Whether working, traveling or studying abroad, life insurance is an important thing to consider before boarding a plane. After all, accidents happen, and while most people think such an event won’t happen when engaging in the vacation of a lifetime, sometimes it does. Global or international life insurance is also important for foreign workers and individuals spending time overseas. Knowing which companies offer such insurance helps consumers make better choices regarding policies.
American Life Insurance Company
As one of the largest life insurance providers in the U.S., American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) offers coverage for individuals living in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Offerings for coverage differ by the area, and people are advised to access the website for information and to be connected with a local agent.
New York Life
New York Life, one of the oldest life insurance companies in the U.S., also offers international life insurance policies (and has since the late 1800s).
Agents from New York Life are located in countries from India to Argentina, South Korea and China. Local phone numbers are available in The Yellow Pages or by contacting specific agents through local area links found on their website.
Zurich International Life
Zurich International Life Insurance Company offers life insurance policies for Asia, Europe and the Middle East and is designed to meet the needs of business travelers and ex-patriots (expats) from around the globe. Like with other life insurance companies, individuals should contact them for coverage quotes online or over the phone.
ASA, Inc.
ASA, also known as International Insurance Consultants, offers a variety of life insurance policies for international travelers and business people; policies are designed to cater to the differing needs of individuals depending on coverage amounts, length of stay and frequency of travel plans. Consumers are encouraged to call for quotes and coverage options.
Archive for the ‘Health Insurance Quotes’ Category
Health Insurance Quates How to Purchase Health Insurance Plans and Coverage
Posted by admin on August 2, 2011
The two main ways that people obtain health insurance coverage are by paying into a group health insurance plan or buying an individual health insurance plan.
Group Health Insurance Plans and Coverage
Most Americans get health insurance coverage through their jobs or are covered because a family member has health insurance at work. This is called group health insurance. Group health insurance plans are generally the least expensive kind because, in many cases, the employer pays part or all of the health care costs.
Some employers offer only one group health insurance plan. Some offer a choice of group health care plans, such as:
Fee-for-Service Health Plans
HMO: Health Maintenance Organizations
POS: Point-of-Service Plans
PPO: Preferred Provider Organizations
Employers with 25 or more workers are required by Federal law to offer employees the chance to enroll in an HMO.
What happens if you or your family member leaves the job? You will lose your employer-supported group health insurance coverage. It may be possible to keep the same health insurance policy, but you will have to pay for it yourself. This will certainly cost you more than group health insurance coverage for the same, or less, protection. A Federal law makes it possible for most people to continue their group health insurance coverage for a period of time. Called COBRA (for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985), the law requires that if you work for a business of 20 or more employees and leave your job or are laid off, you can continue to receive health insurance coverage for at least 18 months. You will be charged a higher premium than when you were working.
You also will be able to receive health insurance under COBRA if your spouse was covered but now you are widowed or divorced. If you were covered under your parents’ group health insurance plan while you were in school, you can also continue in the plan for up to 18 months under COBRA until you find a job that offers you your own health insurance.
Not all employers offer group health insurance plans. You might find this to be the case with your job, especially if you work for a small business or work part-time. If your employer does not offer group health insurance, you might be able to obtain group health insurance coverage through membership in a labor union, professional association, club, or other organization.
Individual Health Insurance Plans and Coverage
If your employer does not offer group health insurance coverage, or if the group health insurance offered is very limited, you can buy an individual health insurance policy. You can purchase individual health insurance plans with fee-for-service, HMO, POS, or PPO protection. However, you should compare individual health insurance plans carefully because individual health insurance coverage and costs vary from provider to provider. Individual health insurance plans may not offer benefits as broad as those in group health insurance plans.
If you purchase a non-cancelable individual health insurance policy (also called a guaranteed renewable policy), then you will receive individual health insurance under that policy as long as you keep paying the monthly health insurance premium. The insurance company can raise the cost, but cannot cancel your coverage. Many health insurance companies now offer a conditionally renewable policy. This means that the health insurance company can cancel all policies like yours, but not only yours. This protects you from being singled out. But it does not protect you from losing health insurance coverage.
Some tips when shopping individual health insurance plans and coverage:
Shop carefully. Individual health insurance policies differ widely in coverage and costs. Contact different health insurance companies, or ask your health insurance agent to show you policies from several health insurers so you can compare them.
Make sure the individual health insurance policy protects you from large medical costs. Read and understand the health insurance policy. Make sure it provides the kind of health insurance coverage that is right for you. You do not want unpleasant surprises when you are sick or in the hospital.
Check to see that the health insurance policy states: the date that the health insurance policy will begin paying (some have a waiting period before health coverage begins), and what is covered or excluded from coverage.
Make sure there is a “free look” clause. Most health insurance companies give you at least 10 days to look over your health insurance policy after you receive it. If you decide it is not for you, you can return it and have your health insurance premium refunded.
