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Health Insurance Companies Still Operate The Old-fashioned Way
Health Insurance Companies Still Operate The Old-fashioned Way
Health insurance is at the center of one of the most enduring and prominent social controversies in recent history. With costs rising year after year at an unprecedented rate, and the roster of uninsured continuing to grow as well, the health insurance quandary is at the forefront of the social and political dialog.
For those who are attempting to understand the nature of this controversy it is hard to know where to even begin to look. The health insurance debate spans so many aspects of society; from providers to customers, from hospitals to malpractice attorneys, and from the function of private markets to the role of government in healthcare. However, if one seeks to educate themselves on the many facets of the issue, then understanding health insurance companies is a logical starting point.
It has been over three-hundred years since the concept of health insurance had its genesis. The original health insurance business model was one where the focus was solely on disability. Only injuries that could leave the patient disabled were covered; everything else was paid for by the patient. Amazingly that basic arrangement remained in effect for the next two-hundred years. It wasn’t until the 20th century that the disability model of insurance was replaced with the more familiar, contemporary health insurance; hence, the modern health insurance companies were born.
The essential philosophy on which health insurance companies operate is that they enter into a contractual relationship with their customers. The customers pay insurance premiums, and in return the health insurance companies cover the costs of predetermined medical conditions such as most routine, preventive, and emergency medical conditions. In many cases some or all of the cost of prescription drugs is covered as well.
The obvious reason for people to purchase insurance is that despite the high costs of insurance, the high cost of medical care can be much greater if they are unfortunate enough to become sick or injured. And that scenario does hold true in reality, and health insurance companies frequently pay more in coverage than they collect in premiums for some individuals. To understand how they can do that and still remain profitable then you must understand the basic assumptions under which health insurance companies operate.
The first thing health insurance companies do when reviewing an application for coverage is review the individual’s medical history. The company knows that high risk individuals are likely to incur large medical expenses, and those individuals are generally rejected or offered coverage at an increased premium rate.
Of those who have medical histories that fall within normal parameters, they are offered coverage and become customers. The health insurance companies know that, with the help of some statistical calculation, they can determine the percentage of their insured clients who will become ill during the year, and they charge a sufficient premium that will not only cover those costs but allow for profitable operations as well.
Another way that health insurance companies control expenses and maintain profits is to make the customers pay for a portion of their service at the time it is rendered. That payment is in the form of a co–payment, which is the out-of-pocket expense for which the customer is responsible.
The purpose of the co-payment is multifunctional. Not only does it directly offset some of the expenses, it prevents people from abusing their coverage by seeking unnecessary treatment. If out-of-pocket expenses were very low, or non existent, people would be likely to go to the doctor or pharmacy for the slightest issue or problem; issues that in many cases do not require medical attention.
At the same time, health insurance companies know that if co-payment expenses are too high, people will put off seeking attention, and that could ultimately lead to even more serious problems for the customer and more expenses for the health insurance companies.
Ultimately, health insurance companies seek a balance in all things they do. They seek to find the right balance of price in co-payments and premiums, and they seek the ideal balance of patients who will require predictable needs and consistent premium payments.
They use enticements like exercise or smoking cessation incentives that may cost them a little now, but could save them much in the long run. It is a business model that has evolved over the centuries and continues to evolve to this day, but the basic principles on which health insurance companies operate remain relatively constant.
Pinching Pennies While Still Getting The Best Auto Insurance Rates
Pinching Pennies While Still Getting The Best Auto Insurance Rates
When you are looking for auto insurance, be sure to shop around and get several quotes. Getting quotes is much easier these days through the use of the Internet. Whether you have a perfect driving record or a few blemishes, you can easily get quotes online. Shopping around is one of the easiest ways to save money on your car insurance.
Don’t just get the basic coverage that your state requires and think you are off the hook. Make sure you really analyze the value of your car and potential problems you have before deciding on a final policy. Many times the basic requirement is not much more than liability insurance and this can leave you high and dry.
You should be talking to your insurance agents before you even decide on a car. This is because the insurance should influence which models of car you are looking at. Some cars have a surcharge that will increase your policy price, but others come with discounts. See which options come with a discount and then consider if these cars would suit you.
A great tip for keeping auto insurance policy costs low is to limit the specialized, custom and high performance options and equipment installed on your vehicle. By doing this, you will appear to be a lower claim risk, and will therefore be able to secure far more competitive rate quotes.
One of the things that you can do in order to get cheaper auto insurance rates is to increase your voluntary excess. This extra is the amount of money that you will compensate in the event of a claim. By increasing this your insurance provider will then decrease your monthly premium.
Though it may seem obvious, it bears explicit statement: You should make sure all the cars in your household are on the same insurance policy. If you have recently combined households with someone, compare your insurance and see which policy will offer better consolidated coverage. In virtually every case, a blanket policy is significantly cheaper than individual policies.
When buying a new or used car, don’t forget to factor in the cost of insurance. Your dream car may come with an insurance premium that pushes the monthly payment out of your reach. Do some research before you go shopping. You can find average rates for different car models online, or your insurance broker can provide this for you.
If you do not have a vehicle yet, be sure to think about what the insurance premium will be for the type of car that you will buy. The type of car that you drive plays a great part in calculating your premium. Your insurance premium will be higher if you own a sports car or a car that is high in value.
Although there are other ways to cut your auto insurance expense, reviewing several quotes is the easiest way to cut your rates. Speak to several insurance companies or agents to understand how you can get lower rates. Even if you need SR-22 insurance, shopping around online can help you find the lowest rates on your auto insurance.
It is rare to have the insurance firm grant you a health insurance policy without reference to your lifestyle and perhaps any previous medical condition you had or still suffer from
It is rare to have the insurance firm grant you a health insurance policy without reference to your lifestyle and perhaps any previous medical condition you had or still suffer from
Insurance companies have a way of checking your background. That is why your health insurance is rarely ready the same day you apply. They do a check on you to be you’re your information is accurate. If it is, you have nothing to worry about.|Usually, when you fall sick, you are required to pay your way through the hospital. You can then send your receipts and stuff to the insurance firm to stake your claim. That’s how health insurance works.
The information you provide your insurance carrier had better be accurate. Often, they use it to project the terms of your health insurance policy. If any discrepancies are found afterwards, you pay for them.|Think of your health insurance as financial protection against the loss of your health, or harm that comes upon you in an accident or something. In the event of a medical condition suddenly springing out of the blues, you will be better off with the health insurance policy in your pocket so that the medical bills don’t get paid by you.|When you have health insurance, you make an arrangement with your insurance carrier to pay the bills when you get medical attention. You secure their loyalty by making generous donations to their business on a monthly basis.
Your health insurance gives you financial protection against harm or in the event that you need medical attention. Often there are terms included in the plan, but if you don’t run afoul of them, you get to be a very lucky person.|Imagine that you never again have to pay another dime in the hospital. Precisely, that is health insurance for you. The only thing is the monthly premiums you have to pay, but you can handle that, can’t you?
Illness could render the rest of your life… unproductive if you don’t get the treatment you need at the time that you need it. The worst part is that illness mostly strikes without money, and you may have enough funds in your account to attend to it. But with health insurance, you can make sure you get that treatment all the time.|The protection you get from your health insurance is in return for your premium payment. If you don’t pay your premiums as you should, you don’t get anything for it. So, even if you don’t have money for much else, try to see that each month, your health insurance premium gets paid. Your very life could hang on it, you know.|You can think of your health insurance as the money paid by your health insurance provider when you get medical attention. Of course, you would have been paying your premiums in timely intervals to qualify for it.