Individual Health Insurance -- Guaranteed Tips For Cheaper Rates

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

Do you want guaranteed tips for cheaper individual health insurance rates? Those who know what to do don't find it difficult getting the best rates without compromise to the quality of coverage they get. I'll show several things you have to do if you want massive savings that won't leave you with insufficient coverage...

1. The US government publishes materials that can help you in your health matters every year. Even though these publications are free, you really should not be without them if you want to ensure you're getting the best in health care and insurance. These publications will teach you to make the right decisions with respect to your health insurance. Once these happen, you'll get cheaper rates.

2. You can reduce your costs by joining an HMO. HMOs give coverage that is cheaper than traditional health insurance. Just bear in mind that with the lower cost also come restrictions in the hospitals and health care professionals you can use.

If what you think you compromise in the limited choices an HMO offers is much more than the advantages, you can still choose regular health insurance.

For such people, cost can be slashed if they shop extensively for affordable rates in traditional health insurance. That's how you'd be able to get cheaper rates for traditional health insurance.

But if cutting cost is the most important consideration, then settle for an HMO as it's usually cheaper than traditional health insurance.

3. A group plan is more affordable than an individual plan. Don't miss it if you're in an institution that gives you the opportunity to use a group plan as it naturally means that you'll pay less. The higher your risk the more you'll save if you can use a group plan.

This also applies to individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions that get very costly rates. Therefore, taking advantage of a group plan is a good to get adequate coverage cheap.

4. You'll be given lower premiums if you make your payments by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). It authorizes your bank to credit your insurance provider with your payments automatically until you advise otherwise. This saves costs by removing the need for payment notices or checks. Your premium is therefore brought down in line with the cheaper cost of giving you insurance.

5. There are drugs that are big brand names. If you buy such drugs, your premium will go up. Just in case you don't know, the law demands that every drug must consist of the same active ingredients notwithstanding if they are brand name or generic. The inactive agents are the only dissimilarities between generic drugs and brand names.

The truth remains that you only spend more when you use an established brand name drug and do NOT enjoy anything more in value. However, make sure you ask a doctor you can really trust about this before you make your final decision.

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Health Insurance Premiums - Smart Ways To Cut Down Your Costs

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

If you must get big discounts, then you must NOT forget certain things. Following are a few of such things...

1. If you want to save in health insurance then you have a good opportunity in a Flexible Spending Account. You can put away tax-free dollars to cater for your health needs. Any amount unused could be carried over into the next year (still tax free). This gives you a tax free way of building large reserves of funds for your health needs.

2. If you opt to pay your premiums monthly, you will pay higher rates. Although this alternative is always more convenient, it costs more for some reasons.

There are transaction charges that are incurred when processing a check. While a yearly payment attracts just one check and therefore one transaction per year, monthly payments attract twelve. This implies that you'll pay transaction charges 12 times.

There are also administrative costs to your insurer that result just from taking monthly payments. A good example of such is the expense associated with mailing payment notices. These and more are then added to your rate thereby making it higher than if you paid every year.

3. The use of unapproved drugs will increase your costs. Misusing drugs also will make you spend more in health insurance. In addition, stay away from self-medication for both its dire consequences and the fact that it will make you pay much higher rates.

4. Group plans are more affordable than individual plans. So for individuals who have the opportunity to use a group plan, it gives you an opportunity of paying lower rates than otherwise. The higher your risk the more you'll save if you use a group plan.

A group plan will save you a lot if you have a health condition that makes individual health insurance either too expensive or almost impossible to get. A group plan is a good way of lowering your premium without bringing down the quality of coverage you get.

5. It will cost you far less and lower your costs if you buy your prescriptions over the internet. You can also get cheaper prices if you buy by phone. Companies who sell through the internet have lower overheads than brick and mortar businesses and these suggest that they can and (do sell) at cheaper prices.

But to ensure you are buying from a good company, check. It's very easy to do this by making use of a resource like BBB. While we want to lower our health care costs we also need to ensure that we safeguard our health and our lives.

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Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

Consider Short Term Major Medical Insurance In The US

By Peter Kingston

What is Short Term Medical Insurance

Short term medical insurance is temporary medical insurance and is designed for people who are in between permanent health plans. Short term medical insurance in the US is available and ideal for those who are unemployed, between jobs, have just finished college and waiting for that perfect job, retired or an alternative to COBRA. There are many health insurance companies that provide this type of medical coverage. This medical insurance plan provides many insurance benefits while keeping the premiums reasonably competitive.

Here are the following people who can apply under the various plans of Short term medical insurance

�Those who are 65 years of age or younger and are not eligible for Medicare. Both the person and their spouse are eligible under the scheme.

�Children who are aged between 2 - 18 years of age and are dependent are also eligible.

�Those who are full time students and are below 25 years of age

�Children who are of 19 years and above but are dependent on their parents are also eligible but should apply separately.

Dollar Value Benefits

The benefits are provided per person insured up to 2 million and the deductible amounts can vary from $250, $500, $1000 and $2500. These benefits will accrue to the person after the deductibles are completed. The Short term medical insurance companies normally provide for a 50/50 copay plan (you pay half, your insurer pays half) or an 80/20 plan where the insurance company pays 80% of the cost and you pay 20%. These plans do not cover preventive care, routine medical exams, or pre-existing medical conditions

Since the plans offered under Short term medical insurance in the US are not HMOs or PPOs, the insured can choose any doctor or any preferred network. Short term medical insurance in the US is given for a very short time period, although these policies can normally be renewed after the expiration date. Any condition that occurs during this period is treated as a pre existing condition during the coverage of the renewed insurance policy. Those who are over 64 years of age and wish to get a renewal will not be eligible for a renewal under the Short term medical policy.

