Life Insurance Archives - Healthedly Insurance Services

Best Health Insurance for Small Business Owners

A pediatrician examining a young girl who is holding a teddy bear

Running a small business is hard, and navigating getting your employees health insurance can really be a hassle if you don’t have experience or a trusted advisor. With that in mind, we’ve crunched the numbers and come up with the best group health insurance plans for small businesses.

We want to make sure you have as many health insurance options as you can get, so you know the plan options, the health benefits, and how to provide your small business’s number of employees health care that will be good for them.

#1. UnitedHealth care

Why Get It: Coverage in all 50 states, largest health insurance provider in USA

When it comes to the best small business health insurance plans, no one is trusted more than UnitedHealth care–that’s why they’re the largest health insurance provider in the United States. They have coverage options in all 50 states, which makes them even more attractive if you’re a business that operates remotely but wants to have a single health insurance plan.

They have a national network of doctors and hospitals, making them one of the most accessible insurance organizations. On top of this, UnitedHealth care is moving hard into the digital realm with consultations over computers and mobile, lowering costs for the insured.

#2. Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Why Get It: Coverage specialized to your area through local health insurance agencies

Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an interesting one, because they work through 36 different local health insurance companies. This makes them more tied to specific geographic areas and leads to a more targeted view of business. Like United HealthcCare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield is available in all 50 states, and it is the most popular plan on this list: one in three Americans is covered under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) Association.

#3. Humana

Why Get It: Specializes in small business healthcare

Humana is a very large health insurance company, and is on this list because they make a concerted effort to offer health insurance to small businesses. Some of the perks of Humana Small Business include in-network preventive care that is 100% covered by all Humana group plans. They also offer telehealth visits, and the Humana Pharmacy

#4. Aetna

Why Get It: High-deductible plans with tax advantaged savings options

Aetna is a long-standing pillar in the health insurance community, and they offer something very attractive to small business owners: high-deductible health insurance plans with tax-advantaged savings options.

Known especially for their good customer service–something that’s hard to find in an insurance company–their large provider network of more than 700,000 providers gives you access to every kind of care you need.

The downside is that Aetna is not available in every state, and you usually can’t get a quote without an Aetna sales rep walking you through the options.

Choose the best Small Business Health Insurance for you

If none of the above are the right fit, no worries, we have other options for small business health insurance. Now is the time to get to know plan options for your employees.

Still looking for the right Health Insurance Plan? Browse our plans here.

November 18, 2022

Life Insurance 101

Health Resources, Life Insurance

Life Insurance: everything you need to know

You’ve probably heard of life insurance by now. But if you are reading this, you are probably hoping to learn more about life insurance, what it all means, what you need to know before you enroll for a life insurance policy. You may have questions like, why do I need this type of insurance? What does this type of insurance cover?

What is it?

Life insurance is a type of policy that pays out a set sum of money either immediately after a person dies or a short period after that person’s death. This money usually goes to the spouse and/or children of the deceased individual. So, life insurance is essentially coverage for those left behind following the death of the policy holder.

What is the difference between permanent and term life insurance?

Permanent life insurance is coverage that remains in place until the policy holder passes away. Meanwhile, term insurance only covers you for a certain period of time, like 10 to 20 years. Term policy rates tend to be lower than those of permanent rates, so most people choose term policies instead. Permanent policies can grow, however, with a savings component known as a “cash value” of the policy that can increase over time.

How much coverage do I need?

Typically, it is recommended that you get a policy that is at least six to ten times your job salary. So if you are making $50,000 per year at your job, you would take out a policy of at least $500,000. This policy would need to last at least 15 to 20 years.

How much does life insurance cost?

These policies typically cost $26-$55 a month. This is the average rate for these types of policies. However, this cost usually varies depending on the type of coverage you need–whether it is term or permanent, and the amount you opt in for.

Are you looking for a health coverage policy but you have no idea where to start? Look no further than Healthedly! Reach out here or call us at 855-522-2201.

November 16, 2022

What Does Life Insurance Cover?

Life Insurance

Happy and healthy family mother father children smiling

No one likes to talk about what happens after they die, but if you have dependents, you might want to think about how to protect them financially after your death. A life insurance policy can give your loved ones the peace of mind they need – but what is life insurance, and what does it cover? Let’s take a look.

What Is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is a type of contract between you and your insurer. You make regular payments, known as premiums, and in return, the insurer agrees to pay out a lump sum to certain individuals – known as “beneficiaries” – upon your death.

Can you use life insurance money for anything? Sure – once your beneficiaries receive it, they can use it how they wish. However, it’s commonly used to cover expenses such as funeral bills or to supplement your income if you die before your spouse.

Types of Life Insurance

There are two types of life insurance: term life and whole life insurance.

