Focus Insurance Group
Illinois Family Health insurance facts & figures
“They say that liars figure and figures lie” and I’ve always thought that to be an interesting quote, and yet, in the insurance business sometimes all we have is statistics and a hard core reality check. Perhaps, it is for this reason that I wanted to mention some statistics to you, which came from a non-biased source - in a well-known consumer insurance book.
The Kaiser Family Foundation did an industry survey and found that the most common Illinois Family Health Insurance Plans ran in excess of $10,000 per year.
If you have a family now and you do have insurance, you can attest to this, if not you can understand why it is important to do some research before investing in an Illinois Family Health Insurance policy - not just cost of monthly premiums, but the reality of the policy, and the value and safety it provides your family against all sorts of the most common health care challenges we face as Illinois residents.
The tough truth is “everybody” and everyone in your family needs health care coverage, and perhaps, we need to look at your current policy and see if it stacks up – both cost wise and coverage.
Illinois family health care insurance should not cause you to cancel all your family vacations, or force you and your family to eat Top Ramen and Macaroni & Cheese for the rest of your life. And mind you, I don’t have anything against those fine dishes either, but seriously, let’s talk about this for a moment shall we? Look, I am here to save you money on your family health insurance in Illinois, and I make a small stipend when I do.
So, let’s go ahead and review what insurance you currently have, your real needs and risks, and then see if we can match or beat the premiums you are paying while increasing the benefit – just in case you ever need it, as most of us do at one time or another. And, the more people in your family the greater the chances of such an occurrence. Give me a call for a free consultation, and let me show you what’s available and give you the non-sugar coated version, you deserve to know.
Think about your reward - No More Stress - No More Worries - and Mission Accomplished!
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Illinois Family Health Insurance, & Family Health Insurance in Illinois. To learn more visit his site at www.Focusinsgroup.com
AARP - United Health Care and Illinois Medicare Enrollment
If you are enrolled in Illinois Medicare, and if you are an AARP member chances are Healthcare is on your mind. In fact it seems to be on everyone’s mind lately. Yes, including our legislative and executive branch. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like we are going to get health care reform, I mean real reform, meanwhile the costs are skyrocketing for medicine and medical care far outpacing the inflation rates in other sectors of our economy, often 10:1.
Since this issue is on your mind, well, it’s on my mind as well, and we work really hard to assist those with Illinois Medicare get the supplemental healthcare insurance they need to bridge the gap and prevent them from going into the poor house. It’s no laughing matter considering the number one cause of bankruptcy in the US is now unforeseen medical expense and bills that folks have no way of paying. It is good to see that AARP has thought this through and is busy lobbying for your rights. It’s also nice to know that they’ve endorsed United Health Care as a recommendation for Health Care insurance.
Just so you know United Health Care does have competitive rates, and depending on your personal situation and it is possible that they will come back with the lowest quote. No, not always, but a good bit of the time, this is what we are seeing out there. Now then, United Health Care’s supplemental insurance for Illinois Medicare does have a few stipulations such as;
“You must meet the minimum age requirement of 65+ to be eligible. If you are not yet age 65, but eligible for Medicare by reason of disability.. ..”
Therefore, if you need assistance in getting a quote or comparing United Health Care against the other top Illinois Medicare supplemental insurance carriers, then why not make a phone appointment and we can discuss this and get you on the right track, with the best rate to fit your real needs? Let me explain all this to you without all the legal mumbo-jumbo, and then you can decide knowing the facts.
Think about your reward - No More Stress - No More Worries - and Mission Accomplished!
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Illinois Medicare & Illinois Medicare Supplement Insurance. To learn more visit his site at www.focusinsgroup.com
Health Insurance in Illinois - Getting Back To Our Roots
With the cost of a fully fledged health insurance plan looming on the horizon in this country, now is simply not the time to implement such a change, at a time when the unemployment rate is high and people are desperately looking for work to support their families. People have more important things on their mind than doctor office co-pays in case they become ill.
