Medical Insurance Archives

The Benefits of Using EZ.Insure

Comparing and finding the best health insurance, Medicare Supplement, or Medicare Advantage plans can be a complicated process. Many people jump around different sites thinking that this will help them get the best price, but they are wrong. Shopping around like this can take up a lot of time , and it gives your information to tons of different companies. At EZ.Insure, we make it quick and easy and we make sure you work with one, and only one, agent who is there to make your life easier. Our purpose is to provide the best products and services at a fair price.

*EZ.Insure provides ou something other agencies do not- your own personal agent. No jumping around, and not hassle.*

There are many advantages to using EZ.Insure, one being receiving your very own knowledgeable advisor. You will not be bounced around from one agent to the next, instead, you will be assigned to and receive help from just one. Every one of our licensed advisors is highly trained and knowledgeable about your region’s health insurance options. The agent will be able to explain all the benefit options because we make sure to pair you with someone who works in your specific area! Your advisor will assist you in applying for coverage that meets all of your needs, within your budget. Because of these attributes, we assure you the best experience in customer service.

What EZ.Insure offers:

No Obligation– When using EZ.Insure, you can cancel your plan at any time. You can even cancel during the underwriting process, and up to 10 days after you receive your policy. Insurance companies will not charge you until you are approved. Most importantly, you are not obligated to buy a plan until you are ready. You can utilize your personal advisor as much as necessary, to search and compare plans without any obligation to purchase until you are certain you found the right plan.

Protected Privacy– People should never worry about your information being sold or traded when doing business. While some businesses break that ethical code, EZ.Insure does not. We will never sell, trade, or give away your personal information to anyone, unless related to the processing of your application. We ensure confidentiality at all times with the use of advanced privacy technologies. When you fill out our form along with quotes, you will immediately see the contact information of the agent you are being to assigned to. This ONE agent is the only person that will receive your information so you do not have to worry about dozens of agents calling and competing for your time.

Expanded Choices– EZ.Insure provides a wide selection of plans in your area so you can make the most informed decision for your healthcare needs. We do not benefit from whichever insurance company you choose to use. Our main goal is to provide you with plans from financially secure companies that provide the best service to their members. With all the plans we have to offer, you are sure to find a plan that meets your personal needs.

Our customer's needs are what is important to our team — *Our customer’s needs are what is important to our team. EZ.Insure values providing the best plan at the most affordable price.*

Fast Quotes– You do not have to wait for a long time to receive a quote, because once you answer a few quick questions, you will instantly get a list of plans to choose from. You can enter your zip code in the bar below to start getting quotes, it’s that simple.

Cost Effective– EZ.Insure can help you find plans with great benefits that cost less, even if you already have coverage. With our agency, you are guaranteed to save money.

At EZ.Insure, we are continuously researching the best information and technology to pass onto our customers. We offer more guidance than any other agency out there with our well equipped and informed agents in the industry. You will never have to worry about being bounced around from agent to agent, or receiving subpar information. Be informed of the top plans for your circumstances with the best price. Why do it the hard way, when you can do it the EZ way?

Start saving time and money by simply entering your zip code above to see quotes now or you can give one of our agents a call at 888-350-1890, or emailing us at replies@ez.insure.

Short-Term Health Insurance VS Major Medical Health Insurance

When it comes to determining if a short-term health insurance plan or a major medical health insurance is best for you, there are many factors you must consider. Two of the main things to consider are how long you want coverage and what you want to be covered. Short-term plans aid people when a catastrophic issue arises, such as a sudden injury or illness. With short-term health insurance, you can choose how long you need coverage, and what price you want to pay. Major medical health insurance provides more comprehensive care than short term insurance. Major medical plans include things such as preventative care and wellness checks. Unlike short term plans major medical plans lasts longer than a year and are usually more expensive.

Short-Term Health Insurance

The purpose of a short-term plan is to cover medical and travel expenses from 3 – 12 months. These health insurance plans are also called travel insurance plans because if you are traveling outside of the US, short-term plans will offer you basic coverage for a limited time.

Short-term plans are a more flexible option for people looking for coverage for no longer than a year. Short-term plans, unlike regular health insurance plans, are charged a daily rate which lets you buy a plan for the time you need, whether it be a month or more. The plan can go into affect anywhere from the day after applying to 14 days later. These insurance plans are generally nonrenewable, but you can reapply if needed with some restrictions.

