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Archive for September, 2008

Big Drug Companies Hate Sharing Their Profits

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

In fact, they so dislike sharing their drug profits with other upstart generic drug makers that they’ve been known to delay generic drugs, and do everything in their power to keep them from being produced, come up with a new drug that isn’t a new drug, just a combination of two old ones with a twist, or apply for extended patent protection.

Sneaky dealings, but they sometimes work. The sad news is when the backroom boys do their thing the consumers wind up paying more for drugs than they need to and the cost of health care keeps spiraling up. This is one of the major reasons health insurance companies and other health care administrators are putting their foot down over the cost of drugs.

More and more the call is for cheaper, generic drugs. That makes the generic manufacturers happy, but really bums out the big pharmaceutical giants who are losing money. If you spend any time online researching drugs costs, you’ll rapidly get the big picture of drug companies run amok and taking aim at your not so deep pockets.

In a nutshell, buy generic. It’s the only way to keep the rising cost of medical care in check.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

Drug Companies Are Stalking You

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Drug companies really think the general populace hasn’t got a clue about what’s going on in the world of drug manufacturing. Their main reason for being is profit.

That’s just the saddest thing ever, a drug company putting profit before people. This isn’t a new concept. It’s been going on since forever – as far back as when the first miracle drug (penicillin) came out. It’s just that the greedy grubbing for money is more pronounced these days.

The reason the grab for your drug dollars is more evident now is that the drug companies are running out of new drugs. This isn’t a cheery state of affairs for any of them, as new drugs in their development pipeline keep them afloat financially. Problem is, what they produce is usually on patent. Translation: patent equals mega bucks at the pharmacy for a brand name drug.

Therefore they have to continually produce new drugs to stay in business. This is the major reason why they have fits when a drug comes of patent protection and allows the generic drug makers a crack at their once protected drug market. Big pharma does not like sharing its revenue pool.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

The Difference In Parts and Plans Is Confusing

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Not to confuse things here, but there is a difference between Parts and Plans. The Parts A – L offer things like drug coverage, hospital stay coverage and hospital services. The Plans are the things the fill in the gaps you have in the Parts. Whoever thought to call one a part and one a plan should be shot.

While this may be a “Huh?” moment, the trick to figuring this out is to find out which health insurance company is the most financially stable and has a B+ rating or higher. Then you want to find out what they can do for you for the best rate for your choice of Plan.

Let’s say you want Plan F, one of the most popular ones because it offers just about everything including the kitchen sink, can be sold by one health insurance company for $189.99 and by another for $99.96. Well it’s a no brainer to figure out where you will want to buy insurance.

If you’re lost somewhere between the Parts and the Plans, make it a point to call an expert health insurance agent. They will be able to sort the whole mess out for you in no time flat.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

Medicare Supplement Shopping Has Its Moments

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

The thing we all love to hate – shopping for Medicare supplements just got easier. No kidding, it isn’t as hard as you might think.

When you need a Medicare supplement to perk up your health care package the first thing many people do before trying to line one up is cringe. They dread the thought of being on the phone until the cows come home trying to find out where they can get the best deal.

Hours on the phone don’t always translate into something that makes any sense either, mores the pity. It’s not fun shopping for Medicare supplements, and many have been heard to liken the experience to a root canal.

Really, it doesn’t have to be that bad. The truth of the matter is that all the Parts A – L are standardized. That means they are all the same no matter what company you choose to get them from. If you’re shaking your head here and wondering what the heck, hang on for one minute. Although the Plans are standardized, the price the Plans are sold for isn’t.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

New Drugs Aren’t So New After All

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

This is an interesting area actually as drug companies are smart and market directly to consumers. Their main goal is to convince them they need the “newest” drug on the market because it’s better. Don’t believe that for one minute. Often the newest drug these days is a remake of the old one that worked just fine thanks a bunch.

