One of the more annoying features of modern life is this alphabet soup. You are expected to know what all these letters stand for, iykwim. Even those who are into texting and SMSing can get caught out when it comes to insurance jargon. So here is a simple explanation of the differences between a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) with guidelines to suggest which to buy. Both employers and the private health insurers offer this choice. An HMO is a network of healthcare providers that enters into a contract with insurance companies to provide medical services at a fixed price. This network will include hospitals, clinics and a range of professionals. Usually they are grouped together in a particular part of a city or rural area, offering a spread of coverage across the major medical specialties to all the people living within that area. Because the insurers can bring a guaranteed volume of business to the network, they are able to negotiate quite good prices for the different services. These savings are passed on to you as lower premiums. Even more importantly, service within the network can be free or with only low copayments. But the majority of plans have quite restrictive terms. When you sign up, you have to choose one doctor to be your primary care physician. This person must be an existing member of the network. If your current doctor is not a member, you will have to change. This physician acts as the gatekeeper and he or she must refer you on to specialists within the network. Because the insurers pay bottom dollar, the gatekeepers tend not to refer on unless the problem is really serious. Further, because the network is for-profit, it must see more patients in a day to earn a reasonable profit. You may therefore expect little opportunity to discuss your treatment or explore options. You have only a few minutes and must make the most of that limited opportunity.
PPOs also negotiate contracts with the insurers but the organization of the network tends to be loose. Unlike an HMO, the PPO does not limit you to a single physician. You can see anyone within the network at the standard price. If you go outside the network for specialty advice, you will have to make out-of-pocket payments. So, this gives you more control over the medical care you buy but, as a result, costs more. Continue reading →
When you are buying either term or whole life, there’s a chance you will be asked to go through a medical exam. It will not be necessary for most young people who are only asking for small amounts of coverage. So, for example, a 30 year old only asking for $50,000 will usually be allowed to self-certify good health. As age and the amount to be covered increases, you will move through a simple paramedical exam to a full examination by a physician. A paramedical is licensed professional employed or hired by the insurance company. The physicians and paramedicals are independent and their only role is to make a basic assessment of your medical history and current condition. Some operate a mobile service and will come to your home or office with all the necessary equipment. Others will ask you to attend at a laboratory or clinic. The cost of all medical exams is met by the insurance company. For the record, almost all insurers insist on independent exams and refuse to accept information provided directly by your own physician. Continue reading →
We all know that having enough working capital is an essential component for every business venture. Even established small businesses will run into cash flow problems at one point or another, understanding your funding options is simply vital.
A business cash flow can be easily disrupted because of many reasons: debt payments, the need to purchase or lease new equipment or simply be able to meet the daily costs that all merchants go through. As there are many options business owners can choose, it’s very important that such options are properly understood. The financing option you may choose is a very important element, which could determine the ability of running a successful business.
Now days, a credit card advance is a very popular way to obtain business funding. This type of funding greatly differs when compared with a traditional business loan, a credit card cash advance is perfect for a merchant to get funds even when he lacks of perfect credit or doesn’t have the ability to get funds by other means.
One of the simple requirements that credit card advances have, is that the business owner accepts credit cards as a form of payment; especially it’s required that the merchant processes Visa and Master Card. The payback is much simpler than a loan as there are no fixed monthly payments and the payments are automatically deducted from every credit card transaction as a small percentage.
On the other hand, a small business loan is the most common funding choice for small business owners. But if compared with cash advances, getting funded is extremely complicated.
The requirements for the debtor are many, like: the credit score of the debtor has to be perfect, over 750; the merchant has to have important personal assets that can be used as guaranty and many other factors are carefully examined before acceptance of small business loan. Instead, most small businesses can qualify for a fast and simple credit card advance, which is completely unsecured, meaning that there are no personal assets to risk.
Acquiring a small business loan requires lots of paperwork and anywhere between 2 to 4 months until the actual funding takes place. That certainly doesn’t apply to a credit card advance or business cash advance, as the application process is a simple 2 pages application, and the funding can take place in as little as 7 days.
When acquiring a traditional small business loan, your business will be strained with strict fixed monthly payments, whether you sell or not. That’s not the case when it comes to credit card advances, as you make small payments only when you sell your products or services in credit card transactions. Failing to repay a credit card advance won’t put in risk your personal credit nor it will risk any personal assets the merchant may have, however in the case of a small business loan, if the debtor fails to pay the loan, it will not only harm your personal credit score, but it will also pose the risk of losing your assets.
Keeping all these in mind, you can easily tell that a credit card advance is a much easier and risk-free way to obtain the much needed funding your business needs.