Study backs knee, hip replacements for elderly (Reuters)

Reuters - People age 75 or older recover just as well as younger patients from knee or hip replacements to correct the ravages of arthritis, researchers said on Monday.

While health insurance is important to everyone, it is especially important to someone with diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that must be carefully controlled. Plus, even with tight controls, there may be complications as time goes on.

Unfortunately, with the exception of only 5 states, health insurance is medically underwritten. This means that you must answer certain medical history questions and qualify for the health insurance plan. Diabetes, in most instances, will make you ineligible for a private health insurance plan.

There are still alternative plans and methods for a diabetic to secure health insurance. This article will give you an overview of how to obtain a health insurance plan with diabetes.

Group Health Insurance

If you work for an employer who offers group health insurance your problem is over. Group health insurance is guaranteed issue and you cannot be declined for any pre-existing condition. Furthermore, even if you never had health insurance before or let it lapse, pre-existing conditions will be covered in full after 12 months. If you have had continuous coverage, there is no waiting period.

But, what if you want a full major medical plan and do not have group health insurance available to you?

If you work in certain industries, you can purchase a guaranteed issue major medical plan with no medical questions.

Major Medical

Currently, those industries eligible for major medical include:

- Real Estate - agents, brokers, l-aspartic acid online buy powder brokers, appraisers, clerical and administrative staff. Anyone in the real estate or mortgage industry can qualify.

- Construction - This is a fairly broad category. It encompasses anyone in any aspect of the construction industry.

- Information Technology (05/08) - another broad category that includes programmers, network engineers and technicians, web developers and designers, repair technicians. Again, anyone in the information technology industry or administrative personnel working for an information technology company.

Limited Benefit Health Insurance

A limited benefit plan is also guaranteed issue and available to any diabetic under the age of 65.

Limited benefit plans, sometimes referred to as "mini medical", vary widely in terms of the benefits they offer.

We suggest that whenever possible the plan include the following:

• Pay at least $1,000 a day for hospitalization (more would be better).

• Have a surgical schedule that is not limited by any caps.

• Pay for a limited number of office visits and diagnostic tests.

• Be HIPAA-qualified (this means that it is credible coverage or real health insurance and not a discount plan with some extra benefits thrown on top).

• Use a national PPO network.

Critical Illness Coverage

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 64 can obtain a guaranteed issue critical illness plan.

This plan will pay you a lump sum of $25,000 upon diagnosis of certain life threatening illness. They include cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, etc.

In addition, this plan will pay $500 for each 24 hour stay in a hospital. It is an ideal plan to add to a limited benefit plan to increase the coverage or just use as a standalone plan. For an individual, the cost is $88 a month.

Where Can I Get More Information?

We recommend that you talk with an insurance agent who specializes in guaranteed issue plans. The best site we know of is www.guaranteed-health-insurance.com. You can reach them at 800-986-4786 9 AM to 9 PM EST.

A Word of Caution

Quite often, individuals who are having difficulty obtaining health insurance are taken advantage of. They are sold worthless discount plans or overpriced coverage that offers very little protection. Please use common sense when shopping for a plan and read everything carefully.

Martin Unger is a nationally known expert in health insurance. He started flquote.com, one of the first online health insurance agencies in the United States.

For more information on this topic, go to http://www.guaranteed-health-insurance.com or call the author at 800-986-4786.