Online Retirement Planning for the Over 50s

December 5, 2013, 12:23 am

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Personal finance experts Over50choices launches the final phase of its web based service, completing its suite of online retirement planning tools for the Over 50s.

(PRWEB UK) 5 December 2013

When it comes to retirement planning, there are a number of options to consider to ensure both income and family are protected.

Over50choices has just launched the final phase of its online retirement planning service, aimed at helping Over 50s manage their finances through their pre and post retirement years.

For those looking to save money, boost retirement income or just put plans in place that secure their families’ future, the website now offers:·     Equity release calculator and guides
·     Annuity calculator and guides
·     The UKs widest choice of funeral planning options
·     Unique Over 50s life insurance comparison tool
·     Wills, probate and legal services
·     Affordable health insurance

From comparing annuities to maximise pension income to releasing money tied up in property with equity release; the jargon free, user friendly information fully explains the choices available whilst the comparison service gives visitors to the site the opportunity to compare quotes and choose the most suitable option.

To complete its range of retirement planning tools, the website also has comprehensive guides on making a Will and funeral planning which includes comparisons of market leading prepaid funeral plans and Over 50s Life Insurance.

Speaking about the range of retirement services available, MD Ashley Shepherd said, “We have tried to develop a range of services that support people on the run up to retirement and beyond; a one stop shop for all their planning needs. When it comes to financial planning, there are still too many grey areas with people left in the dark about the options available to them, which in many cases leaves them out of pocket. We want to demystify personal finance; make it easily accessible to everyone and above all give people choices so they can make a more informed decision; the right decision”.

One example of this would be the 60% of people who currently accept the pension scheme on offer through their existing provider, rather than exercising their right to shop around and chose an annuity that could increase their income, in some cases by thousands of pounds; all because of a lack of awareness or understanding.

The company comes with strong credentials; as former marketing director of AXA Wealth and AXA Sun Life Direct, Ashley has a wealth of experience in financial services and the company’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registration supports their ongoing commitment to customer service and value. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.

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Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. Launches New Consumer Website

December 5, 2013, 12:09 am

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Madison National Life, a leading provider of simplified life insurance products announces its new online look.

Austin, Texas (PRWEB) December 05, 2013

Madison National Life is pleased to announce the launch of its new branded website: http://www.madisonlife.com. The November 2013 launch coincides with a banner year for the company, including a strategic initiative to focus on organic growth and product development. As the company emerges as a leader in the simplified issue market place, executives at Madison National Life are determined to improve its presence online through Search Engine Optimization efforts (SEO) to increase traffic, improve Google alert retention and ultimately provide distribution channels with prospective buyers that visit the site.

"Our new website brings us into the mainstream with current looks and branding. Madison’s web presence will encourage customers and agents to explore and enjoy their search experience,” says Brian Pearson, VP, Director of Agencies at Madison National Life. He goes on to say, “Search Engine Optimization will play an important role in recruiting new company relationships. In addition, the infrastructure is now present which will allow frequent updates and future enhancements such as a policyholder premium portal."

The new site offers a contemporary look and streamlined user experience. It features enhanced resources and functionality designed exclusively for the company’s diverse markets. “We wanted to make the site a source not only for consumers, but also a tool that our distribution channels can rely on as an educational tool for its own clients,” says Jamie Frahm, Marketing Specialist. The site represents the company’s new initiate, as a fast growing and modern company within the insurance realm.

Policy owners can access change documents through the "Customer Care" section and submit “Online Service Requests” that will be answered in a timely manner by a Policy Owner Services representative in the Madison, WI home office. The company is looking towards 2014 to launch new interactive features for policy owners, including an online payment option and secured portal for account statements and updates.

Madison National Life is interested in hearing from consumers, distributors and visitors of the website. Pass along your comments, suggestions and feedback to mnlagency(at)madisonlife(dot)com. For questions about the company and its services, contact Jamie Frahm at 1-800-356-9601 ext 2807.

About Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc.

Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. (MNL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Independence Holding Company, a NYSE listed corporation (Symbol IHC) with principal interests in the life and health insurance business. Learn more here. Reported by PRWeb 8 hours ago.

Technology Start-Ups Provide Consumers with Alternatives to HealthCare.gov for "Obamacare" Pricing In 60 Seconds

December 5, 2013, 1:04 am

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Two small, self-funded start-ups, Verticalize.net and The Free Obamacare Guide combine their efforts in order to bring consumers, who are still struggling with the Obamacare enrollment site HealthCare.gov, answers regarding the real world costs. Their easy-to-use widget provides consumers whom are candidates for the ACA with answers in less than one minute. It also allows websites to easily publish this data with just a few mouse clicks.

West Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) December 05, 2013

FreeObamacareGuide.com is pleased to announce the launch of the Obamacare Price Quote Tool. This free widget can be placed on any website and instantly provides consumers with valuable pricing data on health plans within their home state. Additionally, it also provides data that reflects the cost before and after the application of a subsidy. The widget is created utilizing data that is compiled from publicly available resources and compared to current policy pricing trends. For the consumer, the end result is a price estimation tool that has considerable accuracy and quickly helps a person determine their options.

Brad Hayes, spokesman for FreeObamacareGuide.com, explained the genesis of the tool and what their hopes are for it moving forward.

"We have had great concern over whether or not individuals who are going out and trying to price health insurance, either through HealthCare.gov and or through some of the independent brokers, were experiencing some sticker shock moments. If you do not understand how the subsidies work and how it ultimately brings the price of health insurance down, it is entirely possible that you may see a plan listed at $350 a month and walk away for good without factoring in the subsidy you are due. That sticker shock experience is incredibly damaging and completely undermines what HHS and this administration is trying to accomplish. We had a woman email us stating that her family of five tried pricing out insurance and they received estimates of $1,800 a month or more. We called her and we ran the numbers, accounted for their income and calculated the subsidies, they had many options at less than $400 a month. The woman started to get choked up on the phone once she understood that health insurance can now be a reality for her family. I can't put into words how life changing that is for so many Americans. By creating a solution (the widget) that will let a consumer know, for example, that a policy they thought would cost $350 a month will actually only cost $135 a month or less after the subsidy is applied, is in our opinion incredibly valuable if not critical information, especially considering the recent struggles of HealthCare.gov and the looming enrollment deadline. We will continue to improve and expand the functionality of the widget, but the version that is live right now will help people understand what some of their options are and will give them the ability to obtain as much granular pricing data as possible from a number of sources aside from HealthCare.gov."

