Help paying medical bills is one of the biggest challenges facing families on the verge of debt or bankruptcy. Medical debt and the rising costs of health care and insurance continue to ruin the credit and lives of people across the country.

In August, The Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit healthcare action group, reported that family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 119 percent between 1999 and 2008 and were destined to rise another 94 percent by 2020 to an average annual cost per family of $23,842 “if cost growth continues on its current course.”

Health Insurance & Debt

Most individuals know that present-day health insurance isn’t a protection against massive amounts of uncovered medical debt. The American Journal of Medicine reported the results of a random sample study in June. The results stated that in 2007, before the current economic downturn, an American family filed for bankruptcy every 90 seconds in the aftermath of illness even though three-quarters of them were insured. The study added that 60 percent of all bankruptcies in the United States in 2007 were driven by medical incidents.

One of the most damaging aspects of medical debt is that it may occur suddenly and pile up at lightning speed. An overnight hospital stay – depending on tests and treatments – may easily cost several thousand dollars.

The bottom line: Your health could be your biggest money issue.

Health Insurance Planning

Whether you’re facing a planned medical procedure or have to undergo treatment in an emergency, it pays to devise a battle plan to keep costs under control, and keep the person you’ve designated as your health power of attorney in the loop. A financial planning professional, health insurance agent or your employer’s human resource department might be good places to start a discussion about avoiding unnecessary costs during physician’s office visit or hospital procedures. 

One of the main things all individuals should do if they have time before an exam or procedure is check whether their insurance covers it.

Medical Debt

But if you’re currently facing significant medical debt without insurance or after insurance refuses to pay a significant portion of your bill, here are some steps you can follow:

Relax first and then check for errors: Medical Billing Advocates of America, a Salem, VA organization of businesses that consult with individuals and companies to examine bills for mistakes and correct insurance mistakes, says that there are duplicate charges in almost every medical bill. Watch the bill closely, write down questions you have and then make an appointment with the doctor or hospital’s billing office to politely review those questions.

Make sure the insurer is dealing with the bill: If you undergo a hospital visit or a procedure, you may get a summary of fees from the hospital or the physician that say “not a bill,” which may lead you to put it aside and forget about it. Check in with your insurer to check the status of the claim before you get a surprise weeks later that they have refused to cover the bill. Make sure you’re watching every step of the process from the moment you leave the hospital or doctor’s office.

You can negotiate: If you are stuck paying out-of-pocket for a significant portion of the bill, see if you can negotiate that fee downward. Call the physician or hospital billing office to see if you can get a discount on the total bill, and see if there is a financial counselor at the hospital you can deal with.

Get help: A medical billing advocate generally works on major uninsured medical debts – ranging from the tens to the hundreds of thousands of dollars – and typically charges anywhere from 15 to 50 percent of the bill as a collection fee for negotiating with the hospital, physician or the insurance company. That’s a hefty price to pay for someone else’s expertise, but in certain cases, it can make sense. Failing that, many states have indigent care funds that offer some relief for individuals with substantial medical debt.

Ask for a payment plan: If you have a substantial cash balance to pay, ask the medical center or physician if you can pay on time. Just make sure you know what they’re charging you to do that.

Remember – attitude is everything: Keep in mind that many medical practitioners and their staff members have as many problems with the way the system runs as you do. Do you research first – learn all you can about conventional charges for certain procedures before you call and question the billing center. Ask questions calmly and politely. Show appreciation for their help. If you have to discuss more billing issues with them in the future, it might make it easier. 

This post about paying medical bills & avoiding medical debt is produced in association with the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the leadership and advocacy organization connecting those who provide, support and benefit from professional financial planning.

How can we make health care more affordable?  How about cutting the cost of providing care?

My dad runs a micro-medical practice, where he’s a one man show (actually one man + one part-time woman since my mom helps out with office stuff some evenings). 

His startup costs were pretty low since he bought most of his equipment used and his overhead is low since he doesn’t have a staff. He’s automated and optimized a lot that goes on in his office, using electronic medical records and digitzing everything that he can.

