|
Click Here to Submit Feedback
Medically Uninsurable
Michael M.
from Minnesota writes:
"Thanks for the AWESOME info. My wife is a type I diabetic and
obviously needs a lower deductible plan but I don't. Should we get
her the state guaranteed coverage here in MN and set up an HSA for
me?"
RESPONSE: You already know the correct answer,
but read carefully Chapters 4 and 6 for how to apply and select the
best coverage for yourself. You live in a very good state for
state-guaranteed coverage --see
http://tnhis.com/mn -- a low-deductible
state-guaranteed plan in Minnesota is only $197 a month (vs
$142/month for similar healthy-person coverage).
New York State Residents
David and
Stephanie L. from NY write:
I am self-employed living in New York State and my family and I
currently have no health insurance. We make too much money for
Medicaid, HealthyNY, or Child Health Plus.The appendix indicates
that New Yorkers cannot get high deductible HSA-qualified plans.
Should this book say, "Don't bother buying this if you live in New
York State" or am I missing something here?
RESPONSE: Regarding Health Savings Accounts, the overwhelming
majority of working New Yorkers receive health insurance from their
employer, and employer-sponsored HSA plans are allowed in New York
State. However, the main thesis of the book is not about HSAs, but
about how individual plans are better than group plans, and this is
true even in New York. Virtually every chapter contains information
on ways to save money that fully apply to New York residents. And
finally, if you are ill or older you are actually better off in New
York than in most other states with an individual policy.
Joining the Revolution
Quincy R. writes:
I would like to congratulate you on your intrepid spirit in digging
out and telling forth this new knowledge. I think it is quite
revolutionary. I am ready to join the revolution. How i could find
information on how to set up everyone in my state with this program.
I am a licensed insurance producer in my state.
RESPONSE: The book itself is self-explanatory for an entrepreneur
like yourself to start a business offering individual health
insurance to individuals directly, and to employees indirectly
through employer-sponsored HRAs. One company already doing this,
ExtendBenefits.com which was founded by Professor Pilzer, was
substantially acquired this year by Steve Case's Revolution Health
Group. See
http://www.tnhis.com/ibdoct05.htm
Excited about Health
Insurance
Bryce
Eddings writes: (see
http://breddings.blogspot.com/2005/12/book-review-new-health-insurance.html)
This guy is excited about health insurance. I really have never
encountered anyone with so much enthusiasm for this, to me, mind
numbingly boring topic. His excitement really comes through in the
book. Under most writers I wouldn’t make it two paragraphs into this
subject before falling asleep. But Pilzer keeps the reader’s
attention with his enthusiasm.
The first
section of the book is called “Executive Summary.” In it he presents
almost every realistic health insurance scenario followed by a
summarized solution and where you can find the specific details of
his solution in the book.
RESPONSE: Thank you for writing such a thorough review of the book.
Legislation for New Yorkers
Catherine
G. writes:
I was confused by what you said in the recent CNN interview. I feel
there is no option for me regarding health insurance. I NEVER get
sick. The only medication I take is vitamins. I am retired, too
young for Medicare, and pay almost $600 per month for my (New York)
Empire BlueCross health insurance. Do you think there is a better
solution?
RESPONSE: I am very sorry that you live in New York--the worst
state in the U.S. for affordable health insurance. You should be
paying $100-$125/month for good health insurance, and would be, in
any other state except NY, NJ, ME, VT and MA. The NY State
legislature would rather no one in NY get affordable health
insurance vs the 90% of basically healthy individuals. Fortunately,
help is on the way.
Click here to read an article from last month's
New York Daily News, and take time to contact your state
representatives and tell them to stop lobbying against this bill
which would allow you to purchase affordable health insurance from
any blue cross (or any other) quality carrier outside of New York
State. See
http://tnhis.com/nydailynewsnov2005.htm
Small Business Owner
Kurt V.
writes:
This afternoon a seatmate on my Dallas-Kansas City flight asked
me about your book, The New
Health Insurance Solution. I told him that it was the
most important book I have read this year, perhaps the most
important book I will read for years to come. I am small business
owner who has suffered these last three years coping with a 50%
increase in premium rates, while trying to provide good benefits and
protection for my employees who work hard and produce so much for my
company.
THANK YOU
for providing this information in a comprehensive and clear tome. I
believe your book information will lead my company, and the rest of
my friends' companies, into the vanguard of the health
care revolution, saving and making us and our good employees a
fortune in the process. In a few moments I'm going to your site to
buy a bunch of copies -- one each for my employees, family and
friends.
RESPONSE: Thank you very much.
Certified Financial Planner
Todd T.
writes:
I'm a CFP with successful practice and believe HSAs will be a
revolution in personal insurance planning. Thank you for an amazing
book!
RESPONSE: Thank you very much.
Crossing State Lines
Joe G. writes:
Are policies transportable across state lines? For example, we live
in California and plan to move to Washington in a few years. If we
buy a policy in California now, will it follow us to Washington?
