Insuring Yourself In A Changing Economy
Keywords: precedent, health insurance texas, affordable health insurance texas, health insurance dallas, health
It began with phasing company funded retirements out and phasing 401ks in. Now the new trend in corporate America is for employees to purchase their own health insurance benefits. In fact, there are some businesses in Dallas and Houston that have begun replacing employer paid healthcare benefits with voluntary individual coverage.
Because of the increasing financial burden placed on businesses, from large to medium to small, experts are predicting that eventually Texans will have to buy many of the health benefits they currently get at little or no cost through their employer.
In the meantime, it’s hard to beat the typical cost of an employee’s share of healthcare benefits offered by employers. So consumer advocate experts recommend that employees consider the pros and cons of employer benefits versus individual health coverage. Many experts are advising a move to Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, where qualified high-deductible health insurance policies cover large medical bills and an investment account is used to withdraw money tax-free for medical care.
Another area of voluntary health benefits that’s quickly growing is a downsized version of a health plan called limited-benefit medical insurance. This kind of individual health insurance is typically offered to part-time or temporary workers who aren’t eligible for a company’s comprehensive group medical benefits. This stripped down version generally offers coverage for routine and preventive services with little to no co-payments. Medical visits may be limited to four to five annually, and benefits may be capped at as little as $2,000 a year. If medical services, such as surgery and hospitalization are involved, they most probably aren’t covered or they also have low benefit caps.
While limited-benefit plans are an affordable alternative to not having health insurance, many people are critical of these plans because there is a risk of catastrophic hospital bills when medical care goes beyond the policy’s offerings. Industry experts recommend this plan only if comprehensive coverage is unaffordable or can’t be obtained through a spouse, parent or another source.
Other benefits attracting some attention are insurance policies that pay cash benefits for specific conditions, such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. These policies pay a one-time benefit upon first-time diagnosis if, for example, a worker is diagnosed with skin cancer. Such a policy pays limited cash benefits for treatments and nursing care. Consumer groups, as well as financial advisors, recommend not buying these policies to replace a comprehensive medical or disability plan because of their specificity. These types of policies also have long waiting periods and a variety of exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
With the evolving nature of employee benefits, you should take a look at the revolutionary comprehensive individual health insurance solutions created by companies specifically for young, healthy individuals.
Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at www.precedent.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
The High Deductible Health Plan - What Is It And How Does It Benefit Me? (1)
The maximum amount out-of-pocket limit for HDHPs, in 2007, is $5,500 for individuals and $11,000 for family enrollment. Depending on the HDHP you purchase, you may have the choice of using in-network and out-of-network providers.
Medical Bankruptcies The Growing Reality (2)
A third had their utilities shut off, and nearly two-thirds skipped needed doctor or dentist visits. The study's findings also indicated medical-related bankruptcies often hit middle-class families hard; with 56 percent of the filers being college graduates who owned a home.
'Marked Growth' In High Loan To Value Mortgage Uptake (3)
The director also signified that loan providers should ensure that borrowers will be able to meet repayment requirements before issuing credit. Meanwhile, recent moneysupermarket research has showed that 43 per cent of homeowners do not fully research all the mortgage options available when looking to borrow money.
Stopping Smoking And Summer Budgeting 'Could Ease Finances' (4)
According to the financial services company a couple who stop their 20 cigarettes-a-day habit could save themselves up to 2,576 pounds over the course of a year, a figure which could well help many with meeting various expenses when moving home such as property deposits, secured loan repayments and moving fees.
UK Has 'Higher Than Average Inflation' (5)
The OCED also claimed that Britons' personal finances are being continually squeezed through energy price increases. Across the European Union the average utility bill has risen by 1.5 per cent over the last year.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Britons 'Get Carried Away' With Holiday Spending (1)
Keywords: personal, finance, credit, cards, overspending Britons are not giving enough thought to their finances when going away on holiday, new figures indicate. According to research conducted by Alliance & Leicester, 4.2 million consumers - about one in ten - are willing to go abroad even though they are yet to finish paying off money owed from their previous break.
House Price Growth 'Slowing' (2)
"Average earnings in Northern Ireland are still lower than the UK average, suggesting that affordability is deteriorating fairly rapidly and that the market here could be more vulnerable than in other regions," she claimed.
