Safety FAQs & Healthcare Regulations Guide

The main purpose of OSHA is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act of 1970 created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) , which sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards.

OSHA covers most private sector employers and employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other U.S. jurisdictions either directly through Federal OSHA or through an OSHA- approved state plan. State-run health and safety plans must be at least as effective as the Federal OSHA program.

When You Can Sue Your Employer. Under workers' compensation laws, most employees aren't allowed to sue their employer. With workers' comp insurance, you don't have to prove your employer did anything wrong to collect benefits

OSHA standards fall into four categories: General Industry, Construction, Maritime, and Agriculture. OSHA issues standards for a wide variety of workplace hazards. Where there are no specific OSHA standards, employers must comply with The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1)

OSHA inspectors, called compliance safety and health officers, are experienced, well-trained industrial hygienists and safety professionals whose goal is to assure compliance with OSHA requirements and help employers and workers reduce on-the-job hazards and prevent injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace.

By law, Medicare supplement insurance plans no longer cover prescription drugs. Prescription drug coverage, also known as Medicare Part D, is available separately through private insurance companies approved by Medicare and can be purchased directly from Medicare.gov. Your Part D prescription plan does not have to be with the same carrier you have your Medicare Supplement with.

No. Your current Medicare Supplement plan continues if you do nothing.

It Depends. All individuals eligible for Medicare have the right to be “Guaranteed Issue” into any Medicare Supplement plan with any insurance carrier if they are within 6 months of their 65th birthday or their Medicare Part B effective date. There are also instances of “Guaranteed Issue” eligibility if an individual’s previous plan had terminated or been canceled involuntarily. Otherwise, if an applicant is not in one of these categories, the answer is “Yes”, the insurance company will require health questions, a prescription check, and often a brief “Personal Health Interview” phone call in order to determine one’s approval for the policy.

No. Even if you are applying in a health underwritten situation (outside of an open enrollment or guaranteed issue situation). There are no in-person exams, or testing required for an approval into a Medicare Supplement plan, however, some carriers will request a brief Phone Call with the applicant to discuss recent health conditions.

Yes, but there’s no guarantee that another insurer will accept your application. It is wise to request coverage and wait for a response before canceling your current plan. Federal law requires other insurers to serve you if your current provider shuts down.

You can do this as often as you want. Although there is a general misconception that you can only change your plan once a year, you can actually change your plan at any time, for any number of times throughout the year. However, your ultimate goal is to select the best policy and commit to it. You can purchase a Medicare Supplement insurance plan from any insurance company that is licensed in your state.

No, your Medicare Supplement Plan is guaranteed renewable and non-cancelable, which means as long as you pay your monthly premium payment the insurance company can never cancel your coverage or single you out in any way due your health. In addition, a Medicare Supplement company can never raise your rates individually based on your ongoing health or claims history. This means your company can never single you out for rate increases based on your own use of the plan or any health issues you had during the year. Even if you have had hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical costs paid for by your Medicare Supplement company, they cannot use this in any way to make you pay a higher rate than the rest of the people in your plan.

When you sign up for your Medicare Supplement insurance with claritylifeins, you are systematically put in position to receive the highest rated and most competitively priced plans in the marketplace. claritylifeins has made it our mission to deliver the absolute more clear, convenient, and costs efficient experience for you. Contact us anytime for client support at (215) 454-6154 and or our direct email at info@clarityconsultation.com. In addition, any policy facilitated through us will include a 30-day Free Look, which allows you to completely terminate the policy within 30 days of its issuance without incurring any penalty or fees.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets the standard for sensitive patient data protection. Companies that deal with protected health information (PHI) must have physical, network, and process security measures in place and follow them to ensure HIPAA Compliance. Covered entities (anyone providing treatment, payment, and operations in healthcare) and business associates (anyone who has access to patient information and provides support in treatment, payment, or operations) must meet HIPAA Compliance.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability ACT (HIPAA) is designed to help protect American workers and their families with continued health insurance coverage and establish industry-wide guidelines to protect the confidential use of personal healthcare information.

According to HIPAA, if you are belong to the category of “covered entities” or “business associates,” and you handle “protected health information (PHI),” you and your business are required to be HIPAA-compliant.
Let’s break this down.

“Covered entities” describes U.S. health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers.

Health Plans :
Examples of health plans include:
HMOs
Company health plans
Health maintenance companies
Medicare
Medicaid
Employers and schools who handle PHI when they enroll employees and students in health plans

Health Care Clearinghouses :
Health care clearinghouses are organizations that collect information from a healthcare entity, process this data in an industry-standard format and deliver it to another entity. Examples of clearinghouses include:

Billing services :
Community health management information system
Health Care Providers :
“Health care providers” covers a broad range of services, including:
Physicians
Surgeons
Dentists
Podiatrists
Laboratory technicians
Optometrists
Hospitals
Clinics
Nursing homes
Pharmacies

Business Associates :
“Business associates” refers to any organization or individual who acts as a vendor or subcontractor with access to PHI. Examples of business associates include:
Data transmission providers
Data processing firms
Data storage or document shredding companies
Medical equipment companies
Consultants hired for audits, coding reviews, etc.
Electronic health information exchanges<
Medical transcription services
External auditors or accountants

Protected Health Information :
With such a wide range of entities and business associates covered by HIPAA, it’s critically important to know exactly what PHI entails. Any information included in a medical record that can identify an individual and was created and used while providing health care (such as diagnosis or treatment) falls under the category of protected health information.

Is it your responsibility to ensure that your clinic is HIPAA compliant? Is it the doctor’s responsibility? What if you’re the IT guy? Is HIPAA your duty? What if you are just a janitor at a healthcare organization? The answer to all those questions is: every single person who interacts with patient health information in any way must protect it. That means if you:

Talk to patients directly

Give out prescriptions

Take blood pressure

Manage the firewall for a healthcare environment

Manage a database that holds patient data

Encrypt patient data on behalf a provider

you are responsible for HIPAA and HIPAA violations. Employees may individually face charges if patient data is compromised, but that doesn’t mean providers are exempt from making sure the organization is HIPAA compliant.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule focuses on the rights of the individual and their ability to control their protected health information or PHI. It allows practices to use the information for treatment, payment and other required functions, but otherwise it must remain confidential. This is an assurance that the information will be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure. The Privacy Rule covers the physical security and confidentiality of PHI in all formats including electronic, paper and oral.

The HIPAA Security Rule on the other hand only deals with the protection of ePHI or electronic PHI that is created, received, used, or maintained. Covered entities are required to implement adequate physical, technical and administrative safeguards to protect patient ePHI.

The HIPAA law to protect patient health information is quite well known by personnel in most physician offices. There still remain, however, some questions regarding HIPAA's rules and regulations. Providers who are not up to date with changes in the law risk potential violation that could not only damage a practice's reputation but cause criminal and civil fines.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly referred to as HIPAA, was established in 1996 to set national standards for the confidentiality, security, and transmissibility of personal health information.

below some of the more common reasons for HIPAA violation citations:

1. Employees disclosing information – Employees gossiping about patients to friends or coworkers is also a HIPAA violation that can cost a practice a significant fine. Employees must be mindful of their environment, restrict conversations regarding patients to private places, and avoid sharing any patient information with friends and family.

2. Medical records mishandling – Another very common HIPAA violation is the mishandling of patient records. If a practice uses written patient charts or records, a physician or nurse may accidentally leave a chart in the patient's exam room available for another patient to see. Printed medical records must be kept locked away and safe out of the public's view.

3. Lost or Stolen Devices – Theft of PHI (protected health information) through lost or stolen laptops, desktops, smartphones, and other devices that contain patient information can result in HIPAA fines. Mobile devices are the most vulnerable to theft because of their size; therefore, the necessary safeguards should be put into place such as password protected authorization and encryption to access patient-specific information.

4. Texting patient information – Texting patient information such as vital signs or test results is often an easy way that providers can relay information quickly. While it may seem harmless, it is potentially placing patient data in the hands of cyber criminals who could easily access this information. There are new encryption programs that allow confidential information to be safely texted, but both parties must have it installed on their wireless device, which is typically not the case.

5. Social Media - Posting patient photos on social media is a HIPAA violation. While it may seem harmless if a name is not mentioned, someone may recognize the patient and know the doctor's specialty, which is a breach of the patient's privacy. Make sure all employees are aware that the use of social media to share patient information is considered a violation of HIPAA law.

