GizmoHealth.com

Benefits for Same Sex Couples

2011-05-23T16:29:00.005-05:00

The health insurance carriers in Illinois announced that they will be offering health insurance coverage for same sex couples as of June 1, 2011 because of new state legislation. These carriers will recognize these couples as "legally recognized relationship" which is now defined as: same sex marriage, same sex or opposite sex civil unions, domestic partnerships, and other similar legal relationships. This makes Illinois one of about twelve states that have addressed this issue. To run same sex health insurance quotes as of 6/1/2011, please visit www.GizmoHealth.com.

United Healthcare Group Scores High on Fortune List!

2011-05-16T15:36:00.005-05:00

United Healthcare was rated #1 among health insurance and managed care companies on the FORTUNE magazine most amdired list (published March 21, 2011). United Healthcare was number one in 8 of 9 catogories, which included Innovation, People Management, Use of Corporate Assets, Social Responsibility, Quality of Management, Financial Soundness, long Term Investment, Quality of Products/ Services and Global Competitiveness. This ranking was based on a survey taken by 4,100 executives, directors, and securities analysts with in the industry. They were asked to rank the companies that they most admire based the criteria. This survey reinforces my option that United Healthcare is one of the strongest and most relible health insurance carrier in the group market. Please reply to this blog with your opinions and feedback about United Healthcare's services and products. To receive group health insurance quotes, please visit www.GizmoHealth.com and click on the Group Tab.

United HealthOne: Goldrule Is Stepping It Up!

2011-04-28T14:33:00.005-05:00

As of April 28, United HealthOne has reduced the amount of time before a new policy's requested effective date from 30 to 15 days. Which means once an applicant has submitted his/ her application and United HealthOne has received it, the soonest the effective date can be is 15 days from that date (for major medical policies). This allows the applicant the ability to establish a health insurance policy in a short period of time.

United HealthOne is also allowing brokers and health insurance agents to run quotes with an effective date of 90 days in advance. Opposed to priorly only being able to quote 60 days in the future. Again, this allows applicants to shop, price, and apply for health insurance plans with UnitedHealthOne faster and easier!

Visit Gizmo Health Insurance Services new website at www.GizmoHealth.com.

Healthcare Law Takes Effect

2010-10-01T10:53:00.004-05:00

Several healthcare reform laws have gone into effect as of September 23, 2010. Health insurance carriers can no longer deny children coverage for their pre-existing conditions. Young adults can stay on their parents' plans until they reach the age of twenty-six. Policies can't be cancelled based on a technicality after you become sick or injuried. There will be no more caps on policy's lifetime maximum or on preventative care visits. Cancer screenings are going to be offered to policyholders with no copays. These changes are a step forward in terms of better comprehensive coverage for all Americans.

Visit www.GizmoHealth.com for more information or to speak with a licensed health insurance broker at 1-312-884-5150.

COBRA subsidy has Ended

2010-07-01T15:26:00.005-05:00

Since February 2009, Congress has extended the Cobra subsidy for unemployed workers four times. The last extension ended on May 31, 2010. Congress may consider reinstating the subsidy in the future, but for right now there is no indication that they will. The last day of May was the cutoff point for unemployed individuals to qualify for the subsidy. May 31 also marked the end of 15 month eligibility period for the initial group of unemployed workers who were covered under the Cobra subsidy program. Unemployed Americans are going to have to find health insurance coverage on the individual or group side asap. For more information, visit http://www.GizmoHealth.com.

Underwriting Rules are Starting to Loosen

2010-05-20T14:09:00.005-05:00

Big News from the second largest health insurance carrier in Illinois, new underwriting guideline for applicants under the age of 19 and covered on their parent's plan. These applicants will no recieve medical riders on their policies. This will allow them to take full advantage of their medical benefits with exclusion interruption. Fore more information, call a GizmoHealth.com Agent at 1-312-884-5150. Or visit our user friendly website, at www.GizmoHealth.com.

Health Care Reform Passes

2010-03-22T16:32:00.006-05:00

The House of Representatives passed the Senate version of the health care reform bill with a 219 to 212 vote. Moments later, a follow up health budget reconciliation bill was also passed with a 220 to 211 vote. Now, the reconciliation bill goes to the Senate for consideration. The new health care reform bill mandates that everyone must have health insurance coverage. This historical bill will provide coverage to more than 32 million Americans that were previous declined because of pre-existing conditions or were uninsured. The people who can't afford the coverage will receive subsidize to cover the cost. With this bill implemented, the landscape of the health insurance industry will forever be changed.

Gizmo Health, www.Gizmohealth.com: Time to Vote

2010-03-19T11:21:00.007-05:00

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on Sunday for the health care bill which was passed by the Senate back in December. Several Republicans are making a last minute stand to stop the bill requesting to start over from scratch. President Obama countered these efforts by rallying support by visiting univerisities and town hall meetings across the country. The President has also put pressure on certain members of Congress to sway their vote in favor of the bill. Even with a victory on Sunday, there will still be a lot of work to be done. The Senate will needs to pass the reconciliation fixes in legislation.

The health care bill will extend coverage to roughly 32 million Americans and cost nearly $940 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The bill will cut the deficit by $138 billion during those 10 years and reduce it by another $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. President Obama postponed a trip to Indonesia and Australia until June, because he wanted to be here for this historical event and support the vote by delivering a low-key congratulatiory speech if the legisalation passes.

Decision Time for Health Care Reform

2010-03-11T11:56:00.005-06:00

President Barrack Obama has requested that the Health Care Reform Bill be on his desk before Congress's Easter recess. Health Care Reform Bill is in the final stages of legislation with the respective versions of the House and Senate bills being merged into one concise version.

Follow the latest news on the Health Care Reform Bill with CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/10/health.care.deadlines/index.html

Gizmo Health is the place to buy health insurance. Visit our website, www.GizmoHealth.com to shop, compare, and apply to the top health insurance carriers in 29 states.

Premiums Scheduled to Skyrocket

2010-02-18T10:52:00.002-06:00

In the face of reform, health insurance premiums will continue to skyrocket in the coming years. Several relaible sources have indicated that healthy individuals are choosing to dilute their benefits or cancel coverage all together to reduce stress on their monthly budget. While at the same time pushing the burden of increased premium to individuals in poor health that can't sacrifice their coverage levels. The Wall Street Journal published a very poignant article relating to the future trends of supply and demand for health care in the United States and the affect of the inflated insurance premium.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703315004575073013721784050.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories

Visit Gizmo Health, www.gizmohealth.com, to shop, compare, and apply for health insurance online. Gizmo Health goes the extra mile to ensure its customers understand their benefits.

Is Health Care Reform in the Rear View Mirror?

2010-02-11T14:16:00.007-06:00

This the scary realization that $1 out of every $5 spent in the United States will be going towards health care by the year 2020 (Stat. by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)). The importance of passing a comprehensive health care reform bill is even more pertinent. We as Americans need to address this issue to maintain our current level of quality care while at the same time reduce the overall cost.

In an effort to resuscitate the health care reform bill, President Obama has invited Republicans and Democrats to the White House for a February 25 summit. Whether this is just a way to encourage the passing of the current version of House's health care reform bill or to announce that health care reform is dead for 2010. The President truly believes he can get the patients up and moving again, "We've got to finish the job on health care. We've got to finish the job on financial regulatory reform. We got to finish the job, even though it's hard."

Senator elect Scott Brown (MA) was officially sworn into office on February 4, ahead of schedule to weaken the Democrats' supermajority in the Senate with a 59-41 chair difference.

Demcrats Lose a Seat to the Republicans

2010-01-20T14:30:00.004-06:00

A victory for the Republicans on Captiol Hill has pushed the Health Care Reform Bill to the brink of defeat. On Wednesday, Republican Scott Brown won the Massachusetts seat in the Senate after defeating Democrat Martha Coakley. This victory creates an unusually situation for the Democrats in that they no longer are able to stop fillbusters and delay tactics by the Republicans. Now, Democrats only have 59 votes, one short of what is needed to pass the bill. This strips the Decromats of their 60 seat Senate majority and gives the Republicans enough votes to block most political measures imposed by the Democrats. This is a stunning blow to the Democrats just prior to the midterm elections.

There are a few options that the Democrats have to proceed with the health care bill. The House of Representatives can pass their version of the bill and send it directly to the President to be signed into law. The lawmakers could construct a new scaled-down draft of the bill that is capable of getting passed by both of the chambers. The Democrats could also try to push the health care bill through the Senate with only a 51 vote majority. This opens the door for Republicans to delay the process with technical and procedural issues. Republicans have already released a statement that requests proceedings to stop until Republican Brown has been sworn in and can vote on further legislation.

An Issue Divided

2010-01-05T18:11:00.004-06:00

As of right now, the Healthcare Reform Bill has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate. It is currently awaiting further discussions to be merge it into one consensual bill that both parties must agree upon before it gets to President's desk. Democratic leaders hope to get it signed by early February before President Obama's State of the Union address. Although, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has admitted that this might be a tight deadline. Pelosi met with Democratic leaders in her office Tuesday afternoon to discuss politically contentious health care issues that might arise in the coming days between the two parties. They are excepting a vigorous fight from the Republican side to derail their efforts with additional amendments and lengthy debates.

