Insurance

Realistically speaking, nobody can tell what will happen in the future. You’ll never know when you’re going to retire, get sick or perish in this world and leave your loved ones. Despite these uncertainties, one thing is sure life can be one of your most important assets. So, if you want to prepare for anything that might happen in the future, having a life insurance policy would make sense for you and your family. If you still need life insurance, read on to learn why you should get one in 2023.

What is a Life Insurance?

Essentially, life insurance refers to a contract entered into between the insured and the insurer wherein the latter agrees to pay a certain amount of money to the designated beneficiaries when the former dies in exchange for premiums to be paid by the insured during their lifetime.

Unlike other types of insurance, the application for life insurance requires the disclosure of the policy owner’s past and current health conditions. Otherwise, the insurance policy will not be successfully enforced. On the other hand, when you’re searching for life insurance, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the different types to make the right decision. Some common types of life insurance include:

• Term Life Insurance: It’s designed for individuals who want insurance coverage for a specific situation. It’s a cheap type of insurance since you only purchase specific insurance and do not pay for the cash value life insurance.
• Whole Life Insurance: It’s ideal for people wanting lifelong insurance coverage. It can cover the insured for the entire duration of their life.
• Burial And Funeral Insurance: It’s perfect for people who are already in poor health and need insurance to cover the funeral costs. It’s a small insurance policy that’s only intended to pay for the burial and funeral expenses.

Indeed, there are many types of life insurance to be aware of. However, if you want to make the most out of your options, you may talk to some insurance providers in your area to get more information or browse through the web to obtain further resources.

Reasons for Getting Life Insurance

A life insurance policy can protect you and your family in case something happens in the future. But aside from that, the following are some fundamental reasons why you should get life insurance in 2023:

To Leave an Inheritance for your Family

When you don’t have enough assets to transfer to your family when you pass away, having a life insurance policy can be something to leave to your family. With life insurance, you can name your family, specifically your kids, as your policy’s beneficiaries. This means that they can receive a sum of money from your coverage which can cover their basic needs even after your death.

To Replace Lost Income

Another reason for getting life insurance coverage is to replace the income lost as a result of your death. In most cases, life insurance can provide financial security after your passing. When your family only depends on your income for sustenance, life insurance can ensure your family won’t be helpless to pay monthly bills and other expenses.

To Settle your Debts 

Aside from income replacement, having life insurance can also help clear the family’s debts after your death. Your family can use the proceeds they receive from your life insurance policy to pay off all the debts, such as a mortgage, credit cards, and other financial obligations. Consequently, you can have peace of mind knowing your family won’t have to worry about the debts after your passing.

To Protect Business Interests

If you have a business, having life insurance can protect your business interests after your passing. The proceeds of your life policy can cover the financial obligations to ensure the company will keep running. If you have a business partner, you can name them as your beneficiary and you as your partner’s beneficiary in their life insurance.

Hence, if you perish, your business partner can handle all the obligations to avoid significant business losses, which can potentially threaten its continued existence.

To Build Extra Cushions for Emergencies 

Life insurance also comes in handy during financial emergencies. If you get whole life insurance, you can have permanent coverage, which is only extinguished upon your cancellation. Due to the nature of this type of insurance, you can have the opportunity to build cash value over time. The good thing about this cash value is that your family can use it as extra money to cover some financial emergencies anytime.

Conclusion

Life insurance can be a great way to protect your family financially when you die. Since you don’t know when you’ll leave them, you should be prepared by getting the right life insurance to meet your needs. But if you’re still unsure how it can work out for you and your loved ones, it’s best to keep the information mentioned above in mind

In a 2022 survey, 80% of all people answered positively when asked whether they were planning a road trip in the near future. Road trips are the perfect tradition with family and friends, as you make memories, visit new places, and experience new things. But, no matter if it’s a 3-hour ride or a cross-country trip, there are some things you should know.

One of those things is having proper car insurance. It is important to have one in case of an accident or an unpredicted scenario. But understanding car insurance can be tricky, especially if you’re not familiar with all the lingo. Here are some basics ideas to help get you started.

Different Types of Car Insurance

There are different types of car insurance available in today’s market. Some of the most common include liability, collision, and personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.

