Health Insurance

There are essentially two kinds of heath insurance: Fee-for-Service and Managed Care. Although these plans differ, they both cover an array of medical, surgical and hospital expenses. Most cover prescription drugs and some also offer dental coverage.

Fee-for-Service

These plans generally assume that the medical professional will be paid a fee for each service provided to the patient. Patients are seen by a doctor of their choice and the claim is filed by either the medical provider or the patient.

Managed Care

More than half of all Americans have some kind of managed-care plan. Various plans work differently and can include: health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and point-of-service (POS) plans. These plans provide comprehensive health services to their members and offer financial incentives to patients who use the providers in the plan.

Disability Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Short-Term Disability policies (STD) have a waiting period of 0 to 14 days with a maximum benefit period of no longer than two years.

Long-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability policies (LTD) have a waiting period of several weeks to several months with a maximum benefit period ranging from a few years to the rest of your life.

Disability policies have Two different protection features that are important to understand.

1) Non-cancelable - means the policy cannot be canceled by the insurance company, except for nonpayment of premiums. This gives you the right to renew the policy every year without an increase in the premium or a reduction in benefits.

2) Guaranteed renewable - gives you the right to renew the policy with the same benefits and not have the policy canceled by the company. However, your insurer has the right to increase your premiums as long as it does so for all other policyholders in the same rating class as you.

Disability Insurance Considerations

In addition to the traditional disability policies, there are several options you should consider when purchasing a policy:

Additional Purchase Options

Your insurance company gives you the right to buy additional insurance at a later time for an additional cost.

Residual or Partial Disability Rider

This provision allows you to return to work part-time, collect part of your salary and receive a partial disability payment if you are still partially disabled.

Coordination of Benefits

The amount of benefits you receive from your insurance company is dependent on other benefits you receive because of your disability. Your policy specifies a target amount you will receive from all the policies combined, so this policy will make up the difference not paid by other policies.

Return of Premium

This provision requires the insurance company to refund part of your premium if no claims are made for a specific period of time declared in the policy.

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

The COLA increases your disability benefits over time based on the increased cost of living measured by the Consumer Price Index. You will pay a higher premium if you select the COLA.

Waiver of Premium Provision

This clause means that you do not have to pay premiums on the policy after you’re disabled for 90 days.