Brister Health Advisors

10/24/2024

Below is a chart spanning the past 25 years of health insurance premiums for families (blue graph) and individuals (orange graph). The rising cost of health coverage is not new, but you can see the year over year increase has been greater in the past 7 years than the previous 18.

Has your monthly premium increased significantly over recent years? Might be worth exploring your options to see if you can find more affordable options or better coverage (such as plans with nationwide PPO networks).

With Open Enrollment right around the corner, now is the time to figure out what kind of coverage works for you *and* fits your budget. Let us know how we can help! Call today 615-521-1910 for a free quote.

10/14/2024

According to Kaiser Family Foundation 2024 benchmark Employer Health Survey, insurance premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance increase 7% in 2024 for an average cost of $25,572 annually (or $2,131 per month). Of that $25,572, the employee contributes $6,296 (24.62%).

Additionally, the study showed that insurance premiums have increase 24% since 2019, matching the overall rise in inflation (23%).

Has your employer coverage increased significantly this year?

If so, might be a good time to explore your options, include private market PPO plans that offer comparable coverage. To schedule a free consultation, reach out to us at 615-521-1910 or send us a message.

At a minimum, a free consultation will give you the information you need to compare your options and access to plans only available through licensed insurance agents in your area. We work in 30 states helping people just like you find affordable, quality health coverage for you and your family.

Source: https://www.kff.org/health-costs/press-release/annual-family-premiums-for-employer-coverage-rise-7-to-average-25572-in-2024-benchmark-survey-finds-after-also-rising-7-last-year/

10/09/2024

How much difference does having an FSA or HSA make when it comes to health care expenditures? According a recent survey called 2011-2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), those with an FSA spend on average $2033 more on health care than those who don't, and those with an HSA spent $697 more on health care than those who don't.

These accounts allow people to set aside a portion of their pretax income to cover qualified medical expenses and are usually enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP).

Source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2823758

09/23/2024

Pfizer is starting to sell their drugs directly to consumers through "Phizer for All" - a telehealth platform where consumers can get COVID tests, vaccines, and migraine medications without having to go their doctor. This new move isn't without some controversy, and obesity drugs like Zepbound will also be available at a steep discount, provided the customer pays out of pocket and not through insurance.

Some drugmakers are getting into the telehealth business in a move that might allow them to sell drugs directly to patients.

09/20/2024

Mammograms are critical in early detection of breast cancer. Until recently, the recommended age for women to start yearly mammograms is 50, but that is changing.

The U.S. Preventative Services Taskforce is now recommended all women to get screened every other year, starting at age 40. This change is based on new evidence and inclusive science about breast cancer in younger women.

For more details, check out this link:

A rise in breast cancer among younger women prompted the U.S. Preventive Task Force to issue new screening guidelines. They recommend mammograms every other year, starting at age 40.

09/20/2024

GLP-1 Drugs. Who's on them, and for what reason? Is it worth it?

According to KFF Health, 1 in 8 (12%) of all Americans have taken a "GPL-1 agonist". Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are the big three leading in this category, and while most people who take these medications (62%) are for chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, nearly 4 in 10 now take it solely for weight loss.

When in comes to health coverage, it is important to consider the implications of GPL-1 medications. Currently, Medicare is prohibited by law from covering drugs when prescribed for weight loss, and it is a general consensus of population that those who choose to take these drugs for the purpose of weight loss should be responsible for bearing the cost.

But aside from cost, another important factor when it comes to GLP-1 drugs is how they are interpreted when applying for health coverage, especially on the private market. If you are looking for strong coverage, better network, and overall more value in a health plan, you will want to avoid taking the GPL-1 drugs as they will likely prohibit you from having access to those plans. Consumers will need to weigh the benefits of short-term weight loss with the long-term restrictions on having access to the better plans in their area.

Source: https://www.kff.org/health-costs/poll-finding/kff-health-tracking-poll-may-2024-the-publics-use-and-views-of-glp-1-drugs/

12/07/2023

We have just a little more than a week left in this year's Open Enrollment season! While I have very limited availability, I would love to help anyone in my online community needing help with securing coverage.

As an advisor, my goal is to simplify the process and help you navigate the market to find the right plan. As an agent, I can provide you nationwide PPO options not available to the general public (I'm licensed in 30 states, not just TN).

Shoot me a message or leave a comment, and let's get this done before it's too late!

To go ahead and schedule a time to connect, here's a link to my calendar - https://calendly.com/timbrister/oe2024

10/30/2022

Friendly reminder to be a good friend to those who need to get a health plan this Open Enrollment.

