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VOL II, ISSUE 1, JANUARY 2007
THE MEDPLUS MESSENGER is published quarterly for the dissemination of information regarding health and life insurance laws; trends; products and related topics. It is intended to be of use to clients and prospective clients of ALL PLAN MED & LIFE QUOTE http://www.allplaninsurance.com (parent company of ALLPLANINSURANCE.COM; ALLPLANHEALTHINSURANCE.COM and ALLPLANINTERNATIONALHEALTHINSURANCE.COM) as well as residents of all fifty states (US) and the international community. It is a by-product of our responsibility to monitor the state of the national and international insurance environment and to inform the public of such matters. ALL PLAN MED & LIFE QUOTE has been based in The Woodlands, Texas since 1991.
THE MEDPLUS MESSENGER is not copyrighted and articles and analysis presented in THE MEDPLUS MESSENGER may be reproduced at your discretion. However, articles and analysis should not be construed as representing the policy, endorsement or opinion of ALL PLAN MED & LIFE QUOTE, or its agents, unless so stated. Although carefully verified, data are not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. ALL PLAN MED & LIFE QUOTE cannot be held directly responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information in this publication.
DIRECT QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS TO FIELD OFFICES:
CALIFORNIA: 800-484-3792 CODE 1866; insurnet@snowcrest.net
NEW YORK: 888-766-6932; sonny@onestopshopping.com
ALL OTHERS: 800-856-6556; insurnet@verizon.netIMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND LINKS:
Texas Department of Insurance: 800-252-3439; http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/
Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool (for those uninsurable by private health insurance):
888-398-3927; TDD 1-800-735-2989; http://txhealthpool.com/
Texas Risk Pool Rates; Outline of Coverage; Application; Network of Providers
North Carolina Department of Insurance: 919-733-7487; http://www.ncdoi.com/
New York Department of Insurance: 800-342-3736; http://www.ins.state.ny.us/
Illinois Department of Insurance: 217-782-4515; http://www.idfpr.com/
Indiana Department of Insurance: 317-232-2410; http://www.state.in.us/idoi/
California Department of Insurance: 916-322-3555; http://www.insurance.ca.gov/
Legislative Information: http://www.nahu.org/VISIT OUR WEB SITES AT:
http://allplaninsurance.com
http://allplanhealthinsurance.com
http://allplaninternationalhealthinsurance.com
*If you received this newsletter by email:
TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM OUR
EMAIL LIST SIMPLY:
(1) CLICK ON THE "REPLY" BUTTON IN YOUR MAIL MENU
(2) TYPE: "REMOVE ME"
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FLASH BULLETIN #1:
UNIVERSAL HEALTH
CARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN POST-PONES NEW ENROLLMENTS IN PFFS PLAN
I) As of February 15th, 2007 Universal Health Care, a Center for Medicare
Services approved Medicare Advantage Plan, based in St. Petersburg,
FL, has ceased accepting new enrollments into its "ANY,
ANY, ANY" PRIVATE FEE FOR SERVICE PLAN. The postponement
is for new PFFS plans only and does not apply to its Masterpiece and Masterpiece
Plus plans in Florida. This was a voluntary action by Universal Health
Care as it continues to work closely with the Florida State Insurance
Department.
According to company officials, UHC enrolled over 100,000 new members in the last three months - far exceeding its sales projections. This tremendous growth is attributed to the popularity of its "ANY, ANY, ANY" Plan. Because of the company's commitment to continue to provide quality service and claim's payment to current policyholders, UHC feels it is necessary to focus on this - and to refrain from acquiring new ones - until such time as operations ensure the latter will receive the same.
In the meantime UHC has requested all agents and brokers to cease offering their PFFS plan to prospective members whether by scheduled seminars or otherwise. If a medicare recipient has received an invitation to attend a seminar in which UHC's PFFS plan was to be presented (and has not received notice of cancellation), it is suggested that said recipient contact the seminar host to determine what plan or plans may be offered in lieu of the PFFS plan.
For more information on the "ANY, ANY, ANY" PLAN and other plans provided by Universal Health Care, please visit www.univhc.com.
FLASH BULLETIN #2:
TEXAS CHILDREN'S HEALTH PLAN CEASES TAKING ANY APPLICATIONS
According to a notice (December
2006) from the TEXAS CHILDREN'S HEALTH PLAN - a health
maintenance organization (HMO) based in Houston, Texas and founded just
for children in 1996 - has ceased taking any applications for Individual
Medical Coverage for at least 90 days. This decision applies to new applications
only and does not impact existing members. During this time, they have
decided to continue this policy while still reviewing their product.
BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD
NEW POLICY FOR CREDITABLE COVERAGE
FEBRUARY 6, 2007: BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS will give policyholders credit for time served under another carrier's individual health policy toward the pre-existing condition waiting period under a new individual policy with their company.
