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What Health Insurance Companies Cover Telemedicine?

In the past year or two, Telemedicine has become an increasingly popular way to reduce costs and improve people’s health. Today we’ll discuss how telemedicine is changing the way health insurance works.

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is a relatively new concept in healthcare. It has been around for decades but only recently been accepted by state legislatures and private insurance providers.

The definition of telemedicine varies, but it usually refers to remote patient care with technologies like videoconferencing, teleradiology, and broadband internet. For some patients, using these types of technologies means they can get care without having to leave their homes or offices.
Telemedicine services may also allow patients to avoid expensive trips to emergency rooms for non-emergencies.

Does My Health Insurance Cover Telemedicine?

“The COVID-19 pandemic has probably changed the overall acceptance of telemedicine forever.”

Recently, telemedicine has emerged as an increasingly popular alternative to face-to-face visits with doctors. With most forms of medical treatment now covered by insurance plans, consumers have been wondering: what about telemedicine? How much does my health insurance cover for telemedicine visits? Which conditions will my plan cover via video conferencing – if any at all?

It turns out that whether your visit is covered will depend on where you live and your specific plan details. Policies vary from insurer to insurer, but many states now recognize that reducing the use of costly hospital admissions would help payers lower overall healthcare costs.

Coverage for telemedicine in insurance is impacted by laws and insurance company policies. While some are more progressive than others, many state legislatures and private health insurance providers are recognizing how telemedicine can reduce costs and keep people healthier.

The COVID-19 pandemic has probably changed the overall acceptance of telemedicine forever. The majority of states and most of the US territories changed their legislation to allow telemedicine on a temporary basis, and several of these states have kept this legislation permanently.

So before asking whether or which insurance allows telemedicine, it’s worth checking into whether or not your state allows telemedicine in the first place. A complete list by state is here; the list also includes which states have temporary pandemic policies in place. You can also give our health insurance hotline a call for further information.

What Health Insurance Companies Cover Telemedicine and Telehealth Services?

As a result of the pandemic, most major insurance companies- Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna, AETNA, etc.- cover telehealth services as part of their insurance plans. Once again, the availability of services depends on local availability.

How Can I Get Insurance That Includes Telemedicine?

If you would like to get insurance that includes coverage for telemedicine services, or if you’d check whether or not your insurance allows telemedicine, why not talk to one of our experts at our health insurance hotline? They’ll take time to understand your unique situation and will help you understand the available choices that suit your needs. Click the button below to reach out to us, and one of our experts will personally get in touch with you, or just call 855-218-3447 to speak with an expert directly.

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Health Insurance for College Graduates

Recent college graduates have more health care options than ever before.

Hello, graduate! Congratulations on completing your 4 year journey (or 5 or 6 year journey; no judgement here). The “real world” that you’ve heard about all your life- that world of bills, responsibilities, and student loan payments- awaits. Many colleges mandate that students have health insurance; some of these colleges even include this insurance as part of the enrollment cost. If you attended one of those colleges, or even if you didn’t, you may be wondering whether it’s worthwhile to continue with your health insurance- especially with all those bills looming.

While we are admittedly biased, we strongly recommend you always have health insurance; it’s the best way to keep from immense debt and even financial ruin in case something bad happens to you. Aside from all that, it’s nice to just have access to physical and mental health services, and even preventative care if you’re not feeling well.

Health Insurance Options For College Grads

There is more than one way to get covered by health insurance, even if you’re working at a job that doesn’t provide health insurance… or if you’re freelancing or not working at all. If you’re not sure which route to go, we encourage you to call us and our licensed agents can help you understand all of your options. Here are some of the most popular options:

Use Your Parents’ Health Insurance: Simply put, if you’re under 26 years old, you can still enroll in your parents’ health insurance plan, once their plan allows dependents to enroll.

Obamacare/Health Insurance Marketplace: There are low-cost options available through the health insurance marketplace for every level of need. If you call our health insurance hotline, one of our experts can help you explore your options and enroll. Some college graduates are eligible for a special enrollment period after they graduate, depending on whether or not they had student health insurance during school.

