Part of the reason that I initially got my insurance license, was that as a business consultant focused on change management, nearly every business owner, CFO and HR director that I spoke to asked me what I could do about the rising cost of their individual health insurance. Up until recently, with regard to their major medical plan costs rising at double-digit rates every year, there was little I could recommend aside from biting the bullet and accepting that it would be a painful process of micro re-examination of plan costs nearly every year. Many decision makers are being forced to shift costs to their employees or do away with certain benefits altogether. Fortunately, now there is finally a sensible way to reduce costs (and taxes, by the way), give employees more choice, more security and believe it or not, keep them from storming the castle with rakes and torches when you ask them to contribute more out of their own pockets. These plans are aptly called “Consumer Driven Health Plans” (or CDHPs) because the policyholder makes as many choices about their health benefit plans as their employer.

Two key components of CDHPs have been receiving a lot of press. The first is the Health Savings Account (HSA), which must be used in conjunction with the second, a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). Without going into great detail about the restrictions, the whole idea is that by enrolling in a major medical health insurance plan with a significantly higher deductible ($1000 or more), the company (and/or the employee) can dramatically reduce the premium cost. In addition, by replacing Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs require the participants to use the tax free money contributed during the plan year or lose it) with HSAs (that allow the participants to accumulate money in their account tax free BUT the money rolls over from year to year) eventually, the deductible is covered with tax-free dollars.

The only downside to this plan is that FSAs make the elected amount available on day one of the plan, whereas HSAs allow only the amount that has been funded to date to be made available. In other words, for most folks, the first year of such a plan puts them at risk for substantial out of pocket expense related to the deductible.

The way to avoid this risk is to implement a third key component of the plan, Supplemental Benefits. Most often via a new or existing Cafeteria (Section 125) plan.

For several reasons, supplemental benefits should be the first step in any HDHP/HSA plan. First is that they introduce employees to employee funded, 100% voluntary plans so employees come to feel comfortable with contributing to their own financial security. Second is that supplemental plans cover deductibles and co-pays, so employees realize that by participating, they reduce their own out of pocket expense should the unthinkable happen. Thirdly, they learn the value of pre-tax dollars. And last, more choice lends itself to better education in just what those choices are. In other words, employees take more interest in learning how their overall plan fits together and what the best choices are for their family.

When Supplemental plans are introduced first, employees feel empowered by the fact that the company is giving them options to better protect their family without changing anything else. Then when the HDHP/HSA changeover is eventually made, far fewer employees will feel like they’re getting the short end of the stick.

So what makes up a good Supplemental plan?

While many of the plans are similar in benefits and structure, the providers vary widely in how they work and what they actually provide in terms of customer service. Your employees trust you to select high quality benefit providers that give them financial stability and control when they need it most. As more and more players enter the game, every insurance provider will be touting their respective accolades. Just be aware that many small, unproven operations hide beneath the veil of a well-known brand. In some cases, insurance conglomerates are simply an affiliation of unrelated subsidiaries that were acquired for a specific strategic purpose; in this case, to enter the voluntary benefits market. Like the Wizard of Oz, you may find that a parent company’s financial and marketing statistics give a misleading view of the size and capabilities of the business unit that actually does the product design, underwriting, and servicing.

Nobody likes surprises. Especially, related to financial security. And the last thing anyone wants to hear from an employee who has claims issues and thought they signed up for a policy with BIG Insurance Company (whose slick marketing reps touted gazillions in financial backing and years of experience), is that they’ve now found out that the policy they were counting on to protect their family was really underwritten by the National United Smoke and Mirrors Insurance Company of Hoboken, NJ., which did strictly Property and Casualty insurance until last year. So pay attention to the man behind the curtain.

If you ask the right questions of potential providers, you’ll be doing your company and your employees a big favor by picking the best provider for their needs.

Here are some suggestions:

Who is really underwriting the policy and how long have they been doing it?

Experience has its strength, and in the guaranteed renewable (supplemental) market, size does matter. What is the company’s history and track record? You want a company that has the depth to handle any adverse selection, and a track record of satisfied clients across industries.

