Sunday, February 17, 2013

Want lower premiums … KICK BAD HABITS


According to ehealth data, health insurance policyholders in the obese category pay an average monthly premium 22% higher than those in the normal category. It’s even higher for obese men, who pay 29% higher than normal weight men.

Smokers cough up 14% more each month than non-smokers. For women smokers it’s 22% higher on average.

Best wishes,

George
 
P.S. I’m on Twitter. Follow me at http://twitter.com/efinancialwrite for frequent updates, personal insights and observations on how to have a healthy retirement. 
 
If you don’t have a Twitter account, sign up today at http://www.twitter.com/signup and then click on the ‘Follow’ button from http://twitter.com/efinancialwrite to receive updates on either your cell phone or Twitter page.
 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The scary numbers for pre-retirees

The AARP reports that health insurance coverage among pre-retirees is declining. The facts:

·       The number of uninsured Americans age 50-64 continues to rise, hitting 8.9 million in 2010. That’s 3.7 million more than in 2000.

·       One out of three Hispanic and one out of five African-American older adults are uninsured.

·       The share of the 50-64 age group with employer coverage declined over the last decade from 71% to 65%.

·       Individual health insurance is harder for older adults to get. More than one in five insurance applications from individuals age 50-64 are rejected.

Now that you’ve seen the numbers, let’s look at …

Obamacare and pre-retirees

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is going to change the way pre-retirees get health insurance. According to AARP, the following changes will come about in 2014:

·       Insurers in the individual market must accept all applicants, even if you have pre-existing medical conditions.

·       The practice of varying premiums by age will continue, but will be restricted.

·       Medicaid will cover all non-Medicare eligible U.S. citizens under age 65 based on income, regardless of whether they have dependent children.

·       Up to 81% of the uninsured 50- to 64-year-olds may be eligible for assistance through the exchange or Medicaid in 2014.

So if you’re in that phase of your life where you can’t get affordable health insurance and you’re too young for Medicare, next year should prove a whole lot easier on you.

Whether the care you’ll receive will be compromised is another story.

Best wishes,

George


P.S. I’m on Twitter. Follow me at http://twitter.com/efinancialwrite for frequent updates, personal insights and observations on how to have a healthy retirement.
 
If you don’t have a Twitter account, sign up today at http://www.twitter.com/signup and then click on the ‘Follow’ button from http://twitter.com/efinancialwrite to receive updates on either your cell phone or Twitter page.




 
 















 
 
 

 

Saturday, February 9, 2013

This is a must if you're going to Costa Rica

If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, you must spend some time at Finca Las Alturas. I’ve been there more times than I can remember. And for great food, a tranquil location, and where you’ll be treated like family, it can’t be beat.

http://lasalturas.wordpress.com/the-inn/