5 Facts about Health Insurance Policies

We know that this economy has a lot of people struggling.  We keep our rates low and affordable to help with long distance costs.  However, what about other parts where you could save money?

These are some tips about health insurance plans.  Many health insurance plans have specific exclusions that eliminate your benefits for anything that could have been covered under Workers Compensation or similar laws.

1. DOES YOUR PLAN COVER YOU ON AND OFF THE JOB?

Many health insurance plans have specific exclusions that eliminate your benefits for anything that could have been covered under Workers Compensation or similar laws. Now read that last sentence again.

COULD HAVE BEEN COVERED!?

That is correct. Most self employed people and even some small business owners do not carry Workers Comp on themselves.

There are designed insurance plans that will cover you on and off the job — 24-hours a day, if you are not required by law to have Workers Compensation coverage.

2. ARE YOU WRITING IT OFF?

Independent contractors (1099's), home based business owners, professionals and other self employed people generally are not taking advantages of the tax laws available to them.

Many people who are paying 100% of their own costs are eligible to deduct their monthly insurance payments. Just that alone can reduce your net out-of-pocket costs of a proper plan by as much as 40%. Ask your accounting professional if you are eligible and/or check out the IRS website for more information.

3. INTERNAL LIMITS
All true insurance plans use some form of internal controls to determine how much they will pay out for a particular procedure or service. There are two basic methods.

-Scheduled Benefits

Many plans, some of which are specifically marketed to self employed and independent people, have a clear schedule of what they will pay per doctor office visit, hospital stay, or even limits on what they will pay for testing per 24-hr. period. This structure is usually associated with "Indemnity Plans". If you are presented with one of these plans, be sure to see the schedule of benefits, in writing. It is important that you understand these type of limits up front because once you reach them the company will not pay anything over that amount.

-Usual and Customary

"Usual and Customary" refers to the rate of pay out for a doctor office visit, procedure or hospital stay that is based on what the majority of physicians and facilities charge for that particular service in that particular geographical or comparable area. "Usual and Customary" charges represent the highest level of coverage on most major medical plans.


4.YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHOP!

If you are reading this you, are probably shopping for a health plan. Every day people shop, for everything from groceries to a new home. During the shopping process, generally, the value, price, personal needs and general marketplace gets evaluated by the buyer. With this in mind, it is very disconcerting that most people never ask what a test, procedure or even doctor visit will cost. In this ever-changing health insurance market, it will become increasingly important for these questions to be asked of our medical professionals. Asking price will help you get the most out of your plan and reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

5. NETWORKS AND DISCOUNTS

Almost all insurance plans and benefit programs work with medical networks to access discounted rates. In broad strokes, networks consist of medical professionals and facilities who agree, by contract, to charge discounted rates for services rendered. In many cases the network is one of the defining attributes of your program. Discounts can vary from 10% to 60% or more. Medical network discounts vary, but to ensure you minimize your out-of-pocket expenses, it is imperative that you preview the network's list of physicians and facilities before committing. This is not only to ensure that your local doctors and hospitals are in the network, but also to see what your options would be if you were to need a specialist.

Ask your agent what network you are in, ask if it is local or national and then determine if it meets your own individual needs.

Contact your health insurance provider and make sure you and your employees are covered for every situation.

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The Landline Investment

Your business needs less hassle and more convenience, do just that with a landline.

Contact Business Network Long Distance to save money on your long distance bill today!

Your Business Line Should Be Professional

When employees use their smartphones instead of business landlines for work, it can be cost-effective for some organizations, but there are downsides to cutting the cord, including problems with call quality and issues around organizational control.

The traditional desktop telephone persists in most enterprise settings today, despite the rise of smartphones.  Before you unplug all your business landlines, think about some of the problems you may encounter. 

Do you want important customers, clients and other contacts to have access to your employee’s personal phone numbers? 