Hayes also stated that the front facing pricing on the widget is an average of all available policies from a very large number of insurance companies. Instead of just displaying the very lowest rate bronze level plans, the company is compiling an average that includes bronze, silver and gold plans. The benefit of presenting the information this way is that it is going to provide estimates that include some of the best silver and gold level policies available.

If a consumer using the tool decides that they want to explore all available pricing and are having difficulty connecting to HealthCare.gov, the widget has a link within it that will send them to a contact page, which then connects to a network of health insurance providers who are able to process ACA subsidized policies. Brad Hayes did mention that Verticalize.net has been in communication with HHS and are currently in discussions regarding how they can work with HHS direct to bring even more resources and information to consumers.

FreeObamacareGuide.com is working exclusively with Verticalize.net, a company with proprietary advertising technology specifically designed around the healthcare industry with a focus on the Affordable Care Act. The company works with insurance providers, brokers and other companies within the industry to provide as large a pool of policy and pricing information as possible. According to Brad Hayes, Verticalize.net reaches more ACA eligible consumers within the 18 to 34 demographic than any one single company. On October 1st the company had more than 1 million unique visitors across their network and consistently have more overall exposure and organic presence than any other company. Due to the far reach of Verticalize.net, Hayes felt that they were a perfect fit for this partnership.

Any website publishers who are interested in placing the ObamaCare Price Quote Tool on their own website can obtain it by simply going to ObamacareTool.com or if they wish to obtain the version created for The Free Obamacare Guide they can do so by going to the following link. Obamacare Quote

FreeObamacareGuide.com is based out of West Palm Beach, Florida. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.

GOP's Chris Smith: Abortion Covered in Most Health Plans for Congress

December 5, 2013, 2:16 am

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More than 90 percent of health insurance plans offered to lawmakers and congressional staff cover abortion, an unforeseen consequence of a Republican amendment to President Barack Obama's health law.The disclosure Wednesday by abortion opponent Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J.,... Reported by Newsmax 6 hours ago.

1-800-MEDIGAP Analyzes Major Problem With Obamacare, That No One is Talking About and Is Working to Produce a Solution

December 5, 2013, 1:34 am

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The affordable health care act is here, and most Americans have no idea exactly what they have been sold. Many Americans are going to be shocked when they go to utilize their new healthcare plan and the provider tells them they are responsible for another $6350 - $12,700 (for a family) thanks to the "SKIN IN THE GAME" approach to health care.

(PRWEB) December 05, 2013

1-800-medigap.com
The media is all up in arms about the affordable healthcare act, reporting a 20% failure rate and another deadline missed. Although this is a major concern ,this is just smoke and mirrors to the bigger problem consumers will be facing when they go to utilize their plans. Many people believe that doctors will not take the new affordable healthcare plans, but this is not true. Doctors have bills and expenses just as any other American and will do what they have to do to be paid.

“SKIN IN THE GAME” is the problem, that may bankrupt many Americans in the future.
What is skin in the game you ask; it is the coinsurance a member will pay when utilizing many of the benefits covered by their new health care plan.This approach is designed to ensure members are contributing additional monies. The original thought is, if a procedure is really important to you, you will be willing to put some “skin in the game” to have it, if it is not as important to you, you may choose to wait or pick a different treatment options.

This may end up having an opposing affect, and the market will see people with HEALTH INSURANCE opting not to do procedures as it may cost them more than they are used to,be more than they have inn their family budgets, or they choose to have it and find themselves not able to pay it off in the long term. Healthcare bills are already one of the leading reasons people file bankruptcy in America, and it may only about to get worse.

However, co-insurance is not new. In fact, many insurance agents sell plans based on the amount of co-insurance a plan has. A plan with a 10% co insurance is typically more expensive than a 15% co insurance, but a plan with 30 and 40% co-insurance was one that not many people would purchase The basic affordable healthcare act plan, BRONZE, looks to have a 40% co-insurance, leaving a family exposed up to an additional $12,700 a year if they reach their utilization cap and meet the out-of-pocket max. 1-800-MEDIGAP is researching solutions to this major issue that affects many Americans.

Many insurance companies are already filling MEDICAL GAP INSURANCE (MEDIGAP) plans to start in 2014. These medical gap insurance plans (MEDIGAP) will be similar to the medicare supplement plans that retirees know as MEDIGAP plans. Our company is working with various components of the healthcare market to offer plans as a solution. These new medical gap plans will be designed to off-set the out-of-pocket exposure a plan member may be exposed to during the calendar year on their new plan.

Similar to their counter parts in the over 65 market, these plans may have increased benefits like:· Accidental Death
· Discounts
· Member Benefits & discounts
· Life insurance and more ….

Industry leader and founder of 1-800-MEDIGAP, Jeff Cine, states " the under 65 MEDIGAP enrollment process will start in early 2014, and we expect 60-80% adoption rate for plan members who are not used to the additional exposure they now heave on their new plans"

1-800-MEDIGAP is the nations toll free hotline for seniors looking for gap coverage for their medicare supplement plans, providing service and online tools 24 hours a day and live agent support 6 days a week. Visit 1-800-MEDIGAP.com for more information on medical gap insurance. Reported by PRWeb 6 hours ago.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Selects Inovalon's Health Insurance Exchange Services

December 5, 2013, 4:09 am

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BOWIE, Md., Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Inovalon, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven healthcare solutions, today announced that it will work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the largest health plan in Minnesota, to provide Inovalon's Health Insurance Exchange (HIX)... Reported by PR Newswire 4 hours ago.

Nasty Surprise May Await People Who Thought They Enrolled In Obamacare

December 5, 2013, 4:27 am

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Unresolved technical problems on HealthCare.gov could lead to a rude surprise at the doctor's office next month for patients who think they successfully used the website to sign up for health insurance. They may find they're not insured after all.