Beware of single disease health insurance policies. There are some health insurance polices that offer protection for only one disease, such as cancer. If you already have health insurance coverage, your regular health insurance plan probably already provides all the coverage you need. Check to see what protection you have before buying any more health insurance.
Before you buy any health insurance policy, make sure you know what it will pay for… and what it will not. To find out about individual health insurance plans, you can call health insurance companies, HMOs, and PPOs in your community, or speak to the agent who handles your car or house insurance. You can also find and compare plans online.
Posted in Health Insurance Quotes | Tagged: family member leaves the job, health insurance policy, Health Insurance Quates, Individual Health Insurance Plans and Coverage | 2 Comments »
Health insurance quotes
Posted by admin on July 30, 2011
The cost of health insurance can vary greatly. There are many health insurance company’s and many options within those companies. The best way to compare rate is to get health insurance quotes from several companies and analyze the benefits and cost. There are several ways to get health insurance quotes. You can call insurance companies and have them send health insurance quotes for all of their different plans directly to you via email. You may also get a health insurance quote from your employer. There are also many helpful sites available on the Internet. Insurance companies generally have websites that will at least provide some general information for you to consider. There are even some companies that will give you health insurance quotes side by side for comparative purposes. They may have a list of health insurance companies and their options on a spreadsheet that is easily readable. However, although it may seem like all of the work has been done for you, call those companies and check to be sure that those rates listed are current.
If you are calling companies to get a health insurance quote, be sure that you are aware of the type of plan that you want. Think about the options that are important to you and discuss that with the company representative. Some options can have a huge impact on price at one company, while it may not effect the price at another company. It is important that you are honest about your medical needs so that you can get an appropriate and accurate health insurance quote. If your employer provides health insurance, you may want to get a health insurance quote from them as well. By having all of this information in front of you, you may find that a health insurance quote from a company other than the one your employer uses, is a better value for you and your family. Also, this information may help you get a better deal from the health insurance company that you choose because as an informed consumer, you are aware of what a realistic health insurance quote would be.
There are also many websites available online that are set up to help you find the most affordable health care. Each insurance company will have their own website set up to provide general information regarding the plans they have available. They may not list the prices online, but the site can help you research the different plans that they have available. It is a good idea to check websites and blogs posted by consumers to check their satisfaction level with their health insurance coverage. A particular health insurance quote may seem too good to be true and information provided by other consumers sometimes fill in the gaps of information you have available.
Comparing health insurance quotes is a good way to save money. You can compare health insurance company’s and their options, while checking to see which one has the best value for the money.
From insurance quotes, post Health insurance quotes
Posted in Health Insurance Quotes | Tagged: get a health insurance quote, health insurance company, The cost of health insurance | 2 Comments »
Workers pay 21 percent of health insurance
Posted by admin on July 19, 2011
A new study shows that the average private sector worker pays over 20% of the cost for their healthcare plan.
WASHINGTON, July 15 (UPI) — U.S. private-sector employees paid 21 percent of the cost of their health insurance in 2010 while employees with family coverage paid 27 percent, officials say.
A report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, says health insurance premiums nationwide averaged $4,940 for single coverage and $13,871 for family coverage last year.
Among the 10 largest states, the annual cost of single coverage ranged from $4,669 in Ohio to $5,220 in New York, and family coverage ranged from $13,083 in Ohio to $15,032 in Florida, the report says.
However, 18 percent of employees with single coverage and 10 percent of employees with family coverage were not required to pay for any part of their employer-sponsored health insurance.
The data are from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a detailed source of information on the health services used by Americans, the frequency with which they are used, the cost of those services and how they are paid.
Posted in Health Insurance Quotes | Tagged: health insurance, Healthcare, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey | 2 Comments »
Health insurance cover should be increased in India: FICCI
Posted by admin on July 18, 2011
With more and more poor people in the country getting into the debt trap due to medical expenses, Ficci today said steps needs to be taken to increase health insurance penetration, which currently covers only 15 per cent population.
The chamber said that affordability of healthcare across the pyramid is extremely pertinent and critical to achieve the goal of providing quality healthcare to the masses.
“The long-term vision to make quality healthcare affordable for the country should be to increase the health insurance penetration to at least 50 per cent of population by the year 2020 and 80 per cent by the year 2030,” Ficci said.
As per NSSO data, nearly 65 per cent of India’s poor get into debt and 1 per cent fall into BPL each year because of health issues. It is also estimated that by 2025, 189 million Indians will be at least 60 years of age.
In its bid to help insurance regulator IRDA in planning regulations in the health insurance sector, Ficci has offered a wide range of recommendations.
They have been made on issues like standard definitions for critical illness, standardisation of list of excluded (non-medical) expenses, standard treatment guidelines and billing procedures.
