Here are some interesting statistics on Accidents, Accidental Deaths, and Disability from Accidents

• "National statistics show that far more people are killed or injured from accidents occurring in and around the home than in the workplace." (Source: National Safety Council News Release, June 1, 2006)
• "In the home, there is a fatal injury every 16 minutes and a disabling injury every 4 seconds." (Source: Injury Stats, 2002 edition, National Safety Council)
• "Each year, preventable injuries send nearly 27 million Americans to hospital emergency rooms for treatment and another 100,000 to early graves. The personal devastation caused by a disabling injury or injury-related death is compounded by costs that exceed $600 billion annually, or about $5,700 per household." (Source: National Safety Council News Release, June 1, 2005)
• "More sports-related non-fatal injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments than any other type of unintentional injury. Approximately 4.3 million sports and recreation-related injuries were treated in hospital emergency departments during July 2000-June 2001" (Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2002;51:736-740)

WHAT IS IT? - Med Choice One is a competitively priced, multi-program Association Membership with the National Association for Independent Business (NAIB). In addition to the included NAIB Core Benefits, it offers various supplemental insurance programs which commonly include: 24/7 Accident Reimbursement Coverage; Accident In-Hospital Indemnity; Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D); Emergency Helicopter Rescue; and Emergency Travel Assist Worldwide*.

HOW DOES IT WORK? -Med Choice One Accident Reimbursement insurance coverages are defined as secondary coverage. The insurers pay on a reimbursement basis, directly to the NAIB Member, whatever the primary insurer does not pay under its deductible and coinsurance provisions and for any overages that exceed internal policy limits. In the case that Med Choice One coverages are the sole insurance with no other coverage, the plan pays as if it were primary insurance, again on a reimbursement basis, directly to the NAIB Member. Note that "reimbursement" is made on the basis of Explanations of Benefits from insurance companies or unpaid invoices from providers. The reimbursement funds received by the Member are then available for the Member to pay the unpaid bills. Each claim is paid subject to the deductible and up to the amount of insurance at your membership level.

Individual Medical Insurance Policies: With most relatively healthy individuals and families, concerns about minor day to day medical costs are not the major issue... Accidents are. More and more insureds are primarily concerned with protecting against the financial risks of catastrophic illness; therefore they choose higher deductibles and coinsurance to enjoy lower premiums, presuming that their good health will continue.

The problem with relying on health insurance with higher deductibles and coinsurance provisions, is that accidental injuries expose the insured to a sudden, unexpected, higher Out-of-Pocket exposure than they are able to afford. Med Choice One offers an economically priced offset to this Out of Pocket exposure on medical expenses due to any covered accident.

Group Medical Insurance Policies: Higher deductibles and coinsurance provisions are also becoming more common on group health insurance coverages. Med Choice One can be offered to an employer who sponsors group coverage for employees to offset Out-of-Pocket exposure due to medical expenses for non-job related accidents for the employees and their families. The Med Choice One plan can be offered to employees either as an optional supplemental program paid via employee payroll deductions, or, as a low-cost but valuable program paid entirely by the employer. Med Choice One offers list billing for employers who have higher deductible conventional PPO or HSA PPO group coverage for their employees. Of course, any employee can directly purchase Med Choice One to protect self and family against off the job accidents.

Automotive Insurance Policies: With the change in Auto Insurance Laws in many states from No-Fault (aka PIP) to Tort (Law Suits), more drivers and their families are at higher risk of serious consequences of medical costs from injuries suffered in auto accidents. Some insureds have chosen to add Accidental Medical Expense (AME) coverage to their auto insurance. Some have chosen to endorse (connect) their Uninsured Motorist coverage to their Liability Umbrella coverage. Of course, both of these coverages apply only to injuries involving motor vehicle accidents.

Since the AME coverages have relatively low maximum limits, and costs of these coverages may be more than the insureds wish to spend for coverage just in auto accidents; more than a few are prone to rely on their health insurance for protection of this type. However, it is a common provision for health insurance policies to include a Secondary Insurance disclaimer as well as a Subrogation provision. In effect, any AME coverage with the automobile insurer becomes the primary insurance and the health insurer will Subrogate (make a demand) against the auto insurer up to the level of the AME coverage. However, the health insurer can (and normally will) still enforce the full deductible and co-insurance provisions of the health insurance policy against the insureds claim.

Again, the advantage of Med Choice One is that it pays directly to the NAIB Member what the primary insurers do not pay, after the claim has been subjected to all deductible and coinsurance provisions.

Long Term Retention of Med Choice One: NAIB/MCO Members commonly justify retaining membership in two ways. One is the availability of the many NAIB Core Benefits. Use of even one can offset or exceed the annual cost of membership. Another is the Med Choice One Accident Reimbursement insurance coverages included with the NAIB membership. If the full amount of Accident Reimbursement is used even once, the reimbursement can offset multiple years’ cost of membership. Continuing membership maintains valuable, competitively priced protection regardless of any change of Health Insurance or Auto Insurance companies due to premium increases.

Med Choice One as a Viable Solution

NAIB / Med Choice One membership includes a choice of levels starting with the Bronze level at $24.95 for a single person including $2,000 accident protection; 30 days of in-hospital indemnity at $150.00 a day; $2,500 Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Worldwide Travel Assist and $4,000 Helicopter Rescue. The Silver level for a Family works well with Health Savings Account qualified High Deductible Family Health Insurance Plans. It includes $5,000 per accident as well as all the coverages listed above. These are in addition to the 35+ NAIB Association Lifestyle Benefits, use of any one of which could offset the full annual cost of membership

If you have a health insurance plan with even higher deductibles or additional coinsurance exposure, the Gold level with $7,500 accident protection or the Platinum level with $10,000 accident protection are very good value choices for minimal additional premium. Note that they have 14 days of in-hospital indemnity at $150.00 a day as well as all the coverages and benefits previously listed.

You should also consider the NAIB / Med Choice One Membership Medical Savings Programs offering access to significant savings on dental, vision, prescription, chiropractic, and complementary & alternative medical care as well as a 24-hour nurse hotline.

*Some states limit offering of some programs

• You can click on each of the plans on our HOME page for more details.
• You can click on CONTACT US and send us an email inquiry. A representative will call you to answer your questions
• You can click on APPLY TODAY and download an enrollment application to complete and fax to us.