About | Better Bills

The Truth and Lies About Your Car Insurance

January 30, 2011 By admin

If you are a newbie in insurance policies, it is best to be educated on the subject. There are many myths and realities in dealing with insurance companies. It is necessary for you to have a general idea about such insurance rates so that you won’t have problems later on.

Car insurance is needed by people who want to be assured that their cars won’t experience distress, especially when the time comes and they get into an accident or anything else. There are things in this world that you have to be aware and to prepare for. This is why it is vital to assess and choose the most affordable and most reasonable price for your car insurance.

Hence, it is true that the insurance quotes reflect the cost of certain automobile- related expenses. In fact, there are many explanations on how the increasing cost of such insurances is accumulated.

Each year millions of people get into car accidents that involve personal injury. With this type of incidents, the typical price range of such treatment is around ,000 to ,000. Thus, this can easily turn into tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the type of car.

This problem is actually joined by the trouble of increasing claims of automobile injury, which are currently as much as 30 % in some states. These dilemmas can turn into the new car insurance holder’s burden of additional payments or premiums.

Moreover, another reason for this is the legal expenses that the company needs to pay due to the fact that an average jury award for vehicular liability cases are continuing to rise and can put up the pressure on auto insurance rates.

An average liability can cost from about 7,000 up to 9,000. This was the estimated record from the year 1994 up to the year 2000, respectively. Thus, the number one cause of death for people ages 1 up to 34 is car accident.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, these deaths cost more than 0 billion annually. People who are under the use of prohibited drugs, alcohol abuse, high- speed driving and are not using a seat belt are the leading people who are at risk of such an accident. Auto repair has also increased because of the rapid advancing age of technology, along with construction and design that have now become a must in this era. Automotive innovations and repair costs have increased tremendously and thus, higher car insurance may ensue because of this.

Hence, there is a notion that red cars cost more insurance. This is not true. Colour is never a determinant factor in calculating one’s car insurance rate. The factors that are important are the year, model, body, type, engine size and the age of the car. Even if you have a cheap car but you have a large engine, or it is an unusual model, it might cost a lot to have it insured as compared to a more expensive small car.

Then again, you will pay for a lesser amount in comprehensive coverage, which can cover the damage that is usually brought about by vandalism, hail, fire or even animal accidents. There is also a case, in which, two speeding tickets can make your car insurance rate go up.

Plus, it is also not true that every car insurance company can charge anyone on any way they please. Despite the increasing expenses of this company, they still have a way of covering all the damages and they also have regulators that review their customer rates.

It is also important to take note of the amount of your car, where in, it’s insurance will most likely have a relative cost to. This is due to the fact that some companies shoulders only a minimum amount and will not cover certain accidents. Of course, this will result into a lawsuit but they will not include all the damages. So, it is wiser to read your terms and conditions.

Thus, if someone drives your car and there is an accident, you will still be the one held responsible. You will be financially responsible for the accident. In most states, the car insurance that covers the accident is considered the primary insurance holder, which means that the insurance company is the one that should pay for the damages. Hence, there are cases that it is not enough and the driver’s insurance is the next in line to pay for the remaining damages. This is primarily why you need to know the car insurance policy in your state, as well as the laws that go hand in hand with it. States and even countries differ in policies politically and geographically.

Aside from this, there are also other factors that are being considered for car insurance rates. Of course, your rate won’t be the same as that of your neighbours. Your age, nature of your work, driving record, type of vehicle and marital status are all considered. This can really vary depending on the company’s standards. Sometimes, your charge can go down when you turn 25 because this is the time when car accidents go down. The extremes of ages, like that of a teenager and that of the forty year old individual is where the accident rate is at its highest.

Lastly, there is a so called rental reimbursement that can cover and pay for your rental car. This is for cases, wherein, you are on vacation and you just rented a car that resulted into an accident. This will help drivers pay for the damages to the car but this still depends on the limits you selected. Having more than one insurance policy is not really money- saving technique. In fact, it is more expensive. Most of the time, you can save your money by getting the best rate available in one company. Thus, if you want different types of insurance like that of the auto and homeowners insurance, you can look for another company that can give you the best deal. At times, you will get better deals from different insurance companies.