6. Employees illegally accessing patient files - Employees accessing patient information when they are not authorized is another very common HIPAA violation. Whether it is out of curiosity, spite, or as a favor for a relative or friend, this is illegal and can cost a practice substantially. Also, individuals that use or sell PHI for personal gain can be subject to fines and even prison time.

7. Social breaches - An accidental breach of patient information in a social situation is quite common, especially in smaller and more rural areas. Most patients are not aware of HIPAA laws and may make an innocent inquiry to the healthcare provider or clinician at a social setting about their friend who is a patient. While these types of inquiries will happen, it is best to have an appropriate response planned well in advance to reduce the potential of accidentally releasing private patient information.

8. Authorization Requirements - A written consent is required for the use or disclosure of any individual's personal health information that is not used for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or permitted by the Privacy Rule. If an employee is not sure, it is always best to get prior authorization before releasing any information.

9. Accessing patient information on home computers – Most clinicians use their home computers or laptops after hours from time to time to access patient information to record notes or follow-ups. This could potentially result in a HIPAA violation if the screen is accidentally left on and a family member uses the computer. Make sure your computer and laptop are password protected and keep all mobile devices out of sight to reduce the risk of patient information being accessed or stolen.

10. Lack of training - One of the most common reasons for a HIPAA violation is an employee who is not familiar with HIPAA regulations. Often only managers, administration, and medical staff receive training although, HIPAA requires all employees, volunteers, interns and anyone with access to patient information to be trained. Compliance training is one of the most proactive and easiest ways to avoid a violation.

A final expense life insurance policy is permanent life insurance, so the coverage is guaranteed to last for your entire life, no matter what age you live to. Once you pass away, your beneficiaries will receive a cash payout of the amount of your policy (known as the Death Benefit), which can be used to pay for your funeral and memorial services, unpaid bills or debts, other expenses, or can be left as a gift or inheritance. A final expense life insurance policy will not expire and can only be cancelled if you stop paying your monthly premiums.

It is your choice. There are both “Health Underwritten” policies and “Guaranteed Issue” policies. If you have a positive health history it is beneficial to complete the health underwriting, as this will insure your death benefit goes into effect immediately upon approval and will give you access to the lowest priced policies. If you have major health concerns or simply do not want to disclose any of your personal health information, you will still be able to qualify for full and permanent whole live policy at competitive prices with a “Guaranteed Issue” policy, however these policies will often have a reduced death benefit in the first two years.

“Health Underwritten” policies require some basic health questions to be answered and often a brief phone call directly with the insurance carrier- this entire approval process is simplified and streamlined for you by our team at claritylifeins. If approved for a “Health Underwritten” policy, also known as Level Benefit plans, your full death benefit amount is immediately in force for your loved ones.

“Guaranteed Issue” final expense policies do not require any health information to be provided and guarantee your approval for coverage regardless of your health. In the past it has been very challenging for those with health issues to find an affordable option for coverage. claritylifeins has engineered our service to specifically fix this problem. With our “Guaranteed Issue Policy MarketPlace” we have organize a service for you to clearly and easily see and view the best prices for all of the top companies offering this type of policy.

No, Final Expense insurance is just a type of whole life insurance with death benefits between $5,000 and $50,0000, and which is primarily aimed at protecting your loved one’s from the burdensome costs that often come with passing away.

Final Expense Life insurance is designed to be a permanent solution to take care of a permanent goal. This means when you put your policy in place it is intended to last your entire life, which could be a very long time, so making sure you get the best price on your coverage when you first put your policy in place can add up to a lot of savings over your lifetime.

In the past it was very difficult for people to make sure, or even identify, if they were getting the best price on their policy. There are a lot of insurance companies and a lot of options to choose from so it was nearly impossible to figure out the prices for each one. Now however, online resources make it easy for you to compare various providers from your home, comfortably, clearly and confidentially.

By researching an securing your policy with an online service, you will benefit from transparency of the marketplace that allows you to compare various insurance carriers and policies and ensure that you have decided on the best priced and most suitable option for you and your family. It also gives more power to the consumer by allowing online consumers to plug in various policy options, plan types, and coverage amounts to really show individuals and families the plans that best fit the needs of their own specific situation and budget. In addition, learning about, identifying and purchasing your coverage online eliminates the distressing pressure of pushy salesman and unwanted strangers in your home who may make you feel rushed into a decision.

The world-changing rise of the Internet has made shopping clear, convenient, and efficient for just about anything you can imagine. Today, people are even purchasing cars and homes online. This world-changing rise has now reached the world of insurance coverage for senior citizens in America.

Best Prices. Best Service. Most convenience.

claritylifeins is the premier online insurance education and price comparison service for seniors in America. It has been engineered to provide the most clear, comfortable, and effective pathway to truly understanding your options, identifying the most competitively priced plans in the marketplace, streamlining your application and approval process, and providing an unprecedented level of organization and management after your plan is in place.

“CLIA” is the acronym for the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988. This law requires any facility performing examinations of human specimens (e.g., tissue, blood, urine, etc.) for diagnosis, prevention, or treatment purposes to be certified by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

For many Americans, the accuracy of clinical laboratory test results can be a life or death matter. If glucose tests are not performed correctly, a patient could receive an incorrect insulin dose and sustain potentially dangerous consequences. If your cholesterol is high and the laboratory results are reported as normal, you may not receive the care necessary to prevent a heart attack.

According to CLIA law, waived tests are those tests that are determined by CDC or FDA to be so simple that there is little risk of error. Some testing methods for glucose and cholesterol are waived along with pregnancy tests, fecal occult blood tests, some urine tests, etc. Currently, 40 tests have been approved for certificate of waiver (COW) status at CLIA website http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/clia

COW laboratories must enroll in the CLIA program, pay applicable certificate fees biennially, and follow manufacturers’ test instructions.

Of the 174,504 laboratories enrolled in CLIA, approximately 93,129 (55%) of these hold a COW.

When you sign up for your Medicare Supplement insurance with claritylifeins, you are systematically put in position to receive the highest rated and most competitively priced plans in the marketplace. claritylifeins has made it our mission to deliver the absolute more clear, convenient, and costs efficient experience for you. Contact us anytime for client support at (215) 454-6154 and or our direct email at info@clarityconsultation.com. In addition, any policy facilitated through us will include a 30-day Free Look, which allows you to completely terminate the policy within 30 days of its issuance without incurring any penalty or fees.

The rule requires that employers limit workers' exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust, which can become airborne during tasks such as cutting, grinding, drilling, or crushing materials containing crystalline silica such as brick, concrete, stone or mortar. Workers can also be exposed to respirable crystalline silica during operations that involve the use of industrial sand and abrasive blasting with sand. Typical methods to reduce or eliminate dust in the air include wetting down the operation or using local exhaust ventilation. In addition to requirements to limit workers' exposure, the rule requires employers to take other steps to protect workers, such as providing training to workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica and offering medical exams to highly exposed workers.

Employers covered by the construction standard have complied with most requirements of the standard by September 23, 2017 (delayed from June 23, 2017).
Employers covered by the general industry and maritime standard must have complied with most requirements of the standard by June 23, 2018.

The rule updates the general industry standards related to hazards from slips, trips and falls, and falls from heights. Among other features, it provides greater flexibility in choosing a fall-protection system, brings general industry scaffold requirements in line with those for construction, adds protections for fixed ladders taller than 24 feet, requires regular inspection of walking-working surfaces, and requires training for employees who use personal fall protection equipment.

The rule took effect in January 2017, but has several delayed compliance dates for certain requirements on fixed ladders and building anchorages used with rope descent systems. As of May 17, 2017, employers are required to provide training on fall hazards for certain employees. For upcoming compliance deadlines on fixed ladder fall protection, inspections of equipment and anchorages, and more, see the timeline.

The rule requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness data that they are already required to record on their onsite OSHA Injury and Illness forms. Analysis of this data will enable OSHA to use its enforcement and compliance assistance resources more efficiently.

If you decide to change MedSup Plans, you can still keep your old plan for up to 30 days before canceling it. You must promise to cancel the old Medigap plan when filling out the application for the new plan, but you're allowed a 30-day "free-look" period, in case you opt against changing Medicare Supplement Plans. This period begins when you start your new policy. You should not cancel your old plan until you are sure that you want to keep the new policy.

Be aware that you're required to pay both premiums during the 30-day "free-look" period.

Yes, many companies now offer a household or spousal discount if multiple members of the same household are enrolled with the same company, which with some companies can reduce your premiums by up to 12% a year.

No. You and your spouse must each enroll in a Medigap plan in order to obtain Medigap coverage. However, some companies do offer substantial discounts for members of the same household who have their Medicare Supplement plans insured with the same company.

