Aetna Whole Health: Offering Individual Health Insurance

Posted on: May 21st, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

Aetna, along with Carilion Clinic, has started offering a variety of affordable individual health insurance plans in the Roanoke area.  This is an effort to expand their reach through the accountable care initiative.  The Aetna Whole Health plans are aimed at consumers looking for quality health insurance with more affordable costs.

Tom Grote, president of Aetna’s Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC markets, says the new plans are priced much lower than those in other parts of the state.  The plans are able to have lower price tags because of the partnership with Carilion Clinic.  The alliance is based on shared accountability for the cost as well as the quality of the health care products.

The Aetna Whole Health plan offers solid benefits including personalized care, education and engagement for patients.  It includes shared accountability and shared cost savings among doctors through better coordination.  The plan features are easy to navigate and have an array of options for different consumers’ needs.  Aetna members not only benefit from quality plans, but they have access to useful resources and online tools to make more informed health care choices for themselves and their families.

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Ohio Health Insurance: 2012 Plan Rankings

Posted on: May 17th, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

J.D. Power’s 2012 Health Insurance Plan Study is out and for Ohio health insurance, Medical Mutual of Ohio came out on top.  They received five out of five in all the categories which include coverage and benefits, provider choice, information and communication, claims processing, statements, customer service, and approval processes.

Humana of Ohio received a solid overall rating of four our of five.  They scored very well in coverage and benefits where they received a five out of five, but not so well in claims processing, statements, customer service, and approval processes.  They did receive a strong four out of five in provider choice and, information and communication.

Aetna of Ohio received three out of five, as did UnitedHealthcare.  Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio and Cigna received a two out of five rating.  Cigna received the lowest rating since they received a two out of five rating in all of the categories but statements which still only earned a three out of five.

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Excellus BCBS: Affordable Plans In Tompkins County

Posted on: May 14th, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

The New York State Department of Health has approved Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and their efforts to offer Family Health Plus as well as the insurer’s Medicaid Managed Care product known as HMOBlue Option within Tompkins County.  HMOBlue is for individuals who are eligible for Medicaid and provides value through the BCBS name.  Eligibility for this particular option is based on household size and income.  People who receive Supplemental Security Income and meet other criteria could also qualify.

Family Health Plus is a unique initiative to help families obtain quality health insurance.  It’s a New York state-sponsored managed care health insurance plan for adults whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid based on information from Ieva Doyle’s article on TheIthacaJournal.com.  Some specific qualifications for this program include being a resident of New York, being uninsured, be an adult between 19 and 64, and have a total gross income that does not exceed the income limitations put forth by the program.  You must also not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.

Excellus BCBS is partnered with Monroe Plan for Medical Care and offers 9000 choices for doctors, specialists and hospitals through HMOBlue Option and Family Heath Plus products.  Both of these plans offer a wide array of benefits including emergency room visits, OB/GYN maternity care, mental health and alcohol abuse services, hearing services and eye exam services.  If you are a New York resident and think you may qualify for this program, it’s worth looking into.

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Medical Home Effort From Michelle Obama

Posted on: May 10th, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

In 2005, Michelle Obama helped launch a unique initiative to get people to form a meaningful relationship with a primary care physician.  This concept, known as a “medical home” is changing the way Americans look at health care.  The article by Bruce Jaspen on Forbes.com says the idea behind the medical home is to form a relationship with a primary care physician that creates a healthy atmosphere for preventative care which can end up saving the health care industry a lot of money.

The Urban Health Initiative was launched in 2005 by Michelle Obama when she was the vice president at the University of Chicago Medical Center.  The innovative project is now headed up by Dr. Eric Whitaker who is a long-time University of Chicago doctor.  Research from the program shows that stronger relationships are being made with the poor and their doctors.  This is a step in the right direction but there is still a lot of work to be done.  It’s a long, ongoing process that will take time and dedication to see real results.

The Urban Health Initiative strives to discourage the use of the emergency room for problems that can be handled by primary care doctors.  Part of this involves making appointments for people when they come into the emergency room if it’s a situation that can be handled elsewhere.  This program offers a new way of looking at the health care industry and it offers a unique snapshot of the country as a whole and the health care problems millions of Americans are facing today.  Studies continue to show that a low-cost, high-quality approach to health care is the best approach to tackling this country’s health care woes.

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Humana Health Insurance Partners With Wal-Mart

Posted on: May 8th, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

Human health insurance is now partnering with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to provide a new prescription drug plan for insured employees working at Wal-Mart.  In addition to this, Humana’s pharmacy benefits management subsidiary, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, will be included in the Walmart prescription network.  Through this partnership, a new approved drug list called Rx4Value will be available according to Aabha Rathee’s article found on WallStreetCheatSheet’s site.

Humana Pharmacy President, William Fleming, says this new program will help employers predict costs and save on health care spending overall.  The new drug list will make more affordable drugs available and save money on prescriptions.  Having Wal-Mart in network can end up saving employees a lot of money which is invaluable as health care costs continue to rise.  With health care reform still up in the air, it’s important to know that employers are taking steps towards saving their people money through health care savings.

