Resources for Affordable Health Insurance | Online Health Insurance Quotes

Survey Shows Small Business Owners Aren't Informed of Insurance News Affecting Them

2008-10-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

Small business owners are unfamiliar with changes and dangers in the insurance market, according to the Insurance Journal. But what they don't know could hurt them.

A recent poll showed that 85% of small business owners were ignorant to the failure of several self-insuring workers' compensation groups due to the recent financial situation on Wall Street. With all of the financial concerns affecting small businesses these days, it's easy to let some things fall to the wayside.

If the health insurance company deems an employee's malady as work-related, the business and/or group can be sued. But did you know that businesses are legally responsible for the entire costs of workers' compensation claims if their self-insurance group fails? Only a third of those polled did.

That means the owner of a small handyman business may think he has himself covered well, but finds himself unable to keep his business when an employee falls off a ladder. His self-insurance trust was deficient due to a string of smaller claims- including those claims from other businesses in his group, so this one debilitating injury is financially crushing.

But why do owners select these trusts instead of obtaining private insurance? They are gambling that the low out-of-pocket cost of a self-insured trust will counter any claim they may face.

The benefits of going cheap on workman's compensation and small business medical insurance are not worth the risk. With medical bills causing so many credit problems for individuals, it is vital for employers to offer the best health insurance coverage that can be afforded.

Ideally, an employer should discuss health insurance options and risks with his employees.

McCain and Palin Offer Details of, and Defend, Health Plan in Florida

2008-10-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

After promising not to affect coverage for senior citizens, John McCain announced on Tuesday that he is changing his stance. His new plan will cost the Medicaid/Medicare program $1.3 trillion.

During Tuesday night's presidential debate, Obama repeatedly chided the McCain plan's trillion dollar discrepancy. Obama called him out and demanded to know where the funds were coming from.

So where will the money come from? Low-income families and seniors will have drastically limited health care under this plan, according to The Wonk Room.

But how bad can it get? Try a projected 13% cut in both federal Medicaid and Medicare spending, with domino affects at the state levels- causing programs like the State Children's Health Insurance Program to lose funding.

And, finally, if McCain's plan was adopted as-is, we could expect to see private health insurance premiums skyrocket. Why? Cuts to federally funded medical programs lead to health care providers charging more for their services, in turn causing private insurance to hike premiums to offset the costs.

It's no wonder McCain shied away from explaining his health plan in detail. Perhaps expecting a backlash, his vice presidential running mate was in Florida trying to ease the minds of the state's senior citizens Tuesday evening.

Even with Palin's assurances, if this plan were to take affect the state would surely see an increase in the astounding 20% without Florida health insurance.

Study Results Reflect Differences in Earnings and Premium Hikes

2008-10-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

A recent Families USA study confirms the desperate need for health care reform today. The study shows that in most states family health insurance rates rose much faster than employee wage increases.

The study, called Premiums Versus Paychecks, examines median wages and health insurance premiums for the period between 2000 and 2007. For example, Alaska's health care premiums rose 74%, and worker earnings increased 13%.

Michigan saw only a 4.6% increase in wages, but a staggering 78% jump in insurance premiums. That's means Michigan health insurance premiums rose 17 times faster than Michigan paychecks!

What's even worse: while premiums have risen, coverage has dwindled. Many of the families that are currently insured have seen their treatment options dry up.

To be sure, not all states are as hard-hit as Michigan. North Dakota saw a nearly 3:1 ratio as wages went up over 27% and family health premiums rose 74%. The study only takes these factors, as well as employer vs. employee portions, into consideration.

Many factors must account for the disparity among states, but none of the states surveyed showed a wage increase larger or even approaching the health premium increase.

This trend will most likely continue, discouraging working families and perhaps throwing them into a financial crunch. However, since the cost of medical treatments has also been on the rise, it's still very important to acquire health insurance coverage.

Something Sickly This Way Comes: Keeping Your Trick-or-Treater Healthy

2008-10-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Remember when the scariest thing about Halloween was the old dark house on the hill? Now, as parents, we have so many things to worry about during this youthful holiday.