Since his costs are lower that means he doesn’t have to charge as much; which is important to him since his efforts are to provide care for underserved parts of the population. He’s a member of a group of doctors who are taking this approach to medicine. One of them recently sent out a list of ways that he keeps his cost down by using cheap or free technology across his practice.  Here are some of the ways he lowers his cost of running his practice:

Patient Records

Practice Fusion – Electronic Health Record Software; free

Accounting

Office Ally – Billing; cheap

QuickBooks Simple Start – small-business accounting software; free download

FreshBooks - invoicing, time-tracking and expense service; free basic service

Information Technology

Adrive – : 50GB of online storage and backup for all file types; free basic service

Mozy – 2GB of online, data and remote backup solutions; free basic service 

Jott – voice-to-text service for creating notes, lists, e-mails and text messages; free basic service.

LogMeIn - remotely support and access digital information; free basic service

YouSendIt – send files up to 2GB; free basic service

Security

BitDefender Online Scanner: virus scanners; free basic service

ZoneAlarm: firewall protection from hackers and threats; free basic service

Office Productivity

Google Calendar: shareable calendar and schedule organizer; free

Google Docs – collaborative word processor and spreadsheet applications; free

OpenOffice - open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets; free

Project Management/Collaboration

ProjectStat.us -project management solution and updates

Dimdim – open-source web conferencing application; free basic service

Marketing / Networking

Microsoft Office Live Small Business: create a company website, domain and e-mail; free basic service

Blogger – blog publishing tool; free

Entrepreneur Connect - Entrepreneur’s social networking site; free

LinkedIn: business social networking site; free

What do you think? Would you go a doctor that used technology to run a one person practice? What if it meant better rates or better access to your doctor?

Flu season is almost here and we have to worry about the swine flu again.  It seems like the flu starts to take off once kids go back to school with all their coughing, sneezing, and not washing their hands. 

One of my co-workers already had two of his kids catch the swine flu at school.  When they got sick he took them into the doctor and the pediatrician confirmed it was the H1N1 virus. Luckily his other two kids, his wife, and he were able to avoid catching thier bug.  I asked what they did to avoid getting swine flu and he sent me the email below with some tips for prevention and treatment.

The new H1N1 virus, also referred to as the swine flu, has caused the first influenza pandemic in more than 40 years. Because many people do not have immune protection against the new virus, it is essential to take extra precautions. It’s important to note that H1N1 and the regular seasonal flu are two different strains and require separate vaccinations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from the influenza virus:

Get a Flu Vaccine

CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza

Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women or people with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older

A seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against the new H1N1 virus. However, individuals are still encouraged to get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available 

Everyday Preventive Actions

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth which spreads germs
• Stay home when you are sick 

Antiviral drugs (Doctor Recommendation Required)

Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping viruses from reproducing in your body

Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster and may also prevent serious flu complications

For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within the first two days of symptoms

It is important to take action now in order to protect yourself in the future. Remember, the CDC considers getting the flu vaccine the most important step in protecting yourself from the flu this season.

As the health care debate rages across the country, one of the things that’s often overlooked is how much money we could save with better preventative medicine.  It’s often much cheaper to invest time and money up front to help prevent, delay, or minimize expensive medical conditions, yet our insurance system is setup with the mindset of covering treatments and procedures rather than prevention.

Here are some resources you can use to screen for and help prevent some of these medical conditions, especially if they run in your family.  I also included some healthy lifestyle tips for men and women at different stages of thier lives:

Family Health History

• My Family Health Portrait
• Family History: Resources and Tools

Health Screenings & Tests

• Screening & Immunization Guidelines for Men
• Screening & Immunization Guidelines for Women
• Depression Screening Test
• FAQ about HIV & HIV Testing
• Prostate Cancer Screening
• Screening & Testing to Detect Cancer
• Breast Self-exam
• Cervical Cancer Screening
• Colorectal Cancer Screening
• American Cancer Society Guidelines
• Screenings & Mammograms

Disease Prevention

• ABCs of Heart Disease Prevention
• Healthy Weight Tips
• Childhood Obestiy
• Diabetes – Causes and Prevention
• Lower Heart Disease Risk

Guides to Healthy Living

• Men: Stay Hhealthy at Any Age
• Women: Stay Healthy at Any Age
• Pocket Guide to Good Health for Adults
• Pocket Guide to Good Health for Children
• Pocket Guide to Staying Healthy over 50
• Teenager’s Guide to Better Health

Hopefully you found some of those resources useful.  Have a healthy weekend!

Being healthy isn’t just a matter of feeling good and living longer, it can have a big impact on your wallet as well. I’ve made some poor decisions about my health over the last few years and it ended up costing me a big chunk of change and time off work.