Exclusions For Pre Existing Conditions

The maximum coverage limit for the Short term medical insurance is generally 2 million dollars per person. There is no coverage for pre existing conditions, work related conditions and preventive care. These are taken as pre existing conditions under short term medical insurance. These conditions will not be covered by the plan. In the event that such conditions that arise, a supplemental insurance coverage should be considered. . Ask your insurance broker or insurance adviser for your alternatives.

Very simple to apply

Applying for short term medical insurance is very simple. After answering a few simple questions, make the payment, fill out the form and send it to the company. Make sure that the plan you select is available in your state prior to sending the payment. If a person is not fully satisfied with the plan coverage, then the certificate of insurance can be returned within 30 days and the full premium should be refunded less any administration charges.

Save Money

To save money on these plans you can increase your deductible (the amount you pay on a claim before the insurance company pays), or choose a lower copay for example the 50-50 instead of the typical 80-20 plan.

Find the latest information medical insurance visit on Cheap Insurance Medical as well as Short Term Major Medical Insurance In The US

Cheap Student Health Insurance - Is It Possible?

By Terry Edwards

There is a way to get cheap student health insurance. Actually, in some cases you can get it for very little to nothing. But, of course everything has a trade-off. What you save and costs you will assume in risk. For example, most of the lower cost student plans offer very little coverage. In this case, you are banking on the fact that you probably will not have to file a claim, but want to have the peace of mind you can only get it if you have some form of health insurance coverage.

In any case, your first search for insurance is to start with publicly funded programs. There are many different health care programs out there that are designed for specific students who have unique situations. In most cases you're probably not going to qualify for anything. But, there is tax money out there that is waiting for students and will be offered to them for health insurance. Why not look into these public funded programs to see if you qualify? This is your best bet for cheap student health insurance.

A more realistic chance of getting a cheaper health policy though, is to find a policy that has a large deductible, or offers a coinsurance pay with a high percentage on your end. In either case, the premiums you will pay each month will be much lower. The trade off is that you may end up paying more in a claim situation due to the higher deductibles or higher coinsurance. You will really have to weigh out the good with the bad so to speak.

For example, if you had a $500 deductible then that means every medical problem that is under $500 you will have to pay for out-of-pocket. If you get into a coinsurance option where you are paying 20% or 30% of the bill, that won't be a bad deal on something that costs $600 or $700. However, if you have to take a medical procedure which costs $25,000, it can be quite expensive.

Cheap student health insurance is a gamble in most cases unless you qualify for special programs. However, there are always deals out there and the first place to look is within your own university. Typically they will offer discounted programs that commercial insurance providers will not. It might not be as cheap as you like, but saving a little is better than saving nothing.

You can find out more about Cheap Student Health Insurance as well as much more information on everything to do with Student Health Insurance at http://www.StudentHealthInsuranceA-Z.com

California Health Insurance -- For Cheaper Rates, Don't Miss These Tips

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

California health insurance: Everyone can enjoy high value coverage without breaking the bank. You only need the right information and the determination to implement what you'll learn to start enjoying a better rate. Below are a few steps that will help you achieve this goal...

1. In most cases these regular medical check ups won't cost you a dime more as most health insurance plans would likely have up to two free medical check ups for you each year. Why do check-ups result in savings?

Since ailments are discovered at their early stages by doing such check ups, they are more easily nipped in the bud without much expense. It costs your insurer less to do this than to treat diseases when they are malignant.

2. You can reduce your costs by opting for an HMO. HMOs offer coverage that is cheaper than traditional health insurance. You must know that with the lower rate also come restrictions in the hospitals and health care professionals you can use.

For those who want limitless choices in who and where to get health care, a traditional health insurance plan is still your best bet. All you'll have to do is shop extensively for the cheap rate for normal health insurance. That's how you would be able to get cheaper rates for standard health insurance. However, if you are willing to accept the restrictions, you will pay cheaper rates with an HMO.

3. For people who are self employed, your premiums may be tax-deductible. If your employer offers a flexible spending account then might entitle you to a tax break. This means that you'll do well to discuss this with your tax professional. This will help you determine what will give you a tax break and what won't.

4. Beside the fact that you are putting your life at risk, using banned or yet-to-be-approved drugs will increase you rates. Misusing drugs also will make you pay much more in health insurance. In addition, stay away from self-medication for both its grave implications and the fact that it will increase your rates.

5. How much can you contribute to payments for your visits to a doctor? This is known as your co-pay. Your rate will be cheaper if you choose a higher co-pay. You're seriously encouraged to choose a high co-pay if you visit your doctor only once in a very long period.

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How To Get Your Health Insurance Policy For Less

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

You can get a health insurance policy for a lot less: Those who understand the right steps to take don't find it difficult attracting the most affordable rates without downgrading the quality of coverage they get. Go through this article if you want to be part of this elite group who are paying a lot less while maintaining the right coverage...

1. That extra weight is costing you a lot in health insurance. There is something known as Body Mass Index (BMI). It is used to calculate a prospect's rates.

If your BMI rating is high, your premium will be expensive. The more extra weight you have for your height and sex the higher your BMI rating will be. Do your best to shed excess weight because losing as little as a few pounds could give you another Body Mass Index rating and result in more affordable premiums.

2. Keep up a healthy life style and you will get more affordable rates over time. The quality of what you eat will eventually affect your rate. You will do well to stick to the right diet for you if you love a healthy life and more affordable rates.

Beside your diet, your devotion to routine exercise will help you live better and also eventually get you cheaper rates.

3. There are popular name brands in the pharmaceutical industry. If you buy such drugs, your premium will go up. But did you know that every generic drug has the same active ingredients as its big brand name version? Where they are free to have any dissimilarity is in the inactive agents.

This simply means that what you receive in brand name drugs is the same thing you get from generic drugs of similar specification. Ask your doctor about this.

4. You will bring down your premium if you have an outstanding credit rating. Having a poor credit rating is simply making hard for yourself apart from the fact that your premium will be much higher. For some insurers it shows a pattern they believe you're quite likely to repeat with them in premium defaults. This means more danger to them and higher rates for you.

