In CA, regulators are working to impose a ban on “balance billing” – the practice of billing patients for amounts over what their health insurance companies will pay for a given procedure. While most health insurance networks prohibit balance billing, there are only eight states that regulate the practice, and a good number of patients… Read more about Why Is There A Balance To Bill In The First Place?
Individual/Family Health
Colorado Lawmakers Addressing Health Insurance Premium Increases
Colorado lawmakers have proposed legislation that would tighten restrictions on health insurance carriers regarding premium increases and the timeliness of claims payment. The bill to limit premium increases was sponsored by state representative Morgan Carroll (D), who cited a 60% increase in health insurance premiums in Colorado between 2001 and 2005. During the same time,… Read more about Colorado Lawmakers Addressing Health Insurance Premium Increases
Capping Health Insurance Premiums
David Williams at the Health Business Blog has written a post about Clinton’s plan to cap health insurance premiums at 5% – 10% of a family’s income. With a US median income of nearly $50,000/year, health insurance premiums would be somewhere in the range of $2500 – $5000/year, which as Mr. Williams points out, doesn’t… Read more about Capping Health Insurance Premiums
Sunscreen, A Swimsuit, and Your Health Insurance Card
According to a Business Week article, most of the major US health insurance carriers are moving towards including overseas hospitals in their provider networks, in an effort to encourage policy holders to utilize the much less expensive services that can be found in many of Asia’s top-notch private hospitals. Most of the hospitals are accredited… Read more about Sunscreen, A Swimsuit, and Your Health Insurance Card
When The Lottery Becomes A Matter Of Life And Death
In OR, over 91,000 people have signed up to be included in a lottery that the state is holding to fill 3,000 available slots in their state health plan. The plan is low cost (zero to $20 per month) and provides health and dental benefits to people that would otherwise be uninsured. For the 3,000… Read more about When The Lottery Becomes A Matter Of Life And Death
Lower Share Prices For Humana And Wellpoint
Humana and Wellpoint – both major players in the Colorado health insurance market – lowered their 2008 earnings projections on Wall Street this week. In both cases, higher-than-expected claims volume is partially to blame. Humana’s earnings drop is mainly tied to claims with their Medicare prescription drug program, which the company says will reset after… Read more about Lower Share Prices For Humana And Wellpoint
No Out Of State Health Insurance For Colorado Residents
The Colorado House of Representatives rejected a proposal yesterday that would have made it possible for Colorado residents to buy health insurance from out-of-state carriers not licensed in Colorado. The vote was close, but failed 6-5 in the committee meeting. I think that the state-by-state system of health insurance in this country is ridiculous, considering… Read more about No Out Of State Health Insurance For Colorado Residents
Mental Health Coverage on Health Insurance Policies
The House voted last week to require health insurance companies to provide equal coverage for mental and physical health on policies that cover both types of illness. This is heralded as a big step forward by mental health advocates, but it will also place a strain on health insurance carriers, policy-holders who pay their own… Read more about Mental Health Coverage on Health Insurance Policies
Retirement And Health Care
A recent study by Fidelity Investments estimates that a 65-year old couple retiring in 2008 will need $225,000 set aside in order to cover medical expenses during their golden years. And yet 39% of Americans over age 55 have less than $25,000 in total retirement savings. This presents a troubling picture of the financial future… Read more about Retirement And Health Care
Health Care For All
Does having health insurance guarantee that someone has access to health care? Not really. This article does an excellent job of comparing auto insurance and health insurance, and explaining how the health insurance industry hasn’t really been able to keep up with the changing face of health care over the last several decades. In addition… Read more about Health Care For All
They Should Have Just Paid For The Chemo
HealthNet in CA has been ordered to pay $9 million to an insured who had her policy canceled midway through treatment for breast cancer. The bulk of the award – $8.4 million – was punitive damages, which should leave health insurance companies all over the country feeling a little nervous. Patsy Bates got her HealthNet… Read more about They Should Have Just Paid For The Chemo
Grand Rounds and the Cav are Hot Off the Press
The latest issue of Grand Rounds is up at Science Roll. A post I found interesting was from Bob Coffield at the Health Care Law Blog about the pilot project between Google and the Cleveland Clinic. Also, check out the latest Cavalcade of Risk put up by the wise wench. That is where I noticed… Read more about Grand Rounds and the Cav are Hot Off the Press
Physical Therapy Expenses