I was lucky compared to many people, the cost of a major health issue is all it takes to financiallly devastate some U.S. families.   During his March healthcare summit, President Obama referenced statistics that the cost of health care now causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds and by the end of 2009, could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes.

Some medical conditions we have no control over but there are definitely ways we can help reduce our risks and control our health care costs, here are a few:

Take off the weight: While dealing first with the numbers on your bathroom scale will have immediate health benefits, it will also make your health insurance options and potential out-of-pocket costs more affordable over time. A recent Stanford University and Rand Corporation study reported that lifetime medical costs related to diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension and stroke among the obese are $10,000 higher than among the non-obese. It added that lifetime medical costs could be reduced by $2,200 to $5,300 following a 10 percent reduction in body weight.

Grill your agent or HR person: Whether you buy health insurance through an agent or your employer, insist that they explain exactly what you’re getting for your premium, and where deductibles do and don’t apply. If you’re purchasing your own insurance policy, compare the premium savings from a higher deductible plan with your usage pattern of health services. What you save can often cover your high deductible.

Weigh life insurance options while you’re healthy: Make sure you’re carrying the right amount of life insurance to support your family and other heirs as well as cover any remaining medical bills that might remain after you die.

Discuss potential cost of any diagnosis: If your physician diagnoses a particular illness that requires tests, prescription drugs, a hospital stay or ongoing therapy, be very blunt about what you’ll be charged, from the doctor’s bills to ongoing ancillary costs associated with treatment. Ask the doctor or his office manager to possibly negotiate a discounted fee for service. It’s possible to get discounts through cash payments as well.

Ask for generics and samples: Many physicians are willing to recommend a generic substitute or at least supply you with a few samples of the drug they’re already prescribing. While doctors can’t get away with passing sample drugs to all their patients, always ask.  As long as they are prescribing the medication, samples with the proper dosage can provide cost savings to patients.

Check local pricing resources: In non-emergency situations, you should always compare prices on treatments. Check with local medical boards and state health officials to see if they have online databases on costs for various medical procedures. Also, if there is a support group for your condition, talk to members about what they paid locally for care.

Investigate long-term care: If you or a family member is diagnosed with a chronic illness, that’s a financial issue that requires a plan. As tough as it may be to focus on money issues at a stressful time, make an appointment with a tax professional or planner to discuss affordability options that will safeguard your assets.

Begin negotiations before there’s a problem:  The best time to speak with hospital bean counters isn’t when you’re behind on your payments. Once a diagnosis is made, either you or someone you designate as your agent needs to contact the hospital business office to check on payment schedules and possible discount plans if you are uninsured or fear your insurance may not cover a significant portion of costs. Any creditor appreciates a customer who’s willing to come to the table first.

This post about money and your health is produced in association with the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the leadership and advocacy organization connecting those who provide, support and benefit from professional financial planning.

Getting in shape isn’t just a matter of being healthy and feeling good, it can have a big impact on your wallet as well. I’ve been getting some big medical bills from the end of last year when I ran into some health issues, which could have been avoided had I been taking care of myself.

Skipping Exercise

As I mentioned in my new years action plan, my life has become substantially busier over the last two years.  Before our son and this site entered our world, I used to jog at least five times a week but that came to an end once our life got busy.  I did want to exercise I just didn’t have the time, sound familiar?

I kept telling myself things would slow down a little and I’d get back into exercising then.  Well, as life would have it, I found myself busier than ever at the end of 2008 and I made zero time for working out until I ran into some health issues.

Time off work, major pain, and medical bills reminded me that you can’t ignore your health forever.  So I sat down with my wife at the beginning of 2009 and made a plan for the year.

Simple Exercise Plan

Now I exercise about 30 minutes, 4 days a week.  Three days of the week I come home from work and head down into our basement with our son, where I hit the treadmill and he plays in the big open space in the middle of the room.  Then we fit in a session on Saturday or Sunday afternoon to make 4 days of exercise.  It’s been working out well, we’re still spending the time together and I get a workout at the same time.

It started off at the beginning of January where I was at the lowest setting for the entire session.  Each day I’ve increased the setting a little more and now that the first month of working is over, I’ve gotten to the point where I work my way up to the 4th setting by the end of the session.