While most parents keep a careful eye on their kids, dress them with reflective clothing or flashlights, and warn them about taking unsealed snacks from strangers, some might not being so conscious of the millions of germs set out to attack their little ghouls.

How many bedecked fingers have poked that doorbell or dug around in the candy dish before your child's? If you are planning to go door-to-door with him, it'd be wise to bring a small bottle of antibacterial gel with you in order to cleanse his "paws".

It's the time of year for flu shots, according to the CDC. No parent likes to see their kid jabbed with a needle, but this one shot could have saved the lives of 83 children last year. Children, especially under age 5, are generally considered "at risk" and therefore insurance companies will cover the cost of the vaccine.

There is no vaccine for the common cold, of course. The best a parent can do is to keep their beastie's hands as clean as possible, sanitize surfaces and handles in the home, and keep up on their regular physician exams.

Don't have family health insurance? While hand gel and soap are beneficial, they are certainly no substitute for medical care. A cold can very easily turn into pneumonia, and even a mild case can send an uninsured family into financial trouble.

Halloween should be a fun-filled celebration, but a little extra germ-consciousness can help ensure your child will be able to thoroughly enjoy his sugary loot (and keep dentists in business!).

Can Californians Afford to Improve Their Individual Health Coverage?

2008-10-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Governor Schwarzenegger's latest roll: tightrope walker. Conan the Republican must find a way to balance health insurance costs and coverage to meet the demands imposed on him by his California constituents.

While he previously worked to limit insurer's profits, he is now trying to expand some of the coverage limitations that are preventing some California citizens from getting the medical procedures they need.

The LA Times reports California's new legislation now mandates insurance policies to cover, among others:

maternity services
substance abuse treatments
expanded cancer screenings
mental health treatments
HPV screenings
oral cleft repair procedures
durable medical equipment
HIV testing

Some critics of the legislature worry that individual health insurance premiums will skyrocket, particularly with the addition of maternity coverage (previously only mandatory for group plans). However, the state's public health insurance assistance for financially-strapped pregnant women is currently funded with taxpayer money.

An estimated premium increase of .5% will not cancel out any relief taxpayers would feel by having fewer individuals needing state assistance for their medical needs. Based on 2007 premium averages, it would only mean a monthly increase of $1.30 for those that have purchased individual health insurance. The 5 million uninsured in California are unaffected by this legislation, and many of them must still utilize the Medi-Cal program.

While the newly passed bills herald great news for the currently insured, Schwarzenegger must now work to make individual health insurance affordable and available for every person that has been using state money for medical treatment.

Will Nominees' Proposed Medical Plans Overload Doctors?

2008-09-29T08:28:00.000-07:00

The presidential nominees both offer medical plans that could allow millions more Americans to seek medical care. But are the physicians prepared for this?

Even if a previously uninsured individual is able to obtain affordable health insurance, how long will he have to wait for an evaluation? Will the care patients receive be compromised by a surge of new patients?

While the Times Leader reports that Pennsylvanian doctors feel confident they can manage the patient load, this confidence stems from a recent increase of new medical professionals.

More doctors can surely treat more patients, but medical schools must be sure to maintain their current standards. The law of supply and demand may lead to mass production cars and cheap knock-off handbags, but that should never extend toward our society's health maintenance.

For sure, either candidate will need to revamp the current health care system to prevent clinics and medical professionals from becoming overwhelmed with paperwork. As the health insurance market is being reformed, other areas of the medical field should be reworked for efficiency.

Practices are in dire need of increasing their behind-the-scenes office staff to relieve the pressure from doctors and nurses. Surely, the reduction or simplification of medical billing paperwork and restrictions on malpractice lawsuits would ease strain on physicians.

While every citizen needs access to health insurance and medical care, the reform is pointless if the medical offices don't receive the support they need.

San Francisco Offers Revolutionary Universal Health Plan

2008-09-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

San Francisco has a history of making social waves, and this week they are making a tsunami. The city will be the first to offer free or subsidized health insurance to its adult residents in a program entitled Healthy San Francisco.

