Healthcare financing in the United States involves a mix of private and public funding through employers, government programs, and out-of-pocket payments by individuals. But there is ongoing debate around who should bear the costs of healthcare. This article examines the current US healthcare funding model, its pros and cons, and arguments around who should foot … Read more
When it comes time to choose a health insurance plan, you’ll likely come across acronyms like HSA and EPO. These stand for Health Savings Account and Exclusive Provider Organization. They are two common types of health plans that have some key differences. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain what you need to know about HSA … Read more
Trying to navigate the Obamacare health insurance marketplace on your own can be confusing and time-consuming. You may wonder if working with an insurance broker could make the process easier. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain: What an insurance broker is How brokers can assist with ACA enrollment Key benefits of using a broker for … Read more
Founded in 1912, Liberty Mutual has grown into one of the largest property and casualty insurers in the world. Aside from the flagship Liberty Mutual brand, the company owns or controls several other insurance carriers. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover: A brief background on Liberty Mutual Full list of insurance companies owned by Liberty … Read more
To get premium-free Medicare Part A when you turn 65, most people need to have at least 10 years of work credits. But what if you don’t meet the work credit requirement? The good news is that you still have options to get Medicare coverage. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover: What Medicare work … Read more
UnitedHealthcare offers a variety of Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans to help cover healthcare costs that Original Medicare does not. These plans can provide valuable additional coverage, but you may decide you want to cancel your plan at some point. Here’s what you need to know about canceling a UnitedHealthcare Medicare supplement plan. When Can I … Read more
A health insurance deductible can be one of the most confusing parts of selecting and using a health insurance plan. Unlike other common insurance terms like premium and copay, deductible is less straightforward. One key question many people have is: Is a deductible paid all at once? The short answer is no—fortunately you don’t have … Read more
Every year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues an Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule to update Medicare payment policies, rates, and quality programs for acute care hospitals. This comprehensive rulemaking process allows CMS to adapt hospital payments to changing costs, technologies, regulations, legislation, and quality improvement priorities. On August 1, … Read more
If you’re shopping for specialty insurance like mobile home or motorcycle coverage, you may come across Foremost Insurance. This company provides policies for RVs, boats, manufactured homes, motorcycles, and other recreational vehicles. But you may notice Foremost’s website and materials mention an affiliation with Farmers Insurance. So are Foremost and Farmers the same company? Or … Read more
Life insurance plays an important role in financial planning for many individuals and families. It provides a tax-advantaged way to leave an inheritance, fund estate taxes, support dependents and more. A common strategy is transferring ownership of an existing life insurance policy to an irrevocable life insurance trust or another party. But does transferring a … Read more