HealthCare.gov, the federal online portal for health-insurance shopping in more than 30 states, has improved after more than a month of intense fixes, and enrollment is accelerating. But insurance companies are still getting information on their would-be customers that is garbled and incomplete, and in some cases they are getting no information at all. President Barack Obama's administration is scrambling to repair the faulty system, but scant time remains until the Dec. 23 deadline for consumers to choose a health plan that will be in place Jan. 1.

The result could be an untold number of consumers remaining uninsured despite completing the enrollment process -- another embarrassing chapter in the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature health care reform law.

The Obama administration insists the enrollment glitches will be fixed in time to prevent any troubles next month, but won't disclose the extent of the problem. Nor will it guarantee that any patients who fall victim to these problems won't be exposed to medical bills if they get sick or injured.

"I doubt very seriously the insurance company or the government is going to say, 'Oh, don't worry, We'll take care of it.' I think that's going to fall solely on the patient," said Reid Blackwelder, a doctor in Kingsport, Tenn., who is president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "I wouldn't count on anybody else jumping in and bailing everybody out."

In an unusual joint press release on Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the largest national trade groups for insurers, America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, emphasized their collaboration in addressing the problem. “Ensuring that all Americans who need coverage are properly enrolled is a top priority for all of us. We are working together closely to resolve back-end issues between health plans and HealthCare.gov," the statement said. "We will report on our progress.”

Insurance companies could smooth over difficulties during the first month of new coverage by paying the expenses of people who believed they were enrolled. But that would subject the companies to potentially big costs for patients who get expensive services without having yet paid a premium, or who may not be their customers at all.

Moreover, insurers may be reluctant to bear the brunt of another technical failure after having already shouldered responsibility for fixing other Obamacare problems.

Insurers grumbled last month after Obama asked them to renew health policies that had been canceled for not meeting Obamacare standards. The White House has also proposed that insurers cover the cost of birth control for workers whose employers object on religious grounds. And the administration has delayed the launch of the payment system that will transfer government subsidies under Obamacare to insurance companies.

"You'd be counting on the goodwill of the insurance company. I'm not sure how long that's going to last," said Leslie Norwalk, who was a senior official at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President George W. Bush and is now strategic counsel at Epstein Becker Green in Washington.

Patients who show up at a doctor's office, hospital, pharmacy or elsewhere without insurance cards in hand will have to rely on the kindness of those providers, Timothy Jost, a professor at Washington & Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Va., wrote in an email.

"It is likely that there will be problems, probably a lot of them, with confirming coverage, but providers are used to dealing with insurer screw-ups and hopefully will be patient," Jost wrote.

HealthCare.gov users who go through the enrollment process to the end are prompted to connect with their new health insurance provider to make payments, which are due Dec. 31 for coverage that begins in January. Consumers who don't take action or believe they can wait for a bill from their insurance company could find themselves in the lurch next month, especially if the company has no record of their enrollment because of the technical problems.

The White House says it is incumbent on individuals to double-check that they have coverage.

"If consumers are not sure if they are enrolled, they should call our customer call center or the insurer of their choice so that they can be sure they’re covered by Jan. 1," White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday. The administration is reaching out by telephone and email to consumers who have begun or submitted applications via HealthCare.gov, in order to advise them of the steps they must take to confirm their enrollments.

Insurance companies receive daily uploads of data about new enrollees. Despite progress since Obamacare marketplaces launched on Oct. 1, as many as one-third of enrollments submitted through the federal system contain errors, The Washington Post reported on Monday.

The administration says that error rate isn't accurate, but won't reveal how many of the submissions -- called 834 forms -- are incorrect. The White House maintains that most of the problems have already been fixed and that the rest will be resolved in time to prevent hardships next month.

The George W. Bush administration faced a similar dilemma in January 2006, when the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit launched. Enrollees across the country visited drugstores only to find their benefits weren't in place.

"That was a point of crisis because every one of those became a story," said Michael Leavitt, who was Bush's secretary of Health and Human Services at the time.

A frenzied effort to guarantee patients' access to medications followed, while the Bush administration worked to correct the technical bugs, said Leavitt, now chairman of Salt Lake City-based Leavitt Partners, a consulting firm that has advised states on ACA implementation. "It became our problem with the system, not the consumer's problem," Leavitt said.

The Obama administration likewise needs to protect patients, Leavitt said.

"The federal government caused this, and they're the ones who are going to have to take responsibility for it," he said. "There's an obligation to make certain that people have not been seriously disadvantaged in their health by this."

Unlike during the Medicare Part D snafu, the Obama administration has no funding stream to tap to pay for medical expenses incurred by patients who encounter problems. Nevertheless, Leavitt predicted his successor, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, would take unilateral action to avoid a backlash, as the administration has on previous occasions.

"The secretary of health does not lack authority in this situation," he said. "I can't tell you the exact authority with which she would act, but you just look at the number of things they've already deferred and the way they've found flexibility, they're going find the authority."

*HuffPost readers:* Do you plan to try HealthCare.gov or a state-run health insurance exchange website in December? Tell us about your experience -- email jeffrey.young@huffingtonpost.com. Please include your phone number if you're willing to be interviewed. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.

Obama can’t use an iPhone even if he wants to – for ‘security reasons’

December 5, 2013, 6:03 am

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President Barack Obama on Wednesday said during a healthcare-related speech that he’s not allowed to use an iPhone for “security reasons,” with Reuters describing him as a “very loyal” BlackBerry customer. The point Obama made was that iPhone-related bills combined with cable bills may top $100 per month, which is more than what people will pay for health insurance under his new healthcare law. “Now my suspicion is that for a lot of you, between your cable bill and your phone bill, you’re spending more than $100 a month,” Obama said. “The idea that you wouldn’t want to make sure you’ve got the health security and financial security that comes with health insurance for less than that price, you guys Reported by Boy Genius Report 2 hours ago.

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11 Imaginary Republican Enemies That Could Give Bigfoot A Run For Its Money

December 5, 2013, 6:10 am

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There is no hard evidence that Bigfoot exists, but that hasn't kept cable television networks from feeding the American public shows happy to pretend it does. Same goes for Megalodon, a gargantuan prehistoric shark that the Discovery Channel claimed was still alive in a Shark Week "documentary," despite the fact that all scientific evidence suggests it has been extinct for more than a million years.