Car insurance is a way of preparing yourself for some stressful moments while driving your car. Getting one doesn’t mean that you are already assuming that you will encou7nter car theft or car accidents. Getting car insurance is a lot like accepting the reality that these things happen and that it is best to be prepared. This is better than not having a car insurance at all and end up paying more, just because you decided is best not to have one. Since car insurances these days have death or disability insurance for the driver or owner of the car, it is a lot like caring for your family and loved ones by leaving them with nothing to worry about.
Since there are many car insurance agencies these days, it is best to assess each one and check which has been in the industry for a long time. You can also check with friends for referrals. This is actually the best thing to do as compared to believing in advertisements and flyers.

The Truth About Medical Billing and Coding Careers

January 27, 2011 By admin

When I worked in the admissions office of an allied health college, my primary responsibility was enrolling prospective students in the school’s medical assistant, dental assistant, massage therapy, health information management and billing & coding programs.

To the college I was just a salesman with a quota to fill. To me, I was a professional responsible for providing a high school senior, a drop out with a GED or a person “re-careering” with objective information to help them make a decision that could effect their life for quite some time. I wanted to do my part to help that person get the most out of the time and money they were willing to invest in themselves.

A common theme with many of the students I enrolled in the medical billing & coding program was an interest in a health care career without the “blood and guts” (a term I remember using to relax and get a smile from the student); or in other words the close contact with patients that would be experienced by a medical or dental assistant. For them, an administrative position like billing & coding was just what the doctor ordered (pun intended).

In this school, like many others, the medical billing & coding program was combined and came in two flavors: a nine month certificate program and an eighteen month degreed program. The difference? At the conclusion of the nine month program, the student received a certificate (not to be confused with a diploma) documenting their completion of the coursework.

The student was also prepped to take the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam. Upon passing the exam, the student was awarded the CCS credential. At the conclusion of the eighteen month degreed program, the student would have earned an associate’s degree and, like the certificate program, would be prepped to take the CCS exam.

If I used any sales tactics it was to persuade the typical billing & coding student to enroll in the degreed program. By typical I mean a person with a high school diploma/GED and little to no practical work experience. The reason? Not because the school made more money (they did), but because I firmly believed – and still do – in education as the best way for someone to better themselves personally and professionally.

To me the certificate program was a strong second choice and usually selected by those students that, among other things, wanted to get in to the workforce faster or couldn’t afford the degreed program. As I mentioned earlier, upon graduation the student would receive a certificate stating that they completed the coursework and be prepped to take the CCS exam. To me the real value was taking and hopefully earning the CCS credential.

There are several credentials that can be earned by a medical billing and coding professional. Credentialing is a big deal. Why? Having those letters after you name (e.g. Jane Doe, CCS) proves that you have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and ability required to pass an exam issued by a nationally recognized American Medical Association (AMA) sanctioned organization. In the world of medical coding there are two organizations offering credentialing sanctioned by the AMA: AHIMA and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

When you check out the AHIMA and AAPC websites – and I really hope that you do – you will notice that their credentialing programs are all about medical coding. You may have visited the websites of some allied health colleges and noticed that their medical billing & coding programs are really a bunch of medical coding classes with a couple of billing courses thrown in for good measure.

I think there are a couple of reasons why most curriculums focuses the bulk of their coursework on coding rather than billing:

:: Students are more “employable” with combined coding and billing skills
:: The health care industry is placing more value on coding skills
:: Medical billing can be learned on the job and requires little to no technical knowledge

I may repeat this in other posts but if you really are thinking about making the financial and personal commitment to a medical billing or a billing & coding program, I can’t stress enough the importance of performing your due diligence so you can make the quality decisions that will put you in the best possible position to be successful.

By due diligence I mean partnering with a parent, mentor or someone else you trust to be honest and objective to help guide you in your decision making process. You also need to be completely honest with yourself, know your strengths and weaknesses and apply that knowledge to your decision making process. For example, if you struggled in high school or have a learning disability you may not be able to pass the coursework and should consider other employment options. On the other hand if you were an outstanding student you might consider pursuing an undergraduate degree in health information management (see AHIMA.org for more information about a health information management program).

You should consult with the AHIMA and AAPC websites to see of there are schools near you on their approved list. I do know the AAPC also offers Internet-based or distance learning courses. If you are considering a program not approved by either organization then be sure to at least check out the school on the Better Business Bureau website and Google to see what previous students have to say.

