| Health insurance is a formal agreement to | | | | records of international student insurance |
| provide and/or pay for medical care. The | | | | coverage. |
| health insurance policy describes what | | | | |
| medical services are "covered" by the | | | | Medicaid does not pay money to you; instead, |
| insurance company. As a testament to the | | | | it sends payments directly to your health |
| importance of health insurance in many | | | | care providers. You may also be asked to pay |
| colleges and universities health insurance is | | | | a small part of the cost (co-payment) for |
| mandatory for all full-time undergraduate and | | | | some medical services. |
| graduate students enrolled in 12 or more | | | | |
| credits. | | | | American women want children and are willing |
| | | | to pay for it, but the technology is not |
| In recent years many small business owners | | | | sufficiently refined to prevent all multiple |
| have passed the cost of health care insurance | | | | gestation. Comparing pre-term birth and |
| on to their employees. When the employees can | | | | infant mortality rates in the US with any |
| not afford the health insurance coverage | | | | other country is truly apples and oranges, |
| under present government policy they are just | | | | and of course, nothing skews longevity |
| out of luck. | | | | statistics like infant death. Some Americans, |
| | | | some reports argue, have too much health |
| Some colleges have contracted with Aetna | | | | insurance. Typical plans cover things that |
| Student Health and similar providers to | | | | they shouldn't, creating the problem of over |
| provide a health insurance option. This type | | | | use and consumption, leading to higher costs |
| of group coverage can be obtained at lower | | | | for the insurance providers. |
| cost. For many families health insurance is | | | | |
| often not affordable or unavailable and | | | | Employers should provide their employees with |
| health care costs claim a growing share of | | | | written notice of their right to continuation |
| household budgets. Rising numbers of people | | | | coverage both at the beginning of employment |
| are under insured or not insured at all as | | | | and as the employee is going out the door, |
| they just can not afford the insurance | | | | generally a separate letter dealing with |
| premiums. | | | | health insurance benefits is best. The notice |
| | | | must instruct the departing employee how to |
| As medical needs and bills mount many | | | | inform the health insurance carrier of the |
| Americans, even those with chronic illnesses, | | | | employee's desire to continue coverage. |
| skimp on prescription drugs and needed care, | | | | |
| and experience poorly coordinated health | | | | Employers are jettisoning health insurance |
| care. Hard working citizens lack confidence | | | | because costs are out of control. Since 2001, |
| that they will be able to afford high quality | | | | premiums for family coverage have increased |
| health care in the future. | | | | 78 percent, while wages have gone up 19 |
| | | | percent and inflation is up 17 percent. |
| Shopping for health care insurance is not | | | | |
| always easy. Medical terms can be confusing. | | | | Obama would require employers to either |
| Before speaking with an insurance agent you | | | | provide benefits or contribute to a fund that |
| should make sure you understand his or her | | | | would provide coverage. McCain makes no such |
| language. Make sure you read an overview of | | | | rules for employers or individuals. The issue |
| health insurance companies to get a better | | | | of health insurance coverage and bringing the |
| idea of each provider's identity. Medicare | | | | costs of medical care and services under |
| supplement insurance, commonly called Medigap | | | | control should be a prime presidential |
| or Medsup insurance, can help make up the | | | | campaign issue. |
| difference between Medicare coverage and | | | | |
| billed medical costs. | | | | The challenge facing American with health |
| | | | care and health care insurance is that the |
| Medical expenses can be very costly, | | | | costs have gone beyond the reach of many |
| especially for those students entering the | | | | millions of Americans. The candidate who can |
| United States on a temporary basis. In | | | | meet the challenge of creating a workable |
| addition, many health care providers at | | | | health care plan in America should have a |
| colleges and universities can deny treatment | | | | major edge in reaching the Whitehouse. |
| if a student does not provide appropriate | | | | |