What is the financial standing of the company?

Regardless of whether you use A.M Best, Moody’s, Fitch, Standard and Poors or some other rating system, make sure you choose one of the highest rated companies. There are several. A is better than B, + is better than -, and so on.

How is the company recognized?

Accolades and industry market share are some indicators, but what you’re really looking for is long-term satisfaction by clients. Long-term relationships with companies like your own are good indicators. More importantly, what is the actual operating unit that provides the underwriting classified as? A life insurance company? A property and casualty company, or a liability company?

And what are its individual ratings?

Are voluntary benefits the insurance provider’s top priority?

Are supplemental/voluntary plans the company’s only focus or are they a sidelight meant to be a means to open a door to other relationships? What percent does the insurance being offered represent of the parent company’s overall premium base? Who you choose can have a lot to do with whether you want to put all your eggs in one basket…or not.

Is representation national?

Do they have a physical presence in all 50 states or just an 800# that goes to a central office? Do they have dedicated agents in your geographic locale or is it a loosely tied, affiliation of middlemen spotted across the map? For companies with one or two local branches, this is not an issue. However, even for companies with many locations in a single state, how consistent your message is conveyed and how well your employees are serviced depends on how well the company’s representatives are trained across the geography. What is the depth and quality of backup?

How often do the rates go up? And what are the circumstances that cause rate hikes?

Some companies guarantee rates for policyholders for a period of time (usually two or three years). Do some due diligence as to how often and how high those rates increase over time. Require a written history. Past practices are a good predictor of future trends. The industry leader has never raised its rates for existing policyholders, but is still one of the top selling insurance stocks. It doesn’t make sense to get a great low rate, if in only a few years it becomes a high rate.

How complicated is the underwriting?

How far back does the underwriting go for critical illness plans? Are any disclosure documents required outside of the application? How many questions are asked during a typical enrollment and what do they require for information on pre-existing conditions? What you’re looking for is as little underwriting as possible. Guaranteed Issue is uncommon unless the group is very large, and in many cases not available at all from even the best companies. Understand what the parameters are for “knock-out” questions. Make sure they seem reasonable.

How strict is the company’s definition of disability?

In some insurance policies’ definition of disability, the insured must be entirely unable to perform each and every duty of his/her job, as well as other specific requirements. Other companies are more liberal in their definition of “total disability” before benefits are paid, often requiring that the insured only be unable to perform “material and substantial” duties before they are deemed disabled. This is one of those areas that vary widely so understand what defines “disabled” by seeing documented examples. Less stringent is better.

What is the company’s loss ratio?

Loss ratio is defined by incurred claims over the life of the average policy divided by earned premium. Meaning what is the average payout versus what the policyholder pays in? Higher is better.

How quickly does the company pay claims?

Unfortunately the landscape varies widely in this key factor. Faster is better. Less hassle is better. Do your homework on this one. Some companies have been nailed in recent years for having internal policies relating to nonpayment of legitimate claims. It’s been uncovered as common practice in other companies to deny legitimate claims pending certain documents that seem to become less and less relevant, stringing you along for months hoping that you’ll give up. Look very closely at procedures and ask for statistics on both common and uncommon claims.

Do benefits require coordination with other coverage before payment is issued?

Some companies offer plans that sound great, but if coverages overlap, all the benefits are not paid. Other providers pay over and above any other insurance the policy holder has, regardless of type or amount or to whom the benefit is payable.

How are benefits paid?

Are they paid directly to the policyholder? To the doctor or hospital? Or some combination of both? Since more choice is better than less choice, the preferable payment is directly to the policyholder who then determines where the money goes.

Does the company encourage preventive care as part of its policies?

Many companies encourage preventative care as part of their base policies and incent policyholders to seek common precautionary screenings in an effort to reduce claims. It makes good sense all around since early-detected conditions usually result in more effective treatment and less time off work. Look for companies that make such benefits a real part of the plan, not riders or options.

Are the policies offered portable?

