Big news of the day, of course, is that the Senate's launching the health care debate. Or, as the Seattle Times summed it up: "Turbulence Ahead."
Fox News argues that a better solution would be national regulation of health insurers, freeing up families to buy insurance that best fits their needs, from companies anywhere in the country.
The immediate worry for millions of Americans is the fact that the 65 percent federal COBRA subsidy is starting to expire. That's a potential huge hit to the household budgets of the 7 million laid-off Americans who are getting the subsidy.
Here in Washington state, two lawmakers argue in an Everett Herald op-ed that the health reform bills in Congress would help senior citizens, by improving "Medicare's finances so it will remain viable for generations to come."
Senin, 30 November 2009
Rabu, 25 November 2009
Insurance news: Hospital visit leads to Bankruptcy court, and WA one of 14 states where insurers compete
The NY Times' Kevin Sack reports on a plight all too common today -- the rise in personal bankruptcies due to illness. It's one of the most compelling arguments today for national health care reform - that many of us are one diagnosis away from financial disaster.
One fellow interviewed for the story resorted to credit cards to pay his medical bills after he lost his job. "I tell my wife that we beat the economy," he said,
"but health care beat us."
The Wall Street Journal says both sides of the reform debate are playing chicken -- debating the trigger point for when a state would have to offer a public option. The opt out/ opt in provision appeals to both sides - one side says it'll never happen, and the other can point to the inevitability. Much of the debate centers on whether insurers are competing in your state. According to the American Medical Association, Washington state is one of 14 states where health insurers still compete. Check it out.
One fellow interviewed for the story resorted to credit cards to pay his medical bills after he lost his job. "I tell my wife that we beat the economy," he said,
"but health care beat us."
The Wall Street Journal says both sides of the reform debate are playing chicken -- debating the trigger point for when a state would have to offer a public option. The opt out/ opt in provision appeals to both sides - one side says it'll never happen, and the other can point to the inevitability. Much of the debate centers on whether insurers are competing in your state. According to the American Medical Association, Washington state is one of 14 states where health insurers still compete. Check it out.
Free credit report - really?
Have you seen those goofy ads with the annoying rock band touting free credit reports? They're a good reminder to get your annual free credit report -- especially now that insurance companies are looking more closely at your credit history. But make sure you click on the real free credit report site.
Experian, one of the major credit bureaus, is behind the catchy ads. But watch out - there's a hidden fee. Many who thought they were signing up for the free annual credit report were actually charged $14.95 for monthly credit monitoring services. Experian has paid more than a $1 million over the last five years to settle FTC charges that it misled consumers.
Read the full story here.
Want a FREE credit report? Here you go.
Experian, one of the major credit bureaus, is behind the catchy ads. But watch out - there's a hidden fee. Many who thought they were signing up for the free annual credit report were actually charged $14.95 for monthly credit monitoring services. Experian has paid more than a $1 million over the last five years to settle FTC charges that it misled consumers.
Read the full story here.
Want a FREE credit report? Here you go.
Selasa, 24 November 2009
Fifty years of auto safety: 2009 Chevy Malibu versus 1959 Chevy Bel Air
Speaking of car safety, it's probably a good time to reprise this video from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The point was to show that car safety has improved dramatically over the years. See for yourself:
Insurance news: FDIC falls into the red, help for Chinese drywall homes, and harrowing video of 1968 crash tests
It's a little afield from what we usually write about, but Dow Jones and many other publications are reporting today that the FDIC insurance fund that protects trillions of dollars in bank deposits has gone into the red after the recent collapse of 50 banks.
The Associated Press looks at an interesting aspect of the health-reform debate: What about the relatively low-paid people -- Exhibit A is teachers early in their careers -- who nonetheless have "Cadillac" health plans?
The National Insurance Crime Bureau, which combats insurance fraud, has set up a way for people to send text messages reporting fraud.
In Louisiana, that state's insurance commissioner is stepping in to try to help people who had trouble-plagued Chinese drywall installed in their homes. Among the steps: Insurers will be prohibited from dropping coverage for such homes, so long as the policy holders have been customers for at least three years.
In New Jersey, American Generald has agreed to reinstate the $100k policy of a man who made payments for years, but then had his coverage cancelled due to a late payment while he was taking care of his terminally-ill wife.
