President Obama wasn’t kidding when he promised to prioritize health care for kids during the campaign with the passing of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Bill which is seen by many as the first step towards a bigger reform for America’s faltering Health Care System. The new bill expands the coverage of state sponsored health insurance to many children who failed to meet previous requirements making access easier and better. It does not only allow coverage to more residents but reaching out to non-residents as well which hails praise from the many minority groups who live and work within the US without proper documentation.
Children are the ones who suffer most from the health care system’s shortcomings for the rising costs of health care leaves their parents without any options. Living illegally in the US was also one of the major factor to many deaths of children whose parents were scared to bring in their children to health care facilities for fear of losing their jobs and being deported out of the country. With this thrilling news, children are going to get the care they need when they need it and hopefully change for the rest of the system would follow. Just hope all the tricks would be pulled by the current administration for with the lagging economy, funding would be the determining factor of success or failure for the proposed reforms to the health care system.
December 15 2008 | 2008 Proposals-Presidential Candidates and Election 2008 and General Info | No Comments »
選挙が間近に迫り、各大統領候補者の公約や提案がこれまで以上に注目され始めています。 そのなかでも、誰にでも本質的にかかわってくる点において、ヘルスケアにおける提案に注目すべきです。 ニュースウィーク誌のマリー・カーマイケル記者は、ハーバード大学の健康保険学と経済学の教授であるキャサリン・シュワルツ氏の協力のもと、総合的な記事を出版しています。
マケイン氏の提案：雇用先での健康保険における既存の税控除を排除し、個人レベルの保険購買者に2,500ドル（家族の場合には5,000ドル）の税控除を認める。
予想結果：低所得者は、良心的な保険の購買が個人レベルでは困難であり、 長期においては、雇用主が健康保険の提供を打ち切る可能性があり、現在に比べより多くの無保険者が存在することになる。
オバマ氏の提案：マサチューセッツで利用されているヘルスコネクターのような保険制度を採用する。 各保険には最低限の保証があり、収入が基準点に満たない場合には補助金の支給を受けることができる。
予想結果：合計費用が予想費用を上回ることになる。 既存の病状を保険会社が保証するというオバマ氏の要求は、保険料の増加につながる恐れがある。 現在に比べて保険加入者や保険に加入した子供は増加する一方で、一部の成人においては無保険の状態が継続する。
December 06 2008 | Imp @ja | No Comments »
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Indemnity Plans, also known as traditional indemnity or FFS (fee-for-service), gives a wider range of doctors- which include specialists like doctors and surgeons, hospitals and other health care providers. However, you have bigger cash out costs since this is FFS or fee-for-service, you will have to shoulder the expense first then request reimbursement from the insurance provider at a later date.
In this aspect, it is wise to be sure that your insurance provider always makes timely reimbursement. Most indemnity plan insurance companies have a set time frame in reimbursements which could be one to two weeks after the hospitalization period or after the service was performed. Indemnity plans also mean more paperwork – meaning it is up to the insured to prepare all the documents necessary for reimbursement. This is one of the reasons why the popularity of indemnity plans have waned over the years. Managed-Care Plans on the other hand have group of accredited doctors and health care providers who will render service to the insured at pre agreed prices to lessen the out-of-pocket costs and they normally require less paper work because it is the health professional who performed the service who will forward the claim to the insurance provider.
November 27 2008 | General Info | No Comments »
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Only a number of health insurance programs are “wellness insurance”. Finding the right health insurance plan with the most comprehensive coverage may not be a very easy task. Managing premiums for life, accident and health insurance and for service contracts is not hard if a system is in place. The Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) are partially subsidized by the government and operate as an expansion of the state’s Medicaid program or a subsidy for basic health insurance. Health and running clubs, business organizations, sports teams or doctors, educators and a host of other workers in various sectors of the community are your prospects if you are a health insurance agent. Prior to buying health insurance for your workforce or your enterprise, find our whether the business entity you are dealing with is legal.
