It is urgent that you have health care coverage for several reasons.  One of them is the ability

to see your doctor whenever you have  a medical issue and not wait for the illness to worsen.

You also need to feel comfortable knowing that you are getting the best care and treatment

possible and are not shortchanged for lack of money or health insurance.

Americans spend more on health care every year than the combination of educating

our children, building roads and even on food.  It was an estimated $2.6 trillion

in 2009, or around $8,300 per person and rising, and more  than 45 million Americans have

no health insurance at all, according to an article published in AARP magazine.

With new health care laws and reforms, it is important for you to know what is available to

you now and in the future and how new laws may, or may not affect you.   Let us assist you

with this inf0rmation.

If you are presently uninsured and have been concerned about health insurance, you

should think about starting the new year off with a free quote from one of our experienced

staff at Blue Cross and Blue Shield.  You will have peace of mind with the security of knowing

that a major illness for you , or a member of your family, will not cause you to lose everything

you now own.

You may find that health insurance is more affordable that you had expected it to be.

Our staff can provide savings, service and benefits information to you at no cost or

obligation.  We have over 20 years of expertise and experience to offer on your behalf.  We

will speak with you over the telephone,  at our office  or yours, or in your home  at any

time that is convenient for you.

Just because you have health insurance today doesn’t mean it will be there tomorrow.

As reported by the National Coalition on Healthcare, nearly 266,000 companies dropped

their employees’ health care coverage from 2000 to 2005.  And if you are looking to blame

rising health care costs on an aging population, you must look elsewhere.  The growing

ranks of the elderly are projected to account for just 0.4 percent of the future growth in

health care costs,  says Paul Ginsburg, president of the Center for Studying Health System

Change.  So, you wonder why  health care costs are skyrocketing?  Ginsburg and others

point to all the modern technologies  such as MRIs and CT scans, as well as fee for service

payment system in which doctors are paid by the number of patients they see and the

number of treatments provided, rather than quality of care.  Some feel this may encourage

overtreatment.

It has been reported that 41% of the uninsured have no access to preventative care.

Further, there are over 70 million Americans who live with at least one chronic health

condition, and most of these Americans are 50+.  These conditions range anywhere from mild

arthritis to cancer or emphysema.  A study by AARP has shown that patients who take a more

active role in managing their care suffer fewer complications than those who don’t.  This

includes knowledge of their particular condition, as well as information regarding their

medications.

It is also important to choose the best health insurance in order to meet their special needs.

Those who are in the work force may benefit from employer based benefit solutions.  However,

if the need is for individual coverage, our Blue Cross and Blue Shield staff can assist with

providing information to help choose the right path for particular situations.  Of course, we

offer employer health coverage as well.

In the United States, the uninsured’s access to health care is through the emergency room

where there is an open-door policy for those who are seeking medical attention.  However,

this type of care doesn’t help you get the right information to prevent a condition or give

help in managing it.  Each person needs to have a family doctor where they can go for help

for their illness before it has progressed further and to the point whereby it becomes worse

and costs more to treat or causes other complications.  It has been reported that 41% of

the uninsured have no access to preventative care.  Whenever there are no health insurance

provisions, patients often will not seek health care until it becomes an emergency situation.

If the employer does not provide group health insurance, an individual health care policy

should be obtained.  Our Blue Cross  staff can work with companies who need

group health insurance as well as individual policies.

If you have been interviewed and offered a position with a company, there are certain

things that you may need to consider before accepting their offer, as follows:

1.  Is health insurance offered, and if yes, who pays for it and in what portion. (e.g. Does

the employee pay half and the employer pay the other half?)

2. What is the cost, the amount of deductible and is it deducted from my paycheck?

3. When does coverage begin and what are the  restrictions and limitations?

4. Is there a provision for pre-existing conditions and do I have an option for family coverage?

5. Does the company offer short-term and/or long-term disability coverage?

Since health care insurance  can be a large portion of your overall benefits plan,

it is important to know in advance just how complete your coverage is before you commit.

Self-employed persons who are either in business for themselves or working on a consulting

basis, need a particular type of health insurance for themselves and their needs may very

well change over time.  When you are in business for yourself, you cannot afford to risk

being without health coverage.  In order to protect your assets and financial future, you

must be secured against unexpected illnesses or hospitalization that could wipe out

everything you have worked for.

Since every situation is different, your health plan should be tailored to fit your specific

needs.  You cannot be satisfied with a one-size-fits-all plan that is exactly like your

neighbors. Therefore, it is important that you work with our experienced and knowledgeable

staff in order to find the best plan for you at the most reasonable price.

with Doctor visit co-pay & RX co-pay

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Charlotte offers several Health
Insurance plans to choose from, go to www.ebs-ins.com
& look over all the different options.

call 704-321-9491 to talk to a local Blue Cross
Blue Shield agent

Office hours

8:30 to 5  Monday-Friday

Located @

9709 Northeast Parkway suite 200

Matthews,
NC  28105

704-321-9491   phone

704-3211690     fax

If your business grew a lot in the past year and you added new employees, you may find that

your single health insurance option may not meet the needs of your present employees.

Many small businesses offer second or third health insurance options from which their

employees may choose.

Also, if you have downsized and are paying for benefits you don’t use, you may be able to

find a plan with a lower premium payment that will exclude those benefits.  Even if you are

an employer with a small number of employees, you can still benefit by providing health

insurance to your employees.  Whether you have two or twenty-two or more, your business

can offer group health coverage at a reasonable cost to you and to your employees.

If you are an employer who is seeking health care coverage for your employees, or if you

would just like to update or compare plans, we can work with you within your budget to

attain the best coverage at the best price.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Charlotte offers several Health
Insurance plans to choose from, go to www.ebs-ins.com
& look over all the different options.

call 704-321-9491 to talk to a local Blue Cross
Blue Shield agent

Office hours

8:30 to 5  Monday-Friday

Located @

9709 Northeast Parkway suite 200

Matthews,
NC  28105

704-321-9491   phone

704-3211690     fax

If you retire early and you are not old enough for Medicare and your former employer does

not offer continued health care coverage, you will need to seek the advice of a qualified

insurance representative to assist you in selecting the best coverage for you and  your

family.

Large firms that offer health insurance are more likely to offer workers two or more plans

now than they were 10 years ago.  However, recent data from the Agency for Healthcare

Research and Quality found that the percentage of employees who are offered health

coverage is less today than it was a decade ago.  Further, employers that offer health care

coverage are providing more choices.

When you know your options and how they work, you can better decide which option fits

your particular situation.  Your choice may be different depending on whether you have a

spouse or dependent children of if you need certain medicines.

EBS is the premier provider for HEALTH INSURANCE offering BlueCross
BlueShield of NC for individuals & families. Blue Cross Blue Shield of
North Carolina, Charlotte offers several Health Insurance plans to choose from,
go to www.ebs-ins.com & look over all
the different options.

call 704-321-9491 to talk to a local Blue Cross
Blue Shield agent

Office hours

8:30 to 5  Monday-Friday

Located @

9709 Northeast Parkway suite 200

Matthews,
NC  28105

704-321-9491   phone

704-3211690     fax

www.ebs-ins.com