You only have to meet your Medicare Part B Deductible, of $147, once a year, even if you switch plans. If you change plans mid-year and have already met your Part B deductible that year then you will not have to pay it again for that year.

In most cases, yes you do. However, there are a few exceptions. When an individual first enrolls in Medicare Part B, they have a 6-month guaranteed issue right to be accepted into any Medicare Supplement plan with any company without any health questions asked. This means that, regardless of your health status, the insurance company is required to accept you.

If you are outside of this 6-month guaranteed issue period, the insurance company will have an underwriting process that includes health questions, and sometimes a phone call, and can use their own discretion whether to accept you based on your health status. However, there are a few situations that allow you to leave a Medicare Advantage plan and join a Medicare Supplement plan without being subject to medical underwriting.

No, your Medicare Supplement Plan is guaranteed renewable and non-cancelable, which means as long as you pay your monthly premium payment the insurance company can never cancel your coverage or single you out in any way due your health. In addition, a Medicare Supplement company can never raise your rates individually based on your ongoing health or claims history. This means your company can never single you out for rate increases based on your own use of the plan or any health issues you had during the year. Even if you have had hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical costs paid for by your Medicare Supplement company, they cannot use this in any way to make you pay a higher rate than the rest of the people in your plan.

No, you do not jeopardize your current coverage in any way by applying for a lower rate with another company. Even if you are denied by the new company you are applying with, this in no way can disrupt your current coverage. You are 100% assured that your existing coverage will continue as normal.

The medical waste rules do not prohibit anyone from disposing of used syringes by putting them in the regular trash bin or dumpster provided that the sharps are kept in a thick, hard-walled plastic container with a cap or lid. Home, office or institutional generators should always contact their local solid waste authority (may be city or county) to make sure that there are no local ordinances against this practice.(.1202)

The Department does not keep a list of transporters. Those seeking a transporter for their medical waste should see our list of Commercial Medical Waste Treatment Providers and contact one of their offices. They may be able to put you in contact with a transporter in your area.

Medical waste is defined as “waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans or animals”. Since the waste generated at trauma scenes does not fit the definition of medical waste, such waste is exempt from the medical waste rules. Be aware that even though the waste is considered non-medical for the purposes of disposal, the presence of human tissue or body fluids still renders the waste biohazardous and “Universal Precautions” would still apply.

Typically, the only regulated medical waste from funeral homes would be blood and body fluids. Since most funeral homes are connected to a sanitary sewer, this is an appropriate disposal for this waste type. Homes not connected to a sanitary sewer would need to have a holding tank and have the tank pumped periodically with the waste being taken to a public wastewater treatment plant

The medical waste rules do not prohibit a woman from taking possession of her placenta after a birth. Women should consult with their physicians to retain their placentas

The OSHA standards do not address disposal methods. OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.44D states "that while OSHA specifies certain features of the regulated waste containers, including appropriate tagging, the ultimate disposal method (landfilling, incineration, and so forth) for medical waste falls under the purview of the state and local regulations”

The red bag designation with the biohazard symbol is an industry standard used to identify medical waste in the health care workplace. It is not intended to be a designation of how or what types of medical waste are to be treated before final disposal. The biohazard symbol designates waste that is infectious but not necessarily regulated.

Ultimately, providing health information to the insurance company is what allows the premiums for life insurance to be more affordable and cost efficient for consumers to put in force. Unlike group or employer coverage, individual life insurance offers a lot of features and benefits that can only exist if everyone’s application is approved on a case by case basis, such as the ability to have your death benefit immediately in force, your ability to take the policy with you wherever you go, and the generation of your own cash value account inside the policy.

Opening Conference
Before beginning the actual inspection, the inspector will hold a brief opening conference, in which he will explain why he is there and what he intends to do. If the impetus for the inspection was a complaint, the inspector will give the employer a copy of the complaint after receiving permission to proceed with the inspection. If a programmed inspection is to be conducted, the inspector should ask the employer to provide its SIC Code or to describe the nature of the employer's business. An employer should always confirm that the SIC code the inspector is authorized to inspect (under the state's Planning Guide) matches the employer's actual SIC code.

"Walkaround"
At the conclusion of the opening conference, the inspector will proceed to the "walkaround" phase of the inspection. In a programmed inspection, the inspector will want to see all aspects of the employer's operations on the plant floor. In addition, the inspector will be interested in observing the loading and unloading of raw materials, as these activities frequently involve a high risk of exposure. The inspector will take photographs or video tape to document either the presence of what the inspector believes to be a violation or the absence of a violation or condition referenced in a formal employee complaint. The inspector likely will take measurements and may conduct air monitoring.

Employee Interviews
As the inspector proceeds through the workplace, he will conduct employee interviews, usually "over-the-shoulder," unless workplace conditions require otherwise. The inspector will ask about the employee's job duties, level of training, and knowledge and recognition of hazards he faces. Inspectors are trained to interview approximately 10% of the employees, including at least one from each area of the operation. Management may not attend these interviews unless the employee requests management's presence.

Records Review
After getting a feel for the employer's operations, the inspector will want to examine various records, such as OSHA 200 logs for at least the past three years, OSHA 101 forms, and written programs. The inspector is generally entitled to examine any document or program that OSHA regulations require, as long as the documents are within the scope of the inspection. Nevertheless, the inspector is not entitled to examine documents that other regulatory agencies require, such as EPA's SARA logs.

Closing Conference
After conducting the walkaround, employee interviews, and records review, the inspector may conduct a closing conference to inform the employer of violations he noted and for which he expects to propose citations. If the inspector feels that air monitoring is necessary, he will arrange to conduct full shift sampling before the closing conference.

The best way to prepare for an OSHA inspection is to conduct a self-analysis of the employer's safety practices, safety manual, and safety training programs. To do a self-analysis, an employer must have some knowledge of federal and state safety and health requirements. This knowledge can be obtained by hiring a safety manager familiar with OSHA requirements, or by training existing personnel. Training is available through private safety consultants as well as through OSHA.

Employers also should take the following steps to prepare for an OSHA inspection:
Post the required OSHA poster in a conspicuous place where all employees are most likely to see it. Record all work-related illnesses and all qualifying injuries on the OSHA 300 log and have corresponding OSHA 301 forms (or their equivalent) handy. Implement a discipline policy that provides for documenting employee violations of company safety rules (e.g., failure to wear ear plugs in areas where the employer requires hearing protection) in employee files.
Designate and train one or more members of management to deal with OSHA inspections.
Instruct the receptionist to notify the appropriate officials as soon as an OSHA inspector arrives.

There are four types of compliance inspections each conducted for a different reason:
The Complaint Inspection -- occurs after an employee files a formal complaint with OSHA. This is the most common type of inspection.
The Fatality/Accidents Inspection -- occurs after OSHA receives notice from the employer of a workplace fatality or an accident resulting in the hospitalization of three or more employees. OSHA also takes notice of media reports, and will frequently investigate accidents that do not result in any fatalities or hospitalizations. The Programmed Inspection -- an inspection conducted of randomly chosen workplaces determined to be engaged in particularly hazardous types of work according to their Standard Industry Classification (SIC) Codes.
The Imminent Danger Inspection -- occurs when OSHA receives a report that a condition of imminent danger exists at a workplace. This is the least common type of inspection.
When an OSHA inspector attempts to enter an employer's facility to conduct an inspection, the employer should ask the inspector what caused the visit. After determining the type of the inspection, the employer can better decide whether to grant the inspector access to the worksite.

No. Your Medicare Supplement company pays your bills directly to your healthcare providers for their services, so you do not have to manage the claims and billing process yourself, creating a more convenient and clear experience.

Only when you are receiving services from that doctor or healthcare provider for the first time since you made the switch. You simply show them your Medicare red, white, and blue card and the card provided to you from your Medicare Supplement insurance company and that will take care of it. Medicare and the Medicare Supplement insurance company work together from there to take care of the rest.

No. You cannot have a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement plan at the same time. Medicare supplements are not intended to cover gaps in Medicare Advantage. Medicare Supplements are created only to work in with your primary coverage of Original Medicare Part A and B.

By law, Medicare supplement insurance plans no longer cover prescription drugs. Drug coverage is added through a Medicare Part D drug plan offered by private insurance carriers and which can be purchased directly from Medicare.gov. Your Part D prescription plan does not have to be with the same carrier you have your Medicare Supplement with. claritylifeins can help you with this process of identify and enrolling in the optimal Part D prescription plan for you based on your individual situation.

