Shopping For Medical Insurance - Quick Definitions

Shopping for health insurance can be quite intimidating, but once you have a basic knowledge of the types of insurance available, the task becomes less daunting. Hopefully this article will help give you the tools you need to tackle the task of purchasing insurance on your own.

The first thing you should know is that there are two different basic types of health insurance coverage. They are called indemnity and managed care. Indemnity, also known as fee for service, allows you to choose the doctor you want to see. The downside is that this freedom of choice will cost you a bit more. The other type of health insurance is called managed care. Managed care only allows you to see doctors within a certain network. The upside to this is that you will most likely be paying less than you would if you had your choice of physician. Some managed care organizations operate as independently from other clinics and hospitals. The organization itself will have a facility with there own physicians. Other managed care organizations will work with doctors and hospitals to come up with appropriate costs for patients under their coverage.

There are a number of available add-on plans to the two main types of health insurance. One such plan is disability insurance. Disability insurance will pay you up to sixty percent of your income if you become disabled and unable to work due to injury or illness. When you purchase your plan, you will specify the degree of coverage you want, meaning a specific number of years, usually in increments of five years. Your disability insurance will then pay you sixty percent of your income for that many years.

Long-term care is another type of health insurance policy add-on. This type of insurance will pay for medical, nursing, and certain types of in-home care if you are unable to care for yourself due to a disability or illness.

Dental and vision insurance protects you when you have serious problems with your teeth or eyes. A portion of your regular checkups may be covered as well, depending on your policy. This type of insurance in included in many health insurance policies, but you can purchase them separately if need be.

Hospital/surgical insurance usually do not require that a deductible is met before they will begin paying for your treatment, but there is a limit to how much they'll cover. There are separate limits for the amount of hospital and physician charges they will pay. X-ray and diagnostic lab tests, non-surgical doctors' services, hospital services, and the hospital room itself are among the benefits of this type of insurance.

If you do not have other health insurance coverage, catastrophic health insurance may be able to save you from bankruptcy should a major accident or medical problem occur. Catastrophic health insurance covers major hospital and medical expenses. If you don't have other types of health insurance coverage, you will need to pay out of pocket for all other services aside from the major medical and hospital expenses. This type of coverage normally takes care of surgery, intensive care, hospital stays, and diagnostic X-ray and lab tests. This type of insurance usually has low monthly premiums with high deductibles.

Specific-dread disease insurance will cover costs specific to only certain diseases like diabetes, asthma, or cancer. Specific-dread disease insurance is designed to work along with other types of more basic coverage.

Finally, hospital indemnity insurance means that the insurance company makes payments directly to you instead of sending it to the hospital or physician group. The insurance company pays a certain amount each day you are in the hospital for a certain number of days. By having the money sent to you, the payments may be used for other out of pocket expenses and bills incurred from being ill and not being able to work.

Here are a few definitions to help you remember all of the terms associated with Medical Insurance:

Copayment: a fixed amount that an insured person must pay in order to take advantage of services covered by their insurance plan.

Deductible: the amount an insured person must pay toward each claim before their medical insurance benefits will take over payment.

Coinsurance: the percentage of a claim the insured will have to payment of the deductible.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): a type of insurance organization that provides the insured with more coverage if they choose to see a doctor affiliated with their specific insurance provider, but the insured are not limited to only those health care professionals.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): a health insurance organization that provides their insured with services from only health care professionals affiliated with the organization.
Now that you have an idea about the different types of health insurance that is available, and the different types of add on insurances, deciding what insurance coverage is right for you should be a slightly less daunting task. To make it even easier, the experts at SimplyFinance are available to help you find the best insurance policy to meet your needs.