In this way, some Republicans have become the cable TV execs of lawmaking. From in-person voter fraud to fetus snacks, conservative politicians around the nation have aggressively pushed legislation focusing on things that don't really exist, at least not in the way they want you to believe they do. Like shows that promise to find Bigfoot (but never quite do), or "Megalodon: The Monster Shark That Lives" (but not really), the GOP's offerings might be laughable, if not for their far more serious consequences.

*Below, 11 Republican enemies that are about as real as Bigfoot:**1. Devious election thieves*

Supporters of controversial GOP-backed voter-identification measures that have cropped up around the nation regularly claim that such laws are needed to protect the integrity of elections, which they suggest is under constant attack by an onslaught of people attempting to commit voter fraud.

Nobody denies that protecting elections is important, but voter-ID laws claim to do so by focusing on a largely nonexistent threat. In-person voter fraud, which could be deterred by forcing voters to show various forms of identification, just isn't an issue. Since 2000, there have only been 10 recorded cases of voter impersonation. With 3,313 Bigfoot sightings in 92 years, you're far more likely to spot a Sasquatch than witness in-person voter fraud.The name's Harry Henderson and I'm here to vote Democratic.
*2. Gay couples trying to ruin your straight marriage*

Allowing same-sex couples to get married does exactly nothing to the bonds formed by straight nuptials. And if, against all odds, gay marriage somehow does ruin your marriage, we hate to break it to you, but you and your spouse's problems extended far beyond a shared desire to deny marriage equality to gay people."All your beaus are belong to us."
*3. Creeping Sharia*

Wait. Did you hear that? Oh sure, it could have been nothing -- but it also could have been Islamic fundamentalists seeking to implement their religious laws in an effort to slowly seize control of the nation from the inside!

I'm crazy?!?! Crazy like a fox!This increasingly institutionalized brand of Islamophobia has come into favor in the past five years, manifesting itself in a variety of ways around the political arena. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has been a vocal proponent of this paranoid crusade, warning against what she's painted as a dangerous Muslim influence in the Obama administration and local court systems around the nation. Republican lawmakers have also sought to address this supposed threat -- of which there has yet to be any evidence -- with legislation designed to prevent religious law (read: Sharia) from being considered in court.

With all of this in mind, perhaps it's fitting that Bachmann often sounds like someone trying to explain their alleged Bigfoot sighting.*4. Taxpayer-funded abortions*

Under the Hyde Amendment, taxpayer dollars can't go toward abortion services, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Despite its illegality under federal law, the term "taxpayer-funded abortion" has been tossed around by anti-abortion activists for years, frequently under the guise that these procedures are a regular occurrence that must be stopped.

Taxpayer-funded abortions don't exist, however, and some have argued that millions of women are at risk because of the refusal to allow these services to be covered by public insurance plans. In many states, conservatives have enacted additional harsh restrictions on abortion coverage in private insurance plans as well. In the most extreme cases, women aren't able get abortion coverage through either public or private health insurance plans, even in cases of rape or incest.

While some insurance plans offered through certain federal or state exchanges do cover abortions, that part of the insurance is covered by a separate rider, making the plans compliant with the Hyde Amendment.*5. ACORN*

ACORN was a community anti-poverty organization tasked with registering voters and lobbying for affordable health care and housing. We use the word "was" because it doesn't exist anymore. It folded in 2010 after being targeted by a GOP-led assault launched in response to a heavily edited, but nonetheless devastating, undercover-investigation documentary by conservative provocateur James O'Keefe, who posed as a pimp for the project.This is how real pimps dress, right?
The fact that ACORN is defunct hasn't gotten it removed from the GOP's list of enemies. House Republicans have voted to defund the already defunded organization more than 10 times since it disbanded. The threat ACORN poses to society is quite literally imaginary, but some people apparently didn't get the memo.*6. "The War on Christmas"*

It's that time of year again, when conservatives and Fox News -- and especially Sarah Palin -- are getting ready to pounce on any suggestion that politically correct liberals might be encroaching on your freedom to loudly celebrate consumerist Christmas without giving a shit about other religions, or the separation of church and state.

This is what Santa thinks about *your* holiday!Texas launched a preemptive strike in this "war" earlier this year, when Gov. Rick Perry (R) signed the "Merry Christmas" bill. The measure allows public school teachers to use holiday-specific greetings and imagery in their classrooms, as long as the winter displays include more than one religion or secular symbols.

While teachers groups panned the effort as a waste of time designed to address a nonexistent problem, other states sought to build on the momentum with legislation of their own. Tennessee and Alabama have both considered similar bills, though neither has made it very far.*7. Pop-Tart gun control*

When 7-year-old Maryland boy Josh Welch got suspended from school for two days after chewing his Pop Tart into the shape of a gun earlier this year, Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) knew he had to act.

You call that a gun?Stockman responded by introducing the Student Protection Act, a bill that sounded hard to disagree with. It was designed block federal funds for any school that enforced rules punishing students who played with imaginary weapons. Welch's punishment was surely idiotic, but was it really the type of isolated idiocy that needed to be fixed with federal legislation? No. No, it wasn't.*8. Drug-addled takers*

Republicans across the nation and in Congress have championed legislation that would require applicants for welfare, food stamps and unemployment benefits to submit to drug testing. While the public would rather see the lawmakers themselves get drug tested, the legislative push against people on government programs is seemingly operating on the assumption that most of them are just a bunch of lazy, drug-abusing moochers.

This is how Republicans want you to see welfare recipients.Interestingly enough, however, the legislators themselves haven't really tried to make that argument, and when they have, they've largely turned to anecdotal evidence and hearsay in the absence of concrete studies that suggest people on public assistance are actually more prone to drug abuse.

In 2012, a study of Florida's welfare drug testing program, since used as a model for a number of other states, found that it had been a failure. Only 2.6 percent of the state's welfare applicants failed their tests, most commonly because of marijuana use. Because the state was required to pay for all of the passed tests, it ended up netting a loss of $118,140 on the initiative. In Utah, a similar program caught only 12 drug users. Proponents argued that more had dropped out of the application process, likely because they were drug users who were afraid they'd fail the test.