Portability means that the policy is owned by the policyholder and not the company. So if the policyholder leaves the company for any reason, the policyholder retains coverage at the same levels. True portability means at the same rate as well. Some companies confuse convertibility with portability, making policies truly portable only under certain circumstances. Convertibility means that the policy converts from one form to another, usually a change in benefits offered or rates.

By: John Logan

About the Author:

Acai berry is a fruit alike to grape in size and look. It grow only in the rainforests of Brazil and in few regions in Peru. It has been cultivated and consumed for centuries. But over the last few years, the status of this tiny, blackish purple-colored fruit has augmented thanks to the enhanced media concentration. The fruit is said to provide huge advantages in almost all health aspect like weight loss, better digestion, better skin color, reduced in blood pressure, and improved sexual powers.

What Is Acai Berry?

Acai is a plant belonging to the Euterpe family. It grows abundantly in the marsh and rainforests in South America. It is cropped two times a year. Acai berry is a little fruit, with a standard diameter of 2.5 centimeters. More than three-fourth of the fruit is occupied by its seed. The edible part is the pulp.

It is an extremely perishable fruit which get worse fast and becomes indigestible within twenty four hours of cultivation. Consequently, the new acai berry remains the elite privilege of persons who reside close to the rainforests and swamps of Brazil and Peru.

Though, as of its well-known nutritional and health value, several organizations have started processing the fruit. They promote the processed fruit in a variety of products like health drinks, juices, pulps, and extra beverages. In the USA, it became accepted after some fitness experts had endorsed the use of acai fruits for weight loss and trimming purposes.

The Uses of Acai Berry

Acai berry is a very fibrous fruit. So, it naturally fits into any strong diet. A large amount of fiber is there in the fruit, which helps the body to get free of excess fat from the body. When somebody eats the fruit, the fiber “fills” the stomach. As a consequence, one does not have the urge to take refreshments at little intervals.

Acai berry is a good source of amino acids, as well. Amino acids aid in improving the power and figure of muscles by helping to burn the fats more efficiently. One thing you need to do is exercise regularly. There will not be any benefit if you sit idle, even after consuming acai fruit products.

Acai Berry and Weight Loss

There is a bit of a disagreement over the employ of acai berry for weight loss cause. There are few so-called myth-busters and sites who say that the new “discovery” of acai berry as a wonder fruit is part of a scam and propaganda. Furthermost, acai fruit products are not FDA accepted for medicinal value. There is some logic in these claims. Acai berry is not by any means a wonder fruit capable of solving all the health problems. There are indeed few fraudulent business organizations who indulge in promoting valueless products in the name of acai berry weight loss.

However, the advantages of the fruit are well-established. The suspected harms are more connected with the individual associations and persons than with the fruit itself. If you purchase an acai berry product from a alleged and trusted organization, it is more likely to be supportive, specially in weight loss. There are also some trustworthy sites that promote acai fruit products.

By: dreweli1980c@yeah.net

About the Author:

Barack Obama’s ambitious health care plan is fairly simple and straightforward. His plan seeks to dramatically and swiftly increase the number of people that have health insurance. He insists that this plan will save the typical American family approximately $2500 in annual costs. Since the average Ohio health insurance premium is less than most other states, savings to Ohio residents may average less than $2500.

The Obama plan is designed to give the federal government more control over health care decisions and dollars, a major difference from the current decentralized system of employer-based insurance and state-based insurance regulation. Here in Ohio, health insurers have been effectively held in check by the Ohio Department of Insurance. This, however, is not the case in many other states.

The Obama Plan

Many parts of the Obama plan resemble initiatives from the Clinton health plan of 1994 and the Kerry Health plan of 2004.

Essentially, Obama’s health care plan is divided into three sections:

1. Modernizing the US health care system to lower costs and improve quality

2. Promoting prevention and strengthening public health

3. Quality, portable and affordable health coverage for every person

The “Savings”

The $2500 in savings will come from health care reform, using some of the following initiatives:

*Making health insurance universal, which may reduce spending on uncompensated care.