Private Insurance/Short-Term Insurance: If you’re not able to qualify for marketplace insurance because you’re outside of the enrollment period, or if you’re in between jobs, or if you work as a freelancer or within the gig economy, private health insurance is historically one of the more popular options. Short-term health insurance is also an option; it allows you to get health insurance coverage just long enough to make it to the next enrollment period.

Medicaid Coverage: Medicaid is government-supported healthcare for people who need a little extra help. If you apply for Obamacare, then you’ll find out whether or not your income level makes you eligible for Medicaid.

If you’re still confused as to which direction to go, one of our agents can help you. They’ll take time to understand your unique situation and income level, and will then help you find a plan that’s right for you. Call an agent at 855-218-3447, or click below to get started on the journey.

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Still Don’t Have Health Insurance?

Still don’t have health insurance? Then what are you waiting for? Our plans start as low as $160/month!

What’s different about us? It’s simple: we approach health insurance differently than other companies do. At HealthPlanOptionsToday, we don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, our certified and trained experts learn about your budget and needs first, then help you pick a plan that’s best suited for you and family. Come see why thousands of Americans trust us with their health coverage needs; click the button below to get a quote or call our hotline at 1-855-218-3447 for more info.

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Here’s When You Should Change Your Health Insurance Plan

Starting a family soon? Paying for insurance but still can’t afford to get sick? These are just 2 of the reasons that may cause you to consider changing your health plan.

For many people, health insurance is one of those things that they don’t think about… until they need it. And let’s admit it- more than a few of us have picked plans semi-blindly, not having a true picture of the benefits or exactly what we’re getting into. While it’s not the best way to shop for health insurance; that approach nothing to be ashamed of; after all, insurance terminology can be complex to those who are unfamiliar with the business, and for those who are young and healthy, sometimes it’s easy to think “why would I need this if I rarely get sick?”

Time has a way of making sure we pay more attention to these things, which leaves some people unsure of whether their frustrations with health insurance plans are part of the status quo or are issues that should be fixed. This often leads people to wonder “how can I change my health insurance plan mid-enrollment?” While that’s another question for another day, here are a few ways to know when you should change your health insurance.

When You’re Paying for Preventative Care

By law, all ACA-compliant health plans- in other words, health insurance plans that meet the minimum standard of “Obamacare“- MUST include free access to preventative care services such as flu shots and blood pressure screenings (read more about the covered preventative services here). In addition, they must provide some level of coverage for mental health care, which we’ve covered in this article here.

If your health plan does not include coverage for these services, it’s time to consider a change.

When Your Healthcare Needs Have Changed

Have you just made it through “the other side” of a serious health condition? Have you made a major lifestyle change, such as losing a major amount of weight? Have you moved on from a job that involved a major amount of physical strain? These are all examples of major health changes that may cause some to consider dialing back their health insurance coverage.

When Your Family Needs Have Changed

Are you one of the 1.4% of Americans that have had a baby in the last year? Are you planning to have a new addition to your family soon? Will your partner be eligible for medicare within the next year? Then it may be time for you to evaluate changing health insurance plans to better suit your family’s needs.

When You Don’t Go to the Doctor… Because You Can’t Afford It

The whole point of having health insurance is to help reduce the cost of caring for one’s health. This is why one of the great ironies of our time is that thousands and thousands of people who have health insurance skip doctor’s visits when they’re sick or neglect refilling prescriptions… because it’s too expensive!

If this is the case, it’s definitely time to consider switching health plans. Even if you don’t switch health plans, then you may want to consider an HSA- a Health Savings Account- if it’s available through your health insurance provider.

Another Way to Find Out If You Should Change Your Health Insurance

There are many other situations that may cause people to consider changing their health insurance. Our team of experts can help you understand whether or not the time is right for you, and can help you find a plan that will suit your needs if you’re ready to change. Call the Health Plan Options Today team hotline at 855-218-3447 to speak with the team directly, or click the link below and we’ll get in touch with you.

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You Should Think About Using Your Health Insurance’s Mental Health Services

Mental health is no longer the taboo topic that it once was, and thanks to changes in health insurance law, mental health care is now more accessible than ever.