Finally – and I’m probably get some hate mail – but please be very wary about any company offering medical billing correspondence courses and certificates. You will find out the certificates aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on when it comes time to find a job. Why? There is no AMA sanctioned body that issues medical billing certifications. The certificate is simply documentation showing that you took and passed some billing training program.

I can’t tell you how many times someone sent me a resume just because they had completed a medical billing correspondence course. I would not hire anyone with no prior experience. Why? I don’t want to train a newbie and can’t afford the liability exposure – someone not knowing what they’re doing can run off clients. I stick by this hiring policy after learning the hard way. Bottom line – no prior experience, no job.

Sources:

American Health Information Association (ww.AHIMA.org)

American Association of Professional Coders (ww.AAPC.com)

Also see:

“Billing and Posting Clerks and Machine Operators” Occupational Outlook Handbook 12 December 2007 http://ww.bls.gov/oco/ocos277.htm

“Medical Records and Health Information Technicians” Occupational Outlook Handbook 12 December 2007 http://ww.bls.gov/oco/ocos103.htm

Find More Better Bills Articles

Filed Under: Better Bills Tagged With: about, Billing, Careers, Coding, Medical, Truth

Nine things you should think about before taking a life insurance paramedical examination

January 22, 2011 By admin

By Michelle Matlock, Life Quotes, Inc.

When you apply for life insurance, you will most likely have to take a medical exam.

Individual life insurance companies have a number of tools at their disposal when it comes to rating policies, and one of those tools is medical underwriting. Since the basis of insurance involves assessing risk, health status plays a critical role in the underwriting process.

What to expect

Paramedical examiners are licensed health professionals that insurance companies hire to perform medical examinations on potential policyholders. When you apply for life insurance you will be required to answer a series of medical questions, or if you apply for a policy at an insurance website, you can fill out a questionnaire online. The second part of the application is a medical form that is completed by your examiner. Examinations are generally performed in the privacy of your home or place of business.

Most paramedical exams require examiners to collect a urine sample and blood draw. You will also be asked to provide your driver’s license and social security number. Typically an examiner will accept alternative forms of identification such as a military ID, passport or state issue identification cards with a photo ID. This information will be used to fill out the lab ticket. The lab uses your complete blood count (CBC), to rule out a number of conditions such as leukemia, cancer or HIV. You may also be required to take a liver function test, or a Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) test, which is used to rule out alcoholism, cirrhosis and other liver diseases. Lab technicians also check your cholesterol level, which will be used to evaluate your risk for heart attack or stroke.

In addition to urine and blood samples, examiners will check your blood pressure, pulse rate, and measure your height and weight. In some cases, you might be required to take an X-ray or treadmill test. Some exams might require checking your “timed vital capacity” (TVC). This is a breathing test that determines how well your lungs are functioning. They may also require some applicants who smoke or have a history of heart disease to have an electrocardiogram (EKG), a test that records electrical changes in the heart.

Questions your examiner will ask you include:

1. Name and address of personal physician?

2. Date and reason last consulted?

3. What treatment was given or medication prescribed?

What you should do

While some folks find paramedical examinations a little daunting, the extent of a paramedical exam varies by insurance company.

Also, some companies require less information than others and have a shortened version of a paramedical exam. But be warned— if you are a smoker, your mortality rate is often higher than nonsmokers, and insurance companies usually require a more thorough medical examination for tobacco users.

“If your agent isn’t prepping you for your exam then they are not doing the right thing,” says Ryan Pinney, a brokerage director and insurance risk specialist for Pinney Insurance Center, Inc. in Roseville, Calif. “There are so many things that can mess up your lab results that people don’t consider.”

Pinney offers some sage advice that will help increase your odds of doing well on an examination.

1. Don’t consume alcohol for 72 hours prior to your exam.

2. Don’t take your exam if you are dehydrated.

3. Don’t take ibuprofen or aspirin because this will create elevated liver function.

4. If you exercise or work out regularly, take a break for a day or two prior to the exam. “When you work out your muscles breakdown and that can tweak the outcome of your lab,” says Pinney.

5. Don’t eat fatty foods for at least two days before your examination. “If you have an exam coming up and you must choose between a triple cheeseburger or salad, go with the salad. Even if you don’t have high cholesterol, fatty foods will temporarily heighten your cholesterol levels,” notes Pinney.

