Today's alternative health Article
Using Consumer Reports' Health Plan Ratings

It has always been difficult for consumers who purchase health insurance to find meaningful data on the quality of the available plans. It has been even more difficult, I think, for a health insurance buyer to translate the published data into conclusions relevant to their own purchasing situation since most individual and small business purchasers have different concerns than the majority of employees of larger corporations. Much of the available data just is not relevant to individuals and small businesses. But now the "king of all ratings" - Consumer Reports Magazine - has spoken on the issue of health insurance plans, I think it makes sense to defer to them and consider how this well-known rating system might be useful for buyers of health plans.

Consumer Reports published a review of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) and Preferred Provided Organizations (PPO) health plans in their October 2001 issue. The report is available free online. Like most other CR reports, you have to be knowledgeable in the subject material and really read between the lines to get the true value of the ratings report.

Since my company MedSave.com doesn't handle HMOs and I personally don't like them, I skipped that section. The report on PPOs is likely to be much more interesting to most individual or small businesses buyers of health insurance. Certainly HMOs are the right answer or even the only answer - in some situations, but I just think that quality shopping for a HMO is an oxymoron. But the flexible design of PPO plans in todays market makes it is more likely that a shopper will find an attractive value in a PPO plan rather than in an HMO.

Six of the seven top-ranked PPO networks are operated by local Blue Cross associations. This is good news unless you happen to be among of the majority of Americans who does not live in one of these six geographic service regions, or you can't afford the generally high costs that come with a premium Blue Cross/Blue Shield health plan. This is the most significant result of the CR report: Blue Cross PPO networks are doing a good job satisfying their members. Certainly these are premium-care, premium-cost plans. Unfortunately, with average family premiums well above $700 per month, many individual and small business buyers simply cannot afford the cost of these plans.

The highest-ranking private national PPO plan was Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS). This was great to see because I've always recommended PHCS and personally felt they were the best option for the largest group of buyers, but I had no hard evidence to back up this opinion.

PHCS health plans are available in some form to everyone in all 50 states through a variety of insurance plans and uninsured plans. The insurance plans are available to perhaps 80% of small businesses and 50% of healthy individuals, but individuals with health problems will have trouble finding one of these plans. Beware of the uninsured discount plans. The concept is good, but the price is not. It is highly unlikely that this is a good financial deal for any buyer. Unfortunately these plans are hyped on the Web and junk e-mail to the point where we cannot seem to get away from them.

The most attractive feature of the PHSC health network plans is that they often can be combined with other cost-saving plan design features like preferred-risk and preferred-industry discounts, high deductible plans and Medical Savings Accounts. With high deductible plans, keep in mind that you still benefit from direct in-network claims processing and substantial provider discounts even if your bill is lower than the policy deductible. A benefits consultant can design a plan to fit almost any budget simply by adjusting the levels of insurance coverage.

Most health plans today offer a variety of PPO network choices, and it is often possible to use more than one PPO network within a single health insurance plan. In some locations a small local PPO may be strong choice, but might not even be listed in the CR rating system due to its size. Often an individual or small business located in a rural area may wisely select a PPO based solely on the participation of the dominant hospital system in their own community despite a lower rating in the CR survey.

In any event, I think that most of us would agree that "more news is good news" when it comes to providing public information about the quality of our nation's health insurance plans.

Consumer Reports published a review of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) and Preferred Provided Organizations (PPO) health plans in their October 2001 issue. The report is available free online. Like most other CR reports, you have to be knowledgeable in the subject material and really read between the lines to get the true value of the ratings report.

Since my company MedSave.com doesn't handle HMOs and I personally don't like them, I skipped that section. The report on PPOs is likely to be much more interesting to most individual or small businesses buyers of health insurance. Certainly HMOs are the right answer or even the only answer - in some situations, but I just think that quality shopping for a HMO is an oxymoron. But the flexible design of PPO plans in todays market makes it is more likely that a shopper will find an attractive value in a PPO plan rather than in an HMO.

Six of the seven top-ranked PPO networks are operated by local Blue Cross associations. This is good news unless you happen to be among of the majority of Americans who does not live in one of these six geographic service regions, or you can't afford the generally high costs that come with a premium Blue Cross/Blue Shield health plan. This is the most significant result of the CR report: Blue Cross PPO networks are doing a good job satisfying their members. Certainly these are premium-care, premium-cost plans. Unfortunately, with average family premiums well above $700 per month, many individual and small business buyers simply cannot afford the cost of these plans.

The highest-ranking private national PPO plan was Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS). This was great to see because I've always recommended PHCS and personally felt they were the best option for the largest group of buyers, but I had no hard evidence to back up this opinion.