If one thing has changed in American healthcare over the last 10 years, aside from the emergence and acceptance of the Affordable Care Act, it has been our society’s increased acceptance of mental health services as an important part of healthcare.

Health Insurance For Mental Health

In decades past, mental health support was seen as something taboo, and was probably joked about in movies and tv shows more than it was taken seriously. Many people saw mental health services as something for “rich people” and “crazy people”, and in reality, these services were out of reach for most people. Mental health professionals were hard to find, and many health insurance plans did not support mental health services, so people had to pay out-of-pocket to access these services, making them unaffordable to much of the population.

The Laws That Changed Everything
Biden Signs Executive Order for ACA
President Obama and then-Vice President Biden in office in the early 2010’s. “Obamacare” marked a major national shift in access to mental health services.

In 1996, access to mental health coverage began to shift with the introduction of the Mental Health Parity Act. The Mental Health Parity Act, or MHPA for short, and its later relative, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, stated that employer-sponsored health insurance had to include mental health coverage, and insinuated that health insurance companies should treat mental health coverage as equal to other parts of medical coverage.

These laws proved to be a double-edged sword. On the positive end, they did help provide mental health benefits for people who did not have access to it before. The drawbacks were that there was no protection for those who had mental health issues as a pre-existing condition, so insurance companies could use mental health screenings as a reason to deny people. Also these laws did nothing to cover the millions of low-income people who didn’t have health plans, who (statistically speaking) were likely to be more in need of mental health services.

The Affordable Care Act

When the Affordable Care Act was introduced in 2010, it marked an even greater shift in the way Americans could access mental health care. At the time, the opioid crisis was peaking in America, and treatment was now seen as the morally correct way to address the issue (as opposed to jail time). A wide-ranging solution was needed.

The introduction of the Affordable Care Act provided a worthwhile solution. Mental health support was one of Obamacare’s original “10 essential services“, meaning that all health plans on the public healthcare marketplace had to include coverage for mental health services, and people could not be denied for pre-existing mental health issues. In addition, Medicaid and Medicare began covering mental health services as well. This was important because it set a precedent for health plans outside of the public marketplace to do the same in order to remain competitive. That being said, even 10 years later, mental health support is one of the most underused parts of health insurance.

What Type of Mental Health Services Does Health Insurance Cover?

Although the cost and extent of support available varies by plan, there are certain services that must be offered by every plan under the Affordable Care Act standard. They are as follows:

  • Behavioral Treatment (for example psychotherapy and counseling):
    • Outpatient individual counseling or group therapy sessions
    • Diagnostic services such as psychological evaluation and testing services
    • Ongoing outpatient treatment, including medication management and psychiatric treatment programs
  • Substance abuse (also known as substance use disorder) treatment:
    • Outpatient diagnostic and treatment services for chemical or alcohol dependency
    • Medical services for withdrawal symptoms, such as inpatient detoxification services
    • Substance use disorder recovery services, including counseling and educational resources
  • Mental and behavioral health inpatient services
    • Mental health care if you’re admitted to a psychiatric facility.
  • Additional provisions for preventative care
    • There are preventative care services in the ACA that pertain to mental health, such as depression and alcohol abuse screenings.

Once again, this is just a baseline; it is best to check with your health insurance provider to see exactly what services are provided via your plan.

Do You Need A Health Insurance Plan That Covers Mental Health Services?

If you think you need mental health services and don’t have health insurance, don’t fret. HealthPlanOptionsToday can help you find a plan that will get you started on the road toward wellness. Call us at 855-218-3447 for more information, or click the button below and we’ll get in touch with you.

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Idea: Let’s Add Our Parents to our Health Insurance

If an idea created in California catches on, people may soon be able to add parents to their health insurance plans.

While people can have their children on their health insurance plans through age 26, there is no provision to add dependent parents to health insurance plans. That may soon change in the nation’s largest state if a new bill passes. This may have implications for the future of the entire health insurance industry as well.

Health insurance for the vast majority of the elderly who live in America is covered by Medicare or Medicaid. However, there is a small elderly population who generally aren’t covered by these health insurance programs.

