Pride & Prejudice

Our company is running a fantastic promotion this month. And even without a promotion, our company provides services and products that everyone needs at an affordable cost. We're different from most home based businesses because we don't sell lotions, potions, etc. There is no cold calling, no at home parties. Heck, we can do all our marketing on the Internet if we choose.

So why do people turn their noses up at us?  I really don't have a clue.

The last two weeks I've been told that "I don't need health care discounts, I need real insurance" or "I can go to the local dental college to save money" or I've been given what I call 'the wall.' The minute I talk about what my company offers I swear I can feel the temperature drop in the room.  There seems to be such a stigma when it comes to health care discount companies. Most people think if 'I can't get it through my job or pay for it privately,' then it's just no good and that is so not true!

Let's face it, insurance is a racket. The best product goes to the healthiest not the highest bidder. In other words, the healthier you are, the lower your premiums. But what happens to your coverage when you get older? Or have children? Get sick or injured? Well, my friend, you're no better than racing horses and you know what happen to those poor creatures once they are past their prime. What happens to you? Your rates go up or you get cancelled. You may be able to afford the higher premiums, but your money is no good there. Your options are few, but not dismal (i.e. COBRA.) There is another way, but many people aren't willing to take that risk because they are afraid it won't measure up to the glory of big insurance companies.

A wise man once said pride goes before a fall.  Are you willing to let your pride get in the way of an opportunity to save hundreds and possible thousands of dollars because you are comfortable with someone sitting in an ivory tower determining your self worth and who cares nothing about you or the welfare of your family?  Or are you just too lazy to do your own research to find better ways to take care of yourself and loved ones?

I'm not trying to sell you anything, I'm just trying to get you to see other possibilities. There are a lot of affordable, legitimate options to traditional insurance out there. You do have a choice. Shop around, talk to someone who uses discount health care services, saturate yourself with knowledge and then make an educated decision.

Chris Rock, one of my favorite comedians, made a joke about insurance once. He said they should call it what it is, Just In Case Something Happens, because that's what it really is. It is there to take care of unforeseeable situations. Unless you live in a bubble, you are going to get sick, it's not a matter of if, but when. When it happens, where will you go? Who will you talk to? Most importantly, how much will it cost you? Will you have to meet a deductible before they see you and after you've met the deductible, how much will you owe the provider after the insurance company decides how much they are going to pay? How many claims will you have to file? How many times will those claims get rejected? Is anyone sick of this yet? That's a lot on your plate to digest and who thinks about food when they're sick? I know I don't.

Do you hear that? I think it's the sound of fingers hitting keys in search of alternatives to insurance.

Bonnie works for Ameriplan as a Benefits Specialist. To find out what AmeriPlan can do for you, visit her website http://www.everyonebenefits.com/bonnieannprice

Dental Discounts, Unchained

mrsprice71010 Profile  Check out our March Madness promotion! For $9 you can provide your family with dental, chiropractic, vision, and prescription coverage, visit http://bonnieapricebp.wix.com/dentaldiscountdiva

The New Discrimination

February is Black History Month, a time we celebrate and reflect on those who sacrificed their lives to make sure other generations have the right to sit where they wanted, become what they wanted, and vote for who they wanted.  The Civil Rights movement was born because people of color were tired of being treated like second class citizens. They were tired of the discrimination and they did something about it. Discrimination is described in the dictionary as prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discrimination>.

When it comes to the world of health care discrimination takes on a different meaning. Discrimination of those seeking quality health care goes something like this; the act, practice, or an instance of discriminating categorically rather than individually <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discrimination>.

As an at home agent for a health care discount company, a huge part of my day is listening to people talk about their health care issues. I haven't been in the business long, but the stories are starting to sound the same already. Many of them either can't afford to purchase their own health care because the price is too high, can't afford the benefits their companies offer because doing so would take a huge portion of their paychecks, or can't afford health care because they are disqualified for preexisting conditions. I hear the latter on a daily basis. People who can't get insurance because of a preexisting condition is pure discrimination. Saying that a person doesn't qualify is the equivalent of saying a person isn't welcome in an organization because they aren't the right color. It's DISCRIMINATION!

