ObamaCare and Class Warfare

I read the news everyday, and there are always quotes detailing how the rich are taking/getting more than their share.  There is no doubt that people with money have more (of everything) than people without.  The beautiful thing about this country (U.S.A) is that we ALL have the opportunity to better ourselves, and succeed beyond our wildest imagination.  It wasn't until the 1920's that Americans really started recieving "things" from their friendly, altruistic government, and it wasn't until decades later that Americans expected these "things".  Prior to that, charities did a fair job of caring for the underprivileged and needy.  At that time, the "hand up" mentality was more common than the "hand out" mentality.  Charity and community were the orders of the day for those that needed it most.  The fact is that "rich" people can afford to equip themselves better than "poor" people because they have done the things necessary to make the money that they have. In spite of the government's best efforts to help the less fortunate: free food, housing, healthcare, college, business grants....etc., there is still a large segment of the population that remains (and will always remain) impoverished.  It makes you wonder who is actually benefitting from these "freebies".  There is a quote that was uttered a long time ago, but has never been truer than it is today,

 "If you rob Peter to pay Paul, Paul will always support the guy that is robbing Peter".

Enter ObamaCare.  There was a great survey on squidoo.com (http://www.squidoo.com/Obamas-Health-Care-Plan-Poll).  The survey has a nice "schmere" of questions, but the this part is what prompted this blog:

Now everyone will be able to get the care they need instead of only the wealthy

This implies that people without money have been going without care.  There are some cases where this is true, but the lions share of people without money (that have a health need), get treated.  There is no question that money will get you better care, and that will always be the case.  The question isn't "should the poor and sick get the care that they need"?  The first question that we should ask is "should the federal gov't be involved in healthcare"?  If we answer "yes" to that question, the next question is "how?".  There are essentially two options. 

1. Create a massive beauracracy to dictate who/how/when/what type of care is recieved; and maybe even provide said care
• this promotes the idea of "Paul" voting for the guy robbing "Peter"
2. Provide tax incentives to any organization that would like to provide/support charity care to the people that needed it most.
• this doesn't promote any voting block...just better care for those in need.

This is not an anti ObamaCare rant.  It is more of a frustration about the lack of personal responsibility and pride that plagues many Americans today.  I am not saying that being successful, or making more money is easy, but in this country anything is possible.  There is no shortage of people/organizations willing to help anyone to learn a new skill/trade to better themselves.  Here is an idea,  help yourself.  Go to the library...it is free.  Read a book, watch a how to video, apply yourself, and attain a goal. 

The problem isn't the system, it is what the system has done to a good portion of the population, and how it has shaped their views about themselves and their abilities to succeed.  The "teach a man to fish" parable comes to mind. 

Opinions, Comments and thoughts are appreciated.

If you would like to contact me directly: tuzzell@insphereis.com

Long Term Care...The Rest of the Story

Long Term Care Insurance is quite possibly the most underutilized insurance product with the best bang for the buck on the market today.  Before we get into the dollars and cents, let me paraphrase a definition.  Long Term Care can take on many forms: skilled nursing, assited living, nursing home, in home aid, certified family member looking after you.  The way that insurance companies define it is where the rubber meets the road.  A couple of months ago, a rep. from a major LTC insurance provider stated that if a person is unable to perform at least two ADL's (activities of daily living) then they can make a claim on their LTC policy.  ADL's are common things.  I am sure that if you gave it just a little thought, you could come up with a handful of people in your inner circle that could have used this type of insurance (after car accident, stroke, surgery...).  The thing that most folks don't understand about making a claim is that it doesn't have to be for forever.  If you just needed aid for a couple of months, that would be an option, and after said care was rendered, the policy would still be in force;  now that's insurance.

Now lets talk dollars.  As I said, LTC can cover many types of care:  skilled nursing ($100-300/day), assisted living ($1000/month and up), nursing home ($2000/month and up), in home aid (20/hr and up), and a family member (certified ) caring for you (whatever they want to charge).  There are other types of covered care, but this is a decent list.  The dollar amounts noted are empirical to my experiences in Arizona.  In my opinion, LTC insurance is cool because you could use in the event that you needed it when you are young, but the vast majority of people will require some form of long term care when they get older.

