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PAGE 16 - PLAINDEALER-WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1975 1 The Shopp ers Guide to Health Insurance MAIL-ORDER POLICIES MOST COSTLY TYPES By Herbert S. Denenberg Former Commissioner Pensylvania Insurance Dept. Getting sick and getting well cost a pretty penny in America, and the expense has been rising faster than any other check­ book item. Only one day in the hospital averages more than $100; a typical stay in a hospital costs nearly $800. All told, Americans spend nearly $90 billion a year on health care. Serious illness or a lengthy stay in the hospital can bring almost any family to financial ruin...unless it has a good health insurance plan. Some people have no coverage whatsoever, and many others have inadequate coverage. Adequate coverage for a family may easily run $300 to $500 a year. Total premiums add up to more than $20 billion a year nationally. If you are going to spend a lot of money on health insurance, you should know what you are getting and you should get your money's worth. But unfortunately, health*' insurance is a major source of complaints from policyholders. Nearly one-third of the com­ plaints received by the Penn­ sylvania Insurance Depart­ ment come from people angry at their health insurer. Only auto insurers draw more fire. No type of insurance has more different styles, prices and policies. And none has more variations in benefits, options and exclusions. Comparing competing health insurance policies is extremely difficult but not impossible. Major Kinds In attempting to do so, one must begin with an un­ derstanding of the major policy types. Most basic is hospital- medical-surgical coverage. It Counterfeit or Genuine? TEST YOUR SKILL. Two Entertaining Exhibits Brought to You by, Your Friends at the "First*. Counterfeit Currency Quizi An exhibit of 15 pieces of counterfeit and gen­ uine U.S. Currency will be on display in our lob­ by from September 12 to October 14. Visitors can test their skill at detecting the counterfeit money by pressing buttons along a fro­ nt panel. The exhibit then flashes the correct ans­ wer. Rare U.S. Pennies A display of rare U.S. Pennies minted from 1793 to 1857 will also be in our lobby from Sep­ tember 12 to October 14. The display includes a 1793 wreath-type penny valued at more than $200 and a 1804 penny, min­ ted from a broken dye, valued at over $300. EXHIBITS PROVIDED BY: Continental Bank of Chicago "THE WEDNESDAY BANK" The First National Bank Of McHenry 3814 W. ELM McHENRY 385-5400 pays for hospital services, including room and board, plus doctors' and surgeons' fees. The typical Blue Cross-Blue Shield policy illustrates this type of health insurance. A second typo is major medical coverage. This policy covers the most serious ac­ cidents and illnesses. It is backup protection, picking up costs not covered by the basic' hospital-medical-surgical plan. It also provides broader coverage than a basic plan, covering the cost of blood, drugs and treatment for mental illness, among other items. Such plans generally come with a deductible and then pay a fixed percentage - usually 75 to 80 per cent - of all further costs up to policy limits. A third type of coverage is a Medicare supplement. Medicare pays many, but not all, of the hospital and doctor's bill for people on Social Security, certain disabled persons and those with chronic kidney disease. A Medicare supplement covers part or all of the remaining expenses. Watch Exclusions Some health insurance policies have as many ex­ clusions as benefits. Try to avoid them. You never know what medical services you may need, so you should not gamble by predicting what kind of illnesses or bills you may have. Your policy should be as broad as you can afford, covering both illnesses and accidents. Some policies cover diagnostic tests whether performed in a hospital or not, also prescription drugs, dental care and nursing care. Some policies cover hospital costs and surgeon's fees by J paying you a flat