While people who use drugs while on public assistance aren't entirely a figment of Republican imaginations, there isn't a reason to believe there is the sort of epidemic that many complain about. They, like Bigfoot, have become a bogeyman that serves as more of a perceived threat than a real one.*9. Socialist Muslim Obama and his Kenyan birthplace*

President Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, which, for anyone that might still be confused, is a part of the United States.Speak American, ya damn islands!
During Obama's first term, Republicans across the nation were giddy to jab the nation's first black president with suggestions that he was a foreigner and therefore illegitimate. Republican state lawmakers in a number of states pushed initiatives determined to force any candidate (read: Obama) to provide "an original long-form birth certificate" to get on the ballot. Obama eventually released his, a ridiculous move that did very little to get his critics to take off their tinfoil hats.

And if the deliberate refusal to accept Obama as an American isn't enough, Republicans have gone the extra mile to insist that Obama is a secret Muslim. For many, the president's religion doesn't really matter, but according to his own words and practices, Obama is a Christian. That hasn't convinced all Republicans, however, as polling has showed that around a third of those on the right are still convinced Obama practices Islam. And for those who still maintain that he's some sort of Socialist, we encourage you to consult real Socialists.*10. Fetus snacks*

In 2012, a GOP state lawmaker in Oklahoma introduced legislation designed to ban aborted human fetuses in food. It would have been a pretty sensible idea, if there had actually been any evidence of fetuses being included in food in the first place. He said he'd based the bill on an article he'd read online and apparently misinterpreted. The misguided legislation thankfully went nowhere.*11. Human-animal hybrids*

A few years back, Republicans concerned that scientists were keen on creating half-men-half-monkeys pushed a number of state laws banning human-animal hybrids. The laws enacted broad restrictions on scientific research, most forms of which weren't being practiced anywhere, much less in the United States. While some forms of DNA mixing have been used in various stem-cell experiments for therapeutic purposes, the apparent fear of a full-fledged hybrid monster of any sort was never real.

Cable TV is also fond of pretending that human-animal hybrids exist. Animal Planet released a pair of fake mermaid documentaries earlier this year, deliberately misleading viewers into believing that there was actually any evidence whatsoever of the mythical creatures' existence. There wasn't, but that didn't stop the network from pulling in huge viewership numbers.

*
And hey, why let the truth get in the way of a good piece of bullshit?
* Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.

All Web Leads, Inc. Reports 134 Percent Increase in Health Insurance Search Volume in October

December 5, 2013, 6:03 am

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Consumers Increasingly Searching for Affordable Care Act-Compliant and Subsidized Health Insurance Plans from Private Providers

Austin, TX (PRWEB) December 05, 2013

All Web Leads, Inc., a leading online sales lead generation company serving the U.S. insurance industry, today released data revealing that the volume of healthcare search leads across their platform increased 134 percent during the first week of October compared to one month prior tied to the launch of HealthCare.gov. The results point to a trend that consumers are increasingly looking to private insurance websites that offer ACA-compliant and subsidized coverage options.

In addition to an increase in the total volume of healthcare search leads, the following key themes were revealed:

The percentage of uninsured individuals seeking insurance is growing:· As of November 30, 2013, 79 percent of customers seeking health insurance via All Web Leads’ network of sites have been qualified as uninsured, representing a 2.9 percent increase year-over-year and the largest portion of uninsured customers that All Web Leads has ever witnessed.

· From September to October 2013, the percentage of uninsured individuals within the 18 – 34 year age group looking for health insurance grew 50.1 percent. During the same period, uninsured individuals in the 45 – 64 year age group grew 132.5 percent, indicating that there are more uninsured consumers in the older age brackets looking for insurance than the younger age brackets.

Individuals with major pre-existing conditions are increasingly seeking coverage options:

· From August to October 2013, the percentage of individuals with major pre-existing conditions seeking insurance rose 35.5 percent from 3.1 percent to 4.2 percent. The increase can be attributed to the Affordable Care Act’s provision that consumers cannot be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions.

· Leads from individuals with any pre-existing health conditions (including major) increased 32 percent. This population typically makes up 10 percent of All Web Leads’ leads, and from August to October 2013, the percentage rose to 13.2 percent.

“With widespread confusion in the market regarding the impact of the Affordable Care Act and the issues surrounding Healthcare.gov, it comes as no surprise that consumers are increasingly looking to the private sector for ACA-compliant coverage options,” said Bill Daniel, CEO, All Web Leads. “We will continue to give consumers peace-of-mind by directing them to insurance providers that can provide coverage that meets their specific needs.”

For more information about All Web Leads, please visit: http://www.allwebleads.com.

About All Web Leads
Founded in 2005, All Web Leads (http://www.allwebleads.com) is a leading online sales lead provider for the U.S. insurance industry. The company delivers real-time, targeted, high-quality sales leads to top insurance producers. All Web Lead’s technology-driven approach to online marketing helps bring together agents with qualified customers who are actively searching online for insurance products. The company's award-winning insurance lead programs, All Web Leads and InsuranceLeads.com, lead the industry in conversion, qualification and volume according to recent surveys. The company is headquartered in Austin, TX. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation Hosts a Subrogation Seminar at NCOIL Annual Meeting

December 5, 2013, 6:03 am

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Policymakers gain enhanced understanding of key subrogation components.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) December 05, 2013

The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation conducted a “Subrogation: Demystifying the Recovery Process” workshop during the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) 2013 Annual Meeting, held November 21 in Nashville, Tenn.

The session, led by Robert W. Peterson, JD, professor of law at Santa Clara University, provided policymakers with an enhanced understanding of the key components of subrogation and its role in the insurance marketplace.

The Griffith Foundation has been partnering with NCOIL since 2008, when they created the NCOIL Institute for Insurance Policy. This collaborative educational effort allows The Griffith Foundation to share its knowledge resources with NCOIL members through seminars and workshops on key risk management and insurance issues.·     Legislators who attend multiple workshops can earn the Associate Insurance Policymaker (AIP) or Chartered Insurance Policymaker (CIP) certificate and are honored at a recognition ceremony at NCOIL’s Annual Meeting. At this year’s meeting, eight attendees received the AIP certificate, and seven attendees received the CIP certificate: Associate Insurance Policymaker certificate (AIP): Sen. Rosalynn Baker of Hawaii, Sen. Bill Brown of Oklahoma, Rep. Romy Cachola of Hawaii, Rep. Lindsey Holmes of Alaska, Sen. Deloris Kelley of Maryland, Sen. Gerald Long of Louisiana, Sen. Jason Rapert of Arkansas, and Sen. Dan Seum of Kentucky.

