California Health Insurance Information and News

Criticizing the US health care system because we spend a lot, die sooner and have poor health is like criticizing the fire department in Malibu, California where they spend a lot for fire fighting services yet have a huge number of fires. They are confusing the cause with the effect.

I am sure that the money spent for fire prevention and fire fighting per resident is astronomical in Malibu. If we apply the same logic as those who criticize the US health care system because we spend a lot per person, one would conclude that the fire fighters in Malibu are ineffecient and wasteful. Otherwise Malibu would not spend as much as it does on fire fighting services.

In reality, Malibu spends a lot for fire fighting services because there are many fires in Malibu – it has nothing to do with the efficiency or quality of the fire fighters. Quite the contrary, the Malibu fire fighters, like doctors and hospitals in the United States, are probably the best in the world.

The US spends a lot for medical services because Americans eat huge portions, eat high fat-content fast food, are over weight, and are generally in poor health.

A panel of experts at the Milken Institute Global Conference 2006 described the poor health of many Americans, in a discussion entitled “Nutrition and Health – Separating Fact from Fiction.”

A Los Angeles pediatrian reported that children are now contracting adult diseases (such as adult onset diabetes) because they are obese. Americans eat an abundance of high fat, processed foods. We tend to eat quickly while “multi-tasking” and have no concept of what or how much we eat.

We tend to eat large portions. The pediatrition described how children have no sense of appropriate proportions: given a large bowl and instructed to pour a serving of cereal into the bowl, children fill the bowl to the brim – no matter how large the bowl.

A report by Faster Cures, entitled Nutrition: The Path to Better Health, reports that “four of the country’s 10 leading causes of death are directly related to poor nutrition.”

Chronic illness is the leading cost driver for health insurance premiums. Diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses are directly related to being overweight.

So, when someone criticizes the US health care and health insurance system by stating that we spend more money per person in the United States on health insurance (about 16 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) yet people die sooner and are sicker in the United States than in other countries, they are confusing cause and effect. People are largely unhealthy in the US because of what, how and how much they eat. Our health care system is doing all that it can to treat this unhealthy life style.

If you want to lowest premium Health Savings Account (HSA) compatible medical insurance plan available in California take a look at Pacificare – UnitedHealthcare’s Signature Options 100/50 $5,000-$10,000 (HDHP.)

This plan has a very low monthly premium – but it also has a $5,000 deductible and out of pocket maximum for an employee only and a $10,000 deductible and out of pocket maxium when an employee and any dependents enroll. This is a very high amount to pay at the hospital and doctor’s office. However, combining the out-of-pocket maximum with the annual premium may well make this a good choice for those who want to minimize their monthly premium.

One giant warning about this plan: the Out-of-Network Out-of-Pocket Maximum is $20,000 for an employee only and a whopping $40,000 per calendar year for an employee with one or more dependents (i.e., spouse, child or family.)

Couple this huge financial exposure if one goes out of network with the fact that Pacificare’s PPO network is small relative to the PPO networks of Blue Cross of California or Blue Shield of California and you have a potential problem.

Still – the monthly premium is very enticing. If you would like to learn more, call the knowledgable staff at 800-746-0045.

BenefitsCafe.com is proud to announce the addition of an excellent chart which shows the difference between an HMO and PPO medical insurance plan.

Health insurance is often difficult to understand. BenefitsCafe.com seeks to help people understand medical benefit plans in easy-to-understand ways. The HMO – PPO chart shows visually an often confusing part of health plan arrangements.

In an HMO a patient selects his doctor when he enrolls in the medical plan. In a PPO plan a patient selects his doctor when he needs service. In a PPO a patient can see a specialist with out a referral but the cost of care is often higher than in HMO plans.

BenefitsCafe can assist you in understanding medical insurance and help you enroll in a plan. Get a California health insurance quote online or call 800-746-0045.

Kaiser Permanente is one of the largest health insurance companies in California. Kaiser recently announced “Multiple Plan Offerings” for small employers in California.

With Kaiser California Multiple Plan Offerings, companies with 2 – 50 employees can allow employees to enroll in any one of seven different HMO plans. With some limitations, each employee can enroll in a different health insurance plan. This type of arrangement allows employers to pay a fixed dollar amount or “defined contribution” towards their employees’ health insurance. Employees are free to select any medical plan offered.

Kaiser California requires that at least three employees enroll in the health maintenance organization plan to offer multiple plans. Click here for a Kaiser group health insurance quote.

The Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) enables Medicare eligible people to obtain medications at low cost. Health insurance companies offer plans which vary by state.

About 20 different medical insurance companies offer Medicare Prescription Drug plans in California. For a comprehensive list go to the Medicare web site which lists California health insurance companies.

May 15, 2006 is the deadline to enroll in a PDP plan. People who are eligible and do not enroll by this deadline must pay a penalty of 1 percent of the cost of the prescription drug plan premium for each month they delay in enrolling. So, if you’re eligible, sign up now.

Also, if you currently have a California medicare supplemental plan which offers prescription medicine you may want to cancel the prescription medicine portion of your supplemental coverage and use the PDP plan benefits.

For assistance with enrolling in California medicare supplemental plans and California Medicare prescription drug plans click here or call www.BenefitsCafe.com at 800-746-0045.