6. Take your exam first thing in the morning don’t wait until later in the evening. “Your blood pressure is lower in the morning because you’ve been sleeping for 6 to 8 hours. It’s never a good idea to get stressed out at work, fight rush hour traffic and then take your exam,” Pinney recommends. In addition, Pinney says when you sleep your back compresses, so you are also a little taller in the morning. “This can help you when it comes to measuring your height and weight.”

7. Wear your tennis shoes. “When your height and weight is measured you don’t have to take off your clothes or shoes. But I discourage wearing steel-toed boots or a tool belt because depending on the item this could make you 35 pounds heavier. The examiner is not required to tell you to remove those items,” says Pinney. Pinney adds that you are also not allowed to keep your high heels on at a paramedical examination.

8. Never volunteer information. “Let the examiner ask the questions,” says Pinney. “When an examiner asks you if you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease this is not a good time to tell him you haven’t and then mention you’ve had chest pains lately. If the insurance company wants to know more details, the underwriter will contact you.”

9. When the examiner asks you a question, don’t lie. “Do not try to outsmart the insurance company,” says Pinney. “Any misrepresentations can be considered insurance fraud on a more serious level. If you omit information or lie, once the insurance company finds out, you will be denied coverage and your application will be rescinded.”

This article was originally published at Life Quotes, Inc.

About Life Insurance Leads

January 20, 2011 By admin

Life insurance is a lucrative industry, and as more and more people come to understand the benefits of life insurance it becomes even more rewarding. However, even though there are countless individuals in need of life insurance, generating life insurance leads can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, with knowledge of a few tricks of the trade, it is much easier today than ever before to generate new leads.

Before the Internet became a popular form of communication, insurance agents had a harder time finding clients. Indeed, they often resorted to cold calling potential customers, or even traveling door to door in hopes of meeting a prospective client. Of course, both of these techniques result in fairly low sales. This isn’t so much because people aren’t interested, but more because these methods feel invasive and uncomfortable to the average person. If a salesman was lucky enough to catch someone at home, it was usually during their leisure time when being hassled by a sales call or visitor is highly undesirable. This made finding potential leads much more difficult than it needed to be.

Today this has all changed. We live in technological times and even the average individual is quite tech-savvy. Today it is possible to find quality life insurance leads without cold calling or going door to door. The Internet provides the easiest alternative to traditional approaches. However, there are other offline approaches that prove beneficial too.

Although some of these newer methods can seem slightly intrusive too, they are definitely less invasive that home visits. They also provide much better results. Insurance Leads are often generated through search engines such as Yahoo, Google, or Bing. These search engines provide an effective way to directly reach customers in a seemingly unobtrusive manner. More importantly, advertising opportunities are targeted, which allows an agent to reach people that have some sort of interest in finding out more about life insurance. This increases the sales rate significantly.

Additionally, agents can buy quality leads that often lead to sales. These leads are generally generated by online forms filled out by those interested in learning more about life insurance. Most forms include a variety of information relevant to a person’s insurance needs. Information collected includes: sex, age, family size, type of insurance desired, etc. Upon purchasing leads like this, and agent already knows quite a bit about each prospective client, and most importantly he knows the individual is already thinking about buying life insurance.

With the Internet, it is possible for agents and insurance companies to get in touch with potential clients like never before. There is a host of different methods available. Online advertising, free newsletters, website pop-up ads, search engine advertising, and free reports with opt-in newsletters have all been used with success by some professionals. Of course, no matter how you get your leads, actual sales will be a result of your own ability. Nonetheless, today’s technology makes life insurance leads easier than ever.

Brits ‘warned About Missing Bill Payments’

January 1, 2011 By admin

Millions of Britons are under financial pressure, new research indicates.

In a study carried out by MoneyExpert, some 6.9 million bills have not been paid since June last year. Overall, council tax is the most likely household bill to have been missed during this period of time, with some 2.3 million, about one in 20 people, either meeting this demand for payment late or not at all. Meanwhile, 1.39 million Britons claim to have had problems in paying their gas or electricity bill. In addition, an estimated 926,000 telephone bills have gone unpaid since June 2007.

Pointing towards recent price hike announcements by npower, the price comparison website stated that more Britons may find that they will be making late payments on credit cards as they face “a difficult year financially”. The energy provider recently claimed that the cost of supplying energy is to go up by some 15 per cent. As a result, this may add some 150 pounds on to the average person’s typical annual utility bill.

