Blonch

Previously I explained that health care is available to everyone – there is no health care crisis in this country. Now let’s show why there is no health insurance crisis either, which I can most effectively do by showing that health insurance is affordable to everyone.

In terms of a health insurance crisis, can we agree that folks who currently have coverage aren’t in a crisis? They may think their premium is too high, but it isn’t a crisis, OK? So, let’s look at the uninsured as the crisis.

In 2008 The Los Angeles Times reported the number of people without insurance declined from . . . .

I know this is political heresy, but I disagree with either of the two premises of the health care reform debate. Understand the difference between health care and health insurance. The reform debate seems to have blurred those lines, but either way:

* First, there is no health care crisis in this country
* Second, there is no health insurance crisis either

These contradict the widely accepted premises behind what you are told by the media, politicians and even AARP, so I understand skepticism. Today, let’s examine the “health care crisis.”

Health care is available – even to the uninsured. . . .

During the last 20 years I have been involved in health insurance, there have been many changes – some have proven to be good, but others have not. Let’s start by clearing up some misunderstandings: There is no health care crisis in this country! Let me defend this heretical position.

Although there are different policies for homeowners and tenants (renters) and even condominium owners, in the U.S. there are standardized basic forms that insurance companies must use for most homeowner’s insurance (with the exception of Texas, which still makes state unique forms available, too.) This makes comparing coverage offers from different insurance companies somewhat easier if you know which coverage forms they are quoting and what limits/deductibles they include. You also need to know if they have any special endorsements restricting or broadening coverage. For homeowners, policies that include your home and personal property come in three flavors – basic, broad, and special. All three are “package” policies including property coverage and liability coverage. The big difference is in the property coverage.

If you haven’t priced life insurance lately, you probably want to take a fresh look. Mortality experience has improved and rates have fallen. The most common need for life insurance is to replace lost earnings that would have supported your family. If you plan to retire (and who doesn’t?), your need for life insurance will reduce over time – the closer you get to retirement. While there are purposes for other kinds of life insurance, consider term products to meet temporary needs. If you truly have a decreasing need for life insurance, you may be interested in annual renewable term life insurance and gradually reducing the death benefit over time.

Costly COBRA
With increasing layoffs, and unemployment, lots of folks are faced with health insurance choices under COBRA provisions that offer you continued group benefits at your own cost, at least for a while. However, the full cost on those plans can be surprisingly high. If your COBRA coverage is too expensive, rather than going without [...]

Most folks think of insurance for protecting their assets. A commonly overlooked asset is the ability to earn a living. Your income stream may be your most valuable asset. Disability Insurance or Disability Income (either referred to as DI) protects your income in the event you are injured and unable to work. Since the most common injuries are things you can recover from in a fairly short time, some people prefer to “self-insure” that short-term loss of income by having personal savings set aside.