·     Chartered Insurance Policymaker certificate (CIP): Rep. Greg Cromer of Louisiana, Rep. Donald Flanders of New Hampshire, Sen. Mike Hall of West Virginia, Sen. Jerry Klein of North Dakota, Rep. Matt Lehman of Indiana, Rep. Dan Morrish of Louisiana, and Sen. David O’Connell of North Dakota

“The workshop provided valuable information on how subrogation affects the property-casualty and health insurance marketplaces,” said Alabama state Representative and NCOIL president Greg Wren. “Workshops like this are very informative, and I will be able to use this resource in my legislative duties.”

To learn more about the NCOIL Institute, visit http://www.griffithfoundation.org/NCOIL.

About The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation
The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit educational organization that promotes the study and teaching of risk management and all lines of insurance through educational programs targeting students and public policymakers. The Griffith Foundation is affiliated with The Institutes, the leader in delivering proven knowledge solutions that drive powerful business results for the risk management and property-casualty insurance industry. For more information, visit http://www.griffithfoundation.org.    

About the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL)
NCOIL is an organization of state legislators whose main area of public policy interest is insurance legislation and regulation. Most legislators active in NCOIL either chair or are members of the committees responsible for insurance legislation in their respective state houses across the country. More information is available at http://www.ncoil.org.
### Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency Unveils Custom Virtual Insurance Office and New Digital Marketing Campaign

December 5, 2013, 6:03 am

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Local Ann Arbor-based agency hopes the move will expand its reach as it continues offering comprehensive insurance solutions to Michigan residents and businesses.

Ann Arbor, MI (PRWEB) December 05, 2013

Michigan-based Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency is excited to announce the launch of its new website and interactive digital marketing campaign. This new and improved way of marketing is designed to advance the way the agency connects with, markets to, and serves its community.

Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency has partnered with Astonish—an insurance digital marketing, technology, and sales training company that specializes in modernizing the way the local insurance industry does business—to create an innovative, new online marketing strategy. The agency’s new marketing strategy features an exclusive Virtual Insurance Office, or “VIO,” meant to improve consumer engagement as well as provide the visitor with a personalized experience. The Astonish campaign is also designed to help the agency both find and keep new, prospective clients while continuing to broaden the agency’s reach throughout Ann Arbor and Dexter, as well as across the whole state of Michigan.

The agency’s new website, http://www.finnsins.com, features pages divided into separate categories, making it simple for online insurance shoppers to find exactly what they need. The ultimate goal is to make the online shopping experience both simple and educational for prospective and current clients.

For customers looking for personal insurance, such as auto or homeowner’s insurance, the shopping process has become much easier with the VIO. Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency also specializes in Life & Health Insurance products, with many options to choose from. The agency is also happy to provide customers with innovative and comprehensive business insurance coverage. With the attitude to serve their clients as friends and family—not just as “customers”—Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency is hoping this new online marketing and branding strategy will make the agency more accessible and easier to do business with than ever before.

The agents at Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency are devoted to building long-lasting relationships with the Michigan community, while providing comprehensive and affordable insurance solutions—with a personal touch—for individuals and businesses throughout the area. To be a part of the agency’s exciting development, fill out a free quote form online or get social with the agents on Facebook and Twitter. Those interested can also give the agency a call by dialing 888-285-6582 or a visit at the Ann Arbor or Dexter offices. Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency is excited to move forward with this digital initiative and looks forward to sharing the excitement and experience with the community!

About Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency:
Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency believes that insurance coverage shouldn’t be a hassle, and customers should be treated like friends and family. With home base offices in Ann Arbor and Dexter, Michigan, the agency’s professional agents are happy to serve clients and help them find the right personal and business insurance products that meet their unique needs and goals. Emphasizing educational, friendly, fun, and dedicated service, Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency has built its business on providing clients throughout Michigan with affordable, high-quality, and flexible insurance solutions that leave their customers satisfied. To learn more about becoming part of the family, call Finn’s JM&J Insurance Agency today at 888-285-6582. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on Benefits of Individual Insurance

December 5, 2013, 7:02 am

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Reasons Why Individual Health Insurance is Superior to Group Health Insurance

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) December 05, 2013

Today, Zane Benefits, the number one online small business health benefits solution, published new information on the benefits of individual insurance.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, individual health insurance is a superior way for small businesses to offer health insurance coverage to employees.

With individual health insurance, employees choose the coverage and doctors that best fits their family's needs. No more one-size-fits-all health plans. Individual plans are categorized by four standard levels of coverage called "metallic tiers" to make it easy to compare options. Employees own their policy and purchase the policy directly.

On average, individual health insurance plans cost 20% less than traditional group health insurance, and many employees are eligible for "discounts" for individual plans purchased in the Health Insurance Marketplaces.

Individual health policies are superior to group coverage for all employees because they are permanent and portable, independent of employment. As a result, there is no more need for expensive, temporary COBRA.

Group health insurance is inferior because you have an employer picking a one-size-fits-all plan for employees and families with very different needs.

Employer group policies may only be held by a company's employees. When an employee terminates employment, their family loses coverage unless they elect COBRA.

Because of the new advantages of individual health insurance, many businesses are using a pure defined contribution approach paired with individual health insurance to offer employees health benefits. With this type of approach, the business offers employees a health insurance allowance that employees can spend on purchasing individual health insurance. The business still offers employee benefits that achieve recruiting and retention goals, but they get out of the business of selecting and purchasing group health insurance.

Click here to read the full article.

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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHealth") for defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to small businesses and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about Zane Benefits, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 48 minutes ago.

Here's The Other Huge Problem With The Obamacare Website That The Obama Administration Doesn't Want To Talk About

December 5, 2013, 7:48 am

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The Obama administration has spent the last few days touting progress and fixes to HealthCare.gov, the federal health exchange website that has been plagued by dysfunction for most of the two-plus months it's been online.

