Corrupt Politics

Fire destroyed a Torrance furniture store, just outside of Los Angeles, in 2004. The three-alarm fire, which required 49 firefighters to put out the flames, burned designer chairs down to their springs and even caused the roof to collapse. A beautiful, state-of-the-art furniture showroom quickly turned in to a hideous eye sore!

The cause of the fire? Arson. Did insurance pay to re-build the furniture store? Fortunately, yes! But how much business would be lost as a result of this furniture store having to relocate while their charred furniture store was being re-built? Why can’t the fire insurance company cover the potential-loss-of-business too? I would guess that the cost for a new furniture showroom would only be a fraction of the cost of loss that this business incurred as a result of the fire.

It seems that insurance should take everything in to account, not just the property. This showroom was in a prime location on Sepulveda Blvd. in Torrance. What happens when Los Angeles residents drive up to a charred pile of rubble? In 2004, there was no such luxury of jumping on the Web via an iPhone to see if they store has relocated. Instead, they probably went to the Ethan Allen that’s a stone’s throw away.

Believe it or not, this furniture store was still in a temporary location in 2006. Contractors were still finishing the re-build of their original showroom – two years later! As if to add salt to the wound, it turns out that the only location they could find was in a strip mall a mile and a half away. Bear in mind, this is a high-end furniture store, not a discount “knock-off” establishment. Who knows how many of their existing customers passed by their old location and assumed they had officially closed their doors?

Fortunately, they’re now back in their original 13,000 sq. ft showroom. It may be state-of-the-art, but where are all the customers? Will this furniture store ever be flourishing like once was back in 2004? Insurance may have paid for a new showroom, but how about getting them to pay for new customers too?

This story, written about a Torrance furniture store, is true and was written by author Justin Verbaggio. The author has no official affiliation with the furniture store; however, he is a long-time customer.

Are you one of the many Americans who have been laid off in recent months? Are you concerned about no longer having health insurance benefits for you and your family in addition to the loss of income? If so, you will want to know more about the COBRA Insurance plan provided by the federal government.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you don’t need health insurance. If your health insurance lapses, you may have a problem covering yourself and your family when you do get a new job. It is also not a good idea to ‘play the odds’ and hope that you will not need medical coverage; it is impossible to predict when accidents or illness may occur.

COBRA Qualifications

The COBRA insurance extension provides supplemental health insurance that fills the gap between coverage due to unemployment. Your last employer is required to provide this option. You will qualify if you have had hours reduced and become a part-time employee ineligible for the employer’s health insurance benefit, laid off, or terminated for any reason other than gross misconduct. Insurance coverage extends to all dependants who were previously on your policy.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes a Cobra Extension that extends benefits to those former employees who were laid off or terminated between September 2008 and February 2009. If you still do not have health insurance due to an employment separation that occurred between that period of time, you can now elect to receive COBRA benefits.

How Much Will It Cost?

After you are no longer employed, you will have to foot the bill for health insurance premiums. The former employer is still the administrator of the plan, but they are not required to pay any part of the monthly premium. You should be aware that the cost may still be far less than if you purchased an individual plan. The federal government also offers subsidies, up to 65%, to anyone who is unable to afford the entire insurance premium.

What Happens After Loss of a Job

It is your employer’s responsibility to report the separation and eligibility for COBRA benefits. There are various regulations that apply to determine who is eligible, what companies are required to offer COBRA, and what events qualify for the continued health insurance benefit. If you feel that you should be able to continue to receive coverage, you may want to consult with a company that can help you sort out the details.

The employee has 60 days to decide whether he or she wants to take advantage of COBRA benefits. If the former employee does elect to continue health insurance coverage, there is a 45 day period in which the first premium must be paid.

There are also specific regulations from the health insurance provider as to how and when claims for extended coverage are filed. The insurance company may deny benefits. You are allowed to appeal the denial within 60 days. Because the health insurance provider often carries numerous plan stipulations, you may want to obtain assistance when dealing with the company.

Many times there are special circumstances that apply to continued health insurance coverage through COBRA insurance extension. Luckily, you do not need to sort out all the issues, rules, regulations, and specifics yourself. There are resources available to help those who are entitled to the benefits receive them. See the website for more details.

Looking to find more information on the Cobra Extension? Then visit www.cobraextension.org to find the best advice on Cobra Insurance Plan to help you.

Michigan health insurance coverage is equivocally as important as carrying a car insurance policy. A chronic illness like diabetes, cancer could render someone financially destitute. The financial woos, of unemployment and a recessed economy, leaves many Americans forgoing health insurance coverage.

