VISTA HEALTH LEARNING CENTER
Welcome to the Vista Health Learning Center where our goal is to help you improve your knowledge of the options available to the self employed individual seeking health coverage in the state of New York. Here you will find many useful and insightful articles as well as links to other resources across the Internet designed to increase your understanding of the various health care plans available today.
Health Insurance Shopping Guide
Factors That Affect Health Insurance Increases
If you're new to purchasing health insurance in New York, you will be quick to learn that it's a very unique & complex marketplace. Most consumers assume that the easiest route is to speak directly with a local insurance company (Oxford, Blue Cross, Aetna etc.) However after contacting 2 or 3 companies it's quite easy to become discouraged (and in some cases angry). Rates for coverage...
How To Qualify For Healthy NY If You Are Self-Employed
In the year 2000 the New York State Legislature enacted a program under the Health Care Reform Act of 2000, known as Healthy NY. The main objective behind the Healthy NY program was to promote access to quality health care by providing comprehensive health insurance to the citizens of New York that needed health insurance the most...
What Health Insurance Pool In New York Can I Swim In?
An insurance pool is a term that is used by the insurance industry to describe risk classification for a certain group that meets certain criteria. To an insurance company we are all classified based on certain factors as to what pool we belong in...
Forms for Filing a Business Certificate
There are two different Business certificates that can be filed in the state of New York. These forms are available at most stationary stores that sell business forms. You will need to buy...
What tax forms will I need to submit in order to sign up with a Self Employed health plan?
In order to enroll under a self employed health insurance plan, each insurance company will require that you submit certain tax documentation along with your application. Learn more..
NY State Health Insurance Consumer Complaint Ratios
The spreadsheets below tabulate the ratio of complaints issued by New York health insurance consumers.
Courtesy of the New State Insurance Dept. & the Department of Health
Prompt Payment Complaint (.pdf)
Overall Complaint Ranking (.pdf)
Reference Links
Glossary of Health Insurance Terms
Educate yourself on what the insurance comapies are really talking about.
Here is a list of the various physician specialties.
Several of the health insurance plans offered for sale require that become a member of a Business Association.
Healthy New York Articles
Healthy New York Plan Benefits Employees and Families
The Healthy New York comprehensive insurance plan was designed to promote an affordable insurance plan to eligible uninsured small businesses and their employees.
Why Healthy NY Costs Less than Traditional Health Insurance Plans
The Healthy NY plan denies coverage of mental health, home health care, chiropractors, and treatment for alcohol and substance abuse. The denial of these treatments results in lower premiums when compared to conventional policies.
The High Deductible Healthy NY Health Insurance Plan
As of the beginning of 2007, the Healthy New York insurance plan began offering their version of a high deductible health plan (HDHP). This plan requires that most medical expenses are paid by the enrollee up to a certain figure prior to coverage.
Strong Business Sense with Healthy NY Insurance Plan
The Healthy New York insurance plan was established as a result of the Health Care Reform Act of 2000 with the principle of encouraging small employers to purchase reduced cost group health insurance coverage for their employees.
Health Insurance Coverage's Explained
A program designed offer health care for the self employeed...
A health maintenance organization (HMO) is a type of...
What is a POS (Point Of Service)?
Several HMOs offer plan members the option to self direct care...
What is a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)?
A preferred provider organization (or "PPO")...
What is a HSA (Health Savings Account)?
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged...
What is a HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan)?
A High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is a plan with an annual...
What is a CDHP (Consumer Directed Health Plan)?
Consumer directed health plans (CDHP), originating in the late...
What is a HRA (Health Reimbursement Account)?
Health Reimbursement Accounts, also called...
What is an Indemnity Plan (Fee-for-Service)?
Fee-for-service is health care coverage in which doctors...
Relevant Links
New York State Insurance Department
The Insurance Department is responsible for supervising and regulating all insurance business in New York State.
http://www.ins.state.ny.us/hp97wel.htm
Healthy New York
Healthy NY is a state program that offers subsidized and standardized insurance plans (offered by all HMO's) to qualifying Individuals, Sole Proprietorships & small Groups.
http://www.ins.state.ny.us/healthny.htm
Child Health Plus
New York State has a health insurance plan for kids, called Child Health Plus. Depending on your family's income, your child may be eligible.
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/chplus/
Elederly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (Epic) Program
EPIC is a New York State sponsored prescription plan for senior citizens who need help paying for their prescriptions.
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/epic/faq.htm