No. A Medicare Supplement policy is a private insurance policy that will work only when you have Original Medicare Part A and B and exists to help pay your share (coinsurance, copayments, or deductibles) of the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare-covered services. A Medicare Advantage plan is replacement coverage for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B services but provided through a private insurance company under contract with the Medicare program. The Medicare Advantage plan, not Medicare, decides what you have to pay for copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Medicare beneficiaries who join Medicare Advantage plans enroll based on 1 year contracts with the private insurance carriers and can only be joined and cancelled at certain times of the year, while a Medicare Supplement policy can be added or dropped at any time throughout the year without restriction.

In most cases, yes you do. However, there are a few situations that allow you to leave a Medicare Advantage plan and join a Medicare Supplement plan without being subject to medical underwriting.

• 1. If you joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you were first eligible for Medicare and you aren’t happy with the plan, you’ll have special rights to buy a Medigap policy if you return to Original Medicare within 12 months of joining.
• 2. If you are moving to a different state or part of the state and your Medicare Advantage plan does not serve that area, you also have special rights to return to Original Medicare and pick up a Medigap plan.

No. Your current Medicare Supplement plan continues if you do nothing.

Although there are 10 different Medicare Supplement Plans (letters A-N) that are available to consumers, the majority of seniors have either Plan F, Plan G, or Plan N due to their combination of cost efficiency and comprehensive and simple to understand benefits.

Plan F is the most popular plan, with about 50% of Medicare Supplement policy holders having this plan. Plan F is often referred to as the “Cadillac Plan” because it is the most comprehensive in terms of the benefits it offers, since it covers every deductible, copay, and coinsurance that Original Medicare leaves you with. This means you will have zero out-of-pocket liability for all of your benefits under Medicare Part A and Part B, which also gives it the most convenient and simplified experience since there will never be any out of pocket bills that will be sent to you.

Plan G is often considered the best value and most practical plan since it has all the same benefits as Plan F except that, in exchange for a lower premium, it does not cover one small deductible that Medicare leaves you with- your once-a-year Part B deductible of $147 a year. This means that, with Plan G, your first $147 of healthcare costs that fall under Medicare Part B will have to be paid out of pocket, since it will not be covered by Medicare or your Medicare Supplement plan. Once this deductible is met your Plan G will operate exactly like Plan F, with all other deductibles, copays, and coinsurance being covered by your Medicare Supplement plan. Because Plan G leaves the plan holder with this small piece of cost sharing of the once a year Part B Deductible, Plan G will have a lower monthly premium than Plan F, which usually saves more than enough to make up for the out of pocket cost.

For an even lower premium plan that still accomplishes the main features that Medicare Supplements are designed for – protection from high out of pocket costs and uncertainty, clear benefits and ability to budget, lack of confusion and inconvenience of handling complex bills, and access to your own choice of doctors, hospitals, and healthcare providers- Plan N has become an increasingly popular choice. Like Plan G, Plan N also leaves the plan holder with the once a year Part B deductible but also includes an additional $20 copay for doctors office visits, $50 copay for emergency room visits, and also does not cover what is known as Part B excess charges. Part B excess charges are if a doctor does not accept Medicare assignment, then they can charge an "excess" over and above what Medicare Part B pays, in the amount of up to 15%, depending on which state you are in. So, for example, if you have a certain medical test or procedure, and Medicare determines that the reasonable and approved fee is $500, a provider that does not accept Medicare assignment can charge up to 15% in excess, or an additional $75. If you have Plan N, which does not cover this potential excess charge, you would be responsible for that additional $75.

All supplement insurance companies pay claims the same way, and most pay them electronically so you do not have to file any claims yourself.

In General, the top three plans can be summed up as follows:

Option 1 - Medigap Plan F- Most Comprehensive and Convenient

• Most comprehensive coverage- 100% coverage of Medicare Part A and B out-of-pocket gaps
• Most Popular – Almost 50% of Medicare Supplement Policyholders have this plan
• Easiest to Understand
• No deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance- so no out of pocket at all
• Choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare
• Most Expensive but most predictable and convenient since there is zero out of pocket

Option 2 - Medigap Plan G - Best Value and Most Practical

• Same exact coverage as Plan F except for no coverage of annual Medicare Part B Deductible
• Plan member pays the once-a-year Medicare Part B Deductible ($147 in 2015) when services are received
• No other co-pays or coinsurance
• Choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare
• Lower Monthly Price than Plan F and Lowest Annual Net Cost

Option 3 - Medigap Plan N - Lowest Price but More Cost Sharing

• All major gaps covered but 4 potential sources of out of pocket expenses
• Plan member pays the once-a-year Medicare Part B Deductible ($147 in 2015)
• Plan member pays $20 co-pay for doctor visits, and $50 co-pay for emergency visits
• Plan member is responsible for Part B excess charges (up to 15%) if doctor doesn’t take assignment
• Choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare
• You take on more cost sharing through small copays and deductibles in return for lower premiums

Workplace Violence is any act or threat of intimidation, threats, physical attack, domestic violence or property damage and includes acts of violence committed by State employees, clients, customers, relatives, acquaintances or strangers against State employees in the workplace

Hostile Environment Harassment is unwelcome conduct by an individual against another individual based upon a protected status that is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it alters the conditions of education (e.g., admission, academic standing, grades, assignment), employment (e.g., hiring, advancement, assignment), participation in a University program or activity (e.g., campus housing) or receipt of legitimately-requested services (e.g., disability accommodations) and creates an environment that a reasonable person in similar circumstances and with similar identities would find hostile, intimidating, offensive or abusive. An isolated incident, unless sufficiently serious, will usually not amount to Hostile Environment Harassment.

If a co-worker or manager does one or more of the following you may be experiencing workplace violence/ harassment…
Intimidation
Threats / Multiple Threats (via email, phone contact, in person)
Bullying
Stalking
Physical Attacks
Domestic Attacks
Property Damage
Tries to control you- tells you what to do

Reducing Workplace Violence Starts with Understanding the 4 Types In order to mitigate the risk of violence in your workplace, it’s critical for you to understand the four main types of workplace violence that could compromise employee safety.

Criminal intent. The perpetrator has no legitimate relationship to the business or its employees and is usually committing a crime in conjunction with the violence. These crimes can include robbery, shoplifting, trespassing and terrorism.
Client. The perpetrator has a legitimate relationship with the business and becomes violent while being served by the business.
Worker-on-worker. The perpetrator is an employee or past employee who attacks or threatens another employee(s) or past employee(s) in the workplace.
Personal relationship. The perpetrator usually does not have a relationship with the business but has a personal relationship with the intended victim.

In most cases, you will receive your Medicare card about 3 weeks after you apply. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, your enrollment into Medicare is automatic. Your card will just show up in your mailbox about 2 months before you turn 65.

If you are newly eligible for Medicare, you can enroll three months prior to the month you become eligible and up to three months after the month you become eligible — a seven-month period. Your Part D coverage is eligible to start the first day of your Medicare Part A and B coverage.

As you are learning about your current Medicare coverage options, you will want to keep your current health coverage in mind. If you’ve retired already, this could be retiree health coverage from your former employer or your union, or if you’re still working this might be the health coverage from your current job. You should determine whether you can keep any coverage you currently have and what the overall costs would be. If it’s coverage from an employer or a union, a human resources manager or a benefits specialist should be able to help you. If you don’t have other coverage options and will be starting your Medicare benefits, or have chosen that Medicare benefits are more suitable even if you have other coverage options, then your previous coverage will no longer be in force.

If you or your spouse are still working and are covered by an employer plan or group health plan due to active employment, you may delay enrolling in Part B in order to keep your employer or group plan. You should contact your employer or union benefits administrator to find out how your insurance works with Medicare to determine if this is a more effective option.

If you have creditable prescription drug coverage (meaning it is as good as or better than the standard Medicare Part D drug benefit) through an employer, group, or union coverage, you may decide not to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan or to enroll later. For example, if you have the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits or TRICARE for Life, you have creditable prescription drug coverage.

Medicare offers a range of benefits related to medical and prescription drug coverage although it can leave you exposed to potentially significant co-pays and coinsurance with no limits of financial exposure.

Medicare’s coverage is divided into four parts categorized by letters.

Medicare Part A is your hospital insurance and helps cover medical expenses while you are staying in a hospital setting. Your exposure with Medicare part A includes deductibles, coinsurance, and co-pay expenses that can become pretty significant if you do not have supplementary coverage to Medicare. You will automatically be entitled to, and enrolled in, part A at age 65 if you worked 40 quarters in the United States. You can also qualify for coverage through a spouse that worked 40 quarters.

