Seniors Seek To Minimize Healthcare Costs As Anthem Blue Cross Increases Premiums

Alan Weinstock asked:

Los Angeles, Calif. (March 3, 2009) – Anthem Blue Cross implemented an across-the-board increase in Medicare supplement insurance plan premiums March 1, 2009, which is causing senior citizens to look for ways to maximize their healthcare dollars and minimize expenses.

This is particularly true in light of today’s recession and as IRAs and 401(k) retirement accounts continue to dwindle in value. As federal bailout and stimulus monies are released, some economists warn of possible increasing inflation rates, a concern for many on fixed incomes.

There is no way to entirely avoid rising insurance rates. AARP and AETNA both increased their Medicare supplement insurance plan premiums on Jan. 1, 2009, and depending on the plan, rates can go up at regular intervals as seniors get older. For seniors who are not affected by the upcoming Anthem Blue Cross rate increase, in the current economy it can be beneficial to shop around, since costs vary from plan to plan and from insurance company to insurance company.

Comparisons can be made by calling the various insurance companies one by one, by seeking out an insurance broker specializing in Medicare supplement insurance plans or even more conveniently by visiting a California-based Medicare supplement insurance plan Web site, such as http://www.medicaresupplementplans.com/. The site provides easy access to information about rates, plans and benefits from several prominent insurance companies.

“I received a notification that my insurance was being increased again. I went on the Internet…and now I’m saving over $100 a month,” said Sharon Davis, 67, of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Why purchase a Medicare supplement insurance plan at all? There is a common misconception that Medicare pays 80 percent of a senior’s healthcare costs. What Medicare actually pays is 80 percent of the amount it has approved for a particular health care service, not 80 percent of what the doctor actually charges. Medicare’s “80 percent” might, for example, cover only 50 percent of the doctor’s bill, often making a Medicare supplement insurance plan, also known as Medigap insurance, essential for senior citizens’ financial well-being.

Larry Peschek, 78, of Thousand Oaks said that his insurance broker “helped my wife and me get a Medigap policy that saved us money, but still had the same benefits.”

Available insurance options and plans can often be bewildering to seniors, leaving them to wonder what the difference in costs and benefits are between various Medicare supplement insurance plans. The information is out there; it’s just a mouse-click away at http://www.medicaresupplementplans.com/

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Tonik From Anthem Blue Cross

Jeffrey Peterson asked:

TONIK from Anthem Blue Cross is a new concept in PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) health insurance.

The plan is marketed exclusively by the web, and agents who sell TONIK link to an online enrollment interface that the insurer hosts.

While the success of TONIK itself it notable, the reasons for the success are even more surprising. First of all, TONIK is described not only in plain language, but also in appropriate slang for the target audience. Even the plan names are intended to please the young target buyer…

“Part-Time-Dare-Devil”, “Thrillseeker” and “Calculated Risk Taker”. Quite a departure for a venerated company like Anthem, who for years extolled tradition as a central value for health insurance.

Probably even more than the names, ancillary benefits (dental and vision) entice buyers to choose TONIK. You may never have a heart attack, but you will certainly need an eye exam and a teeth cleaning.

Each of the three varieties of TONIK include dental and vision benefits, without an additional cost. So while you want the coverage in case of an accident, you know you will use the Dental and Vision for sure.

I don’t think it will be long before other companies create exciting (as exciting as insurance can be) health plans to compete, but in the mean time, TONIK is setting records for a 65 year old company, and that is saying something.

More…

TONIK

Anthem Dentist Offers New Patients $150 Gift Certificate

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Anthem blue, Union Hospital reach deal : Foulkes

Individual Health Insurance asked:

Months of uncertainty ended late Thursday afternoon when Union Hospital Health Group and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced they had reached an agreement on a new multi-year contract. The pact came just a day ahead of a deadline that had loomed large over thousands of Anthem subscribers.

The largest health care provider in the Wabash Valley and one of the largest commercial health insurance providers in the state had been in sometimes contentious negotiations for more than a year.

