I have the money to pay for it, so I don’t need the insurance to cover it..But the medical forms ask for that information, and I don’t have health insurance yet ?

Does it matter ? Can I get the surgery without it ?

Access to health insurance is protected by federal law if your employer offers group coverage.

But if you need to buy insurance on your own and you have a record of medical problems, finding affordable health insurance can be a challenge.

Either way, you can take steps to control your health-care premium.

Get the most from your company’s plan

If you’re insured through your employer, take a look at your coverage annually when your company holds open enrollment.

•    You may have a choice of several types of providers. Base your decision on access to quality care and what the plan does and doesn’t pay for. Examine deductibles, co-payments, limits on out-of-pocket expenses, lifetime maximum benefits and prescription coverage

•    Have your medical needs changed? A plan that couples higher premiums with lower co-pays is better for people with health problems.

•    You can pay out-of-pocket health-care expenses with a flexible spending account using pretax dollars, meaning Uncle Sam covers as much as a third of the tab. But you’ll lose what you don’t use in the calendar year (employers can extend the deadline to mid-March), and you can’t take it from job to job.

•    You may be able to lower your premiums by taking advantage of employee incentives to lose weight, exercise and stop smoking. (Your employer’s plan cannot single you out for higher premiums or drop your coverage if you develop health problems.)

Cheaper ways to buy it yourself

Another option for paying out-of-pocket medical expenses is the health savings account. An HSA is available only if you buy high-deductible health insurance through your employer or on your own. (See “Get cheaper medical coverage — with a tax break.”) Not every high-deductible plan can be partnered with an HSA.

•    The Internal Revenue Service will allow maximum HSA contributions of $3,050 for individuals and $6,150 for families in 2010. Your contribution is either pretax or deductible, even if you don’t itemize, and earnings and withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free.

•    Unlike a flexible spending account, your money is invested, and what you don’t spend will roll over to the next year. You can take the account with you if you change jobs.

•    Use HSA Insider[http://www.hsainsider.com/], HealthDecisions.org or eHealthInsurance -[http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi/HSAAvailableStates.ds] to find insurance that qualifies as high-deductible under IRS regulations.

•    You can make contributions up to age 65. After that, you can make taxable withdrawals for any purpose you like

For e harder times

If you’re between jobs at the moment, do your best not to let insurance coverage lapse. Some provisions of federal law that protect access to insurance don’t apply if you’ve been without coverage for 63 days (longer in some states).

COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, allows you to keep  group coverage after your job ends, generally for 18 months, but you’ll pay the entire premium. Know your rights under federal law and state law.

•    You can continue contributing to your flex account under COBRA, giving you more time to use the money.

•    You can use your HSA to pay COBRA or other health insurance premiums if you’re receiving unemployment compensation.

•    Under certain circumstances, you can make penalty-free withdrawals from an IRA to pay premiums if you’re unemployed.

When you start a new job, enroll in your employer’s health plan at the first opportunity. Under HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,you cannot be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition (one for which you’ve received advice or treatment in the previous six months, including mental health disorders but excluding pregnancy) for more than 12 months (shorter in some states) or 18 months for late enrollees. That period will be reduced by the amount of time you were previously insured without a 63-day break in coverage.

Self-employed?

If you’re self-employed or your employer doesn’t provide health insurance, part two of this article will cover that in debt but here is some information as a primer.

•    Cost and availability of individual insurance vary from state to state. Check your state insurance department’s Web site. Visit eHealthInsurance and the Web site of the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

•    HIPAA says a private insurer cannot deny insurance or exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions if you had coverage for 18 months without a 63-day break, most recently with a group plan; have exhausted or are ineligible for COBRA; and are not eligible for a group or government-sponsored plan. Each state has rules for providing HIPAA coverage.

•    Many states have high-risk pools for people who meet the HIPAA guidelines and for those unable to find affordable coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions. Many states set a cap on pool premiums, usually between 125% and 200% of market rate.

•    Medicare kicks in at age 65. Even so, a couple should plan to spend $240,000 for out-of-pocket medical expenses in retirement, not including the cost of long-term care.

•    Even if your company now offers retiree health insurance, it may not by time you retire. (See “Don’t bet on your retiree health care.”)

•    Count on Medicare premiums to go up. By federal law, 25% of Medicare’s costs must be covered by premiums.

•    More than half of people on Medicare buy Medigap supplemental insurance. Medicare Select is a lower-cost alternative.

•    Read “How to pick a Medicare drug plan.” Consult the Medicare site for information about prescription coverage and filling a gap in the coverage. Help is available to pay for medications.

•    Many of us will eventually need nursing-home care. Consider buying long-term-care insurance with inflation protection in your 50s, when premiums are lower.

More than 46 million Americans have no health insurance. Some help is available. (See “A survival guide for the uninsured.”)

•    Medicaid provides health care for those in poverty, and states provide insurance for low-income children.

•    Free or low-cost care and reproductive planning are available at community health centers. Also look for free or low-cost mammograms and Pap tests.

•    Prescription drug help may be available at NeedyMedsand the Partnership for Prescription Assistance.

•    Lions Club International provides free vision screening and used eyeglasses.
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•    If you live near a medical school, you may be able to find affordable dental or eye care through students — overseen by doctors, of course.

Insured or not, you can cut your expenses for medications:

•    Buy generic if possible, and price shop. Check Rxaminer and DestinationRx. Some stores offer big discounts on generics. If you shop online, chose a provider accredited by VIPPS, Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites. Never buy from an online pharmacy that doesn’t require a prescription. (See “13 ways to save on prescriptions.”)

•    Ask your doctor and pharmacist if alternative therapies or over-the-counter medications will provide the same results. Check Consumer Reports’ Best Buy Drugs.

•    Buy store-brand or off-brand OTC drugs, which are often identical to their more expensive brand-name cousins.

•    Ask your doctor to double the dosage so you can use a pill splitter to cut costs. Ask for free samples.
•    Go to RxAssist to learn about drug discount cards.

I was wondering where I can find information on the web services (REST/SOAP) or APIs the health insurance companies provide to check the insurance of elegibility of patients online and in real time?

I have a birthmark that Im trying to get rid of, Ive been asking around clinics/spas ect. and they reffed me to a dermatologist, i called one up and they asked about my insurance beacuse they might be able to cover it.

Im trying to do this under my parents noise beacuse we tried to get it removed when I was a kid but I didin’t work so I kind of just gave up for a few years, (It was 12 years ago, i am now 19) I think it might be possible now a days, Its not that big ive been doing some research and I think its called a

Cafe au lait spot

I think either Microdermabrasion or a chemical peel could help me.

Ive been trying to keep it a secret but I don’t have any money, so if my parents insurance could cover it It would really be great. My birthday is next month (Sept 28) and If I got it all checked out enough to where I could get a treatment to get rid of it I was gonna try to ask for it for my birthday

Its a brown patch on my face, its really been hindering my life. phycologicly, its not doing any harm physically, its purely cosmetic

Health Insurance Information

I am looking for some type of health coverage. I haven’t had health insurance in almost a year. I am only covered when my mom has a full time job, which she does not right now.

Sorry if it doesnt make sense but any useful information will be greatly appreciated.

Health Insurance Information

Please advice.

Thanks.

[health insurance]