Nearly 11% of San Franciscans are uninsured, including immigrants and the unemployed. While the city is hoping the medical funding will curb the losses clinics and emergency rooms have been reporting, speculations of the program's success vary.

The program was barely marketed, according to the New York Times, but more than double the expected applicants turned out at the trial clinics. The loose requirements may be the cause- you just have to prove you have had no insurance for 90 days.

Currently the project is limited to adult city residents, but city officials are quick to point out that nearly all San Franciscan children are covered under private health insurance. It should also be noted that the city's uninsured rate is half that of California's uninsured.

Over 20% of California's residents have no health coverage. The number is frightening when taken with the idea that one accident or illness could force a family without medical coverage into devastation.

To be sure, many other cities will be watching San Francisco closely in the ensuing months, even if San Francisco's socio-economic and political environments are unique.

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Makes Demands for Health Care Reform

2008-09-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland attended Senate Finance Committee aimed at lowering number of uninsured citizens, as reported by The Oklahoman. She declared that Oklahoma's poverty rate and number of uninsured workers is high, but health care offered to Native Americans has been severely limited by the federal government. The federal government is also stalling to broaden the availability subsidized health coverage for Oklahoma's many small businesses.

Small business owners and employees comprise a large number of constituents in need of health insurance reform immediately. Although employers may want the best coverage for their employees, oftentimes owners either bypass small business health insurance or obtain inadequate coverage in order to save the bottom line. Sen. John McCain- if elected- has proposed associations of small businesses that would purchase health insurance as a group, but the implementation of that plan might be too late for Oklahoma's small businesses.

Commissioner Holland recognizes that when the already poverty-stricken or financially dog-paddling Oklahomans become sick, there may be no way for them to obtain medical attention. She is hoping to draw attention on a national level to the plight of the uninsured and underinsured in Oklahoma. She states her frustration at the inequalities in coverage caused by the current federal health insurance laws.

Massachusetts initiated a reform package two years ago that has been praised nationally, staggering it's inception to ease its citizens into it. Now almost half a million people previously uninsured have health insurance coverage. Although, Obama adopts a similar health care reform plan on the national level, West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller expressed doubts that either candidate's health plan would be signed into law.

Micro-Businesses Weigh In on the November Election

2008-09-10T05:38:00.000-07:00

Micro-businesses (small businesses with under 12 employees) are speaking out about health care issues in the coming election.

While they all agree there are problems with the current health insurance system, MarketWatch has posted the results of a National Association of Self-Employed survey that shows no one has a definitive answer.

The small business owners surveyed were almost evenly divided into four camps. Those that want to:

keep everything the same

have the federal government require that citizens buy insurance

mandate that insurance be paid out of taxes

have other choices but haven't devised one of their own

With the cost of running a small business increasing, it's no wonder that these same owners surveyed were also opposed to mandatory small business health coverage for their employees.

An overwhelming majority (83%) hoped that the next president would pass legislation allowing micro-businesses to band together into associations which could buy small business health insurance at discounted rates like large corporations.

Small businesses also want to see actual costs for medical procedures, health care provider ratings, individual medical records, and treatment options posted online for easier access. The candidates and the owners surveyed also agree that malpractice lawsuits, which drive up the cost of insurance, need to be limited.

While the polls are too close to determine the election winner yet, one thing is certain: the next US President needs to shake up small business health insurance reform.

McCain & Obama's Small Business Health Insurance Plans

2008-09-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

With election day a mere two months away, small business owners and their employees wait patiently for more concrete details of how imminent healthcare reforms may impact their finances.

Both political parties plan to tender tax credits, intending to mitigate the ensuing expenses of health insurance plans for employers and employees of small businesses.

Sen. McCain quantifies his plan by offering tax credits of "up to $5000.00 for a family of four" enabling employees to choose and purchase their own health insurance plans while keeping health insurance as a product on the market. This removes the cost burden from the small business owner and provides potential relief for families to purchase health insurance plans of their choice.

Sen. Obama plans to provide small businesses with tax refunds of "up to 50 percent on health insurance premiums" paid for the benefit of employees. According to The Wall Street Journal, he'll "initiate a national "exchange" -- a pooling system where small companies can spread risk across the pool like big businesses do among their employee base." The goal being to acquire health insurance premiums at dramatically reduced rates.

