AboutLinda Woolsteen Expertise I can help you with questions about health insurance. If you feel your insurance company is mistreating you. Are they telling you they are checking eligibity, pre-existing, etc. Or you just don`t understand how your insurance works or don`t understand what a PPO is.. I can help you.
Experience
Past/Present clients One company I worked for I was the underwriter for the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and the Ohio Bar Association. I was also a supervisor of our customer service department.
Question I need to know if there is value lost or benefits given up if I change from an older plan, specifically Blue Shield PPO Preferred Plan (IFP) in comparison to your new plans which you state were created to keep Blue Shield competetive in today's market. By being in an older plan, like Blue Shield Preffered, am I getting less value per dollar spent per premium in all ways, versus value per dollar in the most comparable new plan?
Which plan would that be and what value is lost in benefit, choice of provider, coverage, pharmacutical?
Does the new plan give you more safety net value than spending more for an older plan, but doesn't give you more protection and doesn't have a hidden value that the new plans appear to have equal, or is there a hidden escape?
From age 55-65, does the cost of my plan make sense versus your new plan, if there is a plan comparable?
Answer Hi Michael, Im not quite sure you meant to ask me this question because I dont know what these plans are that you are talking about. In general, you should probably list the benefits, especially those that are important to you, or may be at future stages in your life, otherwise, down the road ( such as physical therapy, transplants, mental nervous, DME (Durable Medical Equipment), copays, etc.) Then write down next to these things what the new plan offers on those benefits. Sometimes new plans do not include dental or vision whereas you may have them included with your present policy. Also, your correct in your choices of providers... does the new plan have a choice in PPO networks to choose from. You can always ask for the PPO Network number or a book to see if your prsent providers are in the new network before you select the plan. Also, sometimes if you are going from an Individual policy to a new individual policy, the insurance companies do not have to accept CCC's (Creditable Coverage Certificate) which are to help you with pre-existig conditions if you have any. Also, that is another thing to check on.. what would your pre-existing waiting period be, if you have one, on the newer policy. If you have some medical conditions, it is not always wise to jump around a lot from policy to policy. Just make sure if you switch plans that you are approved for the new one before cancelling or letting your present policy lapse.
