Getting Health Insurance with a Preexisting Condition

Health problems are a pretty big deal and it is no wonder why they can be absolutely terrifying even with health insurance coverage. What happens if you have health problems with no insurance though? 

It happens all over the country and while the health care reform is hoping to lessen the numbers of those that go without the option for health care, it can still be quite a challenge to attain the care you need for your conditions.

There are many factors as to why a company can deny your health insurance coverage, but typically it will come down to one simple factor. Just how much are you going to cost them? 

An insurance company wants you to pay in without them having to ever payout much. It is how they make their money and why many companies will deny coverage to those with preexisting health conditions.

Know Your Options

They key to getting health care when you already have some kind of health condition is to know your options and not give in easily. Obviously, your first step is to talk to your employer, find out if they have health care options, and determine what you need to do to get on the plan. 

Ask if your employer is considering adding a company health care plan in the future and respectfully make your case and explain your situation. A decent employer may be more understanding than you might think.

The reason why getting insurance through your job is your best option is because an insurance company by law cannot exclude you on a group policy because of your health condition. 

Of course, we aren’t all in the same position and many of you may not have the option to turn to your employer, so what now? 

Now you work because if you don’t work hard and push for yourself, you will not see any results and be stuck without health insurance.

You will have to contact a lot of insurance companies and be prepared to pay the fees and costly payments of having your very own policy. 

At Linton and Associates, we have prepared a list of health care providers in New Mexico that may very well be able to assist you with your dilemma. 

Be sure to check it out here. Remember that if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us and we would be more than happy to assist you in any way we can. 

How Your Small Business can Benefit from the Health Care Reform

From the very beginning, there has been a lot of talk about the Health Care Act. There have been the naysayers and those in full support of it. 

People have called it many names and screamed that it is unconstitutional. That is until the Supreme Court declared it constitutional.

At Linton and Associates, we support the Health Care Reform because it can help to bring quality health care to those who previously did not have access to it. 

As for small business owners out there, it can help you, too. You just need to know what to do and how to reap the benefits. This blog will show you some of those answers.

Rules…Always Rules

The biggest and most obvious rule put into play by the Health Care Reform is, of course, mandated insurance, but that does not really affect businesses. It just impacts the individual employee, which is why we are bringing it up. Employers should keep in mind that it may be in everyone’s best interest for them to begin providing health insurance through the state exchanges.

Next, we have the rule that affects businesses with 50 or more employees. Now you may be thinking, “Why talk about a bigger business, should not this just be covering the smaller businesses?” 

What is big and what is small? Everyone has their opinions on the matter. Sure, 50 employees is quite a lot to someone with 10, but it’s nothing compared to one with 100. The bottom line is that this next part is important.

If your business has 50 or more employees, you absolutely must provide them with substantial health care (60% coverage at the very least and the fees cannot be more than 9.5% of the families salary).  If you do not follow this rule, then you will face fines and these are very steep fines as they start at about $40,000. Yes, that is a lot of zeros, so please if you have 50 or more employees or will by 2014, get them covered.

Contact us as we can help you get ready for these changes and set you up with affordable health care coverage.

Reaping the Rewards

Okay, so the rewards may not seem that great. However, there is a major way to benefit from this whole ordeal if you are a small business (which is defined as having fewer than 25 employees that average less than $50,000 a year).

Thanks to that tax credit from 2010 staying in play, it pays to insure your employees. You can get a substantial tax credit and build towards a nice return, which is always good. 

Six Million May be Taxed through Affordable Health Care Act

Over the summer, the Affordable Health Care Act was found to be constitutional and was passed. While this Act ensures affordable healthcare to the vast majority of Americans, there is a small group that could be adversely affected by it and forced to purchase healthcare or pay a tax. 

This bill left a number of people disgruntled, believing that their rights were being imposed on; overall, however, the bill will help a many number of people.

Some people have been against the bill because of the fact that it mandates health insurance upon the American citizen. Originally, it was estimated that a mere four million people would be affected by this. 

However, recent speculation has that number at or above six million by the time the bill is fully in play in 2016 with many of these people being in the middle class.

The Bill Still Helps Millions of Citizens

Six million is a lot of people, but it is actually only a mere 2% of the country’s population. The other 98% of Americans are expected to not even notice a ripple effect from the Affordable Health Care Act. 

So, this begs the question:  Does the outcry of 2% of the American population matter when in the big picture so many will be helped?

In the military, there are acceptable casualties, so should this be treated the same? Is it not our civic duty to support this country? We all have different answers to these questions and it’s our own opinions so that is okay.