However, the price comparison website suggested that people’s finances may come under even more strain as 2008 progresses, as more energy providers are due to increase their costs. It was also put forward that loans and other types of borrowing will be harder to access as a result of the continued impact of the credit crunch.

Commenting on the figures, Sean Gardner, chief executive of MoneyExpert, said: “For some time we have been waiting to see how the financial squeeze would affect the average household. Nearly seven million unpaid household bills is a fairly conclusive sign that we are feeling the effects. Paying one bill late is not something to panic about. But if you find this is becoming something of a habit then you need to take action. Missing bills can have serious consequences, whether it’s losing a service altogether or even ending up in court.

“While interest rates have stopped climbing there are plenty of other factors that could make life even tougher for some people. With energy prices rising and credit becoming harder to come by, there could be plenty of normal people who will find paying even their basic household bills a daunting prospect in 2008.”

MoneyExpert went on to suggest that those who continue to miss bill payments are potentially putting their credit rating under risk of damage. This impairment may lead people to find that they are unable to access cheap loans and other types of competitively-priced borrowing in the future. The price comparison website advised that anyone concerned about their capacity to manage bills and other financial demands should “take action now”.

For people worried about their capacity to manage their money, applying for a consolidation loan could be advisable. In taking out this type of loan, borrowers may be able to meet numerous demands on their spending, for example utility bills, credit cards and council tax, at once. This may lead people to find that they have more disposable income at the end of each month. A study carried out last month by GfK NOP for Bradford & Bingley revealed that some 40 per cent of Britons are looking to get to grips with money management over the course of 2008. Meanwhile, 38 per cent are aiming to cut down their spending.

How to Go About Negotiating Medical Bills

December 29, 2010 By admin

We negotiate in various aspects of our lives. Think about it. We negotiate for a better rate on a home, or to lower the price of a car, or even for a bargain in the deli, but did you ever realize that you can negotiate with a doctor’s office or hospital? Negotiating with physicians or the Billing department at a hospital is an option that could result in lower medical bills. With attempting to negotiate, there is a chance of avoiding filing for bankruptcy or even destroying your credit which could occur if putting your medical bills on your credit cards occur.

Medical Debt Negotiation: What You Can Do:

First, Do Your Research

The US Government passed a bill called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act which prohibits certain methods of debt collection and to eliminate any abusive treatments that may occur on behalf of collection agencies. Once you know that you have a right, as a consumer, review your medical bills. Ensure that each item on your bill is accurate and no double billing has ensued. There are times where a hospital may charge twice for the same procedure or test, so requesting an itemized bill from the Billing department will allow you to review the bill prior to paying for their services. This is especially important with Medicaid. With private insurance, it is good practice on your part, to have an understanding what physicians, hospitals, and procedures are covered under your plan. This is your responsibility. There are times when going to a specific doctor or hospital, or even undergoing a certain test is not controlled and is vital for your health, but if you have a choice, make sure you are going to be covered. If items are outside your specific plan, there is a good chance you will be responsible for that payment, which could add up to hundreds and thousands of dollars.

Secondly, Negotiate The Correct Way

Some people have a general talent at negotiating. Wonderful. Others, however, have a tendency to let their emotions get the better of them. Yelling at anyone who has authority in this situation, will generally not result in a way that you are hoping. Make sure your approach is gentle yet thorough. Be firm yet understanding with whomever you are speaking. Explain that you are clearly unable to pay for your bills if you have a valid reason. If they are agreeable to lowering or eliminating your medical bills, they may ask you to prove to them, for example by pay stubs, that you are simply unable to afford the bills. Just remember that negotiating is one way that bills can be lowered, but remain calm and composed and you may have a better result than yelling and being belligerent.

Third, Know What Is Required During the Negotiation Process

Basically, you need to need to be imperative and respond to the doctors or hospitals once you receive your bill. When you speak to anyone from the organizations that you owe money to, for example hospitals and doctors, make sure you record their information. Write down their name and specific demographics. Document the actions you took, when they occurred, and the end result. There are currently 35 States that allow you to record this call with your state. Finally, try to avoid negotiating over the phone, but if you must, ensure they will send you a letter via mail or email. If you can, try to negotiate in person. This way you can have an immediate answer and response.