Making it a Habit

I think the most important part of my plan is that it’s easy to follow.  I have a set time and I’m in and out so it’s not a big mental challenge.  Since it’s easy to do, it makes it easier to stick with the routine.

I’m taking a slow approach, not stressing out about how much weight I’ve lost at all.  In fact, I haven’t gotten on the scale since I’ve begun.  I just know if I keep up the exercising that eventually the weight will start to come off and if I incorporate it as a routine in my life the weight (and hopefully the medical bills) will stay away.

Health care costs are a growing concern for all consumers in the US.  It’s not just the elderly living on fixed incomes whose lives are affected by high drug costs. 

Everyone scraping to save for retirement has this concern somewhere in the back of their mind.  One of the reasons we’re all encouraged to save so much for retirement is that the costs of living as you get older keep increasing as health care costs shoot up.

Doc Gurley, an internal medicine specialist and health care blogger, recently shared 10 ways to help cut your drug costs.  Below is a summary of the 10 suggestions, check out her article for the details.

• Ask Your Doctor for the Cheapest Drug
• Price Shop Around Different Pharmacies on the Phone
• Split Pills (If Your Doctor Approves)
• Buy Generic Drugs
• Read 13 Ways to Save On Prescriptions
• Ask About Shorter Duration of Prescription
• Beware Free Samples for Chronic Conditions
• Double Check Expiration Dates
• Focus on Prevention
• Ask Doctor Before Stopping Your Prescription

Lose weight over the Holidays?  Is it possible to avoid weight gain during Christmas time when you’re surrounded by chocolate treats and holiday parties?  Of course! 

Weight loss isn’t something that you have to put off until your New Years Resolutions, using the tips below you can actually lose pounds without expensive diets or gym memberships this holiday.

Drink Lots of Water

I’ve stopped drinking soda for at least a month. and hopefully I will drastically reduce my intake altogether. Soda is just liquid sugar and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates that are not burned off will turn into fat.

I use a Brita filter, so my water is essentially free. I do buy a 12 pack of bottled water for on-the-go situations, but I am definitely saving money by not buying soda for the house and by not buying it at a restaurant.

Follow A Home Work-Out Plan

If you’re looking for some ways to get some exercise during the winter months, Men’s Health has many different workout plans you can follow at home with a minimal amount of equipment. These are good for either women or men. 

Typically, all you need to perform a great workout at home are two sets of dumbbells, a medicine ball, and a weight bench. Getting in a cardiovascular workout doesn’t have to require a membership to a gym. You can jog, ride a stationary bike, take a long walk, or play your favorite sport. If you want to stay out of the cold, join the mall walkers.

Take Control of Your Snacking

If you are like me, you find yourself wanting to snack all the time. They aren’t big snacks, but the calories certainly add up.

A common piece of advice suggests two snacks per day. A snack in between lunch and dinner, and an after-dinner snack. Snacks are not a bad thing if used properly. They help you curb hunger until the next big meal, which helps you eat less at your next meal.

The problem is that many of us snack on foods that are high in carbs, sugar, and calories, but low in protein and fat. Peanuts are a great snack, because they are packed with protein and curb your hunger for a longer period of time. A couple of pieces of cooked chicken strips or a piece of cheese with a few crackers are all good snacks that will curb your hunger much longer than a bag of chips or a piece of chocolate.

Limit Your Holiday Party Eating

This is where I have a lot of problems during the holidays. I attend about 5 or 6 different parties, and they are almost always hot and cold finger foods. I would much rather have someone hand me a plate of food, and say, this is all you get. Instead, I go back to the buffet table four or five times, because I have nothing else to do but eat.

If it’s your own party, include some activities to keep your company occupied. This will help yourself and your guests not eat so much. If you are at someone else’s party, work on your personal skills and strike up a conversation with someone you normally do not talk to. This will take your mind off of going back five times for more food.

You can also bring along your own healthy side dish that you know isn’t full of fat and calories.

Drink Fewer Calories

If you have a few holiday drinks, you’re probably drinking yourself to a bigger belly and butt : )  Drinking alcohol is one of the worst ways to eat empty calories. There’s no nutritional value, and you don’t even realize how many calories you’re taking in. Not too mention, alcohol can be expensive, especially if you’re buying it out at a restaurant or bar.