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Health Care Insurance Quote -- Things That Will Make You Attract The Cheapest

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

Health care insurance quote: Everyone in their right mind would be very glad to discover a way of enjoying affordable rates provided such a way won't negatively affect the level of coverage they get. Here are things that will help you attract big discounts with ease...

1. You will attract higher premiums simply because your line of duty exposes you to much hazards. Changing over to a non-hazardous occupation will reduce your premium by a good margin. If your work exposes you to hazardous substances, for example, your rates will be much more than that paid by a comparable profile who maybe works as a receptionist in an office.

2. If you want to get the very best in health insurance then you'd have to do extensive shopping. And the simplest way to begin is to inquire from your trusted acquaintances what their experiences with their insurers are.

You will be avoiding hype from people who just want commissions to real user-experiences if you do this. A trusted acquaintance will be the first to warn you if they got less than the best from an insurer.

Inquiries from friends will help you find the best price/value.

3. An HMO will get you health insurance at a lower cost. They are a far cheaper option than traditional health insurance. Nevertheless, registering with an HMO means you are restricted to the use of only doctors, other medical professionals and hospitals that are part of the network.

For those who want total freedom of choice in whom and where to get medical care, a traditional health insurance plan is your only option.

For such folks, cost can be reduced by a great margin if they take the time out to shop extensively for affordable rates in regular health insurance. If you shop extensively you'll pay far less for any plan you choose.

But if reducing cost is priority, then settle for an HMO as it's normally less expensive than traditional health insurance.

4. You'll attract cheaper rates if you pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This just means your insurer withdraws your premiums automatically from your account each month without sending you payment notices. This saves the insurance company in many ways such as eliminating the cost of sending payment notices and the expense associated with processing checks. Your insurance provider gives you part of what they save by reducing your rates.

5. You can have your children insured through state plans if you need to lower your spend. Nevertheless, not every family is eligible to use these plans.

They'll either be totally free or require very little payment so check to see if you are qualified. If you have a child with a special ailment, you'll spend less if you insure such a child through a state plan.

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Affordable Health Insurance Quotes -- Sure-Fire Ways To Pay A Lot Less

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

Affordable health insurance quotes: You'll easily spend less for adequate coverage if you get and implement the right recommendations. However, if you have the wrong ones, even though you may still save, you will do so by compromising the quality of coverage you get. If you are interested in tips that you can use to save much and at the same time enjoy adequate coverage, read the following...

1. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) insurance is a good choice for affordable coverage if you have a pre-existing illness that makes regular individual health insurance hard to get or too expensive.

2. Staying loyal to one insurance company for any period will actually lead to savings. Staying with the same insurance company for at least three years will get you reasonable discounts from many insurance companies. The more the years you've been loyal to an insurer the more discounts you will get. Nevertheless, you may be better served by switching.

Let us assume your premium with your present insurer is $2,400 you will get a discount of about 5% or $120 if you stay for at least three years.

However, due to high cost of health care and inflation, insurance companies may have to make adjustments in their rates to reflect those changes. Within the course of these three years you would most likely get an insurance provider who will offer you comparable coverage or better for under $2,100. If this is true about you then you know it's wise for you to go for the more affordable offer immediately and not wait for years to become entitled to a discount that will not even save you as much.

And, in most cases, most people can easily pay a lot less than they are currently on health insurance if they do thorough shopping. You can only be sure if this is true for your profile after you get and evaluate quotes from many different health insurance companies to see where your interest is better served.

3. Knowledge, they say, is power. People who have the right information on health care and insurance get better offers. Furthermore, you will find it easier to get every opportunity that you are qualified for if you have the right information.

There are toll-free numbers you can call if you need help on health issues. To get help, call the National Health Information Center at 1-800-336-4797.

4. Did you know that your co-pay could be more expensive than the cost of your drugs? There are instances where it will cost you less if you don't use your insurance but buy a prescription from your own account. Find out which is best in each case and do what saves you more. Do your best to find out the difference before you use your insurance.

5. Choosing to be flexible in the choice of doctors and health care facilities you can use will result in a reduction in your cost. For you to land the cheapest rates you may be compelled to use doctors and hospitals that are part of a certain group or network. That might mean you'll have to part with your favorite health care providers.

If you consider this too much of a sacrifice for you, then you can't really pay less for your health coverage using this option. Note that it's highly advisable that you weigh what you stand to gain against what you may lose.

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Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

Health Insurance In California - You'll Pay Less If You Apply These Tips

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

For those who really want to pay a lot less for health insurance in California: A number of ways of lowering your rates do compromise the quality of coverage you enjoy and so are NOT advisable. Be that as it may, you can pay much less for superior coverage if you know the things that matter and take necessary precautions. Following are tips that won't leave you with inadequate coverage...

1. For those who are self employed, your premiums might be tax-deductible. And you can also be entitled to a tax break if you have a flexible spending account. To to find out if this is true in your case discuss with your tax professional.

2. Buying your prescriptions online is a proven way to lower your health care costs. Buying by telephone might as well give you lower prices. The internet lowers the cost of doing business and pharmaceutical companies or groups who sell their drugs online do so at lower prices. But to ensure you are buying from a good company, check. Just go to BBB online and you'll know if you should buy from a specific company.

While we want to reduce our health care costs we also have to make sure we safeguard our health and our lives.

3. Shopping has always been the best way to get the best deals.. And the less stressful way to start is to inquire from your trusted acquaintances what their experiences with their providers are.

It is also a good way of getting the best value as you'd make your choice on user experience and not any form of media hype. A friend will readily warn you if they got poor service from any insurance company. If you inquire from your friends and acquaintances you will hardly fall into the wrong hands.