PHCS health plans are available in some form to everyone in all 50 states through a variety of insurance plans and uninsured plans. The insurance plans are available to perhaps 80% of small businesses and 50% of healthy individuals, but individuals with health problems will have trouble finding one of these plans. Beware of the uninsured discount plans. The concept is good, but the price is not. It is highly unlikely that this is a good financial deal for any buyer. Unfortunately these plans are hyped on the Web and junk e-mail to the point where we cannot seem to get away from them.

The most attractive feature of the PHSC health network plans is that they often can be combined with other cost-saving plan design features like preferred-risk and preferred-industry discounts, high deductible plans and Medical Savings Accounts. With high deductible plans, keep in mind that you still benefit from direct in-network claims processing and substantial provider discounts even if your bill is lower than the policy deductible. A benefits consultant can design a plan to fit almost any budget simply by adjusting the levels of insurance coverage.

Most health plans today offer a variety of PPO network choices, and it is often possible to use more than one PPO network within a single health insurance plan. In some locations a small local PPO may be strong choice, but might not even be listed in the CR rating system due to its size. Often an individual or small business located in a rural area may wisely select a PPO based solely on the participation of the dominant hospital system in their own community despite a lower rating in the CR survey.

In any event, I think that most of us would agree that "more news is good news" when it comes to providing public information about the quality of our nation's health insurance plans.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tony Novak, MBA, MT, is a writer and financial adviser based in Narberth, PA running MedSave.com and Freedom Benefits Association. His businesses provide Internet or Intranet-based benefits enrollment to hundreds of small businesses in 47 states. Novak is an online moderator and frequent contributor to Financial Planning Interactive and other publications in the area of tax and benefits planning. He can be reached at (877) 529-7435.

A Short alternative health Summary
Vibrant Health Now eBooks.

Providing health and fitness related eBooks.
Vibrant Health Now eBooks.

How To Manifest What You Want.

Secrets on how to Manifest Wealth, Health and Success!
How To Manifest What You Want.

Colon Cleansing For Better Health.

Natural means of colon cleansing to enhance health - 50% commission.
Colon Cleansing For Better Health.

Cease Your Struggle With Weight & Diets.

Reveals the truth about diets & why they don't work and how to be naturally healthy for life!
Cease Your Struggle With Weight & Diets.

Mid Life Mom's.

Dedicated to the health, wealth, and special needs of the mature mom. See Our New Books.
Mid Life Mom's.

Recommended alternative health Items
Hollister 7806 Softflex 10/Box

No Details Available

Price: 40.90

BD Syringe 3ml 22 Gauge 1 Inch Needle 100/Box

No Details Available

Price: 22.89

Clean & Clear Dual Act Moisturizer Regular 4oz.

"Salicylic Acid Acne MedicationFor soft, clear skinMosturizes dry skinTreats & helps prevent pimplesThis unique lotion combines oil-free mosturizers with a proven pimple-fighting ingredient. Leaves skin feeling smooth and soft while helping to treat and prevent pimples.For the management of acneActive Ingredients: Contains: Salicylic Acid (0.5%) (Acne medication)Inactive Ingredients: Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diisostearate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Dicetyl phosphate, Ceteth-10-Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Menthyl Lactate, Steareth-20, Steareth-2, Fragrance, Xantham Gum, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, BHTFor external use only. Using other topical acne medications at the same time or immediately following use of this product may increase dryness or irritation of the skin. If this occurs, only one medication should be used unless directed by a doctor. Avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, immediately flush with water. In case of accidental ingestion, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away"

Price: 5.29

Hollister 3902 Centerpointlock 10/Box

No Details Available

Price: 38.58

Colgate Plus Toothbrush Full Medium Each

Description Two levels of bristles fit the contours of your teeth to clean the surfaces and in between. Diamond-shaped head narrows at tip for easy access to back teeth. Directions Dentists and hygienists recommend replacing your toothbrush every 3 months

Price: 1.21

Current alternative health News
Is Acupuncture Right For Me?

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:10:23 -0800
Is Acupuncture Right For Me? By Max Foggleman | November 24, 2008 by Bi Kun tan Increasingly, patients in the west are becoming familiar with ancient Chinese and Indian medicines, one example of which is acupuncture. Unfortunately, most people seem to think of acupuncture only as a last resort, although the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes it as a primary cure for a variety of complaints. The WHO or World Health Organization recognizes over 40 medical problems, which acupuncture

Not a Moment Too Soon - New York Times

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:07:50 GMT

Not a Moment Too Soon
New York Times, United States - 23 minutes ago
... modernizing schools that are failing our children and building wind farms and solar panels, fuel-efficient cars and the alternative energy technologies ...

Feds heading to deregulate corn for ethanol use - BusinessWeek

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:40:55 GMT

Feds heading to deregulate corn for ethanol use
BusinessWeek - 50 minutes ago
Demand for biofuels like ethanol is soaring because of federal mandates requiring the United States to use 9 billion gallons of alternative fuel annually by ...

Labels: home health care jobs | group health | health management