Both plans seem to beg the question, "Will health insurance hereafter really be more accessible--not just for small businesses but for everyone?"

Group Health Insurance in Alabama Faces Obesity Penalty

2008-08-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

An "obesity penalty" has been talked about before in order to offset the costs incurred in medical insurance, but now Alabama group health insurance might be the first to actually implement such a plan.

WebMD reports that obese Alabama state workers may soon pay a group health insurance penalty for excess weight. In January of 2009 employees will be weighed, and will have a year to get in shape if their BMI (body mass index) is too high. The penalty for those who don't? About $25 per month more in premiums.

Critics of the plan argue that such a penalty amounts to discrimination, and that there are many factors, including genetics, that play into an individual's health.

But those who support the plan argue that the costs of obesity are making it difficult to maintain a good group health insurance plan for employees. Alabama now ranks as the second most obese state in the U.S., and the costs of obesity in health care are very high.

Whether there will be legal ramifications to the implementation of the penalty remains to be seen, but for now state employers view this as a preventable problem that could save them millions a year.

Medicare Part D Not Well Regulated

2008-08-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

As if Medicare Part D isn't confusing enough, now there's some evidence that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hasn't been checking up on the private health insurance agencies who are supposed to be administering the plan.

Medicare Part D is the prescription drug plan that was added to Medicare in 2006. It was designed to help older Americans pay for the rising costs of prescription medications, many of which are life-saving in nature, and can be highly expensive.

According to the article at MSN Health, a report released just this week finds that CMS hasn't audited private health insurance companies to make sure that Medicare Part D is being implemented along federal guidelines.

The result means the potential for tremendous amounts of fraud, taxpayer money lost, and perhaps millions of Americans who could be taken advantage of by less scrupulous insurance agencies.

This is yet another reason why it's so important to have all of your part D paperwork in writing, signed and set aside in case you discover that you haven't been dealt with properly. CMS has argued that congressional caps on their spending has made it too expensive to monitor these insurance companies.

But we have to ask: too expensive for whom?

79 Million Struggling With Health Insurance and Medical Debt

2008-08-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

The medical debt crisis has been growing year by year, burdening individuals as well as hospitals and employers. But just how much of America has been suffering due to medical debt became painfully clear this week, when a recent survey of working-age Americans found that 79 million are struggling to pay medical bills and deal with health insurance problems.

As it's reported at U.S. News and World Report, a "perfect storm" of economic woes has led to difficulty finding affordable health insurance, paying premiums, and still covering costs when an accident or illness occurs.

Thirty-nine percent of people with medical debt said they had depleted their savings to pay off those bills; 29% were having problems paying for food, heat, rent and other basics; and 30% had accumulated credit card debt in order to pay off health insurance costs.

And the problem crosses boundaries of age and income, with lower and middle class Americans from working age all the way past 65 struggling with medical debt.

One way to make sure your insurance is the best you can afford is to change plans if you're still healthy but don't feel secure in your coverage. The best means of finding a more affordable health insurance plan is to shop around aggressively, and understand exactly what kind of coverage you need before you sign on the dotted line.

And as always, take extra good care of yourself. Making smart lifestyle decisions can help keep you from illness, and attending yearly checkups can provide you with the information you need to take optimal care of your health.

Individual and Group Health Insurance Costs Up 100% Since 1996

2008-08-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

We hear a lot about how medical coverage prices have gone up in recent years, but now the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality can definitively tell us that group health insurance premiums have gone up by more than 100% since 1996.

Yes, you can forget about judging inflation vs rising costs vs lowered economic stability; it's a simple and depressing statistic proving that group health insurance rates have gone up way too far.

According to the article at the TriState Observer, the AHRQ reports that employers paid for most of the increases. Their share of group health insurance premiums when from $3,679 to $8,491 a year for family coverage and from $1,650 to $3,330 a year for single coverage.

Employees didn't get away scott-free, however. Their share went up significantly as well: from $1,275 to $2,890 a year for family coverage, and from $342 to $788 a year for single coverage.

