In that sense, death may be the holiest act, the most sacred event in one’s life. Death serves human life. Death too is a servant of God. Death gives us a purpose, an orientation, a sense of accomplishment and mission in life.

Good Friday, Good News and Good Life: Good Friday is Good News

2011-04-22T16:19:00.002-07:00

Unburden
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Good Friday is Good News

The Good News must not be made into a nice news, a complacent news, a comfortable news. Good news on Good Friday is a disturbing news, an interrupting news, a demanding news, a challenging news and a liberating news. Good Friday is the ultimate proof of Good News.

God loves us no matter what. When we suffer, God also suffers with us, God also feels our pain in order to console us. There is no true consolation without participation in human suffering. By embracing suffering, we transform them and then they become part of our depth, substance and authenticity. Nothing human is alien to Jesus, no human experience is ungraspable by him.

A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics, and Salvation (15th Anniversary Edition with New Introduction by Author)

Every injustice perpetuated is also perpetuated against Christ. Every persecution of the innocent is also a persecution of Christ. When we suffer unjustly, Christ too suffers with us heart-bleedingly.

Why are some people not convinced that they are loved totally and unconditionally? Is it too good to be true? Or is it the grandest illusion in the world? We cannot invent something like unconditional love without an experience of it for we are not intrinsically capable of it and so there has to be a source for it. Unconditional love and forgiveness is the divine revelation, it is revealed once and for all by the Lover and Forgiver par excellence.

Evil men, by trying to destroy others, destroy themselves in the long run. The wicked perish by their own devices slowly and surely.

We die as good as we live and that was certainly the case with Jesus. Jesus, the life-giver, lover and forgiver par excellence gave his life for us even at his death. Only a person who has lived well can die well. Jesus died exactly the way he lived by creating a space for life. Death and life are intimately interlinked. Even one’s death can be at the service of life, can enhance life and promote life.

Good News Bible: With Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha [Good News Translation]

Good Friday, Good News and Good Life: Crucifiction of Christ is Crucifiction of Ourselves

2011-04-22T15:40:00.003-07:00

Crucified
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Crucifiction of Christ is Crucifiction of Ourselves
Professor Anton Meemana

When we crucified Christ, we also crucified the best part of our personality with him. When he rose from death, our best selves were also restored and resurrected with him. With his death, our fears also died. By dying he gave us life.

We have done the worst possible we could do and yet we were not punished or avenged or given retribution. Now nothing worse could happen to us for God has accepted us as we are and offered us forgiveness and life. God accepts everything in the world, even our murderous rejection of love, mercy and forgiveness in order to redeem them. Whatever is not totally embraced by God is not fully redeemed.

Crucifixion

With God, there is no human predicament, human agony and misery beyond redemption and no sin beyond forgiveness. We are totally and absolutely accepted as we really are. So what guarantee do we still need for God’s unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness? God did not annihilate humanity from the face of the earth as a result of Jesus’ murder. Even though we killed Jesus, God’s own son, God’s love for us never turned into hatred, resentment or avenge. God cannot not love us. God identifies himself more closely and more intimately with the suffering of all creatures.

I am also a member of that humanity, part of that crooked timber of humanity (Immanuel Kant) that nailed Christ to the Cross and I am too part of that humanity that had been redeemed by the Cross of Christ. When we crucified Christ, we crucified the person we were afraid to become. We are afraid of true freedom and unconditional love and therefore we tried to get rid of the person (that is, Jesus) who offered us both freely and generously.

The Crucifixion of Jesus, Second Edition, Completely Revised and Expanded: A Forensic Inquiry

Acknowledgment of my contribution and share in his crucifixion should not lead to a guilt-trip. It is not about wallowing in self-pity and self-accusation for his death which in fact is a very dangerous move. Beating one’s breast is a theologically dead end. What is called for is costly involvement with the world, with the victims of history, with the suffering masses.

Christ donated himself, offered himself, sacrificed himself and shared himself for the life of the world and to do likewise is the Good Friday challenge for us.

Philippines: Crimes and Crucifixions

Good Friday, Good News and Good Life

2011-04-22T15:00:00.004-07:00

A Crucified Christ In Modern Context
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Good Friday, Good News and Good Life

By Professor Anton Meemana

Infinite Singularity and Infinite Love

In the beginning of the universe, there was Infinite Singularity and that means that the universe began with Infinite Love, and the universe is governed and run by Infinite Love and it will also end (whenever and however it will end) in Infinite Love. And that Love shall never end. In the beginning, 15 billion years ago, an immensely dense and tensed fire ball exploded and gave birth to our universe. It was a moment of self-donation, self-sacrifice, self-immolation and self-giving. The Big Bang was a work of infinite divine love. It burst in order to give birth to a new dimension of cosmic existence. Bursting is birthing. It burst in order to
birth forth.

Everything in the universe happens according to the Law of the Cross which is the law of self-donating and self-giving. One thing dies or sacrifices itself in order to give birth to a new cosmic dimension. There is no new life without death and there is no death without new life. The Law of the Cross is an all-embracing and over-arching reality; in spite of death, life continues and in spite of life, death continues. Nothing can escape its paradoxical dynamics.

Good Friday is the ultimate manifestation, the zenith, the supreme expression, the high watermark of this divine truth.

Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection

Crucifiction and Rejection of Love

But, contrary to popular opinion, most people hate inner freedom and unconditional love deep down. It is too much for them to bear and care for. They may talk about it, sing about it, lament about its absence but deep down they do not know how to handle it once it is offered to them without restrictions, conditions and reservations.