Fourth, Understanding The Goal of Negotiation

Striving to have as many penalties or medical fees related to your bill reduced or removed is one of the first goals of negotiating with the organization. Next, try and attempt to receive a payment plan, in which you will be able to pay your bill over a period of time with payments that may be more suitable for your budget. If you are able to achieve a payment plan, you will need to send a letter to your creditor to keep them abreast of your current situation. When you are speaking with someone regarding negotiating a lower rate or payment, see if more offers can be made. Abiding by the first offer may not be the best, so having an understanding of the process and what you may be entitled to is going to be the best for you overall. Finally, speak to them about the possibility of filing for bankruptcy. Even if this is not going to happen, threatening a company with this concept perhaps may scare them. If you file for bankruptcy, they will not get paid.

Workplaces scared about health insurance overhaul

December 25, 2010 By admin

After months of hearing forecasts of big hikes in group health insurance rates, Keri Jenkins got a pleasant surprise. Easy To Insure ME has the answers.

Coverage costs for her company, the Norfolk-based ship agent and broker T. Parker Host, would increase by just 7.9 percent, despite new requirements under the national health care overhaul.

It was the company’s smallest rate bump since 2005.

“We were very pleased,” said Jenkins, who is T. Parker Host’s senior vice president for administration.

Many employers, like Jenkins, anticipated big changes as they developed insurance plans for the first time since the passage of the new health law.

For 2011, the law requires coverage for more people and, in many cases, mandates preventive services without extra charge to individuals – benefits that come with a price tag.

However, South Hampton Roads insurers, consultants and employers said the overhaul won’t increase rates more than 4 percent next year, largely because many plans already came close to meeting the requirements.

Overall, including other climbing expenses, local group health insurance costs are rising between 6 and 12 percent – a range comparable to recent years, they said.

For employees, that means more of the same.

“What we’ve seen is a trend where employers continue to offer less benefits and pass on more of the cost to the employees,” said John DeGruttola, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Optima Health, the insurance arm of Sentara Healthcare. “It’s really just in response to the double-digit medical inflation that occurs and continues to occur.”

Several provisions of the health care law take effect for plans renewed after Sept. 23, six months after the legislation was passed.

For many people insured through their employers, these changes will begin in next year’s coverage, which workers are now selecting during an open enrollment period.

Under the law, all plans must cover dependents up to age 26. Children up to 19 can’t be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition.

Insurers also can’t establish limits on how much they will pay for covered benefits during the entire time an individual is enrolled in a plan. Plans can no longer terminate coverage retroactively due to honest mistakes on applications.

Other rules are contingent on how much employers change their health plans. Among them is a requirement for plans to cover certain preventive services, such as flu shots and some cancer screenings, without charging copays or co-insurance.

Companies can avoid that and some other mandates by basically freezing their plans as of March. To receive “grandfathered” status, a plan cannot significantly raise employees’ responsibility for health costs or substantially reduce benefits. Insurers found that few companies chose this option, though.

Dennis Wance was considering it for his Norfolk-based law firm, Vandeventer Black.

Because of some serious illnesses, health insurance costs would spike next year if his firm chose to grandfather its current plan, he said. However, a new plan probably would mean employees pay a larger portion of their medical bills and receive slightly reduced benefits, he said.

The choice promised to be difficult for a company that prides itself on generous health coverage for its 170 employees.

“These benefits are important,” said Wance, the firm’s executive director. “That’s why we’re reluctant to do some of the more draconian things with medical premiums to get the cost down.”

In some cases, the new law caused barely a ripple in a company’s coverage, especially if its plan already came close to meeting the provisions or if few people qualified for the new coverage.

At T. Parker Host, for example, none of the 56 employees added a new adult dependent, Jenkins said.

Other employers still wrestled with steep increases.

At Hampton-based Old Point National Bank, monthly health premiums rose more than in recent years – between 10 and 20 percent, said Joseph Witt, executive vice president and human resources director.

For his company and its 340 employees, high-deductible plans with health savings accounts have proved a good way to manage costs, he said. Those plans have lower premiums and higher deductibles than traditional plans, and allow employees to save money for medical costs in a tax-advantaged account.

