California’s health insurance market has unveiled many cost-effective health insurance plans. With a little bit of research consumers can save a significant amount of money each year by securing the most appropriate health insurance plan for themselves, their families, and their employees. In the end, they might just have more positive feelings about California’s health care system.Despite the highly visible social action efforts taking place in Sacramento to heal our health care wounds, it is likely that big changes are still a while away from taking effect. So, in the next few years there is a lot that you as employers, individuals, and families can do to quell the negative reputation that the health care system gets and start making the insurance process work in our favor.In this age of internet shopping, more and more people each year are purchasing their health insurance plans online without knowing which plans are most appropriate for them. Most choose the health insurance plan that has a low monthly premium, but later find that this plan doesn’t fit their needs or the needs of their loved ones or workers. As a result, the costs can be much greater in the long run. Usually, the most appropriate health insurance plan will end up being the most cost-effective health insurance plan, even if it isn’t the plan with the lowest monthly premium.Finding the most appropriate and cost-effective health insurance plan can be accomplished through a few simple steps:1) Contact a professional health insurance agent from a referral or call the agency that you find online2) Ask the right questions:a. What is the difference between a PPO and an HMO? Which one would benefit me the most?b. What is a deductible, co-pay, co-insurance, maximum out-of-pocket limit?c. If I have pre-existing conditions, how will that affect my family’s rate and approval probability?d. Should I sign up separately from my family?e. Are there $0 deductible plans available? Would this be appropriate for me? Why? Why not?f. If I get declined, what are my alternatives?g. Which plans am I more likely to be approved or declined for?3) Learn about the different types of health insurance plans in the market. This will only take a few moments to understand.The following are a few great health insurance plans in the market that have very comprehensive coverage and can help you save money.Cost-Effective PPO’sFirst Dollar Plans: These plans have a $0 deductible so the member is paying only a percentage (usually 40%) of the negotiated rate for services from the very start of the policy. First Dollar Plans normally carry a doctor’s visit co-pay from $25 – $40. Such plans do not include maternity benefits*, which helps to keep the monthly premiums down.
*This may be a concern for women, but companies that carry these plans will often let you slide into their high deductible plan (~$5000 deductible) that includes maternity benefits should the member become pregnant.These plans include different drug options to choose from…No Rx, Generic Only Rx, or Comprehensive Rx (Brand Name).Some Popular First Dollar Plans in the Market include:o Blue Cross Right Plan PPO 40o Blue Shield Active Start 25 & 35o Aetna MC Open Access 25o Kaiser Permenente $25 & $50 Copayment Plano Health Net Simple Value 30 & 40Medical/Dental/Vision Plans: These plans carry low deductibles that are often equal to their maximum out-of-pocket limits. They also include basic dental benefits and vision exams. These plans do not include maternity benefits and only include a Generic Drug option. Such plans are marketed toward the 19-29 age group, but these plans may be appropriate at any age.Some Popular Medical/Dental/Vision Plans in the Market include:o Blue Cross TONIK (has 3 different deductible options)
*TONIK has strict underwriting guidelines. It is advisable to consult your health insurance agent before applying.o Blue Shield Essential PlansCost-Effective HMO’sSaver or Value HMO’s: These plans provide the extremely comprehensive coverage of an HMO, but the addition of a deductible lowers the monthly premium. These plans still carry low co-pays. HMO’s are a good option for women who are planning to become pregnant. The maximum-out-of pocket limit is normally significantly lower than a PPO. When the math is done to equate the difference in total spending one may get more for the money with a Saver or Value HMO.Some Popular HMO Plans in the Market include:o Blue Cross Saver HMOo Blue Shield Access ValueHSA PlansHealth Savings Account Plans: These plans are tax incentive health insurance plans that are growing in supply and popularity every year. Many HSA plans lack co-pays, so general coverage does not start until the deductible is met. This often lowers the cost of the monthly premium which makes these plans enticing at first glance.Your accountant may recommend an HSA health plan because of its tax advantages. When you open a Health Savings Account through a compatible health insurance plan it allows you to put money away (up to $2850 per year now) tax free. This money can accumulate interest and can be used to pay for your medical services and Medicare premiums (when the time comes) with the use of a debit card that is authorized only for these uses. Also important, your accumulated funds and interest will rollover year to year.Blue Cross Lumenos Plans are designed to encourage preventative care. They cover Annual Physical Exams, OB-GYN Exams, and Well Baby Care at 100%.Some Popular HSA-Compatible Plans in the Market include:o Blue Cross Lumenos HSA planso Blue Shield Shield Spectrum Savings Planso Aetna MC Open Access HSA Planso Health Net Simple Choice HSABecoming educated about the health insurance market is not as daunting, as difficult, or as time consuming as most of us are afraid of. In fact, a trustworthy and professional health insurance agent will be able to help you narrow down your choices so that you may choose the most appropriate plans for you, your family, or your employees in just a few minutes.The next time you are searching for health insurance in California, please take the above suggestions to heart. Asking the right questions will make you a more proactive, educated, and responsible consumer and the knowledge that you gain will not only help you to find the right health insurance plan, but will relieve you from future aggravation and will save you valuable time and money in the long run.By Erin FishAgent/PresidentEMF Insurance Agency, [email protected](866) 601-8790
