Product Description

Both a primer and a buyers guide, it offers up-to-date information and practical advice.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1022760 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 268 pages

From Kirkus Reviews
Clear and simple, an invaluable primer on health insurance. The Silver Lake editors aim to educate consumers on all types of insurance, and health insurance is surely among the most baffling. Furthermore, as the authors point out, a result of changing employer/employee relations has been a change in how people getor don't gethealth insurance. Readers must be prepared to understand options and make informed choiceswith the help provided here, this is not an impossible task. The authors begin with basic mechanics and key definitions, then go on to cover the various categories of insurance, from traditional indemnity (or fee-for-service), through major medical, managed care (``known for its atrocities''), Medicaid/Medicare, workers' compensation, and special coverage (for example, in case of cancer). They then explain in detail how to choose insurance for individual situations. As they realistically point out, when it comes to insurance, ``problems don't surface until you make a claim which is denied or underpaid''and for that inevitable occurrence, here is help sorting it all out. Most importantly, the authors advise, be ready to review health insurance coverage annually: no matter how onerous the task, it's the only way to maintain adequate coverage in a fast-changing field. A timely lesson, then, on an important subject. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review
Hassle-Free Health Coverage is critically important reading for anyone facing an open enrollment period, changes jobs... -- Wisconsin Bookwatch

What consumers need to know about health insurance--major medical, managed care, Medicare, Medicaid, and workers' compensation. -- Bottom Line Health

About the Author
The Silver Lake Editors have been writing about insurance and personal finance issues for more than a decade. Their other books include The Insurance Buying Guide (ISBN 1563431459),Get Your Claim Paid (ISBN 1563431688)and "What Do You Mean It's Not Covered?" (ISBN 1563431637)

Customer Reviews

Duplication and Mediocrity
This book does contain some definitions and explanation of health insurance conventions that may be helpful to many. For instance I found the explanation of what to expect from Medicare and the info on Medigap policies informative. As for advice, there are few insights here, mostly platitudes and generalities that should be obvious to anyone (like "read the policy terms"!) Far worse, the text in this book is EXACTLY IDENTICAL to the book "Health Insurance Made E-Z" - so DON'T BUY BOTH!

Best Book on a Under-served Subject
A client asked me for a book that explained the basics of health insurance. I surprized him and myself when I said I didn't know one. So I looked everywhere. The books that are comprehensive are technical tomes for people in the industry. The ones that are for lay people are oversimplified and condescending.
This is the only book that I found that's both comprehensive and for consumers. I'm glad this publisher does books on insurance for ordinary people.
But I'm still surprized there aren't more books on medical insurance for consumers. It's a critical issue!