VOL II, ISSUE 4, APRIL 2008

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF:

http://allplanhealthinsurance.com
VOL II, ISSUE IV, APRIL 2008

ADDRESSING: CURRENT BEST VALUES IN HEALTH INSURANCE; DECLINATION DUE TO PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS; DIABETES CONTROL; BODY MASS INDEX; COBRA; MATERNITY COVERAGE; COST CONTROL RELATIVE TO HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS; MEDIGAP COVERAGE; PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS

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
     TEXAS & ALL OTHERS: 800-856-6556; insurnet@verizon.net

     IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND LINKS:
     CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES: 1-800-633-4227: http://www.medicare.gov
     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/
     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/
     United States Treasury 2007 Health Savings Account Guidelines: http://www.treas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/
     Doctor Comparison: http://www.bcbstx.com/bluecompare/tour/index.html
     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
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WHAT'S NEW IN THE MEDPLUS MESSENGER SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE:

There are several new features in our newsletter as of January 1. It has and always will remain the goal of Allplaninsurance.com to provide the most objective health and life insurance quotes - along with the very best of service to the resulting policyholders. In addition to this, we feel an obligation to serve as an advocate to the minority whose business - because of additional cost in terms of time, effort and general resources - are not given the attention and committment and services they deserve. Specifically:

1) MEDICARE RECIPIENTS ELIGIBLE DUE TO DISABILITY

Until recently, "UNDER AGE 65" RECIPIENTS had very few options providing them a meaningful benefit. Approximately, only 23 states mandated insurance companies offer people in this category at least one kind of Medigap policy. As such, most companies offer only Plan A - the option providing the least benefit to the policyholder above and beyond what Medicare Part A and B provides. And then - it is almost always at a far higher price than the typical 65 year old recipient would pay. However in 2003, under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act , Medicare Advantage plans were created. Certain rules were changed to give Medicare recipients better benefits and significantly lower costs. The law also created Part D Prescription drug coverage. Identical options are available to all whether enrolled in Medicare Part A and B due to disability or by virtue of standard enrollment at age 65.

For a "short-course" in both Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Plans conducted by the "MEDICARE PROFESSOR" - please visit our web page at: http://allplaninsurance.com/medicare/medicare-supplement-medigap-advantage-part-d-insurance.htm

2) Everyone wants to complain about the affordability of health insurance AND RIGHTFULLY SO.  But how many are willing to be a part of a solution which demands anything of them? It is human nature to rationalize it is someone else's duty to solve our problems. Waiting for an elected official to ride in on a white horse and "save the day" by totally revamping the system is naive and constitutes procrastination of the highest order. Changes and improvements certainly need to be made and hopefully will. Ironically, most consumers (whether employers offering group insurance or individuals acquiring health insurance for themselves or families) are currently over-looking or dismissing the greatest health insurance related vehicle created to date.  It not only mitigates ever-increasing premiums (cutting them by as much as 50%) but provides consumers with meaningful financial benefits as well. This while investing the same dollars for their own future they would otherwise spend with an insurance company for what is probably going to be a less than equal benefit. According to Paul Zane Pilzer, a "world renowned economist"; adjunct from professor at New York University for 20 years and New York Times bestselling author - "A Health Savings Account is the only tax-advantaged investment vehicle that offers permanent rather than temporary escape from state and federal income taxes." It is beyond the scope of this newsletter to go into all the tax and financial advantages of "HSA"s - however - it must be said that one (or one's family) must first be enrolled in a "Federally Qualified" high-deductible health insurance policy. It is within the scope of our "HEALTH INSURANCE BUYER'S GUIDE" to cover many of the advantages of both the savings plan and the qualified insurance. The buyer's guide can be accessed by going to: (Printable PDF version, HTML version). Additionally (as stated previously) it is our job to provide you with comprehensive health insurance quotes - which include the most competitive Health Savings Account qualified insurance quotes available to you. You will find all these quoted when you click on the following link and enter your personal information: http://prospectzone.com/quote/info1.jsp;jsessionid=edctteuF4ucigayEkfIHr?message=&zip=&source=

3) The difference between "True Dental Insurance" and a "Dental Discount Plan".
Dental "Insurance" sounds better than a discount plan doesn't it? But what if no employer is paying for it? What if you need major work now and can't afford to meet a waiting period? What if the work you require costs a lot more than your annual maximum benefit or you would like cosmetic work? In those situations - true dental insurance isn't going to be of much help.
Then again - what if you insist on going to your own dentist and your dentist is not in anyone's network? In that case - a dental discount plan isn't going to do you a bit of good.

For a short-course in the difference between true dental insurance vs. a dental discount plan  and the advantages and disadvantages of each - "google" that very subject. Or go directly to the page by clicking on this link:
http://allplaninsurance.com/dental.htm

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FEATURE ARTICLE:

On November 30, Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick announced interim study charges for
House committees. Those potentially affecting the health insurance industry are:

 House Insurance Committee:

• Examine states that have made the transition from heavily regulated health insurance markets to less regulated markets in order to assess the impact on market competitiveness, prices, consumer satisfaction, and regulatory costs in those states. Specifically, identify current barriers and possible enhancements to flexibility in purchasing health insurance, including the purchase of health insurance plans offered in other states. Review and evaluate state law and agency rules related to the use of health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements, particularly by small businesses. Review possible tax incentives for purchasing private insurance.
  
• Study the practice of balanced billing by medical providers and determine which portions of the cost out-of-network care patients, insurers and providers should ultimately be responsible for paying.
  
• Study and make recommendations on increasing the portability of health insurance in an increasingly fluid Texas labor market.
• Make recommendations on potential alternatives to the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool for providing private health insurance to otherwise uninsurable individuals. (a)
  
• Study and make recommendations regarding the feasibility of establishing a "health insurance exchange" in Texas.
  
• Research and evaluate the potential costs and benefits to the State of Texas of providing  coverage for bariatric surgical procedures for state employees who have a specified minimum number of years of service with the state.

(a) It seems ironic to this editor that the State of Texas should be looking to alternatives to the "Risk Pool" for uninsurable individuals without first allowing policyholders within the pool to take advantage of a "Health Savings Account qualified health insurance plans" thereby saving themselves premium; shifting costs from the state insurance pool to the tax sheltered dollars of the insured and encouraging them to make responsible, educated decisions when it comes to the health care they obtain. To strive for fiscal responsibility and efficiancy without making such possible on the part of the consumer citizen seems hypocritical and short-sighted to say the least.

Now is a good time to remind you, if you do not like the options and laws as they apply to insurance consumers, the time to vote your opinions is nigh. For a continually updated list of legislative and state-wide candidates, or to view more election information such as where to vote, visit: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtml
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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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