*Improving management and prevention of chronic conditions.

*Increasing insurance industry competition and reducing underwriting costs and profits.

*Providing reinsurance for catastrophic coverage, which will reduce insurance premiums.

Shifting Cost Burden

While all of these ideas are feasible, the underlying theme seems to be simply shifting some of the cost burden from the private sector to the government. And of course, much more control of our health dollars and decisions would come from Washington D.C and not Anthem or UnitedHealthCare.

The Obama plan will actually compete directly with Ohio private health insurance companies in a “National Health Insurance Exchange.” The federal government (not health insurance carriers) would determine the quality of health benefits that Americans would receive. And these new rules would apply to both the new national health plan and all participating private health plans.

Preventative Coverage Would Be Emphasized

Obama’s health care plan will encourage “healthy lifestyles” with specific emphasis on wellness. Employer wellness programs will be increased, and cafeterias and vending machines in the workplace may see healthier food.

School-based health screening programs may increase along with increased support for physical education.

For Ohio individuals and families, the Obama plan would require preventative services on many federally-supported health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP. One benefit may be possible discounts to on health insurance premiums for enrollment in wellness and prevention programs.

Currently, some Ohio individual health insurance policies offer a similar discount, such as Anthem’s Lumenos Health Incentive Account (HIA).

Ohio Group Health Insurance

Employer-based health insurance would radically change under the Obama plan. Here in Ohio, both small and large employers are able to choose among many different health plans for their employees. The Obama plan would force employers to offer a specific level of health benefits to their employees or pay a tax to finance a national health program. Currently, the amount of provided health benefits and the size of the tax have not been specifically discussed.

Perhaps the best and most economical health insurance plan for Ohio residents would be a concept already in place…HSAs (Health Savings Accounts). Thus, instead of imposing a top-down change on the health care system, it would seem to be prudent to transfer direct control of health care dollars to individuals and families. This would allow Americans to choose their own health plans and benefits, while making health insurance companies compete directly for consumer’s dollars by providing a real value to patients.

All of this could be accomplished by specific tax and regulatory changes designed to utilize the power of free-market competition. Health care spending could be reduced, preventative treatment could be emphasized and portability could be promoted. Reforming the tax treatment of health insurance and aiding employers that help their employees buy health insurance would help quite a bit.

For now, Ohio health insurance rates are remarkably low compared to many other states. There are many reputable health insurance companies that offer a wide array of policies, including Health Savings Accounts. That shouldn’t change much for the next two years. In 2011, things might change…hopefully, for the better.

For additional information on Ohio health insurance plans, or an instant Ohio health insurance quote, please visit http://www.ohioquotes.com



By: Ed Harris

About the Author:

Science has proved repeatedly that synthetic products are not as well tolerated as natural vitamins supplements. Unlike the ones extracted from various herbs, pharmaceutical compounds sold under the name of mineral and vitamin supplements require a high effort on the part of the body for adequate and healthy processing. Moreover, the assimilation rate of synthetic compounds is a lot lower than that of natural vitamin supplements, which is why the latter are usually favored when it comes to diet support. Presently, it is beyond any doubt that the best source of vitamins and minerals is Mother Nature, and this “nature-oriented” trend is gaining prominence.

Natural vitamin supplements do not overload the body and immediately pass into the blood flow, once they are identified as easy to process. Many people have actually taken the habit of administrating the natural vitamin supplements during meals because of the widespread belief that they will be better absorbed. As a matter of fact, natural vitamin supplements do not depend on specific times of the day in order to have an optimum action, they can be taken with or without food, any time you like. The general recommendation is that you administrate the supplement in the morning, so as to benefit from the boost of energy throughout the entire work day.

Plenty of herbs, fruits and vegetables lie at the basis of the manufacturing process of natural vitamin supplements. Lemons, limes and kiwis for instance provide a great source of vitamin C, but little do people know that the wild rose extract is even richer in vitamin C. Hence, don’t be surprised to read the name of such a herb on the natural vitamin supplements you are taking. Over the last decade, there has also been an upsurge in the interest shown towards the great benefits of certain seaweed and algae for human health.