• Liability insurance is the most basic type of car insurance and covers damages to other people or property that you may be held responsible for in an accident.
• Collision insurance covers any damages done to your vehicle in the event of an accident.
• Personal injury protection insurance covers medical expenses for you and your passengers in the event of an accident.

No matter what type of car insurance you are looking for, it is important to shop around before making a purchase. For instance, if you’re living in Ontario, Canada, and are looking for a proper brokerage to help you find a suitable insurance plan, click here to find out more about the different types and compare quotes fast and easily. Different insurers offer different coverage options and prices, so it is important to find the policy that best meets your needs.

Car Insurance Stands No Matter who the Driver is

If you’re road-tripping with friends or family, share the driving to break up the monotony and to get a quick break. This is allowed as the insurance follows the car, not the driver. Most insurance policies will cover the damage if you’re involved in a car accident, no matter who was driving. But, you need to make sure that your relative or friend has an up-to-date license. Make sure to contact your insurer beforehand to put your mind at ease.

Paying for Additional Coverage is Wise

When taking a road trip, it’s important to consider all the possible risks and make sure you’re prepared for them. One thing you may want to consider is additional coverage for your car. This could include things like roadside assistance or collision insurance. By having this extra coverage, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your trip without worrying about the potential for accidents or other problems.

There are a few different things to consider when deciding if additional coverage is right for you.

• The length of your trip. If you’re taking a short road trip, it may not be worth it to pay for extra coverage. However, if you’re going on a longer trip, it may be worth it to have that added peace of mind.
• Your budget. If you can afford to pay for extra coverage, it may be a good idea to do so. However, if you’re on a tight budget, you may want to skip this step. Ultimately, it’s up to you whether or not extra coverage is worth the investment.

Passing National Borders Requires Extra Insurance

If you’re planning on driving outside of the country, then you need to buy additional insurance that will cover you while you’re in a foreign country.

You can save money by being specific about the time period you need to be covered. This way, you only pay for what you use instead of wasting money on coverage that extends beyond your needs.

Car Insurance may not Cover Personal Belongings

When purchasing an auto insurance policy make sure you ask whether it covers theft. This is something important to take into consideration, and you may need more coverage than what your current policy offers.

If you have a travel insurance policy in addition to your regular one, this could cover you in the event of theft. However, it depends on the specifics of your provider and product, as well as what led to the theft.

Bottom Line

Road tripping is a lot of fun, but you shouldn’t do it without car insurance. Car insurance is essential to protect yourself and your passengers in the event of an accident. But, keep in mind that not all car insurance policies are created equal. Make sure you understand what your policy covers before you hit the road.

Insurance is financial protection against unforeseen situations that damage health or property. In such cases, insured persons are compensated by the insurance company. There are many insurance programs around the world today. There is two main types – compulsory and optional insurance. Clients can adjust the program on their own. You can read the colonel penny insurance section that describes the benefits of this type of contract. Supplemental insurance makes it possible to cope with the financial problems associated with unexpected events in your life. The insurance company’s reimbursement will cover the costs incurred due to temporary disability or illness.

Insurance Programs

Voluntary life and health insurance have a thousand-year history. The ancient Romans understood the need for financial protection in case of unforeseen circumstances and were the first to introduce personal insurance. Contributions were made to special funds of trade unions, which made cash payments to families of its members in the event of their premature death or injury. Life and health insurance is the most popular type of financial protection in today’s world. Insurance companies offer hundreds of insurance products that protect against various risks to our life and health.

Insurance will not protect against accidents, natural disasters, bankruptcy, illness, and other unpleasant things. But it will help cover losses. Insurance can be:

• Universal life and health insurance This type of insurance covers protection from the consequences of a large number of events that led to the death or death of the insured person.
• Insurance against the consequences of traffic accidents. The object is the life and health of people who spend a significant amount of time behind the wheel. Passengers can also be insured.
• Disability insurance. The main risk – is the severe consequences of the accident, which led to the establishment of disability. You should remember that some companies only insure the risk of establishing the first and second groups of disability. The third group may not be referred to as an insured event. On our website, you can purchase such insurance as well.
• Sports insurance Amateur athlete’s insurance can be purchased for a specific period or event (tournament).
• Additional insurance against accidents due to professional duties. As a rule, the employer pays for this type of insurance. It is associated with the risks of the profession. Among those protected are the military, members of the security forces, judges, deputies, and security guards. Private companies also often insure their employees whose work is risky. Examples are companies providing transportation services, high-altitude mountain climbing services, etc.
• Pets insurance Covers the cost of medical treatment and harm to third parties.

