Resolving Medical Billing Errors Can Save You Money
In March 2020, at the dawn of the Covid-19 pandemic, Chicagoan Sandra Washington felt ill, and the extreme fatigue she was experiencing continued to worsen. “I was just literally a body. I didn’t have any feelings. My whole system was drained and depleted,” Washington says. Her husband took her to the emergency room, where she […]
This year’s benefits open enrollment period is an opportunity you don’t want to miss
With Covid-19 expected to be a part of our daily lives for the foreseeable future, many Americans are expecting that they could get sick. In fact, Voya research shows that more than half of Americans (52%) believe someone close to them will be infected with the virus. At the same time, many are also discovering […]
What to Do if You Lose Your Health Insurance During the Coronavirus Crisis
You can’t control whether you lose your job and your benefits because of COVID-19. You can, however, take steps to protect yourself in case you wind up without health insurance during the global pandemic. Don’t panic. Take a breath. Collect yourself. And then make a plan. 1. If you have a spouse with insurance, try […]
The high cost of a healthy life
In retirement, good health is a very costly condition. That’s the conclusion of a new study comparing total health care costs for retirees with various health conditions. While healthy retirees have much lower monthly medical expenses than those with serious conditions such as diabetes or cancer, their longer life expectancies mean that they actually need […]
Life insurance needs change as you age
By Kimberly Lankford, Kiplinger Personal Finance Life insurance is an essential part of every family’s financial plan, but people often underestimate the amount of coverage they need and pay too much for what they get. What’s more, your needs change as you age. The policy you bought when your kids were born may not have […]
4 secrets to buying long-term care insurance
By Eleanor Laise, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report For aging baby boomers, planning for long-term care costs becomes more pressing every day. But the insurance that helps cover those costs is surging in price, while the benefits are becoming skimpier. As costs rise, health care experts are engaging in a fierce debate about whether the coverage is […]
Bone up before you buy: The ABCS of picking a Medigap policy
By Christopher J. Gearon, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report People enrolling in traditional Medicare should buy a supplemental insurance policy to cover the substantial gaps left by deductibles and co-payments, according to consumer advocates. But choosing a private Medigap plan can be daunting. That’s what Joyce Katen discovered when she turned 65 in May. “I got so […]
Obamacare: One Year Later
By Megy Karydes The Affordable Care Act (ACA), the landmark law popularly known as Obamacare, took effect last January. One year later, despite positive changes to the healthcare system, the ACA is still marred in controversy. The idea of government-sponsored healthcare has always been a lightning rod in the political theater. It’s been one in […]
Chicago-Based Website Helps Individuals Buy Health Insurance
By Leigh Page GoHealth is a Chicago-based website that people can access if they can’t get group coverage through their employer. It bills itself as the easiest way to purchase health insurance on the individual market. Navigating the individual market can be confusing. There are dozens of different policies offered in the Chicago area by […]
News In Brief
Enrollment for Obamacare Continues Despite Government Shutdown Among technical and congressional glitches, the Affordable Healthcare Act’s mandated health insurance registration continued throughout its first day yesterday. Illinois’ health insurance marketplace, Get Covered Illinois did not experience any major setbacks. The Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, goes into effect in January 2014. For the approximately […]
Illinois Prepares for a New Insurance Marketplace
Will healthcare for the uninsured really happen?By Morgan Lord Illinois is planning on more than a million uninsured residents receiving healthcare on Jan. 1, 2014. Some think it’s going to happen; others think it’s a long shot. Back in March 2010, President Barack Obama signed a healthcare reform bill—the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act […]