Natural vitamin supplements that include high concentrations of spirulina, chlorella and other green-blue algae are totally positive in the action they have on the body. Unlike any other vitamin and mineral supplement, they have absolutely no side effects, allowing long-term or indefinite administration. Actually, in certain parts of the world, such seaweeds are part of the regular diet of native African tribes that prepare them in bread-like food items. All in all, the popularity of such natural miraculous remedies can definitely mean one thing: people are every day more preoccupied with the return to natural vitamin supplements.



By: Muna wa Wanjiru

About the Author:

Once you find out about your pregnancy, it becomes very crucial for you to ensure eating well and healthy. The risks and complications would be on the rise if one doesn’t eat well. This article would tell you the right intake every pregnant woman must ascertain.

At an outset, a pregnant woman should never forget to eat at least 300 calories more a day after she hits around the second trimester. The extra energy required for the growth of your baby comes in from the extra calories to take in. These calories would not give the right to chow every food in the line of site. It is just about 300 calories which is coming along. One banana or a glass of milk equals about a 100 calories. Similarly, about half a cup of grapes, a slice of whole wheat bread with an ounce of cheese would be about 200 calories. Check how much more you eat in this manner than choosing to eat a donut on its behalf.

Proteins are very much essential for any pregnant woman. A minimum of at least three servings of proteins is required per day. This could be either received from three glasses of milk, or 2 cups of yoghurt and 3 ounces of cheese. Proteins could be brought into your body by varied patterns of intake. They are quite rich in amino acids which contribute in building the baby tissue to a maximum extent.

Next, during the pregnancy tenure, one would require at least 4 servings of calcium. Calcium assists in building the baby’s bones and teeth, along with protection to the woman carrying the unborn. Milk, of course, is the rich source of calcium; however, it could also be acquired from yoghurt, cheese and even ice creams.

A pregnant woman needs to get about four servings of vitamin C. This is rich in fruits and vegetables. During pregnancy one needs to ascertain to have ample servings of green leafy and yellow vegetables and equivalent fruits. The body cannot store Vitamin C, and therefore, the intake should be on daily basis as a fresh supply to the body. Fruits and vegetables would not just supply the required Vitamin C, but would maintain a healthy diet too.

At least two servings of vegetables and fruits needs to be taken every day and this should not be merely for the Vitamin A or Vitamin C reason. Vegetables and fruits are essential for healthy lifestyle. Bananas, Apples and onions are a few of them which must never be ignored. About six or more servings of legumes and whole grains are required too. These comprise of Vitamin B and E and would assist in battling constipation. Whole wheat bread, brown rice and pop corns would also act as supplement in your diet.

Iron is one most significant nutrient you would require especially when pregnant. The iron demand is always on the rise during pregnancy. A woman should ensure to maintain enough iron levels in the body in the pregnancy tenure. If she thinks there is some deficiency occurring with regards to iron, a doctor would be the best to guide a few iron supplements to maintain the requirement. Lack of enough iron could lead to anemia.

Eating healthy and well is essential for everyone in general. However, pregnancy would require you to eat well as a mandatory rule as it is considered with two interests



By: Abhishek Agarwal

About the Author:

Are you having a hard time looking for supplements and pain treatments normally found at your favorite pharmacy? Or it is much easier to deal with the pain then spend the money for a pain relief product because the price is ou of control. Look no further because the online pharmacy industry has expanded so much that it is better to shop from your home for the products your need. These online pharmacies carry a wide variety of medications and pain relief products with even better prices. You will also be able to shop for items that have been taken off the market and buy them cheaper. Compare prices of all the products you are interested in so you can get the best product at the best deal. As long as you have an internet connection you can shop online for all your vitamin and medication needs.