The bill is passed, but where is it going? It seems as though there are many issues that need to be ironed out before the bill will be legisalation and the American people can benefit from it.

Visit Gizmo Health Insurance Service, www.GizmoHealth.com, for quotes and online applications to the top health care providers.

COBRA Subsidy Extension

2009-12-23T14:09:00.006-06:00

Congress approved legislation to extend the federal subsidy of COBRA health insurance premiums. The legislation includes an extention of premium subsidy eligibility coverage period of two months. The new end date will be February 23, 2010instead of the orginial date of December 31, 2009. They also extended the duration of subsidy coverage from nine months to fifteen months. Individuals that were scheduled to loss their subsidy on December 1, 2009 will be able to qualify for the subsidy extention.

Workers who have used up thier original nine months eligibility will receive six more additional months of the 65 percent subsidy. Those who did not choose to continue with COBRA coverage once they timed out have the option to rejoin and pay their premium retroactively, receive the subsidy and maintain COBRA continuation. Workers who are involuntarily terminated through February 28, 2010, can now qualify to begin the subsidy and receive the full 15 months.

Demcrats 1, Republics 0, Obama declares it, a "Big Victory"

2009-12-21T14:38:00.009-06:00

Senators voted 60 to 40, early Monday morning to move ahead with the health care reform bill. This is the first of four votes to pass the bill in the Senate before the Christmas recess. Not one Republican voted for the bill. Obama was quoted in says, "The United States Senate knocked down a filibuster aimed at blocking a final vote on health care reform, and scored a big victory for the American people."

Although the bill passed its first test,crucial aspects of the bill were left out such as the expansion of Medicare to American under the age of 65 and the inclusion of a government run public health insurance plan. There are still some significant issues that need to be worked out in the coming days. One of the biggest divides on this bill is how to fund it.

The House's bill would be financed through a combination of a tax surchange on wealthy Americans and Medicare spending reductions. Individuals with annual incomes over half a million and families earning more than a million would face a 5.4% income tax. While the Senate's bill would cut Medicare cost by roughly $500 billion dollars and impose a 40% tax on individuals with so-called "cadillac" health insurance plans.

Don't allow the Politicans in Washington to decide your health care future, visit www.GizmoHealth.com to get your coverage in place today.

The "Gang of 10" Senators

2009-12-10T10:18:00.006-06:00

Senator Majority Leader Reid, a democrat from Nevada annoucned on Wednesday, December 9th 2009, that a group of senators have reached a concurrence on the public option. No details were released at this time, but the proposal would mirror health care plans already in place for federal employees. The Office of Personnel Management would negotiate with private insurers to create not for profit plans for individuals and small businesses. If the plans fail to drive down costs and level the playing field in the private sector, the federal government would introduce a national sponsored plan. Included in the proposal is a provision to offer individuals ages 55 to 64, the option to buy into Medicare early as well as an amendment to restrict federal funding for abortions. Although these Senators are pushing hard to resolve this health care public option issue, it is unlikely they will be able to get it passed the Senate before Christmas.

Please give on of our friendly health insurance agents a call today to discuss your health insurance options and apply directly online with the top health insurance carriers. Visit www.Gizmohealth.com or call 1-312-884-5150.

The Public Plan and Fears of Pre-Existing Conditions

2009-12-07T10:45:00.006-06:00

This first article address the benefits and concerns of a new public option plan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/opinion/29sun1.html?scp=1&sq=11/29/09,%20A%20modest%20public%20plan&st=cse

The second article is an one example of an everyday American who is struggling to obtain health insurance and medical treatment after he has already been diagnosised with a brain hemorrahage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/opinion/29kristof.html?_r=1&scp=10&sq=11/29/09&st=cse

These articles are from the New York Times website, www.nytimes.com. If you have trouble viewing these articles, please copy and paste the link into the address bar at the top of your screen.

The Senate is Set to Debate the Health Care Reform Bill

2009-11-23T09:42:00.004-06:00

The Health Care Reform Bill won a vote of 60 to 39 on the Senate floor last Saturday night, opening the door for debate on American's health care system. If the Senate manages to pass the bill, a congressional conference committee would have to merge the House and Senates' proposals into one consensus version. At that point, a final approval from both chambers would be needed before it could move on to President Obama's desk to be signed into law.

The Senate debate is expected to last for weeks and won't begin until after Thanksgiving. The Republicans and Democrats seems strongly divided on this issue, Republicans believe that the bill is an unnecessary government takeover of the health care system that would harm the economy and reduce the quality of our health care coverage. Democrats argue that this reform will help millions of Americans that can't get health insurance because of pre-existing conditions or due to the overall cost of coverage.

There are several issues within the bill that are very controversial including federal funding for aboration, a public option plan, a tax increases on individuals who make more than $200,000, and a five percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery. Both the Senate and House bills require individuals to buy health insurance, with penalties for non-compliance. The House version would mandate that all employers to offer health care where the Senate version does not. The two bills are very similar in that both want to include a health insurance exchange, expanded benefits with Medicaid, subsidied insurance for low and middle income families, cap out of pocket medical expenses, and elimination of denials for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

Please visit www.GizmoHealth.com for health insurance quotes and online applications to the top health insurance carriers.

America's Health Care Reform Sticker Shock

2009-11-19T13:51:00.006-06:00

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, new reports indicate that the total cost of the health care bill would be closer to $849 billion over the next 10 years. The bill would extend health care benefits to ninety four percent of the American public. The bill would prohibit illegal immigrants from participating in the health insurance exchange as well as prohibiting the use of federal funds for abortion coverage.

The Health Care Reform bill is going up against its biggest challenge yet. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) has to get 60 votes from the 100 member senate to even debate the bill on the Senate floor. It is still unclear whether he will be able to get enough votes to fend off the GOP filibuster attempts. If successful, discussion could start as early as next week.

For more information, Read Gizmo Health's blog at Google Blogger or visit their website at www.GizmoHealth.com.

Pass The House

2009-11-11T11:18:00.004-06:00

Late on Saturday, November 7, The House of Representatives voted 220 to 215 in favor of the Afforable Health Care for America Act, or H.R. 3962. This bill will restict insurance companies from denying coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions or charging higher premiums based on gender and medical history. It also provides federal subsidies to those who cannot afford health insurance. If passed, this bill would guarantee coverage for 96% of American citizens. This is the first step in the largest expansion of health care in the United States since Medicare was created more than 40 years ago. Now the Senate must pass its own version of the health care bill, before it lands on the President's desk to be signed into a law. Once both chambers have passed the bill, a congressional conference committee will merge the two proposals into a consensus version that would require final approval by both chambers and President Obama.

The Public Option is Back: This Obama Going to Bail Out the Insurance Companies Too?

2009-10-27T14:56:00.006-05:00

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on Monday, October 26 2009, that he intends to include a public insurance option to the health care reform bill. Individual states will have the ability to "opt out" of the plan if they see fit. The state opt out provision was put in place to encourage Republicans and Democrats alike to support the struggling bill. Senate Olympia Snowe of Maine, the only Republican on the Senate Finance Committee to vote for the Democratic plan is opposed to the opt out provision. Stating that all states should work together to fix our ailing health care system, not individual one.

Another idea floating around Washington is the Public Option Trigger which would force insurance companies to make changes to their underwriting guidelines to insure individuals with pre existing conditions and lower the cost of premiums for those who currently have coverage. If those changes failed to occur within the required period of time, the public option plan would be triggered causing increased competition between them, which would theoretically drive down their rates. This public option plan would have to meet the same fiscal requirements as other private plans.

Gizmo Health: Senate Votes Against Public Option

2009-09-29T16:23:00.006-05:00

On Tuesday, The Senate Finance Committee rejected an amendment that supported the government-run public health insurance option. They stated that the public option would destroy the private health care carriers/ market causing the health care system to eventually be overrun by the government. "A government-run plan will ultimately force private insurers out of buiness. -Republican Sentor Charles Grassley"

Some Democratic leaders disagree with this decision, stating that the public option would provide needed conpetition for private insurers while making health insurance accessible for millions of American who currently lack coverage. Republicans agree that reform is needed, but oppose a complete overhaul of the health care system stating that it would be too costly. Today, in efforts to bridge political differences, the Finance Committee proposal dropped the public insurance option as while as a mandate for all employers to provide health coverage for its employees.

Don't sit around waiting for these politicians to determine your health insurance options, log on to Gizmo Health, www.Gizmohealth.com. Research your own options and apply directly with the insurance carriers. You can speak to a live Gizmo Health insurance agent at 1-312-884-5150.

A Time for Change; But When?

2009-09-28T10:47:00.006-05:00

President Obama stuck to his guns on Saturday night at the annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation dinner. He promised to get health care reform "done (by) this year." Obama reiterated that we can't wait for health care reform, because there are too many Americans out there that need urgent care and can't afford it nor wait or it. "We have been waiting for health reform since the days of Teddy Roosevelt, we've been waiting since the days of Harry Truman. We've been waiting since Johnson and Nixon and Clinton. We cannot wait any longer."

The problem is that under current health care reform proposals most regulations would not go into effect until 2013. More than three years away, almost after President Obama's term is over. If this new health care legislation is enacted, it would not be implemented overnight, insurance carriers will be able to enforce the same current standards and pre-existing exclusions for several years. How long can the sick and poor wait...at least for FOUR MORE YEARS!