amount, say $40 for each day in the hospital or $150 for an appendectomy. These provide benefits on an "indemnity" basis. Other policies, such as Blue Cross, offer "service" benefits. They usually cover the full cost. Policies with "service" benefits also tend to cost more since they keep pace with rising costs. With an "indemnity" policy, «vou must pay any in­ crease in costs since the policy was purchased. This tends to make the "indemnity" policy more costly for the benefits received. One way to compare values in health insurance is to look at the loss ratios of competing companies. The loss ratio is the percentage of premiums paid back to policyholders in benefits. A high ratio is good. Large Variation When the Pennsylvania Insurance Department com­ pared loss ratios for the 25 largest commercial health insurers and Blue Cross-Blue Shield, it found some tremendous differences, from 29.8 to 133.6 per cent. The highest belonged to the "Blues." Even the lowest of the Blues paid back 98.8 per cent of revenues in benefits. Com­ mercial companies ranged from 29.8 to 76.3 per cent, with most at about 50 per cent. Companies on the lower end tend to be stingy in paying claims. But the loss ratios, which are printed in the Shopper's Guidebook, are only one factor to consider in choosing a company. Another is its financial rating, which is also ' 4-H NEWS .MODERN MISSES CLl R The Modern Misses held the last meeting at Beth Cable's house at 7 p.m. The club decided to have a local achievement night at the end of the 4-H year. A committee was formed for. this-project. They are Diane Muskovin, Lisa Opfer. Linda Muskovin, Beth Cable and Jeanette May. A committee was also selected for the club's picnic scheduled for Sept. 28. The committee members are Debbie Herdrick, Peggy \ouak. Karen Allord. Denise Ereund and Debbie Ereund. At the Sept. 2 committee meeting, talks and demon­ strations were presented by club members. Donna Godina discussed what she learned in cooking; Susan Godina spoke on how to increase and decrease a recipe; Debbie Muskovin and Nancy Eppel explained how to make decoupage domes; Kathy Godina told how she made her fair project; Karen Alford demonstrated how to fix a hem and Peggy Nowak showed how to make a ruffle. Other demonstrations in­ cluded Diane Muskovin showing how to make a drawing and sketching. Debbie Herdrick explaining, how to change colors in crocheting and Beth Cable who spoke on dog obedience. All the presen­ tations were well done, The next meeting of the club will be held at Parkland school Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. Lisa Opfer Club reporter listed and can be obtained from Best's Insurance Reports: Life- Health Edition. It is available at libraries and insurance offices. In buying health insurance, especially the indemnity kind, be especially wary of provisions for waiting periods and exceptions for pre-existing conditions. Most of the abuses in these areas come from mail­ order firms. Policy Language Also be sure to understand the policy language, par­ ticularly where it defines sickness or accident and where it discusses policy renewals and rates. The best buys in health in­ surance are in group coverage. Costs tend to be lower and exclusions fewer than in in­ dividual policies. If you cannot get group coverage, shop around, but start with Blue Cross-Blue Shield. Beware of mail-order health insurance companies in general. They often advertise with popular personalities promising spectacular benefits at very low introductory rates. Actual benefits, however, tend to be skimpy, Their low loss ratios demonstrate that fact. If you are on Medicare, you still need extra coverage. For little more than $5 a month,, in many states. Blue Cross plans will fill most of the gaps in Medicare A, and Blue Shield will fill them in Medicare B. Both policies are called the "65 Special," and both provide excellent, low cost coverage. THEA TRE SEASON The I'M & L season of plays opens in October, but lower prices are offered lor these community theatre season tickets if they are* purchased -this month. Interested persons may write to I 'M & L. Box 23. Antioeh. III. 60002. for further information. All performances are given at the theatre. 