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Health Savings Accounts

Clinical Mind — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:56:38 +0000

Health Savings Accounts, or HSA’s, are a new alternative for those looking for affordable, low-cost health insurance. However, while these are gaining popularity, they are very new and quite complicated when compared to more traditional health insurance options. The deductibles are quite high on HSA’s but they can be used as investment vehicles in a fashion similar to life insurance. Due to the relative novelty of this option and its complexity, HSA’s are only recommended for those already familiar with health insurance and looking for a potential investment vehicle.

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Independent Health Insurance

Clinical Mind — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:19:28 +0000

Self-employment does indeed come with a long list of trade-offs and one of them is having to bear the entire burden of buying health insurance. When we have health coverage from an employer, we are typically asked to pay a percentage of the cost and perhaps some co-payments to receive benefits and use services. This was typically a relatively small amount deducted from your paycheck ($20-50, depending on length of pay period). But, to use COBRA and buy that same coverage after leaving to go into business for yourself might cost you anywhere from $200-500 per month! And while temporary health insurance can potentially be found for 36 months, you will eventually need to find a permanent solution to your health insurance question. (more…)

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Temporary Health Insurance

Clinical Mind — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:12:49 +0000

The reason that we all really need health insurance in this day and age is because of “The Big One”. That one big unforeseen car wreck or major illness could potentially destroy you financially if you don’t have adequate health insurance. Sure, we all want health insurance that will provide coverage for check-ups and preventative testing—but those really are things we can do without for a short period of time. The real need for health insurance comes from trying to protect yourself from those catastrophic medical bills that always seem to arise at the worst times—when you are not covered. (more…)

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Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

Clinical Mind — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:25:47 +0000

On the other side of the coin is the PPO and it is not as common among employer-sponsored health insurance options but it is probably the one that employees prefer most. As the name implies, a Preferred Provider Organization places more emphasis on giving enrollees more options with their health care. While an HMO stresses reduced costs and the use of a “Gatekeeper”, a PPO stresses increased options. Some principle features of most PPO programs include: (more…)

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Health Insurance for the Self-Employed

Clinical Mind — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:22:39 +0000

Whether its one of the major automakers announcing thousands of layoffs or one of the software giants outsourcing high-paying jobs overseas to cheaper labor markets, the simple truth is that millions of people are struggling with two huge problems at the same time: (more…)

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Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance

Clinical Mind — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:07:57 +0000

While benefits are indeed decreasing and premiums/contribution amounts rising, employer-sponsored health insurance is still one of the greatest benefits offered by any company. According to the Human Resources research firm William M. Mercer, 91% of companies offering health insurance require employee contributions. While this does create cost for the employee, the ability to purchase health insurance in bulk still allows companies to provide coverage to employees for a much lower cost than could be possible were the policies purchased independently. (more…)

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Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Clinical Mind — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:37:56 +0000

As the name actually implies, an HMO places emphasis on maintaining optimal health through regular visits to your doctor. The idea is that most major illnesses can be prevented through inexpensive testing and regular visits to physicians. Here are four basic facts about HMO’s that will help you better understand how they work: (more…)

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The True Magnitude of the Health Insurance Question

Clinical Mind — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:00:56 +0000

Although there is no conclusive evidence, a growing number of economists and financial strategists are beginning to think that the staggering surge in healthcare costs over the past three decades has literally caused a transformation of the economic landscape itself. Since 1974, the average cost of healthcare has increased by an average annual rate of 9.9%. This figure dwarfs the average annual increase in GDP to the point that Americans now spend 1 out of every six dollars (a total that exceeds $2 trillion USD in 2006) on healthcare related costs. (more…)

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COBRA

Clinical Mind — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:43:26 +0000

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act was a law enacted in recognition of the rising health insurance costs and the growing number of people without coverage. Under COBRA, a departing employee has the option of continuing to buy health insurance coverage through the company’s plan. This law will allow an individual to continue purchasing health/dental/life insurance through the company for a period of up to 18 months. (more…)

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Signs and Symptoms of Learning Disability

Clinical Mind — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:53:54 +0000

by Mary Johnson-Gerard, Ph.D.
Educational Psychologist

Learning disabilities as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a disorder in one or more of the basic, psychological processes involved in understanding or in using spoken or written languages. These may be manifested in disorders of listening, thinking, talking, reading, writing, spelling, or arithmetic. They include conditions which have been referred to as perceptual handicaps, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, developmental aphasia, etc. They do not include learning problems which are due primarily to visual, hearing, or motor handicaps, to mental retardation, emotional disturbance, or to environmental disadvantage. (more…)

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