RESPONSE: This decision is left up to the carrier, so you have to
ask each carrier you are considering. There are several national
carriers (e.g. Fortis, Golden Rule, Humana) that operate in 49
states, but even with those carriers you cannot freely transfer
between states since the policies are often different between states
due to individual state regulations. If you get a policy from a
national carrier now in California, you want them to put in writing
that this policy can be transferred or kept when you move to
Washington without medical re-underwriting--although the premiums
will change to the then-prevailing rates for healthy applicants in
Washington.
Premium Increases
Ved S. from
Columbus, Ohio writes:
Thank you for your book The
New Health Insurance Solution. I was able to learn a
whole lot more about HSAs and also how to protect my Deductible
using an Accident medical expense. I even got this protection
through your company Extend Benefits. I have come to understand that
once I get insurance for my family, the company cannot raise our
premium (me and my family) because of medical claims, etc. The
premium increases can only be based on inflation and other related
factors. Am I correct in my understanding? In my particular case on
June 2005 my (Golden Rule Insurance) premium was increased by almost
$31 (from $142 to $173) to even though I did not have any medical
claims at all. They said that because I had turned 30.
RESPONSE: Premiums are almost always increased whenever you go into
the next "age band" (typically 25-29, 30-43, 35-39 etc.). Most
quality policies (and I'm sure all sold by Golden Rule) are
"guaranteed renewable" which in most/all states means that your
premium cannot be increased due to claims history and that you must
be offered renewal. I believe that your insurance carrier is
correct--all individual policies typically increase with age.
Foreign Nationals
Ritest R.
writes:
I would like to say that I liked your book very much and it has
enhanced my understanding of health insurance tremendously. I am a
resident of New Hampshire. Recently I have come to know that only
those persons who are US citizens or permanent residents are
eligible for individual health insurance policies in New Hampshire.
It usually takes 4-5 years to get permanent resident status so I
would like to take your advice as to what options are available for
non-permanent resident aliens who are not getting health insurance
from their employers.
RESPONSE: What you cite above is, in most states, not a government
regulation but a policy of many private individual health insurance
carriers. Thus, you should check with all carriers offering policies
in NH--you can get a list of them from New Hampshire Insurance
Department (603) 271-2261
www.nh.gov/insurance/
Separately, there are several good "guest" policies available for
individuals and their families who are "traveling" in the United
States but who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. You
should inquire about these via
www.ehealthinsurance.com
and
www.extendone.com. See page 59
of the book for more on these, and also check with Golden Rule,
Humana, and Fortis.
Health Savings Accounts
Eric F. writes:
For an HSA, you say I need insurance to get insurance? I think I'm
missing the point.
RESPONSE: As explained several times in Chapter 6, you must first
get an HSA-qualified high deductible health insurance policy in
order to be able to open a Health Savings Account (HSA) at your
local bank or brokerage firm.
Personal Financial Planner
Peter D.
writes:
First of all congratulations on an excellent book, which I cruised
through in one sitting today. I purchased the book to help me as a
Personal Financial Planner and I also wanted to find out how I could
best implement an HSA while my family is now on COBRA and my wife
has a preexisting condition, has been denied coverage and may be
HIPAA eligible. The book was excellent.
RESPONSE: Thank you very much.
COBRA Eligibility
Amanda D writes:
I have a question about COBRA. I heard you speaking on The 700 Club
about free cobra for three months when a person has been dismissed
from their job but is it also true when you leave your job
voluntarily. I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
RESPONSE: Yes, as explained on page 35
(Chapter 3) you become eligible for COBRA when your employment is
a voluntary or involuntary termination (except for reasons of "gross
misconduct"). The COBRA Loophole described on page 38 can get you
the equivalent of 3 1/2 months free coverage completely independent
of why or how you became eligible for COBRA.
Couldn't Put it Down
Daniel L. writes:
I just got
your book tonight, and I’ve not been able to put it down! I sell
individual insurance policies, and I’ve already learned an amazing
amount. Thanks for writing it. You did a great job. I can’t wait to
tell my co-workers on Monday.
RESPONSE: Thank you very much.
Switching from COBRA
Patty N. from Huntington Beach, CA writes:
Just
wanted to let you know that we just received our approval from Blue
Shield of California for an HSA qualified health plan to cover our
family of 5 for $529 less per month than we were paying for COBRA.
We've already opened an HSA which we will fund with the savings
we're making on the premiums. I applied for the policy through
ehealthinsurance.com....what a great experience and everything you
mentioned in the book was right on the money. This is all thanks to
your book! I have an MBA and consider myself to be fairly well read
on money matters but this would have slipped through my fingers if
your book were not so well written. I'm a stay at home mom now so
I'm looking out for every dollar – I just found thousands!!
RESPONSE: Thank you very much! I am very
pleased that the book was able to
help you.
|
