Temporary Health Insurance

A major benefit of being a fulltime employee at an American corporation is the security of health coverage. Medical costs along with the cost of health insurance have skyrocketed in the past 60 years. Under these circumstances, insurance coverage provided by employers, who enjoy tax benefits for giving health benefits to their workers, has helped foster loyalty and reduced the financial stress of thousands of American employees, many of whom would not be able to afford health insurance if purchased privately.

Just how expensive those skyrocketing insurance costs really are becomes painfully obvious when someone loses a job. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), requires insurance companies to continue to make their plans available to former employees who have left a group policy due to unemployment. However, when you sign up for COBRA, you suddenly find yourself paying much more for your health coverage than what you were paying at the time you were employed. The financial burden can be unbearable, as at the same time you have probably lost your primary source of income. The national average cost per family for COBRA is in excess of $500 a month. For a relatively healthy person who rarely visits a doctor, the cost of COBRA may seem unacceptably high.

However, thousands of people who have opted not to continue with their health insurance because of its costs have come to regret the choice. In fact, every 30 seconds someone in the United States files for bankruptcy following a major medical emergency. The vast majority found themselves seriously sick or injured without health insurance coverage. Fortunately, an inexpensive alternative to COBRA exists that can fill in the gaps between jobs. Temporary low-cost health insurance typically has a much higher deductible than COBRA, but also very affordable rates. It's possible to receive coverage in a matter of days, if not hours.

Who generally purchases short-term temporary health insurance? The list includes people who have left a company for another job or were laid off, students wh are about to graduate from college and need a plan to cover them after they leave school and before the enter the workforce, spouses waiting for coverage from a wife or husband, young adults who are coming off parents' health plans as a dependent, employees who are now working part time or as temporary workers, and other people who are waiting for permanent health insurance to commence.

While the affordable prices are attractive, it's important to remember that temporary low-cost health insurance is considered a "stop gap" for individuals who are between jobs that normally provide complete healthcare benefits. These policies are not designed as a long-term solution.

Who Qualifies? Everyone who is young and healthy probably qualifies for temporary low-cost health insurance. Those that likely may not qualify include someone who has a pre-existing condition, is over the age of 65, or who has been rejected for insurance before. Pre-existing conditions are generally defined as any condition or symptom which you had during the 3-year period prior to the start of coverage.

Generally, the holder of a temporary low-cost health insurance policy should plan on having the policy a year or less. Some policies do last 2 years, and rarely last for 3 years or longer. Many policies allow people to renew after the policy has run its course, but usually customers are limited to renewing a policy only once.

Temporary low-cost health insurance policies apply on a per-illness or per-injury basis. You will likely be required to pay a deductible, with your insurance company paying some portion of the next $5,000 in healthcare expenses, before 100 percent coverage takes effect. Plan maximums are typically $1 million to $2 million. Healthcare expenses ranging from emergency services to surgery, prescription drugs to hospital care are typically covered by the policies.

If you do have a pre-existing condition, it's unlikely you will qualify for temporary health insurance. But it's still too financially risky to function without some kind of insurance coverage. Your best option may be to apply for a low-income health insurance plan. Medicare, a health insurance program of the federal government, covers senior citizens aged 65 and over, as well as the disabled of any age. Medicaid is usually available for pregnant women, depending on a woman's income and family size.

The Many Community Mental Health Services Available to You

Well developed and well managed community mental health services are actually associated with low suicide rates. Hence, mental health services for the masses can be improved by focusing on the community based and specialized mental health services.

If ever you are in need of mental health services, you can contact your local affiliates of the national self help organizations or the local mental health center. Most of these agencies have the relevant information on the various services designed to meet the different needs of those who are suffering from different types of disorders such as anxiety conditions, panic disorders, schizophrenia, etc. Apart from these, they also provide information related to community mental health services designed specifically for children, refugees, HIV infected patients, the elderly, etc. Here are a list of various community health services available for your use.

Mental health act has provided a great opportunity in rendering different kinds of community care based upon individual needs. The provision of good residential accommodation for various groups of mentally disordered or patients with disorders who need constant care by the government aided agencies is a step towards enhancing the community health services.

Generally community health services treat or support people suffering with mental disorders in a domiciliary setting instead of placing them in a hospital or a psychiatric asylum. The various services offered by these community services usually differ from country to country. Most of the community services consist of psychiatric wards similar to that of a hospital. These services are mostly rendered by professionals and government organizations. According to the world health organization, community services are very easy to access by a wide range of people and are quite effective and even aid in reducing social exclusion.

When compared to private mental hospital, community services are less likely to have possibilities for the violation and neglect of human rights which are rarely encountered in few of the mental hospitals. These community services also play an important role in educating the people about the various common disorders and their corresponding symptoms. This way, people gain knowledge on various disorders and can easily recognize individuals who may be suffering from these disorders but might not really be aware of them. Aged and older people who require constant attention, can get benefited by these community services, instead of paying huge bills at private hospitals, they can get good care at the community services.

With the population in the older age group on the rise, there is need for the development of community mental health services in various localities. Also, with many specialists willing to volunteer at the community services, clients can gain a lot of benefits. Since, most of the mental health disorders occurrence do not have a clear reason behind them, the treatment usually is a long term one and for people who cannot afford highly expensive treatments and consultations, community mental health services is the best place to choose. With government pitching in to provide funds for them, it is time people think of visiting them when needed.