Beth Ockerbloom

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What Is a Cost-Sharing Reduction? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

Cost-sharing reductions aren’t as common as premium tax credits, but you could be missing out on some major savings if you aren’t taking advantage of them. Also known as “extra savings,” cost-sharing reductions are a way to save on health care costs outside of your monthly premium. They provide a discount on deductible costs and copays, and they ultimately lower your out-of-pocket maximum for the plan year. So, if your copays for primary care visits are usually $40, a cost-sharing reduction cou
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3 Tips for Staying Healthy as a Fitness Trainer – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

We know, we know. How could staying healthy possibly be difficult when your average day is so focused on physical fitness? And isn’t health insurance for personal trainers kind of overkill? In reality, any career path that relies so much on your body’s health comes with risks. While you’re busy attending to the needs of your clients, your own health can fall by the wayside. Whether you’re an experienced trainer or you’ve just started a new side hustle, here are three obstacles that keep traine
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Is A Gym Membership Worth It? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

Chances are, your last round of New Year’s resolutions had something to do with bettering your health. But while you might have been excited to head out and work up a sweat in January, setting your alarm clock for your 5:30 workout at this point in the year might have you asking the age-old question: Is a gym membership worth it? With more ways to stay in shape outside of the gym than ever, making sure you’re getting the most out of a pricy gym membership — especially if you’re not all that jaz
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What Is a Premium Tax Credit? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

Looking for private health insurance is enough to give anyone a nasty case of sticker shock. Don’t let high monthly premiums stop you from getting quality health insurance — instead, find out whether a premium tax credit (PTC) can put plans with a pricy monthly fee back within your reach. A PTC is a tax credit that the government offers based on income and need. It’s meant to alleviate the financial stress of trying to afford high monthly health insurance premiums on Marketplace plans. Eligibi
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What Is an EPO Plan? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

PPOs and HMOs may be the best-known health plan types, but they’re far from the only ones. Here’s how to tell if an EPO plan is your best bet for coverage. What Is an EPO? EPO stands for exclusive provider organization. An EPO allows you some freedom in your provider choices, as long as those providers are in network. As with a PPO, most EPOs won’t require you to select a primary care physician (PCP) or get a referral to see a specialist. EPOs also tend to have lower cost-sharing than PPOs, in
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What Is a Health Care Proxy? - Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

You can’t always do everything yourself — and that’s doubly true in a medical crisis. Certain medical conditions can leave you unable to communicate with the people around you. Odd as it might sound, sometimes it takes someone else speaking to give yourself a voice in your own health. A health care proxy is a person who’s agreed to make health care decisions on your behalf when you can’t do it yourself. They communicate what type of treatment you’d prefer, which facilities you go to and how to
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How Much Can You Save With an FSA? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

As a tax-advantaged account dedicated to health care expenses, a flexible spending account (FSA) can be a smart way to save money. But how do you get the most out of your FSA savings? The money in your FSA typically comes straight from your salary, before it’s taxed, which means your taxable income is smaller. Translation: You’ll pay less overall just by earmarking money for items you were going to buy anyway. For 2019, the most you can contribute to your FSA is $2,700. Your employer may suppl
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What Can I Use My FSA For? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

Health care costs are often a surprise and can be the source of a lot of stress, but employers often provide options to alleviate the burden. One such tool is a flexible spending account, or FSA. “But what can I use my FSA for?” you might be asking. First, let’s go over the basics. What Is an FSA? An FSA allows you to take a tax-exempt portion of your paycheck and set it aside specifically to use on health care costs. You can only set this up during your employer’s open enrollment period, but
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3 Times You May Be Out of Network — and How to Avoid This Costly Mistake –

Have you ever gotten a medical bill that didn’t look at all like you expected? You’re not the only one. The usual culprit? Surprise out-of-network costs. Staying in network, especially when using a plan like an HMO that doesn’t cover costs out of network, is paramount to saving on health care expenses. If you’d prefer to avoid the shock of opening an unexpected bill in the future, look out for the following three times you might be out of network without realizing it. When you’re traveling, th
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What Is a Catastrophic Health Plan? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

“Catastrophic health plan” may just be the scariest-sounding health insurance term out there. But put your fear aside — these policies actually come with some noteworthy benefits that may make them just what you need. Despite the worst-case scenario name, catastrophic plans offer similar essential benefits to those offered by other standard health insurance plans, including several primary care visits and other kinds of preventive care at no extra expense. They overlap in some areas with high-d
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3 Unexpected Ways to Start Saving for Long-Term Care in Retirement – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

More than half of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care at some point during their retirement years . And unless your retirement funds are backed up with lottery winnings, affording this necessary care can be tricky. Use these three simple tips to ensure that whatever arises down the road, you’ll be ready. If you’re enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, opening a health savings account (HSA) could be a great tool to start building up your savings. Earmarking funds through
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What Is a PPO? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

If you’ve spent even a few minutes researching health insurance plans or looking over your health benefits, then you’ve come across PPOs. As popular as these plans may be, there’s a chance you’re still not exactly sure how they work. Here’s what you need to know. PPO stands for preferred provider organization. The doctors, specialists and hospital systems in this network have agreed to provide care at predetermined rates that are outlined in the Summary of Benefits and Coverage document you rec
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What Is an HMO? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

HMOs are one of the most commonly chosen health insurance options — and for good reason. Here’s what makes them such a popular choice, and what you need to know before choosing one for yourself. What Is an HMO? HMO stands for health maintenance organization. These plans cover care at specific price points from within a network of doctors. Because doctors in this network have agreed to accept certain payment for their care, your health costs will remain pretty stable within an HMO. Along with
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Your 3-Step Guide to Changing Primary Care Providers – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

The process of changing doctors can seem daunting. You may not see your doctor as often as you see other people in your life, but it’s a relationship that’s important to get right. Your health is at stake, after all. You deserve a doctor who has your back 100 percent — who offers you compassionate, straightforward health advice and cares about the fact that you haven’t eaten broccoli in a week, even if you think it’s no big deal. But switching doctors can seem like a lot of work, especially if
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What Is Short-Term Disability Insurance? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

When you fell down and scraped your knee as a kid, you could wipe away your tears and be back on the monkey bars within minutes. As an adult, it’s not always that easy. Sometimes an injury puts you down and keeps you there — at least for a while. When you need some time to recover from an accident or illness, it helps to have a way to supplement your income. But what qualifies for short-term disability insurance? Any medical condition that keeps you from working can be considered a disability.
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How to Prepare for Your First Appointment With a New Doctor – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

Your first appointment with a new doctor might feel daunting. It makes total sense — you’re about to meet a stranger and immediately trust them to give you advice about your body. That’s nerve-wracking, and it’s best to go in prepared. Here’s how to keep things running smoothly and get the most out of your visit. Your new physician will make better judgments about your health if they can see your medical history, including any medications you take and their dosages, your allergies and the proce
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What Is Life Insurance? – Anthem BCBS Supplemental Program

We all know planning for the future is the smart thing to do — but that doesn’t mean we like planning for the worst. Get a grasp on life insurance now, though, and you can focus on the fun stuff. Life insurance is an agreement between you and your insurance company that in the event of your death, your beneficiaries will receive a lump sum payment. This payment comes from the monthly premiums you’ve paid throughout the term of your contract with your insurance company. There are a few types of
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