But a significant, lingering problem on the back end of the site is still causing complications for insurance companies. And it could provide a rude awakening next month for consumers who thought they purchased a plan through HealthCare.gov.

At issue are "834s," the enrollment forms sent to insurance companies after a customer enrolls in a plan. Glitches on the site have led to garbled, incomplete, or missing forms. The Washington Post reported Monday night that the issue has affected about one-third of customers. The White House disputed the number, but did not offer one of their own.

In fact, the White House has been mostly reluctant to talk about the issue, beyond acknowledging that it's a major problem and pledging to fix the issue. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services holds a conference call with reporters daily to provide operational updates on the website. For the past three days, it has stonewalled reporters asking questions about the back-end enrollment issues. 

Julie Bataille, a CMS spokeswoman, said Monday that CMS had fixed "one bug" that was responsible for about 80% of the 834 enrollment errors. The bug, she said, prevented a Social Security number from being included in the form.

But she wouldn't say how many people had been affected, and did not disclose any other "bugs" or errors being worked on. On the conference call, three different reporters asked for hard numbers. Three times, she said she couldn't provide those numbers — even though, as one of the reporters noted, if the administration fixed 80% of the errors with one bug, it should be able to do the remaining math. "That's the information I've got today," she said at the end of the third reporter's question on the back-end enrollment issues.

Bataille went on to say that customers should check with their insurance companies to confirm that they have enrolled. She also pledged that the administration would make a "concerted effort" to help consumers on the "next steps."

Wednesday's conference call was more of the same. And late Wednesday evening, the CMS released an unusual joint statement with America’s Health Insurance Plans, an insurance industry trade group, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The statement promised progress reports to come, but it didn't offer any specifics of the issue. 

The full statement:

“Ensuring that all Americans who need coverage are properly enrolled is a top priority for all of us. We are working together closely to resolve back-end issues between health plans and HealthCare.gov. This is a very focused effort that is being driven by a team of experts from CMS, key outside contractors working closely with health plan representatives and overseen by CMS’s general contractor, Optum/QSSI. We will report on our progress.”

More people signed up through the federal site on Monday and Tuesday than did in the entire month of November. Over the past three days, the site has seen more than 2.7 million visits. The key question is whether this increasing success with the site's front-end will be matched with back-end fixes to ensure that enrollments work correctly.

Join the conversation about this story »

 
 
 
  Reported by Business Insider 2 minutes ago.

Zappix Customer Care App Expands Support of Massachusetts Companies

December 5, 2013, 7:53 am

≫ Next: ObamaCare Raises Health Insurance Costs, Especially For The Young

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Zappix makes it easier to call customer service of many Massachusetts-based companies providing a Visual Smartphone IVR experience and multi-channel customer care options.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) December 05, 2013

Zappix, the developer of the popular and free customer service mobile app, announces the expansion of Massachusetts-based companies featured in the Zappix app. Users can now get to customer care of their favorite MA companies via Facebook, Twitter, Email in addition to placing calls by visually navigating customer service options. Zappix provides this customer service mobile “Super Directory” app to consumers via an iPhone (iOS) and Android app; users can call, tweet or Facebook with MA-based companies via multiple means as a service that will be maintained and further enhanced to provide convenient and intuitive experience for consumers.

Through the Zappix multi-channel customer service app, customers can now reach customer care within the top MA based companies in many categories, for example:
Retail (Staples, Marshalls), Insurance (MassDrive, Commerce Insurance, Liberty Mutual), Health Insurance (AthenaHealth, Harvard Pilgrim), Transportation (MBTA, E-ZPass MA, Logan Airport), City Halls (Boston, Cambridge, Worcester), Newspapers (The Boston Globe, Boston Herald), Hospitals (Beth Israel, MGH, Brigham and Women’s) Local utilities (National Grid), and even local politicians such as Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Edward Markey.

“Zappix’s Visual Smartphone IVR provides users with visual access to customer service,” said Zappix President and CEO Amol Joshi. “Compared to audio-only prompts, the Zappix application’s intuitive smart menus provide a significantly faster connection to the right agent the first time. In addition we support automated customer self-service options for companies that are working with us to transform their mobile customer care.”

“Customers dislike calling customer service, and getting stuck in a maze of options. Zappix cuts the time it takes to get to the right agent by 80% and gets them to the right destination by using their Smartphone display. Zappix also provides alternative multi-channel customer care contact options - such as email, Twitter & Facebook,” said Gal Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing for Zappix. Steinberg added. “Our goal is to provide companies with a convenient and quick way to offer an enhanced multi-channel customer service experience to their customers without replacing their existing infrastructure, the result is that in days they can add a visual customer service meta-layer through the Zappix app without changing their current contact-center systems.”

Zappix is available for download from the app store - Zappix for iPhone and Google Play - Zappix for Android or from the Zappix website.

More About Zappix
The Zappix cloud-based multi-channel cross-OS mobile customer support solution enables companies to deliver and maintain a visual, intuitive customer care experience on mobile devices without making changes to their current contact-center infrastructure.

The Zappix solution has grown rapidly to support hundreds of companies that provide consumers a streamlined way to reach customer service through a Smartphone visual IVR and mobile self service options. The continually expanding list of Zappix-supported organizations includes insurance companies, utility companies, pharmacies, banks, internet and mobile service providers, retailers, airlines and government agencies.

For more information about Zappix, contact Gal Steinberg, Vice President of Customer Experience at 781.214.8124; gal.steinberg(at)zappix(dot)com.

Other ways to contact Zappix:
Visit Zappix on the web at Zappix.com.
Follow Zappix via Twitter: @izappix.
Follow Zappix via Facebook http://www.facebook.com/zappixapp.

Today's announcement by Zappix, Inc. was featured at an event with Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick and Massachusetts and Israeli business leaders at MassChallenge in Boston. The event included the release of important findings by the New England Israel Business Council that describes the multi-billion dollar impact of Israeli-founded companies on Massachusetts and their role as a critical growth engine for the Massachusetts economy, as well as the extraordinary spirit of collaboration and innovation that exists between Massachusetts and Israel.  A whitepaper that details the research findings, titled “The Massachusetts-Israel Economic Relationship, 2nd Edition” is available at http://www.neibc.org. Reported by PRWeb 4 minutes ago.

