Finding the Right Home Health Care Agency: How Much Will This Cost?

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.