Term life insurance covers you for a fixed period of time e.g. 10 years and pays out if you die during this period.
Whole life insurance covers your lifetime, so regardless of when you die, it still pays out.

Regardless of your policy, it will only pay out if you keep up the premium payments.

What Does Life Insurance Cover?

So, what does life insurance cover? Here’s a breakdown.

Accidental death: Deaths caused accidentally e.g. drowning are usually covered by life insurance policies.
Natural death: If you die due to a natural cause e.g. heart attack or old age, your policy covers this.
Suicide: Most life insurance policies cover suicide, but only after a qualifying period e.g. one year.
Medical conditions: Depending on your level of coverage, your policy may pay out if you die from a chronic or pre-existing condition such as cancer. You must declare these conditions when you apply, though, or contact your insurer if you’re later diagnosed with an illness which affects your policy – otherwise you could void your agreement.

What Does Life Insurance Not Cover?

Mother child and father playing in field as a family

Life insurance covers most – but not all – eventualities. Here’s when your insurer may not pay out to your beneficiaries.

Insurance fraud: If you lie on your application or deliberately omit information, your policy won’t pay out.
High-risk activities: Unless you take out high-risk life insurance, your policy may not pay if you die during a dangerous sport or pastime e.g. skydiving.
Criminal acts: While policies vary, benefits may not be paid out if a person dies while committing a criminal offense.
Murder: Under the so-called “Slayer Rule”, a beneficiary won’t receive proceeds from your life insurance policy if they intentionally cause your death. Others from your estate, however, can still receive proceeds.

Find a Life Insurance Plan With Healthedly

Choosing the right life insurance policy can be tricky. The Healthedly team can help you choose between a variety of life insurance plans catered to your needs, and we’ll match you with competitive quotes.
Still looking for the right life insurance plan? We can help. Browse our insurance plans or request a quote today.

October 9, 2022

What Health Insurance Is Most Accepted in Florida?

Life Insurance

A sign that says “welcome to Florida, the Sunshine State”

The most accepted health insurance in Florida is Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue) and Cigna, which are accepted almost everywhere in the Sunshine State, making them some of the best health insurance plans in Florida.

That said, Aetna is currently ranked as the best medical coverage in Florida, assuming that it is accepted by your doctors. It is one of the most affordable insurance plans, both for individuals and companies.

Aetna has Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans that can be as little as a few hundred dollars per month depending on your age. They also have special student coverage, with plans covering university students.

Is Blue Cross Blue Shield the Same as Florida Blue?

Florida Blue is a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is a nationwide provider. Florida Blue offers PPO plans (as opposed to HMO plans) which give participants significantly more flexibility in choosing their doctors and providers.

PPO plans are especially good if you have long-standing or chronic conditions where you have come to rely on a certain set of medical providers who know you and your personal challenges intimately. Being able to rely on the same doctors, and not have to change just because you take a job with a new company, is a major benefit.

Florida Blue is also considered one of the best coverages for people who are on a fixed income.

How Much Is Health Insurance in Florida per Month?

When it comes to the best health insurance companies in Florida, as far as monthly premiums and affordable health insurance, things are a little different. Checking the Florida Health Insurance Marketplace can give you good ideas of what is available for short-term plans, individual and family plans, prescription drugs, and more.

For health insurance quotes, according to a study by the Associated Press, the average cost of health insurance in Florida for a 40-year-old is $554 per month. It goes on to say that “over-all age groups, average cost of health insurance comes to about $203 per person for a major medical individual health insurance plan.”

The same study states that the best price for health care plans in the state of Florida is through either Blue Cross Blue Shield or Cigna, something which holds in virtually every county in the state.

They rate the cheapest health insurance coverage in Florida as being Florida Blue or Cigna, and the best for fixed-incomes as being Florida Blue. If you want to get the best health insurance in Florida overall, they rank Aetna as superior but say that Cigna has the best prescription coverage plan.

Want to see what options you have for health insurance in Florida? Request a quote today.

July 20, 2022

Will Travel Insurance Cover Covid-19 Cancellations?

Life Insurance, Supplemental, Travel Medical

The coronavirus has changed the face of travel insurance. Prior to 2020, almost all travel insurance did not cover epidemics or pandemics as part of their regular health care coverage.

With the caveat that all travel insurances are different and you must always read the fine print on any travel insurance plans before you sign, here are the general coverages that have come up with most travel insurance that covers COVID-19:

Travel insurance that covers COVID-19-related complications includes:

Emergency medical coverage
Emergency medical evacuation coverage
Trip interruption
Free cancellations

Examples of these coverages could include things like getting your trip expenses reimbursed in the event you contract COVID-19 before leaving, getting medical expenses paid for in a foreign country if you contract COVID-19 while abroad, and expenses paid to cover accommodations in a foreign country if you are not allowed to travel home. These are not covered in all travel insurance plans, but they are becoming more common.

