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Colorado Health Insurance Insider

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You are here: Home / Archives for Louise Norris

About Louise Norris

Louise Norris has been writing about health insurance and healthcare reform since 2006. In addition to the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, she also writes for healthinsurance.org, medicareresources.org, Verywell, Spark by ADP, and Boost by ADP, and Gusto. Follow on twitter and facebook.

and if you want *reliable* info add Louise to search term, as in "family glitch louise norris"

— xpostfactoid (@xpostfactoid) February 16, 2018

What Needs To Be Done

December 12, 2006 By Louise Norris

There is a crisis in the American health care system.  The government got very excited about health savings accounts a couple years ago, but HSAs have not fixed anything.  There are 41 million uninsured people in this country – and that doesn’t count everyone who’s already on government-sponsored Medicare and Medicaid.  It is not uncommon… Read more about What Needs To Be Done

Filed Under: HSA, Policy

Alternatives to Prescriptions for Common Ailments

December 11, 2006 By Louise Norris

I recently read two articles touting alternatives to prescriptions for very common medical scenarios.  The first was about treating depression, the second was about treating ear infections in children.  Antidepressants and antibiotics for ear infections are very close to the top of the list of most frequently mentioned prescriptions when we ask Colorado health insurance clients about their… Read more about Alternatives to Prescriptions for Common Ailments

Filed Under: Advice

Eagle County Colorado Offering Same Sex Partner Benefits

December 8, 2006 By Louise Norris

Eagle County, in the Colorado mountains, will begin offering health insurance benefits to their employees’ same sex partners, provided the couple meets the same “common law” guidelines required for heterosexual couples to obtain benefits.  Same sex partner benefits are becoming more common among private companies, but Eagle County is the first public (ie, tax-payer funded)… Read more about Eagle County Colorado Offering Same Sex Partner Benefits

Filed Under: Group Health, Policy

A Healthy Employee Is a Good Employee

December 4, 2006 By Louise Norris

It seems that every day we hear more bad news about health, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, healthcare costs, and uninsured Americans.  I just read a great AP article about employers who are doing more than just talking about improving the health of their employees.  From loaning bikes to employees to making nutritious food more affordable in… Read more about A Healthy Employee Is a Good Employee

Filed Under: Group Health, Insurance Companies

The Healthcare Battleground

November 27, 2006 By Louise Norris

The rapidly rising cost of health care has taken a toll on the relationships between hospitals and insurers. The suspension of the agreement between HCA and United HealthCare in Denver garnered national attention this fall as the two health care big-dogs struggled to work out their differences. Rather than harmoniously working towards a common goal… Read more about The Healthcare Battleground

Filed Under: Insurance Companies, United Healthcare

Wasting Health Care Dollars

November 22, 2006 By Louise Norris

My best friend is an emergency room nurse at a large hospital in Denver, Colorado.  In the past two months, two of her friends have given birth.  One is a fellow nurse, and the other a dentist.  Both have a solid knowledge base in medicine, and had thoroughly researched pregnancy and childbirth.  Both women wrote… Read more about Wasting Health Care Dollars

Filed Under: Individual/Family Health, Insurance Companies, Providers

Guaranteed Issue Health Insurance

November 20, 2006 By Louise Norris

I just found a post on a financial blog, punny money, that is a review of a book dedicated to helping people lower their health care costs.  It sounds like a good book, with in-depth analysis of the financial ramifications of which health plan you choose and how you use it.  I had to laugh when… Read more about Guaranteed Issue Health Insurance

Filed Under: Advice, Group Health

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Now Has Rating Areas

November 16, 2006 By Louise Norris

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado used to be the only company with one rate grid for the entire state of Colorado.  That’s not the case anymore now that they’ve released their rates for 2007.  Anthem’s number crunchers have come up with four sets of rates for Colorado, based on the cost of services,… Read more about Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Now Has Rating Areas

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross, Individual/Family Health, Insurance Companies

Families Feeling the Squeeze

November 14, 2006 By Louise Norris

Current predictions are that health care costs could rise by at least 10% in 2007, further straining an already stretched market.  The part of the article that I found most interesting was that studies show that Americans spent about the same portion of their annual budget – 6% – on health care in 1960 that… Read more about Families Feeling the Squeeze

Filed Under: Advice, HSA

Battling Prescription Drug Prices

November 3, 2006 By Louise Norris

Rising pharmaceutical costs has been an issue in healthcare for quite some time.  Television advertising for prescription drugs has resulted in more patients demanding that their doctors give them specific prescriptions, even if something else -or nothing at all – may work better.  This practice has been widely criticized, but is showing no signs of… Read more about Battling Prescription Drug Prices

Filed Under: Policy, Providers

Sending Healthcare Overseas

November 2, 2006 By Louise Norris

It probably won’t suprise anyone to learn that US businesses are looking into the possibility of sending employees overseas for medical treatments that tend to be costly at home. Afterall, US businesses have been outsourcing production and customer service overseas for years. So far, only a handful of employees have been sent overseas by their… Read more about Sending Healthcare Overseas

Filed Under: Group Health, Insurance Companies, Travel

Being Held Accountable

October 22, 2006 By Louise Norris

This is a follow up to our last post about how obesity has a huge impact on health care usage, and therefore contributes heavily to skyrocketing health insurance premiums.  Most Americans with health insurance get their coverage through their employers.  Group health insurance through an employer is required to cover all qualified employees, regardless of medical history. … Read more about Being Held Accountable