No details of the agreement were immediately available. A news release issued by both sides Thursday evening stated that terms of the contract, which takes effect Sept. 1, cannot be discussed by either side.

“We’re pleased that several months of hard work has brought these negotiations to a successful conclusion and that Anthem customers in West Central Indiana will continue to have access to affordable medical care at Union Hospital facilities,” said Anthem vice president of health services Dr. David Lee in the news release.

“We have worked hard to achieve a fair contract that helps to preserve the hospital’s mission of providing compassionate care of the highest quality to all of our patients regardless of their ability to pay,” said Union Hospital Health Group CEO David Doerr in the same news release. “We recognize how stressful this has been for our patients and appreciate their support and patience during these negotiations.”

Doerr is scheduled to make an official announcement this morning at a news conference at Union Hospital in Terre Haute.

Union and Anthem have been negotiating a new contract since April 2008. Those negotiations became publicly contentious early in this year when Union announced it was having serious difficulty reaching an agreement with Anthem. In February, Union gave notice that it was terminating its contract with Anthem as of July 31.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks to an agreement concerned hospital reimbursement for medical services provided at outpatient clinics involved in joint ventures with Union. Anthem wanted to reimburse those services at “free standing” outpatient clinic rates. Union contended the services should be reimbursed at higher “hospital rates.”

This spring, Union Hospital chief financial officer Wayne Hutson said about $30 million separated the two sides’ bargaining positions. A few weeks later, Hutson told the Tribune-Star the two sides had moved closer, reducing the difference to about $19 million. Most of the difference concerned reimbursement for medical services at outpatient clinics, he said.

Union and Anthem officials were in “constant communication” this week prior to reaching the agreement, said Lorrie Heber, system director for marketing and public relations at Union Hospital. Neither side would comment further Thursday evening.

AnthemMajesticDentistry.com

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Affordable Insurance as Provided by Anthem Insurance

Shieldon asked:

What people in California know as the Anthem Blue Cross insurance has links to the Anthem insurance. Anthem insurance is an established player in the market of medical insurance for a long time now and the company is known for cheap and affordable health insurance.

In the first half of this decade, the company merged the Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations coming from many states and moving from non-profit status to a profit company. Anthem Blue Cross is a known provider of affordable health insurance and one of the names most Californians know. The name has been in the state for some seven decades now and the name is known to provide health and financial security. Some data placed the number of customers of these health insurance providers at 8.3 million in the state of California alone. The affordable health insurance of Anthem Blue Cross insurance works because the insurance provider focuses on two things; it focuses on quality and there is a focus on community involvement.

•    Quality. In terms of quality, the medical insurance from Blue Cross is well-known.  The Anthem Blue Cross HMO and the POS have earned something that will make the consumers of their health insurance plan proud. The insurance provider was awarded the Excellent Accreditation status and this citation was given by the Committee for Quality Assurance or the NCQA. The accreditation and the citation don’t end there. The company is also the first and the only PPO in the state of California that have earned the Full Accreditation coming from the NCQA5. The Full Accreditation is the highest level any PPO can get. This provider also launched the Zagat Survey which is an online tool that can allow for customer-provider interaction. This serve as the platform where consumers can share their own experiences. The consumers can freely use the survey online and this can be accessed thru the consumer’s health plan site.

•    Community participation. Anthem insurance and now Blue Cross is known for its participation in community building. The health insurance provider has been funding research studies in some California universities and the some of these researches include a focus on the need for cancer screenings and to the need to increase the immunization rates on children. The insurance provider also opened the www.nuestrobien.com, a site that caters to the Hispanic community and urging them to live a healthy life. It also partnered with the federal government in promoting fitness and sports thru the many programs.

Anthem insurance is a known provider of medical insurance and it is backed by its affordable health insurance is backed by services. It also has unique product offerings that may cater to the individual, the small and the large group. The product range will include that special provision for special services and unique education. The product range will also include dental, vision and life health insurance coverage and more importantly Blue Cross also has its Health Management Program. This is an impressive listing of programs, tools and services that can benefit consumers.

Anthem

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