If their doctors could log onto the site and update it, allowing the other providers across Colorado and the world to keep abreast of what is being done for the patient, it could streamline the treatment process and allow doctors to work in unison instead of having to wait for records to be faxed or mailed from one office to another. I can see lots of potential for Google Health […]
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Rescinded Health Insurance Policies Getting Reinstated
I’m curious to see how the situation in CA will affect our health insurance industry practices here in Colorado. I firmly believe that health insurance companies should do their homework before approving a policy, and that once a policy is issued by the insurer and accepted by the member, it should be a binding agreement. I know that would cost the health insurance companies […]
More Regulation In Pharmaceutical Advertising
…drug industry has launched a huge advertising campaign – next time you’re watching TV, see how many ads go by before you see at least one for a prescription. The Colorado Health Insurance Insider has addressed this problem before, and it seems that lawmakers are starting to notice the impact that TV advertising of pharmaceuticals is […]
Health Wonk Review
Jason has done a great job with the Health Wonk Review over at the Healthcare Economist. The Colorado Health Insurance Insider article about possible Medicare reform is featured in the HWR this week […]
Disclosure Of Gifts Made To Doctors
At the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, we’ve made our position on the relationship between pharmaceutical companies and health care providers very clear. When pharmaceutical companies provide tangible benefits to doctors, hospitals, and universities, the lines between objectivity and bias become very blurred. And for patients without health insurance […]
Mixing Health Care And Capitalism
At the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, we’ve written about the financial devastation faced by families when a high-priced medication is not covered by their health insurance carrier. But it seems that it would be even worse to not have the option to at least try to purchase the treatment on your own. These are people’s lives we’re talking about […]
Senate Starting To Address Health Care Reform
Overall, I’d say that at the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, we agree with Donna Shalala’s thoughts on health care reform. Limiting benefits and restricting coverage to fewer people (which would be the result of an age increase for Medicare […]
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!
I Do – As Long As You Have Health Insurance
A new poll shows that 7% of Americans have married in the last year in order to obtain coverage through a spouse’s health insurance policy. And nearly a quarter of Americans have kept or changed jobs in the last year because of health insurance. These are major life decisions – marriage and careers […]
High Deductible Health Plans Are Popular In Colorado
A study conducted by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) shows that Colorado ranks fifth in the nation for health savings account and high deductible health plan membership as a percentage of the state’s total private health insurance population […]
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.
Pre-Existing Conditions a Serious Issue For Health Insurance
…in Colorado, Cover Colorado provides a reasonable coverage option, although many people find that the only deductible they can afford is much higher than they would like. But what about people who live in the 40% of states that don’t have a high risk pool? Or the ones who live in states where the high risk pool was financially swamped ages ago and hasn’t […]
Genetic Testing Anti-Discrimination Law
InsureBlog made some good points last fall about the bill, and why it’s not really all that helpful. In terms of the small group market, I would agree, since small group plans are guaranteed issue, and in Colorado, the state has restricted insurers from increasing premiums for small groups based on medical history – regardless of how the medical information was obtained […]
Midwifery Care Is Good For Health Insurance Carriers
…in Colorado there is no such thing as home-birth coverage on individual policies. In fact, there are only a handful of health insurance carriers in Colorado that offer maternity coverage on individual policies at all, and for most people, the coverage provided isn’t worth the extra premium […]
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 […]
Smoking Can Be Hazardous To Your Career
Whirlpool has suspended 39 employees for lying about tobacco use, and the employees could face termination once their cases are investigated by the company. At the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, we’ve written about wellness programs that are becoming more common among large employers, and about our disappointment that the DOL is starting to consider wellness… Read more about Smoking Can Be Hazardous To Your Career
50th Cav and Student Health Insurance
These plans (even the ones not issued through MEGA Life & Health) offer the same misleading general information that most people don’t look much beyond – a low deductible, 80/20 coinsurance, copays for doctors visits and Rx, and even maternity coverage. Check out the plan information for Colorado State University (CSU) and Colorado University (CU) […]
Dr. Val Has the Latest Grand Rounds
Dr. Val and the Voice of Reason put together the latest edition of Grand Rounds and did an excellent job. Take a look.
Colorado HB1389 Needs Some Work
Health insurance premiums in Colorado have been rising far more than wages for years. Jay and I pay more than twice as much now for our high deductible health insurance policy compared with what we were paying five years ago. We talk with clients all the time who are considering going without health insurance because the premiums […]
Taking a Closer Look at Colorado HB 1389
Colorado House Bill 1389, dubbed the Fair & Accountable Insurance Act, was approved by the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee. It now goes to the House Appropriations Committee. This bill, introduced by Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) and Sen. Paula Sandoval (D-Denver), addresses a very complicated issue and we at the Colorado Health Insurance Insider… Read more about Taking a Closer Look at Colorado HB 1389
More Care Does Not Mean Better Care
None of the hospitals in the Dartmouth study are in Colorado, but I’m curious now to see how the major Colorado hospitals pay their doctors. Given a choice, I would be more inclined to use a hospital that pays physicians a salary, rather than using a per-procedure compensation structure.
HR5719 Could Get The Presidential Axe
HR5719 is facing a potential veto from the White House because of the HSA limitations proposed in the bill. At the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, we feel that the proposal in HR5719 to require that HSA participants provide proof of medical expenses would bog down the relative simplicity that HSAs currently provide. Evolution Benefits, the… Read more about HR5719 Could Get The Presidential Axe
Health Beat Has the Health Wonk Review
In addition to Louise’s article on the new fourth tier here on the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, Maggie also had a recent post where she asks “Who Sets the Price at $100,000” and, does anyone happen to know, “Are These Drugs Effective?”
Government Health Care Is Better Than None At All
I found this article at the Health Care Blog and wanted to share it with our readers. Obviously this doesn’t only apply to McCain. All big-time politicians get government-funded health care. It’s a sweet benefit of working for the government. And there’s no way around the fact that it makes it difficult for a politician… Read more about Government Health Care Is Better Than None At All
A Bad Trend in Rx Coverage
We have health insurance to guard against financial devastation in the face of serious health problems. But when we separate out the prescription coverage from the rest of the policy, we’re leaving seriously ill patients to fall between the cracks.