I just spoke with a woman who got health insurance quotes on our website today. Turns out she was sitting in a Denver emergency waiting room when she got the quotes, and was still in the ER a few hours later when I called her. She and her husband have no health insurance, although their… Read more about What Its Like
Advice
Cavalcade of Risk – New Years Edition
The Healthcare Economist makes his New Years resolutions with an interesting edition of the Cavalcade of Risk. This edition really sticks to health insurance and public policy issues relating to healthcare. The Colorado Health Insurance Insider is included in this edition. But my favorite article is about Jon Swift’s compassion toward John Derbyshire, who had an… Read more about Cavalcade of Risk – New Years Edition
Specialty Drugs Boost Health Insurance Premiums in Colorado
Health insurance premiums in Colorado and the rest of the country are expected to increase by at least 10% in 2007, driven mainly by the cost of expensive specialty drugs. An article I just read from the Associated Press (published by the Insurance Journal) said that specialty drugs accounted for 19 %, or about $40 billion worth of pharmaceutical… Read more about Specialty Drugs Boost Health Insurance Premiums in Colorado
Alternatives to Prescriptions for Common Ailments
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
Mullets, Cotton Candy, and Ringtoss…
Yup, it’s carnival time! Yesterday, Emily of The Antidote hosted a very well written Grand Rounds. She included Louise’s article “Wasting Health Care Dollars”. She comments… Colorado Health Insurance Insider bemoans the waste of money from “routine” childbirth procedures like episiotomy (no longer recommended as a routine procedure, by the way) and unindicated cesarean sections…. Read more about Mullets, Cotton Candy, and Ringtoss…
Don’t Confuse Generic with Brand Name
Since Wal-Mart rolled out their $4 generic prescription program in Colorado, I’ve talked to several people who said they don’t need a policy with prescription coverage “because Wal-Mart has $4 prescriptions now“. The $4 prescriptions at Wal-Mart were such big news, I don’t think the message got through in the media that generics weren’t that expensive… Read more about Don’t Confuse Generic with Brand Name
For Health Wonks Only
Michael Cannon has put together a great Health Wonk Review over on Cato at liberty. He does a great job commenting and describing each post so you’ll have an easy time deciding which articles suit your interest.
How To Save on Health Insurance in Colorado
1. Get quotes from multiple Colorado health insurance companies Premiums for health insurance in Colorado can vary greatly, sometimes as much as 50% for similar plans. When comparing plans, be sure to look at the benefits as well as the monthly premium. Make sure your plan provides adequate catastrophic coverage, preferably at least two million… Read more about How To Save on Health Insurance in Colorado
A Legal Scam
After David and Darlene Henderson had more than $210,000 in hospital bills, their health insurance company only paid $33,428, leaving more than $180,000 for the Henderson’s to pay by themselves. For $400 a month, the couple said, the Mega agent told them that they could have a catastrophic group health insurance policy that would cover… Read more about A Legal Scam
Doctor Anonymous Hosts Grand Rounds
This week, Doctor Anonymous gives us a peek into each article by quoting a good chunk of his favorites and explaining a little about the best of the rest. The Colorado Health Insurance Insider made the best of the rest with Louise’s article on sending healthcare overseas. There were a few other articles that the… Read more about Doctor Anonymous Hosts Grand Rounds
Guaranteed Issue Health Insurance
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
Families Feeling the Squeeze
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
Being Held Accountable
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
Why is the Cost of Health Insurance Rising So Fast?
When people try to explain why health insurance premiums are rising so fast, the common explanation you’ll get is that the cost of healthcare is rising. And, yes, this does have something to do with the reason health insurance premiums are increasing. But it’s not the reason health insurance premiums are so out of control. … Read more about Why is the Cost of Health Insurance Rising So Fast?
The Wrong Idea
I was recently going over some health insurance options with a client. We were comparing some high deductible HSA qualified plans with some lower deductible copay plans. She then asked about some of the really cheap plans she saw on our instant quote engine like Right Start from Assurant. I explained that we don’t recommend… Read more about The Wrong Idea
Moral Support for Those Battling Breast Cancer
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
Free and Reduced-Price Prescription Drugs
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
Inexpensive Birth Control
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
Ask Your Agent if This is a “Push Week”
I was at the gym the other day and I overheard a guy talking to his buddies about a plan he’d come up with. He said “Next week is a Push Week, so I wonder if you could buy a policy from me and we could just cancel it the next week. You’ll get all… Read more about Ask Your Agent if This is a “Push Week”
Another Use for Your HSA
Inside many Colorado Target, Wal-mart, Kroger, and Walgreens stores you’ll find walk-in clinics like MedPoint Express, MinuteClinic, RediClinic, and now SmartCare Family Medical Centers. These in-store clinics allow a fast and convenient option for those with a minor medical need, like an ear infection, and want quick treatment. The problem with these clinics, right now, is… Read more about Another Use for Your HSA
Who Likes Personal Finance?
For those of us who can’t get enough information on personal finance, the Canadian Capitalist has over 50 articles in the Carnival of Personal Finance. My favorite entry was from InsureBlog about how important it is to choose the right health insurance policy. Mid-West National Insurance Company sells its limited benefit, hospital indemnity plans under… Read more about Who Likes Personal Finance?
Separate Your HSA from Your Health Insurance
All of the health insurance companies we work with in Colorado now offer HSA qualified high deductible health insurance plans (HDHP). After you’re approved for an HSA qualified HDHP with these companies, they’ll send you information and application information to sign up for a health savings account with a bank they work with. For example,… Read more about Separate Your HSA from Your Health Insurance
Ultrasounds and pregnancy… too much of a good thing?
There is no doubt that over the last few generations, vast amounts of research has been done in the area of obstetrics; modern medicine seems to be able to work miracles when it comes to the care and safety of high-risk mothers and babies, both during and after pregnancy. Babies born 3 months early have… Read more about Ultrasounds and pregnancy… too much of a good thing?
Why We Don’t Sell Discount Health Plans
A good reason that I sell health insurance for all of the top carriers in Colorado is because I’m not a very good “salesperson”. I understand the in’s and out’s of all of the different plans and all of the variables affecting coverage like stability of the companies, underwriting, and how they do rate increases. … Read more about Why We Don’t Sell Discount Health Plans
Health Insurance – Another Reason to Quit Smoking
In case you needed another reason to ditch your ashtray… Did you know that smokers pay more for their health insurance than non-smokers, if they have to get an individual/family policy? If you’re currently covered on a group plan through your employer, you may not have given this much thought over the years. But what… Read more about Health Insurance – Another Reason to Quit Smoking