When you can't get insurance...

My wife found out today that she cannot get health insurance through BlueCross BlueShield.  They mentioned many conditions that she no longer has symptoms of and some she feels are mistaken.  She was taken aback and felt that she had done something wrong, but how can someone think that going to the doctor because your body is not behaving normally is something wrong.  In her situation I reassured her that she is eligible for Cobra and that we will be able to find some insurance that will cover her.  

I don't know if we can find another carrier that will insure her but I told her that and we will try to find one.  The reform bill will allow for pre-existing conditions, but that won't take affect until 2014.  There will also be a guarantee issue mandated then so I am not too worried.  She is though because she wants to try for another baby next year so this throws a wrench into those plans.  Our plan is to contact her doctor and see if he can update her file and possibly remove some of the undesirable, or incorrect diagnoses then maybe the insurance company will cover her.

   My thoughts go out to other families who didn't have a choice to go with Cobra, and their last option would be  SCHIP (SC health insurance pool) which is health insurance for folks who can't get insurance anywhere else.  The problem with the health pool is that it is really expensive because folks who are higher health risks are the ones who are in the pool.  Therefore, you have much higher rates.  So if we didn't have a choice for Cobra, we would have to get coverage under SCHIP and pay through the nose.  Many people have to go this route and this is what I see reform becoming.  A big giant pool of high risk health patients who like to go to the doctor more than usual.

     So you see the dilemma of the insurance company.  They have to make money to stay in business but the person without insurance is the one who suffers.  This is what reform was attempting to fix.  How well will it work, only time will tell and in the meantime I thank God for my health and pray my wife and child stay healthy.

Tea Party Gifts, T-shirts, Stickers and more - CafePress

For those of you who are Tea Party'ers, here's a site that I think you'll like.

Tea Party Gifts, T-shirts, Stickers and more - CafePress

2 revealing articles about where our country is headed

     I went to a Riverdog's game last night and stood for the national anthem. I take this moment very seriously and with the wind blowing the flag, I take a moment every time and thank God for our country and all freedoms that it allows for.

     I served in the military, my father served, and my brother is serving now.  I believe that America is the best country in the world and God has blessed it.  But I am not respectful of things of late.  Glenn Beck has shed some light on our president that has disturbed me greatly.  His program on Is Obama a Socialist has really set me back a bit.  I was that Glenn refers to as the person who said, "who cares its not that big a deal", and it has shaken me.

     I was disturbed by our lack of leadership in our government and I wanted a change.  The republican side of politics had been a big let down and the democrats have never really lined up with my opinions but something had to give.  I just had no idea Obama was influenced in this way.  The second article that really struck me was one on "natural law".  This article was very enlightening as to where the tea parties are coming from.  I never fully grasped what their approach was until I read this article.  It does not mention a tea party, democrat, or republican, but it identifies a free man's logic and what justice should encompass.

     I am not one to campaign for one candidate or the next, but I do know what my values and opinions are.  Simply put, socialism is not the path to success or greatness.  It is not what our fore fathers had intended and these ideas are poisonous to our liberties and freedom we know and cherish.  I don't like what I have seen referring Obama as a socialist so I have to step back and reexamine my opinion of him.

As far as what this means for health insurance we may never hear the end of it.  I have a feeling the health insurance system will resemble that of a Tricare system with the efficiency of medicaid and social security.  Which means long lines and waits and little reliable service.  It will be more affordable, but the quality of coverage and service will diminish.

Jaw Dropping video of How we Surf the Internet

Or how the internet surfs us.  For all you who think social media like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are just fads, think again.  If you do anything on this blog watch this video, it will open your eyes.

Fun widget-- link to Glyde.com

My favorite dvds

Here is a link to Glyde.com where I have all my DVD's, and books for sale.  Check it out it may be a good way for you to sell some of your old stuff too.  Or you can go to my collection here.

9 big changes to look for from Health Reform

Many folks have been asking, "What has changed now that Obama has signed the bill"?  Well to be honest, not much... so far.  We just had a conference last Thursday on what we, as agents can expect to see change now, this year, and 4 years to come.  Here is a list of what to expect in chronological order.



1.  National risk-pool will be created 90 days from enactment- this is the pool that is created that will add to the state level risk pools already in place.  It allows people who can not attain insurance, a pool to enroll into and gain coverage.  This should be a temporary fix for now that will allow more to get insurance until the major changes in 2013 or 2014 take place.

October 1, 2010
2.  Prohibits lifetime benefits limits- you will see all health insurance carriers prohibited from using lifetime benefits limits.  Most carriers rarely see this limit reached but some carriers who are not able to negotiate rates with doctors and hospitals and issue guaranteed policies will be affected.

3.  Dependant coverage up to age 26 is mandated- Coverage for dependents is extended to help young  people to retain their parents coverage.  Although it is not free, this will help those young dependents who have not yet attained health coverage from employers.

4.  Internet portal to facilitate consumer and small employer shopping- I find this addition very interesting because this levels the playing field for all the insurance companies.  I don't know how efficiently this will be implemented by October, but this will make a big difference.

5.  Pre-existing condition exclusions for dependant children (under 19 years of age) are prohibited- Anyone older than 19 will have to wait until 2014.  So those policies issued with riders or exclusions on children 19 or under will be cleared as of October.

As you can see most of these changes will only affect the insurance companies.  The changes you see here actually help the client, you, more than anything.

January 1 2014

6.  Health insurance exchange is established- this give individuals, families and small employers a chance to shop the competition as well as give them a public health option.

7.  Policies will be guarantee issue- no more denying coverage.  Again this is great for the client but bad for the company.  In the long run it will raise prices.

8.  Now we see Pre-existing conditions exclusions prohibited- for all ages.  Again I don't like the idea of what will happen to prices.

9.  Multi-state qualified health plans are created and offered through the Exchange- I like this change because it reaches across state boundaries.  This should have been done a long time ago.  This creates competition for insurance companies which means better prices for clients.  We will also see the government mandate that health plans develop and file new health rates.

And there you have it.  These are the most profound changes but the whole health insurance industry as a whole has been turned on its head.  This wasn't health care reform, it was health insurance reform.  The issues with the hospital services is not well addressed in this bill.  I don't know why the insurance companies were made out to be villains, other than they believed they have monopolistic traits.  Anyhow we see many major changes coming all that I have mentioned to this point may be reordered in the timeline.

Remember, we the agents may not have all the answers, but we do have the tools to find them.

What is a Libertarian?

I came across a great video of an interview with John Stossel, a self acclaimed Libertarian, and thought that I'd share it.  I lean towards these views as well and try to avoid the conservative label.  I do not agree with all conservative views, although I do agree with pro-life and believe in the institution of marriage of the opposite sex.  Libertarian is explained in the interview and I think we all could learn more about what it is we want from the American government by watching it. After the 3rd minute it starts to go off on a tangent so you don't have to watch past that.