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Family Health Policy - An Outlook

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Thomas Mahoney, a 21-year-old uninsured network engineer & a part-time student of Dublin, Ga., has become a patient of epileptic seizure last December who eventually lost his health insurance at the age of 19. He was no longer eligible for coverage under his father's policy because he wasn't a full-time student.

Almost all states that regulate insurance plans for small- and medium-sized employers, fix a maximum age limit for coverage of dependent children. This limit is usually 19 for non-student and 23 for full-time college students.

Mahoney is one of 13 million plus people between the ages of 19 to 29 without health coverage. Many are just starting out in their careers who never had a serious health problem so far. Some people term this age group as all-resistance to major diseases and care nothing if they have health coverage or not. But unexpected does happen. A good example is Thomas Mahoney.

States now are looking at this group of young people who seek to reduce the number of uninsured.

Since the past two years, 17 states have passed laws that let young adults stay on the family policy until their mid twenties. New age limits range from 24 in Delaware, Indiana and South Dakota, to 30 in New Jersey. Eleven states settled on age 25, according to the Commonwealth Fund that conducts health research.

Barack Obama, a democratic presidential candidate has also picked up on the trend. Part of his health program would let young people up to age 25 continue to get coverage through their parents' health plans.

The Commonwealth Fund projects that 1.4 million people would gain health insurance if every state extended dependent coverage to at least 23.

State lawmakers, the National Conference of Insurance Legislators who specialize in insurance regulation will vote on a policy recommendation in two weeks to come that supports increasing the availability of dependent benefits up to age 25.

The insurance industry says the extensions cause insurers to pay for care that consumers previously paid for out of their own pockets. When insurers have to pay more claims, they have no alternative but to raise premiums to cover those claims. For the most part, employers bear the added cost.

Mohit Ghose, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, said it's too soon to know how much insurance costs went up in states that extended eligibility for dependent coverage. When evaluating the additional requirements, he said, each one by itself amounts to a small increase in the cost of a policy, usually adding less than 1 percent. But, eventually, those mandates add up. Eventually, they can price health coverage out of range for some employers and their workers, he said.

"Sometimes when states jump on a bandwagon, it's not necessarily the right bandwagon for the people they're trying to help," said Susan Laudicina, director of state research and policy at The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

A better solution is to let insurers offer a mix of plans that appeal to young adults, Ghose and Laudicina said. Such plans typically have low monthly premiums but require the patient to pick up a large chunk of initial medical expense. Plans targeting young adults tend to cost less because those age 19-23 generate about $1,500 in medical expenses a year compared to $3,200 for those 30-49 or $6,300 for those 50-64.

J.P. Wieske, the council's director of state affairs, said that staying on a parent's policy could come back to haunt young adults who develop serious health conditions. Once they develop a serious condition, just like Thomas Mahoney did with epilepsy, they'll find it almost impossible to get insurance. But if they get their own health insurance before the problem hits, they'll have coverage that cannot be terminated.

"The sooner they can get on their own policies, the better off they'll be," Wieske said. "The rates will be cheaper and they're buying something they can keep with them. Wieske is particularly critical of New Jersey's law, which extended dependent coverage in some cases to age 30.

But Sarah Collins of the Commonwealth Fund said she believes the state's approach made sense.

"One of the fastest growing age groups in the uninsured are 19 to 29 year old. Between 19 and 23, you're somewhat protected by your parents plans," Collins said, referring primarily to college students. "But, this age group, from 24 to 29, you really are a new entrant in the labor force. When you are a new entrant to the labor force, you're more likely to be employed by companies that don't offer coverage."

Kaushik Adhikary operates http://www.myinsuranceinsiderinfo.com a blog all about fresh and quality content on insurance and personal finance field. He loves giving away Free Stuffs and now giving away Free 5 Days Interactive Email Course and Free Membership and Newsletters.

For more info, Visit- http://myinsuranceinsiderinfo.com/2008/02/22/family-health-policy-an-outlook/

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Car Insurance - What's Right For You?

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Some people have it. Everyone needs it. Some states require you to have it by law. Car Insurance is one of those things that lots of people don't think of until it's too late. It runs in the background and is east to miss until, WHAM! You're in a wreck and you need it. Then, it's a life saver.

There are many providers and many types of car insurance. What you should buy depends on a lot of things. Who you buy from is also an important choice. If you take it step by step, it's much easier.

First, what kind of insurance do you need? Find out from the bureau of motor vehicles what your state requires legally. This information will help you save money and time later. Then, think about what you need.

If your car is financed, the quite possibly you would be required to carry comprehensive coverage in addition to collision during the life of the loan. Comprehensive coverage will pay for anything that happens to your car. If a tree falls on it during a thunderstorm, or hail dents the roof, comprehensive coverage will pay to fix it. Collision coverage, however, only pays for damage incurred during an accident.

There is more coverage you can add if you choose. You can buy uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage that will help you out if your car is damaged by an uninsured motorist.

You can buy gap insurance. Gap insurance will pay off your loan if your car is totaled, even if you owe more than the car is worth. There are also special plans available for special features on your car.

Another thing that greatly increases or decreases cost is your deductible. A deductible is an amount you pay if you submit a claim. So, if you wreck your car, and the repair costs are $6000, but your deductible is $500, you only pay the $500. A higher deductible will lower your cost. Also take into consideration if you would be able to pay that deductible amount if something unexpected happened. Don't set it too high, or you'll be in trouble when you want to make a claim.

Once you've decided what kind on insurance is right for you, it's time to shop around. You're not going to get an accurate picture of how much your coverage will cost from the first company you ask. Insurance rates vary widely and each company calculates things differently. Ask friends and relatives who holds their insurance and call the companies they recommend. Lots of companies also do online quotes. Once you have a few quotes, it's time to make your decision. Who did you like most? Who had the best price? Make your choice and start your policy!

Get more tips on getting the Cheapest Car Insurance at Auto Insurance Los Angeles.

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Blogger BlogNet64258: Aug 23, 2008

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