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The Lowdown On Life Insurance Medical Exams

There are three main ways a new life insurance policy is priced: Underwritten policies are those where you answer questions on your personal and family medical history and undergo a medical exam arranged by the insurance company; a simplified issue life insurance policy application asks you some medical questions but does not require a medical exam; and a guaranteed issue life insurance policy requires no questions and no medical exam. If you're healthy, or even if you have a few medical problems, you're likely to get the best insurance value from an underwritten policy, which is priced specifically for you. Simplified issue and guaranteed issue life insurance policies set a price that assumes risk that you may not have.

Whether you're buying term life insurance or whole life insurance, you'll likely be asked to undergo a medical exam. These are typically performed by licensed paramedicals who are often independent contractors hired by the insurance company. They will schedule a visit to your home for the exam and bring all the necessary supplies. The life insurance company foots the bill for the exam.

Health questions

When you submit your completed application for your life insurance policy, your agent or life insurer will call a paramedical service to let them know you require an life insurance medical exam. The service will then contact you to arrange a convenient time and place. You must have the exam or your application won't be processed.

The life insurer may still request an attending physician's statement (APS) from your doctor, but you cannot have the life insurance medical exam done by your own physician.

In a basic exam, the paramedical will take your medical history (even though you've already supplied it on your application), height and weight, blood pressure, pulse, and blood and urine samples. Beyond that, tests will vary based on your age and policy amount.

For example, MetLife will order an in-home EKG for applicants age 50 and older who are applying for face amounts of at least $1 million. For applicants age 70 and older who are applying for $2 million policies and higher, MetLife forgoes the paramedical exam and requires an exam by an M.D. chosen by MetLife (not your own doctor). The doctor will ask the same medical questions as a paramedical and get your height, weight, blood pressure and pulse, plus do a brief medical exam such as listening to your heart.

Jacki Goldstein, Vice President of Life Underwriting at MetLife, emphasizes that this is not a comprehensive medical exam and does not include sensitive issues, such as a breast exam for women. Goldstein also stresses that the M.D. life insurance exam is not a substitute for good routine medical care.

When age and face amounts get higher, a treadmill test may be required. For example, MetLife requires treadmill tests for applicants who are at least 50 and applying for over $10 million in insurance or applicants 76 and older applying for $5 million or more.

If you're applying for a low face value policy, you may not even be asked to do a paramedical exam. For example, if you're age 40 and applying for $50,000 of life insurance, MetLife requires no specific tests or measurements. And for some cases, MetLife asks for a "simple paramed" exam, encompassing the basic measurements and blood and urine work but without the paramedical question list. Guidelines for tests will vary among life insurers.

What are They Looking For?

The life insurance company wants to know if you have any health condition that could shorten your life - which in turn affects the insurer's risk and your policy premium. When samples of blood and urine are collected, the insurer tests for HIV, cholesterol and related lipids, liver or kidney disorder, diabetes, hepatitis, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and immune disorders. The urine sample might go through routine analysis, plus screening for certain medications, cocaine and other drugs.

Results go to the life insurer's home office for an underwriter to review. You can usually send a written request if you want a copy of the results, and some insurers will automatically send you a copy of your lab work. If there's anything of concern about the lab results, you would need to consult your own doctor. Goldstein says, "It's not uncommon to have abnormalities that don't mean anything."

A life insurance underwriter then reviews your application and the results of your medical exam. They decide your life insurance rating, which sets your premium. If there are lingering questions about your health, they may request additional information or medical tests. In the very rare event you are unknowingly quite ill - chronically or terminally - your application would be declined and you would have to look for a high-risk carrier or one that offers guaranteed issue life insurance.

Don't Let Your Life Insurance Premiums Go Up In Smoke

Smokers pay higher premiums for life insurance because of their higher mortality rate. If any nicotine shows up in your results, you'll be considered a smoker. The test also detects nicotine from a transdermal patch.

After the Life Insurance Exam Results

If your test results correlate with the classification used for your original life insurance quote, you'll have no problem getting that rate. If a medical problem is discovered, you might be offered a life insurance policy with a higher premium.

There are two types of risk ratings: "flat" ratings, sometimes called temporary flat extras, and "table" ratings. Underwriters assess health conditions based sophisticated table to determine how to rate certain health conditions.

