BlueCross BlueShield of Florida Review

November 20th, 2008 FL Insurance Posted in Health Insurance 1 Comment »

BlueCross BlueShield of Florida is the largest and oldest Florida health insurance company, insuring 4 million Floridians and reaching 7 million more through its subsidiaries. BlueCross BlueShield of Florida provides health insurance to 30% of the residents of Florida. Located in Jacksonville, BlueCross BlueShield of Florida also provides jobs throughout the state. To show their dedication to the state, BlueCross BlueShield of Florida also runs the Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, a program that provides grants to groups that promote healthy living in Florida. The Blue Foundation recently announced an $8 million initiative to fight childhood obesity in Florida.

BlueCross BlueShield of Florida has three divisions: Health, Specialty and Business. The Health division offers customary Florida medical insurance through HMOs, PPOs or multi-options plans. The Specialty division provides dental coverage, life insurance, disability coverage and long-term care policies. The Business division works with the government to offer Medicare programs and supplemental Medicare packages. The company now also carries Health Savings Accounts and low-cost packages.

For individuals and families under the age of 65, BlueCross BlueShield of Florida offers Predictable Cost Plans, HSA Compatible Plans, Lower Cost Plans and Limited Benefit Plans. Predictable Costs plans offer predictable co-payments, deductibles and co-insurance costs. HSA Compatible Plans give you a high deductible and then work with health savings accounts to save you from heavy tax dollars on medical expenses. Lower Cost Plans have lower co-payments and lower premiums while giving you higher out-of-pocket limits. Limited Benefit Plans are low-cost because they only cover you in the event of a catastrophic medical emergency and do not charge for medical services that you most likely will not use.

BlueCross BlueShield of Florida has also created programs that target preventative health and wellness to offer rewards for healthy living. One program, Health Dialogue, is a support service that provides members with health coaches via telephone and web information to answer medical related questions without paying a visit to their health care provider. Other programs include Stay Fit for Sports, Health Links, Care Program for Medicare Members and MyActiveRewards.

In June 2008, BlueCross BlueShield of Florida received an outstanding award from J.D. Power and Associates, ranking them the “Highest Member Satisfaction Among Commercial Health Care Plans in Florida”. This is the second year in a row that BlueCross BlueShield Florida has taken this honor. They also hold the highest numerical rating in the region for a positive health plan experience.


Humana-One Health Insurance Review

November 19th, 2008 FL Insurance Posted in Health Insurance No Comments »

Humana-One has tailored health insurance programs specifically for Florida residents, keeping it simple with three basic plans to choose from. Their website is user-friendly, making it easy to find information about their variety of health insurance plans within seconds. Humana-One’s “Plan Pointer” is an online tool that can help assist consumers in finding the right plan for their health needs. Their site also offers transparency tools such as “Compare Hospitals”, the “Cost Estimator” and “Physician Profile” which can help you make service decisions before selecting a provider.

Humana-One offers Florida residents three personal health insurance plans to choose from, each catering to different healthcare needs. All three plans have various options available to truly fit the plan to your lifestyle.

Humana-One Portrait
This program provides benefits similar to those provided by an employer-based group health care plan. This program is designed to minimize health risks and offers personalized service. In this plan, there is an extensive PPO network that may include doctors and healthcare providers that you already use. They pay for 80% of in-network medical costs and emergency room visits while paying 100% of routine in-network doctor’s visits and pharmacy costs after co-payments and deductibles have been reached.

Humana-One Autograph
This program is designed to be a very personalized package, allowing you to find the right combination of benefits and features. This is also designed for those with new families and new careers. Autograph can be combined with a health savings account to provide savings in tax benefits. You can choose from either 80% or 100% cost coverage after deductible.

Mg Monogram
The Monogram program is designed for those who want minimal coverage and low payments—a “just in case” plan. This is perfect for recent college graduates or those who rarely visit the doctor. Once the deductible is reached, they pay 100% of in-network costs and include benefits for preventative care and prescription medications.

Humana-One also offers discounts for members, which can save you hundreds throughout the year. They offer discounts on eye-care and vision services, including a 35% discount on frames. You can save up to 25% on OTC and prescription medications and save 30% on natural medical services such as acupuncture and chiropractics.

One of the benefits of Humana-One is its nation-wide coverage. Across the US, Humana-One has 350,000 medical providers, 3,000 hospitals and 50,000 pharmacies. If you move to another participating state, you can keep your coverage. This is beneficial to Floridians that do not spend their entire year in state.


Assurant (Fortis) Health Insurance Review

November 19th, 2008 FL Insurance Posted in Health Insurance No Comments »

Assurant provides 1 million people with health insurance nationwide.  They provide health insurance for individuals, small groups, short-term needs and students. They also provide health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements. Use Assurant’s website to receive a free health insurance quote in a matter of minutes.

Assurant guarantees an $8 million lifetime benefit maximum, worldwide 24-hour coverage, extensive networks of doctors and healthcare providers, no required referrals to see specialists, and a guaranteed rate for the first year.

Assurant is the creator of the health savings account, a tax-free account that can provide hundreds of dollars in savings.  The contributions that you make in to your health savings account can be deducted from your taxable income.  There is no tax on withdrawals for medical expenses either.  The funds continue to roll over yearly, providing a growing investment for you and your family.  Assurant also provides online tools to manage your health savings account.

