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“Underinsured” is an Understatement

I used to think of health care insurance as a black and white issue. You either you don’t have insurance or you do. It wasn’t until I found out that we had to pay $1200 for one dose of medicine for our premature daughter that I realized that there is a gray area of health care coverage called “underinsured”. If you have health care insurance but can’t afford the out-of-pocket cost associated with treatment this is considered being “underinsured. Wikipedia.org gives no definition nor information on the word “underinsured” rather, you are redirected to the word “insurance”. How appropriate to know that this term “underinsured” was given by billion dollar insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations.
According to a survey sited by the Washington Post “40 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 64 have inadequate access to health care. This survey done by commonwealthfund.org is nearly 4 years old so without a doubt those numbers have only increased.
If you can not afford insurance chances are you qualify for Medicaid. So, where is the help for those hard working tax paying American’s that don’t have insurance or their health insurance is inadequate? Their is help but you need to first be willing to work for it and second you have to qualify for it.

Here is some resources you can investigate now:

Health Savings Plan individuals can put tax free money away and spend it on the heath care when you need it

Here are some organizations that may provide financial help to underinsured people with certain medical conditions. Contact the organizations to see if you might qualify:

* American Kidney Fund: www.kidneyfund.org/patient-grants;(800) 638-8299
* Caring Voice Coalition: caringvoice.org/program-fa.htm; 888-267-1440
* Chronic Disease Fund: www.cdfund.org; (877) 968-7233v)
* HealthWell Foundation: www.healthwellfoundation.org/index.aspx;800-675-8416
* Patient Access Network Foundation: www.patientaccessnetwork.org;866-316-7263
* Patient Advocate Foundation: www.patientadvocate.org;800-532-5274
* Patient Services Inc.: www.uneedpsi.org/cms400min/index.aspx;800-366-7741
* Free or Low Cost Insurance for Kids - To learn more, go to Your State’s Program or make a free call to 1-877-KIDS-NOW for more information.

Prescription help:

These organizations may provide help to underinsured people with obtaining prescribed drugs. Contact the organizations to see if you might qualify:

* Partnership for Prescription Assistance: www.pparx.org; 888-477-2669
* NeedyMeds.com: www.needymeds.com; no phone help available, but questions can be faxed to:419-858-7221 or mailed to: NeedyMeds Inc., P.O. Box 219, Gloucester, Mass. 01931;
* Some stores offer some generic drugs at low cost. Call your prescriber or drug provider for information.

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First Time Parents: Choosing a Pediatrician

The search for your baby’s Pediatrician should begin at least one month before your due date. The best way to select a Pediatrician is by word of mouth. Unfortunately, many of us don’t have this valuable resource, and so we are left to do our own investigating. This process will include an “interview” with as many physicians as it takes to find the “right” one for your family. I suggest physically visiting the doctor’s office so that you can scope out the atmosphere. Ask yourself: Is the office and physician baby friendly? How busy is the waiting room? Does it seem like people are waiting a long time for their appointments? How helpful is the receptionist? In my experience, Pediatricians accepting new patients are happy to meet with expecting parents for a face-to-face interview. I would be wary of any physician unwilling to extend this courtesy.

The following is a list of questions I found useful in my search for the best Pediatrician for my son:

• Is the doctor(s) covered by my insurance?
• How many doctors are in the clinic? More than one doctor makes for more flexible scheduling and the availability of drop-in appointments.
• Will my child see the doctor, the doctor’s assistant, or a nurse during his/her visit? It was important to me that my child see his Pediatrician for each of his wellness visits.
• What vaccination schedule does the doctor follow, why, and is he/she flexible in that regime?
• Is there a separate waiting area for sick kids vs. kids being seen for routine check-ups?
• What are the hours/days of operation?
• Who is on-call for emergencies when the office is closed?
• What hospital(s) is the doctor affiliated with?
• Does the doctor(s) have children of his/her own?
• What are the doctor’s credentials and how long has the doctor(s) been practicing?

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