And National Public Radio takes a look at auto crash tests, and how they're affecting car safety. The unsurprising result: things are getting better. (Here are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's brand-new top safety picks, for example.) From the story:
The Associated Press looks at an interesting aspect of the health-reform debate: What about the relatively low-paid people -- Exhibit A is teachers early in their careers -- who nonetheless have "Cadillac" health plans?
The National Insurance Crime Bureau, which combats insurance fraud, has set up a way for people to send text messages reporting fraud.
In Louisiana, that state's insurance commissioner is stepping in to try to help people who had trouble-plagued Chinese drywall installed in their homes. Among the steps: Insurers will be prohibited from dropping coverage for such homes, so long as the policy holders have been customers for at least three years.
In New Jersey, American Generald has agreed to reinstate the $100k policy of a man who made payments for years, but then had his coverage cancelled due to a late payment while he was taking care of his terminally-ill wife.
And National Public Radio takes a look at auto crash tests, and how they're affecting car safety. The unsurprising result: things are getting better. (Here are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's brand-new top safety picks, for example.) From the story:
"In '95, half of the vehicles we tested rated 'Poor,' " Zuby says. "Today, virtually all earn a 'Good' rating."If you want to see just how far we've come, Autoblog has an amazing compilation of harrowing crash-test film clips from 1968. The short form: Those tank-like behemoths of yesteryear were nowhere near as safe as they felt.
Senin, 23 November 2009
New women's health guidelines leave many questioning their coverage
Last week's double announcement from two separate leading health panels scaling back the frequency of cancer screenings for women left many questioning their own preventive care and insurance coverage.
New guidelines for mammograms issued last Monday from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force pushes the recommended date for a woman's first mammogram from 40 to 50 years old.
Four days later, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists announced that women should delay their first Pap test until age 21, and every two years after that.
Health insurers, including Medicare, say they're unlikely to change coverage for cancer screenings, pointing to other guidelines from such groups as the Amercian Cancer Society -- which urges more frequent screening.
If the clinical guidelines do eventually change, health plans may change their benefits for routine mammography and pap smears to reflect the new guidelines, but this would be phased in over time. But Washington women have extra protection. State law requires insurers to cover mammograms if recommended by the patient's provider.
New guidelines for mammograms issued last Monday from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force pushes the recommended date for a woman's first mammogram from 40 to 50 years old.
Four days later, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists announced that women should delay their first Pap test until age 21, and every two years after that.
Health insurers, including Medicare, say they're unlikely to change coverage for cancer screenings, pointing to other guidelines from such groups as the Amercian Cancer Society -- which urges more frequent screening.
If the clinical guidelines do eventually change, health plans may change their benefits for routine mammography and pap smears to reflect the new guidelines, but this would be phased in over time. But Washington women have extra protection. State law requires insurers to cover mammograms if recommended by the patient's provider.
Insurance news: the hazards of looking happy on Facebook and where to spend those flex-plan dollars
Lots of coverage of the health-care reform debate in Congress this morning, and the headlines sum it up:
-Health Haggling Heats Up (Wall Street Journal)
-Schumer: Dems ready to go it alone on health care (Seattle Times)
-Gaps for consumers in Democrat health care bills (Seattle Times)
-Health bill threatened by friction between moderates, liberals (Tacoma News-Tribune)
To the north, there's the story about the Canadian woman who was off the job for a year with depression but then made the mistake of posting happy-looking photos on her Facebook page. Result: benefits denied.
Finally, some financial advice, also from the Seattle Times: Spend down your flexible spending account. (Tip: things like hand sanitizer, first aid supplies, contact lens supplies qualify.)
-Health Haggling Heats Up (Wall Street Journal)
-Schumer: Dems ready to go it alone on health care (Seattle Times)
-Gaps for consumers in Democrat health care bills (Seattle Times)
-Health bill threatened by friction between moderates, liberals (Tacoma News-Tribune)
To the north, there's the story about the Canadian woman who was off the job for a year with depression but then made the mistake of posting happy-looking photos on her Facebook page. Result: benefits denied.
Finally, some financial advice, also from the Seattle Times: Spend down your flexible spending account. (Tip: things like hand sanitizer, first aid supplies, contact lens supplies qualify.)
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