Automotive Brakes Are a Big Purchase
There are clearly many different elements to a car that need to be in working order to have it running properly. However, when it comes to safety and overall importance, it is hard to think of anything that matters more than the automotive brakes. If something else on the car breaks down and doesn’t work, it is often possible to get them fixed without dire consequences, but if the brakes don’t work, it can have disastrous and even fatal consequences. This is why it is hugely important for any car owner to have an understanding of brakes, so they can judge which ones are probably right for them, and what to do if they start causing problems whilst driving.Obviously the main point of the automotive brakes is to reduce the speed of the vehicle and then bring it to a halt. There are many different forms of vehicles available and the brakes involved are different on the majority of them. In an automobile, it is common for the system to be run hydraulically with liquid pressure resulting in the pistons moving and ensuring that brakes are applied to the wheels.One of the most common forms of automotive brakes are disc brakes, and these are often found on the front wheels of most cars and on all of the wheels when it comes to racing and sports cars. This makes sense as a racing car driver would have a greater need for braking power and performance than a standard road user and this is where consumers need to consider what type of driver they are. Choosing the wrong style of brakes can have a huge impact on their performance and as the brakes are so important, this is not something that people want to get wrong.The same can be said for the type of surface that will be driven on as this will have an impact on the performance of the brakes. Think about the condition of off-road race terrain compared to a normal highway and it becomes clear that there are major differences between the two so the automotive brakes need to cater for different conditions. If the race track is wet, the brakes may become dirty and wet and this may reduce the stopping power of the brakes. There are now a number of brakes which take into account these factors, these are usually slotted or cross drilled. If the brakes are working on friction, it is important to keep them as true to their original style and cleanliness as possible and this can be helped by choosing the right form of brakes for your vehicle.With automotive brakes to suit a whole range of budgets and prices, there should be a product available for everyone. However, choosing brakes should not come down to price alone as they are too important a product to always choose according to price. There are many good products available at low cost, but if they are not good for your car or style of driving, there is no benefit in cost saving to any vehicle owner.
Currency Trading Success using Technical Analysis
Anyone can achieve currency-trading success – you can learn everything about trading currencies by simply investing the time necessary.Fundamental AnalysisA currency trader who makes trades based upon fundamental analysis, will look at the supply and demand situation relevant to the particular currency studied, and try and predict the impact of such factors as:. The health of the economy
. Interest rates
. Balance of payments
. Employment
. Trade deficit
. Other factorsTechnical AnalysisTechnical analysis is the study of a currency, based strictly on using only the price history of the currency.Technical analysis uses no information about the currencies supply and demand situation – it simply focuses on price action.
The secret of currency trading success is using technical analysis to spot them.Long Term or Short Term TradingFor long term currency-trading success, is it better to be a long-term trader, rather than a short-term trader.While traders can, and do make money with short-term methods of trading, the fact is, currencies trend longer term and these are the trends that yield the biggest profits.Choosing a Trading MethodWhile there are many ways to achieve currency-trading success, all methods have the following salient points in common:1. SimplicityMost of the best trading systems are simple.
There is no correlation between how complicated a strategy is and how successful it will be.2. Liquidate Losers Quickly and Run Big Profits:The basis of any successful trading systems that deals in leveraged products is:You need to be able to run the big profitable trends and exit losers quickly.3. Understand your MethodThis may sound obvious, but you need to understand your trading method, and the logic behind it, so you can execute it with confidence and discipline.4. The Importance of DisciplineCurrency trading success is rooted in a successful method applied with discipline. This means a trader has a method and follows it. This however is much harder in practice than many traders believe.The more disciplined you are in trading, the more profits you will make longer term.You should not underestimate the need for discipline, if you want long-term currency trading success.Robust trading method + discipline = currency trading successThere are a number of variables involved in longer-term currency trading success and the above are the salient points to keep in mind when deciding how to trade currencies.