Part of the concern that many people have when it comes to allowing a home health care agency to take care of their elderly relatives is how they will pay for it. Some people are much better equipped to handle their later years because they saved money or have some kind of a pension program that will allow them to pay for their own health care. However, others have to rely on income from family members or government agencies. This is why it’s important to choose a home health care agency that can help you navigate the tricky waters of budgeting for elderly care.The first important factor to take into consideration is speaking with the home health care agency to see if they can offer any support or advice about whether Medicare or Medicaid will pay for any portion of the person’s care. There are so many variables to consider such as whether or not it will be considered long or short term care. Will it be rehabilitative (physical therapy or speech therapy) or medically necessary (care that must be provided by a Registered Nurse).If the expenses do not fit into the Medicare services, than you may have out of pocket expenses. However these costs could also be paid for by long term insurance. Most people who need additional care or assistance (that isn’t covered by Medicare) choose to hire a private pay home care provider, OR they move into an assisted living or nursing home.Remember to consider the expenses from the agency as well. You can ask questions as to the their fees including if there are any additional costs for weekends, holidays or other business hours.Another important consideration is who pays the worker’s Social Security and whether or not the company provides worker’s compensation just in case there is an injury in the home while the employee is providing care. You also want to understand their billing procedure and whether or not you pay the worker or the agency directly. They should also be able to tell you if the agency bills Medicare or any other insurance directly for the covered services.When discussing the hours the home health care worker will work in the home, make sure you know whether or not there are a minimum number of hours or days per week that are required by the agency. In essence, you want to know if there are going to be any unexpected fees or extra charges that may come up.
Student Health Care Insurance – Is it Important to Have Coverage
Many college students fore-go student health care insurance simply because they believe it is too expensive. While health insurance coverage can be very expensive, student health care insurance plans are generally less expensive than traditional plans. Students 18-24 are among the healthiest in the population and health care rates are favorable for students because of this.The importance of student health care insurance is often overlooked. While most college students are saddled with large amounts of education debt and housing costs, they often overlook student health care insurance as an investment in their future.Many college students do not understand the need for some type of health insurance coverage to protect themselves in the event of an accident or illness. The rising costs of medical care can take a simple illness that at one time cost hundreds of dollars to treat and turn it into thousands of dollars in medical bills. Diagnostic test and lab work are very expensive and quickly add up. Becoming overburdened with medical bills and education costs could lead to a financial disaster that could have been avoided.College is an investment into the future of the person attending school, and the health of the student is an asset that should have some protection from unexpected events. While many students are covered on their parents health care plans, an alarming number of people are losing their benefits because of a parents job loss.So what should college students do to protect themselves from a health crisis? First, find out if there is an affordable student health care insurance plan by comparing rates and costs. Most insurance companies or agencies allow real time quoting and plan comparison side by side on line. Comparing plans is easy and there is no obligation to buy any insurance. While you will have to enter in personal information to get plan prices, the information is well worth the fifteen or twenty minutes that it will take. Plan costs will vary by State, the amount of coverage, coverage type, and plan options. There are many affordable plans for less than $100.00 per month, with a higher deductible. Picking a higher deductible will dramatically decrease the cost of the plan that you pick.If student health care insurance is just not in your budget, consider buying a catastrophic accident and illness plan that will cover you in the event of a major medical crisis. Catastrophic health insurance plans are very affordable and will give you good coverage, should you have a major health care event. While catastrophic plans do not offer general coverage, prescription benefits, and the other services offered by a traditional plan, the value in the plan is the protection you will get should you ever need it.If you find yourself without the ability to buy any type of student health care insurance, many college campuses offer free or lost cost health clinics to help their students. Many prescriptions can also be purchased from some of the major drug store chains in the generic variety at a very low cost. If you find yourself in need of medical care and do not have any type of coverage, speaking with your campus counselor will help you to find local resources to assist you.
Why Commercial Mortgage Lenders Don’t Like Small Loans
Many of the most successful and powerful commercial mortgage lenders, as-well-as top commercial mortgage brokers avoid originating small balance loans. It is not easy to find a firm willing to underwrite a commercial mortgage with a loan amount of less than $1,000,000.00. As a borrower in need of a smaller loan, you may feel somewhat insulted by this circumstance, but if you take a moment to see things from the lenders point-of-view you will learn the key to getting your small balance loan through to closing.All the Work 10% of the PayA borrower is entitled to all due respect and a high level of service regardless of the size of the loan being requested. It is only right that every client receive the same time and attention as every other. The small borrower asks the same questions as the large. The paperwork and documentation for a $100,000.00 loan is identical to that of a $1,000,000.00 loan. The only real difference is the number of zeros on the application.As-far-as the lender is concerned, the amount of work and the effort involved in closing a small loan is exactly the same as closing a big one, but the compensation to the firm can be 10 times less! So for the company funding the loan, it’s simply a matter of economics; they can fund 10 loans for a certain amount of income or fund just 1 for the same amount of income. They will, invariably, choose to fund fewer loans with larger balances if they are successful enough to be choosey.What’s a Small Commercial Real Estate Investor to do?Even in this era of skyrocketing real estate values in the commercial sector there are still many, many buildings and building lots selling for less than $1,000,000.00. Knowing that lenders prefer large loans, how can a small investor get a low balance loan file through to close?Small Balance Lending is a NicheSome savvy business people have figured out that there is much less competition for small loans than for the big ones that everyone seems to fight over. Seek out small balance specialists. Sift through all the advertisements and all the search engine results and you will eventually find a lender looking for you just like you are looking for them.Every time you get a lender or broker that tells you “We don’t do loans under a million” just take the time to ask: “Do you know any good lenders who do?” You will get some good leads and if your deal is of high quality you will find someone to fund it.Make it Easy for ThemRemember, the reason a big lender doesn’t want your small balance loan is because they think it’s going to be a-lot of work for a little pay. Turn the equation around on them, make your loan look like easy and they will see a decent payday for a minimal effort.Do some research and have the documentation you know you’ll need readily available and let them know you will be very forthcoming. Don’t just submit an application, sell them your deal. If you have great credit, make sure they know it up-front. If you are putting down a healthy down payment, highlight that fact. If there’s ton’s of equity in your building point it out to them. If they believe your loan will sail through the system they won’t be able to resist originating it.Small commercial loans can be done. A little searching will turn up willing lenders, I promise. And, a little window dressing (as long as it’s honest) on your file will go a long way in getting it accepted.