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 in your health insurance.

The new benefit will include, office visits, prenatal care, delivery and postnatal care.    The benefits for maternity costs will be treated just like any other benefits under your plan… deductible and co-pays will still apply.

And to reassure your pretty little heads, because this benefit is being added to all plans – and, therefore, the cost risk is spread over many, many more policies – your monthly premiums should not be affected.

Babies for all!

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:

Because every January 1st most health insurance deductibles re-set to… ZERO!   That’s right.   No matter how much of your deductible you met this year, starting 1/1 most likely your deductible starts all over again.

It doesn’t have to be all bad, though.   Remember that your deductible simply represents medical expenses your doctors have submitted to your insurance company… NOT how you’ve paid the bill.   YOU decide how to pay off your bills; don’t let the doctor’s billing service tell you how to budget your money for their benefit.

Fight for your money!   Feel free to be in touch with The Insurance Mom to brainstorm this brilliant money management idea.

Happy New Year everyone!

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 more expensive brand name versions.

A single manufacturer no longer holds the (17 year!) patent, so there’s more competition to keep the price down.

Tell your doctor that if he wants you to have a brand name drug, then spend his money not yours!  Or give you free samples.

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 when you need to go early in the morning before your half-caf-half-decaf-low-fat-vanilla-with-a-hint-of-cinammon-latte.

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

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 done?

You might just stay healthy, that’s what (and save money, too!).   It’s easy.  You can do it, I know you can!  And then you can tell all your friends that The Insurance Mom is taking care of you.

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

Do you have over $180,000 (or more?) to pay for long term care services?   No?  Do your parents have over $180,000 to pay for long term services?  No?   What ever will you do?

The Insurance Mom knows!  Doesn’t that make you feel better already?    Long Term Care Insurance is the answer.   Let an insurance company pay the bills.

Find out how.   What better reason to call The Insurance Mom?

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 uninsurable client qualifed and voila! — on March 1st he had pretty good health insurance.    But because of his escalating mental health problems, he forgot to pay the premium and his coverage was cancelled.

Under other circumstances, he would be allowed to pay the back premium and get his coverage reinstated.  But because this is a government run program the guidelines are different.

PCIP won’t allow payment of back premium.  PCIP won’t allow reinstatement.  PCIP will only allow my client to file an appeal… one that could take up to two weeks and has the possibility of being denied.    If the appeal is denied, my poor, suffering client cannot re-apply for 6 months.

He is unwell.  He cannot begin treatment.  He cannot continue treatment.   And he may not be able to get another PCIP policy for 6 months.

Because in order to qualify for the government run PCIP, one must be uninsured for 6 months or more.

And this is from the folks who want to give us government run health care insurance.

“No matter how hard you may try to end a relationship, it isn’t over until it’s over on every level for each person who was once a part of it.  So long as either of you is still attached, the relationship remains – if only as a fantasy.  So long as you are attached, by sorrow, anger, or disappointment, to the relationship of the past, you escape the joy of the relationships of the future.

Do you have any loose ends with someone that still need tying up?  Are you still grieving for the partner who left you for someone else?  Angry at the spouse who abandoned you and your children?

Whatever unresolved feelings you harbor, they are affecting your present capacity to love.  Do yourself a favor and work them through, if need be with professional help.  Because only when you have truly let go will you be able to take hold of something new.”

The Insurance Mom wants you to have a loving, peaceful heart.   When you live love and feel the peace, your body won’t be under so much stress.  And when you’re feeling less stressed, your body won’t hurt so much.   And when you’re not hurting you won’t go to the doctor so much or take so many medications.

And then?   And then you won’t have to rely on a health insurance company to pay for medical expenses and prescriptions.

Amazing!     See how that works?