Insurance is an opportunity to save money for medical treatment or accident compensation.

What is the Payout Amount for Accidental Life Insurance?

The maximum amount of benefits is written in the insurance policy. The total benefits depend on the severity of the consequences of the accident. As a rule, 100% of the sum insured is prescribed in the contract. It is paid in case of death of the insured or establishment of the first group of disability. Some insurance companies pay the entire sum insured if the second group of disability is also established.

In the case of temporary disability, the insurance payment amount depends on the medical diagnosis. The appendix to the insurance contract and the rules of the particular insurance company specify what percentage of the maximum sum insured is paid for a specific injury according to the Table of Benefits. The exact amount depends on the insurance company you choose. The period of disability or hospitalization may also be taken into account in calculating the benefit.

Paying for insurance, when you don’t necessarily need it, on a monthly basis can be a real hassle. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you are paying for nothing even though it may seem like that to you. Insurance is crucial when it comes to things on the defensive side of your game plan in this situation, even though it may not be as visually appealing as something like your debt snowball.

Consider insurance as a life vest. When you don’t need it, it hurts, but when you do, you are incredibly grateful to have it. Here, risk transfer is the key concept. Without insurance, a single auto accident, illness, or emergency could leave you with a significant financial mess.

Car Insurance

In most places, having auto insurance of some kind is required by law. Reasonable car insurance is something you shouldn’t avoid, even if you aren’t required to have it and you drive an old clunker that has been paid off for years. You may face a lawsuit that could cost you everything you own if you cause an accident and someone is hurt or their property is damaged. Accidents occur suddenly, and the outcomes are frequently tragic. You save very little money and put everything you own at risk if you have no auto insurance or only purchase the minimum amount of coverage.

Homeowner’s Insurance

The cost of replacing your home is high, but the process might go more smoothly if you have the appropriate homeowner’s insurance. When looking for a policy, look for one that includes coverage for the cost of living elsewhere while your home is being repaired, as well as the replacement of the structure and its contents.

Since you already own the land, the cost of rebuilding doesn’t need to include the actual cost of the land. The cost to replace your home could be higher or lower than what you paid for it depending on its age and the amenities it has. Find out how many local builders charge per square foot and multiply that amount by the volume of space you need to replace to get an accurate estimate. Make sure you calculate the potential price of upgrades and extra features and verify once again that the insurance policy will pay for any liability for accidents that might happen on your property.

Life Insurance

Life insurance should be high on your list of necessary insurance policies if your parents, spouse, kids, or other loved ones would suffer financially as a result of your passing. Consider how much you make annually (and how long you intend to work), then buy a policy to replace that income in the event of your untimely death. Make sure you include the cost of burial as well, as many families struggle with this unexpected expense.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is increasingly important due to the rising costs of medical care. Even a routine trip to the family doctor can incur a sizable expense. In fact, a bill for more severe injuries that necessitate a hospital stay may exceed the cost of a week at a five-star resort. Surgery-related injuries can be as much as five-figure costs. Although almost everyone finds the cost of health insurance to be prohibitive, the potential cost of not having coverage is much higher.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Because it is so terrifying, some people choose to ignore the possibility of long-term disability (LTD). Although we all wish that nothing like that will ever happen to us, putting your future financial security in the hands of hope is not a wise move. Instead, pick a disability insurance plan with sufficient benefits to allow you to maintain your standard of living even if you are no longer able to work.

When an insured person suffers from a covered disability, long-term disability insurance pays out an amount that is equal to a portion of their salaries, such as 50% or 60%. In most cases, long-term disability starts when short-term disability ends. To be eligible for benefits, a disability must have developed after the policy was issued and, typically, after a waiting period. You must submit medical data to the insurer with a doctor’s confirmation.