Assurant keeps it simple and offers two plans for families that have routine health care needs and families that use health insurance for health emergencies.  Opting for a plan with a low deductible and low co-payment can provide savings for the family that makes doctor’s visits and uses routine care.  An Assurant plan with a high deductible, no co-payment and no co-insurance can facilitate savings for the family or individual that rarely goes to the doctor.  In their case, they would pay a higher out-of-pocket maximum.      Assurant also offers three “Affordable Health Access Plans” that have different levels of benefits to suit your needs.  One of those plans does not even require any health questions to be answered before approval.

For each plan, Assurant has adjustable deductibles.  Individuals can choose from $500 to $10,000, families can choose from $1000 to $15000, lifetime maximum benefits can vary from $2 million to $8 million, prescription drug deductible can be adjusted from $0 to $500 and co-payments can be anywhere from $20 to $40.

Assurant provides all policy holders with no limit on prescription drugs, worldwide coverage, $8 million lifetime benefit maximum, no limits on staying in the ICU, use of air or ground ambulance and no required referrals.

As an affordable alternative to insurance, Assurant also offers discount plans.  Individuals and families can save anywhere between 10% and 60% on prescriptions, dental, vision and medical services.  Regular insurance policy holders also receive a discount on their premium for being smoke-free.


Aetna Health Insurance Review

November 19th, 2008 FL Insurance Posted in Health Insurance No Comments »

Aetna provides health insurance to 1,300,000 Florida residents, offering healthcare, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability, long-term care and employee benefits. Most plans are offered through employer-paid insurance or Medicare. There are about 25,000 Aetna doctors participating in Florida as well as 208 Florida hospitals.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance has awarded Aetna US Healthcare of Florida with its highest rating for their HMO and Point-of Service Plan, a distinction that was only given to 54% of commercial health plans nationally.

Aetna offers individual health insurance plans in Florida, providing open access plans and point-of-service plans to members. Plans are available for individuals, families and sole proprietors. Some of the plans that Aetna offers Floridians are:

Managed Choice Open Access High Deductible
This plan requires lower monthly contributions and a high deductible, paying 20% of fees for visits and services. This plan allows you to open a tax-free health savings account, or HSA.

Managed Choice Open Access
This plan offers lower deductibles, co-payments and expenses. You pay high monthly premiums and then benefit from excellent prescription coverage.

First Dollar Managed Choice Open Access
This plan offers moderate premiums, moderate out-of-pocket maximum and excellent prescription coverage.

POS Open Access High Deductible
This plan requires lower monthly contributions, a high deductible and then no charge for most visits and services. Health savings accounts are compatible with this plan.

POS Open Access
This plan has lower deductibles, co-payments and expenses. There are higher monthly premiums and great prescription coverage.

Preventative and Hospital Care
These plans have low premiums, moderate annual deductibles and high out-of-pocket maximums.

First Dollar POS Open Access
This plans offers moderate premiums, moderate out-of-pocket maximum and great quality prescription drug coverage.

The Vital Savings Program provides Floridians with affordable medical services, targeting the uninsured and underinsured residents of the state. Florida residents are also offered discounts on their dental insurance, prescriptions and long-term care services. Aetna is one of three health insurance carriers in Florida to be officially considered a “Discount Medical Plan Organization”. Aetna offers Medicare supplement packages as well as Medicare prescription drug packages.

Aetna offers two dental plans for those under 50 and for those 50 and over: The Aetna Individual Advantage Dental PPO plan and the Aetna Individual Advantage Dental PPO Plan Plus. Both plans cover preventative care services, basic care and major services such as crowns or dentures.


United American Health Insurance Review

November 5th, 2008 FL Insurance Posted in Health Insurance No Comments »

United American Insurance Company started in Texas in 1947 and now operates in 49 states and in Canada. After Medicare was put in to law in 1966, United American started to focus on the individual health market and senior citizens. They are the nation’s leading writer of Medicare supplements. United American focuses on the uninsured and underinsured, offering supplemental products for those who cannot afford a traditional heath insurance plan.

United American Insurance Company has received a “superior” rating from A.M. Best and according to Standard & Poors has “very strong” financial strength. United American offers individual policies, supplemental health policies, life insurance, Medicare supplements and annuity products. In 2007, United American processed over 2 million claims.

United American Insurance has various plans that cater to an individual’s or family’s age, health and financial needs. You can choose from plans such as the FlexGuard Plus Hospital and Surgical plan for consumers up to age 63; individuals or families. With this plan you can choose the financial benefit level and also added enhancements such as covered physicians charges, critical illness benefit or cancer coverage. Other plans for those under 63 years old include the Good Sense Plan Hospital and Surgical, HSXC Hospital and Surgical, the UA 250 Accident Compensation plan and the SHXC Hospital and Surgical plan. For those of more specific ages, choose from the MMXC Hospital and Surgical, the HealthGuard Critical Illness and the Cash Benefit Cancer Plan. United American also offers nine of the fourteen standardized Medicare Supplement policies.

If you are critically ill or have cancer, United American carries a Supplemental Cash Benefit Cancer Plan as well as HealthGuard Critical Illness Insurance. Both plans are written upon proof of first diagnosis and pay between $10,000 and $50,000 to be used at your discretion. The compensation can go towards medical costs, experimental procedures, travel expenses or even income. The Cancer Cash Plan and the HealthGuard C.I. are policies that pay in addition to other coverage.

All products have guaranteed renewal, flexible benefits, freedom of choice of health care providers and portability. You can take your health care plan with you if you move to a different state.

United American also boasts about their fast turn around time for claims, which can be crucial to those waiting for compensation. The average turn around time for a Medicare claim is only 4 calendar days! This is a company designed around affordability and customer service.