October 09 2008 | General Info | No Comments »
With the elections so close, people are beginning to look more closely at the promises and proposals the candidates make. One proposal we should pay attention to are their health care proposals, since it’s something that would intrinsically affect all of us. NEWSWEEK’s Mary Carmichael has written a comprehensive article, consulting with Katherine Swartz, a professor of health policy and economics at Harvard.
McCain’s plan: to take away the tax break workers get on health insurance at their jobs, and give people who buy their own insurance $2,500 ($5,000 for families) in tax credits.
Their prediction: Low-income people would have a hard time getting affordable insurance on their own. In the long run, employers would probably stop offering health insurance, and more people would end up uninsured than there are now.
Obama’s plan: An insurance exchange that looks like the Health Connector used in Massachussets. Every plan would have a minimum set of benefits, and you would get a subsidy if your income is below the threshold.
Their prediction: The total cost will be more than the estimate. His requiring insurers to cover pre-existing conditions would probably raise premiums. Although children and more people would be covered than there is now, some adults will continue to be uninsured
September 30 2008 | 2008 Proposals-Presidential Candidates and Election 2008 and General Info | No Comments »
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A health savings account is a form of medical savings account that
allows you to save money to pay for existing and future medical
expenses on a tax-free basis. In order to be qualified for a health
savings account, you must be enclosed by a high-deductible plan,
not have any other health insurance, and not
be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.
You can use this account to pay for your competent health expenses,
including expenses that the plan generally doesn’t cover, such as
spectacles and hearing aids. Expenses paid out of the HSA that are
eligible expenses under your high-deductible health plan will add up
towards the plan’s deductible.
During the year, you can make charitable contributions to your
health savings account using before-tax dollars. In some cases,
employers may set of connections and help fund health savings accounts for their employees.
August 19 2008 | General Info and Tips | No Comments »
The U.S. over the next 10 years could reduce health care costs by $1.5 trillion, expand health insurance to more residents and improve quality of care through widespread reforms to eliminate inefficiencies and increased taxes, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Commonwealth Fund, the Los Angeles Times reports. According to the Times, the report, which seeks to “provide a menu of options” for the next president, includes 15 reforms taken from the major presidential candidates and others, many of which “are likely to stir controversy.” continue reading »
July 02 2008 | Election 2008 | No Comments »
There are a number of health insurance companies today that offer a wide range of coverage to choose from. For many of us, sometimes we dont tend to look at whats in store for us but the price that we have to pay for our monthly premium, right?
It is essential that we dont stop to shop around for health care providers and try to compare the rates and coverage that they offer. Furthermore, quality plays an important role in searching for the perfect fit.
June 02 2008 | General Info | No Comments »
Judge against benefits and coverage of key items, such as: preventive care, immunizations, co-payments, monthly premiums, physical exams, seeing for out-of-network providers, co-insurance rates, deductibles, etc. Further services that might want your family’s attention are as follows: fertility services, nursing care, mental health coverage and long-term care.
When in doubt or not sure about certain things, it doesn’t hurt to ask a lot of questions: Are there procedures for having emergency room treatment permitted? Is it possible to change doctors? Are referrals needed to visit a specialist? What hospitals and facilities can you use as part of the plan? Is your current provider part of this plan?
May 16 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
by Andrea
In some situations it may be hard to attain homeowners insurance. If you are having a difficult time insuring your property, websites below may offer some help:
1. Coastline Properties: If you are a New York homeowner residing by the Atlantic coast, and are having complexity in protecting insurance, you have the choice of impending New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association (NYPIUA). The NYPIUA consists of numerous companies that give property insurance in the state of New York. They share together to share the risk. They do not offer ‘all Risk’ coverage. They present coverage on a named peril basis (as discussed above).Although you may breathe a moan of aid to have coverage; it does come at a premium. You can look to give at least 20% more for your coverage than you would through an ordinary insurance market and coverage is more restrictive. 2. Flood Insurance: For New York homeowners sited in a flood area, your homeowner’s policy will not answer the flood loss. This coverage can be getting from NFIP.
April 26 2008 | General Info | No Comments »
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