One of the most important benefits employed people enjoy is health insurance coverage. It is also the single most costly expense for self-employed entrepreneurs. So what can you do to reduce ever increasing costs of health care coverage? Here are a few tips.1. If a medical bill seems excessive, try negotiatingYour doctor or the office manager who handles billing will probably be flexible, provided you make a valid case. When one woman in Texas was charged $900 for surgery and “consultation,” she explained that she had visited the hospital just once, for surgery; her bill was promptly cut by $370.2.. Contact a medical bill “auditor”Several services have a medical bill “auditing” system that evaluates your medical bills to determine if errors occurred in the billing process. Considering that 97 percent of hospital medical bills contain errors, it’s no wonder why out-of-pocket medical expenses are on the rise for consumers. Because the typical hospital bill is extremely complicated, often containing several hundred line-item charges, there is ample opportunity for computer mistakes and accidental human error. Do a Google search for medical bill auditors to find companies offering this service.3. You may get a tax break on your medical billsKeep all your medical bills together and add them up at tax time. If they exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, you may deduct the excess. Please note that these items also may be included in the total: the cost of eye glasses, contact lenses, physical therapy, x-rays, hearing aids, psychiatric care, insurance and transportation to the hospital or doctor’s office (at 30 cents a mile). There are phase-outs in some cases based on adjusted gross income. Check with your professional tax adviser.4. Deduct 100% of your healthcare costs from your taxesThe IRS allows all self-employed to deduct 100% of health care costs from their taxes by using Section 105 of the Internal Revenue Code. To receive this deduction, you must do the following:a) Hire your spouse as an employee of your business.b) Have your spouse receive health insurance in his or her name, and include the family on the policy.c) Pay your spouse a salary that will cover the costs of the insurance.d) Talk to your tax professional about planning for Section 105 on your taxes.We all know your spouse is active in your business. Now, you can equally recognize their contribution he or she makes – and get Uncle Sam to give you a tax break.5. Help for families with kids — CHIPAll states have established new programs that help lower income families with children to pay for health insurance for their kids. Financed partly by the federal government, the Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) operate either as an expansion of the state’s Medicaid program or a subsidy for basic private health insurance. Eligible families may be able to access coverage for their children at greatly reduced premiums which will vary depending upon family income. Contact your state Department of Health or Insurance for more information.6. Shop aroundHospital costs vary widely, especially between urban and rural facilities. If your doctor has admitting privileges at more than one hospital, find out if you can be admitted to the one that’s less expensive. Keep in mind that hospitals operated by non-profit foundations are usually less expensive than investor-owned, for profit hospitals. To find out how much your local hospitals charge, ask your doctor. Many states have Health Services Cost Review Commissions, which compile such data.7. Check for free clinics in your community You and your entire family can save hundreds of dollars by taking advantage of the many free screenings, immunizations, and other health clinics offered by your local community or a town near you. Numerous community hospitals and social services can provide blood pressure checks, shots for your children, free contraceptives and/or advice, and other preventative health care at little to no cost.8. Get a second opinion out of town Believe it or not, your chance of undergoing an expensive surgery or preventative procedure may depend solely on where you happen to live. Statistics show that the frequency in which certain medical procedures are performed varies widely from location to location. For example, residents of New Haven, Conn., are twice as likely to undergo a coronary bypass operation as residents of Boston, Mass. What’s the reason for this discrepancy? One Dartmouth Medical School expert, John E. Wennberg, M.D., M.H.P., explains that certain operations are simply more fashionable in some parts of the United States than others. So, if you plan to get a second opinion prior to surgery, consider going to a specialist in another city. In addition, try to find out what the surgery rates for your procedure are in different cities. HealthAllies.com also offers this service online. To get the names of second-opinion doctors in your region, call the U.S. government’s toll-free second-opinion hotline at 1-800-638-6833.9. Don’t pay double for a second opinionAs you make arrangements for a second opinion, ask your doctor to send copies of your medical records, x-rays, and lab tests to the second-opinion doctor. These tests don’t need duplication; your second doctor will have the information he or she needs – and you don’t pay double.10. Emotional stabilityYour mental health is equally important as your physical health. Do you have blue days once in awhile, or struggle with gray winters? St. John’s Wort, an over-the-counter herbal supplement, has been proven to increase positive moods. Before rushing to your family physician for medication to make you feel better, try supplements with a combination of expressing your feelings with friends and a healthy lifestyle. Mood stabilizers are some of the most costly medications on the market today. However, you should be aware of the signs of stress or even depression. Give yourself a simple screening test:
Do you have feelings of sadness and/or irritability?
Has there been a loss of interest in pleasure activities you once enjoyed?
Have there been changes in your weight or appetite?
Have you noticed changes in your sleeping pattern?
Are you feeling guilty?
Do you have the inability to concentrate, remember things or make decisions?
Are you fatigued or have a loss of energy?