4. A simple but smart way of bringing down your rate is by authorizing an EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). This process authorizes your bank to credit your insurance provider with your payments without any intervention from you until you advise to the contrary. This saves the insurance company in many ways such as eliminating the cost of mailing payment notices and the expense associated with processing checks. Your rate is therefore brought down in line with the cheaper cost of providing insurance to you.

5. A group health expense sharing plan is a good option to bring down your rate. This is a situation where a group of people teams up to provide themselves health insurance coverage. You can find such groups in large associations.

They generally have their own terms and decide on the type and level of coverage members get.

You can check out such groups, know what they offer and see if they can cater for your personal needs. Getting such a group that takes care of your needs will get you coverage at a lower rate.

I've prepared a free but high value 21-day ecourse that will show you over 120 sure-fire ways to cut down your insurance rates. Sign up for it here...

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As always, you can cut down your rates now by getting quotes here...

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Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

Health Insurance Cost -- Ways To Reduce Your Rate

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

Do you want to reduce your health insurance cost? Do you know it's easier than you thought? It is really very easy for you to find the right coverage at a low price. All you need to achieve this goal are little bits of information (Put into practice). Let's look at a number of proven ways to get better rates...

1. You will lower your rates by a huge margin if you spend time on shopping right.. And the less stressful way to begin is to ask trusted acquaintances what their experiences with their insurers are.

It is also a good way of getting the best value as you would make your choice on user experience and not any form of media hype. A trusted acquaintance will quickly warn you if they got less than the best from an insurer.

2. Phone med services will help you reduce your rates. A phone med service is on twenty four hours everyday and provides free medical advice. They are normally manned by not less than a registered nurse with a minimum of ten years experience so you can trust the advice you get from them. Your local clinic is as well another place you can receive free medical help by phone.

Even though this is not an alternative to seeing a doctor, these can actually reduce your rates by reducing the number of times you see a doctor.

In addition, you get timely help that could help you nip certain issues in the bud. For these and other reasons, take advantage of these free medical services.

3. Maintain a healthy routine and you'll pay more affordable rates with time. The quality of what you eat will in the long run affect your rate. Removing fats, cholesterol and high carb from your diet will make it easier for you to retain the ideal weight, live a healthier life and, as a result, get more affordable rates.

You'll as well help your health and rate by committing to routine exercise.

4. Joining an HMO will help reduce your cost. They provide a more affordable option than traditional health insurance. Albeit, joining an HMO means you're restricted to the use of only doctors, other medical professionals and hospitals that are part of the network.

If you believe that the limited choices of an HMO are more than the benefits you get, you can opt for other health insurance plans. For such folks, cost can be slashed if they take the time out to shop extensively for cheap rates in traditional health insurance. If you shop properly you'll pay far less for any plan you elect to use. Nevertheless, where you are willing to accept the restrictions, you'll pay less with an HMO.

5. Staying loyal to one insurance company for any considerable length of time will actually lead to savings. You'll attract discounts of about five percent on your health insurance if you remain with the same insurer for up to 3 years. Maintaining a policy for longer periods will get you more discounts.

I've prepared a free but high value 21-day ecourse that will show you over 120 sure-fire ways to cut down your insurance rates. Sign up for it here...

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Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

Tips For Buying EKG Machine For Physicians

By John Gladstein

Tips for physicians on buying an EKG Machine.

What Do College kids know that physicians don't?

Physicians, have you ever wondered why and how you buy, and have bought, most of the equipment in your office? In this article we will focus on EKG machines, but you could relate this to any equipment purchases.

A typical situation in a doctor's office happens like this: The existing EKG machine in the office is on its last legs. You had been thinking of replacing it for a while, but you decided to wait until it was broken beyond repair. Lets face it, as long as the machine was reading properly, the reimbursement is the same from an old or a new EKG. Your machine breaks and, coincidentally, the local rep who has been providing you with gauze pads, cotton balls and all your other office supplies brings an EKG machine that he represents into the office for you to consider. You see the machine, your nurses' love it, you need the machine, and the local rep gives you a price. You barely haggle, if at all, and, voila, there is a brand new machine in your office.

On the other hand, a college student, who has one tenth the education and business experience as you in the same situation, would find the product he or she needs, and then go to the internet to find the best price on that product. You may think you don't have time to shop the internet for an EKG machine, and you trust your local rep because you have been dealing with him or her for years. Well, the rep's job is to get you into that type of dependent relationship, one the industry lingo calls, "Own the relationship and you will own the business". Some large distributors are actually tied into certain manufacturers who then give the local rep incentives to promote certain machines, in this case EKG's. And the machine may not even be the best one for your practice

In addition, most EKG manufacturers have representatives in each area of the country who will train office staff on proper use of the machine, no matter which distributor the EKG machine was purchased from. Further, the manufacturer will handle all warranty and service issues. The result? When buying an EKG machine, you get the same or comparable service from an internet company as you do from a company you find in the classified section of one of your Journals, product magazines that come to your office, or card decks that have a variety of medical equipment in them.

Your local rep should definitely have a role in selling you supplies, although you should periodically check the prices they are offering. If your rep's service and pricing is not up to par, there are usually 2 or 3 reps in the same area from other companies who are ready, willing and able to help you. But when it comes to buying an EKG machine, the lesson here is that you should explore other purchasing options.

Here are the key features to look for when purchasing an EKG machine:

1. What size print out does the machine put out?

a. Some EKG Machines print out on 60 mm strips or half-sized sheets of EKG paper

b. Some EKG machines print out on 8.5x11 sheets of paper. These are preferable because it is easier to handle and store these printouts.

2. Does the machine have a keyboard that gives you the ability to type in patient demographics?

a. In some cases when patient demographics are printed on the EKG printout, it is looked at as a more professional EKG presentation.

b. Although a printed name may look professional, a machine without this feature takes less time for a nurse or an EKG technician to perform.

3. Does the machine have a screen where you can see the EKG prior to printing? This is a nice feature because you can actually make sure that the baseline is stable prior to taking the EKG.