Maxivision is a new natural pain relief product that has recently been released to the public to purchase. Maxivision was developed to prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is a disease of the eye that affects the macular area of the retina. The macular is a little spot inside the retina that is responsible for giving us central vision. Amd will damage the sensitive macular pigment in the retina which in turn will cause spots in the retina. This may cause decrease in vision and possible blindness if one does not take the proper percautions. This disease is more common as we get older with age. If you are experience some of these symptoms then maxi vision vitamins can help you. Maxivision was developed to help treat and improve amd by concentrating antioxidants to promote the health of the ocular areas. Maxivision can also help prevent amd from getting worse as you get older.

There are different varieties of Maxi Vision Vitamins one can purchase that range from natural arthritis treatment to eye moisturizures. There are also supplements that promote the healing of cartilage tissue that is the padding between the bones and joints that has been deteriorating a. If you are experiencing any kind of joint pain then maxi flex is for you. Maxi flex relieves the pain of arthritis and relieves the stiffness of the joints. It can also help with flexibility by healing the cartilage in between the bones and joints so that there is no friction when the bones and joints are. Other types of treatment of arthritis symptoms and anxiety you can find at an online drugstore. You can probably find some pretty nice deals if you search in the right places.

Save time by shopping at an online drugstore and find everything you need at the first store you shop at. no matter if you are looking for natural arthritis treatments or looking for the common cold medicine, you will find it. There is such a huge variety of online pharmacies you can choose from on the net. if you can’t find what you need at one store you can probably find the same item at 1000 other stores. Once you find the item you need then you can search the other stores that have it and compare prices. If you find the best price you will feel much happier about your purchase. If you are patient and do your homework you can get yourself a nice deal.



By: Markus Skupeika

About the Author:

Only about seven percent of the population gets the proper nutrients from food that they need to survive. Vitamins and minerals are vital to our health, but only 40 percent of Americans take these supplements that are necessary to maintain good health. Many people who do purchase vitamins and minerals purchase them at the drugstore where they pay top price. They sometimes opt for name brands because they think these are better and somehow more effective. They are deluding themselves. You can get the same results with discount vitamins and minerals as you can with name brand products. The important thing is that you take the product regularly.

Discount vitamins and minerals can do the same thing that name brand vitamins and minerals can do, only for a lot less money. Vitamins and minerals can stifle or prevent a cold, can boost the immune system, can prevent blood clots, prevent diseases such as cancer, alleviate depression, boost the mood and increase energy, to name a few things. They are absolutely essential for health.

People often do not know which type of discount vitamins and minerals they need to take. They can usually begin with a multivitamin. There are many good discount multivitamins available on the market today, particularly online. Depending upon your gender, age and lifestyle will determine which type of discount multivitamin is right for you. Discount vitamins and minerals come in a variety of different formulas, including those or older people, men, women, active adults, children and even pregnant women.

Many older women need to take supplements that include calcium to ward off osteoporosis, a crippling condition. Discount vitamins and minerals include supplements that people need, such as calcium, that can greatly benefit anyone who is prone to the condition of osteoporosis.

Discount vitamins and minerals can not only save people money, but they can potentially save lives. Those who think they cannot afford to take expensive vitamins that they see at the supermarket or drugstore often skip these necessary supplements. By purchasing discount vitamins and minerals, they can get themselves into a healthier routine and give their body the nutrients for which it is starving.

There are many ways to purchase discount vitamins and minerals. The best way to do this is online. Not only is this convenient, but you can shop around for the best prices on the products that you want. You do not have to wait in a long line at the drugstore nor do you have to waste time and gas in traveling to the store to purchase these items. Best of all, you can get a substantial discount by purchasing discount vitamins and minerals online. Many companies offer free shipping while others give you extra bonuses and discounts on future purchases. The items are delivered to your front door without any problems.

Another benefit of shopping for discount vitamins and minerals online is that you have plenty of time to research which types of vitamins and minerals are right for you. Because there are so many from which to choose, the task can seem daunting. Many people stand around the drug store looking at the full row of vitamins and supplements and get frustrated at the different choices. When shopping for discount vitamins and minerals online, you can avoid that confusion as everything is clearly marked. If you have a question about the product, you can usually find he information right on the website.

