Health issues are a hot topic as health care costs have increased over time. Whether you have health insurance or not, you are affected by the rise in health care costs and need to understand how to plan your finances around medical and health care issues. Drug and annual medical expenses are a large component of health care costs, but you must also consider hospitalization and other costs associated with aging that affect your financial health. As health issues become more important with an aging population, the issue of “health” involves medical choices, health insurance choices, hospital issues and choices, doctor selection issues, long term care costs, choices and issues.
Understanding Obamacare: Health Insurance Exchanges
Nearly four years after Congress passed the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, one of its most prominent features will begin in October—the Health Insurance Marketplace. According to a recent survey done for InsuranceQuotes.com by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, only 10 percent of Americans claim to be very knowledgeable about the Affordable Care [...]
Understanding Your Health Insurance Policy Coverage
Understanding your health insurance policy can be tricky, but knowing the terms of your policy before a medical professional treats you is the key to helping you avoid unexpected and often hefty bills. The staff members at eHealthInsurance.com, a website that helps consumers find health insurance, frequently field questions about health insurance policies. They have [...]
A New Way to Buy Health Insurance
In a shopping center in South Jersey ringed by retail stores like Best Buy and Barnes & Noble, shoppers can buy a totally different kind of product—health insurance. Insurance companies and brokers across the country are stepping out of offices and business parks and into brick-and-mortar retail stores, setting up inside shopping malls and retail [...]
Understanding Obamacare
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as its more politically charged name, Obamacare, has been in effect since 2010. But the cornerstone portion of the legislation, the individual mandate, was on shaky ground until the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality this summer. So what does the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mean for you, [...]
County/State Entitlement When Applying for Healthcare Assistance
When you apply for county or state healthcare assistance, the county or state can lay claim to a percentage of your estate proceeds. Q: Fifteen years ago, my parents put my two siblings and myself on the title/deed to their house with the stipulation that they could continue to live in the house for as [...]
Health Insurance After Retirement – Know Your Options
One of the biggest concerns for someone facing retirement is figuring out how one’s healthcare costs will be covered. Especially in the last few years, there have been a multitude of changes in healthcare costs, benefit options, and pension elections. Your health insurance options will also change depending on your age of retirement and the [...]
Using Retirement Savings To Pay For Medical Expenses
When you invest your money into retirement savings you should make every effort possible to not touch your funds until retirement age. IRAs and similar accounts typically come with penalty fees if you withdraw funds before age 59½. Of course, life can throw unexpected curve balls your way. If you find yourself with mounting medical [...]
Medicare Uses Social Security Number
Medicare may use your social security number to identify you. This Medicare patient is frustrated that Medicare is using her Social Security number on mailings that are out in the open. It's important to take action so Medicare understands the potential problems of using Social Security numbers so openly.
Health Savings Accounts: Medical IRAs
The Health Savings Account is a tax-sheltered savings account similar to the IRA, but earmarked for medical expenses. Like an IRA, deposits into health savings account are 100% tax-deductible for the self-employed and can be easily withdrawn by check or debit card. HSAs can accumulate from year to year, if you're healthy and don't need to use the money.
Where To Get Health Insurance If Self-Employed
How can someone who has a health "history" get covered by health insurance benefits? There are several resources for those who are self-employed or unemployed to find health insurance. Even if you have preexisting health issues, you can get health insurance, but you're challenge is getting it an an affordable cost.