GOLDEN INSURANCE GUIDE

Various organizations and government officials have cited estimates for the number of illegal immigrants at between eight and twenty million.  With rising health care costs as a major issue for most Americans, this article considers the moral and practical issues of providing medical care for uninsured immigrants.

According to a research report entitled “The Size and Characteristics of the Unauthorized Migrant Population in the U.S.” {© [2006] Pew Hispanic Center, a Pew Research Center Project}, there are an estimated 11.5 to 12 million unauthorized migrants currently residing within The United States.  The report was based on Census 2000 data, as well as the Current Population Survey of March 2005, and the monthly Current Population Surveys through January of 2006.  The Pew Hispanic Center uses the term: ‘Unauthorized Migrants’.  This term refers to persons residing in The United States who are not U.S. citizens, have not been admitted for permanent residence, and do not have specific authorized temporary status that permits extended residence and work within the United States.

The Pew Hispanic Center report found that the unauthorized population consisted of 5.4 million adult males, 3.9 million adult females, and 1.8 million children.  Adult males are in the majority, making up 58% of the unauthorized adult migrants, while females account for 42%.

When discussing the percentage of unauthorized migrants, it is important to consider their labor force participation.  Thirty-one percent of unauthorized migrants are employed in service industry jobs, while only sixteen percent of natives work in service.  Native workers make up the great majority of white-collar jobs, while unauthorized migrants are underrepresented.  Certain occupations have proportionately high concentrations of unauthorized migrant workers: Farming (24%), Cleaning (17%), Construction (14%), Food Preparation (12%), Production (9%), and Transport (7%).  This is relevant to the issue of health insurance because the cited industries do not typically provide health insurance coverage.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) addressed eligibility requirements for non-citizens to receive Federal means-tested public benefits.  The Act resulted in significant restrictions on immigrants’ eligibility.  Such benefits include Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  Certain immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP for five years from the date they enter the United States in a qualified-alien status.

Generally, only “qualified aliens” are eligible for coverage.  Who is considered a qualified alien?  There are nine basic types of qualified aliens: Aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 USC 1101 et seq.; Refugees admitted under §207 of the INA; Aliens granted asylum under §208 of the INA; Cuban and Haitian Entrants, as defined in §501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; Aliens granted parole for at least one year under §212(d)(5) of the INA; Aliens whose deportation is being withheld under (1) §243(h) of the INA as in effect prior to April 1, 1997, or, (2) §241(b)(3) of the INA, as amended; Aliens granted conditional entry under §203(a)(7) of the INA in effect before April 1, 1980; Battered aliens, who meet the conditions set forth in §431(c) of PRWORA, as added by §501 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, P.L. 104-208 (IIRIRA), and amended by §5571 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, P.L. 105-33 (BBA), and §1508 of the Violence Against Women Act of 2000, P.L. 106-386.  Section 431(c) of PRWORA, as amended is codified at 8 USC 1641(c).1; Victims of a severe form of trafficking, in accordance with §107(b)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, P.L. 106-386.2.

Unauthorized migrants will be denied health care with the exception of emergency situations.  This policy creates a problem for paramedics and other medical professionals, who will be forced to determine whether the individual’s life is at risk and what constitutes a medical emergency.  How emergency health care workers are expected to enforce this policy is unclear.  The Department of Health and Human Services is currently working on the terms, with the start date set for less than three months from now.

To receive health care, individuals will be required to provide proof of citizenship or proof that they are eligible as qualified aliens.  This requirement creates potential problems for United States citizens, as well as immigrants.  The homeless are perhaps the most obvious example of individuals who are eligible for care but may not have the proper documentation.  Another, lesser known, example may be African-American senior citizens.  African-Americans from the South were not allowed to be born in hospitals and therefore do not have proper birth certificates.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is the potential spread of disease.  Testing for Tuberculosis, for example, is something that Americans take for granted.  Those initiating and enforcing these policies should consider whether basic medical testing will be provided.  Regardless of the apparent moral implications, denying health care services to individuals residing within the United States can easily result in more tangible problems.