If you can't wait for health insurance coverage, please call Gizmo Health Insurace Agent at 1-312-884-5150 or visit our website www.GizmoHealth.com.

New Address for Gizmo Health!

2009-09-24T11:28:00.003-05:00

Gizmo Health Insurance Services has moved to a new office space. Our new adress is:

Gizmo Health
29 North Wacker Drive #250
Chicago, IL 60606
(tel) 1-312-884-5150
(fax) 1-312-884-5154

We are still in the same building, but have moved to the 2nd floor. Please give us a call, if you need directions to our new office.

Sincerely,

Customer Service Representative

The President Needs to Step Up This Health Care Debate

2009-09-02T14:50:00.004-05:00

President Barack Obama will give a speech to a joint committee of Congressmen on September 9, 2009 to kick start the health care debate again. President Obama is facing pressure from all sides to provide specific details about his public option plan and what is to be included in the health care legislation. Sentor Sherrod Brown of Ohio, stated that "I think the president needs to step forward... (and) be more specific, more aggressively fight for a strong health reform bill with a strong public option. I think he's going to do that." President Obama's approval rating has severely down of the past months due to this unresolved health care reform issue, which was a large portion of his campaign promise. The general public and congressmen a like, have become confused about the direction that this legislation and need the president to address some key issues before anything is going to be passed by Congress.

For more information, read my blog at Gizmohealth.com on Google blogger or visit Gizmo Health Insurance Services' website, www.gizmohealth.com.

Sad Day for Health Care Reform

2009-09-02T14:26:00.005-05:00

On Wednesday August 29, 2009, Sentor Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts died at his home in Hyannis Port of brain cancer. President Barack Obama took a break from his vacation with his family on Martha's Vineyard to pay his respect to the last sentor. Ted Kennedy was a leader in the Senate as well as an avid supporter of health care reform. It remains to be seen how his absence will affect the health care debate and final outcome of the reform.

Health Care Reform Heats Up Town Meetings

2009-08-10T13:05:00.007-05:00

Town hall meetings across the United States heated up this week over President Obama's new health care reform. Democratic lawmakers returning home for the August recess to face resistance by citizens to overhaul the nation's health care system. At a town hall meeting in Des Moines, IA on Saturday, Senator Tom Harkin was interrupted several times by the audience shouting criticism and questions/ concerns. Democrats leaders are trying to rally support to revamp the health care system, but instead faced hot tempered critics. Similar outbursts have recently taken place drawing widespread media attention. Recent polls have shown a decline in support for President Obama and his health care agenda. Democrats have accused Republicans of encouraging individuals opposited to the reform to show up at this town hall meetings and state their displeasure with this legislation. These exchanges have developed into shoving matches and large scale protests.

For more information, and free instant health insurance quotes, please visit Gizmo Health Insurance Services LLC, at www.gizmohealth.com or at our new location, 29 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 202 Chicago, IL 60606.

Health Care Bill Won't Make It Before August Recess

2009-07-29T14:49:00.001-05:00

It sounds like President Obama is getting his way on the issue of health care reform. A group of four Blue Dog Democrats announced Wednesday that they have reached a deal to get the health care bill passed. Although, they have agreed to move forward with new provisions, the bill will not be passed by the House before their August recess. These new talks will address the systemic problems that have plagued the health care industry for years. Democrat leaders and White House executives hope to lower the cost of health care by a $100 billion and introduce a health care exchange plan as a public insurance option. Today, President Obama commanded these politicans for their hard work and stressed the urgency of health care reform at a town hall meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Free Health insurnace quotes at Gizmo Health, www.gizmohealth.com. Speak to a live health insurance agent at 1-312-884-5150.

Time Out on New Health Care Reform

2009-07-22T12:43:00.001-05:00

On Wednesday, Conservative House Democrats indicated that President Obama's timeline for overhauling the American health care system before the Congress' August recess is unreasonable. Lawmakers are upset by the idea of tax increases on the wealthy to contribute/ subsidize the middle and lower class citizens health insurance coverage. They are also concerned about allowing the government the ability to provide health insurance coverage to compete with the private health insurance sector.

The health care issue has become a huge test of President Obama's leadership and commitment to the American people. Recent polls have shown that the American public is losing confidences in their leader. As lawmakers continue to debate the issue, the realization that President's Obama's dream of restructuring the American health care system is a long way away.

For more information and quotes on individual and group health insurance, please visit www.Gizmohealth or call one of our health insurance agents at 1-312-884-5150.

The Senate Health Committee Milestone Vote

2009-07-15T10:32:00.005-05:00

With a 13 to 10 vote, the Senate health committee passed a bill that would require individuals to obtain health insurance and force employers to contribute to the cost. The government would provide assistance to individuals and families to pay for these premiums. The House Democrat leaders pledged to meet the president's goal of new health care legislation before the Senate's August recess. This vote is one step closer to forcing all Americans to obtain health insurance coverage or face penalties. The medical providers, employers, and the wealthy Americans are ones who are left to pick up the tab on this bill.

The Democrats' plan calls for a 5.4% tax increase on individuals making more than a million dollar per year, with a smaller tax beginning for individuals making more than $280,000. Large business employers who don't provide coverage for their employees would be penaltized up to 8% of the workers' wage (with exemption for small businesses). Individals who are offered coverage, but decline would have to pay 2.5% penalty based on their incomes (up to the average cost of a health insurance plan). Democratic aides indicate that the total cost of the bill would be about $1.5 trillion over next 10 years.

To discuss developing health care legislation and find individual and small business health insurance coverage, please visit www.Gizmohealth.com.

Democrat Blue Dogs Take A Bite Out Of Health Care Reform

2009-07-13T10:05:00.008-05:00

On Friday July 10, Vice President Joe Biden reinforced the importance of overhauling the American Health Care system. He warned that if America's small business owners don't act now, there could be catastrophic results for the private insurance sector. He stated that health care reform is the "foremost economic and moral issue that this administration is determined to deal with." He noted that employer-provided health insurance premiums have doubled in the past nine years, rising three times faster than these employee's wages.

The vice president's comments come a day after conservative House Democrats aka "Blue Dogs" put a halt to health care legislation by submitting a signed letter stating that the bill lacks the proper structure to fix the issues of the health care system in the United States. During Vice President Biden speech, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with the members of the Blue Dogs Coalition to discuss the details of the bill. In the letter and in the meeting, the conservative Democrats stressed they do not want a "Medicare-like" structure for the public health care option. "What we are saying is - if there is a public option, it can't be based on Medicare rates unless the regional disparity in Medicare rates is fixed."

For free instant health insurance quotes, please visit www.Gizmohealth.com or call one of licensed health insurance agents at 1-312-884-5150.

A $851 Million Dollar Upgrade to Health Centers

2009-06-30T10:38:00.005-05:00

On June 29, First Lady Michelle Obama announced the release of $851 million dollars in grant money to aid our failing community health centers. This money will address the immediate and pressing need for new health facilities, equipment, supplies, and staffing. These awarded grants will help increase access of health care for millions of Americans.

"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided these grants to support health centers across the country. The Recovery Act Captial Improvement Program (CIP) grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology (HIT) systems, and nearly 400 health centers will adopt and expand the use of electronic health records."

For the full artice, visit:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/First-Lady-Michelle-Obama-Announces-Release-of-851-Million-from-Recovery-Act-to-Upgrade-and-Expand-Community-Health-Centers/

The Captial Improvement Program grant is the third in a set of health center grants provided through the Recovery Act. On March 2, President Obama announced grants worth $155 million to establish 126new health center sites. On March 27, The Department of Health and Human Services also awarded $338 million in Increased Demand for Services grants for health centers. A total of $1.344 billion dollars in the last four months. These grants will help to upgrade and expand community health centers which will in turn to able to provide better quality health care to more patients.

For instant Health Insurance Quotes in less than 30 second, visit www.GizmoHealth.com.

The Pharmaceutical Companies Will Bend, But Won't Break

2009-06-23T11:50:00.007-05:00

Today, President Barrack Obama announced an agreement with the pharmaceutical companies to provide $80 billion dollars in prescription drug discounts for seniors on Medicare Part D over the next 10 years. This agreement will help reduce the cost of prescription drugs for millions of American's elderly. As part of the upcoming health care reform legislation, drug manufacturers that participate in Medicare Part D will either pay a rebate to Medicare or offer a substantial discount of at least 50% on the negotiated rate of prescription drugs.

This legislation will aid the seniors who fall into the Medicare "doughhole" gap in coverage, between $2,700.00 and $6,153.75 which is not covered by Medicare. This agreement was introduced by Senators Max Baucus and Chris Dodd as well as AARP President Barry Rand, who called this plan a "new opportunity" for those who have been burdened by the costs of prescription drugs.

Individuals who are looking for Medicare Advantage plans or have questions about new health care reform legislation, please visit www.gizmohealth.com or call 1-312-884-5150.

New Dependnet Information in Illinois

2009-06-15T18:01:00.004-05:00

Dependents on an application can not be declined for coverage, regardless of health status, if the parent is offered coverage. Although they can not be declined, underwriting can still rider and/or rate up the dependents.

