Health Insurance 101

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There are three kinds of sickness fund in Germany’s health insurance system. The first is primary funds. Some workers are obliged to be members of the primary funds if they earn below the income ceiling which is EUR 3,937.50 per month or EUR 47,250 per year. Those earning above that range have the option to be voluntary members or they may have other alternatives.There are a number of them who automatically become members because of the nature of their work (company-based funds) or place of residence (local sickness funds). The second is special funds which is for farmers and sailors. The third is substitute funds which gives health insurance to both the blue and white collar workforce earning more than the income ceiling. Membership here is on a voluntary basis.Here, both employers and employees share half of a member’s premium. The amount of premiums are dictated by a member’s earnings rather then the percentage of risk and have no bearing on the member’s civil status, size of family or state of health. Amount of premiums are the same for members belonging to the same kind of fund and income bracket.

For those who are still confused about the different health insurance proposals put forth by the two presidential candidates, NEWSWEEK’s Mary Carmichael has written a comprehensive article, consulting with Katherine Swartz, a professor of health policy and economics at Harvard. Here are their summaries and conclusions:

McCain’s plan: to take away the tax break workers get on health insurance at their jobs, and give people who buy their own insurance $2,500 ($5,000 for families) in tax credits.
Their prediction: Low-income people would have a hard time getting affordable insurance on their own. In the long run, employers would probably stop offering health insurance, and more people would end up uninsured than there are now.

Obama’s plan: An insurance exchange that looks like the Health Connector used in Massachussets. Every plan would have a minimum set of benefits, and you would get a subsidy if your income is below the threshold.
Their prediction: The total cost will be more than the estimate. His requiring insurers to cover pre-existing conditions would probably raise premiums. Although children and more people would be covered than there is now, some adults will continue to be uninsured.

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If there is a single group of people whom we talk about disability insurance with, it would be the physicians. This is so primarily because physicians are involved in highly skilled personal service that can not be passed on to anyone else, it must be done only by a doctor. Hence, if the doctor won’t be able to perform his duties because of illness or injury, the flow of cash stops. Secondly, physicians are very much aware that the human body can get hurt or fall ill. We are aware of this as well but it is not imprinted in our consciousness as it is for physicians. In effect, this poses an even greater pursuit for the physicians to get disability insurance during their residency.

There are three ways that a physician acquires disability insurance. One is from a local agent whom he knows or is referred to. Another one is through association group plans, and last is from a credible online disability insurance site like protectyourincome.com. Relying on the first is somewhat of a risk based on two factors: the proficiency of the local agent and his/her access to the leading companies. The second may lead to insufficient coverage. The final option allows private study of the subject on your own, keeps confidential your affairs and gives you access to leading companies as well as advice from professionals who are very learned of disability insurance.

As if trade between the US and China haven�t been strained enough, a watchdog for the pharmaceutical industry in America has again found problems with Chinese-made products that are coming in legally and illegally into the US. The USFDA has issued warnings to the public regarding the use of these drugs which may contain some of the active ingredients of Viagra that may interact with certain nitrates found in other medication that can cause alarming if not fatal lowering of an individual’s blood pressure. The products in question are for treatment of erectile dysfunction and sexual improvement and have not undergone the standard USFDA examination and approval process.

People without health insurance realize the importance of having one when emergencies do strike. The high costs of medical care and medications compound the problems of just not having enough to get the care you need. Many who work in firms have health insurance in the form of company sponsored HMO�s who have a network in most major hospitals that coordinate and take care of most basic medical needs. This type of insurance mat extend to all immediate family members who can also be covered according to the provisions agreed during the CBA stages in employment. Private insurance can do the same But with you shouldering all expenses.

When it comes to your job, you should take a look at the other aspects of your entire compensation package. Your salary will always be a given but you should also consider other factors such as leaves and of course the health or medical package that they will provide you.

Companies usually offer this as a sidelight to the benefits to their employees. Some may look at them as worthless but if you compare it today, you will agree that looking out for your health these days is a lot more valuable than your salary each month.

While some people feel that they are healthy, it does not make them exempted from contracting various illnesses. No one is immune to known diseases that can become serious if they are not treated properly.

Even the health buffs get sick most of the time and it is during these vulnerable stages that will be crucial in testing just how good your overall immune system can handle it.

In short do not get that notion that you will not need health insurance. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Health is an area that cannot be take for granted.

When we sign up with a certain insurance company, the next thing you will have to make sure is that you pay religiously the monthly dues that they require. The sum, usually reasonable at that are done on an agreed length of time in exchange for medical services to be rendered with certain conditions.

Normal payments to them, usually monthly, semi-annual or annual payments make sure that you get proper protection and medical coverage at any time. This can go as far as accident coverage and sudden hospitalization as well. So to enjoy all these benefits, make sure you do not forget to pay the monthly dues.

As far as your health is concerned, do not take chances. You cannot be assured that you will stay healthy forever. You have to monitor how your life goes and also have something to back that up.

There are these insurance policies offered to us every now and then. They are not scams. We just do not know what they are. We often see them as something that people offer us in exchange for reaching their quota.

The real problem here is that we often want our money back. We do not believe in long term investments and how they can serve us. Chances are if we understand this, then perhaps we can appreciate what insurances are for.

One thing about health, a lot can change in a year. There are annual physical examinations provided to most people who enroll themselves under some medical insurance policies and holders would be wise to grab them. A person may feel 100% all the time but in medicine, it is also about what you not see inside of you.

You may be surprised at some findings since they will surely be unnoticed. Once certain medical consultations and examinations would be done, that will pretty much tell the whole story. Scary as it may, it will always be better to have done something as a preventive measure since health is something you cannot compromise.