Health Care Insurance

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Archive for May, 2008

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Are you covered for Short-term disability


Short-term disability is private insurance that replaces some of your income if an injury or illness prevents you from working. While you are away from work it pays you a percentage of your income for a defined period of time.

Some employers provide group policies as part of their benefits packages. If your employer does not offer short-term disability or you want additional coverage you can buy an individual policy from an insurance agent.

State temporary disability insurance (TDI) programs are currently available in six states/territories:

  • California
  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • Rhode Island
  • Hawaii
  • Puerto Rico (Spanish)

For a longer illness lasting six months or more your employer may provide group long-term disability (LTD) insurance. The Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) offers an LTD guide that includes information about individual disability income insurance and offers tips and a checklist on buying the right policy for you.

Social Security provides long-term disability benefits based on your salary and the number of years you have worked and contributed to the Social Security system. However, Social Security replaces only a limited portion of your salary, and the qualifications to receive benefits are very strict. To be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, all of these conditions must be met:

  • You have been disabled for five full calendar months.
  • Your disability is expected to last at least 12 months or end in death.
  • You are unable to be gainfully employed at any occupation, not just your occupation at the time your disability began.

Disabilityinfo.gov is the federal government’s web site for disability-related information and services. You may wish to access information about disability benefits, or locate state and local resources.

If you were injured on the job, you should contact your state workers’ compensation office.



 

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Posted on on May 30th, 2008 in Getting Help, Government help, Protect your Health, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Paid leave to care for sick family


In 2002 historic legislation was enacted to extend disability compensation to cover individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, or domestic partner, or to bond with a new born child. Senate Bill 1661 established the Paid Family Leave insurance program, also known as Family Temporary Disability Insurance program, to be administered by the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. An estimated 13 million California workers who are covered by the SDI program have also been covered for Paid Family Leave insurance benefits as of July 1, 2004.

Paid Family Leave is unemployment compensation disability insurance paid to workers who suffer a loss of wages when they take time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or bond with a new child. Workers can receive up to six (6) weeks of benefits that could be paid over a 12-month period.

Paid Family Leave Insurance is a component of the California State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. The Disability Insurance benefit portion compensates workers who suffer a wage loss when they can’t work because of their own illness or injury. The Paid Family Leave benefit compensates workers who suffer a wage loss due to the need to provide care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new minor child.

The Paid Family Leave insurance program is fully funded by employees’ who contribute to the SDI program. Beginning January 1 2004 employers were required to deduct the Paid Family Leave contributions from the wages of employees’ who contribute to the SDI program.



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Posted on on May 29th, 2008 in Getting Help, Protect your Family, Types of Insurance | 2 Comments »

Children’s Health Insurance Program can help



You work hard to provide for your children and want to make sure they grow up strong, smart and healthy. But like many parents whose children don’t have health insurance, you worry about taking care of them.

Now, you may have one less thing to worry about. Your state, and every state in the nation, has a health insurance program for infants, children and teens. The insurance is available to children in working families.

For little or no cost, this insurance pays for:
doctor visits,
prescription medicines,
hospitalizations, and
much more.

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is a partnership between the Federal and State Governments that provides health coverage to uninsured children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private coverage.

All states provide immunizations and well baby/well child care at no cost and may cover much more.

The Federal government establishes general guidelines for the administration of SCHIP benefits. However, specific eligibility requirements to receive SCHIP benefits, as well as the type and scope of services provided, are determined by each individual State.

You must check with the SCHIP office in the state you live in to confirm your family’s eligibility to receive benefits.

Important: Names for this program vary by state. If you are not sure which office to contact, contact the main Medicaid Hotline in your state and ask for the office that deals with children’s health insurance.

General Program Requirements:

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be under 19 years of age, not covered by health insurance (including Medicaid), a US national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident, and you must have an annual household income before taxes of less than:
$17,961 if one person lives in the household;
$24,241 if two people live in the household;
$30,521 if three people live in the household;
$36,801 if four people live in the household;
$43,081 if five people live in the household;
$49,361 if six people live in the household;
$55,641 if seven people live in the household;
$61,921 if eight people live in the household;
$68,201 if nine people live in the household;
$74,481 if 10 people live in the household;
$80,761 if 11 people live in the household;
$87,041 if 12 people live in the household;
$93,321 if more than 12 people live in the household.

Program Contact Information:

To learn more about the SCHIP program and the specific eligibility requirements and program benefits in your State, visit:

http://www.insurekidsnow.gov


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Posted on on May 29th, 2008 in Government help, Protect your Family | 3 Comments »

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