Instead of offering a plan that covers everything, which most people would like to have, why don’t we implement a plan that covers the bare essentials? Let the people that want more coverage buy it as a supplement. This is what health insurance in Illinois was meant to do when it was first introduced back in the early part of this century. At first it was only there to cover accidents. Then awhile later it started covering major health conditions like cancer, stroke, heart attacks and other serious ailments. It did not cover doctor office co-pays.
That’s why I am a big promoter of high deductible health plans with a health savings account. It has premiums that are significantly lower than the plans that offer doctor office co-pays and prescription drugs up front. It stands to reason, the more risk you are willing to take on your health insurance needs the less expensive the premiums will be. That is not exactly rocket science, is it?
One of the biggest advantages of having this type of health insurance in Illinois is that you are able to pay your lower monthly premium to the health insurance carrier and you can then put the money you save into a health savings account and write it off on your taxes 100%. Why give it away to the health insurance carrier if your rarely go to the doctors. Wouldn’t you rather keep your money in your pocket?
Then if you do become ill you can then use the tax free money in your health savings account to pay for your qualified medical expenses. This sounds like a no-brainer to me, but in fact in some scenario’s it is not the best deal for every single family. That is exactly why I recommend seeking out a specialist in the health insurance market place. Luckily there is such a person right here in Illinois.
Think about your reward - No More Stress - No More Worries - and Mission Accomplished!
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Health Insurance In Illinois, & Illinois Health Insurance Plans, To learn more visit his site at www.Focusinsgroup.com
Illinois Medicare - Supplementing with AARP
There is probably no better brand name amongst seniors than AARP - American Association of Retired Persons. This is because AARP has been serving and looking out for the best interests of retired Americans for over 6-decades, in fact it was formed in 1957. Believe it or not there are well over 40 million members in AARP today, and that is a huge voting block and they wield a tremendous amount of power in our government, as well they should, as they represent those who’ve spent their lives building up this great nation.
But did you know that AARP also offers supplemental Medicare insurance for your Illinois Medicare? That’s right and thus, when choosing a plan for your IL Medicare program, you need to take a look at the supplemental choices offered by United Health Care (endorsed by AARP). If you are looking for specific Illinois Medicare healthcare solutions then United Health Care “Medicare Solutions” plans might be just what you are looking for. The great thing about United Health Care or UHC is they work very hard to keep things simple.
Let’s face it, as we age, our mental acuity is not nearly what it was in our earlier days, so it’s nice to see UHC working with us and helping us through such a complicated process. Illinois Medicare provides a number of things we need for our health in the second half of our life, but often enough it leaves big holes when we need it most. Luckily, there are many insurance companies which are willing to cover those gaps for an additional low premium. UHC or United Health Care “Medicare Solutions” is one of those companies, and it is attached to one of the strongest brand names amongst our generation.
Before you purchase supplemental Medicare Insurance to fit you and your family’s healthcare needs, why not put UHC on the list of those reputable carriers to consider. If you need assistance in comparing companies, options, and healthcare strategies, then why not allow us to help you focus on choosing the right company to make your Illinois Medicare work for you?
Think about your reward – No More Stress – No more worries – And Mission Accomplished!
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Illinois Medicare, & Illinois health insurance. To learn more visit his site at www.Focusinsgroup.com
Illinois Medicare Considerations and United of Omaha Health Insurance Plans
Illinois Medicare generally will not cover all the needs of any given individual, even with all the options presented. Each individual has specific health needs that are unique, and therefore Illinois Medicare puts forth generalized options to choose from that appear to serve the vast majority of folks.
The reality is that while “IL Medicare provides most of the things that most people need,” it does not necessarily provide “all the things that most people need” and there is a big difference between those two statements.
Go ahead and read those two statements once again and you’ll begin to understand why supplemental insurance plans are paramount for an individual health care strategy when considering insurance.
Now then, where do you go to find the healthcare insurance plan that you need to “gap” the difference? Well, first you need to look at the top Medicare Supplement insurance companies that have the best ratings and see what they offer. United of Omaha is a very strong company with a very good rating - meaning that if and when you have a claim, they will be there to cover those medical expenses as per the policy, which will be up and beyond where your Illinois Medicare ends.