The New Illinois Dependent Underwriting Guidelines are as follows:

1. As of 6/1/09, health insurance carriers will not decline any dependents in the state of Illinois, regardless of health status. This includes new applicants submitted as of 6/1/09, as well as any applicants that are already submitted and are in the underwiring's queue period.
2. Underwriting can and will still rider and/or rate up the dependents appropriatily based on the applicant's risk.
3. Child only applications are not impacted, the health insurance carriers can still decline for health conditions on a child only application.
4. If the primary (and spouse if applicable) are declined, the dependents can then be declined as well. The health insurance carriers are only obligated to offer coverage to the dependents if the parent or parents are both approved and offered coverage.

You compare and apply online for health insurance in your state, please visit www.gizmohealth.com.

President Obama Delivers Speech on Health Care Reform

2009-06-15T16:30:00.004-05:00

This afternoon, President Obama delivered a speech on health care reform to the American Medical Association in Chicago. President Obama wants a health care reform that will allow almost 46 million unisured Americans the opportunity to obtain quality, affordable health insurance coverage. This new reform would focus on preventive care and would not exclude or deny individuals based on their pre-existing conditions.

President Obama has suggested maintaining both a private and public health insurnace sector. Americans will have the chance to decide what coverage they want. If they like their current policy or are on their employer's policy, they don't have to change anything. Everything will stay the same (As President Obama stated "keep it." But, if you are self-employed or without current health insurance coverage, you will be able to elect the Health Insurance Exchange option. This public "Exchange" option will offer a series of different benefit packages primarily focusing on consistent preventative care services.

The White House is concerned with the current status of our health care system and illustrated this problem with a series of scary statistical facts. "If we fail to act, one out of every five dollars we earn will be spent on health care within a decade. And in 30 years, it will be about one out of every three -- And if we fail to act, federal spending on Medicaid and Medicare will grow over the coming decades by an amount almost equal to the amount our government currently spends on our nation's defense. It will, in fact, eventually grow larger than what our government spends on anything else today." Quoted by President Obama.

To read this entire article, please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Why-Reform-Why-Now/

To research, compare, and apply for individual and group health insurance coverage, please visit www.Gizmohealth.com

Press Release for the White House: Health Care Reform

2009-06-03T16:20:00.004-05:00

The White House Council of Economic Advisers released a report titled The Economic Case for Health Care Reform, detailing how theeconomy is going to be affected by the raising cost of health insurance in America. Christina Romer, who holds a chair in the CEA, stated that:

Years of diagnosis on the ills of the U.S. health system have produced no cure. Health care expenditures in this country are currently represents 18% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)and, without new health care reform,it will continue to increase. The CEA predicts that nearly one-third of the GDP's budget will be dedicated to the health care in the United States by 2040.

Currently, about 46 million American lack health insurance coverage, and this number is predicted to rise to 72 million in the next thirty years. With these new health care reforms, several aspect of the GDP will be positively impacted including the deficit, unemployment, standard of living and even the labor markets.

For a full version of this Economic Case for Health Care Reform, click on the link below:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf

Change in Age Eligible for Dependents

2009-05-28T14:16:00.009-05:00

The Illinois General Assembly passed a Illinois Dependent Care Mandate under the Public Act 95-0958. This mandate states that unmarried dependent can receive coverage under their family policy up to the age of 26 regardless of their student status. This mandate will go into effect on 06/01/2009.

Coverage will also extend to unmarried dependents up to the age of 30, who are residents of Illinois and have served in active or reserve components of any branch of the Armed Forces. These dependents will need to provide proof of military release or discharge (other than dishonorable discharged). To qualify for coverage, the dependent will need to submit a US service form approved by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (showing the date of their release from service).

BlueCross BlueShield of CA on Trial

2009-05-26T12:21:00.003-05:00

For the first time, BlueCross BlueShield of California will be go on trail for a rescinded policy with a California man who was involved in a disabling car accident. BlueCross BlueShield is stating that Steve Hailey, a former self-empolyed machinist, misrepresented himself when his wife filled out the application when she did not including his true weight and medical history of hypertension and headaches.

The Haileys are contesting that BlueCross BlueShield continued their coverage even after learning about Steve's condition, but dropped him two months after the accident when his claims started to out weight the premium that BlueCross BlueShield was collecting. For the whole story, please click on the link below:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rescind18-2009may18,0,4559862.story?page=1

Parental Guide to Avoid the Swine Flu

2009-05-12T12:01:00.004-05:00

The swine Flu, also known as the H1N1 virus has been on everyone's minds lately. To calm these fears, major media outlets such as cnnhealth.com and parenting.com have published helpful websites with useful tips to avoid this new strain of the flu. Check out http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/01/swine.flu.children/index.html or www.parent.com for a complete list of symptoms and preventive measures.

Public Health Emergency: Swine Flu

2009-04-29T13:02:00.003-05:00

The U.S. health officals have declared a public health emergency for the recent swine flu outbreak in Mexico. Swine influenza is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease. This virus was previously found in pigs, but the newest strain of the virus has metamorphed to affect the human immune system.

The swine flu symptoms include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing, sore throat, vomitting, and in some cases death. Individuals should use reasonable precaution if they suspect they may have swine flu and contact their primary physician for further advice. You can find another information on this virus at the Center of Disease Control and the Department of Public Health web sites.

Obamacare: Will it bankrupt America?

2009-04-24T14:26:00.006-05:00

I thought this Newsmax, www.Newsmax.com, article was interesting and wanted to pass it on to you, the American public. Indiviudals that are un-insured or are shopping the individual health insurance market should read this article.

Here is a link to the article. If this link doesn't work, please copy the link and paste it into the URL address bar.

http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/obama_health_care_plan/2009/04/22/206196.html?s=al&promo_code=7E96-1

Highest Levels of Unemployment Since 1967

2009-04-16T14:47:00.003-05:00

With the unemployment rate in the Untied States quickly approaching 10%, the importance of understanding individual health insurance is ever growing. Even people who are employed are seeing more small businesses are craving out benefits for their spouses and dependents or eliminating the employee benefit program altogether.

Group coverage is a guarantee issued policy with matnerity coverage and a comprehensive prescription drug benefit. This is the only way to go if you are dealing with a preexisting condition. Individual coverage is completely different, you need to fill out an application which the insurance carrier reviews and compares to your previous medical history. At this point, the insurance carrier has the right to adjust your premium amount or deny you altogether.

Gizmo Health agents are explain the details between group and individual coverage. Call a Gizmo Health representative at 1-312-884-5150 or visit www.gizmohealth.com.

Stress in the Workplace and Useful Tips to Deal With It

2009-04-13T15:14:00.006-05:00

In these difficult times, you may find it harder than ever to cope with challenges and stress relating to your job. While some stress is a normal part of life, excessive stress interferes with an individual's productivity and reduces their physical and emotional health. It is important to find ways to keep it your stress levels under control. Fortunately, there is a lot of things you can do to manage and reduce your stress at work.

1. Exercise- Get at least 30 minutes of excerise x2 a week.
2. Healthy meals- Eat smaller meal throughout the day to maintain your blood sugar levels. Eating too much can make you lethargic.
3. Drink alcohol in moderation and avoid nicotine- Drinking to relieve job stress can start you on a path to alcohol abuse and dependence. Similarly, smoking when your're stressed out may seem calming, but nicotine is a powerful stimulant which can lead to higher levels of anxiety.
4. Getting an enough sleep- when you're sleep deprived, your ability to handle stress is compromised. When you're well-rested, it's much easier to keep your emotional balance, a key factor in coping with job and workplace stress.

For workers everywhere, the trouble economy may feel like an emotional roller coaster. Since job and workplace stress grow in times of economic crisis, it's important to learn new and better ways of coping with the pressure. The ability to manage stress in the workplace can make the difference between success or failure on the job. Your emotions are contagious, and stress has an impact on the quality of your interactions with others. The better you are at managing your own stress, the more you'll positively affect those around you and the less other people's stress will negatively affect you.

A few things to manage your job stress:
1. Take responsibility for physical and emotional well-being.
2. Avoid the pitfalls by identifying knee jerk habits and negative attitudes that add to the stress you experience at work.
3. Learn better communication skills to ease and improve your relationships with management and coworkers.

Is the COBRA Subsidy Going to Cripple the Small Businesses of America?

2009-03-11T14:32:00.007-05:00

Individuals who lose their group health insurance coverage because of an involuntarily termination between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 are eligible for a 65% federal subsidy on thier COBRA or state continuation coverage. The federal subsidy applies for nine months, in which time the terminated employee needs to find indiviudal health insurance coverage or a job that offers group benefits.

One exception of the federal subsidy is that individuals whose modified gross income is between $125,000 and $145,000 and couples' gross incomes between $250,000 and $290,000 will NOT receive any subsidy.

Employers with more than 20 employees are required to send a Group Continuation letter to their former employees to allow them to elect the coverage and receive the subsidy. The former employees have 60 days after receiving the letter to enroll.

Former employees who qualify for the subsidy will only be required to pay 35% of the group continuation coverage premium, while the remaining 65% will be paid by the former employer. The former employer will be reimbursed by the federal government through a reduction in their quarterly payroll taxes.