4. Does the machine give you the ability to connect to a computer? And if so, is the output based on open architecture which is compatible with most available EMR and EKG Management systems? Some large EKG manufacturers make machines that will only integrate with the expensive EKG management systems that only they provide.

5. There are PC based EKG machines that provide you with all of the above. Further, they have the ability to print on regular copy paper, connect to electronic medical records and integrate other diagnostic features, such as spirometry, holter monitoring, stress testing and vital signs monitoring.

a. As long as your staff is comfortable with using a PC, the PC based EKG machines provide the best value

b. You can view all 12 leads real time

c. These machines create a searchable database of all EKGs performed, limited only by the size of your hard drive

d. You can either print on plain copy paper, email, or fax EKG's right from your PC.

This article was written by John Gladstein. John is an 18-year veteran of the medical equipment industry. He specializes in cardiopulmonary equipment but is knowledgeable about equipment in all specialties. Having sold tens of millions of dollars of equipment to doctors, hospitals, military institutions and other health care professionals across the country. John is currently the VP and Sales Manager of Medical Device Depot, Inc., http://www.medicaldevicedepot.com/

You can contact him at 877-646-3300 or john@medicaldevicedepot.com

Affordable Health Insurance For An Individual -- Tips That Will Make It Easier

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

Are you looking for tips that will make affordable health insurance for an individual easy to find? There are things that will help you enjoy massive savings without putting yourself at risk. Would you like to know them? Then read through and apply the following sure-fire time-tested steps to paying a lot less...

1. There is a special type of savings account called the Flexible Spending Account. This kind of account allows you to put away tax-free dollars specifically for your health needs. The selling point about this account is that it permits you to roll over the money unused into the subsequent year tax free. This gives you a tax free method of building large reserves of funds for your health needs.

2. Buying your health insurance from the same insurance company that provides your other insurance policies will get you a discount in premium. Insurers offer a multi-policy discount to encourage you to buy other policies from them.

However, all the amount you may save may still pale into significance if compared with savings you will make by buying your policies from different insurance companies.

3. You will spend far less and lower your costs if you buy your prescriptions online. Buying by telephone will also get you affordable prices. The internet reduces the cost of doing business and pharmaceutical companies or groups who sell their drugs online do so at lower rates. But to ensure you're buying from the right company, check. It is very easy to do this by making use of a resource like BBB. Always remember that while we want to save costs we also want to avoid risks. Checking with BBB online and other such services will put you on the safe side while you buy at cheaper rates online.

4. Electronic Funds Transfer, known as EFT is a painless way to bring down your rate. This process authorizes your bank to credit your insurance provider with your premiums automatically until you stipulate to the contrary. This saves your insurer in many ways such as removing the cost of sending payment notices and the expense of processing checks. This is why this gets you discounts.

5. Did you know that your co-pay could be more expensive than the cost of your drugs? It may also be cheaper for you to buy a prescription from your purse (without using insurance). In those instances, you will spend less by taking the options that offer you more savings.

I've prepared a free but high value 21-day ecourse that will show you over 120 sure-fire ways to cut down your insurance rates. Sign up for it here...

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As always, you can cut down your rates now by getting quotes here...

Cheaper Insurance Quotes

Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

Comprehensive Health Insurance -- You Can Get Cheap Rates For This Too

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

Comprehensive health insurance: Contrary to all you might have been told, you don't really need to do very difficult things in order to attract the most affordable policy that meets your needs. It's normally small things that help you get massive discounts. Let's examine some of them in this article...

1. Going for free clinics will help you reduce your cost. You will either bring down your rates directly or have fewer and lower co-payments to make this way. Such free clinics will take care of simple things like providing you with medical advice, blood pressure checks and much more. Clinics like these are normally rendered as community service.

2. Using a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is another way you can reduce your rate. It costs more than an HMO and also gives you more options.

You can consider your needs and what your profit would be for either joining a PPO or regular health insurance. If you need to save more but also want more flexibility than is offered by an HMO, then join a PPO.

3. Some individuals find themselves in a situation where they are not qualified for Medicaid and also have great difficulty paying for traditional health insurance. If you are one of such, then you can save on health care by getting a discount medical card.

This type of card lets you use a network of doctors who are contracted to provide their services at more affordable rates to all card carriers. They aren't normally provided by any health insurance company.

You can use this option if you have a pre-existing condition that has made health insurance carriers either reject you or give you a rate that is very expensive. This kind of card does not decline anyone for any reason. You only need to pay a monthly subscription to be eligible to use their network of doctors.

4. It pays to check through your policy at least once a year or as much as you feel changes have occurred in your health or that of your family member. This will help you confirm you always have adequate coverage. But sometimes it does happen that one of these checks reveals that you have more coverage than you need.

You will then lower your cost by dropping such unnecessary coverage. Consider a situation where you still leave your newly-wedded daughter on your family health insurance policy with the consequent higher rates. It's very easy to NOT remember little details like this.

5. A group health insurance plan is more affordable than an individual health insurance plan. Take advantage of it if you're in an institution that offers you the opportunity to use a group plan as it generally implies that you'll pay less. This should be of particular interest to elderly individuals, smokers or overweight people who usually get high quotes.

A group plan will help you make considerable savings if you have a pre-existing condition that makes individual health insurance either too costly or hard to come by. A group plan is a good way to lower your premium without lowering the quality of coverage you would be given.

I've prepared a free but high value 21-day ecourse that will show you over 120 sure-fire ways to cut down your insurance rates. Sign up for it here...

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As always, you can cut down your rates now by getting quotes here...

Cheaper Insurance Quotes

Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

Reducing Your Health Insurance Cost -- Make Sure You Apply These Tips

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

Health Insurance Cost: Do you want cheaper rates? If your answer is "Yes" you must do everything within your power to find out as many ways as there are to cheaper rates. I've got enough ideas to help the greater majority make savings of more than 50% on insurance...

