In Mass, everyone has to have health insurance by January 1. Their new universal health insurance system has expanded government coverage options and driven down the price of private insurance with government subsidies and state collaboration with health insurance companies. But everyone has to sign up. If they don’t they’ll face tax penalties starting next… Read more about Health Insurance Can’t Be Optional
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Moving Away From Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
Julie Appleby has written an article for USA Today discussing the decline of employer-sponsored health insurance in the US. As group health insurance premiums continue to rise, it’s impractical to expect employers to keep absorbing the costs. More and more employers are collecting larger premium percentages from their employees, and the number of employers who… Read more about Moving Away From Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
Health Beat Hosts the Health Wonk Review
A newcomer to our little “health wonk blogosphere”, Maggie Mahar of Health Beat hosts the latest Health Wonk Review. She’s done a nice job of going through each of the articles and coming up with an opinion about them, and (like a blogger is supposed to) letting us know what her opinion is. This gives… Read more about Health Beat Hosts the Health Wonk Review
What Are We Waiting For?
Paul Krugman has written an op-ed piece for the New York Times that perfectly sums up the excuses we keep hearing about why universal health care wouldn’t work in the US, and why the excuses aren’t really valid at all. He sums up the problem: The United States spends far more on health care per… Read more about What Are We Waiting For?
A Sad Story About Generic Drugs
With the advent of TV advertising for pharmaceuticals, I lost a lot of respect for the drug industry. The more I learned about how much money they spend wooing doctors and medical schools, and paying practicing physicians as consultants, the more that respect dwindled. But I think it’s hit a new low. I didn’t know that… Read more about A Sad Story About Generic Drugs
Of Course It Won’t Be Easy
According to policy experts, it might not be an easy task for other states like Colorado to duplicate the new Massachusetts law the brings nearly universal health coverage to the state. Apparently Mass. already had a “free care pool” in place that they are able to use to subsidize the new health-care-for-all program. In other… Read more about Of Course It Won’t Be Easy
Health Care Has Become Too Complicated
In 1999, 70.4% of Americans under age 65 had employer sponsored health insurance. By 2005-2006, that number had fallen to 63.2%, and the trend is likely to continue as health care costs rise, taking health insurance premiums along for the ride. Health care has become the 800 pound gorilla in the room in our current… Read more about Health Care Has Become Too Complicated
Cavalcade of Risk #38 Is Up
“Super Saver” is hosting this weeks Cavalcade of Risk. This week’s Cavalcade concentrated on Insurance and Investing risk, with a smaller representation on Health, Business and Personal risk. Bob Vineyards submission, I Am Not a Carpenter, is a very entertaining read for experienced health insurance agents. By the way, ask him about his pantyhose. I am excited that… Read more about Cavalcade of Risk #38 Is Up
Health Insurance Choices – Emotions Versus Reason
Amy Gillentine has written an article for the Colorado Springs Business Journal that points out many of the current concerns and confusion surrounding our health care system. When it comes to open enrollment for employer-sponsored plans, she sums it up clearly: Choosing among options for health insurance is often an emotional — rather than practical… Read more about Health Insurance Choices – Emotions Versus Reason
Putting A Price Tag On Life
Self Magazine published an article in their October issue titled “How Much Is A Life Worth?” written by Roxanne Patel Shepelavy. The article is a detailed analysis of the cost of heavy duty cancer-fighting drugs, who pays, and who profits. Michelle Diekmeyer’s story is highlighted in the article, and it would make anyone cringe. She… Read more about Putting A Price Tag On Life
Colorado "Health Report Card"
While Coloradans tend to be healthier than residents of other states, senior citizens are faring better than the state’s children and infants, according to a study by the Colorado Health Foundation.The nonprofit foundation’s 2007 “Health Report Card,” released Wednesday, found that based on 40 health indexes: Colorado residents overall got a B-minus grade when compared… Read more about Colorado "Health Report Card"
Protecting The Insured
A few years ago, we had a client who completed an application for individual health insurance for herself, her husband and their child with a major Colorado health insurance provider. The application asked health history questions looking back over ten years, and she thought that she completed it accurately. The family was approved, and coverage… Read more about Protecting The Insured
Cavalcade of Risk Is Up
Take a look at the newest edition of the Cavalcade of Risk at Hill’s Personal Finance.