Filed Under: Advice, Group Health

A Greener Earth, Fitter Employees and Lower Insurance Premiums

October 17, 2006 By Louise Norris

What if health insurance carriers teamed up with employers to improve employee health, lower the number of cars on the roads, and give employees a discount on their health insurance?  What would it take to get people to participate?  Here’s the idea:  Let’s say a company has 200 employees, and offers health insurance to them,… Read more about A Greener Earth, Fitter Employees and Lower Insurance Premiums

Filed Under: Insurance Companies

Tax-Deductible Gym Memberships

October 16, 2006 By Louise Norris

The Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2006 is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives.  Since we are big fans of maintaining health rather than trying to fix health problems after they develop, we think this bill would be a great addition to our myriad of tax laws.  Basically, it would allow Americans to… Read more about Tax-Deductible Gym Memberships

Filed Under: Insurance Companies, Providers

Moral Support for Those Battling Breast Cancer

October 14, 2006 By Louise Norris

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to spread the word about the Y-ME hotline (1-800-221-2141).  This is a grass roots support system, founded by Ann Marcou and Mimi Kaplan in 1978.  The Y-ME website explains more about their mission and how they provide support and encouragement to those fighting the battle with breast cancer. … Read more about Moral Support for Those Battling Breast Cancer

Filed Under: Advice, Group Health

Free and Reduced-Price Prescription Drugs

October 13, 2006 By Louise Norris

With more and more Americans going uninsured, and health insurance policies excluding coverage for prescription drugs, people are finding themselves footing the entire bill at the pharmacy, or worst still – going without needed medications because of the cost.  Most people don’t know that pharmaceutical companies often have programs to provide medications free or at a reduced… Read more about Free and Reduced-Price Prescription Drugs

Filed Under: Advice, Group Health

Insurance Mergers and Network Shrinkage Hurts Consumers

October 12, 2006 By Louise Norris

I have a good friend who is seven months pregnant with her first child. Her employer-sponsored health insurance is with PacifiCare, which recently merged with United HealthCare. Ever since her first prenatal visit in April, she has been seeing a nurse-midwife and an OB/GYN with whom she feels very comfortable. She had planned to deliver… Read more about Insurance Mergers and Network Shrinkage Hurts Consumers

Filed Under: Individual/Family Health, Insurance Companies, Providers, United Healthcare

Funding Health Care with Tobacco Tax

October 11, 2006 By Louise Norris

The governor of Oregon has proposed an $0.85/pack tax increase on cigarettes with the expected $150 to $170 million in revenue being used to subsidize health care for children in Oregon.  I think this is a great idea, and one that could be implemented in every state to help with the health care crisis in… Read more about Funding Health Care with Tobacco Tax

Filed Under: Insurance Companies, Providers

Inexpensive Birth Control

October 10, 2006 By Louise Norris

Several years ago, I was working for a large company, and health insurance was something that I just took for granted.  The only time I ever used it was to visit my gynecologist once a year, and to get my birth control prescription filled.  I think I paid $5 or $10/month for my Rx.  Once I… Read more about Inexpensive Birth Control

Filed Under: Advice, Group Health

Can’t Afford Health Insurance? Don’t Eat Out.

October 8, 2006 By Louise Norris

I just read a news article about why people choose to eat out several times a week instead of cooking at home.  I couldn’t help but notice the $30 tab that the article cited as the amount it would cost to cook a meal at home for TWO people.  Is this a special-occasion meal, or do… Read more about Can’t Afford Health Insurance? Don’t Eat Out.

Filed Under: Individual/Family Health, Insurance Companies

Uninsured American Children

September 28, 2006 By Louise Norris

There are currently 9 million uninsured children in the US.  Census data shows that 70% of those children live in a home where at least one parent works full-time.   The same data indicates that about two thirds of these children would qualify for government-sponsored health insurance if the parents were to apply for it.  Uninsured people are… Read more about Uninsured American Children

Filed Under: Insurance Companies, Providers

Financial Incentives For Good Health

September 24, 2006 By Louise Norris

I have a friend who is a physician’s assistant, and spent some time working for a city wellness program.  The plan was set up to help city employees improve their overall health, and in the process, get a discount on the health insurance premiums that were deducted from their paychecks.  I think this could be… Read more about Financial Incentives For Good Health

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross, Group Health, Insurance Companies, Policy

Wal-Mart Health Insurance Not That Bad

September 21, 2006 By Louise Norris

Let me preface this post by saying that I am usually not too impressed with Wal-Mart. I think that their lowest-price-at-any-cost strategy is not the best long-range plan in terms of caring for our Earth and its inhabitants. The Wal-Mart news of the day is about their new super-low priced generic drug program. The news… Read more about Wal-Mart Health Insurance Not That Bad

Filed Under: Accident/Injury, Individual/Family Health, Insurance Companies, Providers

Sending the Wrong Message To Our Kids About Health Insurance

September 19, 2006 By Louise Norris

Recently, several states have passed laws increasing the age that children can stay on their parents’ health insurance policy.  The reasoning behind the change is sound: these days, it’s not as easy to get a job with health benefits as it used to be, since fewer employers offer coverage to employees.  So allowing young adults to remain on… Read more about Sending the Wrong Message To Our Kids About Health Insurance

Filed Under: Individual/Family Health, Insurance Companies

Preventative Care on Individual Health Insurance

September 18, 2006 By Louise Norris

We’ve all heard the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, yet it often seems that most people ignore this advice.  Otherwise people would not be dying from smoking-related cancers and the plethora of illnesses caused by obesity.  It’s easy to say that these are personal problems and that people… Read more about Preventative Care on Individual Health Insurance

Filed Under: Individual/Family Health, Insurance Companies

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