Whether it's group health insurance, family coverage, or individual insurance the best thing you can do to find more affordable coverage is to shop around aggressively, compare rates and plans, and know exactly what you need and can afford.

And do your best not to be 100% frustrated with today's health care market.

Many Americans Forgoing Treatment to Save Money on Health Insurance

2008-08-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

We know from the news that many Americans are spending less at the pump, at the grocery store, and just about everywhere else to cope with rising debts and a poor economic outlook. But now, it also seems that many are skipping important appointments with doctors in order to save money on health insurance costs.

According to a survey released by state insurance regulators, and addressed at the San Francisco Chronicle, nearly a quarter of Americans aren't seeing their doctor because health insurance costs are just too high.

Another 11% of respondents reported using less of their prescription medications, or lowering their dosage to make the prescription last longer.

Almost all Americans have been paying more for health insurance in the past several years due to the rising costs of both treatments and premiums. High deductibles and out-of-pocket costs too often keep the sick or injured from getting the care they need.

The result? More emergency room visits, untreated and therefore more extensive disease, earlier mortality, and higher medical debt.

Doctors recommend that everyone attend yearly checkups and follow-ups for treatment. These kinds of appointments keep sickness and injury at bay, and while they may cost you more in terms of your health insurance costs, they'll cost a whole lot less than a trip to the emergency room or long stay in the hospital.

Health Insurance Premiums Go Up, But More Slowly

2008-08-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

There's good news regarding health insurance premiums this year...well, sorta.

According to US Insurance News, the rate of increase in health insurance premiums is lower this year, slowing to about 8.5% for HMOs and 9.4% for PPOs.

So prices are still going up, but not as fast as they have in the past - in 2002 health insurance premiums jumped 16%.

Of course, this year's premiums are still going up faster than the rate of inflation, but the hope is that recent trends in everything from consumer choices (such as shopping around aggressively) to newer legislation are slowing the rise of premiums.

The article suggests that the cost-growth in health insurance premiums that's occurred over the last 10 years is related to increasing demand, rising rates of chronic disease, and even a "recent surge in building new hospitals."

There's no mention of skyrocketing prescription drug costs and a poorly organized health care system that loses millions a year.

But at least consumers can see that their struggles to find more affordable health insurance plans, and their complaints to their state and federal representatives, are having a positive impact on the protection of their health and well-being.

Schwarzenegger Seeks to Curtail California Individual Health Insurance Market

2008-08-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

He may be down, but he's certainly not out.

The news this week reports that though California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's $14.9 billion dollar health coverage plan was shut-down by the Senate earlier this year, he still plans to take on the individual health insurance market.

According to InsideBayArea.com, Schwarzenegger is nearing an agreement with Democratic legislators that would "reign-in" some of the costly practices associated with individual health insurance in California.

This would include limiting insurer profits on individual health insurance plans, requiring plans to provide a basic set of benefits, and restricting the ability of insurers to cancel insurance retroactively when consumers get sick.

And while this might not make it easy to offer coverage to all of the 5 million uninsured people in California, it certainly does a lot for the 3 million that rely on an individual health insurance plan to protect their health.

Individual plans have traditionally been harder to get, costlier, and offer less coverage than employer plans. Hopefully, some of the struggle faced by citizens who try to protect their health and well-being through individual plans will be "terminated" (sorry) by their determined Governor.

Affordable Health Insurance Has Pros and Cons

2008-08-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

With prices for basic necessities like gas, food, and mortgage payments growing year by year, the hunt for affordable health insurance is leading too many people to sacrifice good coverage for lower payments.

According to MSNBC, there's a new trend that consumers need to keep an eye on: the purchase of an affordable health insurance policy that won't cover you when you need it. Sure, there are companies out there that are offering low-cost policies, but with high deductibles and minimal coverage, the consumer is taking on considerable risk should something happen to them or a loved one.

As it says in the article, it's too easy for consumers to "focus on the low monthly price and not examine the cost and coverage of each health service" that's offered with an affordable health insurance plan.

