Bay Marketing Tampa Health Insurance

The Importance of Health Insurance for Children

2009-09-21T12:22:00.003-04:00

It's one thing to gamble with your own health by not having Tampa Florida health insurance for yourself, but not having insurance for your kids is another thing altogether. It's important to make providing health coverage for children a priority. Children insured under Florida health plans will reap the benefits of improved development, improved performance in school, and long term savings in health care costs.

While millions of American children have adequate coverage, more than 9 million (1 in 8) are without any kind of health insurance, and twice that number has gaps in coverage during some period of time over the course of the year. In a struggling economic climate, this number only increases. Without health coverage, families struggle to pay medical bills which only pile up (and sometimes go to collections agencies) when conditions left untreated worsen. Until our legislators can make it a priority to prove health coverage to all children, Florida parents must do their best, if they haven't already, to make sure their kids are protected with low-cost Tampa health insurance.

Their are a number of irrefutable reasons why Tampa children should not be without Tampa health plans. Children with Florida health plans...

* have better access to preventive care.
* are more likely to have a steady, primary source of care.
* miss fewer days of school and their parents miss fewer days of work.
* have access to regular check-ups, dental care, shots, and prescription medications.
* are better equipped to do well in school because they are more likely to be healthier than kids without Tampa health insurance.
* don't have to worry as much about lifelong consequences of conditions left unchecked (ie., bad ear infections could lead hearing loss).
* tend to be more physically, mentally, socially and emotionally developed than children without coverage.
* get the health care services they need, when they need it, no matter the cost!

While it's true that government programs have made gains in reducing the gap between children with health insurance and children without, there are still too many kids out there who are missing out on these critical benefits. Until we can come up with solid legislation to completely eradicate such disparities, we as parents must take the health of our children into our own hands. Tampa area parents, talk to an agent today about Tampa health plans for your children. Access to health care is absolutely essential for the healthy, secure and steady development of children in their formative years.

Serving central and west coast Florida, Bay Marketing, a licensed independent contractor with Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Florida, has been providing Tampa health insurance plan information for individuals and employers during the last
twenty years. Many of their professional agents specialize in both individual and commercial health insurance for the florida business
owner. Call 813-882-3598 / 800-330-3598 or contact Bay Marketing for an online individual and group insurance quote at Florida Health Plans Online.

Author Elliot Bigman.

Two for One Tips for Mental Acuity & Physical Well-Being

2009-08-12T16:06:00.003-04:00

The great thing about Tampa health plans is that they provide peace of mind so you can live your life free of worry that in the event of a medical emergency, you won't have to face major expenses that you're unable to pay. In addition to making sure you have a Tampa health insurance plan that meets your budget and lifestyle, there are a number of inexpensive ways you can boost your health AND keep out-of-pocket health care costs to a minimum. Feed two birds with one scone! Follow these tips to improve both physical AND mental well-being at any age:

1. Walk for at least 20 minutes a day to lower blood sugar and stimulate blood flow to the brain.
2. Replace candy bars with snacks like almonds, walnuts and blueberries. Antioxidants in blueberries and Omega 3's in almonds and walnuts work to improve mental functioning.
3. Consume heart- and brain- healthy fish like sardines and salmon. Eat wild fish instead of farmed (domestically raised) fish which can contain harmful metals that may contribute to cognitive impairments.
4. It may sound odd, but check your neck, particularly if you are in your senior years. A clot in your carotid artery, the main artery in your neck, can stunt your memory by preventing adequate blood and oxygen from getting to your brain. Your doctor can use his or her stethoscope to make sure all is clear.
5. For a power snack, try a combination of apples, oranges, cantaloupe and pears. This combination prevents elevated blood sugar that can prevent brain cells from firing properly. These fruits also provide fiber and antioxidants that help scrub plaque from brain arteries and mop up free radicals that impede clear thinking.
6. Shake and stretch. The gentle shaking out and stretching of your limbs reduces the brain-sapping stress hormone cortisol. It also triggers relaxation and alertness that keeps your brain sharp. Take a couple minutes to do this several times throughout the day, especially in the morning and at night.
7. Take half hour catnaps to boost concentration, memory and physical energy. The first stage of sleep alone can provide a much-needed mental boost.
8. Reduce your sodium intake. Excessive sodium leads to hypertension which can cause heart problems. Furthermore, decreasing the sodium in your diet will improve blood flow to the brain, reducing the risk of dementia.
9. Take steps to reduce stress and anger. Practices such as yoga, deep breathing and meditation reduce stress and are great ways of channeling anger in a healthy way. Stress associated with chronic anger can actually shrink memory centers in the brain, in addition to a number of other harmful blows to the nervous system.
10. Always be proactive when it comes to your health. Follow these tips, find the Tampa health insurance package that's right for you (if you haven't already done so), and you'll be on your way to a long and healthy life.

