[…] But these numbers would seem to indicate that while Anthem’s rate increase may have been large, it seems to be in line with what other carriers are charging in Colorado. For the little test I conducted, Anthem’s premium was the second-lowest I found, and the only one with a lower premium had an additional thousand dollars in out of pocket exposure.
Rush Limbaugh Advises His Listeners To Go Uninsured
There are plenty of valid complaints against the current health care reform bills. Those who say that the bills don’t do enough to address the root problem of ever-increasing health care costs have a very good point. But take it with a grain of salt when a multi-millionaire with the ability to pay cash for any medical treatment he might need rails against reform that might make medical care more affordable for average people and talks […]
And You Thought Gender Based Pricing Was Bad
[…] an insurance company called GuideOne Mutual actually had a question about “religious denomination.” And it seems that Atheists and Agnostics were charged more.
Marketing in Disguise
I almost tossed it. But then I saw the notice across the front of the envelope: “Attention Rural Co-operative Members. You may now qualify for a Hospitalization Policy that helps pay outpatient expenses.” My curiosity was piqued, given the health insurance co-op ideas that have been tossed around this summer […]
Complaint Ratios Updated With 2008 Data
The Colorado Division of Insurance has finished compiling and organizing the data for 2008. Visit the Colorado Health Insurance Company Complaint Ratio Comparison page to see the updated complaint, revenue, and market share statistics from the division of insurance along with the A.M. Best Rating information we’ve added […]
Designing An Effective, Enforceable, Individual Mandate
[…] As readers of the Colorado Health Insurance Insider know, Insurance markets pool risk. An insurance system will only work if the exposures of low risk individuals are pooled together with the exposures of higher risk individuals. Life insurance, homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance; they all work the same way. If health insurers are required to offer guaranteed access without an effective mandate requiring all Americans to maintain coverage, there would be a clear disincentive for healthy people to secure or maintain coverage. […]
Only Two Health Insurance Options For Metro State Students
[…] But some students have done their own research and found an individual health insurance policy that better fits their needs and/or budget, and they would prefer to be given the option of keeping that policy. For those students, we feel that colleges should reconsider their waiver requirements and treat their students as adults who are capable of making their own decisions.
Huffington Post Digs Grand Rounds
Thanks to Alvaro Fernandez at Sharp Brains, the Huffington Post has cross posted the latest Grand Rounds. And the neat thing is that a Colorado Health Insurance Insider article is the first one mentioned (about the cost of treating the uninsured at Denver Health). Check it out.
United HealthCare Lets You Buy Future Insurability
[…] Golden Rule has launched Continuity in 25 states, and is working to roll out the program in the other states where they market policies. Colorado isn’t one of the first 25 states, although Golden Rule is a big part of the individual health insurance market here, so I expect that we’ll see the Continuity option here before long. […]
Guest Blogger Writes About Health Care Reform
[…] Over half of all Americans have gone without needed health care (such as doctor visits, medications, and other treatments) due to cost. In most cases, it’s preventative care that suffers. That neglect leads to far higher costs for patients and society in the long run. In light of this study, many are calling for health care reform in the United States.
United Healthcare Eliminates FACT Fee
United Healthcare/Golden Rule has always required that members joined an association called “FACT” in order to purchase the health insurance. It was only $3/month, but it was still annoying. For applicants submitting new applications from today on, there is no more FACT fee!
Abilify vs Havidol
Louise and I were watching Saturday Night Live last night and the first commercial after one of the skits was for “Abilify”. A lot of times SNL has a parody commercial right after the skits before the real commercials. I was 100% sure this was a parody, obviously a joke name, a list of really… Read more about Abilify vs Havidol
Guest Blogger – Concerns About Health Insurance
Today’s Guest Blogger is J.A., an RN, who submitted via our “Be A Guest Blogger” page:
I am paying COBRA, health and dental at $640. per month. I am a nurse, recently diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at age 50, this year. Cobra is 18 months with 11 month extension. I was informed I have to exhaust COBRA timeline before being eligible for Cover Colorado […]
Complaint Ratios Updated With 2007 Data
The Colorado Division of Insurance has finished compiling and organizing the data for 2007. Visit the Colorado Health Insurance Company Complaint Ratio Comparison page to see the updated complaint, revenue, and market share statistics from the division of insurance along with the A.M. Best Rating information we’ve added alongside. We hope this makes it easier for you to shop for health insurance in Colorado, but you can always contact us for our expert assistance at no cost!