Let’s face it, with medical bills skyrocketing and outpacing GDP growth or normal inflation by 5-10% per year, you can be left in the poor house, even for a minor healthcare issue, much less a big time healthcare scare to your longevity. One of the excellent things about United of Omaha is that they are also a big player in the Life Insurance Business, and you can bet if you have your life insurance policy with them also, they’d like to keep you alive as long as possible to prevent a massive payout. After all, to them you are worth more alive, right.
The United of Omaha Medicare Supplement Insurance policies will allow you to choose your own doctors and hospitals, and you can use their plan to “mix and match” it with other healthcare insurance plans and providers to get what you need. Their plans also allow you to adjust co-pays and coverage based on your financial where-with-all and budgetary needs. Thus, it perhaps, pays to sit down and discuss all this with a competent healthcare insurance agent who can home in and focus on your real needs and personal individual situation.
United of Omaha has all types of options from the very comprehensive to the basic al la carte supplement insurance options. This makes it nice when comparing notes and looking for the best coverage to fit your needs while shopping for the best deal to supplement your Illinois Medicare. After all, a little planning now can save your family from financial ruin and keep you alive if a medical crisis rears its head. In this way a supplemental policy to your Illinois Medicare coverage with United of Omaha makes a lot of sense.
Think about your reward – No More Stress – No more worries – And Mission Accomplished!
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Illinois Medicare. To learn more visit his site at http://www.focusinsgroup.com
Illinois Medicare - a Look at American Continental Insurance Company and Supplemental Policies
Illinois residents have some distinct advantages when it comes to health care and medical services, namely due to the state’s economic might and population base we have some of the best hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, and medical research. This means we have some of the very best health care not only in the United States, but also in the entire world. That’s the good news, and thus, you should be very thankful to live in the Great State of Illinois.
Of course, with every benefit there are challenges too and due to the quality health care and the incredible demand of the population here, Illinois also has some of the most costly healthcare as well. This is why it really pays to shop around and see what’s out there before you commit to a healthcare insurance plan, or purchase Medicare Insurance with supplemental coverage. It’s also very important to know a little bit about the various medical insurance companies before shopping for around for the lowest price with the best coverage and benefits.
One company that has been a mainstay for many folks in Illinois is American Continental Insurance Company. It’s a company that you should definitely consider when shopping around to find the lowest bid, best premium costs, and best coverage. One interesting thing about American Continental Insurance Company (ACI) is they provide coverage for all sides of the equation. In other words, they provide insurance to hospitals, and doctors for malpractice, along with coverage for regular citizens like you and I. This means they understand what they are doing and the real risks and costs associated.
It’s always important to get the lowest cost on healthcare insurance, but more importantly is to find a company you can trust that will back you up when you have a claim, when you really need it. ACI has an “A-” rating and that’s pretty decent for healthcare insurance providers here in Illinois, especially those specializing in Medicare Supplemental Insurance. ACI or American Continental Insurance Company is part of Genworth Financial, which is now one of the biggest US insurance and financial companies in the United States and it has a strong balance sheet to back it up.
ACI’s specialty is Medicare Insurance, and their supplemental insurance policies often are just what’s needed. So, when shopping around for such coverage it makes sense to check their rates and your current medical situation against the other top competitors. ACI is just one of the top companies in Illinois for healthcare insurance specializing in Medicare Insurance, and supplementary coverage, there are plenty of others to compare also, but it stands to reason that you compare apples to apples, when shopping for price, because when you need it most your health insurance provider needs to be there to pay for your medical bills.
Since Illinois Medicare may not cover all an insured needs thus, a supplemental plan from American Continental Insurance Company can solve this problem. This is one of many options to consider when choosing IL Medicare Plans, and there are other strategies that it also pays to discuss.