The bill, which is currently named AB-570: Dependent Parent Health Coverage Bill (full text of the bill is here), seeks to allow dependent parents to be added to their adult children’s healthcare plans the same way that adult children can be added to their parents’ healthcare plans (until they are 26). This would drastically benefit those who are caring for incapacitated parents, and may help fill in the gaps that Medicare doesn’t cover (Medicare doesn’t cover dental care, eye care, hearing care and more). The bill also allows people to add undocumented parents to their health insurance as well.

Need to fill in Medicare gaps? Check out our guide on Medigap coverage here).

AB-570 comes on the heels of another California bill that has already influenced other states to reevaluate the way health insurance works, and may end up influencing the future of healthcare in the United States as a whole as well.

Los Angeles assemblyman Miguel Santiago, who sponsored AB-570, says that this is more than a healthcare issue; this is a human rights issue:

“(There are people who) can’t give (their parents) a very basic right to health care through their own coverage plan. This is critical. It’s the humane thing to do.”

-Assemblyman Miguel Santiago

Not surprisingly, there has been some solid opposition to this bill, even outside of the political arena. For example, a coalition of several of California’s chambers of commerce released an open letter (see full text here) that says while the bill is “well-intentioned”, it will cast a burden on small businesses that will be too much to bear, especially when considering California’s recent changes to increase corporate taxation. Here are a few sentences from the letter:

“This bill will place an additional strain on struggling businesses for coverage that is already accessible and affordable for those who need it. …for these reasons, and others, we are respectfully OPPOSED to AB 570” (Caps were in original letter).

At the time of the publication of this article, AB 570 is under debate in the California Assembly (the equivalent of the house of representatives in other states). Regardless of the outcome, it will be interesting to see the discussion this bill will create.

Where to Get Health Insurance

Whether shopping for Medigap coverage for senior parents or searching for a health insurance plan for yourself, Health Plan Options Today covers it all, and has a team of experts that can help you find the right plan for your needs and budget. Call our hotline at 855-218-3447 or click the button below to get started!

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Help! I Need Health Insurance Now!

Do you still need insurance coverage for 2021?

If you have not yet bought medical insurance this year but want one right away, you still have options. Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) does not require everyone to have health insurance anymore. 

Still, going without health coverage could put you at peril for unforeseen medical bills, and you certainly do not want that.

I Need Insurance Now!

Depending on where you reside, you can access your state’s insurance marketplace through a website run by either the state or federal government. Healthcare.gov is the best place to start looking, as it will take you to the marketplace in your state pretty effortlessly.

You will need to answer a few basic questions about your income, the size of your family, and your current residence. Then, the marketplace site will suggest various health plan options (both public and private) for which you are eligible. Beware of enrollment deadlines or important documents you may be required to provide to verify your eligibility.

Did You Miss Open Enrollment For 2021?

If you missed open enrollment 2021, you can still get health insurance. Open enrollment for 2021 ended in mid-December last year in several states. If you missed that date, you may wonder how to get health insurance after open enrollment has ended.

The good news is that you can still qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP). With a SEP you can qualify to get health coverage outside the usual enrollment period. To meet the requirements for a SEP, you ought to have experienced certain qualifying events in your life. A SEP typically lasts 60 days from the time of a qualifying change or event. Here are some examples of qualifying events:

Losing Health Insurance

If you lose existing health insurance, including one provided by your employer, a student health plan, or a health coverage you purchased yourself, you qualify for COBRA health insurance as well as a SEP. Also, you qualify for a SEP if you’ve lost eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare. 

As well, if you have just turned 26 and cannot be on your parent’s health coverage anymore, or you are not a dependent anymore on your parent or guardian’s health plan, you qualify for a SEP. The same case applies if you have lost coverage through your spouse following legal separation or divorce.

Household changes

You meet the requirements for a SEP if you have changes in your home that can include getting married or divorced or having or adopting a baby. Likewise, if you lose a family member and as a result, you fail to qualify for your current health coverage anymore you will be eligible for a SEP.