Be a good friend and recommend them to an agent who can shop all the plans for them, saving them time and money. 🙏🏼

Save them the headache of becoming an internet lead and get hit up by scores of telemarketers for the next two months! 😩

Give us a call 615-521-1910 or schedule a free consultation (https://calendly.com/timbrister/consultation).

10/29/2022

Open Enrollment is here (Nov. 1), and before you jump into looking over health insurance options, I want to give you 3 important tips to help you navigate the market.

1. Network Comes First - don’t just pay attention to the carrier (e.g., BCBS, Aetna, UHC, Cigna, etc.) because what matters most is who will accept your plan. Do you know the difference between a PPO and HMO? Have your checked to see if your providers are in network with the EPO network? If you don’t pay attention to the network, you may find yourself with a policy that none of your providers accept.

2. Plans That Fit Your Coverage Needs - there are plans that are income based where you can qualify for a subsidy, and there are other plans that are health based and designed for healthy people. If you have a history of pre-existing conditions that prevent you from qualifying for underwritten coverage, ACA options would where you need to look. If you are healthy and rarely if ever hit a deductible and benefits that don’t require a deductible to satisfy, you should consider private market options that are available through a licensed agent. No one plan is right for everyone. It is important to find the right plan for you and/or your family.

3. Know The Risks Related to Your Health - choosing NOT to get coverage is the riskiest decision you can make, but the second most risk-taking decision it to shop for the “cheapest plan available” as you may find yourself with very limited coverage, no out-of-pocket maximum, and exclusions in areas where you need it most. Always important to know what you’re getting as well as NOT getting as every plan has limitations and exclusions. Sometimes shopping for the cheapest plan can be the most expensive decision you could ever make. Be sure to have a plan with a max out of pocket and unlimited policy maximum!

My primary role is to serve as an advisor. At the end of the day, my hope is to leverage my knowledge and experience with the market to simplify your search and provide you with a solution in a trustworthy and transparent manner. If you’d like to schedule a free complimentary consultation, you can find a time that works best for you by clicking this link - https://calendly.com/timbrister/consultation

10/17/2022

When it comes to insurance, the most important equation is the relationship of math and risk.

Going without insurance is a very risky situation, especially when it comes to your health. The number one cause for bankruptcy in the United States continues to be unpaid medical bills (62%). The fundamental concept of insurance is to transfer that risk so that financial loss is mitigated as the insurance company absorbs medical bills once you have met your financial obligation to the policy with an out of pocket maximum.

With that said, many of the “cheaper” options on the market do not afford you that protection as they either (1) do not provide you with unlimited policy maximum or (2) do not provide you with an out of pocket maximum. While these plans are often attractive due to price, they leave you vulnerable to significant financial loss. In other words, they don’t handle the risk part of the equation well at all.

On the other hand, it is important to consider the math side of the equation as well. In most cases, the health insurance premium is the largest item in a family budget outside of the mortgage payment. When it comes to insurance, the one math item you know for sure to factor in is the premium, because without it you would not have coverage. While hitting a deductible is not a guarantee, that would be the second consideration, following by co-insurance. Finally, it is important to be aware of the limitations or exclusions so that you know what might not be covered.

At the end of the day, you need to know whether (1) the math makes sense for your budget, and (2) you are comfortable with the risk inherent with your health. Ideally, you want to minimize the risk as much as possible while making the cost for quality coverage as affordable as possible.

That’s where we come in. It’s not easy to figure out the math and risk relationship in insurance, but it is our job to simplify the process while exhausting all options so that you secure the coverage you need at a price you can afford.

Shoot us a message and let's see how we can help you today!

10/05/2022

Do you know what your health coverage will do in the event of an accident or injury? The story below tells about an event where a lady went for a scan for concussion in an ER and came out with a $17,000 bill(!).

Accidents are those things that happen to you regardless of your health. Unpredictable and often very costly, accidents are most often the reason why people will hit a deductible. If you're looking for health coverage that will minimize your out of pocket costs for the likelihood you or a member of your family will have an accident resulting in an ambulance ride, ER visit, or outpatient surgery, let's talk. We'd love to discuss your options with you!

After a car accident, Frankie Cook went to the ER to make sure she didn't have a concussion. She walked out of the hospital in the clear. Then came the bill.

10/05/2022

After a generous reprieve, we're coming back to bring you all the important news and information related to healthcare and insurance related matters that affect you and your family!

We will try to keep it brief and to the point, but needless to say, being uninformed and ill-equipped to tackle getting the right health coverage can be one of the costliest things you can do! We want to help avoid the pitfalls and landmines in the journey of protecting what's most important to you!

More to come...