So what does this mean for the small group businesses and their former employees? The small group businesses are essentially fronting a load to the federal government to cover 65% of their former employees' health insurance coverage for 4 months at a time. With the raising cost of group health insurance premium, and more and more companies downing their group coverage, this is just one more expense that they are responsible for. For some companies, this additional overhead maybe the straw that brokes the camel's back. For the former employees, this subsidy is just a temportary solution to thier larger problem, not be able to get individual health insurance because of pre-existing conditions or the lack of jobs that offer group health insurance benefits.

Looking for Affordable Health Insurance

2009-03-03T17:40:00.004-06:00

Visit www.Gizmohealth.com for the opportunity to shop for individual and smal group health insurance without giving your personal information up front. You can shop, compare plans and health insurance carriers, before apply to the plan that best fit your unique situation. Gizmo Health Agents are available to ask any health insurance related questions, Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. The website www.Gizmohealth.com is available 24 hours a day. Gizmo Health is dedicated to providing accuracy health insurance information and quotes as while as excellent customer service.

The new ARRA Legislative: COBRA Changes

2009-02-19T12:31:00.003-06:00

On Tuesday, February 17,2009- President Barack Obama signed an economic stimulus package that includes a COBRA subsidy for laid-off workers and other HR-related provisions. Both chambers of Congress and the Senate approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) last week. The final version of the legislation includes a COBRA subsidy for laid-off workers.

The subsidy will be 65 percent of the COBRA premium for a period of 9 months--employers (or health plans if they administer COBRA benefits) will receive a credit against payroll taxes to offset the subsidy. The premium subsidy will cover workers who were affected by involuntary terminations occurring between September 1, 2008, and January 1, 2010.

There is an income threshold as an additional condition on an individual's entitlement to the premium subsidy during any taxable year. Taxpayers with gross income that exceeds $145,000 will have to repay the entire amount of the premium subsidy. For taxpayers with gross income between $125,000 and $145,000, the amount of the premium subsidy that must be repaid is reduced proportionately. The legislation requires that information on the COBRA subsidy be included in COBRA notices. Under the legislation, the Department of Labor will create a model notice within 30 days of enactment.
The legislation also includes other HR-related provisions.

For example, it increases weekly unemployment benefits by $25. The legislation also provides an extension of the temporary emergency unemployment compensation program (which provides up to 33 weeks of extended benefits) through December 2009. Under the program, no benefits will be payable for any week beginning after May 31, 2010.

The legislation also provides unemployment compensation to workers who leave their employer for “compelling family reasons,” such as domestic violence, illness or disability of an immediate family member, and the need to accompany a spouse to a place from where it is impractical to commute and due to a change in location of the spouse's employment. The Department of Labor will define immediate family member.

This legislation will subsidize COBRA premiums for terminated individuals and allow them to continue their health insurance coverage after thy leave their jobs. The legislation provide a 65% subsidy for 9 months, for workers who lost their jobs on September 1, 2008, or later. Those who didn't intial elect COBRA coverage after leaving their position can re-apply for COBRA to continue their benefits.

BCBS of TX Releases Legislative Update: Addressing Obesity and Cancer

2009-02-13T13:40:00.009-06:00

This article is a copy of the Texas 81th Legislative Session: Health Care Topics on the Agenda

Two issues likely to drive much of the health care discussion during the 81st Session are access to health care and the high rate of uninsured Texans. Although the state currently is seeking a federal Medicaid waiver intended, in part, to leverage federal and state dollars to increase health coverage among low-income Texans, approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have been slow in coming. As a result, legislative initiatives addressing the uninsured are likely to be proposed with the same aim of maximizing federal funds, but in a manner utilizing federal stimulus funds to state programs, expanding health care programs such as Medicaid and CHIP (Child Health Insurance Program) and/or small employer-based purchasing pool initiatives. The original Medicaid waiver proposal established a Health Opportunity Pool (HOP) wherein the state would combine federal and state funding to offer a variety of coverage (i.e., catastrophic care) and allow families to blend funds from various programs (i.e., State Child Health Insurance Program and Medicaid Health Insurance premium) to enable families to buy into employer-sponsored coverage. However, approval of the Medicaid waiver has been slow in coming about. It is expected that legislation may be forthcoming to address the same aim as the waiver in maximizing those federal funds, but using federal stimulus funds instead. Bills promoted by key health care advocates addressing increased eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP have already been filed, including proposals that would extend Medicaid continuous eligibility from six months to twelve months, mirroring a significant legislative gain in the CHIP program from last session. Additionally, a renewed effort to enroll all CHIP-eligible kids has emerged as a priority, at least in the Senate. Increased CHIP eligibility levels driven by the federal SHIP reauthorization bill may trigger a serious discussion of program eligibility expansion beyond the current 200 percent Federal Poverty Level limit.
Wellness initiatives continue to be popular legislative proposals. It is anticipated that discussions will range from disease-specific approaches, such as reducing obesity and diabetes incidence, to provider payment structures rewarding wellness care. In fact, during a recent press conference, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst noted, “America is the only country in the world that pays doctors on the basis of the number of procedures they perform…not on wellness.” Health care advocates should anticipate additional pilot programs. Representative Myra Crownover (R-Denton) has introduced legislation, HB 5, relating to the elimination of smoking in all workplaces and public places. “The benefits of a statewide smoke-free law are undeniable,” Crownover said. “It’s good for health, good for business and saves money now spent on healthcare…No one should be forced to choose between their health and a paycheck.” Across the nation, 24 states have strong smoke-free laws that include restaurants and bars – a significant increase from the 16 states that had smoking bans when the Texas Legislature convened in 2007, the first session during which lawmakers debated a smoke-free bill. According to Smoke-Free Texas, 28communities around the state already have smoke-free ordinances, including Austin. Funding related to Frew v. Hawkins, in which Texas parents filed a class action lawsuit against state healthcare officials claiming deficiencies in the state's Medicaid program, continues to be a health care priority. Targeted provider rate increases for physicians and dentists accounted for $1.3 billion of the total $1.8 billion settlement. Several interim studies have recommended increased Medicaid reimbursement rates, especially for physicians. The Senate, at least, will take a “return on investment” approach, as evidenced by the Senate Finance Joint Interim Report with Health and Human Services on Medicaid Rates. This report recommends an evaluation of whether appropriate and measurable outcomes were produced by the most recent provider rate investment before any additional provider rate discussions occur. One significant result, easily attributed to enhanced provider rate levels, has been the documented increase in Medicaid providers. Legislation may also emerge to develop Health Enterprise Zones, which would offer tax incentives to medical providers who locate within identified areas. In addition, franchise tax proposals are expected to change the current franchise tax deduction for health care benefits to a more lucrative deduction. The intent is to provide a tool for increasing the number of insured employees.

Obama is Standing Up for Kids Healthcare

2009-02-05T16:31:00.007-06:00

U.S. President Barack Obama has signed a law on Wednesday that expands the health insurance program for children. Obama has raising the tobacco taxes to funded the program. This is a big legislative victory a day after his pack to lead a health care industry overhaul.

President Obama signed the law just hours after the House of Representatives casted a vote of 290 to 135 in favor of the $32.8 billion dollar expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance program, or SCHIP, which was approved by the Senate last week.

"In a decent society, there are certain obligations that are not subject to tradeoffs or negotiations, and health care for our children is one of those obligations," the President said in remarks before signing legislation that reauthorizes federal funding for the CHIP programs and expands its coverage of childre from 7 to 11 million.

This legislation on a bipartisan basis to continue coverage for 7 million children and covering an additional 4 million children that are in need. This law also lifts the ban on state not providing health insurance options to legal immigrant children. The CHIP program will allow children to get care when they are sick, and preventive services to help them stay well.

Mental Development of Children with ADHD

2009-01-27T11:51:00.003-06:00

Researchers are using a new image analysis technique to identify the density of the cortex in the brains of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A National Institutes of Health study found that children with ADHD have thinner areas in the cortex compared to children without the disorder. These cortex areas control thinking, planning, and attention.

The good news is that these children will probably outgrow the behaviors that come with ADHD. The research shows that the brains of children with ADHD mature in a normal progression just at a slower rate. For example, a child who has a healthy brain might achieve maturity in these regions at age 7, while a child with ADHD might not until they recieve age 10.

UnitedHealth Group's Pending Settlement

2009-01-16T16:24:00.002-06:00

The New York Times published an article on January 15, 2009 titled UnitedHealth Settlement Near, but Faces a Potest. In the article the author, Reed Abelson, writes about how UnitedHealth has come to a settlement price of $350 millions for several class action lawsuits pending against them for not paying enough money or " reasonable and customary" rates for patients that use their coverage out of network.

The computer software that UnitedHealth had used to calculate the amount to pay toward claims and doctor reimbursement was significantly under estimating health care true market value. "Insurers typically agree to pay 70 to 80 percent of the 'reasonable and customary' local market rate for out-of-network medical services. A n investigation by Mr. Cuomo's office concluded that the database had understated the true market rates of medical care up to 28 percent.

Got a question about health insurance, ask me, the Insurance Guy, from Gizmo Health Insurance. visti www.Gizmohealth.com or call 1-312-884-5150.