It's also good to steer clear of any policy that doesn't set a maximum amount that you'd be responsible for paying. These plans can stick you with a monumental bill in the event of a sickness or accident.

Of course everyone deserves an affordable health insurance plan that won't create undue financial stress, but it's still very important for consumers to be aware of exactly what their insurance does and doesn't cover.

Affordable Health Insurance Still Hard to Find, but Optimism Exists

2008-08-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

While the story at Columbus' BizJournals relays a lot of depressing statistics about the nationwide lack of affordable health insurance, there is, as it says, a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

Sure, there are 47 million uninsured people in the U.S., even though we spend more per capita than any other country in the world. The cry for affordable health insurance has become so insistent in part because small businesses and middle class families can no longer afford coverage, and costs only seem to be getting higher.

And then there's Medicare - with costs going up, and enrollment predicted to skyrocket in coming years, many are wondering how (or if) they will be covered when it's their turn. Supplement packages have been springing up here and there, but as is often the case, a supposedly affordable health insurance plan often comes with a high deductible, making it not so affordable when you need it.

But, as the article says, there may be hope on the horizon.

For the first time health care is a really big topic in upcoming elections, and with legislators of all levels pitching their affordable health insurance plans to the public, one thing is certain: they know the public is tired of the same, broken system.

There are also other groups stepping in, like unions and even big corporations, to complain about coverage costs and health care problems.

So, will anything come of it all?

That will depend on how loudly everyone keeps complaining, who they vote for, and how significantly this issue continues to impact our economic futures. So far, we can only hope...

Should Health Insurance Be Based on Lifestyle Choices?

2008-07-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

There's been talk in the past of regulating health insurance costs by forcing people who make unhealthy lifestyle decisions to pay more.

Now, in at least one county, it's coming into effect. NorthEscambia.com reports that in order to save on health insurance costs, employees of the county in Escambia, Florida will not be hired at all if the smoke.

This move is, of course, more aggressive than simply charging more or higher health insurance premiums for smokers, but it's not surprising. Smokers cost the country roughly $92 billion dollars a year, and good portion of that is in health care costs.

And smoking isn't the only health culprit under examination. In California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has suggested that people who keep their weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure low should pay less than those who don't.

Opponents argue that such rules amount to discrimination, and that obesity and other health related problems aren't a simple matter of lifestyle decision-making.

But supporters argue that health insurance premiums are raised for all Americans by those who don't make healthy lifestyle decisions.

Either way, this argument adds a new dimension to the debate regarding health care in America, and how to best provide medical services to all.

Small Business Health Insurance in Maryland Gets Boost

2008-07-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

Across the country, high premiums for small business health insurance have made it difficult (if not impossible) for many employers to offer coverage to their employees.

The result? Those employers who can't afford small business health insurance don't have the ability to lure good employees like bigger companies can, and whether it's injured employees or better offers from competitors, turnover is higher for those small businesses.

In Maryland, however, the Maryland Health Care Commission is offering to lend a hand to some employers in a bind. According to the Washington Post, beginning October 1st subsidies for small business health insurance will be available to small businesses with between 2 and 9 employees.

The total amount to be spent for the subsidies is around $15 million, but because the funding will operate on a "first-come, first-served" basis, it's important for employers to be very proactive if they want to take advantage of this opportunity.

And with 800,000 Marylanders lacking health insurance, there will be a lot of employers lining up to offer the coverage that not only draws the best employees, but keeps them in the business for the long term.

Massachusetts Health Insurance Plugs On

2008-07-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

As NPR calls it, Massachusetts health insurance is the "most closely watched experiment in U.S. health care" today.

But it's not an experiment without problems.

Sure, enrollment in the new Massachusetts health insurance plan, which requires all adults over age 18 be covered, has reported high enrollment and statewide consumer satisfaction. Most of the newly enrolled are poor or near-poor, and problems with medical debt and unmet health care needs have declined.

But it's not cheap. Due to this very success the Massachusetts health insurance bill is running at hundreds of millions of dollars higher than expected. In some cases people are struggling to get appointment with doctors, to deal with bureaucratic red tape, and more.

And through it all, the biggest challenge seems to be forcing young people to sign up.