Final Thoughts

Losses are a part of life, but how much they affect us and our beloved ones depends on the loss. By providing financial benefits for covered losses, insurance lessens the impact. There are numerous insurance options, but some rank at the top in terms of significance, such as home or property insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, health insurance, and automobile insurance.

Your homeowner’s insurance provider will pay to repair or rebuild your home and replace its contents if they are damaged by certain risks like a fire, theft, or a weather disaster like wind or lightning. It will also pay to replace any personal belongings stolen from your home.

Suppose you are unaware of the coverage offered by your best homeowner’s insurance policy and its policies. In that case, you may be paying more than you should for insufficient protection. The following list of the top insurance companies in 2022 is provided to assist you in locating a homeowner’s insurance policy that meets your specific needs.

Erie

Erie is another well-known home insurance provider that has received outstanding evaluations for its financial stability and excellent customer service.

Erie performed admirably across all of our evaluation criteria, but its cost-effectiveness stood out the most. Most of the company’s rivals in the sector are constantly undercut by the business’s competitive pricing.

USAA

Only active or former members of the military, as well as members of their immediate families, are eligible to join USAA. If you are qualified for USAA homeowners insurance, you will be entitled to benefits such as reductions in the cost of car rentals and ADT home security systems.

Another characteristic that sets USAA apart from other house insurance providers is that its standard policies contain not one, not two. Three different types of insurance coverage, whilst other providers need you to buy more coverage as an add-on.

Amica

When compared to the other providers, Amica® offers the widest variety of liability coverage choices. Most businesses provide liability coverage of between $100,000 and $1 million, but the minimum coverage option offered by Amica is $25,000. It allows policyholders to reduce their premium if they are less concerned about the possibility of being held liable for an accident. It may also enable homeowners to enhance their coverage in other areas at a more financially manageable price.

Farmers

Farmers have the most adaptable homeowners insurance. Farmers Insurance allows you to decide how much protection you want for each coverage category. In contrast, most home insurance companies only offer a predetermined amount of coverage for other structures, personal property, and loss of use based on the amount of your dwelling coverage. It covers over twenty different deductible options and liability coverage of up to two million dollars.

Liberty Mutual

Since its founding, Liberty Mutual has been dedicated to meeting its clients’ reasonably priced homeowner’s insurance needs.

The fact that the company offers numerous discount options, such as those for bundling, first-time homebuyers, paperless billing, early shopping, and even up to ten percent off for simply making an online purchase, enables it to maintain competitively priced insurance policies. This service provider is an excellent option for anyone interested in making the most of the discounts.

Travelers

Travelers are the most experienced provider of car, home, and renter’s insurance products and services, with more than 160 years of expertise in the market. Travelers are the oldest company in the home insurance sector.

Even if the home insurance options offered by this company aren’t nearly as wide as those offered by Farmers, you can still personalize the protection for other structures, personal belongings, and loss of use.

Allstate

The ability to tailor coverage to individual needs and competitive pricing is why Allstate offers the best home insurance in the business of customer care. Allstate’s customer service representatives are available around the clock to answer any concerns about homeowners’ insurance. In contrast to most insurance providers, which only keep their claims centers open around the clock.

You can use the mobile app or web portal to manage your policy and submit a claim if you would rather do so without speaking to a customer care professional.

The amount of your liability, medical payments to others, and deductible levels are up to you. Still, the cost of reconstructing your house decides how much coverage you receive for your dwelling, other structures, personal property, and loss of use.

You also have the ability further to customise your policy with over ten different endorsement options, and Allstate provides nine different homeowner discounts to help lower your monthly costs.

Nationwide

AM Best has given a strong “good financial strength” grade to the company Nationwide, a well-known provider. The organisation provides a comprehensive selection of financial goods, such as homeowners insurance and insurance for renters. Individuals who want comprehensive coverage but do not want to be required to purchase a lengthy list of add-ons are the greatest candidates for Nationwide.

Its basic plan already incorporates coverage for which most other providers charge additional fees. In addition to that, it offers some protection against fraudulent charges made on credit or debit cards.