Short-term plans are usually up to 50% cheaper than long-term plans. Savings vary by person, for example, a man who does not smoke can purchase the cheapest short-term plan for $110 a month, while the cheapest long-term plan will cost him about $270 a month. The savings are even more significant if you are under the age of 30 and plan on traveling out of the United States. People under the age of 30 can get short term health insurance plans for as low as $38 a month.

These plans are less expensive and much easier to obtain. The application does not require a medical exam and only asks a handful of yes or no health questions in order to get approved. Short term health insurance plans, unlike normal health insurance plans, also offer plans for older customers. You can apply for a plan up to the age of 89, while normal health insurance plans are not offered after age 75.

Pros & Cons of short term health insurance

Who Should Apply For Short Term Health Plans

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, short-term policy utilization has increased from 108,000 people in 2013 to 148,000 people in 2015. Short-term plans have been gaining popularity among those who need coverage but cannot afford long-term health insurance. It is ideal for anyone who waited too long to purchase long-term and missed the open enrollment period, young adults who can no longer be on their parents’ health plans, people in between jobs, and those that are waiting for their employer or government benefits to begin. Some people buy short-term insurance to cover the deductible period before their long-term insurance starts paying. Others purchase these plans to fill in the gaps of Medicare coverage.

Major Medical Health Insurance

Major medical insurance is a long-term plan that offers more comprehensive coverage. These plans help manage day to day expenses and are convenient for those that require routine medical work , such as medication, lab work, and inpatient and outpatient services. Major medical health insurance complies with the ACA requirements which means it provides the ten essential health benefits. These ten essential benefits are: ambulatory patient services, prescription drugs, emergency care, mental health services, hospitalization, rehabilitative services, preventative and wellness services, laboratory services, pediatric care, and maternity and newborn care. However, most health insurance plans do not cover dental, vision and hearing, so you must purchase a separate plan for any of these forms of coverage.

Major medical policies offer peace of mind in knowing that you are covered in case of emergency or future conditions. These plans allow you to choose your own policy and deductible, but require you to answer health questions and conduct a medical exam to determine if you are qualified for benefits. Your policy rates depend on your age, gender, marital status, and the amount of coverage you desire. As of January 1, 2014, people who purchase major medical plans cannot be turned down or have rates raised due to pre-existing conditions.

Unlike short-term health insurance plans, major medical plans offer more extensive coverage and you will not be issued a tax penalty because it abides by ACA guidelines. These plans can be renewed annually unlike short-term plans which only last up to a year. You must enroll during open enrollment which is from November 1st to December 15 this year. If you miss open enrollment, then you will have to wait until the next enrollment period, unless you qualify for special enrollment. These special circumstances are when you adopt or have a child, get married, lose coverage from an employer, or move outside network area. If you attempt to purchase a plan outside of open enrollment, it will cost you a lot more.

Major Medical Health Insurance Pros & Cons

Who Should Apply For A Major Medical Health Plan

Major medical insurance is important to have for everyday health coverage, for both an individual or a family. It helps people whose employer or spouse’s employer does not offer health insurance. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, this plan is your best option because it will cover your medical expenses and the newborn is generally put on the plan automatically. Short term health plans do not offer any type of coverage for pregnancy expenses. When you are over 26 years old and are no longer on your parent’s plan, then a major medical plan is best if you are looking for preventative care and wellness checks.

If you need help comparing different types of health insurance plans EZ.Insure will help you. We will connect you with a highly trained agent that will help you discover what health insurance plan is best for you. To get started, you can put your zip code in the link to the right, email us at replies@ez.insure, or give us a call at 855-400-0489.

$25 Billion Medicare Cuts Possible Due To Republican Tax Bill

The GOP tax bill that the Republicans have been working on, can lead to major cuts in Medicare funding and spending in 2018. The bill is estimated to cut $25 billion from Medicare starting 2018, and resulting in $400 billion over the next ten years.

The Congressional Office has estimated a $1.5 trillion deficit to over the next 10 years due to the tax bill.

In 2010, Washington passed a “pay as you go” rule which requires any new laws to be deficit neutral. Basically if there is not enough economic growth to balance the money lost, then the Office of Management and Budget has to cut spending. Unfortunately, it is likely that one of the spending cuts will be to Medicare.

The tax bill does not exactly say that it will cut spending on Medicare, it will be an unintended result. Some Republicans stated that the cuts would affect doctors, health providers, and hospitals, not Medicare beneficiaries. They have also had talks to try and change the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67.