For instance, an underwriter might apply a flat rating for a short period of time for a person who has just had surgery. On the other hand, a person with high-blood pressure could receive a table rating, which increases premiums by a set amount for the duration of the policy, depending on your medical condition and age. If you disagree with a rating you receive, contact your agent. Agents can find out if the rating can be revised based on supplemental medical tests to prove you qualify for a better rating.

Even if you end up declining the life insurance policy, your test results become part of your record in MIB Group's database (formerly the Medical Information Bureau), a clearinghouse of medical information that insurers share which stores information for seven years after you apply for a life, health, disability income, long term care or critical illness insurance policy.

MIB is jointly owned by about 470 insurance companies. So, if you go shopping around for other term or whole life insurance policies, remember that your medical information is accessible to other insurers in the near future. Note that MIB's database does not contain actual medical records but rather codes that represent medical conditions and tests, hazardous hobbies and even your bad driving record.

If you want to check your MIB file, or dispute information in it, you can obtain one free report annually at www.mib.com.

No Way, You Say?

Life insurance medical exams are really quite routine. But if you want to avoid a medical exam at all costs, you could buy a simplified issue life insurance policy, which requires only that you answer a few medical questions, or a guaranteed issue life insurance policy, which requires neither an exam nor questions.

Keep in mind, though, that if you're in general good health, or even with a history of some health issues, you'll likely get a much better rate by buying a life insurance policy that requires a medical exam.

Tips for a Better Life Insurance Medical Exam

Certain health conditions simply cannot be masked, but to obtain the best possible results, here are some recommendations:

Get a good night's rest the night before your exam.
Don't drink for at least eight hours before the exam.
Avoid coffee, tea or other caffeinated drinks such as soda for at least one hour prior to the exam.
Limit salt intake and high-cholesterol food 24 hours before your exam.
Don't engage in strenuous physical activities 24 hours before the exam.

Source: Exam & Profile Services, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Amy Danise is a staff writer for http://www.Insure.com Visit Insure.com for a comprehensive array of comparative auto, life and health quotes, including a vast library of originally authored insurance articles and decision-making tools that are not available from any other single source. Insure.com is dedicated to providing impartial insurance information to consumers. Visitors can obtain instant insurance quotes from more than 200 leading insurers, achieve maximum savings and have the freedom to buy from any company shown.

What You Should Know About Medical And Term Life Insurance

Insurance is a form of risk management used mainly to soften the blow of unexpected misfortune, like death or permanent disability, of either yourself or a loved one. With so many different types of insurances available from different corporate bodies, it is your choice which type will bring the best benefits to you and your family. All insurances require a premium to be paid in exchange for the final policy that will release the total sum insured, with very attractive bonuses added-on in the final days.

One of the most popular forms of insurance is medical life insurance, better known as health insurance. Medical life policies will often cover the cost of private medical treatments at facilities for unconventional medical procedures which may cost more. Generally, this form of insurance is considered a luxury by most, although it may result in quicker health care with better facilities. Having no medical life insurance may just mean specific, sometimes necessary medical procedures may not be available to you.

Medical life insurance is normally offered by employers to those working more than six months in the company. If so, it may be voluntary which means the plan is deductible from the employees' monthly salary and is usually up for offer after a certain period of employment, for example six months into the company. Medical life insurance information on premiums rates, coverage and add-on coverage can be obtained from the insurance companies or agents you are buying your policy from. No two medical insurance information, prices and coverage are exactly alike - while one medical life insurance may be cheaper, the coverage may be less than the other.

Coverage for this include annual health screenings, health and wellness resources, national network of medical facilitators, coverage for medical travel, quicker claims process and many other additional services.

You will also notice that medical life insurance may be regarded in a different light than other insurance forms. No medical life insurance prices are available online, for example, even though there are various plans offered from any one insurance company. This is most probably because your choice of plan may reflect your society status and may attract undue attention to you.