877 Main street. Antioeh Two From Area Earn Degrees At Universi ty Marcella Uphoff of 919 Snowshoe terrace and David Winters of 3108 W. Kinley, both ol McHenry, were among the 650 students who received Bachelor's ' degrees at Illinois State university at the end of the eight-week summer session. There is no summer com­ m e n c e m e n t c e r e m o n y . S t u d e n t s c o m p l e t i n g requirements for graduation at this time were eligible to participate in the June com­ mencement ceremony. The casual borrower is a casual payer. POET'S CORNER This series is based on The Shopper's Guidebook to Life Insurance, Health In­ surance, Auto Insurance, Homeowner's Insurance, Doctors, Dentists, Lawyers, Pensions, Etc. by Herbert S. Denenberg. Consumer News Inc., Washington, D.C., 20045. 156 pp. $3.50. SET YOU FREE' Who am I to say ybu're wrong? What am I to give you up, Turn you loose and lose your love, Leave you life, forget you're my wife. Tell our kids it's up to them? They're old enough to understand. How easy love turns to hate. But I guess all good things come to an end, Like our family falling apart, Like a puzzle or even my heart. I'll set you free as you wish But don't forget I'll love you always. So leave now before I cry and start To wonder why you leave me standing here Crying in tears. But one more thing before Remember this and remember it well, You can always come back to me. by Mike F. Pearson you go, 3720 W. ELM ST. McHENRY Introducing Origin Vitamins ORIGIN Special B Complex With C osco Bottle of 100 Osco Reg. $6.99 GILLETTE Trac II Cartridges Pack of 9 '"'-XD ? . • - •• Aim Toothpaste 4.6 ounces Osco Reg. 79c ORIGIN Wheat Germ Oil Capsules Bottle of 100 Osco Reg. $3.39 |MENNEN^C^> Protein 21 Hair Spray Choice of formulas. |13 ounces, Osco Reg. $1.68 ORIGIN Natural Vitamin E 400 IU Bottle of 100 Your choice of Mixed Tocopheryls £ or D-Alpha * Tocopheryl. Osco Reg. $9.49 ORIGIN Rose Hips Vitamin C Bottle of 100 250 mg. Osco Reg. $2.29 The Perfect Combination of Man And Nature! What makes Origin Vitamins different from others is the care that's taken to ex­ tract that vitamin from its natural source. Origin combines that extracted vitamin with only the purest ingredients to form the best vitamins man can make from nature. When it comes to vitamins, that's the perfect combination. ORIGIN Natural Bone Meal Bottle of 270 Osco Reg. $3.99 Dial Very Dry A nti- Per spirant 12 ounces ^ Q Osco 1 Reg $2.19 * "• v • ORIGIN Vitamin B-6 ORIGIN Natural Vitamin A ORIGIN Natural Lecithin Capsules Bojtle of 100 r-'- Cold Tablets 50 mg Bottle of 100 10,000 IU Bottle of 100 Osco Reg. $2.79 Osco Reg. $1.49 Osco Reg. $3.89 BAND-AID® BRAND Bandages Sheer or Plastic Box of 50 Alka Seltzer Plus Pack of 36 19 0> »usr ,y//̂ Lavoris 32 ounces plus 8 free ounces. Osco Reg $1 74 1 09 Robitussin Cough f Syrup 4 ounces Osco Reg. $1.19 89 PLAYTEX Living Gloves Buy two and get a free right or left! Size S, M, L. Osco Reg. $1.53 1 19 osco Sheer Support Panty Hose For the Active Woman. In 3 sizes for better fit. Flattering shades. Osco Reg. $1.99 $1 GREENAID ' Plant Food _ 16 ounces 1K, t \ \m Use a capful each time V y you water your house W 139 S 79° 39 NEW PLANT LIFE Leaf Shine 7 ounces. Adds a healthy looking shine. GREEN THUMB Potting Soil 2 quarts Forindoor plants. £ Modeling Clay One pound of non- hardening, nontoxic plasti-clay. Osco Reg. 44c CRAFTMASTER Paint-By Number Complete with 2 -- 8 x 10 in. panels, oils and instruction's. Osco Reg. 99c Sand Art Garden Includes sand, tool, container, soil, and even seeds' Osco Reg. $4.99 Corn Husk Doll Kit All you need for an old fashioned 5 in. doll. Osco Reg. $1.89 3" 1 49 Mak-lt-Bak-lt 129 Plastic crystals melt to make de­ sign, - Osco Reg S1 69 HASBRO Potato Head With 20 plastic dis­ guising pieces 66 •i 1 Wee Wheels Choose your favorite model and color, Osco Reg, 98c 79