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No-one said life ever has to be fair but, as parents, you quickly discover the world is not set up to make things easy for you. There are challenges at every turn. Of course, all the healthcare needs can be put on the back burner if you or your partner have a family plan provided by your employers. Now all you have to do is read the small print to see what coverage is provided for children while they are at elementary school or high school while still under the magic age of 18 years. After they pass the threshold of their eighteenth birthdays, the coverage gets more patchy. They are still family members but the extent of the coverage may change. If you have not been fortunate to find an employer offering health coverage as part of the pay package, the world has been less welcoming. It’s entirely possible that you and your family are one of the growing millions who are uninsured or underinsured. This leaves a number of options to explore for the children.

For some years, the federal government has recognized that children are the future of our country. If they do not grow up strong, the future may not see the US remain so dominant internationally. So, with federal encouragement, states have been offering a safety net for children. The alternatives are Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which was established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to expand health insurance coverage to uninsured children in families with income too high to qualify for Medicaid. For the record, Congress has provided about $40 billion to fund SCHIP through 2007. Federal funding is currently available. Outside the federal and state programs, some elementary and high schools group together to offer health coverage for their students where the families are uninsured or underinsured. Some states have not set generous criteria for access to their SCHIP and the group policies help the modestly well-off families bridge the health plan gap. Read the rest of this entry »

Medical are constantly going up every year, and if you don’t want or have the money to spend on costly healthcare services, here are some useful tips to make your expenses much lower.

1. Prevent problems before they arise

The most effective way to keep your medical costs low is to prevent any health problems from developing. Exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking, follow a diet, and run through regular medical checks at your doctor’s office. It all may sound simple, but the healthier you are the lower it will cost you to visit a doctor or get insurance.

2. Comparison shop when buying insurance

In case your employer doesn’t provide group insurance plans, you will benefit from individual insurance plans. But when shopping for insurance you will definitely notice how the rates differ from one company to another. Take it as an advantage and shop around, getting quotes from as many insurance providers as possible. This way you will find the most competitive offers that will help you save money. In case you are generally quite healthy and want to be insured only from serious illnesses or accidents, you will find more use from catastrophic insurance coverage.

3. Save money on prescription drugs

The most convenient way to cut costs on prescription drugs is getting them by mail in a several-month quantity either from pharmacies or online drugstores. This will cost you considerably less than buying from your local drugstore directly. In case your plan is a bit strict on the source of medications, you should ask your doctor about cheaper generic variations of the drug you’re prescribed whenever possible. Senior people and families with low-income can also contact pharmaceutical companies for direct assistance.

4. Sign with your spouse’s insurance plan

In many cases married people have two separate policies either provided by their employers or on an individual basis. And in most cases it’s not the best thing to have cost-wise. Analyze both of your policies to learn which one has better coverage and rates, and sign with the better one. Most insurance policies allow you to include your spouse so make sure to consult with your insurance company representative about that.

6. Ask about discounts

While not always medical institutions or insurance providers offer discounts, it never hurts to ask. First learn what other companies and facilities charge for the same services and in case the costs are lower, try negotiating a discount with your plan providers. Sometimes you can succeed in it, getting a good cut in costs. Read the rest of this entry »