Finances – Coronavirus and Your Medical Coverage

March 19th, 2020

The medical effects of the Coronavirus are being well covered in the media, what is not being covered is how people are going to pay for care in the advanced stages of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Many health plans have high deductibles and other plan have limited benefits. How are families going to protect their finances if they or a loved one fall victim to the Coronavirus?

Vice President Pence has stated that the major insurance companies are waiving co-pays for testing .

The state of Oregon publicized: “The state has reached an agreement with several health insurance companies to waive co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles for their customers who need COVID-19 testing .”

These efforts are directed at the “testing” for the Coronavirus, but what about paying for care if a person is in the advanced stages of the Coronavirus? What about the 27.5 million Americans who do not have health insurance?

The limited studies to date support the fact that most people who develop the Coronavirus (COVID-19) will experience mild to moderate symptoms. The risk factor is for people over the age of 60 and those with an underlying medical condition. Such conditions include:
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Lung disease
• Cancer

Those who experience the advanced stages of the Coronavirus could experience:
• Lung damage which could result in respiratory
failure
• Acute respiratory damage1
• Pneumonia
• Kidney failure

These “advanced stage conditions” will all require hospitalization and possibly a ventilator. If the person has health insurance, they may have to payout thousands or tens-of-thousands of dollars in deductibles, emergency room deductibles, pharmacy expenses, and what if the insurance company denies coverage based on their review of “medical necessity?”

To protect families HealthCare Advocates suggests that people over the age of 60, or those with underlying medical conditions consider buying a “hospital confinement policy.” A hospital confinement policy will likely cost $30/month depending on the plan and options chosen, but the payout could be between $10,000 and $30,000 depending on the plan. This payout will help protect the financial well being of both individuals and families.

When researching hospital confinement policies people should select a plan that pays a minimum of $500/day. They also need to read the section on waiting periods, exclusions, pre-existing conditions and any section on specific conditions covered as to ensure they would be covered if hospitalized as a result of the Coronavirus.

HealthCare Advocates is a patient advocacy organization dedicated to helping people and families obtain the best medical care while safeguarding their finances.

Coronavirus Vaccine Begins in Seattle

March 18th, 2020

March 16, 2020: Trial of Coronavirus Vaccine Made by Moderna Begins in Seattle

Geopolitics and the Coronavirus

March 10th, 2020

Geopolitics and the Coronavirus: China state media reports that China could refuse to export medical supplies. Things have been quiet on this matter since the original report.

Ex-NFL LB turns down Montana Football Hall of Fame nod because of concussions

March 28th, 2018

Ex-NFL LB turns down Montana Football Hall of Fame nod because of concussions

See: https://www.yahoo.com/sports/ex-nfl-lb-turns-montana-football-hall-fame-nod-concussions-173047746.html

Foreigners establish “Maternity Hotels” to have American Babies

January 10th, 2018

Feds Raid California ‘Maternity Hotels’ for Birth Tourists:

See: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/feds-raid-l-maternity-hotel-birth-tourists-n315996

Uninsured Americans rises to over 12 percent amid health care fight

October 20th, 2017

Uninsured Americans rises to over 12 percent amid health care fight.

Full Story: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/uninsured-americans-rises-to-over-12-percent-amid-health-care-fight

Trump and ACA Subsidies

October 13th, 2017

President Trump to end certain Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Read: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-to-end-key-aca-subsidies-a-move-that-will-threaten-the-law%e2%80%99s-marketplaces/ar-AAtkha9?OCID=ansmsnnews11

Video Games Used For Medical Treatment

August 20th, 2017

Video games, long thought to hinder the social abilities of children, may soon replace medication in treating some mental disorders. Project EVO is at the last stage of FDA approval and is intended to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The next iteration is to use video games to detect Alzheimer’s. Adding support to these findings is that the pharmaceutical company Pfizer is supporting the research.

The full story may be found at: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/12/neuroscape-and-akili-make-video-games-to-treat-cognitive-diseases.html

Anthem Leaves The Federal Exchange

August 9th, 2017

Anthem exists Obamacare Leaving Many with No Options:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/08/obamacare-market-shaky-after-insurance-companies-pull-out-exchanges.html

New Treatment for Alcoholism

July 17th, 2017

Next Sunday night (7/23/17) the TV investigative news journal “Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly” will report on a new treatment for alcoholism.

The new treatment seems to incorporate medication that controls the urge to drink. Interestingly, the patients do not abstain from drinking.

HealthCare Advocates has no prior knowledge of the interview or the legitimacy of the treatment – we simply bring this to your attention to keep people informed.