March 11th, 2010
Plan ahead for your spring break and protect yourself with travel insurance!
If you are lucky enough to be traveling during spring break it is important you stay safe. Be sure to always keep your health and safety in mind while going through the airport or checking in bags. Check the weather to prepare for the correct conditions you will be facing. Once you’ve arrived at your destination continue to look out for situations that may become dangerous for you or your company. If you are traveling out of the country understand that you must abide by the laws of the country you are visiting. Be extra careful if you have plans to travel to Mexico because the United States has issued a travel warning due to violence related to drug cartels throughout the country.
Travel insurance can provide travelers with a great umbrella of protection from anything from medical care to cancellation coverage. If you are unfamiliar with canceling travel plans, you often can’t do it. Most packages and plans are nonrefundable to insure that businesses do not lose money due to changes in travel plans. With travel insurance, you are essentially buying a guarantee that you will get what you paid for or receive a refund.
If all goes well and you do make it on your trip, you can rest easy knowing that in the event of an accident, all medical expenses up to $1 million will be covered. Maybe the accident doesn’t involve injury to you but you are found liable, you’re covered for that too! Our plan will provide you with $200,000 in liability coverage. Don’t worry, if you leave the United States, the same coverage applies! Not to mention, if something does come up and you need to leave immediately, you will be covered up to $100,000 for emergency medical evacuation.
Be safe and have a good time!
Tags: college travel, spring break, spring break 2010, students traveling abroad, travel, travel abroad, travel insurance, traveling for spring break
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March 9th, 2010
As you may already know, it is required by law to have auto insurance. Although aut0 insurance is an expense that we do not see an immediate benefit from, it protects all drivers on the road.
As a student, you may feel that your auto insurance rates are higher then others and you may be right. Due to the age of most college students, insurance companies often view them as higher risks because of their limited driving experience. If you fall into this category there are a few things you can do to try and limit your expense. First, make sure you shop around and compare rates. Review quotes online and determine which policy has the ability to give the widest coverage for your budget.
Although students tend to have higher premiums, discounts are available for students. When students receive good grades, insurance companies take note of the students’ capability to be responsible in school and translate that into a discount as a driver.
If you are in the market for a new car, go with a basic car. Owning expensive vehicles often leads to higher prices on premiums. Installing extra security measures can sometimes lead to discounts as well but this particular discount varies so check with your carrier.
Most college students have a very short credit history, if any but having a high credit score will ultimately lead to lower premiums.
Finally, be a safe driver! The better your driving record, the lower your premium is going to be!
Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance discounts, automotive insurance, college auto insurance, student auto insurance, student discounts
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March 2nd, 2010
Widespread cuts at Fresno Statehave forced some students to postpone their graduation plans. Due to the lack of classes, students are finding that it is not possible to get into the prerequisite classes they need.
Van Grouw, a former biology major, was forced to change her major to stay on track for a four-year-graduation plan.
“It was really difficult planning my schedule when all the classes got cut. The kinesiology department only offers certain classes every other semester, so if I don’t get the classes I need for next fall, I will have to wait a whole year to try and get those classes again,” Van Grouw said.
The Collegianreported that Fresno State used its one-time $2.9 million federal stimulus money in February to restore some classes in the fall 2010 semester. Even with the stimulus money, students like Hannah Deeter will still be forced to stay one semester to a year longer on average.
Hannah Deeter enrolled as a dietetics major in fall 2007 but after attempting to register for classes, she realized she would no longer be able to reach her goal of graduating in spring 2011. Deeter gave a statement to the Collegian, explaining her situation:
“For my next four semesters, I will not even have enough major classes to fill my 12-unit, full-time student requirement. I will have to take random elective classes I do not need to graduate to stay a full-time student, which I need [in order] to stay on my parents’ health insurance.”
These tough situations can be very troubling for students and their families. With budget cuts occurring all over the nation, it may be possible that this dilemma will occur at other institutions as well!