Put Your Agent To The Test (3)
Selling your home and hiring a real estate Agent to do so is no different and deserves a little effort in the beginning to ensure that you enlist the help of the very best Agent available- one who will sell your home for the highest price in the shortest amount of time.
Establishing Credit Though Student Credit Cards (4)
The co-signer must sign off on the credit card. If for whatever reason the student cannot make his or her payments; it would then fall on the co-signer to make the payments.
Student Loan Default - Avoid It With These Easy Steps (5)
Keywords: student loan, student loan default, student, student debt, student borrowing These two steps will meant that you don't have a problem. So, that's easy. isn't it? Well, of course that would be easy for everyone if that was the way it always worked.
Get The Best Debt Relief From A Free Debt Consolidation Program (6)
For these services they do not charge anything. The reason behind this is that they get heavy subsidies from creditors. Otherwise there are many in the market who would lend a hand of support for a fee.
Mutual Funds Make Investing Simple (7)
Try to set aside some money for investing and start while you are still young. The earlier you begin, the more money you can potentially make down the road.
Offer A Vendor Equipment Leasing Program To Enhance Sales And Profits (8)
This mindset can be costly in a variety of ways. The biggest problem is that it can drive the customer to the arms of your competition. Customers can view the vendor as a one-stop shop where they can both fulfill their orders and get the financing they need, rather than having to seek financing from a bank or other financial institution.
What Is High Risk Home Owner Insurance? (9)
Keywords: high risk home owner insurance, high risk homeowner insurance For some people finding home owners insurance can become quite a headache. They find that they are having trouble getting approved or the monthly premiums are higher then they are normally used to.
Borrowing Should Be 'Structured In Best Way Possible' (10)
Keywords: secured, home, personal, loans, finance, credit, debt Britons need to take time to ensure their mortgage deal is the right one for them, an industry expert has claimed. Julia Dallimore, marketing director for Picture Financial, claimed that as interest rates continue to increase and a greater proportion of money is spent on servicing loans costs, consumers need to make sure that "borrowing is structured in the best way for them".
Student Loans Also Known As PLUS Loans (11)
Federal Loans given to students, federal loans given to parents and private loans. The first type of loan is the loan given directly to students. They include Stafford loan, Federal Family Education Loans, Ford Direct Student Loans, and Federal student loan consolidation.
Real Estate Financing - What You Need To Know About Home Mortgages Before You Commit (12)
The disadvantages of a fixed-rate mortgage include a possibly higher cost; these loans are usually priced higher than an adjustable-rate mortgage. If you're buying a second home or property, you will need to identify the sources for your down payment, since you'll not be selling your current house and using the proceeds, and you'll need to expect larger monthly payments for housing or any other expenses too.
Getting Engaged? How Should You Handle Health Insurance? (13)
When comparing policies, you should consider the following: - Monthly premiums - Deductibles - Co-payments for routine and emergency care - Doctors and hospitals that participate in each plan (e.g., if it's a Health Maintenance Organization or Preferred Provider Organization) - Any additional coverage provided (e.g., dental, vision care, prescription drugs, etc.).
7 Cash Flow Steps To A Healthy Budget (14)
Write down your monthly income. If you are a salaried worker this should be easy. If your income is not that steady then add up the past three months worth of income and average it by dividing by three.
Considering Health Savings Accounts (15)
If, however, you are eligible, you can still carry other accident, disability, dental, vision and long-term care insurance policies. How much can I contribute annually to an HSA? For 2007, you can contribute up to $2,850 for individual coverage or $5,650 for families.
Eight Ways To Save Money On Gas (16)
Choose the right grade. Before you pay more, find out if your car's engine was designed for premium gasoline. Experts say that the less expensive grades are fine for many vehicles.
Business Finance Resource Availability Issues For Telecommunications Companies (17)
Just as the old adage about getting a job without experience goes, it is hard to grow your business when you need all of your working capital just to run your business day to day.
Is Your Identity Stolen? - What You Should Do (18)
To find out if your state law accepts reports on identity theft, check your state Attorney General's office at www.naag.org. You should also file a complaint at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The Importance Of Having Umbrella Insurance (19)
Talk to your agent about it and ask how much it costs. Even though multi-million dollar lawsuits are not common, they can happen. So, an umbrella is probably worth it.
