Health Care Around The World
Health Care Around The World
With all of the coming changes to health insurance, are you curious what other countries do for health coverage? Let’s take a look at health care around the world.
The U.K. & The Commonwealth
Essentially everyone in the U.K. has access to free health care. Even visitors receive free emergency care! That comes with a different kind of price, though. As the U.K. tries to cut costs, quality of care decreases.
Australia’s health care system is called Medicare, but it is available for all citizens, not only seniors. It is almost entirely government-funded. 25% comes from the Australian government and 43% comes from the Commonwealth.
France
In France, doctor’s appointments essentially cost one euro, which is currently worth a bit more than one American dollar. Patients pay with a card and receive 100% reimbursement later, minus one euro to help fund nation-wide health care activities. Special care and drugs are reimbursed at about 70%. Also, patients can purchase additional coverage.
Belgium
Belgium has one of the most efficient health care systems worldwide. Care facilities, much like in the U.S., range from privately owned to government-run and non-profits. Citizens can choose whatever facility they want to visit, with no limitations on insurance.
Like in France, all Belgian patients use a care card at all of their appointments. Belgian cards will later provide reimbursement of up to 75%. Charges will come through payroll or a bank account.
Germany
Germany may be most similar to the U.S., since patients pay about 13% of their income to what is essentially health insurance. Uniquely, Germany often bundles accident and long-term insurance with their traditional health care plans. Germans can choose any health care facility they like because they are all federally funded. The unemployed (about a third of the German population) are funded separately.
Sweden
Since the Swedish system is 70% tax-funded, there are 21 regulating councils throughout the country. The councils determine health care, social welfare, and water supplies. There is a small fee for treatments and prescription drugs. Additionally, drug costs cannot surpass the limit of the equivalent of $163 per year.
Our system is fundamentally similar to European systems in some ways. It’s easy to wonder if we may head towards a Universal, U.K.-like system or at least a more centralized Belgian-like system. We could also head in another direction entirely – it’s hard to say. All we know is that right now, your Medicare is safe. For help with changing, upgrading, or purchasing a new plan, call one of our licensed agents today at 1-844-431-1832.
Are You Eligible To Have Your Penalty Fee Waived?
Are You Eligible To Have Your Penalty Fee Waived?
Did you miss your enrollment period? Are you living without health insurance?
Under Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act, everyone is required to have health insurance. Your window to sign up is from three months before you turn 65 through three months after your birthday (unless you have a Special Enrollment Period). If you miss that period, you’ll be subject to a penalty fee. The fee will be added to your premium once you enroll. This means that the longer you wait to sign up for Medicare, the higher your premiums will be. Thankfully, you may be eligible for an exception.
CMS (the organization that oversees Medicare) decided that the ACA rules are not clear to many seniors, and most probably didn’t even know they were required to enroll when they turned 65. Many citizens with marketplace health care mistakenly assumed that they would automatically be enrolled.
If you did not receive the required information which tells you about the penalty fee, you can have your fee waived. You may qualify for the waiver until September 30th, 2017.
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You can find the following instructions to file for your waiver with more information on your eligibility at MedicareInteractive.org:
How To File A Waiver
- Gather appropriate documentation. You will need proof of your QHP enrollment. Bring a Part B enrollment form (Form CMS-40B) and your Medicare card. You can also fill out a Part B enrollment form at your Social Security office. Examples of proof of QHP can be:
- Letter about your enrollment in both Medicare and a Marketplace plan
- QHP premium bills and proof of payment
- IRS form 1095-A that shows months of coverage and/or cost assistance amounts
- A Marketplace eligibility determination notice
- Access through your Marketplace account
- Receipt from first premium payment you made to your QHP (also called a premium binder payment)
- Call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 800-772-1213 or go to www.ssa.gov to find a local Social Security office that you can visit in person.
- Once at the office or on the phone with a representative, ask to use the time-limited equitable relief to enroll in Part B and/or eliminate your Part B LEP. Mention that you were enrolled in both premium-free Part A and a QHP. If you are calling to eliminate an LEP, you must specifically request that you want the LEP eliminated.
Are looking for more information about your Medicare? Interested in switching plans or adding coverage? Speak to one of our highly qualified agents! Call today at 1-844-431-1832.
