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