In planning for your retirement, buying disability, health or long-term care insurance is important. The insurance company would usually want to know a lot about you. You will be classified based on your habits, medical records and family history.

You have to have an understanding of your own health. The biggest factor in determining the insurance cost is your health.

Here is some advice from insiders to get the best health ranking possible at lowest possible rates:

1. Tell the truth

Hiding some facts on your health will not help you. First, the insuring company will eventually find out because they do have your records. They will presume that the problem is serious, since you did not mention it. Worse, withholding info the company regards as important could lead to the cancellation of your policy.

Give the insurance company your complete health history. But do it under your own terms. For example, don’t just say that you have high blood pressure. Inform them that you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure several years ago and have kept control of it.

Give them complete information and reduce the uncertainty, then eventually you would get a good deal.

Be careful on how you say things, a hesitant answer would seem that you are hiding something. Be as clear as possible with your replies.

Ask what the ranking is based on. There would generally be criteria in determining the health ranking and it varies from one company to another. Determine your ranking in a specific company and why. This helps you get a better picture and hopefully and decrease your premium. Canvass for the best rates possible but know that the rate is just one consideration.

2. Your doctor can help.

Inform your physician. Insurance companies would want to talk with your physician and look at your records. If not that, they would at least look at your records at the Medical Insurance Bureau.

Your best move is to inform your physician that you’re applying for insurance. A forewarning helps in ensuring that the insurance company gets noticed and gives you in return a favorable rating.

Ensure that the company gets a complete record, especially if you have moved from one doctor to another. The insurance company wants all of your health records to get a complete idea of your state of health.

Inquire discretely. Too much inquiry might raise a red flag on you. Try to get an agent to do the shopping for you. Choose your insurance broker carefully. Just like other professionals, they’re not created equal.

Maybe you have auto insurance coverage now but do you ever wonder if it’s enough if you are unfortunate enough to get into a car accident?  Some people carry a combination of auto insurance coverages because carrying too little coverage can cause you to be paying for the rest of your life under certain circumstances. Of course everyone has to have basic liability coverage, which is usually worth up to $50,000.00 for any single personal injury.

This goes as high as $100,000.00 for everyone involved and even though it might seem like a lot, this is not a lot of money given a nasty accident where medical bills, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering is involved.

With auto insurance the more coverage you purchase the cheaper it gets. This means that your cost goes up a little on your auto insurance coverage while your protection goes up proportionately more. This will pay off big time in the case of an auto accident and insurance settlement. It is the safety umbrella that you will need to avoid worry and stress from a stressful situation to begin with.

There are accidents that are serious enough to cost as high as a million dollars or more in a settlement, depending on the circumstances. Depending on your auto accident and insurance settlement, without the proper auto insurance coverage you could end up in a situation where you will be paying out money for the rest of your life.

If you can’t afford to get the full package on auto insurance coverage, it is better to take out $300,00.00 to $500,000.00 in personal injury liability and go a little less on property damage. Insurance coverage for property damage from an accident won’t be as expensive as personal injury can be. So when you’re purchasing coverage for your auto, keep in mind the extra money you pay now could pay off big time in the future.

Another auto insurance coverage that you will find extremely important is uninsured and under insured policies. This type of coverage will protect you from those that are driving illegally without auto accident and insurance settlement insurance. This is extremely important if an insurance settlement is paid out.

It is like buying more protection for yourself, as the other driver that hits you without coverage will have nothing to help you over your accident. Even though it may seem as if you are paying for the mistakes of another, it is worth it in the end.

Make sure you get enough auto insurance coverage, don’t skimp.

Life is precious to every creature (big or small) on earth. From a tiny ant to big rational agents every living being loves life and wants to protect it. For a human being the most prudent way to shield his life from all the forthcoming perils is to get life insurance. Life insurance not just guard the life of the policyholder but it is also a great help to other family members.