State Farm

One of the most reputable home and vehicle insurance providers, State Farm, allows customers to tailor their coverage to meet their specific requirements by providing a selection of over ten different endorsements. In addition to formal endorsements such as water backup, full replacement cost, and earthquake insurance, the company also provides more specialised options such as service line coverage, home system protection, and personal injury coverage.

If you are trying to fine-tune your insurance by adding additional coverage, State Farm might be the company for you to choose.

Lemonade

Even though Lemonade is still relatively young in the field of homeowner’s insurance, the firm has prioritised providing customers with an insurance experience that is unlike any other. That is accomplished in several ways by the company, including the provision of individual endorsements for valuable items such as jewellery, fine art, bicycles, cameras, and musical instruments, as well as the ability to choose the level of coverage desired for each valuable item.

Additionally, the business works hard to provide its policyholders with a positive experience through an intuitive mobile application. It takes only one minute and a half to sign up for insurance, and claims reported using the app are typically paid out within three minutes of receiving.

Health insurance can help cover the costs of medical care for you and your loved ones if the coverage is used appropriately. Cats are family members, and pet insurance can help ensure they get the care they need without breaking the bank.

As any cat owner attests, owning a cat comes with a significant financial commitment. They provide the best care possible for your cat can be expensive, what with veterinary bills and expensive specialty diets. Pet insurance is a must-have if you want to give your cat the best possible life in terms of happiness and health without putting undue financial strain on your family. It doesn’t matter what type of pet you have or how old it is; purchasing the best pet insurance is a simple and fast process.

Tips for Obtaining Pet Insurance for your Feline

Obtaining full coverage pet insurance for your cat is simple. Some employers provide pet insurance plans, and it’s worth it. At the end of 20171, about 11 percent of companies reported providing their workers pet health insurance as a voluntary perk. If you want to find out if something like this is available for you, talk to your company’s HR or benefits office.

A cat insurance policy can be purchased online from an insurance company if your company does not offer such a benefit.

If your cat is older than seven weeks, it is eligible for insurance coverage. To maximize the insurance’s usefulness, enrolling your cat in a plan is preferable when they’re still young and healthy. However, many companies offering pets insurance have no maximum age limits so that you can ensure your cat anytime.

Remember that your cat’s pet insurance prices could rise as they age.

Step-by-Step Instructions on how to Enroll your Cat in Health Insurance

Take Advantage of Price Estimates

Get your cat’s name, breed, age, gender, and medical history ready to give to the vet. Your name, address, and email address are required, among other information. Filling out the form shouldn’t take more than a minute or two of your time.

Pick a Package that Works for your Lifestyle and Budget

Once you have received an estimate, you may compare the options and pick the one that best fits your demands and budget. All of your pet’s veterinarian care expenditures may be covered by one of the many pet insurance plans available from most companies. Choose the most suitable option for your cat and your wallet.

Cover Yourself by Joining a Plan

Buy the pet insurance policy you’ve decided on right now. Your cat’s breed, age, the amount of coverage you select, and your location will all impact the premium price. Thanks to the agreement with Pets Best insurance providers, all customers who opt for pet health insurance can save an extra five percent on their monthly payments.

Put your Benefits to Good Use

Once your cat is insured, you can take her to any hospital or clinic that accepts insurance in the United States. Also, making a claim won’t impact your regular rates, so feel free to do so as often as you need to.

The Procedure for Claiming on a Cat’s Insurance

Although the specifics of how to file a claim and receive benefits from pet insurance can vary by provider, the process is straightforward. However, it may take time to adjust to the change. These instructions teach the ins and outs of using Pets’ Best pet insurance.

Get a policy ahead of time if you want to take advantage of pet insurance benefits. Pick a strategy, sign up for it, and keep paying the monthly fee.

Verify that the Appropriate Amount of Time has Passed Since your Last Waiting Period

A waiting period, the time following registering in an insurance plan but before coverage takes effect, is standard practice. Pets’ Best waiting times are typically two weeks or fewer, though this can vary by plan type. Accident waiting periods begin accruing on the policy’s effective date and end three days later. The incubation period for diseases is 14 days. When you enroll in a routine care plan, you can begin using it the following business day.