Healthcare Spending Grows as Prescription Drug Use Tapers

2009-01-12T14:26:00.005-06:00

The overall cost of health insurance and healthcare related expenses has grown signfically over the last decade. The Associated Press "...attributes the slowdown to consumers increasingly using 'generic drugs instead of brand-names to fill their medicine cabinets,' noting that use of generic drugs increased from 63 percent to 67 percent in 2007." With our current economic situation, consumers are looking to cut back on the medical expenses anyway possible. Most are switching their current coveage to higher deductibles and/ or using generic drugs instead of brandname.

Americans are nervious about the skyrocketing cost of healthcare and what the new adminstration can being to the table. There is a clear picture of the underlying problem Obama, and lawmakers "must resolve" because the "healthcare speading continues to escalate at a faster rate than the economy and than workers' wages. The question that is on the mind of all Americans now, is if the bailout money is going to be around when the issue of re-structure the healthcare industry. Call a Gizmo Health representative at 1-312-884-5150 or visit our website at www.Gizmohealth.com.

BMI: Body Mass Index

2009-01-09T13:25:00.004-06:00

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight which applies to both men and women. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement tool that compares your height to weight and gives you an indication of whether you are overweight or at a healthy weight for your height.

BMI = ((Weight in Pounds) / (Height in inches) * (Height in inches)) *703

or

BMI = (Weight in Kilograms) / (Height in Meters) * (Height in Meters)

BMI is an important factor in determining your overall health risk. BMI provides an estimate of the degree to which you may be over or underweight. BMI as it relates to health insurance is important because the insurance carriers look that this indicator to judge your health status. A health insurance carrier can adjust the initial premium amount of your policy, if they think you fall outside the bell curve of the Body Mass Index (BMI) chart.

A Gizmo Health representative can help you calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) and the apparent associated with having a high or low BMI reading. Please visit our website, www.Gizmohealth.com for more information on quotes for individual and group health insurance coverage.

Cobra: Continuation of Coverage

2009-01-02T15:12:00.003-06:00

COBRA stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which was established in 1985. This act included a provision which allowed employees and their dependents to continue their existing health insurance coverage through their previous employer. This act allowed the terminated employee to temporarily continue their work-based plan until they found individual coverage or other employment.

COBRA applies to work-based health plans sponsored by employers with 20 or more employees. COBRA is a continuation of your existing policy which means that the cost is exactly the same. The difference is that your previous employer is not paying your portion anymore or subsidizing your premium amount. You are paying the full premium amount plus a 2% administrative fee.

COBRA coverage can last for 18 months to 36 months, depending on the reason for termination. For example, if you are the employee's spouse and lose coverage due to a divorce or legal separation, you are eligible for 36 months of COBRA. For a complete list of "qualifying events, " please call a Gizmo Health representative at 1-312-884-5150 or visit http://www.gizmohealth.com.

The Current Healthcare Reform Issue

2008-12-23T14:14:00.004-06:00

If health insurance premiums continue to rise at the current rate, it will cost a family of four $24,000.00 per year to be insured by 2016. This is an 84% increase from today's rates. At this pace, half of American households would spend about 45% of their income on their health insurance premiums.

Obama's cabinet has stated that healthcare reform is a core economic issue in 2009. The health insurance industry is becoming increasingly anxious by the future administration's determination to bring healthcare cost under control. Some Americans are seeing their healthcare premiums rising at four times the rate of inflation. Health insurance premiums are climbing at such an incredible rate that most Americans are deciding to elect cheaper plans with less coverage or drop their health insurnace all together. These individuals are creating a bigger problem for the future, but trying to save money now.

Time will tell if the Obama team will be able to tackle the healthcare reform issue in the coming year.

Hypertension: How to Monitor It

2008-12-16T14:47:00.004-06:00

There are digitial blood pressure monitor (sphygmomanometer) that allows you to monitor your blood pressure without a doctor's assistance. There are several factors that can contribute to temporarily rise your high blood pressure levels.

1. Stress
2. Smoking
3. Cold Temperatures
4. Exercise
5. Caffeine
6. Certain Medicines

To manual read your blood pressure:

First, you need to locate your pulse by lightly pressing your index and middle fingers on the inside bend of your elbow.

Secure an arm cuff around your bicep with the stethoscope head over the brachial artery. Use the fabric strap to make sure the arm cuff is snug, but not too tight. Place the stethoscope in your ears. Tilt the ear pieces slightly forward to get the best sound.

Finally, Close the airflow valve on the bulb by turning the screw clockwise. Inflate the arm cuff by squeezing the bulb and listen for your pulse through the stethoscope. Watch the gauge. Keep inflating the arm cuff until the gauge reads about 30 points above your expected systolic pressure. At this point, you should not hear your pulse in the stetoscope. Keeping your eyes on the gauge, slowly release the pressure in the arm cuff by opening the airflow valve.

The gauge should fall only 2 or 3 points with each heartbeat. Listen for the first pulse beat. As soon as you hear it, note the reading on the gauge. This reading is your systolic pressure (the force of the blood against the artery walls as your heart beats.) Continue slowly deflateing the arm cuff. Listen until the sound disappears. As soon as you can no longer hear your pulse, note the reading on the gauge. This reading is your diastolic pressure (the blood pressure between heartbeats).

With these two reading, you should be able to determine your resting blood rate. The systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. Some friendly advise from www.Gizmohealth.com .

Aetna's New Weight Management Discount Program

2008-12-15T14:00:00.004-06:00

Aetna individual members can receive a discount on Jenny Craig products and services. Aetna members can save money with thier new weight management program. Details below:

1. Free 30 day trail membership
2. 6 and 12 month programs available, featuring 30% off OnTrack (Gold/Platinum) membership and 15% off Jenny Rewards membership
3. One on one weekly consultations
4. Personalized menus
5. Tailored activity planning
6. Visit a Jenny Craig centre or choose the Jenny Direst at home program

Get fit in 2009 with Jenny Craig and Aetna's help!

Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Health Insurance

2008-12-12T13:44:00.004-06:00

1. Insurance costs a lot but having nothing costs even more.

There are many different ways to save money when dealing with health insurance, but waving coverage is not the way. Medical bills are expensive and can added up quickly. Even a minor car accident can put a large dent in your savings - If you are not careful a major illness can push you into bankruptcy.

2. If your employer offers insurance, take it.

Group coverage, particularly when it's employer-subsidized, is almost always a better deal than anything you can get on your own, even if you're young and healthy. If you're NOT young and healthy, it's definitely a better deal.

3. Comparing different plans and carriers when shopping for health insurance is a must.

Benefits and rates vary from plan to plan and carrier to carrier. Exam each one of your options very carefully.

4. The plan with the lowest premium isn't always the best option.

What the plan covers is more important than what the premium is, because if your plan doesn't cover your condition/ treatment than in the end you are going to be pay for more out of pocket.

5. Even good comprehensive plans can have coverage issues.

You can count on your health insurance to cover you for a hospital stay. Some plans cover doctor visits, but benefits for mental health, prescription drugs and dental care are strictly optional.

6. You'll pay more for better networks.

Plans with the most comprehensive coverage at the lowest out-of-pocket cost require you to use a specified network of hospitals, doctors, labs, and other providers. The more flexibility you demand, the more you'll pay, in either premiums or co-payments.

7. You have a free-look period after you sign up.

You have a 10 day window after you sign up for coverage to review your policy and make sure the premium amount is correct.

8. You can keep your insurance through your previous employer with COBRA.

State and federal regulations protect you from losing your health coverage in the event you lose your job. It will be the same coverage although you are responible for 100% of the premium plus a 2% administative fee.

9. Couples that work together have a little more to think about.

If you and your spouse both get health insurance at work, you must sort out whether it makes more sense to have two policies or for one of you to cover the other. If you have kids, you need to decide who's going to cover them.

10. Tax breaks can help.

Ordinarily medical expenses, including insurance premiums, are not tax deductible until they exceed 7.5 percent of your income. However, if you're self-employed or your employer offers a flexible spending account, you can get a tax break without meeting the threshold.

How to Get Group Health Insurance in Place!

2008-12-10T11:48:00.005-06:00

This post is for people who are trying to get group health insurance for their small business. There is a list of things that need to be completed before your broker can get rates for the group. First, you need to fill out a census with the employees' information including name, date of birth, number of dependents, and the zip code of the business. This will give the broker a chance to research plans and get standard rates for coverage.

The employees who wish to elect the group coverage need to fill out applications. The empolyees who don't wish to elect the coverage need to fill out the wavier section of the applications. The insurance carrier will review the applications and employee's medical history allowing them to offer a premium amount for the plan/ plans for the small bussiness. As long as 70% of the group takes the coverage the plan can be put into place.

The insurance carrier will require a binder check for the first month's premium. At this point, the policy will be active and in force. The open enrollment period will be one year after of the effective date of the policy. To begin the process of getting group health insurance in place, click on the Gizmo Health group census link below:

http://www.gizmohealth.com/Gizmoweb/GroupQuoteRequest.aspx

Dental Insurance: Is it worth it?

2008-12-09T14:12:00.003-06:00

Brushing your teeth is an important factor when it comes to maintaining your overall health. A substance produced in the body called high-sensitivity C-reactive-protein (hs-CRP) is suspected to play a role in the link between gum disease and heart disease. Acute gum disease increases the amount of hs-CRP in the bloodstream, which is a natural response to inflammation caused by injury or infection. The American Heart Association says hs-CRP may signal an increased risk for heart attacks.