Life insurance pays for almost all the major misshapenness in an individual’s life. If the person is suffering from a chronic illness, it bears the medical expense. Life insurance money can be used in cases of a severe accident. After the death of the policyholder, the insurance pays for his funeral and other related ceremonies. Thus life insurance is a big financial assistance not only when a person is alive but also even after it.

However the extent to which a policy will be active or beneficial depends on the kind of life insurance policy taken by an individual. For instance, the term life insurance policy is all about protecting a person for a term before he dies. But if the individual dies during the policy term, the beneficiaries receive the benefits. Term life insurance is ideal for those who want that specific needs such college tuition; mortgage payments and car payments should be cared for at their death. This insurance is also favorable for the families who cannot afford to pay large monthly premiums. It is also good for senior citizens who know that they will kick the bucket soon. Many companies associate different terms and conditions with the term life insurance policy and so offer several types of it. The term life insurance an also be converted to any other form of insurance such as whole life insurance.

The people who seek to insure their entire life and are ready to pay big premiums throughout should go for a Whole Life insurance policy. This policy is good for young but not meant for the old. The whole life insurance has a distinguished “cash surrender value” feature. The cash value (composed of cash value and dividends) keeps on incrementing annually according to a specific schedule in your whole life insurance policy. Many whole life policies reward the policyholders with dividends that can augment the entire cash value.

Besides these kinds of life insurance policies are also health insurance policies. These policies are devised for those suffering with chronic illnesses particularly cancer. Such policies are difficult to acquire (for very few agencies offer them) and are usually offered at high premiums. The health insurance may pay for some of the patient’s treatments but it does not pay for everything.

Prior to purchasing a life insurance policy, a person should make a prudent assessment of his current situation and needs. Accordingly he should look up Internet, consult friends and relatives to find either a reliable insurance company or an agent. Choosing from where (insurance company and agent) and what kind of policy to adopt is a challenging task that requires lot of consideration and discussion.

Vacations are for fun, it means leaving behind your job and responsibilities for a while. Having travel insurance is one way of putting your mind at complete rest. It’s a lot easier to enjoy your trip if you know that you are covered from luggage lost to sickness.

The further your trip will be, the more you will need travel insurance. This is common sense, as international trips are costly, so there’s a need to protect your hard earned travel money. So wherever you go, to a local or international destination, it’s very important that you have the necessary insurance coverage.

Cheap annual travel insurance is an alternative choice for those budget- conscious travelers who are making more than one trip a year. The main feature of the annual travel insurance against regular travel insurance is that it saves you money. For a once annual payment, you become covered whenever you travel during the year. The terms and conditions vary between companies, but annual insurance for unlimited travel is also available. Cheap annual travel insurance provides substantial cost savings than any regular type of travel insurance.

Here are some tips for choosing your best cheap annual travel insurance:

1. Sign up with a reputable insurance company that has worldwide offices which can easily be contacted during emergency needs.

2. The insurance company should have a 24/7 customer assistance which is an essential for international travelers.

3. Always make your office’s 1-800 number available to you when you are abroad.

4. The cost of the insurance should not be more than 10% of your investment.

5. Read the terms and conditions of the policy to make sure you aren’t buying unnecessary or inadequate coverage.

6. Look for refundable policy, especially if you have the history of changing your mind too often.

7. A good insurance should cover at least the following:

a. Flight cancellation or delay
b. Luggage loss and delay
c. Sickness and accident during the trip.
d. Evacuation support during an emergency situation such as natural calamities

Cheap annual travel insurance is good for you if you take vacations more than once a year. Instead of taking several insurance each time you travel, you can make use of a single travel insurance that could save you a lot of money and time. On the other hand, if you travel less often, an annual insurance policy is not for you since you will not be able to recover the cost.