The reality is that you want to save money, and you should. You should also make sure that you get what you need, and value for what you are paying for. Sometimes it gets extremely complicated in comparing rates, and if you find yourself challenged by all the different types of coverages, the huge price differentials, and the complexity of the “fine print” then perhaps it’s time you sat down with an expert who knows the ends-and-outs, which companies you can trust, and where the best value is for you and your loved ones. As always, I am here to help and never more than a phone call or email away.
Think about your reward - No More Stress - No More Worries - and Mission Accomplished!
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Illinois Medicare. To learn more visit his site at http://www.focusinsgroup.com
Illinois health insurance - Time Saving Tip Filling Out An Application
I have yet to meet a self-employed business owner who was looking for an Illinois health insurance plan who loved the idea of taking a lot of time to fill out a health insurance application correctly. I mean let’s face it, to self-employed individuals, time is money and they only get paid when they are working. Usually the first question they ask is; how long is this going to take? That is one question that is hard to answer without knowing the health history of the individual or the family involved. The more health history a family has the longer it’s going to take to fill out the application.
One very good way of saving time is being organized when it comes to your health insurance. The first thing you need to do to save time in the future is to fill out one application as thoroughly and accurately as possible. You need to have a good foundation to start from. One suggestion I would make if you’re unsure of the dates and times when you saw your doctor you could get a copy of your medical records from your doctor to help fill out the application. Once you have one application that has been filled out 100% correctly make a copy of it and keep it on file.
The next thing to do is keep track of all your doctor office visits and why you were there.
* Condition
* Start & End date
* Treatment
* Doctors contact information
* Any medications prescribed
This could be done several different ways. You could make notes on your calendar or you could keep track of it on your computer for example in a spreadsheet format. Then in the future when you needed to fill out an application for Illinois health insurance you could take out the copy of the application that was filled out 100% correctly and transfer that information over to the new application. Then take your calendar notes or your spreadsheet notes and fill in the missing health history on the application.
This would save you a lot of time if you needed to fill out a new application, simply because you wouldn’t have to re-create the wheel every single year or every time you needed to shop the market for a more competitive rate.
Think about your reward - No More Stress - No More Worries - and Mission Accomplished!
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Illinois health insurance, & Illinois Medicare. To learn more visit his site at www.Focusinsgroup.com
Family Health Insurance in Illinois – Protecting the Health of Your Loved Ones
While the debate over health care reform still rages on in Washington, it’s important to not forget about the options already available to us to provide health insurance for our families. In the state of Illinois, around 86.3% of its residents currently have health insurance, which is used to see their primary care physicians. That means 13.7% of Illinois residents are currently uninsured. The state ranks 25th in the country in terms of how much of its population is without health insurance. Overall, of all the states, Illinois ranks 31st in a 2008 report, that lists all 50 states by the health care systems they have in place, as well as the quality of care.
In 2008, the state of Illinois had 128.9 ready to access primary care doctors for every 100,000 of the state’s residents. Like many other places of the more populated areas of the country, it should not be a shock that cost of living is quite so high in places like Chicago. But believe it or not, you can still find affordable, quality family health insurance plans to insure your loved ones.
One of the ways to help afford quality family health insurance is to get a health saving account. A health savings account is tax reduced, or sometimes tax free, saving account made available to those who have a high deductible health plan. It is to be used strictly for paying for qualified medical expenses only. Those who have a high deductible health plan pay more in deductibles because they pay much less in monthly premiums than most others do. The good thing about a health savings account is that the money you put into it is not counted towards your federal income tax at the time you put the money into it.
A health savings account is kind of like a flexible spending account, as they are both used to help offset the cost of health care. They are different in that health savings account will allow funds to be rolled over to the next year if they are not spent, whereas as a flexible spending account will not roll over from year to year. They are setup much like an IRA in that you will not be taxed on money used for medical purposes, whereas you will be taxed should you use the money on non-medical purchases. If you are located in Illinois and are looking for ways to provide quality, but affordable, health insurance for your family, then please visit http://www.focusinsgroup.com for more info.