We live in a world that rejects love and freedom. We live in a crucifying world, a world that rejects love, that tries to crucify it, that tries to eradicate it from the face of the earth. Crucifixion of Christ means rejection of unconditional love’s ultimate manifestation by us.

Not everything about his death could be grasped by outsiders. One has to become an insider, enter into a path of discipleship, fellowship and intimate relationship with Christ in order to fully fathom and glimpse the deepest meaning and the broadest implication of his crucifixion.

One has to walk his footsteps in order to see what it means to live in a crucifying world.

The 8 Days of Holy Week

Crucifixion of Christ is never an isolated event, an individual phenomenon but is a cosmic event. Crucifixion of Christ means rejection of unconditional love by us. By crucifying Christ, we said NO to the gift of divine love. We committed the worst crime we could afford in history; that is, to kill Jesus, the author of life, and yet we remain unrevenged, unpunished, unharmed, free from retribution by God. When Jesus offers unconditional love, it can be a terrifying thing for some people. Either we want to destroy or annihilate what we are afraid
of or we want to run away from it, but Christ can never be gotten rid of for Christ is another name for love.

Jesus, the Lover and Forgiver Par Excellence (Part VI)

2011-04-22T06:38:00.002-07:00

Intimacy
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True life and Intimacy

I become more of myself, my true self, my real self, my original self, my authentic self in Jesus. I attain my true humanness in and through Jesus. We are absolutely nothing without Jesus. Christ is deep inside us, deep within us, so near us, so closer to us, with us, within us, in front of us, beside us, above us, underneath us, around us, before us, behind us and beneath us. There is no way we can escape his presence. He is deeply and intimately present when we feel his absence. His apparent absence is his presence. Christ is everywhere like air. If he is literally absent, then the entire universe would collapse back to its original Infinite Singularity.

Individual Health Insurance Word for the Day

2011-04-21T11:55:00.001-07:00

Deduce
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Health Insurance WORD FOR THE DAY

Deductible

The amount of money you must pay each year to cover your medical care expenses before your insurance policy starts paying.

Jesus, the Lover and Forgiver Par Excellence (Part V)

2011-04-21T06:35:00.002-07:00

To Forgive
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Love and Forgiveness

The unconditional love of God for us and forgiveness of our sins are the two sides of the same coin and Jesus is the embodiment, emblem and concrete manifestation of that covenantal relationship. The one who loves forgives and the one who forgives loves too. To love is to forgive and to forgive is to promote life. Forgiveness is the natural fruit of love.

Love and forgiveness took flesh in Jesus and made manifest and concretised on the cross on Good Friday.

Forgiveness is, theologically speaking, the genetic make-up of the universe. The universe is structured according to divine mercy and clemency. Forgiveness is the DNA of human existence and proper human relationships.

We are also invited to a laying down of our lives for others, so that there will be life the way Jesus lived it. Ultimately all the suffering, all the hardships, pain, difficulties, frustrations we undergo have a meaning in Christ. Our daily struggles are neither senseless, nor useless, nor meaningless. God exists, God matters and hence human life, pain, emptiness, suffering and difficulties too matter. There is no human predicament or human condition that Jesus does not comprehend or understand. Jesus is closer to us than we are to ourselves. He lives more intimately in us than we can ever recognize. Christ is the source of our happiness

and the very end of all our aspirations and inspirations.

With the coming of Jesus into our world, God has no future apart from human beings. God’s life is necessarily and decisively tied up with us humans in and through Jesus. God can never abandon us now no matter how sinful or pathetic we become. This is the Good News Jesus brought to us, that is, the Creator of the universe cannot come up with any future plan by forgetting or neglecting us.

So now, is there any reason for us to be afraid of our future? Apocalyptic anxiety about our future is not a Christian virtue.

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Individual Health Insurance Word for the Day

2011-04-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Health Insurance WORD FOR THE DAY

Covered Expenses

Most insurance plans, whether they are fee-for-service, HMOs, or PPOs, do not pay for all services. Some may not pay for prescription drugs. Others may not pay for mental health care. Covered services are those medical procedures the insurer agrees to pay for. They are listed in the policy.

Jesus, the Lover and Forgiver Par Excellence (Part IV)

2011-04-20T06:33:00.001-07:00

Take and Receivehttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/

By Prof. Anton Meemana

Giving and Receiving

The more we give, the more we receive. The when we stop giving and sharing, we also stop receiving and growing spiritually. Giving and receiving become the same in the final reckoning. Whatever is not shared with others will be lost permanently. What is lost is the real cost of life. Whatsoever is so lost due to our selfishness can never be recovered or redeemed.

What do we do when we receive a gift? Do we hide it, keep it to ourselves or throw it away? Or do we not break it open, unwrap it, expose it and share it with others? To share it is to bless it and be thankful for it. In that way, we could truly do justice to the gift received.

When we receive a gift we receive much more than a gift. A gift is a symbol of a bigger reality; that is, the gift makes us get in touch with the Giver, the Giver of all gifts and all good things.

Love: A Guide for Prayer (Take and Receive Series)

Life is a precious gift from God and therefore we do not own our life. It has been given to us as a gift to be broken, blessed, given away and shared with others. To live is to share and to live fully is to share fully. As long as there is no giving of oneself, there is no real giving. Oneself as a gift is the real giving and the real gift.

Jesus lived his whole life, from birth to death, as a gift from God. By totally donating his life, he totally gained it. Whatever is given away is retained and it is one of those paradoxes in human life.

Surrender: A Guide to Prayer (Take and Receive)