1. While shopping for affordable health insurance make sure that you don't become carried away by just the most affordable quote. What you should be after isn't merely the lowest quote but that which offers the best value for its price. You can get really cheap quotes that offer you the quality you want if you shop right. But be ready to pay slightly more if need be to buy the right coverage for you.

Take note of this because a number of cheap quotes are that low because they don't offer much. In those instances, the cheapest is not the best but the best for you will be the best offer on the long run.

2. There are drugs that are big brand names. Drugs that have such brand names are more expensive than equally-effective drugs with less brand recognition and so raise your premium. But will you believe it if I told you that all generic drugs are constrained by law to include the exact same measure of active agents as brand name drugs? The inactive agents are the only dissimilarities between generic drugs and brand names.

The truth remains that you only pay more when you use an established brand name drug and do NOT get anything extra in value. Nevertheless, take the time to ask a doctor you can truly trust about this before you settle for any drug.

3. Deciding to be more flexible in your choice of health care providers will help you get better quotes. The reason for this is that you may be required to restrict yourself to doctors and hospitals in a particular network for you to enjoy certain cheap rates. And in such a case you would be compelled to change to health care providers in the network and not those who are your preferred.

It would be easier receive less expensive rates if you can make this kind of adjustment. But while you're being flexible don't joke with your health for anything.

4. Going for free clinics will help you bring down your rate. You will either bring down your premium directly or have fewer and lower co-payments to make this way. You can get professional medical advice, blood pressure checks and and other medical service at such free clinics. Some communities have such facilities and others may just be part of a group's social responsibility program.

5. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is an easy way to reduce your premium. This just means your insurer withdraws your premiums automatically from your account each month without sending you payment notices. This saves the insurance company in many ways including eliminating the cost of sending payment notices and the cost of processing checks. This is why this results in discounts.

I've prepared a free but high value 21-day ecourse that will show you over 120 sure-fire ways to cut down your insurance rates. Sign up for it here...

Save Up To 50% On Insurance With Over 120 Tips

As always, you can cut down your rates now by getting quotes here...

Cheaper Insurance Quotes

Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

National Health Care System In Japan And Taiwan - Would It Be Possible For Us?

By Michelle Kawamura

Every society is effected by any national changes or new movement introduced; therefore, an issue one may think is unrelated to his environment can very well affect him through chains of cause and effect.

Health care is an immediate issue that concerns all of us. We all experience it and need it. Let's serious ask ourselves if the current health care system is satisfactory and available to everyone. Should health, medicare and treatments be available to only selected groups? Many people are voting for the presidential candidate who can restore the present health care system or who can pioneer a better healthcare distribution for our country. Personally, I hope to see a change that health care is available and affordable to everyone.

Being able to receive basic health care is a fundamental need of all people. Fulfilling this fundamental need makes people feel secured, and it makes sense that people with better health can contribute more to the society. A realistic and reachable standard of health should be set for all people. This effort needs a non profit driving entity to establish and to maintain it. People's life and health should not be compromised for the profit of few organizations.

Before moving to Japan, I was covered under my parents' insurance policy in the United States. Their policy covered children of the family until the age of twenty-four. Upon graduating from university, I moved to Japan and started my first job there. I joined the Japanese national health insurance through the company I worked for. There are basically two types of health insurance in Japan: national health insurance and employer-sponsored health insurance. Usually, under employer sponsored insurance, the insurance premium is calculated according to income, number of dependents, and the company' subsidies. For someone who is self-employed or unemployed, the national health insurance costs a minimum of 13300 yen, or about $110 per month plus a small percentage of income for those who are self-employed. In other words, everyone can get insurance from around $100 dollars a month. Unlike the Medicaid program in the U.S. which is only available to certain low-income groups with specific requirements for eligibility, the Japanese health insurance is available to every citizen and legal residents. There is a ceiling to what the Japanese National insurance covers, but it covers all the basics and beyond.

In most cases in Japan, patients choose their doctor and hospital. There is no limitation to the doctors or hospital they can visit. This is a true competition among the clinics, hospitals, and medical practitioners, not for profit, but for quality. The same insurance that people have in Japan gives them the freedom to get second opinions and naturally eliminates those doctors whose practices are in question. The doctor visits, treatments, and medicine are not free; one is responsible for thirty percent of their medical bills. Japanese health costs are much lower than the costs in the United States. Thirty percent of the medical bill is still a reasonable amount one can afford. There are also special cases or categories of illness for which the insurance would give more coverage. If one is late on his payment, his insurance will not automatically be invalid. The insurance will still cover the person as long as he makes up the missed payments. After all, some people do run into difficulties in life at one point or another. Sounds to good to be true? Well, It's real.

Taiwan, a place with no world recognition politically, has one of the top public health care system in the world. After moving to Taiwan due to my husband's transfer a year a go, I learned and appreciated the system where universal or national health care is available to all more than ever. When speaking of universal, national, or pubic health insurance, people often turn their attention to the well-debated and discussed health care system in Canada. There are those whose views are negative, claiming that the medical service in a single-payer insurance system may not perform at its ultimate, and those whose views are positive, saying that they do not live in fear of ever having to face bankruptcy for outrageous medical bills. From my informal inquiries, more Canadian I came across favor their national health care system. Most of those who favor their national health care system commented that people of Canada are more secured in having their basic physical and psychological needs met.

In Taiwan, there is also government-sponsored universal health care for not only their citizens but also for foreign residents who live in Taiwan. Foreign residents can apply for the government-sponsored insurance after proving their legal status of residing in Taiwan. The insurance fee starts from the basic 600NT, or around $18 a month. For people in higher income brackets, their insurance is calculated based on a percentage of their income over the 600Nt. Fees are waived for retired soldiers, those who are physically challenged, and people who have economic disadvantages.