House Speaker Paul Ryan seems to threaten cuts to Medicare saying “we’re going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform, which is how you tackle the debt and the deficit. I think the President is understanding choice and competition works everywhere, especially in Medicare.”

A major issue with the possible cuts is that Medicare beneficiaries could end up being kicked off of their current Medicare plan, or receive fewer benefits.

Juliette Cubanski, associate director of the Program on Medicare Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation says, “these cuts could be one bad side effect of this tax legislation. Many providers may be able to absorb the payment reductions if they have a very diverse patient base. But others who rely primarily on Medicare may find this cut really difficult to deal with.”

While many are uneasy with the possible cuts, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy says that it is all a scare tactic by the Democrats, and that Medicare cuts will not occur. He states “the Republicans have been wanting to have this fixed for quite some time. When Obamacare went in, it cut Medicare. We have been trying to make our entitlement sustainable into the future.”

Roughly 54 million Americans currently receive Medicare benefits. Many fear the cuts will leave many Americans without coverage or unattainable expense to have coverage. However, McCarthy claims lawmakers will find a way to avoid the Medicare tax cuts.

Uber Launching ‘Uber Health’

Uber has announced a new business line called Uber Health that will provide a ride-hailing platform for healthcare providers. Uber is offering to take patients to their medical appointments, as long as they are operating in the area. The health care providers that will use this business will be the ones billed for the services, not the patients.

Health care providers can set up car ride appointments within a few hours or up to thirty days in advance for patients. In order to ensure anyone can use this service, Uber has stated that the patient will not be required to have the Uber app or a smartphone. The company will use text messages to coordinate the rides, and they will have the ability to utilize both mobile and landline features to communicate with patients.

A centralized dashboard will let providers in the healthcare industry be able to assist their patients with transportation that is in compliance with HIPAA, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability. The health provider will put in the client’s name, number, pick up and drop off locations, and then choose one of Uber’s ride-hailing vehicle type. The client will receive a text message or voice call notifying them of the booking. The system has a management system that will keep track of all of the billing and reporting.

Uber began testing the platform last summer with over 100 healthcare providers signing up including clinics, hospitals, rehabs and physical therapy centers. The reason for starting the service is due to statistics claiming that 3.6 million Americans miss medical appointments because they lack reliable transportation.

“There are a lot of people out there who are not going to the doctor simply because they can’t physically make it there,” said Uber Health executive Jay Holley.

“If there are people who are missing their appointments because they’re using an unreliable bus service to get to and from their healthcare provider, this is a great solution for them,” Chris Weber, general manager of Uber Health, told in an interview. “The types of individuals this is valuable for really is limitless.”

“Uber’s endeavors into health care trace back to 2014, when Uber first offered on-demand flu shots in large markets across the U.S.,” he said, regarding the genesis of the focus on health within Uber. “Since then there have been similar efforts throughout the world, from diabetes and thyroid testing in India to subsidized rides for breast cancer screening in the U.S., to many more. That said, all of these efforts have been pop-ups.” This all led them to figure out a way to make a more permanent solution to reducing missed appointments.

In order to comply with HIPAA, Uber drivers will not be told or aware that they are driving someone that is using Uber Health. The drivers will have a limited amount of information such as the passengers’ name, and their pickup and drop off points.

Uber wanted to make it clear that they are not a replacement for an ambulance or for emergency situations. They will not be sent to transport people who need immediate attention. Uber hopes to help lessen the gap of Americans missing their doctor appointments, and focus on wheelchair accessibility for those who need it. Weber said, “It’s definitely something we’re focused on making a better, more reliable experience, but as of now this is really focused on reaching out to the existing driver network.” Uber is hoping to expand in more than 250 cities in the U.S. and make this new line of business successful.

There Is NO Open Enrollment For Medicare Supplement Plans

Medicare Supplement Insurance Does Not Have a Deadline

Many senior citizens think that the Medicare Open Enrollment period is the only time they can purchase a Medicare Supplement plan. But, there is no deadline to purchase Medicare Supplemental Insurance. During the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, everyone is busy picking a plan that is best for them. Some retirees rush into a new plan without focusing on the coverage, and some may miss the period. Missing the period does not mean you miss the opportunity to change or purchase a plan. You can change or buy it year round.

In order to actually sign up for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan, you must be 65 and have Original Medicare. You are most eligible to be guaranteed issue rights when purchasing a plan six months from when you turn 65. Guaranteed issue is the protected right that an insurer cannot deny you or raise rates due to pre-existing conditions.