Remember though, in the end, the bill is constitutional and will help millions. After all, many Americans are already covered under employer health insurance programs, which have been made out to be more enticing to said employers through tax benefits.

Our children will be included on our insurance until the age of 26 to help them along until they can find employment that will help them cover their health costs. 

Medicaid and Medicare are also being revamped in order to make things better for the people of America. Many changes are coming to health care, and these are changes with regular people in mind.

What We Do

At Linton and Associates, we specialize in insurance and we strive to help families and employers. We do this by providing affordable insurance and standing by our word and promise to treat the customer like family. 

Here you will never be just a number; instead, you are a person with specific needs and unique requirements, and we understand and respect that. 

Preparing for the Change in Healthcare Coverage

Whether you initially supported or did not support the healthcare reform, changes have been taking place with more to come now that certain aspects of it have been allowed to proceed on track. Now that it is moving ahead, it is important to better understand what it means and start preparing for the changes that will soon be enacted.

Getting Ready for New Health Insurance Requirements

For many companies, this means it is time to start preparing for options that help employees have affordable choices. And, for individuals who need to provide their own health insurance because they are self-employed, it is time to begin thinking about what is possible.

Because it will soon be the law that everyone will have health insurance, including those with pre-existing conditions and others that might have been previously denied coverage, the best preparation you can make as a business or an individual is to start researching healthcare plans and what is possible.

Changing your Healthcare Provider

It may be time to change your health insurance provider, especially if more choices are on their way. Here are some things to think about if you are pondering a new insurance provider:

• With all service providing companies, remember that you are ultimately in charge and that you can really control how things go down.
• Get quotes from the companies that seem to be the best for what your business needs and make sure to get more than one or two.
• Don't be intimidated by companies that say the quote you offered then will change if you decline it or things along those lines. They want your business and when it comes down to you're signing the paperwork or walking out the door, chances are they will accommodate you and your needs.
• Work with a company that serves as a broker and can take care of much of the legwork for you by providing a range of healthcare coverage options and also take care of the negotiation process for you.

First-time Buyers

While it may be intimidating to shop for health insurance with so much to read and try to understand, even first-time buyers should find the new changes comforting as insurance providers will be required to simplify and streamline their coverage explanations.

Until then, you can work with a health insurance broker who can help you understand the differences in healthcare coverage and guide you down the right path for your needs whether these are for your business, your family, or you.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or insurance inquiries. We’re here to help both businesses and individuals understand the healthcare changes and new health insurance requirements.    

Hot Weather and Energy Drinks

Summer is at our doorstep and most days are breaking eighty first thing in the morning. By the time noon rolls around, it’s well past ninety and sometimes recently it has been pushing one hundred. While it's always important to stay hydrated, in the summer it is even more important as the heat literally boils moisture from your body when you sweat.

Wherever you are – inside or outside – it’s important to drink a lot of water. It’s best to stay away from things like soda and energy drinks as they will actually further dehydrate you.

This may come as a surprise to you as soda companies and energy drink companies do not advertise this fact. And, seeing that these energy and sports drinks are often sold at your local gym, it’s hard to imagine that they dehydrate you – but it’s true!  

The Simple Science

The purpose of an energy drink is to give the consumer a sudden rush of chemically created energy thanks to a lab-developed combination of caffeine, sugar, and an 'energy blend' of select vitamins and minerals. And, it can do the trick.

Many report receiving a burst of energy as well as raised blood pressure and heart rate. If you drink this during an exercise session or while you are undertaking extremely hard labor, such as construction, it can be considered a great boost or a much-needed pick-me-up.

However, in reality, it is absolutely terrible for you and, in some cases, deadly. Studies have concluded that the amount of caffeine in these drinks can be equivalent to the amount in 240 cups of coffee, which is completely insane. In addition, the taurine milligrams found in one of these drinks usually amounts to nearly 4,000mg more than the recommended daily value of supplemental taurine.

Finally, contrary to popular belief, an energy drink does not hydrate you, and the idea that they claim there is 'no crash later’ is also false. The reality is that your body will be dehydrated, your heart will be strained, and there is always a crash to some degree when your body comes 'down.'

What to Do

While it may seem okay to just have one now and again, it may be better to forego them altogether. Of course, be sure to check with your physician about the effects before making any decisions about energy drinks as we are not a medical expert on the subject.

However, with a background in health and wellness, our conclusions are that water is always the best choice in the hot summer sun. Plenty of water will keep you hydrated, which will then keep you energized as well without risking your heatlh!