The recommendations assumes significance as policy holders were left in a quandary last year following deadlock between the four public sector insurers and major private hospitals over cancellation of cashless medical treatment facilities.
Following hectic negotiations and intervention of Court, a truce was reached between insurers and hospitals and cashless services were partially restored.
“Recommendations on standard definitions for critical illness and standardisation of list of excluded expenses in hospital indemnity policy are in the process of being notified by Irda,” Ficci said.
Posted in Health Insurance Quotes | Tagged: affordability of healthcare, health insurance, hospitals, medical treatment | 2 Comments »
Get an Affordable Health Insurance Plan Today
Posted by admin on July 16, 2011
Don’t be Caught Unprotected!
Even though there was the financial recession and people were losing their purchasing power but demand for reasonable health insurance plans were moved up steeply and now also its keep on increasing. A research has discovered that there are around 46,000 deaths happening per year because of lack of affordable health insurance. This looks very pathetic situation that cannot be permitted to continue, some corrective measures are need to be taken right away.
Each and every prospective client of health insurance plans has to evaluate his/her needs properly. The person who is usually has good physical condition and only periodically visit the physician can choose for a policy that has good co-pay with lesser monthly premiums. But people who are suffering from constant illnesses and need to go for repeated visits to the doctor, will get an insurance plan that has superior monthly premiums but much lesser co-pay because it is more cost-effective.
The entire process will take hardly few minutes
If you are in such position where you need regular treatment or drugs, you will be recovered with a plan that provides you the best cost for your medicine. You have to spend some time in the beginning and try to identify a quality healthcare provider by browsing one of the popular websites. When you visit through internet you will get several numbers of websites and out of them some will give you convenient ratings of different insurance companies in many categories such as pricing, coverage options, monthly premium, customer service, co-pay and overall customer satisfaction. While you are suppose to take a critical decision on which insurance company to stay for, that time this kind of pre-researched information will be useful.
If you are favorable and working for a corporation that offers therapeutic benefits then you will have a choice of different alternatives that the company will offer to you. On the other hand, if you are unemployed, self-employed or working for a small corporation that does not provide any health care benefit; in such case you have to look for a good quality reasonably priced health insurance on your own. As things are developing drastically, fortunately there are some websites which allow you to get several quotations from a number of various insurance providers.
So you need not visit huge number of websites and spend you valuable time to get a quotation. The entire process will take hardly few minutes and you can quickly make a comparison among different companies based on their nature and rates of quotes so that you can arrive at a decision. There is no need to say that, every resident in USA should have got the quality and reasonably priced health coverage and be in a place to select the coverage that best meets their needs. It is ultimate liability of the health insurance companies to discover ways to keep the citizens healthier.
Posted in Health Insurance Quotes | Tagged: Affordable Health Insurance, health insurance, insurance companies | 2 Comments »
Medicaid improves health and budgets of poor
Posted by admin on July 8, 2011
(Reuters) – Medicaid, a government health insurance program designed to help the poorest of the poor, is giving people unprecedented access to doctors and also improving their finances, a study co-authored by the Harvard School of Public Health has found.
The study, released on Thursday, showed that new recipients of Medicaid reported better physical and mental health and were less likely to go into debt to pay their medical bills.
The fate of Medicaid — the health program for people and families with low incomes and resources — has been hotly debated for its role in the ballooning U.S. deficit. The Obama administration’s healthcare overhaul passed last year requires all U.S. states to extend eligibility to millions more people by 2014.
The study followed health outcomes a year after a 2008 Medicaid expansion in Oregon, where 10,000 uninsured low-income adults won coverage through a lottery.
The results show that Medicaid helps poorer Americans well beyond the default safety net options that exist for people without coverage, according to the researchers from Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the National Bureau of Economic Research and Providence Health & Services.
“Some people wonder whether Medicaid coverage has any effect. The study findings make clear that it does,” Amy Finkelstein, professor of economics at MIT and co-principal investigator of the study, said in a statement.
“People reported that their physical and mental health were substantially better after a year of insurance coverage, and they were much less likely to have to borrow money or go into debt to pay for their care,” she said.
The study found that newly insured Medicaid recipients sought healthcare “substantially and statistically significantly” more than those who did not get the opportunity to apply for the program.
The lottery winners also spent less on out-of-pocket medical expenses, had less medical debt, were more likely to follow doctors’ recommendations on preventive care, buy medication and overall said they enjoyed better health.
An especially large impact was seen in broader access to care. Newly insured adults were 70 percent more likely to report regular clinic or office visits for primary care and 55 percent were more likely to say they visit a particular doctor.
Medicaid coverage also reduced the likelihood that participants would have to borrow money or miss paying other kinds of household bills to pay for their healthcare needs by 40 percent. The likelihood of having a medical bill sent to a collection agency dropped by 25 percent.
Posted in Health Insurance Quotes | Tagged: health insurance, Medicaid, Medicaid coverage | 3 Comments »