It will help if you Continue Taking your Cat to the Vet as you have Been

Take your cat to the vet if it becomes hurt or sick. Your plan will pay for care at any registered veterinary facility, so you may go to whomever you like—your regular vet, an emergency clinic, or a specialist.

Document your Claim

Send in your claim to your insurer after visiting the vet. Taking a picture of your invoice and submitting it through your Pets Best customer account eliminates the need for paper trails.

Earn Money

Your Pets insurance direct deposits advantages to your bank account instead of your veterinarian. Additionally, claims are often processed within a few days, so you shouldn’t wait too long to receive your compensation.

The State in which you Reside: Pet Insurance Rates Vary by Location

The annual maximum, deductible, and percentage you’ll be reimbursed – Expect a higher monthly premium if you choose a plan with modest deductibles and copayments.

Your monthly charges will vary greatly depending on your plan type. In 2019, the average cost of accident and illness coverage for cats was $29.16 per month, or $10.51 per month for accident-only coverage, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). Care for your cat might cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500, but pet insurance can help cover those costs.

Is it a Good Idea to Insure a Cat?

Even though not every cat should have it, the vast majority would benefit greatly from having pet insurance. You can’t get your new kitten insured until it’s at least seven weeks old. However, cat owners may consider purchasing pet insurance. Even if your cat is in fantastic condition now, it’s always a smart idea to protect them from unexpected medical costs by investing in pet insurance.

Employee health insurance is a type of health insurance to covers the hospitalization expenses of the employees of an organization. Employee health insurance is also known as group health insurance. Let us understand the procedure to file a health insurance claim under the group health insurance policy.

Cashless Claim:- Cashless claim settlement is the type of claim settlement in which the insured need not pay any amount to the hospital as the claim amount would be paid to the hospital directly by the insurance company. Below is the process to file a cashless group health insurance.

Step 1: The first step in the cashless claim settlement process is to check the list of network hospitals in your area. If there is a specific hospital in which you want to take the treatment, then the same should be checked from the cashless network hospital list on the insurance website. If your preferred hospital is on the network list, then you can avail the cashless facility in the same hospital.

Step 2: The next step is to approach the insurance help desk in the hospital and provide your health card and insurance policy in addition to the KYC documents to process the claim. If the surgery is pre planned, then it is recommended to approach the hospital 24 hours prior to the surgery. In case of emergency, the patient would be admitted to the hospital and the cashless approval would be taken from the insurance company. The insurance help desk would take care of all the insurance related approvals.

Step 3: The third step in this process is to undergo the treatment in the network hospital and get discharged from the hospital. The discharge would be done only after receiving the claim approval from the insurance company. If there is any amount to be borne by the insured such as Co-pay or other charges, then that should be settled directly with the hospital before the discharge.

Reimbursement Claim:- The reimbursement claim is where the insured would pay the hospital bill and then claim the same from the insurance company.

Step 1: The first step in the reimbursement claim settlement process is to get admitted in a non network hospital where there is no cashless claim settlement facility and get the treatment done. An intimation should be given to the insurance company regarding the hospitalization so that the claim intimation would be acknowledged by the insurance company.

Step 2: The second step is to get treated in the hospital and then collect all the required documents such as discharge summary, cancel cheque leaf, original bills, etc. The reimbursement claim settlement form should be duly filled and signed to be sent to the insurance company.

Step 3: The third step is to send the complete claim related documents as mentioned by the insurance company. The claim would be settled within 15 working days after receiving the complete set of documents.

The technology for telehealth changed so dramatically during the course of the pandemic that the potential of digital health care in providing increased access to mental health services has now been made abundantly clear.

Till recently, the biggest health insurance companies in the U.S used to cover only face-to-face therapy, but of late the waiving of certain rules and regulations post-COVID has helped stop this blatant discrimination in behavioral healthcare. As a result, just like in-person therapy, online care has also become an essential component of the healthcare system today.

Moreover, with more and more such platforms cropping up day by day, the signs are that most insurance companies will provide cover for online treatment from now onwards. The change may have been brought about by the coronavirus, but those who have just started to use telehealth suggest that these new norms are here to stay.

Cost and Accessibility of Mental Health Healthcare for Insurance Holders

Online therapy is not much different from traditional therapy in terms of effectiveness and service. Many therapists charge the same amount for online therapy and in-person therapy because essentially they are providing the same service.