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Coverage

One thing to keep an eye out for is a clause that some of the better travel insurances have which is the CFAR clause, or “Cancel For Any Reason.” CFAR has a lot of restrictions applied to it, mostly related to timeframes and eligibility requirements, but if you have this coverage you could have as much as 50-75% of your trip reimbursed by your travel insurance.

What Happens If You Get Sick with COVID-19 While Traveling?

Travel medical insurance that covers COVID-19 will make it easier and cheaper to get medical care in a foreign country.

The first thing that you should do, before getting any travel medical insurance that covers COVID is to check with your current insurance carrier and see what benefits they offer for traveling abroad. Many of them will not offer any services out of the country, or perhaps will have certain countries where they do operate. You will often find your own private insurance company will have travel insurance plans that have special rates for members.

Comprehensive Travel Insurance Plans will offer you global benefits, no matter where you are. Keep in mind, however, that if you contract COVID in a country like Germany or Canada, it’s going to be significantly easier to make use of Comprehensive travel medical insurance coverage than if you get sick with COVID-19 in parts of Southeast Asia, Central America, South America, or Africa.

You will still receive the benefits of the travel insurance, but it may be harder (due to poor communication lines in certain regions of the world) to get immediate coverage to pay for things.

Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage is designed to get you out of a foreign country if you are seriously ill or injured. These plans offer both ground transportation which will get you from wherever you are to the nearest medical facility, and, if need be, transportation to an airplane which will take you out of the country.

Because COVID-19 is so contagious, especially in the cabin of an airplane, the choice to fly you out of a region for evacuation is only done if the physicians don’t feel they can adequately treat you there.

Trip Interruption Coverage is in most travel insurance plans and provides reimbursement for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses if the travel needs to be cut short. This could include expenses like cruise ship tickets, railway tickets, and hotel accommodations.

Get a quote for travel insurance today.

May 18, 2022

Just 30 Minutes Of Exercise A Week Could Help Increase Your Life Expectancy

Health Resources, Life Insurance

Doing 30 to 60 minutes of one exercise weekly could help you live longer, study says

You might have heard that strengthening exercises most benefit your muscular and skeletal health, but they could have two other big perks: helping you prevent disease and live longer.

Compared with people who didn’t do muscle-strengthening activities, those who did 30 to 60 minutes of resistance, strength or weight training weekly had a 10% to 20% lower risk of early death from all causes, and of getting heart disease, diabetes or cancer at all, the research authors found. These types of exercises are designed to improve muscular fitness by exercising muscles against external resistance, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

Combining 30 to 60 minutes of strengthening exercises with any amount of aerobic activity enhanced the benefit, resulting in a 40% lower risk of premature death, a 46% lower incidence of heart disease and a 28% lower chance of dying from cancer. The research is also the first to examine long-term links between muscle-strengthening activities and diabetes risk, the authors said.

The new research is an analysis of 16 prior studies, which amounted to a pool of data from nearly 480,000 study participants. They were between 18 and 98 years old, and most were based in the United States. Participants either self-reported their engagement in muscle-strengthening activities or answered questions during interviews.

The new research didn’t explore why strength training is so effective in lowering risk of early death and certain diseases. But this type of exercise is important for reducing body fat and building lean muscle, which can help with balance, posture and regulating cholesterol levels, said Dr. Nieca Goldberg, the medical director of Atria New York City and clinical associate professor of medicine at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine. Goldberg wasn’t involved in the study.

The stronger benefit from mixing aerobics with strengthening exercises could be because the two appear to work together and help each other move toward better outcomes. A balanced program of strength and aerobic activity is probably best and probably more closely mimics the activities of our ancestors, which helped determine our current gene sets.

Aerobic exercises include walking, dancing, running or jogging, cycling, and swimming, Goldberg said. Weight-training exercises you can do for 30 to 60 minutes include deadlifts, overhead dumbbell presses and dumbbell lateral raises, which involves using your back and shoulder muscles to lift light dumbbells so that your arms and body form a T shape.

Most participants didn’t benefit from doing the strengthening exercises for longer than one hour, but the research didn’t examine why that was the case.

However, results of previous studies have varied, Roberts said: Some have shown improved health at higher activity levels.

The finding concerning lower diabetes risk could be explained by muscle-strengthening activities increasing or preserving skeletal muscle mass, which has a major role in regulating blood sugar levels, the authors said.

Overall, the main takeaway is to get active and stay active with an exercise program you like and can stick with.

Rogers, Kristen. “Doing 30 to 60 Minutes of One Exercise Weekly Could Help You Live Longer, Study Says.” CNN, Cable News Network, 5 Mar. 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/health/muscle-strengthening-exercises-disease-death-risk-wellness/index.html.

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