“We’re hoping to one day have all of our employees say, ‘Wow, these high-deductible plans are so great, there’s no reason to be in a traditional plan anymore,’ ” Witt said. “Because the traditional plans are real dogs.”

Insurers said high-deductible plans gained popularity for 2011 because the plans allow employers to pay lower premiums and possibly invest in other benefits, such as matching funds for employee health savings accounts.

Employers also showed more interest in steering employees to wellness programs as a long-term strategy to reduce costs. Programs with incentives, such as gift cards and deposits into the health accounts, tend to work best, said Jeff Ricketts, regional vice president of sales for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia. “Cash is king, we’ve found,” he said.

Looking ahead, employers are nervous about future demands of the health care overhaul – even as they wait to see whether it will withstand political assaults.

“I can’t say that the health care reform act has presented, in and of itself for 2011, that significant a challenge for us,” Wance said. “I think those challenges are yet to come.”

What You Need To Know About VoIP Broadband Telephone Service

December 16, 2010 By admin

If you haven’t heard much about VoIP before now, you certainly will in the future due to its rapid emergence as a major communications technology. VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol, and it basically is the ability to make telephone calls over the internet to either a receiving computer or telephone.

For years standard telephone lines have used a circuit switching network to transfer telephone calls, but VoIP technology uses something called packet switching instead where audio is converted into packets of data that are sent over the internet and reassembled on the other end by the person’s computer or telephone. If a high-speed internet connection is used, a conversation can take place that easily compares to a regular telephone call in sound quality.

All of this may sound like a very new technology, but in reality it’s not. Programs that make use of VoIP technology were springing up on the internet more than ten years ago, although they were much less capable than those that are available today. Also every year continues to bring higher standards of quality for VoIP applications, and it will no doubt be a viable technology for many years to come.

A good example of the use of VoIP technology is instant messaging programs. If you have used an instant messaging program that is voice enabled, where you can communicate by audio, video and chat, it is in large part due to VoIP. This is because VoIP is able to integrate audio, video, data, e-mail, and more simultaneously. Although most consumers will use VoIP for telephone calls initially, many businesses are already finding expanded uses for VoIP technology.

Several telephone companies are realizing the potential for VoIP services and so companies like Sprint, Verizon, AOL and others are now offering VoIP plans to consumers. One of the distinct advantages of buying a VoIP solution is that it costs significantly less than most standard telephone services. In fact, most service plans will allow you to make unlimited long-distance telephone calls on your VoIP plan for very inexpensive rates. And the subscription rates are usually free of many of the taxes and regulatory fees that often accompany your local telephone bill.

Another major advantage of many of the current VoIP subscription plans that are available is that they often include extra features such as call waiting, call forwarding, three-way calling, voice mail and much more. Quite often, these extra services cost more when included by your local telephone service, but VoIP plans usually include them at no extra charge. Another interesting side benefit is that many providers will allow you to select a new area code and phone number for your VoIP calls, so if you have family or friends in a distant town, they can call you for free on a number that is local to them.

Hopefully this information on VoIP technology will help you understand more about how it works and how it can be beneficial for you.

Find More Telephone Bills Articles

Filed Under: Telephone Bills Tagged With: about, Broadband, know, Need, Service, Telephone, VoIP

Everything You Need To Know About Business Broadband

December 13, 2010 By admin

Broadband, as broadband services are commonly called, is a short form for ‘broad bandwidth’. A broadband Internet connection provides reliable download speeds and high speed data transmission rates either over a phone line, digital cable or satellite connection. Internet over phone lines will become extinct in a few years and digital cable Internet connections will also dry out soon after. Thereafter satellite Internet connections will rule the digital world.

Broadband has changed the way in which people use the Internet for communication, shopping, gaming and general entertainment. To get broadband connection for your organization, it’s always better to go for an Internet service which has all the vital characteristics a good broadband service should have. Quality of service and reliability are the most essential characteristic properties of a good broadband connection.

The broadband industry is one of the fastest growing markets in the country today and there are quite a number of companies offering their broadband services to consumers. More and more people are accessing the Internet using broadband nowadays and businesses are able to increase their productivity considerably due to the innumerable benefits of business broadband.

Research has shown that the number of people and businesses shifting to broadband services are increasing every year. With advances in telephone technology as well, more and more customers are now able to make cheaper long-distance calls over the Internet. Therefore broadband services are offering new deals allowing cheaper calling rates combined with broadband Internet packages.