Another type of insurance offered is the term life insurance. Term life insurance provides protection for a stated time period - a temporary insurance that goes into effect for a limited time for a limited sum. It is probably the most uncomplicated form of life insurance and developed to provide temporary protection on a smaller, more affordable budget.

One of the qualities of term life insurance is that it can be purchased in large amounts for a relatively small initial premium. Suitable for short-range goals, term life insurance coverage can be used to pay off a loan, or providing extra life insurance protection during the child-raising years. Term life insurance has some distinct features which include affordability, particularly at the initial stages of the insurance, adjustable premiums (but never exceeding the maximum premium rate stated in your policy rate card), renewability upon policy expiry and the possible conversion to a permanent life insurance policy. However, this last feature may not be available on all term life insurances.

Term life insurance functions in a similar way to most other types of insurances. It satisfies claims against what is insured as long as premiums are paid up and the policy is not expired. The best example of this particular type of insurance is vehicle insurance, where claims against the insured are satisfied in an accident. It is the same for home insurances where the home is insured for the eventful possibility of a fire or natural disaster destroying it. While there may be no certainties that these incidences will happen, the term life insurance covers the policyholder for the possibility of it happening.

However, if no claims were filed, there is no expectation of a return of the premiums paid and the insurance may or may not be renewed. In cases of vehicle and home insurances, the term life insurance acts purely as a risk protection agent.

Whichever insurance you finally decide on will depend on your personal and professional reasons for taking up the policy, budget and most importantly, the coverage you will be receiving. At the end of the day, the insurance is supposed to ease your living a little bit and not act like an added financial burden.

Looking for information on how to research and get the best insurance policies for yourself, visit Rene Summer's website for more of such information. Get more information regarding no medical life insurance [http://www.homegardenexperts.com/family-history/the-emergence-of-no-medical-life-insurance.html].

Why is It Vitally Important to Buy a Travel & Medical Insurance When Booking a Trip

The high travel season is at the corner now. People from all walks of life around the world are currently busy searching for the best offers of air and land travel, accommodations, vacation packages to suit their dreams, needs and budgets. Some of them have even started to make their reservations.

Here I would like to emphasize one vitally important thing, which is a must to remember when booking a trip, but ignored by a great number of travelers.

Much has been written on the importance of having insurance coverage while you are on a trip, away from home. This is an issue that remains somewhat ignored by many travelers. After all, they have been traveling frequently for many years, and nothing happened so far to worry about. So, to buy a travel insurance should not a be a must. It is only an optional precaution!

But, reality urges us to believe traveling anywhere in the world without protection today, is a vital mistake. Regardless of where you are traveling in the world, you must have an insurance coverage to survive any unexpected attacks and disasters, especially after the 9/11 attacks in the U.S.A.

Let's say, you have been planning the trip of your dreams for a long time; you have finally found the opportunity to make your long time dreams of a special trip come true.

You are so excited! You have thought of all the details. You have been actively preparing for this travel; thinking, programming, shopping . . . spending a lot of time, money, and energy! You are proud of yourself that you have finally managed to materialize your dream!

Your trip can really be an unforgettable experience from start to the end, on one condition.

When booking your trip, you should have remembered that, like most exciting events in our lives, travel has some important risks, too. For example, potential medical and/or financial risks associated with travel, can suddenly turn all the excitement and pleasures of the trip to a nightmare.

Your baggage and/or your hand bag with your money, passport, credit cards in, can be stolen leaving you desperate & frustrated in a foreign country.

No one can guarantee that a natural disaster would not happen at the place you would be staying during your trip.

An unexpected accident, injury or illness would suddenly ruin everything. In fact, in the recent years medical costs have increased dramatically, worldwide. How would you be able to pay the emergency medical expenses, expensive hospital bills if you needed an urgent treatment, or surgery and care during your travel when you have lost your money, credit cards, and passport? Isn't it a real nightmare?