Better Health for Tampa: Health Insurance & Preventative Care

2009-07-13T21:44:00.006-04:00

In this day and age, it's important to supplement even the most comprehensive Tampa health insurance plans with mindful preventative care that extends beyond regular visits to your doctor and dentist. With or without health insurance, it's crucial, now more than ever, to live a lifestyle that's oriented toward health and well-being. Preventative measures such as exercising, eating healthily, regulating your weight, lowering your cholesterol, and reducing stress from your life will lower your risk of illness and disease and keep you feeling well even as you grow older. To further this cause, there are simple things that you can do every day, in addition to other, less frequent (although no less important), preventative measures such as routine physical examinations, as well as diabetes and cancer screenings.

As with anything in life, there are certain health-debilitating factors that you simply can't control, with hereditary diseases and defects comprising some of these. Even if you suffer from an illness or disease whose existence is out of your control, you alone have the ability to dictate the state of your health as it is managed within your lifestyle choices. For instance, you have the ability to control your stress level, which has a tremendous effect on how your body reacts physically. Stress, especially when coupled with illness, can have a terrible effect on your health. Be sure to get enough sleep, exercise regularly, eat whole and natural foods, and actively use relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga.

In addition to coping with stress, if you smoke cigarettes, you should stop before you seriously compromise your health. By not smoking, not only do you increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life, but you're also more likely to be approved for Tampa health plans that suit your lifestyle and your budget. Non-smokers receive much lower Tampa health insurance premiums and have less risk of overall health problems than those who smoke.

Even in tough economic times, you can't afford to put your health on the back burner. Neglecting your health now could make for a much more difficult (and expensive) state of affairs down the road. The best approach to health and well being is prevention. In addition to finding affordable Tampa health plans that are right for you, it's the little proactive things you do every day which will ultimately determine the way you feel in your later years. Define what it means to you to have a healthy lifestyle, and start executing those measures today. When it comes to your health, you have everything to lose!

The Importance of Short-Term Health Coverage

2009-06-24T14:13:00.007-04:00

In today's society, many people are secure in their health care coverage, whether they have independently sought out a Tampa health insurance provider and chosen their own plan or are working within the health-care coverage provided by their employer. There are times, however, when there is a gap in health insurance coverage, and it is important that you find temporary coverage for this time period. Your health is worth the investment, and the risk of going one, two, or even six months without health insurance isn't ever a good idea.

Who needs short-term health coverage?

*Recent college graduates

*People in between jobs

*People who need or desire to find an alternative to plans such as COBRA

*Seasonal or temporary employees who do not have full year-round coverage

*Anyone facing a period of time of less than a year needing health insurance coverage

When you sit down to research your options for Tampa health plans with an agent (as opposed to doing so online and on your own) you will have the benefit of being able to learn about which plan will be best for you, from an expert opinion. You might also choose to look at what would happen if your temporary insurance plan needed to shift into a permanent Tampa health insurance plan.

Some people are tempted to try to just make it through periods where they don't have coverage, but for even the luckiest among us, that just isn't a good idea. You might have factored in all the predicable medical costs each year with routine visits to your doctors scheduled in, but as with all things medical, the trouble lies in the unknown. You have no way of knowing what your health will be like, or what might befall you in the time between now and when your new health coverage starts up. A car accident, a terrible case of poison ivy, a hernia, an acute upper respiratory infection, a broken bone....none of these are things we desire to have happen, and we don't plan for them either. Unfortunately, they do happen, and being covered to have them taken care of, either through co-pays or after a deductible is met, is what many people would file under “peace of mind.”

If you are facing a gap in your health insurance coverage, don't let that stand. With temporary Tampa health insurance plans available for every price range and every age, no one need go a day without coverage.

Serving central and west coast Florida, Bay Marketing, a licensed independent contractor with Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Florida, has been providing insurance plan information for individuals and employers during the last
twenty years. Many of their professional agents specialize in both individual and commercial health insurance for the florida business
owner. Call 813-882-3598 / 800-330-3598 or contact Bay Marketing for an online individual and group insurance quote at Florida Health Plans Online.

Author Elliot Bigman.

Bay Marketing offers Tampa Health Plans to suit your medical insurance needs

2009-05-08T15:38:00.003-04:00

Have you ever called for Florida health insurance quotes and talked with an agent who can’t answer your questions or tries to sell you a policy that you don’t need and can’t afford? Have you been frustrated by being put on hold or told to wait for approval?