Medicare Part B is coverage for outpatient medical services. You are exposed to a deductible, coinsurance, co-pays, and excess charges if you don’t have a supplement for Medicare. This coverage is elective but most Medicare recipients take it. You will pay a monthly premium for Medicare part B that will be based on your income level. If you make more per year you’ll pay more for part B. The current premium most beneficiaries pay is $104 a month.

Medicare Part C is a privatized plan that is also known as Medicare Advantage. You can choose to take this plan offered by private health insurers instead of regular Medicare. Although there are some benefits to this plan in that is required to cover you as good or better than Medicare, you will typically find that there are far fewer doctors and hospitals that accept this type of policy and that there isn’t a reliable way to supplement the financial exposures in this coverage. You will still have to make your Medicare part B premiums to own this type of policy and may pay anywhere from an additional $0 to over $150/month for this type of plan. If you have this type of plan you will not be able to buy a Medigap (Medicare Supplemental Insurance) plan as Medicare supplements are not intended to cover gaps in Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Part D is a marketplace of prescription drug coverage plans that are offered by private insurance companies, who contract with the federal government, to help cover your prescription drug costs only. This coverage is available as a stand-alone plan or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan (MA-PD).

Medigap (Medicare Supplement Plans) is supplemental coverage offered by private insurance companies like to cover the out of pocket liabilities not covered by Original Medicare (Parts A and B). Medicare Supplement do not cover prescription drugs and cannot be combined with a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. All Medicare Supplement plans are standardized by plan letter, so are easy to compare.

With a Medicare Advantage plan you are replacing your Medicare Part and Part B coverage with a private insurance plan that operates within a specific health care network of doctors, hospitals and providers. With a Medicare Supplement plan you keep your Original Medicare Part A and B and your supplement plan works alongside your primary coverage to fill in your out of pocket gaps and liabilities.

Medicare Supplement/Medigap policy is a private insurance policy that will work only with Original Medicare and will help pay your share (coinsurance, copayments, or deductibles) of the costs of Medicare-covered services. A Medicare Advantage plan is coverage for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B services but provided through a private insurance company under contract with the Medicare program. The Medicare Advantage plan, not Medicare, decides what you have to pay for copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.

No. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can’t buy a Medicare Supplement plan.

Yes. You will have to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare alongside the monthly premium you pay to your Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap plan.

Yes. You will have to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare alongside the monthly premium you pay to your Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap plan.

Once you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, you can apply for a Medicare supplement insurance plan at any time. If you apply for a Medicare supplement plan within six months of your 65th birthday or Medicare Part B enrollment, you are considered to be in your Open Enrollment period and your acceptance into a Medicare supplement insurance plan will be guaranteed. This means all insurance companies that offer plans are required to approve you for coverage without asking any health questions. If you apply for a Medicare Supplement plan after your initial Open Enrollment period your approval is subject to a health underwriting process determined by the individual insurance companies offering the plans.

If you are new to Medicare, most counselors recommend applying for your Medicare Supplement policy approximately 2-3 months before your Medicare Part A and B effective date. This allows you to secure your coverage inside your Open Enrollment period which guarantees you will be accepted by any Medicare Supplement plan and insurance company regardless of your health.

Medicare supplement insurance plans are guaranteed for life, regardless of age or health, as long as your premium payments are up-to-date and you have made no material misrepresentation on your enrollment application.

No. With a Medicare supplement plan, you have the flexibility to choose any doctor, specialist, or hospital that accepts Medicare patients.

No. Instead, a Medicare supplement insurance plan works with Medicare Parts A and B to help cover some of the out-of-pocket health care costs. For instance, Medicare Part B generally covers 80 percent of expenses. The rest is up to you. Purchasing a Medicare supplement plan to go with your Medicare Parts A and B coverage may help with medical costs not paid by Medicare alone.

Your Part B premium amount will be deducted from your Social Security benefit check before it's mailed to you. If you have Part B but aren’t yet collecting Social Security, you’ll get a bill from Medicare.

Although there are 10 different Medicare Supplement Plans (letters A-N) that are available to consumers, the majority of seniors have either Plan F, Plan G, or Plan N due to their combination of cost efficiency and comprehensive and simple to understand benefits.

Plan F is the most popular plan, with about 50% of Medicare Supplement policy holders having this plan. Plan F is often referred to as the “Cadillac Plan” because it is the most comprehensive in terms of the benefits it offers, since it covers every deductible, copay, and coinsurance that Original Medicare leaves you with. This means you will have zero out-of-pocket liability for all of your benefits under Medicare Part A and Part B, which also gives it the most convenient and simplified experience since there will never be any out of pocket bills that will be sent to you.

Plan G is often considered the best value and most practical plan since it has all the same benefits as Plan F except that, in exchange for a lower premium, it does not cover one small deductible that Medicare leaves you with- your once-a-year Part B deductible of $147 a year. This means that, with Plan G, your first $147 of healthcare costs that fall under Medicare Part B will have to be paid out of pocket, since it will not be covered by Medicare or your Medicare Supplement plan. Once this deductible is met your Plan G will operate exactly like Plan F, with all other deductibles, copays, and coinsurance being covered by your Medicare Supplement plan. Because Plan G leaves the plan holder with this small piece of cost sharing of the once a year Part B Deductible, Plan G will have a lower monthly premium than Plan F, which usually saves more than enough to make up for the out of pocket cost.

For an even lower premium plan that still accomplishes the main features that Medicare Supplements are designed for – protection from high out of pocket costs and uncertainty, clear benefits and ability to budget, lack of confusion and inconvenience of handling complex bills, and access to your own choice of doctors, hospitals, and healthcare providers- Plan N has become an increasingly popular choice. Like Plan G, Plan N also leaves the plan holder with the once a year Part B deductible but also includes an additional $20 copay for doctors office visits, $50 copay for emergency room visits, and also does not cover what is known as Part B excess charges. Part B excess charges are if a doctor does not accept Medicare assignment, then they can charge an "excess" over and above what Medicare Part B pays, in the amount of up to 15%, depending on which state you are in. So, for example, if you have a certain medical test or procedure, and Medicare determines that the reasonable and approved fee is $500, a provider that does not accept Medicare assignment can charge up to 15% in excess, or an additional $75. If you have Plan N, which does not cover this potential excess charge, you would be responsible for that additional $75.

All supplement insurance companies pay claims the same way, and most pay them electronically so you do not have to file any claims yourself.

In General, the top three plans can be summed up as follows:

Option 1 - Medigap Plan F- Most Comprehensive and Convenient

• Most comprehensive coverage- 100% coverage of Medicare Part A and B out-of-pocket gaps
• Most Popular – Almost 50% of Medicare Supplement Policyholders have this plan
• Easiest to Understand
• No deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance- so no out of pocket at all
• Choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare
• Most Expensive but most predictable and convenient since there is zero out of pocket

Option 2 - Medigap Plan G - Best Value and Most Practical

• Same exact coverage as Plan F except for no coverage of annual Medicare Part B Deductible
• Plan member pays the once-a-year Medicare Part B Deductible ($147 in 2015) when services are received
• No other co-pays or coinsurance
• Choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare
• Lower Monthly Price than Plan F and Lowest Annual Net Cost

Option 3 - Medigap Plan N - Lowest Price but More Cost Sharing

• All major gaps covered but 4 potential sources of out of pocket expenses
• Plan member pays the once-a-year Medicare Part B Deductible ($147 in 2015)
• Plan member pays $20 co-pay for doctor visits, and $50 co-pay for emergency visits
• Plan member is responsible for Part B excess charges (up to 15%) if doctor doesn’t take assignment
• Choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare
• You take on more cost sharing through small copays and deductibles in return for lower premiums

Clinical laboratories and facilities performing clinical laboratory testing must apply for and receive both a state registration or license and a federal CLIA certificate. For exceptions and exemptions to this requirement, please refer to the Regulations and Statutes Enforced by LFS webpage.

Instructions on how to apply for a clinical laboratory registration or license and federal CLIA certificate for waived, provider performed microscopy procedures, moderate or high complexity testing are found on the Laboratory Field Services (LFS) Clinical Laboratory Facilities webpage.