As this technological convergence continues, Internet service providers are extending their operations into other markets in order to cater to the needs of ever demanding businesses. The business broadband market is now very competitive with a multitude of providers offering Broadband access alongside a variety of extra services to delight the customer.

With new satellite Internet connections, you can do a variety of functions, all at enviable speeds. The number of extra services, a broadband service provider offers, at reasonable prices, is very satisfying. Whether you want extra mobile minutes with your Broadband connection, or the ability to transfer music files between your computer and mobile phone, technological convergence has made it all possible. You might want to take advantage of VoIP technology and make cheap calls over a broadband line or you just want fast, secure Internet access with no extra trimmings. Whatever the deal you can get broadband with different packages to suit your specific needs.

Broadband, in the past, was viewed as a luxury for the tech savvy or corporate employee but it is now becoming more of a necessity for the everyday citizen. Studies have shown that broadband adoption has increased six-fold in the last seven years. It’s the ample number of benefits connected with a broadband service that has brought about this enormous shift to high speed Internet.

If you can get broadband for your business, you can expand your domain to reach a global market place. It will give you more options to compare prices and shop for supplies or you can save time by purchasing supplies online. A broadband connection also has the advantage that it can push news, sales promotions and advertisements to a wider global audience. With all these benefits, more and more companies are adopting satellite Internet connections to take their businesses a level higher.

Filed Under: Cheaper Broadband Tagged With: about, Broadband, Business, Everything, know, Need

Things you should know about mobile phone plans

December 3, 2010 By admin

I often joke with my new client’s that we (mobile phone companies) purposely make mobile phone bills confusing just to make it difficult for them to see exactly what they’re being charged.

If you’re often having difficulty making sense of the fees and charges that appear on your mobile phone bill then perhaps the information I’ve appended below will help you get a better understanding of how to accurately read and decipher your account.

HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALL RATES

Probably 80% of the clients I meet don’t have a clear understanding of their mobile phone call rates; or what they believe they’re are being charged and what is actually being charged are two completely different things! To calculate your mobile phone call rates follow these steps:

a). FIND A 30 SECOND PHONE CALL
b). FIND A 1 MINUTE PHONE CALL
c). DEDUCT THE COST OF THE 30 SECOND CALL (a) FROM THE 1 MINUTE CALL (b)

This will generally provide you with your “real” call cost per 30 seconds. You’ll now notice that the new 30 second charge varies from the 30 second phone call cost (a) that you found in your mobile phone bill. This variance is due to an additional fee referred to as “flagfall” or “connection fee”. If you now deduct the new 30 second phone call cost from the original 30 second phone call cost (a) you’ll end up with a figure that is your flagfall cost per phone call.

WHAT IS FLAGFALL?

Flagfall (or connection fee) is what I call the “hidden fee” that many client’s either forget they’re being charged, or in some cases, were never told they’re being charged. Flagfall is a “single” fee applied at the beginning of a phone call every time you “connect” to someone (or something) on the other end. Simply put – if you make a phone call and someone (or something) answers, you’re charged flagfall. If nobody answers and the call “rings out” no flagfall fee applies. Many clients ask “what if I get someone’s message centre, am I still charged flagfall?” and the answer is “yes”. In this scenario your mobile phone call has still connected with something on the other end and therefore flagfall and call costs apply.

CHECK YOUR WHOLE BILL

Call rates and flagfall fees vary from carrier to carrier, plan to plan and call to call (see we really do try to make things confusing!) and this greatly depends on the type of plan or plans you and your business is subscribed to.

To give you a rough guide, in my experience CAP PLANS tend to have higher flagfall fees than BUSINESS PLANS and on occasions some BUSINESS PLANS may have no flagfall fee at all. You may even find that flagfall (and call costs) vary depending on the type of call that you make. For example, a call to a “landline” (office number) may be charged at a higher rate than a call made to a mobile phone, or a call in the morning may cost less than a call made in the afternoon!

So as you can see there are many variables that need to be considered when trying to accurately establish what you and your business is being charged for mobile phone calls.

I trust these simple “Tips & Hints” will help you make sense of your next mobile phone account.

Jason Hellyer
Mobile Guide

Filed Under: Mobile Phone Tagged With: about, know, Mobile, Phone, plans, should, Things