How To Talk To Your Doctor
How To Talk To Your Doctor
Talking to doctors is harder for some people than others. Do you ever go to your yearly exam and forget to mention something that’s been bothering you? Do you ever find yourself struggling to answer your doctor’s questions about your health? Use this guide to prepare yourself for your next appointment!
Bring Notes
There is no shame in bringing notes about your health to your doctor’s appointment. In fact, it may create a higher interest level in your doctor. Though doctors should treat all patients equally, they are more likely to spend more time with you if you show that you care about your health. You may not need all of this information, but it’s better to be overprepared than underprepared!
Here’s what you should write down:
- A list of all medications you’ve taken in the past few months, as well as how often you take them.
- An idea of how often and how much you eat on a typical day as well as what your diet typically consists of and how much water you drink each day.
- Your general sleeping habits.
- Reminders to yourself of ANY health concerns you’ve had since your last doctor appointment.
- If you have any symptoms, write down how they make you feel and anything that makes you feel better or worse.
- Contact information for your other doctors.
- Your family medical history (especially if you’re seeing a new doctor).
Additionally, bring your glasses or contacts and hearing aids, if you have them. Don’t forget to bring your Medicare card!
List Your Concerns
Your doctor likely has multiple patients waiting at any given moment, so make sure you list your biggest concerns at the forefront of your appointment, so you can be sure that they are addressed. Don’t assume that feeling tired or achy is normal.
Tell your doctor about ALL health concerns, so that you can get the most out of your appointment.
As your doctor addresses your concerns, take notes then, too! Don’t be afraid to write down what the doctor says. It’s easy to forget, especially if you’re talking about multiple concerns.
Ask Questions
Part of your doctor’s job is making sure that you know how to take care of yourself once you leave the office – so ask all the questions you have! For example, if a doctor tells you to take your medicine with food, does he mean before, after, or during your meal? No question is a stupid one. If you had the answers, you wouldn’t need the doctor. Ask about side effects of your medication, reasons for testing, etc.
The only thing your doctor may not have answers to is whether or not your insurance covers something – but that’s what we’re here for. If your doctor can’t answer those questions for you, give one of our agents a call at 1-844-431-1832.
All You Need To Know About Your Medicare Diabetes Care and Coverage
Are you a diabetic Medicare beneficiary? Are you concerned that your diabetes care and coverage won’t be enough? Medicare Part B covers most diabetes care, and any corresponding drugs will fall under your prescription drug coverage.
Coverage
Most of your diabetic care will require that you pay just 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. This includes blood sugar testing strips and monitors, lancets/lancet devices, glucose control solutions, therapeutic shoes, and DMEs, or Durable Medical Equipment. A DME is a medically necessary device used in the home that is not harmful to others and is durable (can last at least three years). For your diabetic care, that includes insulin pumps.
Though Medicare Part B covers insulin pumps, it does not cover insulin. Insulin is a prescription drug, which means that it, along with insulin pens, syringes, needles, alcohol swabs, and gauze instead fall under your prescription drug plan. That can mean Medicare Part D or a MAPD plan (Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug Coverage).
Services
Your diabetes coverage with Medicare is not limited to home care devices. It also includes some services. With Medicare Part B, you’ll only need to pay 20% for DSMT (Diabetes Self-Management Training), yearly eye exams for diabetic retinopathy, foot exams every six months, and regular glaucoma tests. You’ll also have access to 100% free MNT (Medical Nutrition Therapy).
As with any other medical treatment you receive, you’ll need to be sure that the doctor you visit for treatment and the pharmacy you get your prescription drugs from accept Medicare. Make sure you’re getting the diabetes care and coverage you deserve. If you need help figuring out what doctors and pharmacies are in your network, speak with your carrier or agent. To speak with one of our reputable agents, call 1-844-431-1832.
How Much Should You Be Spending on Ancillary Insurance?
Ancillary Insurance Costs
How much should you be spending on ancillary insurance policies? The short answer is, it depends. It depends on a lot of factors.
Everything from your weight to your gender matters when determining your health insurance costs, and ancillary products like vision coverage and life insurance vary drastically.