The regulatory requirements for staff are clearly defined in 42 CFR 493, and are described based on testing complexity (high and moderate). Text complexity classifications may be located on the FDA website at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCLIA/clia.cfm. Staff must be qualified at the level of the highest complexity assay your laboratory performs. There are also several things to consider with regard to test complexity and staff qualifications. It is important to check the test complexity database when implementing new technology or when changing assays for a given analyte (or analytes). Some analytes have assays with different levels of complexity. Automated hemoglobin and glucose are two examples of this; both have waived assays and moderate-complexity assays. Should you be testing using an analyte-specific waived assay and change to a moderate-complexity assay for the same analyte, or if your laboratory only performs waived testing and implements testing with moderate-complexity assays, you must ensure that all levels of staff for moderate-complexity testing (including directors) are qualified. The same applies for change to or implementation of high-complexity assays.

Another recent area of concern is the submission of PT specimens to other laboratories for testing. 41 CFR 483.801 (4) states: “The laboratory must not send PT samples or portions of samples to another laboratory for any analysis which it is certified to perform in its own laboratory. Any laboratory that CMS determines intentionally referred its proficiency testing samples to another laboratory for analysis will have its certification revoked for at least one year.” Intuitively, this makes sense. However, if your laboratory performs testing but sends samples to another laboratory for additional or confirmatory testing, sending PT samples to that other laboratory is considered intentional PT referral and may result in the same certification revocation. Therefore, on your PT documentation you should indicate “Not applicable” for the additional or confirmatory testing.

Performing a mock inspection of your laboratory is a good place to begin to determine if you are compliant with the CLIA regulations. But deficiencies found here (or during a real CLIA inspection) should not only be reviewed and addressed as individual line items; they should also be assessed as a group to determine if your laboratory has a systemic problem. An assumption that Quality programs (or Quality elements) are extras or luxuries is incorrect; they ensure the robustness of the overall performance of your laboratory. Therefore, being successful requires that your establishment embrace a quality culture, from the testing staff up through senior management.

• Go to www.AMBest.com

• Click on the blue rectangular box on the right side of the home page that says “consumer”

• On the next screen, in the top, middle blank, type in the name of the company you want to look up

• Click the green “find” button

• Then you will see the company name

• Click on the company name and it will give you their financial grade, financial outlook and the states they do business in

We’ve managed to make it quite simple! If you’d like to go through our self-directed online program, just ‘Start Now’, on our homepage or you can simply call (215) 454- 6154 and one our registered counselors will walk you through the easy process over the phone.

claritylifeins has managed to make the whole process streamlined! Your best priced and most suitable policy can be identified and applied for within 10 minutes! Depending on the amount of education you would like to engage in during your consultation, the entire process can be anywhere from 6 minutes to about 25 minutes. And remember, you are always able to easily save your progress within your consultation and come back to that same point whenever you like! Once a policy has been applied for, you will receive confirmation of the approval of that policy within 7 days, although you are always able to set a date in the future that you would like to start your policy.

No you do not. Neither Final Expense life insurance nor Medicare Supplement policies require a medical exam for approval. You do not even have to answer a single health question if you don’t want to, although in certain circumstances it may help you to receive a better rate. Our counselors will be able to help you fully understand all of these options.

If you would like, yes, there is an option for you to have what is known as a ‘Temporary Insurance Agreement’. This provides temporary coverage during this evaluation period. A TIA typically includes certain conditions. For instance, if the applicant for a life policy dies during the application process, the company may provide coverage only if the underwriting process eventually determines that he would have been eligible for permanent coverage had he lived. If the applicant was struck and killed by a car due to no fault of his own, for example, the company would honor the agreement.

Yes, of course. That is what our non-commissioned counselors are for! We would be happy to take a look at any other coverage you have in place, see if it still fits your needs, and compare it to what else is available in the marketplace.

Great Question. First step is to not cancel your current coverage until you have received official declaration from your claritylifeins counselor that your newly applied for policy has been approved. Once your new policy is 100% in force, your personal claritylifeins Counselor will guide you through the process of cancelling your old policy and redeeming any refunds or cash value that is owed you in the most beneficial way.

1. Go to www.NAIC.org

2. Click on the consumer resource section

3. Type in the name of the company

4. Select “closed complaint”

5. Look at the “closed complaint ratios”

*A company ratio of less than 1 means they have less than the average number of complaints. Greater than 1 means more than the average number of complaints.

Yes, but you may be subject to additional underwriting.

Just call us, or your insurance carrier, and we will get it updated for you immediately!

Just call us, or your insurance carrier, and you will be able to have a new one sent to you.

Most carriers have the same rules in regard to the payment of premiums on insurance policies. The only way to make monthly payments these days is to authorize a monthly automatic draft from one’s checking or savings account. For those that do not like automatic payments, there are some other options. One can receive a bill by mail if they elect to pay either quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. The main reason applicants choose the automatic bank payment option is that they don’t want their policy to cancel for non-payment.

You do not have to send a payment with your application, unless you want to be covered during the underwriting process (under a Temporary Insurance Agreement). The majority of applicants choose to wait until their application has been approved to make a payment and begin coverage. For those that want to secure temporary insurance and be covered during the underwriting period, simply include a payment for two months premium. This premium is refundable if one decides against taking out a policy based on the final approved rate.

All Policies provide a 31 day grace period in which a scheduled payment can be delayed without any loss of coverage. Grace period starts on the due date of premium.

There are over 1,000 life insurance carriers and over 250 Medicare Supplement carriers in the country, so which one do you chose? Insurance carriers all have different strengths and weakness, including underwriting requirement, price competitiveness and customer service. Using the carrier comparison tools referenced in the answers above, or speaking with a claritylifeins Counselor directly, will help you find the carrier that is best for you.

That is a great position to be in. Now, the goal is to determine if you have the right type of plan, the right amount of coverage, and the best price the marketplace can offer for that coverage.

When applying for a Medicare Supplement or final expense insurance, a medical exam is not typically required. This means that the applicant will not need to submit a blood and urine sample.

Applicants will, however, be asked certain questions on the application. For example, the insurance company will want to know information regarding:

• Age

• Gender

• Height

• Weight

• Smoking habits / tobacco usage

• Alcohol usage

• Occupation and income

• Health history

• Lifestyle / dangerous hobbies

Because there is no medical exam requirement, applicants can usually be approved quite quickly. Insureds will also usually have a choice in how they make their premium payment on these insurance policies.

Point of Care Consults has engineered a process that delivers a new way of searching for, learning about, comparing, and applying for your Regulatory Compliance. The entire process has been intentionally engineered to eliminate the conflicts of interest that still riddles and pollutes the traditional safety model.

Point of Care Consults team has extensive regulatory compliance experience. Our organization serves as a Registered to be able to connect you to the best and most appropriate Requirements

All of the services that Point of care consults has engineered and designed for you are offered complete regulatory services - no matter what your situation is, point of care consults will never take additional costs from you. This is because point of care consults has innovated on the traditional model to provide these services. When you connect with point of care consults, are approved and secure through point of care consults client services.

Superior results for your family, and savings back in your pocket. Independence and technological efficiency to find you the optimal price in the marketplace allows claritylifeins to deliver you superior results. Best Price, Access to All of the Highest Rated Insurance Providers, and Unprecedented Ease of Use and Convenience from Start to Finish. Independence. Efficiency, and claritylifeins. These are what claritylifeins Services was built on, which allows us to systematically deliver the three most crucial aspects of the proper life insurance experience: Price. Suitability. Convenience.

Point of Care Consults Services is currently licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, but is currently in the process of obtaining license in every state.

Fully. Point of Care Consults does not share your personal information with any other organization and uses the most advanced encryption and security software and processes to make sure your utilization of our program, and all of your information, is kept completely confidential.

We do much more than that! We do of course provide you with the best and most clearly formatted quotes in the marketplace, but we also do everything else that you would want from your insurance agency! We organize, clarify, and facilitate every step of the insurance buying process for you so you never have to worry that you are missing out on options or ways to understand those options! Amazing convenience is what we were intentionally designed for.

No. Medicare Supplement prices are fixed by law. The insurance company charges the exact same price, regardless of how you purchase or sign up for a policy. So you are only benefited by applying for your policy through an organization like claritylifeins which not only delivers you the best prices, but is also able to provide superior organizational features for you to manage and understand your entire process.

When you sign up for your insurance coverage through an independent agency organization like claritylifeins, you will not only receive more independent and transparent education and policy pricing, but also will receive far higher level of customer service and policy management than you will receive anywhere else. Additionally, claritylifeins specializes in senior insurance coverage and education. We systematically strive to know all of the latest changes and updates that our clients should be aware of, and provide those updates to you on a consistent basis. We are also always available for immediate customer support should you ever experience any problems or have any questions regarding your policy.

claritylifeins has built a relentless approach to bringing insurance education and financial decision making to a point where anyone can clearly and conveniently secure the optimal insurance coverage and carrier for them and their families.