Obesity Ads Too Soft to be Effective
The Ad Council and the US Department of Health and Human Services are facing criticism that their ads against obesity are too soft, “namby-pamby” and wimpy to do any good. We’ve all seen the ads that show people finding lumpy-looking fat blobs here and there, and being told that they are love handles that someone… Read more about Obesity Ads Too Soft to be Effective
The Health of Colorado
The Colorado Health Foundation funded a report released yesterday that graded the health of Colorado citizens, and compared us to the rest of the nation. Overall, we’re not doing too badly – we are the thinnest state in the country, but then again, the bar isn’t set too high for that factor. And even though… Read more about The Health of Colorado
An Inappropriate Relationship
When you go to your doctor and leave with a prescription for a fancy new drug, how do you know that it’s really in your best interest? You don’t. An eye-opening new study shows that 67% of academic leaders at US medical schools and teaching hospitals have received some type of financial support from the… Read more about An Inappropriate Relationship
Open Mic – Claims Dispute
At the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, we’ve decided to start an “open mic” so our readers can express their views in an open forum. They’ll be able to get feedback from other readers and engage in discussions about Colorado health insurance topics. The opinions expressed in the “Open Mic” category do not reflect those of… Read more about Open Mic – Claims Dispute
An Over-medicated Country
For years, the United States has had the highest health care spending per capita of any country in the world. If all our citizens were bursting with health and living to be 95 years old, one could look at the spending side and say that it’s money well spent. But in fact our health is… Read more about An Over-medicated Country
Emotional Health Care Hearing in Fort Collins
On Friday, about 100 Fort Collins residents gathered at the Lincoln Center for an emotional hearing sponsored by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care. More than 30 people got to address the panel about how to craft a health insurance program for Colorado. Most of those 30+ people that addressed the panel voiced support… Read more about Emotional Health Care Hearing in Fort Collins
Claim Denied? Here’s How to Appeal
Jim Flynn is an attorney in Colorado Springs, and he’s written a great article on the process of making an appeal if your health insurance company denies your claim. If a health insurance company denies a claim for the above stated reason, it must provide a written notice that includes a detailed explanation for the… Read more about Claim Denied? Here’s How to Appeal
SCHIP In Colorado
Although the recent votes on SCHIP in Congress were not completely divided along partisan lines, the vetoed bill to expand SCHIP by $35 billion was supported by far more Democrats than Republicans. From Colorado, Senator Wayne Allard, and US Rep Marilyn Musgrave, both Republicans, voted against the bill. And within the state legislature, there is… Read more about SCHIP In Colorado
Just Put it on the Credit Card – It’ll All Work Out
Democrats obviously haven’t thought far enough ahead about their plans to fund SCHIP. On the other hand, Senator Trent Lott has: “They fund it with a 61 cent a pack tax increase and say by the way, that will discourage people from smoking. That’s good. But the problem is if people do stop smoking you… Read more about Just Put it on the Credit Card – It’ll All Work Out
SCHIP – More Than A Political Debate
No big surprise – the president vetoed the SCHIP expansion bill yesterday. He’s made it very clear for weeks that he would veto the $35 billion expansion proposal from congress, and he prefers a $5 billion increase to the SCHIP budget (critics charge that $5 billion isn’t even enough to pay for the increasing health… Read more about SCHIP – More Than A Political Debate
Another Group Working To Fix Colorado Health Care
Representatives met today from several diverse groups in the Colorado health care sector, with a goal of reaching a bipartisan solution to the health care problems facing Colorado. The list of partners in the project is long and impressive, including Kaiser Permanente, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Service Employees International Union, the Colorado… Read more about Another Group Working To Fix Colorado Health Care
Humana Acquires CompBenefits
It’s not as newsworthy as when United Healthcare acquires a company like PacifiCare or AMS, or the “Don’t taze me bro” loser getting tazed. But I figure I should still mention the fact that Humana acquired CompBenefits today. http://www.compbenefits.com/news/100107.html CompBenefits is a dental and vision provider. So this should make Humana even more competitive in… Read more about Humana Acquires CompBenefits