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Aetna Health Insurance Being Sold Through Costco

Posted on: May 2nd, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

An interesting partnership is taking place between Aenta Health Insurance and the wholesale club, Costco.  The Connecticut health insurer is starting to sell individual health insurance policies to members of Costco.  Aetna announced in April that its Costco Personal Health Insurance Program will offer five health plans online.  The plans will provide options for major medical benefits, dental coverage, and lower copays on prescriptions bought at Costco pharmacies.

There will be a noticeable discount on individual plans for Costco members which is a huge perk in today’s health insurance environment.  It will sell a variety of plans in Connecticut, Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Nevada.  The article on BusinessWeek.com says the insurer plans to expand its operations to more states throughout 2012.

This is just another step towards diversification from insurance companies as health care reform still remains unsure.  Health insurance companies have been looking for unique ways to reach customers.  This especially goes for health insurers who have a focus on employer-sponsored health plans.  They are looking to expand their individual business since this should pick up in the next few years as more people choose to carry coverage.

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California Health Insurance: Plan Rankings for 2012

Posted on: April 25th, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

Based on the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Health Insurance Plan Study, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of California received the highest California health insurance ranking.  The award recipient earned five out five in all categories including coverage and benefits, provider choice, information and communication, claims processing, statements, customer service and approval processes.  They received five out of five for over all experience.

Cigna of California received the next best rating with a three out of five marking which is considered average.  They did receive four out of five in approval processes, but three out of five in all other categories.  Aetna of California, Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, HealthNet, Pacificare, and UnitedHealthcare of California were also reviewed and each received an overall rating of two out of five, which is considered below average.

For more information on how your state and plan faired in the J.D.Power and Associates 2012 Health Insurance Plan Study, you can visit their website.

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Lifestyle Blue For Small Businesses From BCBSRI

Posted on: April 23rd, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has recently introduced Lifestyle Blue which is the newest medical plan aimed at small businesses.  This is the first of its kind for the state of Rhode Island and there is great anticipation for success.  The plan is for employers with fifty or less employees and are looking for quality health insurance that is affordable.

The plan is outlined with and three in one approach to appeal to small business owners.  Each plan is geared towards the different stages in life making it suitable for all ages.  It’s also tailored with demographic area in mind as well.

The first plan is called On Your Own, which is aimed at young, active and healthy employees.  Then there is the Family Matters plan targeted for employees with families who need quality health care.  And the third plan is House To Yourself for empty nesters.  There really is something for everyone and small business owners will like this aspect.

There are varying deductibles, urgent care, and emergency co-pays including varying prices for prescriptions so members truly do have options.  Employees pay the same rate regardless of the plan they choose keeping costs down.  None of the plans have co-pays for primary care visits assuming the physicians used are designated as patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs).  Small business owners are always looking for quality plans that can give their employees real options and this plan from Blue Cross seems to hit the nail on the head.

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Arizona Health Insurance Extending Coverage to Children

Posted on: April 18th, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

Arizona health insurance will be seeing a change in coverage for their children as about 22,000 poor kids in the state gain health insurance coverage under a Medicaid deal through an agreement with the Obama administration.  Kaiser Health News’s article by Phil Galewitz says the agreement allows Arizona to use a combination of country dollars, money from the University of Arizona Health System and money gained from Indian gaming operations to fund health insurance for children.

The funds will be used to start new health insurance programs and pay extra Medicaid dollars to hospitals that are currently treating many uninsured patients, including children.  Arizona is the only state where the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has closed membership due to volume.  This federally-sponsored program is an important program helping struggling parents pay for health insurance for their children.  The new KidsCare II program is only open to children currently on the waiting list for CHIP and those who are enrolled in Medicaid, but won’t eventually qualify.

Jocelyn Guyer, deputy executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University points out that this may not be a total reinstatement of CHIP, but it’s a step in the right direction and it will help out many families in need.  This is a crucial time to be helping families who cannot afford quality health insurance for their children.  Health care reform continues to be up in the air and no one knows for sure how it will all pan out and affect our country’s children.

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Aetna Health Insurance Offers Upgraded iTriage App

Posted on: April 16th, 2012 by SamTabes No Comments

Aetna health insurer announced the availability of a new and improved version of their already popular iTriage application for the iTunes App Store and the Android market according to the press release found on BusinessWire.  Aetna is striving to give more power to the consumer by giving easier access to health care information in an organized and simple format.  The new iTriage app will give users the ability to research symptoms, find medical providers, and book appointments from the convenience of their smartphone.

The Aetna Chairman, CEO and President Mark T. Bertolini talks about how the consumer demand for advanced technology has lead them to innovations in the way health care is treated.  He goes on to say that iTriage puts the consumer in the center of the equation by empowering them with information access.  This revolutionary concept could change the way all insurers approach health care and it’s been a long time coming.  Aetna’s new CarePass digital platform is delivering an integrated health care option to securely provide valuable information when and where consumers really want it.  The iTriage app is the first offering in this unique program.

Altimeter Group completed a research project recently called “The Coming Digital Revolution in Health Care” that showed 82% of respondents find access to their health care information as important.  The research also shows that consumers are having a challenging time navigating the fragmented and volume of health care information they may have access to now.  With more convenient health care access, through apps such as iTriage, 65% agreed it would improve their ability to make important health information going forward.

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