The only reason drug companies oppose generic drug manufacturers is because they will lose market share and profits will suck like a vacuum. There is nothing wrong with generic drugs. They’re the same drug as the original patented one, perhaps formulated slightly differently. E.g. the coating may not be gelatin

Don’t be sucked in by the lure of a newer, better, more effective drug. If the old one is tried, tested and true, then why not use it? One thing is for sure; it’s a darn sight cheaper than the patented new drugs.

Yes it’s true – even when it comes to prescribing drugs the ka-ching is the driving force behind managing expenses. Learn to manage your own personal health care budget by asking for generic drugs at the pharmacy or better yet, ask your doctor to give you a script for the generic version of the drug you need.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

Generic Drugs

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Parts, Plans, Gaps! Confusing to say the least, which is why talking to a knowledgeable insurance agent, makes sense. No sense trying to sort through all the Parts and Plans on your own when agent advice is free and quite specific to your circumstances – and everyone one has a different set of circumstances.

For instance, in Texas you’re guaranteed issue when you’re enrolled in Part B. Or if you are just coming off a group health plan you’re guaranteed issue in 63 days. Now having said that, there are course a significant number of exceptions to the rules of thumb.

The one thing you may count on it that health insurers have different guidelines for medical underwriting and for pricing. Talk to an agent and don’t waste time trying to figure out what situation applies to you, as you’re likely to miss the boat on that one.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

Medicare Supplement Underwriting More Lenient

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

The underwriting for Medicare supplements is more lenient than for health insurance companies. That may work better for you if you have certain conditions that the insurance companies don’t want to cover.

Thankfully if you have certain conditions and apply for Medicare you don’t get the same kind of a bum’s rush as you may with a large health insurance company. Yes you may have to go through the medical underwriting routine in order for Medicare to determine what would work best for you (meaning you have lots of choices). But, choices are good things to have when it comes to Medicare supplements.

Usually the way it works is you have Part A (covers your stay in hospital but not the services) and Part B (which covers your services). Anything else you have over and above those two parts is rather like gravy. For instance, Part D – which is your drug coverage. Then if you have “gaps” in your health care coverage, you opt for Plan A through L for the extra bells and whistles.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

Texas Health Risk Pool Criteria In Short

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Basically you’re eligible for Pool coverage if you are under 65, live in Texas, and are a US citizen or a permanent resident of the US for at least 3 continuous years. You need to provide the Pool with proof of one of the following things:

• Refusal by an insurance company to issue individual health benefit plan coverage because of health conditions
• A certified statement from an insurance agent that says they can’t insure you with any state licensed insurance company due to your health conditions
• An offer by an insurance company to issue coverage that excludes a medical condition(s)
• You have been diagnosed with one of the substantial list of qualifying medical conditions to be accepted into the Pool. You can see the list online.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

The Texas Risk Pool Not for Splashing In

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Texas Risk Health Pool (Pool) coverage may be the answer if other health insurance carriers have declined you for insurance.

The Texas Health Pool or otherwise referred to as the Risk Pool – for obvious reasons – is a complex beast and if you need information because you have questions, then make a call to your local insurance agent.

They’re trained to give you what you need to know in minutes, instead of you taking hours to try and figure out what will work for you and what won’t. This applies with any insurance program you may be considering, but the Risk Pool is a slightly different kettle of fish.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

Title Costing Insurance Companies Money May Cause You To Be Declined For Coverage

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

If health insurance companies feel you will cost them money – yes, the bottom line for getting health care insurance is often whether you are going to cost the company money – they may choose to insure you but at a higher rate, insure you but not cover your particular condition, or do both, insure you at a higher rate and not cover your condition. They may also choose not to give you insurance either.

You might want to know that if they do choose to insure you with a certain condition and hike your rates, those rates may be as high as 25% to 50% over and above the preferred rate.

If they do decline to insure you, there are other options, and one of them is to shop around because all insurance companies are NOT equal in how they do their underwriting. If all else fails, then you may turn to the Texas Risk Pool.

To be able to access the Texas Risk Pool you must know you will be declined, have been declined or have a letter from an insurance agent that says you have been declined.

To learn more, visit http://www.texashealthandlife.com.

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