Online therapy offers the perfect alternative to connect with an accredited therapist conveniently from your private space. This is especially beneficial for those living in remote areas, are homebound, or where no type of healthcare facility exists.

Most states today require insurance companies to provide cover for mental therapy in exactly the same way they cover a traditional session with a therapist in an institutional setting.

Now, apart from mental health platforms, even the traditional caregivers are willing to counsel clients virtually and are ready to accept insurance as well.

Online Options for Telehealth

There are several ways to choose a therapist for your online therapy sessions:

• The best thing to do is to call your insurance company for a referral for an online therapist or an online therapy platform. You can even ask which telehealth platforms offer behavioral health treatment and the insurance companies which cover it.

• Consult your primary healthcare doctor who has prior experience in working with therapists in your area and then reach out to them for further information on telehealth.

• Browse over the internet to look for reputable online therapy platforms that accept insurance. In our experience, for an app to be effective it should fit with the personal care goals of the user as well as for peer support. Some which are worth a look are:

Amwell: This is a reliable online healthcare platform that accepts insurance, including Blue Cross, Anthem, Aetna, United HealthCare and Blue Shield.

Doctor on Demand: Once you complete their questionnaire, the team of healthcare professionals on their panel match you with the right therapist. All services are in-network and come with many insurance plans.

Talkspace: This platform is best for those suffering from real-life issues like anxiety, depression or any type of addiction. Several leading insurance providers like Cigna and Alliant work with Talk space.

MdLive: With over 60 million members on its network, MDLIVE offers phone and video telehealth services to its users, mostly with same-day doctor appointments. Additionally, the platform is in-network with top insurance companies.

Which Insurance Plan is Better?

Medicare Part-B provides telehealth cover which includes psychotherapy, counseling, and any other medical or health-related service offered by a provider to a user based in a remote location.

The connection can either be through real-time video or audio technology. That said, while most Medicare plans cover telehealth, the coverage varies from state to state and plan.

Once you meet your Part B deductible, you need to pay for 20% of the cost, while Medicare takes care of the rest.

The US Center for Connected Health Policy cites that Medicaid covers in-person, and online individual and group therapy in every state except Iowa, so long as you have the medical prescription and diagnosis for the specific therapy.

What is not covered in Medicaid is career counseling, couple’s therapy, and coaching. Other types of therapies will depend on your plan.

Aetna has plans which include remote counseling or televideo as some people call it. For insurance coverage, you will need to work with an Aetna advocate and your primary healthcare doctor.

Cigna policies cover virtual care which includes online mental health care. They also cover services offered by Talkspace.

Does your Health Insurance Cover Online Therapy?

Cover for mental health services varies from provider to policy. However, the pressing issue is if your current health plan includes online mental health care or not?

A good place to start is to research the website of your insurance provider. This will indicate which online platforms your provider works with.

The next step is to make a phone call to a representative of your insurance company and confirm if online therapy is covered through your specific plan before connecting with an online therapist. If you are covered by an employee-sponsored plan, ask your HR department to handle it.

Find out which resources are available to you in your healthcare policy and ask clearly if telehealth visits are covered and what the copayments are.

Remember, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 requires insurers to frame the same financial requirements for mental health care and physical health care.

If your Insurance Policy doesn’t Cover Online Therapy, then what?

If your insurance company doesn’t cover online mental health coverage, you may explore other options:

• A sliding scale fee structure can make online therapy more affordable. The rates charged on this scale by the therapist depending on how much you earn. In other words, the less you bring home, the less you pay towards the cost of treatment.

• Get in touch with the mental health care center in your area and find out what they offer. They might offer financial assistance if you are a community member, or if not a more affordable form of therapy through workshops or group sessions.

• Some therapists offer free service, especially for virtual visits. You can try contacting therapists in your area to find out who is willing to extend free online therapy sessions for you.

• Many apps offer discounts and free trials. For example, eTherapyPro does not accept insurance but instead offers a three-day free trial which you can use to decide if online therapy is right for you.

• For free therapy options in your area, you can call the National Alliance on Mental Illness or email them at info@nami.org to get connected to a mental health professional.