I love dark beers, but unfortunately they have the most calories. If you’re a dark beer drinker, try to limit yourself to two drinks. From a calorie standpoint it’s best to go with lower carb light beers.

When it comes to liquor, it’s more about what you mix it with. Try mixing it with tonic water or a diet soda. Some mixed drinks are loaded with sugar to mask the alcohol in it. This is an easy way to eat 100 to 250 calories per drink.

Target Body Weight

So, are you ready to shed off a few pounds? Find out what your target weight should be by calculating your BMI. According to the BMI calculator, based on my current height and weight, I am overweight.

If you saw me, you would say, “You don’t look overweight at all”. I think that’s because our culture cares more about what you look like in clothes rather than hard scientific calculations about weight. Plus many of us are at least a little overweight so can kind of grow accustomed to it.

Holiday Weight Loss

Of course I’m not trying to give you a complex that you’re overweight when you thought you were doing fine. Just remember weight gain can be a slow creeping process that sneaks up on you, especially this time of year! 

So lose some weight during the Holidays this year and put yourself ahead of the game when it comes time for New Years weight loss resolutions!

Thanks to a reader named Matt, a health actuary, who shared his feedback on the health insurance for a new job post and takes a look at the network-based managed care programs.

PPO: What you described here is actually more like a traditional indemnity plan (which are rare these days). A Preferred Provider Organization actually does have a network, much like you describe under the HMO section. The insurance company contracts with a wide array of providers to get their insureds a sizable discount at in-network providers.

However, if you choose to visit an out-of-network provider, the claims are paid at a much lower rate (they usually fall under a higher deductible with higher co-insurance amounts). You also can go to any specialist in your network without a referral. You do usually pay a higher premium for a plan like this because there is less control over your utilization compared to a POS plan or HMO.

POS: This type of plan is very similar to a PPO, with two sets of benefits – both in and out of network provisions. The network is very wide with a wide choice of providers. The difference is, though, you must select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) when you sign up for the plan. This person acts as a “gatekeeper” and you must see your PCP before seeking other care (except, of course, for emergencies).

For example, if I was in a PPO and wanted to see a dermatologist, I could just look one up that is in my network and go to him/her. In a POS plan, you must first visit your PCP who will decide whether or not to refer you to a dermatologist. Without that referral, claims are reimbursed at the lower, out of network rate. This is the POS’s way to manage your healthcare utilization, which lowers overall costs, which will probably mean a lower premium for members.

HMO: Joining a Health Maintenance Organization is like joining a plan with a very narrow network and the lowest cost. Like the POS plan, you have a PCP you will start at, but from there, there isn’t much (if any) choice. There are many different type of HMOs that vary by area, but you will typically be limited to very few providers and will have much less say over your own care. There are no “out of network” provisions, so you must visit whoever the HMO dictates.

The HRA or HSA Plan: Both are usually coupled with High Deductible Health Plans (which are usually PPO plans with a minimum deductible defined by the IRS), but only the HSA must be offered that way. Amen to letting that money grow tax free – and I also might add that those dollars can be used for things like Medicare Premiums into your retirement, so it’s a great investment. HSAs are actually owned by the employee, so you can take it with you, no matter where you work. HRAs are defined by the company and don’t necessarily have to go with the employee on termination.

Another valuable benefit your employer might offer is a Flexible Savings Account (FSA). These allow employees on any type plan of plan divert pre-tax dollars into an account to pay qualified medical expenses out of. These funds, however, must be used by the end of the year.

Health insurance is the single most important benefit that you must take care of during a job search or career change.

Risk of Being Uninsured

I have a friend who underwent major surgery about two years ago, and it was during a time that he was transitioning from one job to another. He didn’t elect to pay for health coverage during the time that he made the transition, and he was left with thousands of dollars in medical bills that he couldn’t pay. Luckily, the hospital cut him a deal, and he was able to pay the bills off quickly once he started his new job. However, some people aren’t so lucky, and the lack of health coverage ruins their financial picture.

Avoid Medical Debts

Medical expenses can literally force an individual or couple into bankruptcy, and bankruptcy should always be your last resort when it comes to making a financial decision. Make sure there is no gap in coverage when switching from one job to another, or one career to another. Here are four steps to follow when considering your health coverage and transitioning from one health insurance policy to another.