Between the growing cost of hospitalization, prescriptions and diagnostic testing, it’s no secret that the cost of medical care services. It is the reason that legislators are trying to make health insurance coverage a legal obligation.

Some Michiganites think that because they have health insurance through their employer that they are covered. For others, the homework of finding a low cost plan with adequate protection is too involved.

Although no own can predict hospital bills, there are tactics to buying an affordable health plan. Michael Novelli, an insurance broker analyst of MichiganHealthandLife.com recommends the importance of having a Michigan health insurance before a serious medical complication arises.

Mr. Novelli advises that not carrying insurance today can ultimately minimize future affordable health insurance.

Exercise prudence in your selection of affordable medical coverage. As Michigan health insurance vary from policy to policy. Apply for a minimum of three health insurance quotes from different insurance agencies. To ease shopping around for quotes, find a licensed broker who represents several companies.

Besides searching for an economical Michigan health insurance policy, shop for policies that meet the following guidelines: 1) Select a health plan providing coverage from mega medical costs. 2) Opt for a policy that is effective the day of your first payment. (Various health insurance plans require that new members wait a specified time before taking effect).

Also, be sure that the insurance plan features a “free look” clause, meaning that you have a minimum of 10-days to rescind the coverage.

For additional information regarding Michigan health insurance, bookmark or visit www.MichiganHealthandLife.com in Michigan. The online resource doubles as a library and health insurance quote portal.

It’s not often that people are able to save money on their health insurance. In fact I have not seen many other areas that have increased in price the same way that health care, and subsequently health insurance has in the last 10 years or so.

Of course we are currently seeing the potential overhaul of the system, but whatever happens in the future, nothing will change for the next few years. What people can do now is to use the following method to start saving money on health insurance, right away.

The method will work no matter what insurance policy an individual wants to buy, whether they are looking for personal insurance, or for a business, or even short term care and dental insurance.

The way it works is that someone who wants to purchase a health insurance policy, goes to a price comparison website and uses it. These sites are very specialized and have already established all the different providers of health insurance throughout the US. The sites then allow quotes to be requested from them all.

A user enters their details once, and then the search engine of the website goes out and requests quotes from all the different providers who offer policies in their area.

The whole thing takes just a few moments and costs absolutely nothing. When the search engine has finished it’s job, it will return all the different companies and quotes to the user. It’s quite an easy job then just to pick whichever quotes and company suits the individual best.

Whilst this method is very simple and easy to use, anyone wanting to follow has to make sure that the site they go to is 100% independent. This means there are no direct connections to any insurance companies themselves, they are just simply providing quote details.

When these not genuine comparison sites are used, the results returned are always a fraction of what is available, so the savings are never at the same level.

For more information, or to use a completely independent price comparison website for Cheap Medical Insurance, just Read This Page.

This year’s flu concerns should heed caution for individuals, who do not have Illinois health insurance. At present date, the H1NI has assumed 20 lives and hospitalized 476. [Source: Illinois Department of Health http://www.idph.state.il.us/h1n1_flu/sf_statistics.htm] Between the sick days, doctor’s visits and other medical necessities, the uncertainties of the H1N1 virus are too ominous to chance until the Obama health plan is finalized.

It is estimated that some 250,000 children in the state of Illinois do not have medical coverage. With the death of a Naperville high school student, uninsured families have a few affordable health care plans. [Source: http://www.allkidscovered.com/]

The Kronishs’ experience with H1N1 was a sickeningly expensive fiasco. When Mr. Kronish lost his job, the cobra benefits for a family of six was too expensive to maintain on a $57,000 annual income. Not to mention, all four children aged eight, 11, 13 and 14 had been a pillar of good health.

After their 11-year old son complained of all the symptoms associated with H1N1, an emergency room visit turned into a 23-hour observation; and, thus a $3500 bill for all the tests and overnight stay. In an effort to prevent more of the same, the remaining Kronish family members were vaccinated, costing an additional $375.

The cost of a doctor’s office visit or clinic consultation ranges from $60 to $150 if one does not have insurance. Vaccinations are $75 to $85. In Illinois all medical providers are required to dole out H1N1 vaccinations to insured patients, directly billing the insurance company. Additionally, various big box stores, such as Osco Drugs, Walgreens and CVS are providing vaccinations in coordination with the insurance companies.

The H1N1 virus exemplifies how a simple emergency room visit and an overnight observation can add up to an expensive incident that a normal Illinois health insurance policy would cover.