Dental, Vision, and Hearing
If you have Medicaid or a Medicare Advantage plan, you may already have dental, vision, and/or hearing included in your coverage. If not, you may want a separate plan. Keep in mind that these plans are commonly bundled, so you may not need to pay three premiums.
Dental coverage costs will average at about $350 per year or $30 per month. That may seem like a high cost for one type of service, but consider that one crown can cost about $1,000, and a dental plan will cover anywhere from 80-100% of that. It’s worth the cost.
Without insurance, a vision appointment will cost an average of $200, and glasses and contacts can cost over $300 per year depending on prescription strength and brand. Monthly costs average at about $30 per month. Hearing coverage falls into the same range.
Cancer, Heart Attack, and Stroke
Cancer plans can start as low as $15/month, but can reach up to $40 or $50/month. Heart attack and stroke coverage are usually bundled together for about $20/month. These three types of plans are among the most wallet-saving as care costs for these conditions can total in the upper thousands.
Short-Term Care and Hospital Indemnity
Monthly premiums for short-term care policies generally fall in the $30-$40 range for basic coverage and can be over $100 to include homecare and other services. Since these policies are only active for a year or less, total costs may be smaller than those for a long-term policy.
Hospital Indemnity plan premiums vary based on how much coverage you need. They can be as little as $12 per month or as much as $300 per month.
Life & Final Expense
Life insurance costs vary more drastically than any other form of coverage because consumers have so many options. You can request $500,000 worth of coverage or $1,000,000’s worth.
One of the first questions a carrier will ask is whether or not you are a smoker. Insurance rates for smokers are much more expensive than for nonsmokers because a smoker has much higher health risks. A 35-year old non-smoker may pay about $735 per month for a lot of coverage or closer to $200 per month for less coverage.
Final expense policies are based on personal choice. Funerals can cost upwards of $10,000, so you’ll end up paying anywhere from $10 per month to $20 per month depending on how much coverage you want for your final expenses.
How much are you spending on ancillary insurance? Visit our post about getting ancillary coverage for FAQ’s and information about what you may need. If you need more questions answered, set up an appointment to speak with one of our agents by calling 1-844-431-1832.
Make The Most Of Your Medicare
Take Advantage Of Your Medicare
Do you know how to make the most of your Medicare plan? Do you know all of your benefits? Millions of people who enroll in Medicare pay their monthly premiums but don’t take advantage of their available services.
When you have a Medicare plan, you should use doctors in your network and prescription drugs on your formulary to save as much money as possible. You should visit your doctor even when you feel completely healthy or have minor concerns. Get your vaccinations, get tested for diseases that your family has a history of, and take advantage of other benefits like gym memberships.
Read on to discover what coverage you’re missing out on:
Find Doctors In Your Plan Network
Some carriers have doctor and hospital search engines so you can see which doctors are covered under your plan. ZocDoc is a great non-affiliated doctor search website as well. If you continue to use a doctor that is outside of your plan, you’re wasting potential savings that you’ll receive if you visit a doctor who is within your plan’s network.
Prescription Drug Coverage
The same goes for pharmacies and drugs. Your coverage is likely much higher for generic brand prescription drugs, so ask your doctor for a generic version when he gives you a prescription. Your coverage includes mail-order prescriptions as well. Mail-order is often cheaper because there are less labor costs! Plus, you can buy bigger supplies.
Take Advantage of Preventative Benefits
Medicare coverage isn’t just for help in the event of illness or injury – It’s also great for prevention. That means you have coverage for well-visits with your doctor, vaccinations (like flu shots), screenings and tests, and prescription supplements. Why not take advantage of those benefits and get ahead of potential illnesses? As a bonus incentive, staying healthy can keep your life insurance rates low.
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Know Your Additional Benefits
Some Medicare plans include discounts and freebies like gym memberships, massages, nutrition classes, support groups, and even LASIK surgery. Some even provide “rewards” in the form of discounts if you stay healthy.
Understand Your Coverage
If you have questions about your Medicare coverage, don’t be afraid to contact your carrier or agent. If you are enrolling for the first time or hoping to change your plan, set up an appointment with one of our experienced agents by calling 1-844-431-1832.