Tags: delayed graduation, Fresno State budget cuts, health insurance, postponed graduation, The Collegian
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February 25th, 2010
On monday February 22, 2010, the credit CARD act went into effect, changing the rules and regulations of obtaining a credit card.
The new act prohibits lenders from issuing credit cards to anyone under 21 years of age without an adult co-signer who is capable of paying off the line of credit. In addition to a co-signer, credit bureaus can no longer supply reports on Americans under 21 without parental consent.
The act has recieved praise from consumer advocates for it’s curbs on service fees and interest rate hikes. While this control may be viewed as beneficial it has also caused some banks to reduce credit limits and even close accounts.
Although some state laws have already prevented credit card companies from marketing their products on campus, the new act takes it one step further. Under the new act, credit card companies are no longer able to exchange tangible goods for applications collected on campus or at college sponsored events.
Institutions that allow for on-campus solicitation will also see changes under the new act. The act backs tougher state laws and institution rules that mandate financial-literacy training.
Particular changes in the rules and regulations may be due to credit card company critics complaining that a generation of young Americans were trapped into long term debt because of casual campus marketing.
Tags: credit card charges, The credit CARD act
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February 23rd, 2010
On Monday, February 22, 2010 the White House issued proposals for health care reform that have received praise by Democratic lawmakers. On the other hand, Republicans have expressed their disappointment, stating that the proposals are a sign of how little GOP input is in the plan.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a written statement,
“It’s disappointing that Democrats in Washington either aren’t listening, or are completely ignoring what Americans across the country have been saying.”
While Republicans insist that the plan does not reflect a bipartisan agreement, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs argued that 160 Republican amendments were included in varying pieces of legislation that made its way through the House and Senate.
He went on to explain that “inexplicably, all those ideas weren’t good enough.”
Republicans have agreed to meet at the White House on Thursday February 25, 2010 for a summit on health care. Although both parties will continue to debate the future of health care, FOX 10 reported that Republicans are heading to the summit with a dim view of the outcome.
Tags: FOX 10, health care reform, Health care reform update, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, White house issued proposals, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
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February 15th, 2010
If you are currently looking for a job you may notice that there aren’t very many companies offering insurance benefits. If you look even closer, you may notice the some plans offered aren’t covering as much as they used to. This poses a big problem for graduates or graduates to be. With all the media coverage on the importance of health insurance. Many graduates are finding themselves stuck and they do not know what to do.
Living without health insurance does remove a monthly payment, but leaves room for lots of risk. With medical costs being a leading cause for bankruptcy, it often stressful when considering your options. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help that a good portion of graduates are joining many other Americans in unemployment. The ideal situation would be to find a job with health benefits but with the struggling economy, those aren’t easy to get.
A great alternative to more expensive, long term care plans is short-term health insurance. With short-term health insurance, graduates can get the coverage they want at a price that they can afford. Here at GradGuard, we understand that it isn’t easy getting started in the long journey of life at a time like now and our main focus is matching you with the “right fit”.
What do I mean by “right fit”?
Because we have the ability to offer plans from multiple insurance companies, we can find the plan that best fits your needs. We don’t work for the insurance companies, we work for you!
Tags: short term care, short term health insurance, short term insurance, Short-Term Medical Insurance
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February 13th, 2010
With the loss of 20,000 more jobs in January, the nation is calling out for an increase in available jobs. The only trouble is, how do we get there?
Well, only time will tell what ends up being passed but a few plans are already on the table. Among these are tax breaks for companies hiring new employees, short term extensions of jobless benefits and health insurance subsidies for the unemployed.
It is no longer possible for Democrats to pass bills with no Republican backing since the election of Republican Scott Brown. Thankfully, the job creation ideas on the table right now contain things that both Republicans and Democrats could agree upon.
