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Never fear. IBT Consulting is doing the research for you. Just keep an eye on this page for the latest information on healthcare, insurance, and overall wellness for you and your family. Because at IBT we truly believe that Education is Your Solution.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible spending accounts, or FSAs, provide you with an important tax advantage that can help you pay health care and dependent care expenses on a pretax basis. By anticipating your family’s health care and dependent care costs for the next plan year, you can lower...
Stretching Your Health Care Dollar
As health care costs continue to rise, it is increasingly important that you take an active role in decisions about your health, the care you receive and your health plan. Here are some tips to help you get the most for your money. At the Doctor’s Office Make a list...
Health Care Reform: What Does it Mean for You?
How the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affects you varies greatly depending on your age, who you work for and many other factors. So what does it mean for you? Below is a list of how health care reform affects a number of common categories. Everyone: Under the ACA, every...
Consumer Driven Health Care: Creating Choices For You
Consumer health plans are not designed to require a patient to shop around during an emergency. Rather, they empower patients to know their marketplace beforehand, so that in an emergency the patient knows where he or she feels most comfortable receiving care....
Outpatient Surgery: Selecting A Facility
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when choosing an outpatient surgery center is to simply go to the closest or largest facility in your area. To make the swiftest recovery possible, it is important to select a facility that is best suited to your particular...
Know Your Benefits: Life Insurance
Life insurance isn’t a fun thing to think about, and it may seem like an unnecessary expense. But if you have people who depend on you for financial support, then life insurance is really about protecting them in case something happens to you – your designated...
Know Your Benefits: How to Research Health Care Prices
It’s not a secret that health care can cost quite a bit. In 2010, the United States spent $2.6 trillion on health care, an average of $8,402 per person. The Milliman Medical Index suggested that the average family of four covered by an employer-sponsored health plan...
Health Care Claims: Solutions to Common Problems
Have you ever had a health insurance claim denied unexpectedly or had a claim delayed for weeks with no explanation? Due to the confusing nature of medical billing and insurance claims, people often don’t dig deeper into such issues despite their frustration. However,...
Know Your Benefits: Preventive Care
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7 out of 10 Americans die each year from chronic diseases, many of which are preventable. When preventive care is used and illnesses and diseases are caught early enough, individuals can avoid or...
Know Your Benefits: How an In-network Bill Becomes a Claim
Doing your best to obtain medical care from in-network health care providers is important if you are worried about high medical costs. Here are the steps for how in-network coverage is provided during a medical visit. Provider: The patient receives treatment. The...
Know Your Benefits: How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer
With health care costs continuing to rise, it’s more important than ever to take responsibility for your medical care choices. Asking questions and researching your options are good ways to start taking control of how much you spend on health care. Consider Your Plan...
Know Your Benefits: Saving Money on Prescriptions
You are likely familiar with the terms “generic” and “brand name” prescription drugs. But do you know what a drug formulary is? Like a generic drug, it can also save you money. The following article will help you understand all three terms. Drug Formularies If you...
Know Your Benefits: Wise Use of the Emergency Room
When you’re sick or injured, no matter the severity, can feel like a matter of life and death. But being prepared and knowing what does and doesn’t merit a trip to the Emergency Room can save you a lot of time, money, and stress. An emergency is life-threatening and...
Affordable Care Act Subsidies Calculator
A lot of people are wondering if they are eligible for subsidies to help cover the cost of healthcare under the new Affordable Care Act. The folks over at the Kaiser Family Foundation have come up with a calculator you can use to see if you’re going to qualify. With this calculator, you can enter different income levels, ages, and family sizes to get an estimate of your eligibility for subsidies and how much you could spend on health insurance.