Mobile phones are essential for many personal activities, but employees really don’t need mobile access at work.  It is instead better to have landlines for the work environment.  In these scenarios, employers will appreciate the lower costs of wired services and employees will appreciate the improved reliability. 

“Our advice to clients is not to switch from an office-based phone to a cell phone exclusively,” said Fred Manuel, General Partner at Alliance Cost Containment in Ann Arbor, Mich., a company that works with businesses to reduce costs in all areas of operation.

Manuel said that while his focus is helping customers cut costs, using a cell phone can cost more in the end because it can be frustrating to customers who can’t hear you clearly on the phone.

“What you’re saying to your client is that you care more about saving money than delivering good service and you may be sending the message that you really don’t have the money for an office with a land based phone,” Manuel told Business News Daily.

As you know, everything has its advantages and disadvantages.  Whether keeping a separate landline for your mobile phone is going to work for you or not, would depend on your needs and preferences; but taking them into consideration won’t do you any harm.  Keep your landline and all of its advantages and save even more money on your long distance service contact Business Network Long Distance, your trusted business partner.

Landline Safety Features

Keeping your landline is the most important decision a home or business owner can make.  While it may seem like a minor detail, there are many reasons that make it a top priority.

Batteries and towers are not required for the use of landlines.  Landlines require no batteries, while some cordless phones need an occasional charging when not in use; the corded landline requires no electricity.  Your cell phone battery goes out and you are unable to contact anyone until it charges.  What if the power is out?  A landline can save a lot of stress if an unpredictable power outage occurs.  During emergencies as well, the cell phone tower can be compromised for bandwidth, causing your cell phone to be unable to make phone calls or text.

Cell phones are at the mercy of weather and geographic features of the area.  Whereas landlines give you five bars everywhere.  No worrying about where you are in your house and if you get a signal, the landline doesn’t drop your call. 

The safety feature included in a landline for your business is especially important when considering the safety of your employees and of your customers. They will remember how you were prepared and could contact emergency services with the landline, while others were stranded because of only mobile phones and signals jammed. 

Business Network Long Distance cares about your safety and your priorities.  Keep your landline and save money with long distance services by Business Network Long Distance. 

Your Business, Keep it Professional

Business Network Long Distance is your trusted source for long distance needs.  Let us be your partner in business.

Emergency Landline, Protect Yourself

Do you ever think of reasons why you may need a landline?  Well, there are many reasons that you need a landline even if you own a cell phone.  With advantages like 911 services, reliability in power outages, security for phone calls and even the ease of use for all.  You will quickly see how many important reasons there are and why you need a landline.

What if there is an emergency at your place of business?  How would you or a customer call for help?  Well if the cell phone was lost or the power was out, it would do you no good.  A landline on the other hand would be available to make that call for help because it is a physical line.  Also, when you call a dispatcher on a landline it gives them an exact location instead of a general area.  This makes it easier for them to get to you and a quicker response time. 

One more reason you need a landline is with the advanced technology of cell phones it makes them more complicated for young children and seniors to use.  The landline still remains simple for anyone to make a call.  Any of these reasons makes it clear on why you should maintain a landline; along with the convenience and professional look it gives your business.

For your long distance business needs, contact Business Network Long Distance.

A Way to Contact Your Customers

How do you contact your customers?

Professionals Have Landlines...Right?

A business landline may seem unnecessary at this point in time with easy accessibility to cell phones.  However, I challenge you to think about your customers.  Consider your experiences as a customer…

When you are looking for a certain service, vendor, shop, etc.  If you were to call them and they answered hello, by mistake instead of with their business name, would you wonder if you got the correct line?

If you then set up an appointment and went to their house, would you question how secure and real this business was?

Small businesses have to start somewhere.  But take the first step and get a landline to give your business its own phone.  The consumer wants to deal with the professionals in the business. 

A landline is a small fee for having a great first interaction.  Don’t worry about the phone dying, losing service or being unavailable in a power outage or storm.  Trust the reliable business phone.

Contact Business Network Long Distance for all of your long distance landline needs.