At Bay Marketing Tampa, we can answer all your health insurance questions and offer a wide variety of health plans to suit your budget and medical care needs. We pride ourselves on quality customer service and real relationships with our clients that last for years. Our experienced health insurance agents are honest people serving the Tampa Bay, Hillsborough, and surrounding area residents. Many have been with Bay Marketing for over ten years and know the answers to your health plan questions. We are real people serving real people. Here are just a few of the benefits we offer:

Personal and knowledgeable customer service

Dedicated insurance agents

Lasting relationships with our clients

Honest answers to your health plan questions

Award winning Tampa health insurance agency

Quality health plans and flexible options

Affordable health plan benefits

Easy and convenient application process

Competitive insurance premiums and rates

Since 1985, Bay Marketing Tampa has served in excess of 40,000 clients. This office has consistently been one of BCBSF's top agencies statewide and a member of the prestigious Diamond Club. We offer a wide variety of health plans and represent not only BCBSF, but other top Florida health insurance providers. Our health plans cover individual and group insurance policies as well as dental, and medicare supplement insurance. We also offer life insurance, annuities and long-term insurance plans. For any health plan questions call our experienced Tampa agents at (813) 882-3598 or toll free at 800-330-3598. Visit Florida Health Plans Online to apply for your Tampa health plans today.

The Bay Marketing Tampa Team

Need help choosing a dental plan?

2009-04-13T22:22:00.006-04:00

Preventive dental care will ensure your teeth are healthy while decreasing the risk of gum disease and painful cavities. Many dental insurance plans cover preventive care with cleaning, and checkups. To keep your smile healthy, shop around for the best dental plan to suit your needs. The following describes different types of dental care insurance and treatment coverage options available. Dental insurance is usually divided into two types based on the co-pays and network providers.

The Managed Care Dental Insurance Plan:
This plan has a network of doctors that are providers, doctor visits and treatment must be done within the network so choices of dentists are limited to the network providers. Many in this dental plan are assigned a dentist for preventive care within the network.

The Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan: This dental plan has a network of dental health care providers and you choose your dentists and service providers in the network. Going outside of the network may not be covered.

The Fee for Service Dental Insurance Plan:
Dental treatment services are paid at time of service. This plan allows choice of any doctors with individual dental service claims made after each visit. The insurance company then reimburses for any medical expenses covered in the dental plan. Many of the plans have set prices for certain services so check carefully to understand what the plan covers and possible limitations.

Dental Treatment Options and Cost Comparison:

In many dental plans, the least expensive treatment option will be followed by the physician because the dental plan will cover only the less costly procedure. The patient must cover the additional cost if choosing a more expensive treatment option. For choices in treatment options, monthly premiums are higher but more dental services and procedures are available. Check the policy to find out who makes the treatment decisions. Many people prefer getting higher quality treatments and will opt for higher premiums and co-pays

Dental Treatment and Services Coverage:
Read the policy to find out if the plan covers preventive care for routine cleanings and checkups. Does it cover emergency services? Many plans cover both and list the services covered in the plan. Here’s a typical list of routine treatments in a full dental plan:

1) Full x-ray checkup--every three years,
2) Initial oral examination--once per dentist
3) Recall examinations--twice per year,
4) Cavity x-ray checkup-- once per year
5) Teeth cleaning--twice per year
6) Topical Fluoride treatment--twice per year
7) Sealants--for those under age 18.

Routine Corrective Treatments Coverage:

Check what routine corrective treatments are included in your policy coverage. Many need more than preventive dental care to treat more serious dental problems. Some dental plans will cover 70-80 percent of the treatment costs, so find out how much will be paid in co-pays and maximum payout amount of policy. Here are the routine corrective treatments that many dental plans cover:

1) Restorative care - amalgam and composite resin fillings and stainless steel crowns on primary teeth
2) Endodontics - treatment of root canals and removal of tooth nerves
3) Oral Surgery - tooth removal, and minor surgical procedures such as tissue biopsy and drainage of minor oral infections.
4) Periodontics - treatment of periodontal disease including scaling, root planning and management of acute infections or lesions
5) Prosthodontics--repair of existing dentures and bridges.

Take advantage of being covered and visit the dentist on a scheduled basis with routine cleaning, and checkups. Keeping your teeth and mouth healthy requires following a preventive treatment plan. For more expensive treatments or surgery, ask the doctor about payment plans available to cover out of pocket expenses that insurance does not cover. Knowing your dental plan coverage and the treatment services it offers will also be an advantage when choosing additional plan options or changing policies.

Bay Marketing Tampa is a top health insurance agency serving Tampa Bay and surrounding areas. Call 813-882-3598 / 800-330-3598 or visit Florida Health Plans Online for your Florida Dental Insurance.