Fully.Point of Care Consults does not share your personal information with any other organization and uses the most advanced encryption and security software and processes to make sure your utilization of our program, and all of your information, is kept completely confidential.

The oldest and worst problem in the insurance industry has been fixed! Our innovative organizational structure re-engineers insurance compensation in a way that systematically ensures complete independence and objectiveness in your consultation and recommendation. While the organization as a whole will be paid a commission if one of our clients gets approved and keeps a policy, our registered counselors and product consultants are salaried and never paid any commission based on the type or amount of policy they help you with! We use a much better aligned system that is based on your personal rating of the counselor’s service and value that has been delivered to you- which includes any personal referrals from you that we are able to connect with and help. The only mechanism for our counselors and consultants to earn more is by providing the absolute highest quality service and earning your endorsement.

We know you like to save money. We know we do, and most likely your friends and family do too! This is why we have designed and engineered the industry’s most easy-to-use and effective referral system that not only makes it ultra-convenient to share this incredible resource that claritylifeins has built, but also to be rewarded handsomely for it every time your connection leads to us helping another person with their policy. You will be issued a unique personalized link that you can send to any of your friends and family in any way that’s convenient for you, and if that leads to them receiving a consultation from claritylifeins then you will receive a $25 gift card for each person.

Any physician's office can pass a CLIA inspection if it is prepared and knows what to expect. Offices that pass an inspection feel a great sense of pride knowing the laboratory meets the same standards of quality as a hospital or clinical laboratory.

What is best for one person may not be good for another. The benefits and amount of coverage an individual or couple needs depends on their unique circumstances. A single or widowed woman may need very different benefits than a married man, particularly if their economic circumstances are different. Women are more likely to live longer than men and more likely to live alone at the end of their lives. Without family members willing to provide some home care and support services, women are more likely to receive LTC in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Companies that sell LTC insurance in California vary widely. Some have decades of experience, while others are relatively new to the market. Some are large companies with many other products and subsidiaries; others are smaller and specialize in LTC insurance. Some that have sold LTC insurance in the past have recently stopped selling these policies, leaving fewer companies from which to choose.

Rating services such as AM Best and Standard and Poor provide information to help you evaluate the financial strength of companies that sell LTC insurance. The State Insurance Commissioners for each state usually publishes data showing which companies have raised their LTC insurance premiums during the last 10 years, the amount of the increase and which states were affected.

Yes, however, your policy's definitions of the places and people that provide LTC services may differ between states. For example, the assisted living facility definition in your policy may be unique to your current stat, and may not accurately describe assisted living facilities in other states. If you move, you should contact the company that issued your policy to understand what services and facilities will be covered in your new home state.

Not necessarily. Although companies base their premiums on age (the older you are, the more you will pay), the difference in premium from one year to the next may not be significant. If the only reason you are buying a particular policy is to lock in a lower premium, you may not know enough about the policy. If you are feeling pressure from an agent to make a decision before you fully understand the product just to save a few dollars, you should find another agent. Professional LTC insurance agents understand that this type of policy is one you will have for the rest of your life, and it's important that you understand how it works and be comfortable with the decision you make. It's always a good idea to bring along a friend, relative or other advisor when you meet with an insurance agent to discuss buying an LTC policy.

Fortunately, no. The way claritylifeins was built was specifically to engineer a solution that would eliminate this problem for consumers. Since we are an independent broker, that means we work on your behalf, not the insurance companies. We represent virtually all of the highest rated Medicare Supplement and Final Expense life insurance carriers in the marketplace and are not biased toward any specific one. Our systematic approach is to search through all your options in the marketplace from all of the carriers in order to find you the highest rated, most suitable and best priced insurance options available.

This is an individual decision, based on many factors. Most people think about LTC insurance when they are close to retiring. Others buy it through an employer much earlier. Premiums are much lower for people in their 40s and 50s than for those over age 65. In addition, as people age, they are more likely to develop health conditions that may make them uninsurable. After age 60, premiums for LTC insurance begin to rise steeply. On the other hand, LTC services and places where people receive care are changing, and may not be the same services or places described in an LTC policy purchased 40 years earlier.

In general, yes. Inflation protection should be included in every LTC insurance policy because these policies pay a fixed dollar amount for each day of care. Most people are buying these policies decades before they will need care. A fixed daily benefit loses buying power each year. In 14 years, it will only pay for half the care it pays for today, while the cost of care continues to inflate each year. The difference between the LTC insurance benefit and the cost of care will come out of your own pocket. Inflation protection will help your benefits keep up with inflation. As the number of people needing care grows, the competition for caregivers and care facilities will fuel cost increases.

Not necessarily. Having an LTC insurance policy may not keep you out of a nursing home if that is the only place that can provide the appropriate care. Around-the-clock care at home is generally more expensive than nursing home care and may require more than one caregiver. If you have a comprehensive LTC insurance policy, it should provide you with protection in any setting, including care at home, in assisted living facilities and in nursing homes. While most people prefer to receive care at home, they may have no choice if their condition requires care in a facility.

How Are Benefits Paid?

Either by each expense or by a set dollar amount.

What Services Are Covered?

Policies vary and may cover nursing home care, home health care, personal care in your home, services in assisted-living facilities, services in adult day care centers and/or services in other community facilities.

Where Are Services Covered?

Insurance policies cover different types of facilities. If your facility is not covered, the insurance company can refuse to pay for eligible services.

What Is Not Covered (exclusions and limitations)?

Most policies usually do not pay benefits for a mental or nervous disorder or disease, other than Alzheimer's or other dementia; alcohol or drug addiction; illness or injury caused by an act of war; treatment the government has provided in a government facility or already paid for; or attempted suicide or intentionally self-inflicted injuries.

How Much Coverage You Will Have?

A policy may have a maximum benefit limit or a daily/monthly benefit limit.

When Are You Eligible for Benefits (benefit triggers)?

Some policies use more than one way to decide when to pay benefits, while some states require certain benefit triggers. Benefit triggers may include:

The inability to do activities of daily living such as bathing, continence, dressing, eating, toileting and transferring (most common benefit trigger).

Cognitive impairment/mental incapacity

Doctor certification of medical necessity

Prior hospitalization. Most companies no longer sell policies that require a hospital stay, although Medicare requires a three-day hospital stay to be eligible for Medicare payment of skilled nursing facility benefits.

When Do Benefits Start?

Most policies have a waiting period, or elimination period, of 0, 20, 30, 60, 90 or 100 days before benefits start.

There are several ways to pay for long-term care. These include:

• Medicaid,

• Medicare,

• long-term care insurance,

• long-term care riders attached to a life insurance policy or annuity,

• accelerated death benefits from life insurance, and

• personal cash, savings, or other liquid assets.

Medicaid is a state and federal assistance program that pays health care and long-term care expenses for eligible people with low incomes.

To qualify for Medicaid, you must meet income and asset guidelines. Assets are cash and the things you own -- such as cars and stocks -- that you could convert into cash. Many people pay for long-term care with their own money until they become eligible for Medicaid. To learn more about Medicaid eligibility, call your local Area Agency on Aging.

Medicare may pay some long-term care costs. Medicare is a federal program that pays for health care for people over age 65 and for people under age 65 with disabilities. If you meet all the necessary requirements for Medicare, it will cover up to 100 days of skilled care in a nursing home, per benefit period. Medicare pays the full cost for the first 20 days and then requires you to pay a copayment for days 21 to 100.

Life insurance or annuities can provide for long-term care services in two ways:

• An accelerated death benefit provision in your life insurance policy that may allow you to receive part of your stated death benefit to use as you choose, including long-term care.

• A rider that you buy to add on to your life insurance policy or annuity that provides coverage for long-term care.

Long-term care insurance helps provide skilled care or personal care and may help you to preserve your assets against the high cost of an extended long-term care need. Long-term care insurance usually makes sense if you have more assets than a house, car, or a small amount of cash that you want to save

It might be difficult for you to buy a long-term care if you use most of your to pay for utilities, food, or medicine.

To qualify for Medicaid, you might have to pay for your care out of pocket until you spend down your assets to meet the eligibility requirements.

To decide whether long-term care insurance is right for you, consider your personal risk factors, assets, income, and available alternatives.

Consider the following factors before buying long-term care insurance:

• Life expectancy. The longer you live, the more likely you will need long-term care. Consider whether your family has a tendency for long life expectancy.

• Gender. Women might need long-term care insurance more than men because they usually live longer.

