We often hear about the physical benefits of exercise—weight loss, which can prevent and even reverse certain diseases, a more toned physique, which can lead to a sense of personal pride and confidence—but the mental and emotional benefits of exercise are often underreported. The human body is designed to move, …
What is a Health Insurance Exchange?
Health insurance exchanges are part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and will begin in 2014. The objective of the exchanges is to help provide coverage for the millions of people across the nation who don’t have employer-sponsored group health coverage. Individuals in states that choose not to offer an …
Pets can Improve Your Mental and Physical Well-Being
Dogs and cats have been living among humans for thousands of years. People have long understood intuitively that pets make us feel better, but now medical science reveals that they have an impact not only on our mental and emotional well-being, but our physical health, too. Spend just a few …
What Does “Out-of-Network” Mean on a Health Insurance Policy?
Many people have seen the terms “in-network” and “out-of-network” on health insurance policies and probably wondered what they mean. In a nutshell, your insurance plan has contracted with different specialists, hospitals, labs, pharmacies, etc. These contracted providers are “in-network,” since they have negotiated their rates with the insurance company. The …
TONIK Health Insurance the Ideal Choice for Young People
TONIK is a health insurance plan offered under Blue Cross, and for years it has been an ideal choice for young, active people ages 19-29. While individuals in this age range are the most likely to be uninsured, accidents can and do happen. Even if you’re healthy, medical bills from …
Rates of Uninsured Americans Falling, but Many Still Need Coverage
The 2011 Census showed that more than 48.6 million Americans were uninsured during the whole year, compared to 49.9 million in 2010. While this may seem like a relatively insignificant drop in the number of uninsured individuals, it is the lowest level since 1999. Nevertheless, this still means that as …
Why You Should Consider Long Term Care Insurance
People are living longer than ever these days. Unfortunately, they are not always able to take care of themselves throughout their entire life. Often people either outlive their spouse, or no longer have family around when they get to the point that they can’t take care of themselves anymore. Long …
What You Should Know About HIPAA When You Change Insurance
HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, is the federal law that protects your personal health information and limits who has access to it. Your healthcare provider, as well as your health insurance plan, must abide by these rules. HIPAA covers conversations with your doctor, anything written …
How to Choose an Independent Insurance Agent in California
When you need to find your own health insurance in California, it can be hard to know where to turn. Many people have no experience purchasing individual health insurance plans. But if you are no longer covered by your employer, have started your own business, or you are working on …
How Health Information Exchanges Improve Patient Care
Health information exchanges are systems that allow the sharing of data electronically across healthcare organizations. They enable physician’s offices, hospitals, laboratories and other facilities within a community, hospital system or region to exchange vital patient data. This kind of information sharing offers many benefits—for example, HIE systems allow for quicker …