Choose If You Will Buy The Company Plan or Your Own Plan

• The company plan: Every group health insurance plan is different. The major factor in choosing your new company’s plan is whether they cover any portion of your premium. If they cover a certain percentage of your premium or ALL of your premium, then this decision is a no brainer. Take the free money. Picking up the tab for your health coverage is a great benefit. However, many of them won’t pay for your family’s coverage, so make sure you research how much extra it will cost you per month through the company’s plan versus going out and buying your own plan.
• Buying your own policy. Going out and buying your own policy can be pricey, but you have limitless choices. You can compare hundreds of different policies, whereas, your company will only offer you a choice is several different policies. If you have enough money to cover a high deductible, you may want to go with a high-deductible policy that covers you 100% after you meet the large calendar year deductible.

Choosing The Right Policy Type For You

1) The PPO: Many companies offer this plan within their health coverage provider. A PPO carries a higher premium, but it gives you more flexibility to see the doctor of your choice. You can choose your own doctor without paying an “out-of-network” co-pay price. The PPO and HMO also require you to share in the loss for certain procedures. They’ll cover 80% of a specified procedure, and you’re responsible for 20% of the cost of the procedure.

2) The HMO: The HMO was made popular with small co-pays and managed care within a defined network of providers. However, the downfall is that you must see a doctor in the provider’s preferred network, or they’ll charge you much higher co-pays to see out-of-network doctors. Plus, getting a referral to see a specialist is a pain in the butt.

3) The HRA or HSA Plan: Many companies are beginning to offer a high-deductible health coverage plan with a health reimbursement account or health savings account. This is a great option for those with enough cash to cover the high deductible, but want the flexibility of seeing whatever doctor they want, and keeping a portion of the premium they put into their health coverage. You pay for a cheaper premium health insurance plan that covers all of your expenses after you meet the deductible.

For an HSA, you set aside a portion of the premium you would have normally paid for a more expensive PPO or HMO plan, into a savings account that grows with interest, tax-free. You keep the money over the years, and you can use it for any medically related expense, including the deductible for your major medical plan.

For an HRA, your employer funds the account to cover a portion of your deductible or other expenses, and you use it as needed. This reduces the amount you pay out of pocket for the deductible, and it reduces the amount of premium you and the employer pay. The HSA is a great option for someone who is making the transition from the corporate world to the self-employment world.

Those are the three most common policy types, but there are many others to choose from.

Filling the Coverage Gap

If there will be a gap in health coverage for you or your family, don’t be like my friend. The most responsible financial choice you can make for you and your family is paying for health coverage with no gaps. In 1986, Congress passed the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act that allowed certain individuals to temporarily extend their group health coverage plans at a comparable group rate. This program is otherwise known as COBRA coverage. How they threw in the word “omnibus” in there, I have no idea. Educate me if you know.

Anyway, if you know that you’ll be out of work for a little bit or you’re making a transition to self-employment, you can temporarily extend your benefits at similar group rate plans. Remember, if your company was originally paying for a portion of your premium, you’ll see that the premium you pay will significantly increase, because your employer is no longer paying the majority of your premium. You can visit COBRA’s website to gain more information about this crucial plan to help you maintain health coverage.

Take Advantage Of the Remaining Health Benefits At Your Old Job

• Get a physical before you quit.
• Get a teeth cleaning before you leave if you have dental insurance
• USE ALL OF THE MONEY in your flex savings account. This was YOUR money that funded this account. Don’t let it go to waste. Your employer WILL NOT reimburse you this money if you leave the company in the middle of the year. You can almost any health-related item from the FSA, so buy a new pair of glasses/contact, stock up on vitamins, and buy over-the-counter medications that you use on a regular basis.
• Resolve any prior physical issues on your old health plan before leaving that company.

The Bottom Line

Do not leave yourself unisured with health care. I know that health care is a hot topic during this presidential election year, but the bottom line is that it’s your responsibility to make sure you have health coverage. If you find yourself struggling to pay the premiums, look at your budget with an unbiased eye, and weed out some expenses that are not necessary.

Take advantage of any premium paid by an employer, and make sure that health care benefits are a high priority when looking for a new job or career. Don’t be shy to ask plenty of questions to potential employers about their health care plan. In my opinion, the other benefits are secondary to this benefit. If you love the company, but they don’t offer a health plan, ask them for a monthly allowance as part of your compensation plan. Do the responsible thing, and square away your health care situation when changing your job or career.