Heart disease is the nation's top killer, claiming a staggering 450,000 lives in 2004, according to the American Heart Association. Although it's unknown how many of those deaths are linked to gum disease, oral pathologist Dr. Dwight Weathers of Emory University suspects that the number would be high, "given that 85 percent of people over age 65 and probably half of people younger than that have some form of periodontal disease. Wow. That would be a big number."

So when it comes to dental insurance, it is worth it in the long run. Most insurance carriers offer stand alone dental coverage for cheap. For about 30 to 40 dollars a month, you can take care of any preventative care services, i.e. oral exams, cleanings, x-ray, and gap maintances once you are approved. After 6 continuous months, you can deal with any basic dental services, i.e. fillings and cavities. After 12 continuous months, you can deal with any major dental services, i.e. removal of any teeth and root canals.

Most insurance carriers limit the maxmium coverage to a $1,000.00 per calendar year with a $50 deductible per individual. Based on whether your denist has a contract with the insurance carrier, each procedure will have a contracted or discounted rate. So for a few bucks a month, you can improve your oral hygene and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease. It's worth it!

Aetna, Unicare, United Healthcare, and Humana- all have stand alone dental plans.

President Obama Impact on the Health Insurance Industry in the United States

2008-12-05T13:45:00.000-06:00

Healthcare reform is one of the key issues of the new Obama administration. With Democrats now in control of both the White House and Congress, they have a chance to pass reform legislation to provide healthcare coverage for the more than 46 million uninsured Americans (about 15% of the total population).

The new coverage will be funded to a large extent by the federal government (which most experts estimate will cost between $120 billion and $150 billion, depending upon the scope of the package). This package would likely expand access to affordable healthcare coverage for individuals and increase revenue for the providers of the medical products and services, especially pharmaceutical companies.

One issue that is going to be greatly effected by the new administration is the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Obama plans to eliminate the non-interference clause in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, which helps fund drug coverage for some 44 million elderly Americans. Under the present system, the government is prohibited from engaging in Medicare drug pricing negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Negotiations are handled strictly by private-sector managed care and pharmacy benefit management firms.

President Obama and congressional Democrats favor changing the program to allow or possibly require direct government negotiations with drug manufacturers, which is expected to sharply lower the program's cost. Another likely money-saving tactic will be greater use of inexpensive generics through new incentives.

2008-12-04T09:09:00.000-06:00

2009 U.S. Treasury guidelines for HSAs

The following are updates to High-Deductible HSA-Compatible Health Plans issued by the U.S. Treasury Department for 2009.

Deductible Changes - The minimum deductible requirement for qualified high deductible health plans has increased to $1,150 for individuals, and $2,300 for families.

Annual Contribution Changes - The annual contribution maximum1 has increased to $3,000 for individuals and $5,950 for families.

I am a diabetic

2008-12-03T17:22:00.000-06:00

What is the best insurance for diabetics.

There is no evidence that brand-name drugs given to treat heart and other cardiovascular conditions work any better than their generic

2008-12-03T17:11:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There is no evidence that brand-name drugs given to treat heart and other cardiovascular conditions work any better than their cheaper generic counterparts, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

The findings run counter to the perception by some doctors and patients that pricier brand-name drugs are clinically superior, said Dr. Aaron Kesselheim of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, who led the study.
Kesselheim and colleagues combined the results of 30 studies done since 1984 comparing nine sub-classes of cardiovascular drugs to generic counterparts.
The brand-name drugs did not offer any advantage for patients' clinical outcomes in those studies, they wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
"Brand-name drugs for cardiovascular disease can be as much as a few dollars a pill, whereas generic drugs might be as little as a few cents a pill," Kesselheim said.
"If a patient is prescribed a generic drug because that's what's appropriate for their condition, then they should feel confident taking that drug. And physicians themselves should also feel confident prescribing generic drugs where appropriate," Kesselheim said in a telephone interview.

He said rising costs of brand-name prescription drugs strain the budgets of patients as well as public and private health insurers. Overall U.S. prescription drug sales hit $286.5 billion in 2007.

© 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.

http://GizmoHealth.com

How to Save on Your Prescription Drugs

2008-12-03T14:05:00.000-06:00

Americans shell out more than $200 billion this year for prescription drugs. This statistic is up 50 percent since 2001, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey. These high costs are having a big effect on consumer’s choices. One survey found 40 percent of the patients said they have skipped taking some of their medications because they couldn’t afford them.

A few ways to save on prescription drugs:

Generic is The Way to Go: Whenever you can, opt for the generic drugs. Generics drugs are on average a 1/3 of the cost of their brand-name counterparts.

Research your Insurance Plan: Review your current prescription plan coverage and the list of drugs covered by your insurance. If you are taking drug X, see whether there is a comparable, cheaper drug available.

Order Prescription Drugs Through the Mail: Many health insurance plans will allow you to order your drugs via mail. Buying in advance can sometimes be cheaper (one or three month supply).

Choose Static Co-pays: Choose a health insurance prescription drug coverage that offers a set co-pay of $10 or $15. Avoid plans that base their coverage on percentages, as they are often considerably more expensive.

Many doctors have free samples, and while that won’t hold you over for long, they can certainly spread out the cost and the trips to the pharmacy.

PPO vs. HMO

2008-12-02T09:59:00.000-06:00

A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is a managed care organization of hospitals and doctors who have contracted with an insurer or a third-party administrator to provide health care at a reduced rates to its members.

The idea of a preferred provider organization is that the providers will provide the insured members a substantial discount below their regularly-charged rates. The insurer will be billed at a reduced rate when its insured utilize the services of the "preferred" provider and the provider will see an increase in its business as almost all insureds in the organization will use only providers who are part of the PPO. Even the insured should benefit, as lower costs to the insurer should result in lower rates of increase in premiums.

A preferred provider organization generally include utilization review, where representatives of the insurer or administrator review the records of treatments provided to verify that they are appropriate for the condition being treated rather than largely or solely being performed to increase the amount of reimbursement due. Another near-universal feature is a pre-certification requirement, in which scheduled (non-emergency) hospital admissions and, in some instances outpatient surgery as well, must have prior approval of the insurer and often undergo "utilization review" in advance. The aspects of utilization review and pre-certification are now widely used even in traditional "indemnity" plans, and are widely regarded as being essentially permanent features of the American health care system.

PPOs often require insurers to pay a claim within a certain timeframe in order to take the PPO discount, calculating the PPO discount and having the insurer pay the PPO's access fee is still one more step — and one more opportunity for mistakes and delays. Since PPOs have more power in their relationship with providers, they can still provide a benefit to insured patients. Uninsured patients may, however, be unable to obtain these discounts — even if they pay cash.

A health maintenance organization (HMO) is a type of managed care organization (MCO) that provides a form of coverage that is fulfilled through hospitals, doctors, and other providers with which the HMO has a contract. The Health Maintainence Organization Act of 1973 required employers with 25 or more employees to offer federally certified HMO options. Unlike traditional indemnity insurance, an HMO covers only care rendered by those doctors and other professionals who have agreed to treat patients in accordance with the HMO's guidelines and restrictions in exchange for a steady stream of customers.

Most HMOs require members to select a primary care physican (PCP), a family doctor or general physican who acts as a 'gatekeeper" to direct access to medical services. Absent a medical emergency, patients need a referral from the PCP in order to see a specialist or other doctor, and the gatekeeper cannot authorize that referral unless the HMO guidelines deem it necessary.

"Open access" HMOs do not use gatekeepers - there is no requirement to obtain a referral before seeing a specialist. The beneficiary cost sharing (e.g., co-payment or coinsurance) may be higher for specialist care, however.

HMOs monitor doctors to see if they are performing more services for their patients than other doctors, or fewer. HMOs often provide preventative care for a lower co-payment or for free, in order to keep members from developing a preventable condition that would require a great deal of medical services. When HMOs were coming into existence, indemnity plans often did not cover preventive services, such as immunizations, well-baby checkups, mammograms, or physicals. It is this inclusion of services intended to maintain a member's health that gave the HMO its name. Some services, such as outpatient mental health care, are limited, and more costly forms of care, diagnosis, or treatment may not be covered. Experimental treatments and elective services that are not medically necessary (such as elective plastic surgery) are almost never covered.

Other choices for managing care are case management, in which patients with catastrophic cases are identified, or disease management, in which patients with certain chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, or some forms of cancer are identified. In either case, the HMO takes a greater level of involvement in the patient's care, assigning a case manager to the patient or a group of patients to ensure that no two providers provide overlapping care, and to ensure that the patient is receiving appropriate treatment, so that the condition does not worsen beyond what can be helped.

Humana changes policy in Illinois regarding Breast Ultrasound and Mammogram Screening

2008-12-02T09:55:00.000-06:00

The terms of HumanaOne policies have changed.

Humana has revised the age intervals and medical necessity for receiving routine mammogram services.

In accordance with Illinois law, Humana has added a benefit for comprehensive breast ultrasound screening following a mammogram demonstrating heterogeneous or dense tissue. And mow provides benefits for contraceptives and outpatient contraceptive services.

To review these changes in detail visit http://GizmoHealth.com run a quote and select the "details" link in any HumanaOne plan.

Why Use A Broker When Buying Health Insurance?

