Medical bills scare us all. Today, consumers are responsible for much more out of pocket costs at all levels including premium and expenses. Medical debt can actually appear on your credit history as shortly as 180 days. To avoid this, address the bills as soon as they arrive. Taking immediate action of some kind is valuable and can allow a payment plan to begin, an extension or request for financial assistance. Here are some additional options to check into when medical bills arise.
None of us ever think we will EVER get ‘that old’ but it’s finally happening…. You are turning 65 this year. It seems all the insurance companies that have Medicare related products know because the mailbox is constantly full of advertisements. Where to begin?
The federal family medical leave act allows extended, unpaid, job protected leave for certain situations.
March 23, 2010 the Affordable Care Act was signed into law with the full law taking effect January 1, 2014. Beginning in September, 2010, the first aspects of the law took effect. One of the pieces of the law included full coverage for preventive care.
Hospice is medical care for those with a terminal illness to live as well as possible for as long as possible, increasing the quality of life. This care is provided by a team of professionals who address the physical, psychosocial and spiritual distress of both the dying person and their family. Hospice came to the U.S. in the mid 1970’s and at that time was often used when cancer was the diagnosis. Today, late stage heart, kidney, or lung disease and many other diagnosed illnesses utilize Hospice care. There are even facilities for infants, children and adolescents available.
As the situation with COVID-19 or the Coronavirus progresses, I want to reach out to ensure you are presented with helpful information during this time of confusion. One of the offerings for care that the federal and state governments as well as health insurance carriers and providers have promoted is Telehealth.
I recently had a mechanical engineer who builds bridges in my office. After we discussed Medicare he said, “I build bridges and I STILL don’t understand this stuff.”
As the new year started, I watched the AFLAC duck attempt yoga on a tv commercial. AFLAC has done a great job at marketing with the duck. But I wondered, do people REALLY know how supplemental benefits work. The next couple months I will do a series of articles on the different carriers, defining the types of benefits available on a voluntary basis, how the plans are implemented and how benefits are paid. This first month, will focus on supplemental benefit basics.
Often, I receive inquiries from individuals wanting to purchase short-term disability on an individual basis. Typically, carriers will not offer short-term disability individually as it is not cost effective. Standard short-term disability benefits start either first day for injury or illness or often first-day injury and seventh-day illness. Can you guess who is traditionally most interested in this benefit? Young females.
As we age, the need for regular medical testing usually increases. Thinking about what and when to be proactive is a great way to monitor changes in your body. Following are common tests that older adults should get.
The Wall Street Journal recently posted online (September 19, 2019) the estimated increase for Social Security recipients for 2020 to be approximately 1.7 to 1.8% from current. An average recipient receives $1305 a month so the increase could be approximately $27 at that level.
Often times at appointments I have clients bring in marketing pieces. Sometimes they are discount prescription drug cards. So are they really worth it?
After months of stress-filled days and busy nights, Ben needed a holiday. He decided to go on a solo trip to the Canary Islands, where he’d do nothing except lay on the sand for an entire week.
We can order anything online and have it delivered right to our door. Prescriptions are no different. We are all used to ‘mail order’ getting a 90 day supply, often for lower cost than the pharmacy. These prescriptions typically arrive in large bottles of 90 tablets or capsules. Then the issue is putting them in the ‘weekly’ containers or the struggle to take them timely.