I spoke to a person the other day. I will call her "Mary." Mary had gastric bypass surgery and lost over 140 pounds. Mary is healthier, doesn't need anymore medications, and has lowered her blood pressure. Mary told me she couldn't get health insurance because of the surgery that saved her life. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have any  information that would support or even justify why that company disqualified her. I just know in my heart it's wrong.

Mary was truly frustrated and I understood how she felt. I was diagnosed in late 2011 with congested heart failure. I have health insurance through my husband's job but when it came time to re-enroll for health and life benefits, my husband and I decided we wanted to increase our life insurance policy. We were turned down because of my health condition.

This country has fought about health care over the last four years more than any time I can remember. Whether you are for Obamacare or not, we cannot deny that it is something that needs to be handled. A person's value should not be hinged on their income or their personal health. Our neighbors in Canada seemed to have figured it out. I've watched film maker's Michael Moore film "Bowling for Columbine" quite a few times. I can't help to feel a little green with envy every I see the segment about health care. People can walk into a hospital or doctor's office, get treatment, and never have to worry about how they are going to pay that bill.

Here's a little extra for you in case you didn't know. Last April, the FHA made it possible for you to be declined an FHA loan if you have past due medical bills on your credit report. So now, first time home buyers can't buy a home if they have past due medical bills on their credit report.

Does this sound crazy to anyone?

I wish I had some kind of answer to all of this, but I don't. I imagine the leaders during the Civil Rights era didn't have all the answers either. They just knew something was wrong and something had to be done about it. It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but they got the job done. The plans weren't elaborate either. The Montgomery Boycott that went on for over a year brought the busing company to their knees. Since they didn't want to give them the right to sit where they wanted, they decided not to sit at all. That simple act of defiance cost that industry millions and the bus company caved.

Imagine where health care would be if we decided to not purchase their expensive plans or put up with their thinly disguised rules. Actually that time is already here, it's called AmeriPlan. I'm not here to say AmeriPlan will solve all your problems, but it is a blessing to many who can't afford health coverage for their families and for those who can't get health care because of preexisting conditions. AmeriPlan is available in every state except Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. We accept all preexisting conditions and have one set fee for your entire household. AmeriPlan has over 500,000 providers in their network. If your current provider does not participate in the plan, our corporate office can send information to your provider to get him/her connected.  For more information, check out my website.

Let's make history and show the big insurance companies that we deserve and can do better.

Bonnie is a Benefits Specialist with AmeriPlan. For more information about AmeriPlan and the healthcare packages visit her website at http://www.benefitsplus.com/bonnieannprice

A message to John Q. Critic about AmeriPlan

I remember when I got my first real job. I was so proud and relieved. I just spent six months unemployed, almost got kicked out of my apartment, and I escaped a volatile relationship. Things were finally turning around. I was going to start making money, I could catch up on bills and I finally had insurance.

Now why was I relieved to have health insurance?

For starters, I grew up in a poor environment. Our family was on assistance, we lived in a housing project, and we were basically living from hand to mouth. If anyone of us got sick, it just made things worse. If we were sick, we had to call a cab to get the hospital because ambulances were too expensive. We had to wait in the emergency room lobby until a doctor came to see us which took about twelve hours. We had to walk home sometimes because we didn't have enough money to take a cab back home. My having insurance with my job meant I could choose the doctor I wanted to see, pay a co-pay, and not wait twelve hours to see a doctor. I still had to catch a bus to get there, but it was better than paying a cab :)

Insurance was great. Sure it took a huge chunk of my pay check every month, but compared to what I grew up with, I was glad to pay the cost.

Then I had a baby.

Having a child changed the way I saw insurance. I could no longer afford the plan I was on so I had to switch to a more "cost effective" plan to save money. This plan I switched to was more trouble than it's worth. Let me share my views with you.

Most insurance company these days will offer you 80/20, which means they pick up 80 percent of the cost and you pick up the remaining 20 percent. Okay, not bad, but wait. Some insurance companies pick up 80 percent after you meet your deductible. The amount of your deductible is based on how many people are insured. For example if you are single, your deductible may be $300 dollars. Before they will pick up the 80 percent, you must meet that deductible which means you have to pay the full price of the doctor's fee until you meet your deductible. It doesn't get any better if you have a family on your plan because your deductible rises to $600 dollars or more. Once you meet your deductible, then they will pay the 80 percent and you pay the 20 percent of the bill.