Relocation

If you move to a new residence within the country or have just relocated to the United States from a foreign country, you qualify for a SEP. Also, if you are a seasonal wage earner moving to or from the location you both work and live, or if you are a student relocating to or from the place you go to school, you will be eligible for a SEP.

When Is Open Enrollment For 2021?

You may be wondering when is the next open enrollment for health insurance. Insurance companies usually decide when to begin their open enrollment periods, and they communicate that information to their clients. 

Even so, open enrollment usually occurs over several weeks during fall, between October and December each year. Therefore, the next enrollment period for health insurance is expected to start during this year’s fall. 

How Can I Get Health Insurance Now?

Even if you’re reading this outside of the open enrollment period, if you’re looking for health insurance, there’s no better place to call than HealthPlanOptionsToday. Their team of experts is trained to listen to your individual situation, then work with you to help you find the best health plan available.

Click the button below and we’ll reach out to you, or call our hotline directly at 855-218-3447 to speak with our team immediately.

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Hospitals & Doctors Upset At Being Overcharged. In Other News, Man Bites Dog.

In a strange and ironic twist of fate, doctors and hospitals are upset about paying unusually high prices for supplies they use every day.

If you’ve ever been in a hospital and have been charged $5 for an aspirin or $50 for a bandage when paying out of pocket, here’s a news story that may make you chuckle a bit. On the other hand, if you have a good relationship with your local family practitioner or dentist, you may feel a tinge of remorse for them.

According to an article that appeared in the Los Angeles Times this week, doctors and hospitals are upset about unusually high prices for supplies they use every day. Of course, items like masks and gloves are typically inexpensive and are easy to access for medical institutions, but the COVID-19 pandemic has created a high demand and drove prices to previously unthinkable levels. 

In an example used in the LA Times story, nitrile gloves (the disposable sterile gloves that medical professionals wear) cost less than $2.50 for a package of 100 pre-2020, but now cost $30 or more for the same size package. Masks and other supplies have undergone similar increases. As you might imagine, this adds up for hospitals and busy doctors’ offices and is cutting into their bottom line. That’s not to mention that doctors are able to see less patients these days because of social distancing and the time it takes for doctors and nurses to constantly disinfect themselves, which is also cutting into their bottom line.

Matchup Of The Year: Doctors vs. Health Insurance Companies

In what may be a historic development, the medical industry says that they don’t want to pass the costs directly to their patients. Instead, they say health insurance companies should pay for the extra costs (of course, this means that eventually these costs will be passed on to insured patients, but nobody is mentioning that).

Doctors in California believe in this idea so much that the California Medical Association, which is a statewide doctor’s organization, has sponsored a bill in the California state legislature that says that insurance companies should not only pay for the now-pricey personal protective equipment (PPE), but other pandemic-related expenses such as soap and other disinfectant, lost time, and even the protective fiberglass that separates office workers from patients. 

“People are literally saying ‘well, maybe my knee doesn’t hurt that bad…’ and the insurance companies are turning record profits as a result”

The California Medical Association says that insurance companies have turned record profits throughout the last year, because outside of COVID-related issues, people have simply stayed inside instead of tending to non-life threatening medical issues, especially during the early months of the pandemic. In the meantime, few, if any health insurance companies have lowered their premiums in response, despite the reduced traffic. People are literally saying “well, maybe my knee doesn’t hurt that bad; I’ll take an Ibuprofen” and the insurance companies are turning record profits as a result. Since many of America’s largest insurers are publicly traded on the stock market, their profit information is only a Google search away- in recent quarters, major insurers have enjoyed not just above-average, but record profits.

A similar legal challenge that attempted to make medicaid and medicare foot doctors’ pandemic expenses bill has already failed on the federal level, but California isn’t the only state with active legislation like this. Washington state has already passed a law that creates a standard insurance charge for every medical visit that will help defray pandemic-related expenses. In addition, it’s likely that lobbyists and lawmakers in other states are watching the outcome of the California bill before writing their own pandemic expense bills. Also, the federal government has taken steps to help people some of the out-of-control medical costs at hospitals and doctors offices.

What Are Health Insurance Providers Saying About This?