In such a frustration, the only thing you would have needed to survive was a reliable medical and travel insurance policy, wasn't it?.

Especially in the light of the horrible threats on and after September 11 terrorist attacks, the war on terror, other ruthless terror attacks in Istanbul, Spain, Egypt and London, frequent flight disruptions and cancellations, airlines' bankruptcies, and more. In addition, travel suppliers such as tour operators and airlines worldwide have made cancellation policies more restrictive.

Therefore, if you have to cancel a trip, it's likely that a big portion of your pre-paid travel expenses will not be refunded by travel suppliers.

Recent SARS and bird flu threats have also been urging travelers and vacationers to seriously consider to buy a travel and medical insurance.

Travel Insurance types and prices defer from one travel insurance provider to another.

You have to review, compare and select the best offers to suit your personal needs.

For instance, some insurance providers do not offer coverage outside the U.S.A. Some companies do not provide emergency medical coverage and care, while others do.

Some airlines do not accept to be held responsible for the acts of God, weather problems, natural disasters, riots and unrests, SARS, bird flu, and similar outbreaks.

The Insurance types you will need on a trip are reviewed below:

Last Minute Cancellation Insurance

With the last minute cancellation and/or interruption insurance you will get coverage on non-refundable deposits you had made when you bought your travel insurance. Read the fine print on the policy carefully when buying this insurance. You should discuss your personal needs with your insurance agent before buying it.

Medical Insurance

This is one of the most important insurance policies you should have. Buying health and medical insurance must be considered as an important part of your travel budget. You can face a health problem or an accident anywhere and anytime during your trip. Be sure your medical and health insurance policy covers illness, accidents, surgeries, hospitalization bills in the countries you will be visiting, emergency medical transportation to your home country. Please remember to have your policies with you when traveling, leaving the copies of your insurance policies with a relative in your home country, in case the policies you have with you are lost.

Comprehensive Insurance Policy

This policy generally covers emergency medical transportation and trip cancellation and interruption, plus other needs you would expect. This insurance costs 5 to 7 percent of the total cost of the trip. You should have it for your safety.

What types of insurance policies do we need for a full protection?

The Essential Insurance Types offered by most providers are Travel, Last Minute, Medical, Health, Life, Hotel, Cruise, Air, Vacations, Luxury, car insurance, sports, and Spa Insurance policies.

Some travel insurance companies also offer affordable coverage for a wide range of winter sports including Ski, Off-Piste and Snowboarding.

We might need not one, but several types of insurance policies according to the general conditions at the destinations we're going to.

If your your kids are going with you, many travel insurance providers let them go free with adults.

Some companies provide policies for students, backpackers, cheap travel, holiday insurance, long stay, international, family travel, single travel, annual travel, annual multi-trips, and more. It's good to know that in this cyber age, you can buy the insurance policies you need online, without even leaving your home.

Most Travel Insurance policies cover Luggage Loss, too.

But you should definitely ask about what's covered and what's not when choosing Travel Insurance Policy to buy. Do ask questions, all questions you might have in mind, until you get all the information you need. It's much better to ask questions when buying insurance than to be sorry later.

How can I find the best insurance type to suit my personal or family needs?

When choosing a travel insurance policy to buy, you should get information on the offers of various insurance providers to compare.

Knowing how time consuming is to search, compare and choose the best travel and medical insurance types and prices to suit your needs and budget, we advice to visit the websites where you can find lists and information about various offers, then compare them, and choose the best ones to suit your needs.

You should keep in mind that buying your travel insurance through travel insurance providers, instead of travel agencies, would save you money in most cases.

In the light of terrorist attacks, unexpected natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, deadly hurricanes, floods, epidemics, accidents, illness, SARS, bird flu, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives at many places around the world, especially in the recent years, every traveler must seriously consider to buy a travel health and a medical insurance, and some other insurance policies if needed, providing a reliable full coverage against both expected and unexpected threats.

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