RV Insurance Benefits Helps Their Clients Become Savvy Health Care Consumers And Assists Them In Maximizing Their Benefits

By Coleen Elkins, Managing General Agent
RV Insurance Benefits


In July of 2018 RV Insurance Benefits introduced a health plan offered to the RV Community through Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA).  

We have received many comments and stories from happy RVing clients regarding how their benefits have worked for them wherever they may be and saved them money over their prior health insurance plan. 

This is one of those testimonials from a client wintering in Florida.

I would like to share my recent experience with my FMCA Health Plan which saved me approximately $9300. My wife and I are Full-time RVers  and have the FMCA Health Plan. While traveling in Florida I had a kidney stone. I went to the Emergency Room at the local hospital and they confirmed I had a 3mm - 4mm stone lodged in my ureter. At that time I was told I needed to be admitted to see the urologist the next day. In the process of being admitted I became septic. Once I was stabilized in the Emergency Room I was admitted to the Medical ICU. The urologist came in and told me I needed to have a stent (a tube from his kidney to bladder) put in to allow the urine to bypass the stone. After my surgery the doctor informed my wife and I in 2 weeks they would remove the stone at the hospital then 4 days later the stent would be removed in his office. A week before the kidney stone was scheduled to be removed I received an email and phone call stating I would need to pay $10,917 within 2 days prior to the surgery or it would be canceled. At that time I asked for a cash price and was told they did not negotiate cash pricing. After processing what I had just been told I called back again and spoke to a different account representative. She told me the cash price would be $25,000 and they would give a 35% discount ($16,250). 

First thing I did was call Karis Group (the concierge service benefit of my FMCA Health Plan) to help find a doctor/facility who would help me to maximize my health plan benefits with the least amount I would have to pay out of pocket. In speaking with Karis Group the representative said she would call me back as soon as she had the information for. I received her call and she gave me the doctors/facilities in the area with contact information and pricing. It was followed up with an email containing all of the details we had spoke about on the phone. 

I called Coleen Elkins of RV Insurance Benefits and explained what was happening and she asked me to contact Dave in Management at New Era who underwrites my health plan. I told him I had already contacted Karis Group. Dave asked me to contact FMMA (Free Market Medical Association) as well to see if they had anyone in the Florida area who could help me. I spoke with FMMA and was given contact information of places I could call to see if they would be able to help me. Later in the day Dave called back and gave me the name of Dr. Lee Gross. I called Dr. Gross’s office and spoke with Anne his Office Manager. After emailing her all of the information she returned my call and told me DeSoto Memorial Hospital offered a bundled price to have my kidney stone/stent removed. First I had an appointment with Dr. Gross and they set up the appointment for me to see the urologist, Dr. Matthew Ercolani. Dr. Gross and his staff are awesome. I am not one who likes doctors or hospitals but was very happy with Dr. Gross. He is a DPC (Direct Primary Care) physician. I pay a monthly fee to him and have access to his services at any time. 

My appointment with Dr. Ercolani went very well. After speaking with  Dr. Ercolani he felt I had passed the kidney stone. He ordered a CT Scan to confirm the stone was not in my ureter. The results, NO STONE! My appointment was scheduled at Dr. Ercolani’s office to have the stent removed but he was unable to remove my stent that had been in place for 4 1/2 weeks. He asked me to come to the surgical center the next day for IV Sedation to remove it. The next day my stent was removed with no issues. 

I am very disheartened by the lack of compassion in our health care system. The original doctor I saw has never called to check on me or ask why I never had the stent removed. The reply I received when I canceled the appointment was ok, thank you for letting us know. The experience I had with Dr. Gross and Dr. Ercolani has helped me to realize there still are great doctors who genuinely care about their patients. 

I also had a few other options were available to me, Surgical Center of Oklahoma (Dr. Smith, Kelly and Teresa) and Texas Free Market Medical (Sean). I opted to stay in Florida instead of traveling to Oklahoma or Texas. 

Thanks to the help of Karis, Dave, FMMA, Dr. Gross and Dr. Ercolani I would  have paid  $10,917 instead of $1600 which I am able to be reimbursed by the FMCA Health Plan underwritten by New Era/Philadelphia American. I am very blessed! 

G. Alvarez

2018 Healthcare Costs In The U.S. Hit $11,212 Per Person

By Coleen Elkins

RV Insurance Benefits

WOW! Are you aware American consumers are spending $3.65 Trillion dollars in Healthcare in a single year?

Why are companies like Amazon and Uber tapping into the healthcare industry? Did you know Amazon spent $1 Billion dollars to purchase pharmaceutical company PillPack?

Last year a purchase by CVS of Aetna Insurance companies was approved by the Department of Justice with a $70 Billion purchase price. Why would a big pharmaceutical company purchase an insurance company?

