Health Insurance Blog

Health savings accounts are a useful tool many consumers can use to save wisely.  A health savings account (HSA) is an alternative to a traditional health insurance policy.  It can be used along with your health insurance as well.  It’s a savings account that allows you to pay for health care items out of this account specifically.

HSAs make it possible for you to pay current health care expenses and save for future expenses on a tax-free basis.  Many employers and insurance companies such as State Farm Health Insurance offer HSAs.  In order to take advantage of this type of plan you must have a High Deductible Health Plan which generally costs less than traditional health insurance.  They money that you save on monthly premiums can be placed into your savings account.

There are many benefits to taking advantage of an HSA.  You own and control what goes into your HSA.  You make decisions on how to spend the money on the HSA, as long as it is an approved medical expense.  You can also control the type of investments you put your money into.  Look into getting a HSA if you think it will work for you.

State Farm health insurance has teamed up with Humana in an alliance to offer Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, also known as Medicare Part D.  Humana’s Medicare Prescription Drug Plans offers guidance on how to save money on your prescriptions.  They make it easy for you to keep track of prescription costs.  They offer a SmartSummary RxSM statement which shows what you bought and the varying costs.

It’s benefits like these that make State Farm and Humana Medicare supplement insurance plans unique.  Humana offers 3 stand alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plans to help balance your health insurance budget.  In today’s economy and so many pinching pennies, this benefit proves extremely valuable.

State Farm and Humana have joined to market Medicare Advantage plans as well.  This type of plan combines the benefit of prescription drug coverage with the Medicare health coverage in one convenient plan.  They offer additional benefits when compared to Original Medicare.

To recognize Veterans Day, State Farm Insurance is helping to say thank you to military members and their families according to the article found on reuters.com through PRNewswire sourced from State Farm.  State Farm, which offers State Farm health insurance, auto, and property insurance, will be donating $1 for every “thank you” sent on the newly launched website, ThanksforBeingThere.com.  The money will be donated to the Fisher House Foundation. 

The Fisher House Foundation is a military support organization which offers a helping hand to military families whose relatives are being treated at military or VA medical centers across the country as well as Germany.  They will be sending donations up to a total of $50,000. 

There are 43 Fisher Houses located on 18 military bases and 13 VA medical centers in the US.  Homes are operated by the Army, Navy, USAF, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Their main goal is to provide a home away from home for families struggling with a loved one who is injured or sick and seeking treatment.  In 2008, these homes saved military families over $12 million in lodging expenses, which is a huge relief, especially during these tough times. 

State Farm Health Insurance understands the variety of needs their customers have.  They have a marketing relationship with Time Insurance Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, (Assurance Health), which enables them to assist each individual.  This information was obtained from State Farm’s health insurance web page.

State Farm is offering individual medical insurance coverage, short term medical coverage and student select coverage.  They also have a high deductible health plan which can be used with a health savings account.  A health savings account is a special savings account which enables you to pay for health costs and save for future medical expenses tax free.  You own and control the money in your health savings account, and you also make decisions on what type of investments you participate in to make your savings grow.  This information was obtained from the US Treasury’s website on HSA’s. 

State Farm and Assurant health have combined company histories of 175 years which helps to make them a great team.  This alliance assists State Farm agents in fulfilling their customers’ unique needs and desires and manage the risks of life.

You may not know that State Farm, in addition to insuring more cars and homes than any other insurance company in the US, offers health insurance.  This is made possible through the national alliance that allows Assurant Health’s individual medical products available through State Farm health insurance across the country, according to the press release “State Farm, Assurant Health Renew National Distribution Alliance” found on Assurant Health’s website.

The alliance was renewed last year and included a 10 year term with the option for either company to leave after 5 years.  It also highlighted a marketing program that will allow for expansion of various sales opportunities for State Farm and licensed agents. 

Assurant Health President and CEO Don Hamm said that the alliance with State Farm is beneficial to everyone involved and they are very pleased to be continuing the relationship.  State Farm is one of their largest business alliances. 

State Farm Health Insurance is giving America a highly needed challenge.  They are challenging Americans to collectively lose 50 million pounds across the nation, according to the article “Insurance agency challenges Americans to lose weight” on wqow.com. 

Bob Johnson, an agent at State Farm Insurance, says that the healthier you are the less frequently you visit the doctor which will help lower your health insurance rates over time.  There is also the benefit of living a longer, higher quality life the healthier you live.  A healthy lifestyle will help you lose weight, have more energy and just feel better overall.

Online registration is available and participants can track their progress throughout the challenge.  There is also information on how to lead a healthier lifestyle.  State Farm Health Insurance is offering a kit which includes a pedometer and an information booklet.  Hopefully America is up for the challenge because obesity continues to be on the rise. 

Congress has briefly considered the insurance co-op as a viable option to overhaul health care, but it’s been put to the side for now.  According to the article “The insurance co-op is already in your neighborhood” by Julie Mason on the Washington Examiner’s website, State Farm Insurance is America’s most well known, successful member-owned cooperative. 

State Farm offers many types of insurance including State Farm health insurance.  Many consider their model a great success as they serve over 75 million policies in North America.  At the end of each year profits are turned over to the policy holders which were about $1 billion back in 2007. 

State Farm was founded in 1922 by a retired insurance salesman and farmer who started the company with a few friends.  The company’s success has occurred over time and does not easily translate to a workable model for a government run co-op for health care.  It would take too much time, money, organization and significant involvement from the government.  These are things Congress is not willing to sacrifice at this point.  5tehuzfw6y

Good news for those looking for Oregon health insurance.  A new state Farm Insurance Angency has opened in Salem, OR according to the article on statesmanjournal.com by Kathie Hodges and they are offering health insurance. 

Jeff Stewart opened the agency on Commercial St. in Salem and has worked for State Farm for 4 years now.  Before becoming a State Farm agent he was a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual.  He has his BA in economics from the University of Oregon and is extremely knowledgeable on insurance.

Mike Speten and Peggy Zepp are part of his team as well and all are licensed in proprety and casualty, life insurance and even State Farm health insurance.  They are also State Farm Bank certified.  Hours are 9-5pm Monday through Friday and evenings and weekends with an appointment.  This offers a great opportunity to Salem residents to shop for insurance.