While there is no deadline to buy or change a Medicare Supplement Plan and anyone eligible is able to buy a plan any time of the year, it comes with a catch. Medicare Supplement Insurers do have the right to ask you questions regarding your health. They can then determine if they want to insure you, deny you, or raise your rates due to pre-existing conditions. This is possible because you will not have guaranteed issue rights.

Picking a Medicare Supplement Plan can be a long and tough process. There can be questions you have about the coverage, costs, and the different types of plans. EZ.Insure offers you a trained one on one agent to assist in figuring out the process, coverage, and sign you up. We compare all plans for you, and find the best prices. Enter your zip code in the bar above to receive quotes, or contact your own advisor by calling 855-220-1144, or e-mailing replies@ez.insure. We promise to provide the best service with no obligations, it’s that easy!

2017 Health Insurance Open Enrollment Has Been Shortened!

Shortened Open Enrollment Period- When Is The Deadline & What This Means For You

This year the government has decided to shorten the Open Enrollment Period from three months to only six weeks, lasting from November 1, 2017 to December 15, 2017. If you sign up during this period, coverage does not start immediately, it begins January 1, 2018. With a shortened amount of time, it is important to be diligent and look into plans as early as possible. If not, you can end up getting stuck with a plan that does not suit your needs, or even worse, miss out on signing up for a plan altogether.

Some states have extended their open enrollment period to allow people more time in choosing a plan. These nine states are highlighted on the map below:

2017 Open Enrollment Period has been shortened in most states. Only 9 States have extended deadlines.

California – November 1, 2017 to Jan. 31, 2018
Colorado – November 1, 2017 to Jan. 12, 2018
Connecticut – November 1, 2017 to December 22, 2017
District of Columbia – November 1, 2017 to Jan. 31, 2018
Florida – November 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017
Massachusetts – November 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018
Minnesota – November 1, 2017 to January 14, 2018
New York – November 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018
Rhode Island – November 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
Washington – November 1, 2017 to January 15, 2018
Select Georgia Counties – November 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017
- Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Coffee, Glynn, Liberty, McIntosh
Select Texas Counties – November 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017
- Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Brazoria, Caldwell, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Wharton

Not all states can change their open enrollment period, but there are three more states that can extend at anytime. These three states are Idaho, Maryland, and Vermont.

Not only has the open enrollment time been reduced, but there are also added provisions

1. Special Enrollment Period- When the open enrollment period is over, people may enroll during the special enrollment period. These circumstances are such as when you adopt or have a child, get married, lose coverage from employer, or move outside network area. With the change of a shorter enrollment period, came a stricter ruling on special enrollment. Now you need to send documentation in a short period of time to prove your circumstance, whereas before they just took your word on it.
2. Non Payment Loopholes Removed- Some people learned a loophole to save money during open enrollment. They would stop paying their premium in the months leading up to enrollment so their plan gets cancelled. But now with new provisions, you cannot switch coverage unless your old coverage is paid in full. Due to this rule, a lot of people who are behind on payments will not be able to sign up.

How Does This Affect You

In the previous year, when the open enrollment period was 3 months, more people signed up later in the open enrollment period. During the second half of the 3 months (about 7-12 weeks) is when 60% of new enrollments occurred and when people switched plans. With only 6 weeks open, people are forced to make a quicker decision in choosing a plan, and some might miss out completely. Enrollees who signed up in January, and had a Feb. 1 effective date, were healthier on average than those with a Jan. 1 effective date. People who are healthy may procrastinate and miss out on open enrollment this period, and these healthy procrastinators are the ones who balance the risk pool and lower premiums.

How This Will Affect The Healthcare System

Insurers do not favor longer open enrollment periods. This is because people will wait until they are sick before they apply for coverage, and then insurers will have to cover their pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies fear of going broke due to all the sick individuals they must cover. If the healthy procrastinators do not sign up because they missed the opportunity, then the premiums will go up in order to cover those who are sick.

Given the shorter amount of time to sign up for insurance, it is very important to go over plans and choose the best one for you, rather than making a rushed decision. In order to better prepare yourself, you need to consider some things when purchasing a health insurance plan. You need to consider past health needs, future health needs, pharmaceutical needs, and your financial situation. Ez.Insure will help you choose the plan that suits all those needs. Simply put your zip code in the bar above to get started, or contact us through email at Replies@ez.insure or call 888-350-1890 . One of our agents are always ready to help you at no charge, with no obligation.