Can tech-companies involvement in the healthcare industry drive down costs or will they weaken the system even more? In the 1990's the United States ranked 6th in the world as a healthcare leader. The United States now ranks 27th. This data is based on life expectancy among 195 countries. It is rather interesting that it was in the 1990's the federal government became very active in regulating our nations healthcare.

The $3.65 Trillion healthcare spending for 2018 is expected to spike another 5.3 percent in 2019. 
The current inflation rate is 1.6% wage growth remains at 4% at this rate health care will be 19.4 percent of our nations GDP by 2027.

Despite the increased spending the U.S. Healthcare system is becoming less efficient and more frustrating for both patients and providers. Our healthcare system is regulated heavily by both State and Federal governments could that be a cost driver?

The United States creates statistics on consumer spending for all aspects of our lives. Even so they can't put their finger on the pulse of the cause of the out of control spending of our healthcare. Could some of the cause be ourselves as consumers for not pricing the cost of their healthcare?

For the last 24 years our health insurance agency has worked to help Americans insure their health in an ever evolving market.  We  found one common habit Americans share they tend to find a doctor or medical center they "love" and resist changing. Americans will spend more on a health plan if necessary to keep "their doctor".  They may be paying higher costs to keep their doctor in ways they are not even aware of.

When was the last time you asked your doctor what the cost of an office visit is?

There is a website Healthcare Blue Book where consumers can shop for healthcare services. Test it yourself by looking up "colonoscopy with a biopsy" in your zip code.  You may be stunned and amazed at the "fairest price and the highest price".

Options for imaging facilities are popping up all over the country! 

Are you looking to become more savvy about your healthcare? RV Insurance Benefits offers personalized customer service to everyone who calls us! Let us help you understand and maximize your health insurance and Medicare today. Call our toll free number @ 1-888-337-1705 and speak to a licensed agent today! 

Surprise Medical Bills Are On The Rise

Surprise Medical Bills Are On The Rise! 

By Coleen Elkins- RV Insurance Benefits

As consumers we purchase health insurance to transfer risk from ourselves to an insurance company in the event of illness or and accident. We don't buy health insurance hoping to use it.

We want to spend as little money as possible to protect our assets. Our goal is to purchase a plan that meets our needs and our budget. We typically choose a health insurance company our doctor is contracted with.

In years past checking to see if your medical services are being covered "in network" was an easy task. In many cases the services are pre-approved by your insurance company.
It would be natural to think every aspect of your services are going to billed as an "in network cost".  You expect to have normal copays and deductibles after that you owe nothing. If you did some research you knew a head of time what the services were going to cost you.

Most people are unaware that how doctors and hospitals do business is changing. If you are not a savvy consumer these changes could result in you owing thousands of dollars over your deductible and co-insurance.

So what is at the heart of the matter? One cause is hospitals are contracting with doctors that are not employed by the hospital. Even though the hospital is in network those in the hospital treating you may be out of network. If they are out of network the insurance company typically is not going to pay those bills. You will then be directly billed by the healthcare provider and those bills could run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

If you have an HMO it can get even more complicated.

When seeking elective (non-emergency) services we recommend doing some research yourself.

Health insurance is often purchased online with a simple "click" and without the benefits being explained to you in detail. What you see online typically is a benefit highlight. How many people actually sit down and read their policies once they enroll in a plan?

There are some ways to educate yourself so you understand your benefits. One is to seek the services of an insurance agent that will help you understand your benefits when you are in the process of choosing them. Using the services of a licensed knowledgable agent are provided at no cost to you. Health insurance agents are paid by health insurance companies to be your personal customer service expert and advocate.

At RV Insurance Benefits our team of agents are RVers helping RVers. We understand your needs firsthand. We are here to help you and educate you so you can understand your benefits.Our agency stays on top of all legislative issues. Once your policy is in place your enrolling agent becomes your personal customer service representative.

We want to know what is important to you. Our goal is to provide you with information that is going to help you maximize your health insurance benefits.

We proudly offer health plan benefits to RVers that help them utilize benefits and control costs.

Those benefits include:

* Toll-free Concierge Service to assist you in finding the most affordable & convenient health care   services.

* PHCS PPO Network with 900,000 providers Nationwide

* TelaDoc provides a convenient alternative to Urgent Care or ER Visits

* Three benefit options to choose from to fit your budget

Call us today 1-888-337-1705 and let us know what is important to you and insuring your health!

We are available six days a week to review your options with you and we look forward to being of service!

Visit our website: RV Insurance Benefits

Ask us about Medicare Supplement Plans, Dental and Accident Plans too!

Offering Peace Of Mind For Your Health Since 1995