Washington’s Insurance Commissioner, Mike Kreidler, has released a new report showing the large gap between state residents who have health insurance and those that do not. According to the report, the number of people without health insurance will reach 1 million by the end of this year. Between the periods of 2008 and 2010, the number of those without insurance coverage rose by 180,000. Commissioner Kreidler attributes the problem to a stagnating economy and an aging population. The report notes that hospitals and health care professionals throughout the state are…
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Vital health care being rejected due to insurance
A recent Senate Investigation has found that a staggering number of insurance companies from around the nation have denied coverage to thousands of people in need of necessary care. The investigation took place over six months, researching more than 1,600 cases. The results of the investigation were released last Friday, leading many to question the altruistic nature sometimes lauded by big name insurers. Michael Fields, an HVAC technician and resident of Maryland, is one of the key people that helped initiate the investigation. Fields in a coronary patient, whom on…
Read MoreMichigan health insurer rolls out new plan geared for youth
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has unveiled a new insurance plan tailored for young adults, which will cost them less than $100 monthly. Called the Young Adult Blue Max plan, the goal is to provide coverage for those between the ages of 19 and 30. The plan offers medical, dental and vision coverage. Preventative care and services are included in the plan. The insurer is claiming that their new coverage plan will prove especially beneficial for young adults striking out on their own. Whether they are starting a career…
Read MoreUncertain future for health insurance brokers
A growing number of insurance brokers are concerned for their livelihoods in light of the new health care reform law passed last year. They are urging Congress and state legislators to establish protections that will guarantee agents a role in the emerging online marketplaces that will accompany state health insurance exchange programs. The exchanges are a mandatory provision of the Affordable Care Act and each state must establish their own exchange by 2014. “The brokers are nervous,” said Sabrina Corlette, a professor at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute who has…
Read MoreNew health insurance survey reveals an alarming rate of uninsured Americans
A new health insurance survey shows that more than 9 million adults lost their health insurance coverage due to job loss in 2010. The Commonwealth Fund 2010 Biennial Health Insurance Survey, which was released Wednesday, estimates that 57% of people in the country become uninsured because of the recession. It paints a grim picture for millions of families reporting who have been stricken by job loss. The ailing economy had made it difficult to find work, particularly employment that offers benefits. Despite a recovering economic climate, families are still at…
Read MoreChristian medical plan expempt from health care reform law
In a recent ruling, democrat lawmakers have won the right to keep Christian medical plans in place, and members will not be forced to carry traditional health insurance under Obama’s health care reform. Medi-Share, a Christian health cost sharing plan with close to 40,000 members, is not considered health insurance. The plan has been growing in popularity over the past 17 years by offering lower costs than regular insurance plans and setting forth rules for its members of no: illegal drugs, tobacco, no sex out of marriage, no alcohol abuse…
Read MoreWest Virginia opts for the “hands off” approach in new health exchange program
The West Virginian Senate has determined that the state will not be running its own insurance exchange program, opting instead to leave the reins in the hands of the federal government. All states are required to establish insurance exchanges by 2014 according to the Affordable Care Act, but they do have the option to choose whether or not to set it up themselves. The legislation that would pave the way for the exchange was shot down by a close voice vote. State Insurance Commissioner, Jane Cline, along with her office,…
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