Do you experience restlessness or decreased activity noticed by others?
Do you have feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness?
Do you have thoughts of suicide or death? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, consider consulting your family physician. If they recommend mental health treatment, it is more cost-effective to have your family physician prescribe mood stabilizers instead of seeing a psychiatrist. However, follow your doctor’s instructions on counseling and referrals to mental health professionals.11. Order your prescription drugs by phone, web or mailThere are many discount prescription drug benefits available for a modest cost. Communicating for Agriculture and the Self-Employed offers a free prescription card through PCS. This program saves its members up to 40 percent at over 55,000 pharmacies nationwide. On average, CA members save $9.39 per prescription order. You can enroll free on SelfEmployedCountry.org.12. Ask your doctor to prescribe generic drugsMedicine marketed under its scientific name is usually 50 percent cheaper and just as effective as brand-name versions. In addition, look for generic drugs in the medicine you purchase over the counter. For example, 100 generic aspirin may cost $1.79; the same ingredients packaged under a well-known brand name can cost more than $5 for 100 tablets. Consider, also, just how important the new easy-to-swallow products are to your comfort. The lesser price of some medicines may be comparably easier to swallow when thinking about your budget.13. Get enrolled in a group planFor self employed people including those involved in small businesses, individual health insurance can be extremely costly – sometimes as much as 30 percent of your take home pay. By joining associations like National Association for the Self Employed (www.nase.org), you have the opportunity to enroll in a group insurance plan with unique built-in cost controls.14. Choose a higher deductibleOften for the healthy family, the number of visits to the doctor totals less than $250 a year, a normally low deductible rate. This low deduction rate, however, can end up costing you more in the form of higher premiums. If your family has enjoyed good health for a number of years, you may want to switch to a higher deductible of $500 or $1000. You’ll notice greatly reduced premiums.15. Pay premiums annuallyYou avoid the service fee and may also receive a discount from your insurance carrier. Check with your insurance agent about how much money you can save if you pay your premium one time during the year.16. Make sure there’s a ceiling for out-of-pocket expenses for catastrophic illnessesAbout half of individual policyholders lack this important provision, according to insurance experts, who recommend a major medical policy with a stop-loss clause limiting policyholder payout to $2,000 or $3,000.17. Get educated about your healthInvest in your health by becoming information-rich. Read publications about health care. Pay special attention to free wellness publications like Inside Mayo Clinic at MayoClinic.org or have on hand a book on medical self-care, like The AAFP Family Health and Medical Guide and The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. A wealth of information is also available on the Internet.18. Take advantage of free health adviceFor free information booklets from the U.S. government about nearly every health care topic you can imagine, simply write to the Consumer Information Center in Pueblo, Colorado. The government offers several dozen booklets on topics ranging from nutrition, medical problems, mental health, to drugs, exercise and weight control. To receive a catalog explaining these booklets, write to:Consumer Information CenterPO Box 100Pueblo, CO 81009http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov (you can download booklets from this site)Once again the U.S. Government comes through by providing a number of toll free health care information phone services. Topics are numerous, including hearing aids, cancer information, Alzheimer’s disease, drugs and pregnancy issues. For information on the health topics and phone numbers, call the National Health Information Center at 1-800-336-4797.19. Brush up on first-aid skills and become CPR certified.Proper treatment of various accidents may reduce the number of visits to the doctor, and can save lives in an emergency. It’s important to always keep an updated medical kit in your home or office.Here are the basics for your first-aid kit:
bandage supplies, including a roll of 3 inch wide gauze, individually packaged 4 inch sterile gauze pads, a roll of 1 inch bandage tape, butterfly bandage tape, and scissors
elastic bandages
cotton swabs
sterile dressings or towels
pain reliever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
anti-inflammatory medicine (ibuprofen)
ipecac syrup (for use on advice of medical professional to induce vomiting)
tweezers
hydrogen peroxide
skin creams, including hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion and antibiotic creams
an antihistamine (diphenhydramine for allergic reactions)
flashlight
eye patch
arm sling
tongue depressors (to be used as a finger splint)
ice pack
re-hydration fluids (such as Pedialyte or Infalyte)
20. Take a lifestyle approach to wellness – every dayTake charge of your health by making simple changes in your lifestyle. By following these seven basic rules of good health, you’ll improve your chances of living a long, healthy, active life.
Get eight hours of sleep per night.
Eat breakfast every morning.
Cut down on snacks between meals.
Keep within 10 pounds of your recommended weight range. If you’re unsure what your weight range should be check with your doctor.
Exercise aerobically for at least 30 minutes three times per week.
Don’t smoke.
Don’t drink more than two alcoholic beverages per day.
Take recommended dosages of vitamins and supplements.
Copyright 2004, Monikah Ogando, Ogando Associates, Inc.