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Illinois family health insurance, & Illinois Medicare. To learn more visit his site at www.Focusinsgroup.com
Illinois Family Health Insurance – How To Pick The Best Co-Pay Plan For Your Family
There are not a lot of families in the United States today that wouldn’t be willing to switch their Illinois family health insurance to a different carrier if they could lower their premiums and keep the same benefit level. Believe it or not, even in the marketplace today it’s worth looking in to. As long as you go about it correctly and get good help it shouldn’t be a problem at all.
So how do you go about picking the best doctor office co-pay plan for your family? You need to take a close look at the benefit outlines of each carrier that you’re interested in. One of the best ways, I think, to do this would be to use an online quoting engine and take advantage of the help of a good broker.
One of the most important things to compare is the deductible. Not just the amount, which is important, but also how many deductibles you have to meet per family. With some carriers you only have to meet two deductibles per family with other carriers you would have to meet three.
Another thing to keep an eye on is how many different coinsurance levels does your family have to meet? Again with some carriers it’s only two and with other carriers it could be three. Another way to look at this is to compare the family max out-of-pocket.
Doctor office co-pays can vary as well, they range anywhere from $20 up to $40 per doctor office visit. Some carriers even charged double that for specialist co-pays.
With the price of prescription drugs today it’s very important to take a close look at what your prescription drug coverage would be upfront and what your prescription co-pays would be. Prescription drug co-pays can vary quite a bit between carriers. For the most part there are four tiers to prescription drugs.
Tier 1 - Generic
Tier 2 - Formulary or Preferred Name Brand Drugs
Tier 3 - Non Formulary or Name Brand Drugs
Tier 4 - Specialty drugs
Sometimes specialty drugs have annual limitations as well, which should be taken into consideration.
Take a close look at what kind of annual wellness benefit is offered. Most carriers have started to limit this annual routine benefit to $300-$1000. State-mandated benefits typically do not count towards the annual benefit amount allowed.
So when you take a close look at these areas when choosing your Illinois family health insurance plan that’ll make your decision making process a lot easier.
Think about your reward -No More Stress-No More Worries-And Mission Accomplished!
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Illinois family health insurance, & Illinois Medicare. To learn more visit his site at www.Focusinsgroup.com
Illinois Health Insurance - Getting Health Insurance Quotes Online
Getting a competitive Illinois Health insurance quote online is an excellent place to start searching if you know what to expect. I would recommend finding a website that will actually give you a competitive quote instead of a lead generation website that will sell your information to multiple agents.
The problem I have with online quoting engines is that they can only give you the best case scenario pricing. It doesn’t take any of your health conditions into consideration. So this means unless you are perfectly healthy it would probably give you an inaccurate rate. But it is a very useful tool in getting an idea of what to expect premium wise. That’s one reason why working together with a good agent would be your best bet. A good agent would be able to give you a clearer understanding of how each carrier would rate up for any specific health conditions.
The one thing that I think online quoting is fantastic for is being able to compare plan designs and truly finding the plan that fits your family’s needs the best. You might not have an accurate price but the pricing you do see would give you a good idea of how the different plan designs are priced. When comparing different plan designs you’ll notice that the high deductible plan designs are always more affordable than their doctor office co-pay counterparts. This is simply because these plans require you to pay for more of the Illinois health insurance costs up front. How important is it to you in having co-pays when needing to see the doctor. Take a close look at what that benefit would cost.
My recommendations would be to work together with an agent that specializes in health insurance and is a full time agent. Preferably one that is contracted with the top carriers in the state and knows which carrier would be the best fit for your needs. Sometimes finding a good carrier that will fit your needs is just not possible and the only alternative is the CHIP program. Having an agent that knows when all other avenues have been exhausted can save you a countless sum of money.
Think about your reward - no more worries - no more stress - and mission accomplished!
Randy Gillespie is the owner of Focus Insurance Group, get expert help from an agent specializing in Illinois health insurance, & Illinois Medicare. To learn more visit his site at www.Focusinsgroup.com
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