Live Insurance News

More people have health insurance, but cannot pay for medical care

May 20, 2015May 19, 2015 S.Vagus

Survey shows that consumers are struggling to pay for medical care themselves The Affordable Care Act has made it possible for millions of people in the United States to obtain health insurance coverage, but the federal law may be falling short when it comes to addressing the cost associated with medical care. A new survey from Families USA shows that many people cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs of their medical care. The health insurance policies that these people have are not making it more possible for them to access medical…

Health insurance customers are avoiding medical care due to costs

October 17, 2014October 16, 2014 Marc

Survey from University of Chicago highlights the financial problem of health care in the US The University of Chicago has released the results of a new survey regarding those with private health insurance coverage in the U.S. The survey is meant to shed some light on the financial concerns that consumers have regarding their coverage, as well as the financial concerns they have for medical care overall. According to the survey, financial issues are one of the leading problems that consumers have when it comes to health care, and the…

Health care reform law creates promising opportunities

May 30, 2014May 28, 2014 Logan B.

Medical practices could face new challenges and favorable opportunities The Affordable Care Act has sparked a significant influx on new patients into the Medicaid programs of some states. The law has given states the opportunity to expand their Medicaid programs in order to make insurance coverage more available to a wider range of consumers. The law has also allowed for the creation of insurance policies with high deductibles, which are sold through state insurance exchanges. For some state’s the health care reform law may be creating major revenue opportunities. Report…

Health care reform may be finding success

January 17, 2014January 14, 2014 Logan B.

Number of people enrolling in exchanges increases Over half of the 2.2 million people that have purchased health insurance coverage from federal and state-run exchanges are over the age of 45, according to data released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to the agency, some 1.2 million people enrolled for private insurance coverage through an exchange between October 1 and December 28 of 2013. That number has grown in January, suggesting that health care reform may be accomplishing its goal of making insurance coverage more accessible…

Affordable Care Act may not be the cause of rising health insurance costs

December 23, 2013December 19, 2013 Marc

Research discovers that federal law may not be causing premium spikes It has become common for the Affordable Care Act to be blamed for rising health insurance costs in the U.S., but the federal law may not actually be the problem. According to a new analysis from the Commonwealth Fund, an organization that conducts independent research on health policy, the Affordable Care Act actually has a relatively modest impact on insurance costs. The organization has analyzed the reasons that insurance companies provide to regulators when they are seeking rate increases…

Researchers find that U.S. insurers pay more for medical care than their counterparts in Canada

August 6, 2011August 6, 2011 S.Vagus

Health insurance rates are rising throughout the nation. Insurers are quick to justify these rate increases with the soaring costs of medical care and administration. While the nations insurance regulators are leery of these justifications, researchers at both Cornell University and the University of Toronto say that insurers claims may be accurate. According to a report released from the universities, health insurance administrative costs are almost four times higher in the U.S. than they are in Canada. The report finds that Doctors in the U.S. spend excessive amounts of money…

WellPoint shares drop following second quarter Medicare spending analysis

July 28, 2011May 14, 2013

Shares of the health insurance company with the highest enrollment, WellPoint Inc., fell dramatically after the insurer announced that its second quarter medical care costs spiked following an increase in its Medicare patients. For the second time this year, the Indianapolis-based insurer has increased its annual forecast following the increase in sales. The enrollment with WellPoint increased by 2.1 percent, reaching 34.2 million, primarily from a rise in elderly and disabled Medicare members. Approximately 75 percent of the new enrollees with Medicare had come from competitors that had withdrawn from…