We’ve started getting EOBs for Jay’s knee surgery, and I’m finding it very interesting to see first-hand what all these medical procedures cost. The anesthesia was billed at $1155, (our Humana network price was $748) and the initial physical therapy that was done on the first day after the surgery was billed at $637 (reduced… Read more about Physical Therapy Expenses
Without A Paddle
As health insurance brokers, we talk with people every day who have various pre-existing medical conditions. We go over options with them, although it’s usually a case of picking the lesser of two evils. I just read Kyla’s story about her family’s struggle to get health insurance for their little girl. She wrote more details… Read more about Without A Paddle
If You Break It, You Buy It
I read somewhere recently that compliance with hand washing standards in American hospitals is less than 50%. That alone is enough to make me thankful that Jay and I have chosen a home birth for our baby this spring, but it also raises lots of questions about medical care in general. If something as simple… Read more about If You Break It, You Buy It
Medicaid Recipients More Likely To Be Diagnosed With Advanced Cancer
The American Cancer Society has released data indicating that uninsured Americans are 2.1 times as likely as those with private health insurance to have cancer initially diagnosed at an advanced stage. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, since people without health insurance tend to put off going to the doctor out of concern… Read more about Medicaid Recipients More Likely To Be Diagnosed With Advanced Cancer
Higher Medicare Drug Premiums For Wealthy Seniors
President Bush wants to charge wealthy American seniors more for their prescription drug coverage. In a plan that will be presented to congress for approval, the administration is proposing a premium increase for Medicare beneficiaries who earn more than $82,000/year as a single person or $164,000 for a married couple. The amount of the premium… Read more about Higher Medicare Drug Premiums For Wealthy Seniors
Health Insurance After Infertility Treatment
I just read a post by ForHealth about infertility treatment and individual health insurance. Her experience is one we’ve seen with some clients over the years. She went through fertility treatment – Clomid, in this case – which was unsuccessful. Three years later, she applied for an individual health insurance policy and was declined. The… Read more about Health Insurance After Infertility Treatment
Automatic Payroll Deduction For Health Insurance Premiums
I’ll preface this post by saying that Hillary Clinton is not my choice for America’s next president. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like some of her ideas. I just read an article that described her plans for enforcement of her proposal to make health insurance mandatory for all Americans. Garnishing wages of workers who… Read more about Automatic Payroll Deduction For Health Insurance Premiums
Is Mandatory Health Insurance Really That Unreasonable?
The political catfight that always ensues during a presidential election year is well underway, and health care seems to be mentioned at every turn. Each candidate has a different view of how to fix the mess, although it’s hard to untangle true intentions from lobbyist influence and political alliances. One issue that has generated quite… Read more about Is Mandatory Health Insurance Really That Unreasonable?
Risk is Everywhere
The Digerati Life hosted a HUGE Cavalcade of Risk yesterday. It took me a while to get all the way through it. The Colorado Health Insurance Insider is included. Also, in the “Insurance and Risk Management” section was a good article by Consumers Health Insurance Blog about the Consumer Reports article “12 Money Mistakes that… Read more about Risk is Everywhere
HSAs Only Help If You Fund Them
Jay and I are in Vail, Colorado this week, getting his knee fixed at the Steadman|Hawkins clinic at Vail Valley Medical Center. The surgery on Monday went great – far better than we had expected. His physical therapy is going very well too – they’re seeing him twice a day this week and I’m going… Read more about HSAs Only Help If You Fund Them
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Product Enhancements
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has long been a major player in the Colorado health insurance market. Brokers and clients alike tend to feel comfortable with Anthem Blue Cross, due in large part to their stability and network size. Yesterday I met with our Anthem Blue Cross representatives, and discussed some of their product enhancements…. Read more about Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Product Enhancements
Health Care Should Be Just Another Public Service
Just a few more Colorado Health Insurance Insider thoughts on Michael Moore’s Sicko… One thing that struck me in the movie was when Moore pointed out that the US already has lots of public “socialized” systems, including firefighters and public education. I doubt that many people like the idea of having firefighting services that have… Read more about Health Care Should Be Just Another Public Service
HSAs Featured on the Cav
One of my favorite bloggers, Julie Ferguson of the Workers Comp Insider, hosted this weeks Cavalcade of Risk. Along with Louise’s recent article about how HSAs aren’t yet encouraging a true free market health care system, there were many other good HSA related articles. First off, Joe Paduda of Managed Care Matters explains the inaccuracy… Read more about HSAs Featured on the Cav