2008-12-01T12:13:00.000-06:00

Most people misunderstand the purpose of using a broker when buying health insurance. They think it is just one more person to the equation (or middle man) cause the price of the insurance to increase (to cover the cost of his/her services). This is not true!

The price of health insurance is fixed and regulated by the Division of Insurance in each state. This means that a particular plan sold by a carrier will cost exactly the same for everyone that falls into that catagory. The price of health insurance is based on the individual's gender, age, and the location in which they resided. Now, don't get me wrong, the price can be adjusted based on pre-existing conditions or prescription requirements, etc.

A health insurance broker is used to assist in the plan selection and application process. For example, if you were buying a house, you would use a realtor to help you find the best house for your circumstance. A health insurance broker is just like a realtor. They are more familiar with the insurance carriers, the products they sale, and any terms and conditions that the insurance carrier might have.

The broker is compensated by the insurance carrier based on the number of customers they sign up with that carrier. The customer should not have to pay for any broker services or application fees in less otherwise specified. A health insurance broker should be there to give you a third party perspective regardless of what carrier you decide to go with.

In these tough times, most insurance carriers have outsourced their sales department to local brokers in the customer's area. So, even when you contact the insurance carrier directly, they are probably just turn around and give your name and number to broker in the area (to contact you).

A broker can also help even after the policy is in place. If you have a billing or claims issue, a broker should be able to assist or at least point you in the right direction in terms of how to take care of it (a telephone number). Dealing with the insurance carriers directly can sometimes be overwhelming. If you have a serious issue, you want to know that someone is on your side and fighting for your rights. At Gizmo Health, www.GizmoHealth.com we are on your side!

Can I get insured, if I have a pre-existing condition?

2008-11-25T09:46:00.001-06:00

The always nagging question: Can I still get insured, if I have a pre-existing condition? The answer is YES! When applying to a major health insurnace carrier for an individual policy, the insurance carrier has the opportunity to review your medical history and deny you based on the results. This is the main difference between group and individual insurance. With group insurance, an insurance carrier can not deny an individual based on their medical information.

With an individual policy, after reviewing your medical history an insurance carrier is either go to:

1. Approve you as a stardard offer.

2. Approve you with an exclusion, wavier, or rider.

3. Approve you with an adjustment rate.

4. Or deny you, all together.

If you are denied coverage from a privately held health insurance carrier, there are options to get insured. For example, in Illinois there is a state sponsor health insurance plan for people that can not get insured elsewhere. ICHIP, The Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan is a guaranteed issued health insurance plan for people that are in a high risk pool. The monthly premimum are substantial higher and there are specific enrollment requirements. Please contact a Gizmo Health representive for ICHIP enrollment details.

What is Co-insurance?

2008-11-24T13:10:00.001-06:00

Co-insurance is the portion of the plan where the member and the insurance carrier work together to pay for the cost of the medical claim/bills. The co-insurance portion comes into play after the member have satified their deductible requirements and any office visits charges. Co-insurance is usually displayed as a percentage. The percentage represents the amount that the member is responsible for. Most plan have 80/ 20 coverage, which means that the insurance carrier pays 80% of the cost and the member pays the remaining 20%. Once the member has reached the plan's co-insurance maximum out of pocket limit, the percentages change. The insurance carrier will cover the plan at a 100% up to the plan's lifetime maximum. At this period, the member just needs to continue to pay for their monthly premium.

Example: If the plan has 20% co-insurance and the claim is for $1,000.00. You will pay 20% of $200.00, while the insurance company is responsible for the remaining 80% or $800.00.

New BCBCIL HSA Deductable starts 1/1/2009

2008-11-21T10:27:00.000-06:00

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois introduced a new deductible option to the BlueEdge Individual HSA (health savings account) plan. Along with the existing deductible offerings of $1150, $1750, $2600 and $5000, a $3500 deductible option is being added beginning January 1, 2009.

The new $3500 deductible HSA will be available at both 80% and 100% coinsurance coverage levels, and with or without maternity. Marketing of the $3500 deductible began November 15, 2008 with January 1, 2009 or greater effective dates. Also, January 1, 2009, the deductible level for the $1,100 plan will increase to $1,150, in keeping with the IRS HSA minimum deductible guidelines.

To apply click:https://services.hscil.com/il/eapp/wxpm1653.pl?id=6123&source=WEB2009520

or visit http://www.gizmohealth.com/

How to select a Deductible Level with your Health Insurance Plan

2008-11-21T10:17:00.000-06:00

When selecting a deductible level with your health insurance plan, you should take all things into considation. Your overall health, age, and what you can afford. If you are young and relativily health, but can't afford an expense plan. I would suggest a high deductible plan. You will be save money on your monthly premium in exchange for the risk of having to pay more out of pocket if something does happens.

If you are older and have some medical issues, you should probably go with a lower deductible plan. You are probably going to need to go to the doctor's office more often or even visit a hospital. These exspenses can added up quickly. With lower deductible plans you are not going to have to pay as such, because you are going to reach your deductible level sooner (The insurance carriers are going start pay their portion of your medical exspenses with the co-insurance). BUT, the your monthly premium is going to be significantly higher.

The higher deductible plans aren't going to cover prescription drugs/ doctors office visits with a co-pay. If you are looking for more of an old fashion traditional health insurance plan with a low deductible and twenty percent co-insurance, and a co-pay on your office visits and presciption drugs. The high deductible health plan (HDHP) is not for you!

People who go with a higher deductible plan can sometimes offset the cost of your medical exspenses with a HSA account. Some high deductible health plans will have a HSA account attached to them. HSA is a health saving account which allows you to put money aside pre-tax to pay for their medical exspenses. In 2008, you could contribute up to $2,950.00 for a individual plan and $5,850.00 for a family plan. HSA's are kind of structured like an IRA's, in that they accrued interest and the balance rolls over for year to year. The adventures of these plans are that you have more control over your medical spenting.

When you open a HSA, you are issued a debit card or checkbook to pay for doctor visits, precription drugs, and even your monthly premium. One thing who should be aware is that there are penialties for withdrawing funds for stuff that are not medically related. If you have any questions, Gizmo Health agents will anwser any questions that you might have. You can reach them at 1-312-884-5150.

Payment Information for the insurance carriers

2008-11-20T12:32:00.000-06:00

When apply for individual health insurance coverage, most insurance carriers require an inital payment (usually the first month's premium). BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, Aetna, Humana, United Healthcare, and Celtic all require a payment to process the application. Unicare is the only insurance carrier that doesn't require a inital payment.

If you are approved, the insurance carrier will accept your payment and start the policy as of your effective date. If you are denied, the insurance carrier will accept the payment and will issue your a check for the exact same amount. The issue that some people have run into is that the insurance carrier cash ALL checks (so make sure that your bank account has sufficant funds to cover the cost and avoid overdraft fees). People were thinking that the insurance carriers just hold on the check until they get a response of the underwriting department. Which is untrue!

When you use www.gizmohealth.com, there is no application and service fees. Their webpage and brokers services are completely free to you, because they are compensated by the insurance carriers based on the number of clients that have with that carrier. Gizmo Health is a third party brokerage firm, that focuses on a solid relationships with the insurance carriers and excellent customer service. Gizmo Health will give you an honest opinion based on your individual health insurance needs.

Uninsured in Illinois

2008-11-20T12:19:00.000-06:00

1.8 million Illinois residents lack health coverage. 1.3 million of those uninsured live in the Chicagoland area. Latinos currently represent more than 30% of Illinois uninsured.

HPV vaccine free for Aetna clients

2008-11-19T11:28:00.000-06:00

Human Papillomavrius vaccine (HPV) Covered at 100% - Aetna’s Individual plans cover the vaccine (Gardisil) for girls ages 9 to 18 at 100%. No copay or coinsurance.

According to Center for Disease Control website (link below) the retail value is $375.

To apply directly to Aetna click: https://ips.aetna.com/Retail/Home_Login_Consumer.aspx?bid=2TzPPz%2fIcZA%3d

Gardisil: http://www.gardasil.com/

Center for disease control: http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/default.htm

To contact us at: http://www.gizmohealth.com/ call 312-884-5150

Customer Feedback 2/11/2008

2008-04-09T12:37:00.000-05:00

I spent many agonizing months battling the insurance company over unpaid and denied claims. Without his personal help, sincerity, dedication and relentless pursuit on my behalf I would not have received the care and coverage in which I was entitled to. I want to thank everyone at Gizmo Health for all they have done. - Teresa

Illinios Group vs. Individual Insurance facts

2008-04-04T11:23:00.000-05:00

All group insurance in Illinois includes maternity coverage, by law.

Individual insurance is medically underwritten, meaning your medical history is reviewed, giving the carrier the opportunity to deny coverage based on your medical condition. Group insurance with less than 50 members is guaranteed issue, meaning the carrier must cover the group, however the rates can be increased 67% based on medical underwriting.

Medical underwriting and an optional materity benefit allows insurance carriers to offer similar products to healthy individuals at a fracton of the group rate.

If you quailfy for individual coverage from BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Aetna, United healthcare, Unicare or Celtic on our web site, it is the best coverage for the money available in Illinios.

GizmoHealth.com

2008-02-08T16:45:00.000-06:00

Go GizmoHealth.com The Place to Buy Health Insurance. Call us 312-884-5150