• Your family situation. If you have a spouse, adult children, or other family members who can care for you at home, you might not need a policy that pays for home health services. Instead, you might want to consider a policy that pays only for nursing home care.

• Family health history. You may have a greater need for long-term care if chronic or debilitating health conditions run in your family.

Long-term care insurance is typically less expensive if you buy it when you're younger. Consider talking to a trusted financial adviser for help deciding whether long-term care insurance meets your needs. Ask yourself the following questions about your finances:

• What are my assets (not including my home, car, and $2,000 cash)? Will they change over the next 10 to 20 years? Are my assets large enough to justify the expense of a long-term care policy?

• What is my current annual income? Will it change over the next 10 to 20 years? Will I be able to afford the policy if my income decreases or if the policy premiums go up significantly?

• If I retire, how will retirement affect my ability to pay premiums?

• How much does the policy cost? Will I pay the premiums from my income, savings, or investments? Will my family help with the cost?

• How much will the policy premium increase if I wait until I'm older to buy a policy?

Quality control may be defined as a planned system of activities whose purpose is to provide a quality product (FAO Food and Nutrition Paper No. 14/1 Rev 1). QC, often known as quality inspection, consists of carrying out checks at various points in the manufacturing system e.g. net weight, acidity, colour. It was the first formal control mechanism introduced at the start of the last century. Inspection can only segregate good from bad – it cannot by itself improve the quality of a processed product.

Quality assurance may be defined as a planned system of activities whose purpose is to provide assurance that the quality control programme is actually effective.

In contrast to QC, QA looks at the whole process – from purchase of materials, through the manufacturing process, to the point at which the consumer uses the food.

TQM is a set of proactive methods, all of which continuously contribute to improving a food processing enterprise, or indeed any enterprise, and the safety of its products.

In general, the loan process will take you through the following steps:

Step 1: Understand your needs and goals – consider both financial and quality of life issues. How long would you like to stay in your house? Will the house work for you in case of a disability? Do you want to cut your monthly expenses or generate cash?

Step 2: Gather all the information you will need, such as home value, current mortgage information, income, credit history, etc.

Step 3: Research the different loan types available in the market, and have an idea of which ones you might want.

Step 4: Speak with at least three different lenders to get advice on loan structure and competitive rate and terms quotes. Decide on which lender, structure, and terms works best for you.

Step 5: Complete paperwork. Once you've been approved, you and your mortgage lender will:

Have your home appraised.

Set a closing date and location.

Review the Good Faith Estimate and other closing documentation prepared by your mortgage lender. This helps you anticipate costs that might be due at closing.

Arrive at the closing, where you will need to provide any outstanding information and sign your loan papers. At that point, you may also need to bring a certified or cashier's check for any closing costs that are your responsibility. This meeting generally takes less than one hour. Often, when you refinance, your closing costs are included in the total loan amount so you won't be expected to pay these fees out of pocket.

Once the loan papers have been signed, the "period of rescission" begins. You have three business days to decide whether to proceed with the loan. After that, the funds are released by the mortgage lender and your loan is complete. If you're receiving cash at closing, this is when your check will also be released.

It just seems logical that it would be easier and less expensive for your existing lender to refinance your home. After all, the lender knows both your payment history and the property.

The lender may not need a new property appraisal, a title search or other items that would normally be required on a new loan. The lender should also be willing to offer a better price because it's easier to keep a good customer than it is to find a new one.

The holy grail of refinancing is when the lender just reduces your interest rate and doesn't require you to close on a new loan. This can only happen if you are just rolling your existing balance and aren't looking for a cash-out refinancing.

So, why doesn't it happen more often? The problem is that the mortgage market is divided into three lines of business: mortgage origination, mortgage servicing and mortgage lending.

If the firm that originated your existing mortgage didn't retain the servicing, you aren't a current customer. If the firm servicing the mortgage doesn't do originations in your market, then they may not be interested in your business.

Finally, mortgage investors are looking for packaged or securitized mortgages that are part of a pool of mortgages, so they aren't interested in your stand-alone business.

Ask your current servicing provider what cost savings they offer to current customers who refinance with them. You also need to find out what terms competing lenders offer.

Saving a few hundred dollars in closing costs doesn't mean much if you can get a lower interest rate from another lender. Shop rates on claritylifeins.com before talking to your current servicing provider, so you will be able to recognize a good deal and use claritylifeins’s refinancing calculator to determine your refinancing savings.

If you are going to apply at several lenders, you should do it within a 30-day period. Your credit score won't be hurt by comparison shopping for a mortgage if you concentrate your applications within this time frame.

That's because Fair Isaac Corp. (the company that works with the credit reporting agencies to provide your credit score to lenders) considers these multiple mortgage inquiries as one inquiry when calculating your credit score.

The annual percentage rate adjusts the mortgage interest rate to reflect estimated closing costs, including points paid at closing and mortgage insurance.

The Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to provide the APR when advertising a mortgage loan and provide prospective borrowers with the loan's APR upon request. APRs aren't perfect, since closing costs are estimated and the lender can round off by up to a quarter-percent.

In general, neither the lender nor anyone else may charge you a fee until you have received this information. The Federal Trade Commission has a mortgage shopping work sheet that can help you lay out the costs associated with several loans and identify the loan that is best for you.

claritylifeins also provides you with an estimate of a loan's APR when you search for mortgage loan rates.

With so much refinancing taking place, you need to have confidence that your lender will be able to complete your loan origination in a timely and efficient manner. Ask the lender

Restructuring your debt load to pay off your car loan with mortgage debt can make sense if: (1) you can use the mortgage interest deduction on your taxes; (2) the after-tax rate on the mortgage loan is less than the interest rate on the car loan; (3) there isn't a prepayment penalty on the car loan; and (4) you have sufficient equity in your home that borrowing the additional $27,000 won't cause you to pay private mortgage insurance on the mortgage debt.

There are some drawbacks. Paying off your car over 15 to 30 years will negate any savings from a lower interest rate, not to mention the debt hangover you'll have when you go to buy your next car and you're still paying off the old one.

Both auto loans and car loans are secured loans. If you don't make your car payment, the lender can have your car repossessed, but if you don't make your mortgage payments the lender can foreclose on your home.

When deliberating about whether to take this step, look at the refinancing as a stand-alone decision. Does it make sense to refinance to capture an interest rate 1.25 percent lower than your current mortgage? It may not if you only plan on being in the house for a few years and closing costs are expensive.

claritylifeins’s refinancing calculator will help you determine how long it will take you to recoup your closing costs from the lower monthly mortgage payment.

Regulatory compliance is an organization's adherence to laws, regulations, guidelines and specifications relevant to its business processes. Violations of regulatory compliance regulations often result in legal punishment including federal fines.

As the number of rules has increased since the turn of the century, regulatory compliance management has become more prominent in a variety of organizations. The development has even led to the creation of corporate, chief and regulatory compliance officer and compliance manager positions. A primary job function of these roles is to hire employees whose sole focus is to make sure the organization conforms to stringent, complex legal mandates and applicable laws.

Companies that do not follow mandatory regulatory compliance practices face numerous possible repercussions, such as being forced to participate in remediation programs that include on-site compliance audits and inspections by the appropriate regulatory agency. Noncompliant organizations usually face monetary fines and penalties. Brand reputation can also be damaged by companies that experience repeated -- or particularly glaring -- compliance breaches.

With a second mortgage, or a home equity line of credit, borrowers must make monthly payments on the principal and interest. A reverse mortgage is different, because it pays you – there are no monthly principal and interest payments. With a reverse mortgage, you are required to pay real estate taxes, utilities, and hazard and flood insurance premiums.

The amount varies by borrower and depends on:

• Age of the youngest borrower or eligible non-borrowing spouse

• Current interest rate; and

• Lesser of appraised value or the HECM FHA mortgage limit of $625,500 or the sales price

If there is more than one borrower and no eligible non-borrowing spouse, the age of the youngest borrower is used to determine the amount you can borrow.

For adjustable interest rate mortgages, you can select one of the following payment plans:

• Tenure- equal monthly payments as long as at least one borrower lives and continues to occupy the property as a principal residence.

• Term- equal monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected.

• Line of Credit- unscheduled payments or in installments, at times and in an amount of your choosing until the line of credit is exhausted.

• Modified Tenure- combination of line of credit and scheduled monthly payments for as long as you remain in the home.

• Modified Term- combination of line of credit plus monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected by the borrower.

For fixed interest rate mortgages, you will receive the Single Disbursement Lump Sum payment plan.

• Single Disbursement Lump Sum - a single lump sum disbursement at mortgage closing.