Institute of Medicine introduces new recommendations concerning insurance exchanges

Health insurance exchanges are, perhaps, the most accepted provision of last year’s Affordable Care Act. While some states have railed against the notion of the federally mandated program, most have been eager to explore their options. States have been slow to pass legislations making the exchanges possible, but have wasted no time in making preparations for the system. According to a new report from the Institute of Medicine, however, the future of insurance exchanges may be in jeopardy if federal legislators cannot solve the expensive flaws in the system. Exchanges…

Read More

Study shows cost for employees for health insurance is set to rise

The findings of an Aon Hewitt study are showing that the average per-employee cost for health insurance will increase beyond the $10,000 mark in 2012, regardless of the fact that costs are rising more slowly than the current 2011 rate of 7.5 percent. The rate for healthcare premiums is expected to increase by 7 percent, but the actual cost of premiums for each employee is forecasted to be over $10,400. When compared to the 2010 figure of less than $9,800, the 2012 is notably higher. Workers will be responsible for…

Read More

Study shows that the number of young adults without health insurance has fallen

A recent survey has shown that as a result of the Obama healthcare law that allows young adults to maintain coverage through their parents’ health insurance plans, the number of uninsured people in that age group has fallen dramatically. The survey was performed by Gallup, and indicated that there are now approximately 1 million more young adults who are covered by health insurance. At a time that the economy continues to struggle and the future is uncertain, it has been challenging for young adults to take those first steps into…

Read More

Enroll America embarks on a crusade to raise awareness of health insurance

With election year rapidly approaching, the issue of health care is getting more attention. While reform of the health care system is already well underway, few may be aware of their eligibility for federal health insurance programs. In an effort to raise awareness, Enroll America, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, is embarking on a new campaign to help people understand the working of the new health care system and how they might be able to receive affordable insurance coverage. The campaign brings together a multitude of hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical…

Read More

Palm Beach County seeks to help the uninsured find coverage

Those without insurance are at a heightened risk of being unable to pay for medical treatment that could save their lives. In years past, the issue has been well documented but few lawmakers have made moves to find a solution. The Affordable Care Act was meant to remedy the problem by expanding people’s access to insurance coverage. However, in Palm Beach County, Florida, the County Commission is calling for more aggressive action to be taken to ensure that state residents have access to the coverage they need. This week, the…

Read More

The cost of health insurance for low income families

Although the Affordable Healthcare for America Act by the Obama administration was created in order to make certain that a larger number of Americans will have access to health insurance, many are finding that the premiums are still too costly to be able to afford them. The Act has already gone through some significant improvements since its first creation, especially in terms of Medicare, as it has assisted in lowering those costs. That said, many Americans are still struggling to afford their current health insurance rates or remain without any…

Read More

Health insurance rates dropping in light of health care reform

In a strange twist of fate, more health insurance companies are making requests to reduce their premiums. This comes in stark contrast of the trend that has been dominant in previous months where major health insurers sought to increase rates exponentially. Several small companies have been lowering their rates, but big companies are following suit, some seeking permission from insurance regulators to reduce their premiums by as much as 20%. While this move may seem uncharacteristic for the industry, some experts are saying that it is not as altruistic as…

Read More