The Insurance Mom, brought to you by Alison Gordon Insurance Services, Inc, CA Lic. 0780178

If you’re in California and have health insurance in California, then this one’s for you.

As of 7/1/12, you’re all going to have maternity benefits added to your existing coverage.  Wahoo!

Yes, it’s true… SB 222 and AB 210, passed last year by our illustrious governor, are going to give each and every one of you this brand new benefit…

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Good news!  Anthem Blue Cross has announced that Hospital Corporation of America’s California hospitals once again participate in Anthem BC’s’ network.

In Southern California:

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Zero is good when you eat zero carbs or have zero zits.   But zero is not so good when you have zero bars on your phone or on January 1st every year.    Why?    The Insurance Mom is so proud you asked such a good question.

Because every January 1st most health insurance deductibles re-set to… ZERO!   That’s right.   No matter…

Getting a prescription from your doctor doesn’t mean you don’t have choices about how to spend your money.

Ask your doctor if a generic drug is available and make sure it’s in the same class of drugs as the expensive brand name drug he wants to you to buy.

Generics have the same active ingredients, strengths and dose as the…

Need to get lab work done, such as blood or urine tests, PAP test or biopsy?

Think about using a lab that isn’t located in or part of a hospital.

They’re often way less expensive than a hospital lab, and some health insurance plans have a lower co-pay for outside labs.

And many outside labs have more flexible hours, like…

If you have a health problem that isn’t an emergency and you can’t see your regular doctor, think about going to an in-network retail clinic, walk-in doctor’s office or urgent care center.

They can take less time than an emergency room, are open nights and weekends and could save you a TON o’money!

Do YOU know what tests you need to ask your doctor about every year?

The Insurance Mom wants you to really take care of yourself.    Everyday I talk to people who, seemingly all of a sudden, get sick — and it comes as such a surprise to them.    What would be different if, every year, you have some simple tests…

$183,998.   That’s a lot of money!   On a national average, it’s what you’ll pay  if  your Mom or Dad lands in a nursing home for the average stay of 2.4 years.   That’s really a ton o’money!!

If your Mom or Dad would prefer to get better at home (and who wouldn’t?), the cost of home care is about double.…

The Insurance Mom wants to know… does this make ANY sense to you?

Last year it became possible for an unhealthy, uninsurable person to get guaranteed health insurance.  The government enacted the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP).   It’s available.  It’s affordable.  And the benefits aren’t too bad either.  Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?    Read on.

My…

Do you ever wonder how some people just know how to express a thought or a feeling perfectly?   Daphne Rose Kingma is that person.   If you welcome pure inspiration for the heart and soul, then Daphne Kingma is worth reading.    In the piece entitled “Letting Go,” she writes,

“No matter how hard you may try to end a relationship,…