The Benefits of Health Insurance

As of March 2010, the United States has embarked on a four-year plan to reform its health care system, dedicating $960 billion dollars to making prescriptions cheaper, requiring insurance companies like Medicaid to cover more ofAmericans‘ medical costs, changing the way that prescription drugs are manufactured, priced and distributed — and more.

The ideal situation is for every individual in America to have some form of health insurance and with the often staggering cost of modern major health procedures, the inflated salaries of doctors and the increasing complications in getting some hospitals to even accept certain forms of insurance, many feel it’s high time for a change. Health insurance provides a protective buffer between you and paying full price for health care, and covers the needs of those with disabilities and those with long-term medical conditions as well as emergency medical care for injuries and accidents.

The heath care reform works in smaller ways as well. For example, it has already implemented new changes that require Medicaid prescriptions to be covered for 23 percent of the cost instead of the past 15.1 percent. This is not just good for those who receive the prescriptions but also for Medicaid, as drug manufacturers must increase the rebate amount offered to Medicaid in accordance with the new laws as well. The federal health care reform plans include a requirement by law for all Americans to have health insurance by 2014. Many Americans do not currently have health insurance due to financial constraints, but not having health insurance from 2014 onward will result in a penalty tax. Therefore, if you don’t already have health insurance, you should look into it now.

Quotes from various companies can easily be acquired online and because many are offered free of charge your options are unlimited; you can compare insurance quote after insurance quote from as many companies as you like until you find the right insurance plan for you and your budget.

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A Look at the Medicaid Program

Established in 1965, the federal Medicaid program was implemented to help low-income people and their families get health care services. The program is also for people whose income is below the poverty level.

Medicaid was designed to ensure that lower-income and the poor have access to health care resources. Both state and federal government resources fund it. Medicaid services provide for physician and emergency visits and treatments, as well as drugs.

There are many individuals who are eligible for Medicaid coverage including adopted and foster children, low-income pregnant women and children under the age of 6 and other specially protected groups. There are also state-level groups that are eligible.

Families who receive welfare benefits are usually eligible and their assigned social worker can help them get information about benefits and enrollment qualifications.

Funding for the Medicaid program is very expensive and is one of the toughest issues that the U.S. Congress faces. But many people would not have access to medical care. This is an especially touch subject when Medicaid covers so many low-income children.

While the Medicaid system is not quite as hard to navigate as the Medicare system, it still takes a bit of time and patience. There are many resources out there that can assist in the navigation of the system. You can check the official Medicaid website for more information. There are also local resources that may be able to provide help as well.

Anyone who is looking to enroll in any state or federal aid program should try and get help from professionals who have the skills to help with the enrollment process. People should also do their homework and get a lot of information about the programs so that they can be sure to get the maximum benefits for which they are eligible.

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Study Shows High Percentage of Eligible Children Not Enrolled in CHIP or Medicaid

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According to a report in the pages of Health Affairs, approximately 4.7 million children in America who are uninsured and are qualified for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid are not currently enrolled. An estimated 7.3 million children in the United States were uninsured on an average day. Interestingly approximately 65 percent were eligible for medical insurance programs but were not enrolled.

Ten states did report they had rates of participation above or close to 90 percent. California, Texas and Florida have 39 percent of those children that are deemed eligible but not enrolled.

The authors of the study say that there needs to be some reforms in health insurance policy in addition to a more concerted effort to get these children enrolled. The report says that tax data can be used for enrollment on an automatic basis.

Last March, President Barak Obama made health care a priority upon the landmark reforms that were put into effect in March. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius proposed a challenge to get government officials including governors, mayors as well as other community leaders to get these children enrolled in CHIP and Medicaid programs.

Other interesting facts in the study are the differences in enrollment rates for state to state. The researchers say more research is needed to figure out the reasons for these differences. However some of the factors that will be studied are population density, ethnic composition, income per capita and access to employer coverage. The report also points out that local policies toward the programs must be studied as well.

The study expects that the number of children eligible for these programs will rise due to the state of the economy. More information on this factor will be released in the fall of this year.

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Healthcare with No Insurance

Not everyone can afford health insurance or has the option of purchasing it through employment. There are other alternatives to help ensure that you won’t go broke if an emergency occurs where you’ll need health care or hospitalization.
Many states offer their own insurance options for those that live in the state. There are even plans for short term insurance plans if you have recently become unemployed or have a lapse in your preexisting insurance plan. The plans can vary greatly and some can be costly but it is a good idea to check them out to see if they are a good fit for your own personal situation. COBRA is a plan that is famous for gap insurance for people between jobs or recently unemployed.
If you and your family have a very low income you may qualify for medicare or medicaid. Both programs help out in medical and health care costs and are provided at no cost to the recipient. You will have to apply for both programs to see if you and your family qualify but if you do, they can defray costs considerably. Medicare is not based on income and is usually for those that are at least 65 years of age. Medicaid is available to everyone regardless of age but is based on income statistics for your family. Both have co-payments that have to be paid but are very helpful in paying for medical and health care costs.
Regardless of how you get insurance, it’s best to have it in case the need arises. With a little research and determination you can find a program that you can afford and is right for your individual circumstances. Don’t be afraid to reapply if you are turned down for a program. Some programs automatically turn down first time applications.
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