A good example is a 70 year old woman that needs more care than her family can handle.  She would be well served to get into an assisted living facility.  For this example let assume that they wanted a very nice facility where meals were provided, and there were nurses on staff at all times.  This might cost around $3000-$4000 per month.  If they didn't have an LTC policy in place, she, or her family would be on the hook for about $50,000/year.  This lady wasn't sick, just needed some care.  Grandma might live to be 85 or 90.  The costs of this facility could definitely add up.  If the funds dried up, she would have to change facilities, or rely on Medicaid to foot the bill (at a Medicaid approved facility).  If she had Long Term Care Insurance, a pool of money would have been growing (tax free) since the day of inception.  I could go on and on about how much money she would have had, and saved, with a little forethought.

Scenarios like these are endless, and each situation is different.  The best way to get into one of these plans is at a young age.  This will allow you to take advantage of time, and truly grow a vast pool of money that you can use when the time comes.  As modern medicine continues to improve, life expectancy increases.  The fact is, for 60% (or more) of us, the day that we need long term care will come.

Opinions, Comments and Thoughts are appreciated



For a quote, contact me at www.insphereis.com/tuzzell



http://www.squidoo.com/longtermcare
http://www.consumerinsuranceguide.com/long_term_care_insurance/long-term-care-insurance-is-more-than-nursing-home-care/
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20130303-LIFE-303030324

10 Things to consider before buying Health Insurance

I thought that a list would be pertainant to help you navigate through the confusing world of health insurance.  There are a lot of things to think about when deciding on an insurance plan.  It is important to find a carrier and design a plan that fits the needs of you and your family because, if something medical happens in the future, this could be your health plan for life.  With that in mind, lets get started.

1. Have a budget in mind +Ashley Barnett 
• This might be the most important piece to the puzzle.  If you don't know what you can afford to set aside to protect your family then this is a difficult discussion to have.
2. Be prepared to discuss your medical history.
• I know that this is private, but there is no way around it.  If you don't feel comfortable enough with the agent to talk about yourself, then you might need a new agent.  There is no real way to hide any diagnosed condition from the health insurance provider; they do their due diligence.
3. Understand MOOP (maximum out of pocket)
• This is super important...Each health plan is a little different.  The MOOP is the most that you would have to come out of pocket before the insurance company will cover you 100%.  The math goes like this: deductable + coinsurance (if you have one).  There are specific rules that apply to families in order to make the worst case scenario more manageable. 
4. Will you need prescription benefits
• This is one of the catch 22's of the initial application process.  You may not have a need now, but if you elect to have no Rx benefit at the beginning, it is very difficult to add in later.  Some prescriptions can get prohibitively expensive.
5. What is your comfort level regarding deductable and coinsurance
• Many people that have had a group plan in the past are used to having low deductables ($1000-2500).  In the individual health insurance market, the relationship of deductable to premium is very evident.  If you like the idea of a high monthly premium for a deductable that you hopefully will never reach, then be my guest.  If not, design a plan with a higher deductable, and utilize all of the products that the market has to offer to keep your money in your pocket until you really need it.
6. Is your preferred doctor in the network
• If you have a doctor that you like, this is a deal breaker.
7. If you travel alot, this is important
• If you do any travelling, understand what kind of network your health insurance plan has.  Being out of town, and out of network can turn a nice vacation into a nice bankrupcy.
8. Is dental or vision insurance a concern
• These are insurance policies that many peoplel hold dear to their heart.  Plans for these types of coverages vary, so read the fine print.
9. Having supplemental insurance will limit exposure
• The idea of supplemental insurance has been around for long time.  As health insurance costs continue to rise, the popularity of these cash payout policies is on the rise.  Many people use these as a hedge against a higher deductable in order to maximize their protection and keep their premiums down.
10. Find a knowledgeable agent to guide you through the process
• Having someone that understands the market, the available products, and that can disseminate all of that information to you in simple terms is priceless.

I hope that you feel more prepared to delve into the world of health insurance.  If you have any questions, my contact info is below.  Feel free to use it.

Opinions, Thoughts, and Comments are always appreciated.

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Todd Uzzell
www.insphereis.com/tuzzell
todd.uzzell@gmail.com