With so many different types of Illinois health insurance plans and restrictions out there, it can be difficult finding the best health insurance in Illinois for you. However, this process is not impossible to do well with a little research. There are a few items to look for when deciding on an Illinois  health insurance plans, and by considering them all you can make a good decision for yourself and your family about health insurance.

The most important thing to look for is coverage. More often than not, insurance will cover physician visits and fees. Your health insurance in Illinois should also cover hospital expenses such as room and board in case you are kept overnight or longer for observation or treatment. Good health insurance in Illinois should also cover surgeries and any expenses associated with surgical treatment. Beyond these typical items of coverage, health insurance plans can diverge greatly. To really understand what coverage you would utilize and which plan would save you the most money, you will need to make a list of items that you want covered in an insurance plan. For instance, do you have glasses or contacts? Then you may be more interested in a plan that covers vision – either paying for your eye exam and/or partially paying for your glasses or contacts. Though many people think that health insurance in Illinois covers prescriptions, prescription coverage is actually an optional benefit. If you know that you often have prescription drugs to fill, finding insurance that offers prescription coverage may be a must. If you are a woman and plan on having or want to have children, maternity care or family planning services are also optional benefits that you may want to consider. Once you make this must-have list of optional coverage, you can begin looking for health insurance plans that give you the opportunity to add these optional benefits.

Another item you should definitely consider is if your current physicians or specialists are included in the health insurance company’s preferred provider network or if you have the opportunity to choose any physician (often the case only with indemnity or traditional health insurance plans). If you would like the freedom to choose your own doctor, traditional health insurance plans in Illinois or preferred provider organizations may offer more attractive plans – though these also cost a little more.

Lastly, consider price. After researching different coverage plans and physician requirements, compare deductibles and monthly premiums to find the best deal. Often, you can get group rates through your employer, or you may find that artist organizations (for freelance artists) offer health care plans. By researching price, as well as other health insurance options, you can make the best choices for your family.

At Health Insurance Services, Inc.  we are here to answer all of your questions and do the research for you and your family.  We are here to help you make this important decision, the decision about what is the best Illinois health insurance option for you and your family.

How does an Illinois resident with a pre-existing health condition find a quality Illinois health insurance plan? why does it seem like it is so difficult to find a pre-existing condition Illinois health insurance plan?

Pre-existing conditions are defined as illnesses in which the person has gone to a physician, clinic, or medical facility and has received medical care in the past. Insurance companies are using these questionnaires as well as an exclusion period in order to defend themselves from people with pre-existing conditions that are seeking medical insurance.

In the state of Illinois people that are applying for an individual health insurance plan can be turned down at the insurance company’s discretion due to pre-existing conditions unless that person is eligible for an Illinois HIPAA health insurance plan.

In the state of Illinois they follow HIPAA laws very strict. the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act created in 1996 and effective in 1997 provides protection for people that have medical pre-existing illnesses. the law protects people by limiting their exclusion period when purchasing health insurance, lowering the chances for a member with a pre-existing condition to lose coverage, providing protections when they change jobs and guaranteeing that your health insurance policy gets renewed at the end of your coverage year.

The law however, has not eliminated the ability of individual carriers of denying health insurance to pre-existing condition people or exclude medical conditions. the only guarantee issue provisions lie in State sponsored plans and insurance company funded plans. what HIPAA does provide is for guaranteed acceptance health insurance coverage for people that meet 6 HIPAA requirements. When someone meets these 6 requirements they are considered HIPAA eligible and can qualify for a guaranteed issue HIPAA health insurance plan. the 6 requirements for HIPAA eligibility can often be the only avenue of health insurance coverage available to some high risk individuals with major pre-existing health conditions.

Some of the most important insurance companies in the state of Illinois handle pre-existing conditions a little bit differently, because of this it is important to do some research and actually shop around for a policy before deciding to apply. Individual plans have more exclusion that group plans and that is why they are quite a bit less expensive, because they are more restrictive.

Aetna Health Insurance who is one of the big dogs in the health insurance business across the United States is a primary example of exclusion period. They offer a 365 day period starting from the day of enrollment, in which a person with a pre-existing condition is not covered. it is important to note however, that if the person that has a pre-existing condition has had prior creditable coverage within 63 days immediately before the signature of the application; then the exclusion period will be waived.

Another example of this can be seen with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, who is one of the 39 independent, community-based insurance companies that make up the national Blue Cross Blue Shield network. Since they are independent that means they might not have the same provisions as Blue Cross Blue Shield companies in other states. In Illinois, BCBS requires a member with a pre-existing condition to wait a 365 day exclusion period from the day that they sign the policy before receiving coverage for their illness.