Bookmark or visit Illinois Life & Health for more information pertaining to Illinois medical insurance. The site maintains the latest news, resources and a no obligation Illinois medical insurance quote, online.

Available in a variety of Michigan health insurance plans, selecting the right policy leaves many consumers baffled and quite often with unsuitable policies or none at all. Shoppers, looking for the most affordable monthly premium, usually end up with medical coverage, garnering too many out-of-pocket costs. An inflating unemployment deficit and uninsured setbacks, coupled with skyrocketing hospital bills continue to plague Michigan’s financially distressed citizens.

Approximately, 47 percent of Americans don’t understand their health insurance or the difference between co-payment, deductible, and coinsurance. The problem is that consumers shopping for Michigan health insurance are unaware of what they’re buying. In the end, many are left to pay medical bills they thought their policy would cover.

As a first time expectant mother, Wanda Jones, was excited about giving birth. However, the affordable premium health plan that she bought as a small business owner uncovered some unforeseen surprises. Ms. Jones thought that her $2000 deductible should cover the cost of her hospital bill, when she learned that it would be an additional $4000 for the delivery of her baby.

Insurance analysts share that consumers often misconstrue the terms of having health insurance to mean that everything is covered. In the long run, confusion about medical coverage proves to be costly. As was the case of Ms. Jones, the owner of a craft shop in Ann Arbor, failure to ask specific questions changed the course of several events. Her deductible to deliver her baby was more than she held in her savings account. She admits that she may have rethought facing parenting on her own.

Mike Novelli, president of MichiganHealthandLife.com says that selecting the right Michigan health insurance plan has a lot to do with the broker selling the policy. If the agent neglects to disclose all the policy’s details, there are generally going to be some surprises. He advises consumers to avoid unscrupulous brokers by obtaining quotes from an agent who vends an assortment of Michigan health insurance plans. He also recommends recognizing the following shortlist of ethical attributes:

- Thoroughly explains the terms of the policy (Compares options between deductibles, coinsurance and low cost premiums).

- Does not request an application fee. Quote for Michigan health insurance plans are free.

- Exudes helpful and knowledgeable advice without imposing any coercion tactics.

For additional consumer information pertaining to medical coverage in Michigan, one of the best resources, featuring Michigan health insurance and free Michigan medical quotes is Michigan Health & Life.

Deferring today’s health issues provokes tomorrow’s chronic medical conditions With Obama’s health plan in the works, it will be years before the uninsured can expect a government backed policy to take effect. Cancer is a prevalent chronic medical condition, affecting over a million Americans and accounting for more than 500,000 deaths each year. Almost 8 percent of the American population is afflicted with diabetes. Annually, heart attacks account for 300,000 deaths each year. [Source: National Institute of Health] The aforementioned diseases represent the leading causes of death. Obtaining a diagnosis before it is too late to manage these life-threatening ailments significantly influences morality.

As in the case of Bea Levinson (59), she had gone without health insurance for five years. By the time she was diagnosed with lung cancer, it was in its final stage, rendering no hope for treatment. Ms. Levinson’s case reflects the risk of waiting for a finalized Obama Health Plan to pass. Out of the leading causes of death, the National Institute of Health says that finding these complications early could extend life with the proper medical care, long before the complication evolves into the critical stages.

Those, who are afflicted with a chronic illness, may end up covering their own medical expenditures. Being uninsured, many Americans tend to forgo health insurance coverage and ultimately treatment. Inevitably, deferring Michigan health insurance until the final details of the Obama health plan is refined is like imposing self-inflicted euthanasia.

Nevertheless, waiting for the final draft of the Obama Health Plan is tantamount to giving one a death sentence. The misconception that Michigan health insurance is an optional requirement is the reason many fall prey to financial devastation. Regardless of one’s current situation (unemployed, college student or a preexisting medical condition), a wealth of affordable Michigan health insurance policies can be can be customized to meet a consumer’s unique financial and medical situation. Use the following strategies for shopping for an economical Michigan Health Insurance plan:

- Shop for a Michigan health insurance plan customized to your specific employment, health and financial situation. Assess each medical plan, reviewing the specific details of the coverage.

- Protect your health. As it could be another five years before the Obama health plan is finalized, do not defer coverage until the program is refined.

If you’re looking for an economical Michigan health insurance quote, Michigan Health and Life is affiliated with several top insurance companies (Aetna, ING, Blue Cross Shield, Uniare and UnitedHealthOne and more). Let us help you find an economical policy for your budget and health requirements. Please follow our link Michigan Health and Life