Right now, you're saying okay, so what's the big deal Bonnie.  Well, here is the big deal. Insurance companies pay what is called a usual customary rate. All this means is they take a survey of the doctors in your area, find out what they charge, average it out and come up with a price they are willing to pay. You get stuck with the rest. So you are paying full price for services until you meet your deductible, then you are paying a co-pay, and then you are paying the balance that is left.Think about it. Have you ever called your doctor's office and asked them why you are getting a bill after you met your deductible and made a co-pay? I know I have. And many times I have asked myself what is the darn point of having insurance if I'm still paying money out of pocket.

What made me blog about this is a site I visited after a training call. This website is supposed to help you find out if things are a scam or not. The company I work for is listed. It doesn't recommend AmeriPlan because we supposedly "tug on the heart strings" of consumers by telling people we can help them get affordable medical and dental coverage.

Ok, Mr. John Q. Critic, this is my response. I will put AmeriPlan up against any insurance company out there. I like having the freedom to choose any doctor I want. I like not having to pay co-pays and after-pays and deductibles. I like not waiting 30 days before I can use the service.I like not getting nasty surprises in my mailbox. I like knowing what I have to pay upfront. I like having to pay one fee for my ENTIRE household instead someone increasing my costs because I have a family. I like that after being in the business for 20 years I have more people who love our service than not. Even some of the world's biggest retailers can't say that.

I know there's still a burning question. Why am I still with this insurance company? The answer is because my husband is required to have insurance through his job and I met him before I found AmeriPlan.  I don't hate any insurance company, I just don't like it as much as I do AmeriPlan.

Bonnie works with Freedom At Home Team. To get more information about affordable medical and dental coverage, visit her website http:www.benefitsplus.com/bonnieannprice

Everyone's healthcare plan should be this easy!

Hello, my name is Bonnie. These lovely people you see in the picture are my family. The cool one with the shades is my 16 year old daughter. The cute baby is her little brother and that goofy looking dude in the back is my husband. They are the reason I live.

A few months ago I went online looking for a way to work from home and take care of my son. I found this company called AmeriPlan. AmeriPlan is a 20 year old healthcare company that sells discount healthcare plans in all but six states (AK, MT, ND, SD, VT, and WY) I joined AmeriPlan a few months ago. Since then I have met a lot of great people and heard a lot of great stories about how AmeriPlan has saved them money. 

AmeriPlan has regular insurance companies beat. First of all, there is no co-pay, no qualifying, pre-existing conditions are accepted, no waiting, no limited list of doctors to see, and best of all 100% money back guarantee, if you don't like the service.

I'd like to share a personal story. My son was sick a few weeks ago. He was born 3 months premature so he has chronic lung disease. Flu season is scary for us so we limit our visitors and keep plenty of sanitizer on hand.  Well he was running a high fever, not eating well, but he was still playful. The fever scared us because it was over 100 degrees. My husband wanted to rush him to the emergency and I said wait. Let's call the Ameri-Doc service and see what advice they can offer us. I called Ameri-Doc's 800 number, talked to a representative that took my information and then said a doctor would call me back in about one minute. My first thought was "yeah right" but imagine my surprise when a real doctor called me back as soon as I hung up with the rep. I talked with the doctor on call, she diagnosed his symptoms and told me what to do until I could take my son to his pediatrician. My mind and my wallet both breathed a sigh of relief.

If I had called my insurance company, it would have been at least a two hour wait for a NURSE practitioner to call me back. I'm not making any negative statements against nurse practitioners, but this is who the insurance company gives you for an emergency. Or if I had done what my husband wanted and gone the emergency room, that would have a $200 charge BEFORE I ever saw a doctor and at least a four hour wait. Ameri-Doc saved me time and money.

The Ameri-Doc plan costs $12.95 per month by itself, but it is free because I purchased a Platinum Freedom Package from AmeriPlan. AmeriPlan has low cost packages to suit every budget and these packages cover your ENTIRE household. Most insurance companies charge you per person. That makes me be not only a proud IBO with AmeriPlan, but a proud member.

If you or someone you know is looking for low cost healthcare stop by my website http://www.MyBenefitsPlus.com/bonnieannprice. If you're already an AmeriPlan member, find me on Facebook and leave me a testimonial. I'd love to hear from you.