How To Pick A Good Home Owner Insurance Company (20)
Keywords: home owner insurance company, home owner insurance Peace of mind, security, and protecting your most valuable asset and possessions are the three best reasons that any homeowner needs to have a good home owners insurance policy.
Your Credit Report And Credit Score (21)
Three major credit bureaus namely Experian, Equifax and Transunion maintain your report. Information from banks, your credit card company and any other party with whom you owe something are being collected by credit bureaus and compiled for your credit report.
The Personal Financial Budget Is The Door To Financial Freedom (22)
The big surprise for many people is finding out just how they are actually spending money and where it is going. With a budget in place you can quickly identify those areas where you are spending to much money and those areas that maybe you need to redirect money to, such as credit card debt, car loans, or even retirement savings.
What Is A Mortgage Refinance? (23)
Keywords: a mortgage refinance, mortgage refinance, mortgage refinancing, home refinancing A mortgage refinance involves renegotiating an existing mortgage in order to get a better interest rate and lower monthly payments that will help improve your financial situation.
Understanding Virtual Banking (24)
ING started its operations in Europe and is now established in North America. It is able to offer customers no account fees savings accounts at a higher rate than regular banks, there is no charge either for withdrawals at certain levels.
When To Refinance Your Home Mortgage (25)
Finally, home owners can also benefit from a lower refinancing rate by freeing up cash that can be used on much needed expenditures. In most cases, a lower interest rate is a good reason to refinance a home especially when the home is still quite new, for example the homeowners have been paying on it for only a few years.
Do You Know Why You Want To Become A Trader Online? (26)
When you have decided what type of online trader you want to be, you can see what type of systems you want to learn as an online trader. If you can give strong enough reasons for the whys of the next questions, you will more than likely find the way, no matter how hard the path to get there, to get the job done right.
Buying Home Owners Insurance Online (27)
By shopping around and keeping these factors in mind you can save money on your home insurance coverage. The best home owner insurance quote is going to be the quote offered by the insurance company that thoroughly investigates your home owner insurance needs.
Understanding Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) (28)
Disclosure of APR is required by the Truth-in-Lending Law and allows borrowers to compare the actual costs of different mortgage loans. Computing the APR over the full loan term deflates the apparent cost of the loan, making it harder to decide if it truly makes sense to refinance an existing mortgage.
Foreclosed Homes List- An Important Tool (29)
.. Obsolete Information: Generally, many available foreclosed home lists contain outdated information about properties. It leads to unnecessary trouble for the person considering the list, as by the time people get to know about such properties, they are sold out.
Foreclosed Home Listing- An Insight Into Foreclosed Home Listings (30)
In case the house requires some repair either you can do that work and take the amount it will cost off your down payment or off the price of the house itself.
Foreclosed Home- Discover The Truth About Foreclosed Homes (31)
Sell Your Home Fast? As Is Now will buy your house in 24 hours if approved and you get cash in your pocket. We help you get rid of your home fast for any reason including to Stop Home Foreclosures : www.asisnow.com
Consumers Determined To Buy First Home (32)
Figures from the financial services firm also indicated that 17 per cent of respondents owe more than 15,000 pounds. To help with meeting these expenses, just over a third (35 per cent) of those surveyed look towards financial aid from their parents.
Buy Foreclosed Homes- Be An Informed Buyer (33)
Get acquainted with real estate agents in the interested area, as it helps in finding out how to set about buying foreclosed homes. The agents would readily inform you whenever they are about to be put up for auction.
Are You Paying Too Much For Your Loan Insurance? (34)
Loan insurance can be worthwhile, but unless you are covered and can get the insurance for a good price then it is usually not worth having. However, if you shop around and know exactly what you need to be covered for, you can find insurance that will cover you in the event that you cannot keep up with your loan repayments.
Banking Alternatives: Do You Need A Bank? (35)
If you look around at all the alternatives to regular banking then you could save yourself money and make banking work more effectively for you. Peter Kenny is a writer for The Thrifty Scot, please visit us at www.thriftyscot.co.uk and www.thriftyscot.co.uk