Insurance News, Articles and Opinions

When Applying For Private Health Insurance Honesty is the Best Policy (May 25, 2007) In today’s ever changing health insurance landscape, many people find themselves either compelled due to a loss or reduction in health benefits, or by choice, to look for private heath insurance. But unlike employer based group health insurance plans that cannot reject an applicant due to medical histories, in many states, insurance companies can and do reject applicants based on medical history and lifestyle issues.

Unlikely Bedfellows: Labor Union and Nations largest Retailer Unite for Lower Health Insurance (May 24, 2007) Wal-Mart the nation’s largest retailer has often been sited for providing less than an adequate number of its employees’ access to affordable health insurance. Not only is this changing as Wal-Mart attempts to improve its image, it has recently formed an unlikely alliance with one of the retailers strongest critics; The Service Employees International Union.

Edwards Plan for Affordable Health Coverage Gains Momentum (May 23, 2007) In the first Presidential debates by both the democratic and republican filed, it was apparent that second only to the war in Iraq, health insurance was of serious concern to voters and candidates alike.

Consumer Friendly Website makes Health Insurance Easier to Understand (May 22, 2007) Health Insurance can be confusing. And today with so many different options available and many changes occurring on an almost a daily basis, finding what you need to know to obtain affordable health insurance is more complex than ever.

Americans Demand Options to Control Health Insurance Costs (May 21, 2007) Amidst rising costs, slashed benefits, and candidates from both sides on the stump espousing healthcare and health insurance reforms, most Americans are interested in entertaining the many options that have been suggested to maintain access to affordable health insurance.

Graduation Day Brings Many Changes - Including Loss of Health Insurance. (May 18, 2007) As spring time is in full swing and we rapidly approach the time when graduates nationwide will be tossing those hats skyward along with their dreams and aspirations, many may also be facing the first time they will be without the befit of their parent’s health insurance.

Universal Health Insurance Bill Gains More Support (May 17, 2007) The so-called Healthy American Act, a proposed Senate bill originally presented in January by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, has just picked up an important endorsement from the other side of the aisle.

Smokers in Indiana Help Pay for Uninsured (May 16, 2007) Smokers have long paid higher health insurance premiums than non-smokers. Now in many states most recently Indiana, legislators have passed laws that not only make them pay more for health insurance, but smokers are also helping those without access to affordable medical coverage.

Parity Pushed for Mental Illness under Private Health Insurance (May 15, 2007) For years providers of private heath insurance plans traditionally charged higher copays, and deductibles for mental health conditions than for other conditions, if they provided such coverage at all.

Is There An Advantage to "Medicare Advantage" Private Health Insurance Plans? (May 14, 2007) Back in 2003 the Republican run Congress created Medicare Advantage, a program that allowed private health insurance providers to get involved in Medicare. A recent review by the Congressional Budget Office however failed to conclude that there was any advantage to seniors who participated in the private healthcare plans as opposed to those who stuck with the government provided benefits.

Small Business Feels Threatened By Calls for Universal Health Insurance (May 11, 2007) With many politicians, lobbyists and even one of the largest trade groups representing the insurance industry beginning to line up behind the Universal Healthcare banner, there could still be one group poised to slow the march: Small Business.

Washington State Proposes Health Insurance Reform (May 10, 2007) Legislators in the Evergreen State have just past sweeping healthcare reforms, that supporters say will make vast improvements to Washington’s healthcare delivery system. Yet opponents say the measures do very little to help small businesses and families obtain access to low cost medical insurance.

Survey Finds More New Jersey Businesses Dropped Health Benefits Last Year (May 9, 2007) As many States are scrambling to propose legislation and implement plans to help their uninsured and underinsured residents, a recent survey found that more small businesses cut medical benefits or eliminated them entirely in the state of New Jersey in 2006.

Florida Residents Pay Some of the Highest Health Insurance Rates in the Nation (May 8, 2007) Not everything is sunny for the residents of the Sunshine State. A recent study has found that Floridians pay some of the highest rates in the country for health insurance. According to the Kaiser Foundation health insurance rates are up 87% in the State. Meaning that those who can afford it and are buying individual health insurance are paying over $11,000.00 per year.

Large Majority of Seniors Who Qualify Fail to Sign UP for Medicare Rx Drug Benefit (May 7, 2007) The Medicare Prescription Drug Health Insurance Benefit introduced several years ago was widely hailed as a great example of a federally funded low-cost health insurance plan that can work. Yet despite the low-cost prescription drug benefit being widely advertised and promoted, it seems that a vast majority of seniors who qualify and can really use the assistance, have not taken advantage of it.

Most Still Prefer Employer Based Health Insurance (May 4, 2007) Despite all the talk about a new age of consumerism in healthcare, and the feelings of many top insurance industry experts and government officials that the answer for the 47 million uninsured is Consumer Driven Health Plans, a recent study found that the majority of workers still prefer health benefits from their jobs.

Massachusetts Offers Exemptions to Health Insurance Mandates (May 3, 2007) Some opponents to the mandated health insurance about to be implemented in Massachusetts and proposed in several other states objected to the idea of a mandate that forces people to purchase something they may not be able to afford. Advocates never felt that was a valid objection, confident that when the plan was actually put into effect, exemptions to the requirement would be built in, so the programs does not cause hardship to any family or individual. This has proven to be the case.

Want to Save Money on HealthCare - Examine Your Medical Bills (May 2, 2007) In the wake of rising health insurance costs, one place they may be rising where you may be able to control is on you actual medical bills. Billing errors are more common than most consumers think. Health insurance experts agree that if you want to save money on medical expenses, one way is to start examining your medical bills more closely.

Retainer Medicine A Growing Alternative to Health Insurance (May 1, 2007) It’s a cold, wet winters night - you child’s fever is 102 degrees and climbing - suddenly the doorbell rings, and in walks your doctor. No this isn’t a dream or a scene from an old movie - that is not if you are a one of the growing thousands of patients who have a doctor on a retainer.