Compared to individual coverage, group plans are a little better. They cannot turn you down due to a pre-existing condition, which makes group plans more expensive. under HIPAA law an employer can only deny pre-existing condition coverage if the person is diagnosed, receives treatment or has care and treatment 6 months before the enrollment date. a good thing to note is that pregnancy cannot be accounted as a pre-existing condition by an employer insurer.

The total time a person can be excluded from a group health plan if they have a pre-existing condition is 12 months after enrollment (18 months if they enroll late), for this reason it is important for a person to sign up for health insurance as soon as they are offered it (if not you can be subject to 18 months instead of 12). Fortunately for some, the time can be less in case that they were covered by an insurance company for the 63 days before enrollment. Also, an insurer cannot deny coverage to a small employer (2-50) under HIPAA law.

Finding Illinois health insurance coverage when one has a pre-existing condition can be very tough. not to mention that pre-existing conditions cover everything from cancer, HIV, Hepatitis C and even high cholesterol. it is key however, for a person that has a pre-existing condition to know all the exclusions and their rights that are provided under the HIPAA law. This is important because once you know your rights, you will be able to be more knowledgeable about the subject and avoid long exclusion periods.

 If you have any questions about pre-existing conditions and Illinois health insurance please call us at Health Insurance Services, Inc.

An Illinois Health Savings Account (HSA) can be a great way to provide you with the opportunity to control your health care costs while enjoying some significant tax advantages. As an Illinois license health insurance brokerage, Health Insurance Services, Inc. is here to help you better understand your health insurance options.

If you’re unsure as to how an HSA works or how it will fit with your particular health care needs, take the time to learn a little about the benefits and make an informed decision. Besides, understanding your health care options can only work in your favor, giving you more information and knowledge when it comes time to purchase health care coverage. 

 What is a Health Savings Account? 

The easiest way to understand a health savings account is to think of it like a personal savings account where the money can only be used for health care related expenses. Basically, an HSA is a tax exempt trust that is set up to pay for or reimburse medical expenses that you incur. Health savings accounts were created in 2003 for people who were covered by high deductible health plans. The goal was and still is to give them tax advantages to offset medical expenses. 

Benefits 

A health savings account has some great benefits. Not only can you save money on health care, but also, you have more choice and control in how you choose to spend your health care dollars. Plus, let’s not forget the tax advantages.

You’re allowed to claim a tax deduction for contributions you make to your Health Savings Account and any contribution your employer makes can be excluded from your income for purposes of filing taxes. You can even invest the money in stocks, bonds etc.  Interest on the earnings is tax free and funds roll over from year to year. Additionally, you’ll never lose your health savings account because it belongs to you. So if you move out of state or change jobs or even lose your job, your account is secure. 

How Does it Work? 

In Illinois, you pay out-of-pocket for all your medical expenses until your deductible is met. After you meet your deductible, your insurance company pays 100% of all covered expenses for the rest of the year. In many cases, your maximum out-of-pocket expenses will be equal to your deductible. 

Eligibility

In order to qualify for an Illinois Heath Savings Account, you must be under age 65 and enrolled in a high deductible health plan with no other health care coverage. Generally, if you have dental, vision, disability or long term care insurance, you can still qualify for an HSA. However, the high deductible plan must be your only health insurance coverage and if your spouse uses your insurance, he or she must be enrolled in a high deductible plan as well. 

You can purchase an Illinois Health Savings Account from most private insurance companies in the state. However, consider well known, large insurance providers like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois because they have working relationships with health care providers and can negotiate better terms on your behalf. 

A health savings account, when paired with the right health care plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois can give you more control and choices in health care. In addition to lower monthly premiums and comprehensive medical coverage, you can enjoy tax advantages offered through your Illinois Health Savings Account.

Thank you for visiting my new website and blog.

If you’ve taken a few minutes to navigate through my website you noticed that my name is Larry Smith, President of Health Insurance Services, Inc. Over my 20 plus years of experience in the insurance field I have gained a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of health insurance, life insurance, group insurance, and medicare insurance. Throughout the years I have also gained a reasonable amount of knowledge about technology including the use of computers. Most of us seem to use computers now as part of our careers.

Ive had a website since I started Health Insurance Services back in 2002 and recently I had decided that it was time to update my company website. My goal was to create a website that contained helpful and informative information. I wanted to have a resource that my clients could use to learn more about insurance as well as the services we offer. You will find on my new site several informative downloads.  I also wanted to update my ability to provide real time insurance quotes to my clients and prospective clients.

Most importantly I wanted a new website where I can regularly post updates and news regarding all the changes that are occurring in the insurance industry.  As Im sure you have heard, there are many new changes on the way for health care.   I get calls every day from my clients asking me about these changes.  I hope you find my new website and blog to be an informative and useful tool.  I plan on posting a wealth of informative posts to keep my clients up-to-date on all aspects of insurance that directly affects their lives.

If you have any questions at anytime, I welcome your phone call.