Interestingly, Taiwan's national health insurance has only been established for little more than two decades, since 1985. The government policy-makers studied health care system from different foreign countries and composes the first Taiwan national health care from the ideas and methods of the system of other countries. It was said that Taiwan's national insurance system is like a completed puzzle made from pieces of which fit its country and people. This insurance now covers the entire population, including foreign legal residents. According to research funded by Taiwan's National Health Research and Taiwan's Bureau of National Health Insurance, the cost of health care did not rise after the universal coverage was established (Jui-Fen & Hsiao, 2003.) What does that tell us?

A basic health care program can greatly reduce the consequences of illness left untreated. Basic health care does not mean free of charge or mindless spending without control. To build a healthy nation, we should take a closer look at the current U.S. health insurance. After all, a sound nation starts with the health of its people.

Writer's Information:
The wirter is a Chinese-American. After graduating from Queens College, New York, she moved to Japan and started teaching English as second language. In the 15years of living in Japan, she became a wife, a mother and a unversity lecturer. She continued her education after giving birth to her daughter and is now pursuing her ph.d in education. She is a positive person who is always looking forward to challenging new things. In Japan, many friends and students were affected by her words and encouragement, especially women. Using herself as examples, she encourages women to be a life time learner, open minded and to have self confidence. Now she is temporarily residing in Taiwan with her family.

Get Cheaper Health Insurance With These Time-Tested Tips

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

You can get cheaper health insurance rates: Some ways of bringing down your rates could compromise the quality of coverage you get and are, therefore, NOT smart. Be that as it may, you can pay much less for better coverage if you have the right tips and take necessary precautions. These are tips that are good for you...

1. A group health expense sharing plan is an alternative way to lower your cost. This is a situation where a group of people collectively provide themselves health insurance coverage. You can find such groups in large associations.

Each group normally creates its own set of rules, the type and scope of coverage offered, restrictions if any and more.

Try to find such groups and check if any of them will cater for your personal health insurance needs. You can expect your rate to be far less if you get a group that caters for your needs.

2. For folks who have a health condition that makes it difficult or too expensive for them to find private personal health insurance, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) insurance should offer a more affordable alternative.

3. Being on a single policy will save you a lot and you should take advantage of it if you're married. You have to check your options though to see which gets you more savings. This is because based on your details and health conditions, you may be better off buying two different plans.

4. The greater number of health insurance plans give about two complimentary medical check ups. In case you want to know why this results in lower rates, here it is...

Since health conditions are discovered at their benign stages by doing such check ups, they are more easily nipped in the bud without spending much. Your health insurance provider in return gives you cheaper rates over time since you take reasonable steps to lower their risk.

I've prepared a free but high value 21-day ecourse that will show you over 120 sure-fire ways to cut down your insurance rates. Sign up for it here...

Save Up To 50% On Insurance With Over 120 Tips

As always, you can cut down your rates now by getting quotes here...

Cheaper Insurance Quotes

Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

Texas Health Steps for Children

By Andre Zayas

Living without healthcare insurance is a common problem that is occurring in today's society. Many adults are unable to afford the high cost of healthcare without the help of insurance and will often go without due to money issues. Children also suffer from this lack of health insurance. It can be even more critical for children to receive medical care than it is for adults. Therefore, the Texas Health Steps program was created to help children in east Texas.

Texas Health Steps was designed to provide medical insurance for all east Texas children under the age of 21. Especially during the early formative years of a child's life, frequent medical care can be extremely important. Making sure that your child receives their yearly check up will make sure that any developmental issues will be discovered before they come to a critical point. Leaving certain medical conditions untreated can be fatal.

For some people, health insurance is not the only issue that prevents them from taking their child to the doctor for necessary check ups. The rising costs of gas in east Texas can also be an issue. In fact, some people do not even own a car because of the costs of owning and operating a vehicle. Texas Health Steps can also help with this aspect. The program includes the option of a provided ride to attend doctor's appointments or even money to help you fill your gas tank so that you can get your children the medical care that they require.

Texas Health Steps will help you with every aspect of your child's care. In addition to doctor's appointments, this program will also cover any vision care needs that your child may have as well as dental needs. Your east Texas caseworker will be able to help you find doctors that are close to your home and are a good match for your family's individual needs. They can even help you to make the appointments that you need.

Taking care of today's children is very important. They are the future of the country and deserve to grow up happy and healthy. If your child is insured with Texas Health Steps, visit an east Texas health clinic to find a full service nurse practitioner than can help you to make sure that your child receives the medical care that he or she needs and deserves.

Andre Zayas is a professionally syndicated author.

Private Health Insurance -- Sure Ways To More Affordable Rates

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

Do you want to pay less for private health insurance? Everyone in their right mind would be quite glad to discover a way to enjoy affordable rates as long as such a way won't put them at risk. Here are steps that will help you attract considerable discounts easily...

1. Some persons are not poor enough to qualify for plans for low-income earner and as well have financial constraints that make traditional health insurance hard to pay for. If you are one of such, then you can save on health care by going for a discount medical card. So what are they?

With these cards you are given medical attention from a network of doctors who have agreed to render services to card carriers at lower rates. Such cards are not connected to any health insurance company.

You can make use of this option if you have a medical history that has made health insurance carriers either reject you or give you a rate that is too high. No one is declined for any reason. Just pay your monthly fee and you will have access to a network of doctors who will bill you less for their services.

2. If you drive recklessly then expect to pay higher health insurance rates. Rough driving charges and other traffic violations can effectively increase your health insurance premium. Any person who drives recklessly will more likely make a claim soon as they are more likely to require medical attention.

Improving your driving records and developing a good driving habit will lower your premium. If you use a fast muscle car or super bike, you'll likely pay a huge sum in health insurance. The higher likelihood of an accident means someone could be wounded and need to make a claim.

3. Making use of free clinics will help you reduce your cost. You'll either bring down your premium directly or have fewer and cheaper co-payments to make this way. You can get professional medical advice, blood pressure checks and other medical service at such free clinics. Some communities provide such facilities and others may just be part of a group's social responsibility program.