But if it works, Massachusetts health insurance plan will work on a grand scale, since much of the nation sees their experiment as a potential blueprint for the rest of the country.

Which also means that failure of the plan could have large-scale national implications for health care today and how it should be regulated.

Students Insured As Parents' Dependents Face Catch-22

2008-07-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

College life is expensive. With the cost of books, tuition, and housing, a lot of students skimp on their medical coverage. Most colleges and universities offer an insurance plan costing thousands a semester, but for struggling students that just won't in their budget. They may look at individual health insurance or a short term insurance policy as unnecessary if their parents can just add them to their own.

Hypothetical Johnny is looking to save some money. Sure, Johnny's parents may be able to cover him as a dependent on their plan, as long as he maintains a full-time student status. This sounds perfect for Johnny.

Let's say Johnny develops leukemia while in college. He can't make it to class because he becomes too sick, and therefore loses his insurance. He and his family are facing mountainous debt that makes student health insurance costs seem like a drop in the bucket, but now that he is so ill no one can insure him.

Think this sounds far-fetched?

According to OpenCongress, Congressman Paul Hodes introduced a bill that addresses this issue. Michelle's Law proposes twelve months of continued coverage for students forced to take a medical leave.

The bill's namesake, Michelle Morse, continued school despite a cancer diagnoses in order to keep her coverage. She didn't realize the risk of becoming a dependent on her parents' policy instead of acquiring her own, and once she was diagnosed it was too late to obtain a new insurance policy.

Michelle's story does not have a very happy ending, at least not in her case. She lost her battle with colon cancer with the bill still sitting in the Senate, but not before helping her mother and their supporters shine a spotlight on this heart-wrenching problem.

Until the student health insurance dilemma is resolved, it's imperative that every student have their own policy.

New Florida Health Insurance Plan Faces Challenges

2008-07-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Governor Charlie Crist's Florida health insurance plan, known as Cover Florida, may not be as successful as he had hoped.

Cover Florida was passed in May and was designed to offer some form of Florida health insurance to many of the state's 3.7 million uninsured citizens.

But the Orlando Sentinel reports that the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonprofit policy-research group in Washington, D.C., doesn't believe that Cover Florida is going to work.

The plan has two problems that the report suggests will make it unlikely that many Florida citizens will opt for the coverage. First, Cover Florida is designed to offer "bare bones" plans to low-income people.

But bare-bones plans also come with high deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs that make it difficult for residents to pay for treatments.

And even at that, Crist's Florida health insurance plan still comes in (at its cheapest) at $150 a month, much too much for most low-income residents to afford.

The writers of the report suggest that Florida should subsidize coverage for those who can't afford it, and offer plans that don't feature high costs and fees that still make it impossible to enjoy health coverage.

Lacking Government Insurance Assistance Hurts Californians Without Health Insurance

2008-07-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

Nearly one in five Californians are without insurance coverage, even though many are steadily employed. This is a dangerous statistic considering California ranks lowest in government medical assistance and reimbursement, according to The Wall Street Journal.

So what happens when those 19% uninsured get sick or injured and must get medical attention? In California, you can't expect Medicaid to cover much; they offer less than three thousand a year per person in coverage to those that meet their eligibility requirements. That would only cover a single overnight hospital stay, with nothing left in the budget for lab work, imaging, or prescriptions.

And since the California government reimburses so little to physicians, these practices and clinics are forced to raise their rates or turn away Medicaid and uninsured patients, effectively kicking them when they are down.

Some people playing the game of insurance roulette have found themselves facing economic disaster when the unexpected happens. A prolonged illness or serious accident could cost families hundreds of thousands of dollars- both financially and emotionally devastating. Imagine losing your home, your savings, and your security while battling cancer or recovering from pneumonia. And what about
something seemingly small like a broken bone that needs a little extra
attention?

Expenses for the "little things" really can stack up in a hurry.

Individual health insurance shouldn't be considered a luxury expense, it's a necessity. No one can predict an accident or illness, so why should anyone go without the financial protection afforded by health insurance? Who can afford not to have health insurance these days?