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ObamaCare Raises Health Insurance Costs, Especially For The Young

December 5, 2013, 9:14 am

≫ Next: You’re the Boss Blog: An Owner Figures Out How to Save on His Health Insurance

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The Affordable Care Act has dramatically increased the cost of buying a health insurance plan in California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Georgia, and North Carolina that account for more than half of America's uninsured adults, according to a study by Sector & Sovereign, a sell-side firm that focuses on advising investors what sectors to put their money in. Reported by Forbes.com 23 hours ago.

You’re the Boss Blog: An Owner Figures Out How to Save on His Health Insurance

December 5, 2013, 8:09 pm

≫ Next: More useful HealthCare.gov tips, with screen shots

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With a Dec. 15 deadline approaching, a small-business owner thinks he has cracked the code on understanding the new health insurance rates — and found a way to save tens of thousands of dollars on his next plan. Reported by NYTimes.com 12 hours ago.

More useful HealthCare.gov tips, with screen shots

December 5, 2013, 1:12 pm

≫ Next: Clinics Provide Health Care Enrollment Help

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*More useful HealthCare.gov tips, with screen shots*

After the long-overdue addition of a window shopping feature, HealthCare.gov has continued to make improvements so fast it’s hard to keep up. One is that they’re putting out advice that’s actually useful to consumers—with screen shots to make the whole thing more intelligible.

One example, from blog post yesterday from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a screenshot of what you will see when and if you get through the whole process and actually select a plan. It’s pictured at the top of the page.

That big orange box may look like an error message, but it’s not. It lets you know that you’re not officially insured until you pay your first month’s premium to your chosen insurance company in time to be received and processed by the effective date of coverage. Translation: do this ASAP.

When you click on the green “PAY FOR HEALTH PLAN” link, you will be taken away from HealthCare.gov and onto the insurer’s site, explained Tasha Bradley, an HHS spokeswoman. There you will see instructions on when your payment is due and how to make it. If you are in doubt about whether you’re truly enrolled, HHS advises calling the insurance company to double-check.

When you click on the green “PAY FOR HEALTH PLAN” link, you will be taken away from HealthCare.gov and onto the insurer’s site, explained Tasha Bradley, an HHS spokeswoman. There you will see instructions on when your payment is due and how to make it. If you are in doubt about whether you’re truly enrolled, HHS advises calling the insurance company to double-check.

Another big deal is the creation of a “reset” button that allows you to erase an old application that may have become irretrievably stuck in electronic limbo, and start over (see the image at the bottom of the the page. Here are instructions, from the same blog: 

1. After logging in, select the application in process and hit the “REMOVE” link, as shown in the image below.

2. Close and re-open your browser.

3.  Log in again and start a new application.

Got a question for our health insurance expert? Ask it here; be sure to include the state you live in. And if you can't get enough health insurance news here, follow me on Twitter @NancyMetcalf.

*Health reform countdown: We are doing an article a day on the new health care law until Jan. 1, 2014, when it takes full effect. (Read the previous posts in the series.) To get health insurance advice tailored to your situation, use our Health Law Helper, below.*

*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.*

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Update your feed preferences Reported by Consumer Reports 19 hours ago.

Clinics Provide Health Care Enrollment Help

December 5, 2013, 6:43 pm

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The debate over the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, continues. But the White House says improvements to the website have dramatically boosted enrollment. In some places, trained counselors are helping people navigate the website and they also help enrollees understand how such insurance works. Most Americans get their health insurance through their employers. But, despite being employed, Marcela Gonzalez does not have health insurance. She is seeking help at a Houston clinic... Reported by VOA News 14 hours ago.

Nitin Chhoda Released New Information on How EMR System Streamlines Private Practice

December 6, 2013, 1:04 am

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Private practices are streamlined when it adopts a multi-faceted approach to running a physical therapy EMR. International private practice marketing and EMR expert, Nitin Chhoda, gives the latest details in using EMR system as it streamlines the physical therapy management so that practice owners will have continuous revenue.

Denville, NJ (PRWEB) December 06, 2013

“While practice management focuses on the processes that support the delivery of care, health business management focuses on the business of medicine. Whatever the case may be, a private practice must be a business first and foremost, if it is to survive,” said Nitin Chhoda.

He added that practitioners are also business entrepreneurs and their practices are for profit enterprises as well. However, most of the time, they are not recognized or treated as such. Chhoda shares the following factors how a physical therapy EMR system can streamline the practice that will be able to monitor the practice’ revenue status.

Appointments
In every open appointment slot each day, there should be a patient coming in to the clinic. Having an automated system makes this process easier to achieve. With the latest technological advances, scheduling has evolved so that filling slots is easier and tracking patient visits becomes automated.

Automatic Scheduling and Documentation
Chhoda said that the responsible physical therapy management staff must take the time to look over the schedule and pull the correct records each day. This entire process can be automated and streamlined with the latest EMR technology.

Billing
According to Chhoda, providing the correct and updated physical therapy documentation as well as having the ability to collect of payments from payer, whether as self-paid or with their health insurance company, is the key to successful practice operation.

Marketing Capabilities
Chhoda noted that marketing the practice is also very important as patients move through the system. Encouraging referrals from current patients should be part of the healthcare practice management plan. Without good marketing, it will be hard to keep the therapists’ schedule full.

By realizing the important connections of these four factors in a practice which an EMR system can do, physical therapy management is more has efficient and effective.

Chhoda’s office can be reached by phone at 201-535-4475. For more information, visit the website at http://www.emrnews.com.

About Nitin Chhoda

Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and an entrepreneur. He is the author of "Physical Therapy Marketing For The New Economy" and "Marketing for Physical Therapy Clinics" and is a prolific speaker, writer and creator of products and systems to streamline medical billing and coding, electronic medical records, health care practice management and marketing to increase referrals. He has been featured in numerous industry magazines, major radio and broadcast media, and is the founder of Referral Ignition training systems and the annual Private Practice Summit. Chhoda speaks extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and Asia. He is also the creator of the Therapy Newsletter and Clinical Contact, both web-based services to help private practices improve communication with patients, delivery better quality of care and boost patient retention. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.