What Issues Concern Debra Bartoshevich?
I was watching our local Colorado news after the DNC tonight. John McCain had a commercial featuring a Hillary Clinton supporter who said she was voting for McCain. The ad said she was a “Former Hillary Delegate” and she claimed she was voting for McCain’s “experience and judgement.” This intrigued me because she was obviously very involved in the political process […]
Oy Anecdotes
“The plural of anecdote is not data” – Movin’ Meat, in a comment on (one of our favorite local Colorado blogs) Patient Power I just had to say this is one of the best quotes I’ve heard in a while. It sums up a lot of things really well. There are always anecdotes, especially in… Read more about Oy Anecdotes
Help Brainstorm the Perfect Health Care System
To keep running with some ideas started on this blog about how the best health care system should be run, I’ve created a wiki page on the Colorado Health Insurance Wiki for mass collaboration on the issue (by “mass,” I’m hoping a few more people will assist with the ideas Don and I have set… Read more about Help Brainstorm the Perfect Health Care System
Grand Rounds from the South Pacific
Yet again, Grand Rounds has opened my eyes to a medical blog that I haven’t seen yet, but I will read regularly from now on. Marianas Eye is a very well written blog with a lot of good stuff including this weeks Grand Rounds, so we added them to our blogroll.
Health Wonk Review – Washington Week
Check out the latest Health Wonk Review: “Washington Week” on Health Affairs Blog. An article from the Colorado Health Insurance Insider is in the “Consumer and Patient Rights” section. And my favorite article this week comes from Ezra Klein with an article about “Why Doctors Overprescribe.” But just as interesting is an article from Bob… Read more about Health Wonk Review – Washington Week
Cavalcade of Risk 2’nd Anniversary!!
Two years ago Hank Stern started up the Cavalcade of Risk, a place for those of us interested in insurance related risk management topics. Two years later, it is a well known place to find some of the most interesting stuff in the blogosphere. On the second anniversary of “The Cav,” Hank is playing host… Read more about Cavalcade of Risk 2’nd Anniversary!!
Happy Hospitalist Has Grand Rounds
Well, Blog do gooders, [Happy Hospitalist] will show you how every brilliant blogger this week can be traced to Happy in six links or less.
How closely can we be traced to Happy?
Colorado Health Insurance Insider–>Managed Care Matters–>KevinMD–>Happy (3 degrees)
Grand Rounds at .Parallel Universes.
Emeritus did a great job with the latest Grand Rounds over at Parallel Universes this week. One of my favorite articles of the week was from NHS Blog Doctor about the conflict of Hormone Replacement Therapy. The article itself was interesting, but the comments […]
Suture for a Living Has Grand Rounds
I just noticed the latest Grand Rounds is up over at Suture for a Living. Give it a look. The Colorado Health Insurance Insider got noticed because of the “Smoking Can Be Hazardous for Your Health” article and all of your great comments!
HWR at Medical Humanities
…I’ll recommend his latest post about McCains health reform plan. In which, he points to the same article by Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review that Louise did in her article about pre-existing conditions and how it relates to Colorado health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente Provider Change for Boulder/Longmont Area
Effective June 1, 2008, Boulder Valley Individual Practice Association (BVIPA) and the Longmont Clinic will no longer participate in the Kaiser Permanente Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS) provider network. PHCS is the provider network available to Kaiser Permanente Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and Point of Service (POS) members in Colorado. Kaiser says […]