4. A group health expense sharing plan is another way to bring down your cost. This refers to a set of people who have chosen to team up and provide themselves with health insurance coverage. You can find such groups in large organizations. Terms and coverage types are different in most groups.

You can check out groups like this, know what they provide and see if they match your personal needs. Getting a group like this that meets your requirement could get you coverage at a reduced rate.

5. Settling for catastrophic health insurance coverage will help you save a lot in health insurance and is your best bet if you are the consistently healthy type. For folks who do not know what it is, it's a type of policy that caters for you if you fall ill suddenly or are involved in an accident.

You'll truly love this policy if you ever are compelled to pay huge bills due to unforeseen health conditions or accidents. The name really does offer a clue of what it provides coverage against. They come at very cheap rates.

What are normally high are the deductibles which can be as much as $2,000. But if you take into consideration the fact that you are getting coverage from accidents or health conditions that could cost tens of thousands of dollars such deductibles are not really that much -- Relatively.

I've prepared a free but high value 21-day ecourse that will show you over 120 sure-fire ways to cut down your insurance rates. Sign up for it here...

Save Up To 50% On Insurance With Over 120 Tips

As always, you can cut down your rates now by getting quotes here...

Cheaper Insurance Quotes

Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

The Importance Of A Medical History Form

By Sharon Rowe

It is so important to keep an updated medical history form on hand at all times. I'll give you a case scenario.

You arrive at the hospital ER with your loved one. First you're stopped at patient access where you have to provide all of your insurance and physician information. From there you give your health history to the ER nurse, and sometimes the doctor will even have you to repeat it (depending on the line of communication between the hospital staff). Then you arrive on the floor, and it's time for the hospital admission and you're asked the same questions again. All you want at this point in the whole process is for medical care to begin. Now...the questions asked are essential to good quality care, but when you're worried about a loved one the last thing you want is to keep repeating the same information. It can be redundant, especially during a stressful time.

Then there are times when a person comes in to the ER and family can't stay until the patient is assessed and sent to the appropriate floor. This could be a problem if the patient is too weak to speak or has dementia. It impedes care. Many patients will already have a list of medications on hand when they arrive, but with your medical history form on hand.... you arrive to the ER or the main floor.... allow medical personnel to make a copy of your health history form while you spend time with your loved one. Any information that they need they can obtain from the health history form that you provided them with. Basically with the exception of a few more questions all that remains is the primary reason for the hospital visit, any tests that need to be done and the head to toe assessment. Working as a medical nurse for over ten years, I have come to learn that having a health history form can make the world of difference.

Your medical history form should include (but does not have to be limited to the following) name, address, emergency contact, any allergies, insurance information, brief medical history, surgeries, any current medications, flu and pneumonia information, advance directive, living will, and primary physician information. This is enough so that medical personnel can properly and quickly begin to facilitate care.

It takes a little time to prepare a good thorough medical health history form but the end result and your peace of mind will make any time spent well worth it. Once you complete your medical history form put it in a safe place (one you will remember) and then be comforted in the fact that should the time present itself you will have all of the information needed to quickly begin care for your loved one.

For more information about The medical history form visit http://www.yourmedform.com

How Will the Internet Impact Healthcare?

By Carl George

Whether communicating with friends and family, trading goods and services, researching favorite topics, or enjoying music and other entertainment-the Internet is simply a different delivery channel for the things we've all been doing, and still do, in other ways. It is these three factors - convenience, low cost and timeliness - that make the Internet so compelling.

Changing the way clinicians do business
Effective healthcare delivery, beyond pharmaceuticals and devices, is contingent on ready access to accurate, timely information. The best healthcare information is of no value if it cannot be located, shared and applied. The value of information-sharing and the idea of cooperative medicine are well known and appreciated. To effectively facilitate information-sharing, and provide a higher level of value and customer service, healthcare organizations are taking advantage of technologies that facilitate sharing - most importantly, the Internet.

The basic premise of the Internet is to enable people to quickly and easily access and share web-based documents and applications. With pressure to be cost-effective, web-based "software as a service" applications are growing in popularity - mainly because they require no additional expensive software or servers to buy or maintain, and the data that resides in these applications is available in a timely manner at the cost of a workstation loaded with a web browser. In addition, the information stored in these applications can be accessed from any computer in any location, by anyone with the required security access. Security has advanced to the point where data can be protected and the risk of data theft is much lower than in the recent past.

One example of a new web-based "software as a service" application is Kardia Health Systems' EIMS (Echocardiography Information Management System), a comprehensive echo lab workflow solution. EIMS supports data acquisition, diagnosis and interpretation, clinical reporting, patient scheduling, and coded billing within one application. EIMS facilitates ready access to patient records and enables physicians to review echo measurements and generate structured echo reports via a browser from any location. This is especially useful for cardiologists working for multiple practices and from remote locations. This web-based application provides one central location for patient data with permission-based access from a secure common data server set.

Changing the patient provider relationship
The benefits inherent in "software as a service" also have the potential to greatly improve healthcare delivery and patient care. Because the Internet removes geographical restrictions, physicians can analyze data regardless of the location of the patient or physician. This gives patients and healthcare institutions access to qualified physicians, regardless of the location of the patient or the physician, and allows multiple providers to review the same data and collaborate on diagnoses. Healthcare organizations that embrace timely information delivery to deepen the customer relationship will be rewarded with more loyal customers because they have removed levels of customer frustration from the operational process.

The integration of secure, timely information via the Internet with healthcare delivery ultimately provides a higher level of service and patient care, both from a collaborative medical perspective (providing the patient with a more knowledgeable diagnosis) as well as from an educational perspective (allowing physicians to more easily learn from one another). It improves the operational efficiencies of the practice, enhances the health and longevity of patients, and creates a deeper, more rewarding practitioner/patient relationship.

http://www.kardiahealth.com