If you thought that health insurance companies would not be going out quietly, you’re absolutely right. They’ve fiercely opposed these laws, saying that it’s not usually their responsibility to pay for these types of expenses. In addition, they say that many private doctor’s offices have already received federal help for their pandemic-related expenses. And this is true; in California, billions of dollars were dispersed to help doctors and dentists with pandemic-related expenses. Only time will tell about the outcome of this legislative battle.

How to Lower Your Health Insurance Costs

No matter how this law affects California and the rest of the nation, if you’re looking for health insurance that is customized just for you and your family’s unique needs and budget, then look no further than HealthPlanOptionsToday. Our team of certified experts is dedicated to understanding your situation and helping you find the best option available. Click the button below or call our hotline at 855-218-3447 to get started on your health insurance journey.

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Your Health Is Important: What This Means for Insurance

It is easy to get life insurance if you are healthy and young because most insurance companies will consider you to be an asset. However, finding affordable life insurance for somebody suffering from a terminal health condition and a bit advanced in age is not easy, though it is still possible.

Sadly, most health issues, such as having a family history of heart disease or certain cancers, are beyond your control, and these will affect the type and price of a policy you can get. Such illnesses take a huge toll on a patient, and they are also expensive for the insurance company. 

Therefore, being in good health is an advantage to insurance providers, and they would do anything to encourage their clients to live healthily. Since your health is important to you and your insurance provider, here are things you can do for everyone’s benefit: 

Keep the Illness in Check

If you have an illness or condition, then you must control it the best you can. 

If you have heart disease, diabetes, ADD, or kidney disease, finding an affordable cover will be hard. Also, conditions such as cancer, arthritis, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and others will complicate your insurance coverage. 

If you work with your doctor to control these conditions, then getting the right policy will be easier.

Check Your Risky Habits

Do you smoke, use products with nicotine, or have a risky hobby like hiking dangerous trails or racing cars? Such pastimes are considered high-risk, and any time you participate in them increases the chances that you will meet your end early. This is a concern for life insurance companies.

Therefore, your policy will come at a higher cost. Bear in mind that you cannot quit using nicotine today to become eligible for the more inexpensive packages. Most companies want candidates to have a clean bill of health for no less than a year. On that note, if you have a record for drunk driving, you may wait up to five years to meet the requirements for the best prices.

Additionally, if your profession is somewhat risky, for instance, transportation, fishing, or mining, your insurer will charge more.

Practice Healthy Exercise and Diets

Your fitness and nutrition count can also determine how much your life insurance coverage will cost, even though not directly. Your overall diet and fitness affect wellness measures such as cholesterol levels, weight, and blood pressure. Your insurer will consider these metrics when calculating your cost.

Even if you are otherwise hale and hearty, you will pay extra if your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are high. Similarly, you will spend more if you are healthy but overweight.

Find More Affordable Rates Between Different Insurers

Granted, being unhealthy makes it hard to find life insurance policies. If your condition is high-risk, you may need to consider several insurance quotes from various insurers to find the best coverage.

Insurance companies have their own underwriting rules, and some insurers offer reasonable prices for certain illnesses. One insurer could be better at covering cancer survivors while another may be better at covering diabetics.

Ask to Be Rated Again

Your health may have been poor when you initially purchased your life insurance policy, but you can have it re-considered if your health has significantly improved. Once you are a client, you can ask to re-rate your coverage if your health improves from the time you obtained the life cover.

Remember, any rising health problems as well as the fact that you have gotten a year older will be taken into consideration when determining the new cost. Still, a re-rating can help you save some money on your policy.

Are You Looking for Health Insurance?

The team at HealthPlanOptionsToday prides themself in helping people get the best insurance prices for their unique needs and situation. We can’t wait to help you as well! Click the button below and we’ll contact you, or call our hotline at 855-218-3447 for instant help.

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HPOT Gives Back: Our Staff Helps Foster Pups

Some of our staff members took some time out of their weekend to help volunteer as transport partners for Big Hearts Big Dogs, which is a South Florida-based organization that helps to rescue and advocate for large dog breeds.

Thank you to our staff for taking the time to do this, and thank you to Big Hearts Big Dogs for allowing us to participate. Just take a look at these cuties!