It is advisable for anyone with any sort of medical condition such as diabetes, pregnancy, cancer or heart disease to consult a physician before using any supplements. While multivitamins are generally safe for everyone to use, certain supplements that are sold in drugstores along with vitamins can have adverse affects on medications that one is using to treat a condition. Prior to beginning a supplement or vitamin regiment, talk to your physician.

Purchasing discount vitamins and minerals is the best way to obtain the valuable supplements you need to boost your energy and maintain your health. You will be amazed at the results after taking vitamins for a while and will also be quite pleased at the money that you save by purchasing discount vitamins and minerals at one of the many reputable online discount vitamins and minerals dealers.



By: Mario Churchill

About the Author:

Let’s look at the difference between dental discount health plans and traditional dental health insurance. Dental insurance is not what it used to be 20 or 30 years ago. Premiums are now higher for a decent policy and the traditional waiting periods that everyone must incur before they can be seen for any major problems make it almost not worth while.

Pre-existing conditions are not covered by dental insurance policies. This means that if you are suffering from tooth pain and decide to buy dental insurance to save yourself some money on your visit to the dentist, your visit will not be covered. There is a waiting period of 6-12 months before your policy will cover any portion of pre-existing conditions.

Basically, an insurance agent tells me that my premiums are going to be $50-$100 a month, I can see a dentist for a discount on preventive maintenance items such as cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments, etc., however, my root canal will have to wait a year, and even then it will not be covered 100%. What kind of “coverage” is this?

Dental discount plans are networks of dentists that have agreed to take less money for standard dental procedures. The only catch to this is that you must pay cash at the time of the visit. This is really a no-brainer. In the example above, if a person needs a root canal right away, they can save anywhere from 10-60% on getting this taking care of and they don’t have to wait a year, they can get it done immediately. You get anywhere from 30-50% savings on most root canals which comes out to $200-$300.00 easily. Also, the annual fee for being a member of the discount plans is substantially less than standard insurance premiums. Most of these plans start as low as $79.95 annually for individual coverage.

If you’re suffering from tooth pain or need to see a dentist for any other reason, you really should look into dental discount health plans as an option.



By: Joe Stewart

About the Author:

Some states in the US require that all citizens of their state be covered for Health Insurance. Ohio is one of the states that allows Ohio citizens to receive Free Ohio Health Insurance. There are 2 free health insurance programs Healthy Start and Healthy Families. However a Ohio resident must qualify first. Ohio Health Insurance Quote



Healthy Start & Healthy Families are Medicaid programs that provide eligible Ohio families with comprehensive health coverage. This means families get coverage for all of the following: doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital care, immunizations, vision & dental care, substance abuse, mental health services and much more! Not only is this a great benefit package, but families who qualify for Healthy Start & Healthy Families will receive covered services at no cost

Who Qualifies:



U.S. citizens of Ohio

Ohio residents

Ohio residents with a social security number

Ohio residents who meet the financial requirements listed below.



Who is covered? Income Eligibility Guidelines Gross Monthly Income Gross Monthly Income Gross Monthly Income Gross Monthly Income Family Size 1 Family Size 2 Family Size 3 Family Size 4 Children (to age 19) 200% FPL $1,734 $2,334 $2,934 $3,534 Pregnant Women 200% FPL $1,734 $2,334 $2,934 $3,534 Families 90% FPL $780 $1,050 $1,320 $1,590

The following services are included in the plan:



Ambulance services

Chiropractic services (children only)

Community alcohol and drug addiction services

Community mental health services

Dental services

Durable medical equipment

Family planning services and supplies

Home and community-based services waivers (restricted enrollment)

Home health services

Hospice

Inpatient hospital services

Lab and X-ray services

Nursing home care

Nurse-midwife, certified family nurse practitioner, and certified pediatric nurse practitioner services

Outpatient services, including Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy

Physician services

Podiatry

Prescription drugs

Screening and treatment services to children under age 21 under the HEALTHCHEK (EPSDT) program

Transportation to medical appointments

Vision care, including eyeglasses







By: Pennsylvania Health Insurance

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