Highmark has announced the availability of a new form of individual health insurance plan called the Simply Blue PPO, which is designed to provide policyholders with simple coverage at a low premium, with a predictable structure for copayments and with low deductibles. According to Highmark’s senior vice president of health services strategy, product and marketing, Steven Nelson, “We listened to our members’ feedback, and we’ve heard them say that they would like a more affordable plan without a large upfront deductible.” The new plan is medically underwritten and offers policyholders…
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Report highlights the sluggish growth of health care spending due to U.S. recession
The worldwide recession has had a major impact on the health care system of the U.S. The effects are quite obvious in terms of insurance. As thousands of people throughout the country lost their jobs, they also lost their health insurance coverage. The recession, which lasted from late December 2007 to the middle of 2009, suppressed health care spending in the U.S. significantly, according to the federal government. The Obama administration released a report this week from the Department of Health and Human Services showing the impact of the recession…
Read MoreTips to save your money when purchasing health insurance coverage
With the start of the new year, many people have made resolutions to save more money, and in that effort, it is not uncommon to look over health insurance coverage to make sure that what has already been purchased or what will be purchased in the near future will include the best possible savings but with the coverage that makes the most sense to each individual. Use the following tips to help achieve this goal: • Do your homework and compare all of the different health plans available to you…
Read MoreReport shows that West Virginia’s health insurance costs are rising dramatically
The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation working to improve the health care system, has released a new report concerning the state of health insurance premiums in West Virginia. According to the report, premiums in the state have risen by 55% in the last decade, with deductibles jumping by 84% in the same amount of time. The report suggests that the state has the 14th highest premiums in the nation. This puts major financial stress on state residents as West Virginia is home to the lowest median income in the U.S.…
Read MoreAetna report shows that consumers are confused about insurance terms
Aetna Inc. has released the results of a new consumer survey as open enrollment for employer-offered insurance plans comes to a close. The results of the survey show that more than half of insured adults in the U.S. find the terms of their insurance policies confusing. This presents a major problem for both insurers and consumers as these adults general tend to accept any terms they are given as they believe that any insurance coverage, even if it is not appropriate to their needs, is better than no coverage at…
Read MoreNebraska health insurance exchange needs 100k enrollees to be sustainable
The Nebraska Insurance Department has issued a new report to state lawmakers concerning the state’s health insurance exchange. Nebraska has been exploring its options on how best to execute the exchange program, hoping to find a way for the program to benefit both consumers and insurance companies. The state has yet to make any definitive action on the program apart from investigating how much it will cost and how it can be made self-sustaining. The new report may cast some doubt on the future of the program. According to the…
Read MoreEmployment doesn’t guarantee health insurance
A new U.S. Department of Labor-funded report has indicated that employer-sponsored health insurance is rapidly on the decline for millions of Americans. According to the researchers from Iowa Policy Project, the nonprofit organization that released the report, employees are losing the jobs that provide health insurance through the employer, and are finding new employment through contract or that is part-time, which makes it much more challenging to find affordable coverage. Co-author of the report, Noga O’Connor, said that it has become less common and more expensive to receive health insurance…
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