Buy quality self employed health insurance coverage that’s right for your stage of business growth, with an eye to the future.Right now, you’re the only employee of your company and you need the peace of mind provided by a quality insurance plan. Before you ask for a self employed health insurance quote, though, look at these three business growth scenarios. Then decide what kind of self employed health insurance coverage and benefits you need before you buy health insurance online.1) I expect to remain the sole employee of my business. Solution: simply ask for a self employed health insurance online quote.Shop around and ask for a health insurance online quote from reputable insurance agencies that provide quality customer service. Then buy health insurance online from the agency that meets your needs and your budget.Also read up on and / or consult an accountant to discover how you can deduct the cost of your self employed health insurance coverage. You’ll want to take advantage of every deduction possible without make a costly error in what’s allowable.2) I expect to hire employees within the next year. Solution: ask about temporary self employed health insurance coverage and also ask for a group health insurance quote.Let’s say that you’ve gotten a self employed health insurance quote that pleases you. There’s just one more step to take before you buy health insurance online. Ask the insurance agent to discuss how you will transition from self employed health insurance coverage to group health insurance once you hire your employees.If the insurance agent is too busy to talk about this, then look elsewhere for a health insurance online quote. Also, monitor the dates on your temporary health insurance policy carefully because you don’t want a lapse between the end of your temporary health insurance and the beginning of your group policy.3) I am ready to hire anywhere from two to fifty people. Solution: ask which group health insurance plan provides you the benefits that you — and your employees — will need.Congratulations! Your business must be thriving and growing. Discuss this anticipated growth with insurance agents. Compare and contrast the health insurance online quote that they give you for group insurance policies and choose the one that will treat your best assets — your new employees — right.You can then use your group health insurance benefits as a recruiting tool to hire and retain top quality staff that will keep your business moving in the right direction. When you buy health insurance online you are in fact investing in your company and its assets.Time for a self employed health insurance quote or for group health insurance? Either way, choose the insurance agent that provides quality coverage and service, no matter what stage of growth you’re in.Take a good hard look at where your business is headed. Decide whether you need self employed health insurance coverage or group health insurance. Then get your self employed health insurance quote and buy health insurance online that will keep you — and your employees (current or future) — safe, secure and covered.

It has become alarming that a growing number of fit and healthy people today actually think that they have nothing to do with health insurance. They exercise regularly, do not smoke or take alcohol, eat nothing but nutritious diet, and lead a healthy stress-free lifestyle. Some even convert to vegetarianism, practice yoga meditation, reiki, chi gong and other Eastern practices thought to prevent diseases and increase longevity. So who needs health insurance anyway?Sadly though, a number of these health buffs, some in the prime of their lives, suddenly get sick and die. You have probably heard of this athlete who, while jogging, just suddenly keeled over and fell dead in his running shoes. This just disproves that being healthy means being invincible to all diseases and sickness. There will always be a “chink in your armor” that infections and dread diseases can penetrate.Is health insurance only for the old and the sick?If health is wealth, then it cannot be emphasized enough that having a health insurance is definitely one of the best investment you can ever have. The famous pro-gun slogan “It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it” can very well hold true for health insurance.Health insurance has become one of the hot issues that often spark debates and controversies. Each individual has his or her own opinion as to who should get medical insurance. As was stated above, the healthy and the strong believe they don’t need health insurance anymore. The sober truth is nobody is born with a crystal ball to gaze into their future. Nobody can foretell the time and circumstance when they will get sick and require medical attention.Another problem is that uninsured healthy people have the tendency to miss health checkups and regular physicals that provide advance detection of dread diseases, abnormalities and malignancies that could be silently spreading in their system. This can lead to disastrous consequences.What are the benefits of health insurance?This popular type of insurance safeguards you and your family from sudden medical emergencies that could lead to financial crisis. A well-chosen health insurance plan can provide some financial security and save you from a lot of worries if and when urgent medical care should arise.This insurance makes cash available to pay for the various medical expenses and health care requirements covered by the policy. It also covers disability expenses and long-time health care requirements like in-house nurses and caregivers. This means you get immediate and complete health care as compared to uninsured individuals.How does health insurance maintain your health?One misconception about this type of insurance is that it is ONLY a way of settling medical bills in case you became sick or got injured. While this is true, it is only a part of the many benefits of health insurance and not the whole. This type of insurance not only insures your health; it ensures it.Keeping you in perfect health not only helps keep the cost of health care at a minimum. It can make health insurance premiums low and within reach of everyone. Health insurance providers like Blue Cross Blue Shield know the value of keeping you healthy. They are also aware that keeping you in good shape eventually saves them a lot of money.Health insurance companies have various ways to make you aware of the benefits of staying healthy. One of them is through educating the public by means of available online materials and information. They make the public the public aware that smoking kills, that obesity leads to heart complications, that wearing protective gear lessens the damage of accidents or that stressful living leads to a shorter life span.