This liberalized change (from their previous policy) means that a policyholder's previous coverage no longer needs to have been a group, government or church plan in order to obtain credit for the pre-existing waiting period on the new plan. All previous coverage, whether individual or group, will now satisfy the pre-existing condition credit.
CONSUMER NEWS:
Pertinent news and
links from the National Association of Health Underwriters:
http://www.nahu.org/consumer/healthcare/
Employer-Based Health
Insurance Coverage
http://www.nahu.org/consumer/healthcare/topic.cfm?catID=1
The majority of Americans have group health insurance coverage through
either their employer, or the employer of a family member. This section
is designed for consumers who need more information about what requirements
apply to group health insurance coverage, or need to know what their options
are if they are about to lose access to their group coverage. It also
provides contact information for the state and federal regulators who
oversee private group health insurance in America, in case consumers have
questions or need to report a problem. Consumers who are looking to purchase
a group health insurance product can go to NAHU's Find An Agent feature
to find an NAHU member in their area to assist them in obtaining coverage.
Individual Health
Insurance Coverage
http://www.nahu.org/consumer/healthcare/topic.cfm?catID=2
Many Americans who do
not have access to group health insurance coverage, like self-employed
people, early retirees, students and people whose employers do not offer
health benefits, choose to purchase their own coverage privately. The
laws concerning individual health insurance products are different than
the laws regulating group coverage, and the requirements vary significantly
on a state-by-state basis. This section helps consumers understand how
individual insurance is regulated in their area, and it also helps explain
the state-specific options available to individual consumers who have
serious medical conditions that may preclude them from obtaining traditional
coverage. Furthermore, this section contains information about the entities
that regulate the individual market, so that consumers can contact them
if they have questions or concerns. People who are looking to purchase
health insurance on an individual basis can go to NAHU's Find An Agent
feature to find an NAHU member in their area to help them buy coverage.
Assistance for Obtaining
Health Coverage
http://www.nahu.org/consumer/healthcare/topic.cfm?catID=3
Many Americans need to obtain health care services but may have trouble
paying for them. This section provides comprehensive information about
all of the major federal and state programs to provide coverage assistance
to individuals age 65 and under. It includes specifics and contact information
for large-scale programs like Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance
Program and the federal Health Care Tax Credit Program. In addition, this
section contains overviews and contacts for the hundreds of smaller state
and federal-level and private programs that provide coverage assistance
and services to specific populations. This section may be a particularly
helpful resource to people with lower incomes who are either uninsured
or under-insured, and to people who are looking for either primary care
or preventive assistance or help with a serious medical condition, as
many of these programs target those groups.
****************************************************************************************************************************
WHAT'S NEW ON OUR SITE SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE:
1) New from ANTHEM OF INDIANA AND OHIO: INSTANT ONLINE QUOTES AND APPLICATIONS!
For quotes from the largest provider of individual and family health insurance in these two states - click here:
http://pd.secure.wellpoint.com/AgentConnect/first.do?CMPNY=6&ID=702827&PID=&LNO=&Options=ISMLX2) Of Special Interest to Residents of Texas with "PRE-EXISTING" HEALTH CONDITIONS:
THE TEXAS HEALTH INSURANCE RISK POOL PLAN, ADMINISTERED BY BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS, IS FOR THOSE UNINSURABLE BY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS
If you have been declined for private health insurance due to pre-existing medical conditions or - had your pre-existing medical condition "waived" for coverage - the risk pool plan may be available to you.To obtain rates; requirements to obtain coverage and an application, simply click on the appropriate file:
A) RATES: http://allplaninsurance.com/bcbstx/TEXAS RISK POOL RATES 01 07.pdf
B) OUTLINE OF COVERAGE: http://allplaninsurance.com/bcbstx/TEXAS RISK POOL OUTLINE OF COVERAGE 01 07.pdf
C) APPLICATION: http://allplaninsurance.com/bcbstx/TEXAS RISK POOL APPLICATION 02 07.pdf
D) NETWORK PROVIDERS: http://www.bcbstx.com/onlinedirectory/ppo.htm
If you have questions - or
for instructions on how to possible expedite your application process
- please call us at: 800-856-6556
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALL PLAN MED &
LIFE QUOTE and ALLPLANINSURANCE.COM sincerely
appreciate your business and will continue to provide your lowest
cost health and life insurance options and the best of on-going service.
We hope this issue of THE MEDPLUS MESSENGER has proved useful to you and that you'll look forward to future issues. As always, we'll try to keep you informed of all that's relevant in this particular sector of the insurance market which constitutes such a significant portion of your family or business overhead.
Until then, take care and please let us hear from you.
| Sincerely, | |
 |
| Kenton Henry | ||
| President | ||
| PHONE: 800-856-6556 | ||
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