President Barack Obama hopes to help move things along by hosting the Democratic and Republican leaders from the House and Senate “to discuss working together on the economy and jobs.”
Tags: 20000 jobs lost in January, increase in available jobs, Jobs, jobs needed, Jobs top priority in Washington
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February 12th, 2010
As Washington D.C. fights a war on health care reform Florida rages its own battlefield. The Florida legislation may soon consider adding a new requirement for state-funded university attendees to hold health insurance. Although the measure did not pass through legislation last spring it’s expected to surface again next session.
Some opposition to this measure remains. Leixe Yanes of Florida Atlantic University stated, “If it passes, less kids will go to school. I think it should be left up to the students. We’re the ones paying. It’s our lives… they don’t need to take care of us.” This will increase the cost of attending college by an estimated $1,300 a year.
Although this may be true, the measure will motivate more college students to purchase health insurance. Even if you’re healthy as a horse accidents can not be predicted and may be detrimental to not only your health, but your checkbook as well. Rolling your ankle running to class or coming down with a contagious sickness like the swine flu is unexpected, however more common than you would think. A recent survey of college students graduates indicated nearly 60% of respondents or one of their friends had been hospitalized during the prior two years. After thinking about the additional doctor’s appointments, medications, and possible therapy following hospitalization… health insurance seems to make more and more sense.
Tags: Florida Atlantic University, Florida college students, Florida students, Florida University students, gradgaurd, health care legislation, health insurance, health reform, Washington D.C.
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February 12th, 2010
The State of Tennessee Office of Attorney General issued a warning to students last Thursday about possible financial aid scams.
Students need to be aware that you can receive FAFSA information for free at www.fafsa.ed.gov!
Websites claiming that they can offer help with receiving financial aid are looking to scam you. The information they are offering is the same information you can receive by simply visiting the government site above.
Jeff Gerkin, assistant dean and director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, said some schools do allow students to pay a separate additional fee for help in finding financial aid through a business. If you are searching for additional help, it is imperative that you check with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships first. Many schools, like the University of Tennessee, offer their services for free.
Another risk you encounter with these internet scams is identity theft. Sensitive information is required when filling out a FAFSA form and you want to make sure that your information is in the right hands.
Tags: FAFSA, FAFSA form, Jeff Gerkin, University of Tennessee, www.fafsa.ed.gov
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February 11th, 2010
Do you know what the exact cost of each medical services? Probably not, not very many people do but the scary thing is, neither do physicians. Today, specially educated medical billing and coding professionals are hired to manage the financial portion of the business. Due to this, it is not uncommon for a physician to be unsure of the real cost of services provided to the patient.
In some ways, this may be a good change because physicians only have to focus on correcting problems with health. On the other hand, with no knowledge of the cost of treatment, the doctor may not choose the best route for each individual patient. While one patient may have plenty of money, the next one may be better off with the cheaper solution.
With this problem becoming a bigger concern with so much focus on the cost of health care, some schools have begun integrating cost education into there medical programs. At the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1st and 2nd year students are required to have a PDA or smart phone so they can use a medical practice management software. This software allows students to run mock cases, showing them costs of medicines or services for various health insurance plans.
Unfortunately, just like medical curriculum, knowledge about insurance companies and pricing is very vast. Making it hard for students to get a good grasp of the material while learning medicine. Dr. Manjula Julka, assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School said that medical school is not an appropriate time to start grilling student physicians over the intricacies of billing. They need to know evidence-based medicine, first and foremost.
Eventhough it would be nice if physicians knew more about pricing, I’m sure everyone would agree that they don’t want a doctor that does not know what he or she is doing. As medicine progresses, hopefully some form of education will be found that can be used to teach pricing without taking away from medical studies. Until then, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor about your options and the cost of each one. Even if they do not know the cost off the top of their head, the information available to them.
Tags: cost of services provided to patient, medical billing and coding professionals, physicians unsure of true cost of care, teaching physicians about pricing
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