Health Insurance Blog

Intermountain Healthcare (IHC) of Utah could be a good model for health insurance reform in the US.   They are admired far and wide for delivering low-cost, high-quality health care.  IHC’s Selecthealth division is the top health insurance compnay in Utah with over 36% marketshare.  Other leanding health insurance companies in Utah include:  Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah (16% marketshare), and Altius Health Plans (15%).

Intermountain’s relatively unique healthcare delivery system involves provising health insurance coverage while owning the hospitals and employing the doctors, which gives them greater control over costs.

More information about Utah health insurance.

Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance companies’ anti fraud investigations caused savings and recoveries of about $350 million for 2008 according to the article “Blue Cross And Blue Shield Companies’ Anti-Fraud Efforts Recover $350 Million In 2008″ found on BCBS’s website. 

According to data released from Blue Cross Blue Shield National Anti-Fraud Department, this is a 43% increase from 2007.  The number of cases opened increased by about 34% and closed cases increased by 43% from 2007 to 2008. 

Approximately 3% of all health care spending is lost to fraud each year according to The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association.  This totals to about $68 billion in losses.  The total savings for all BCBS companies’ anti fraud units and Special Investigative Units was around $7 for every $1 spent on anti fraud efforts.  BCBS is a leader in detecting and following up with fraud according to Scott P. Serota, BCBSA president and CEO.

New York health insurance is ahead of the game when it comes to health care reform according to the article “Feds must consider NY situation in fixing care” by Kenneth Adams on poughkeepsiejournal.com.  New York is one step ahead of the nation when it comes to health care infrastructure, medical education, research, health insurance mandates, and insurance taxes.

New York’s plan isn’t perfect and is much more expensive than other states’ plans.  This is why New York is an important state to look at as Congress tries to put together health care reform.  According to the United Hospital Fund, NY ranks 25th across the country with 15% of New Yorkers without health insurance under 65.  If federal policies make New York health insurance more expensive NY cannot improve their numbers. 

59% of people in New York still get their health insurance from employer sponsored plans.  New health insurance taxes without reform to offset the increasing prices will force more New York companies to stop offering health insurance benefits to their employees.  That will cause even more uninsured residents since it will be harder for them to obtain individual health insurance.

According to the article “Fixing Health Care Is Good for Business” by Gary Locke on the Wall Street Journal’s website, without health insurance reform the price of an average household’s health insurance will almost double over the next 10 years from $13,000 to $25,000. 

This is why health care reform is so crucial.  47 million Americans are currently without health insurance and the rising health insurance costs are severely affecting American companies as well.  In 1960, companies spent about 1.2% of payroll on health insurance and by 2006 it was up to 9.9%.  This rate is unsustainable for companies and has to change because it is crushing US jobs. 

The Rand Corporation released a study which showed that excess health insurance costs were contributing to significant job losses.  Escalating costs are also causing flat wages and higher prices on products and services because money is going towards health care costs which have doubled over the last 9 years.  Health insurance reform appears to be around the corner so let’s hope some of these staggering statistics can be turned around.

Michigan based Priority Health, plans to increase its presence in the Michigan individual health insurance marketplace, by launching a new suite of products targeting this market segment by the end of the year.

Priority Health Chief Marketing Office Joan Budden is leading the charge.  Budden worked for BCBSM for 24 years including nearly four years heading up their individual health division.

The target market for the expanded foray into the Michigan individual health market will be recent college graduates and sole proprietors.

Currently Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan dominates the individual health marketplace in the state.

About eight out of ten Americans favor a public option health insurance plan on the table in Congress right now.  This is according to the new poll underwritten by AARP and completed by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates released Tuesday night at an AARP event in Denver. 

While most people seem to favor this public option, only four out of ten can accurately define what a public option health insurance plan means.  This is not good news for President Obama who may be facing possible defeat on his health care reform platform. 

The poll surveyed 1,000 Republicans, Democrats and independents across the nation earlier in August.  The survey does suggest that Americans agree on health care reform of some sort, but there is much less agreement on whether or not it’s worth higher taxes or higher health insurance rates. 

Most are still very concerned about having affordable health insurance.  65% oppose tax increases and 73% oppose higher health insurance premiums.  This information was found through the Wichita Business Journal in the article “AARP polling shows uncertainties about ‘public option’ insurance in health reform” by Neil Westergaard. 

The state of Wisconsin is planning to require a open bidding process for private health insurance companies which seek to manage the BadgerCare Plus Health Insurance Program

BadgerCare Plus provides health insurance coverage for low-income families with children under 19, but now also offers a health insurance plan with more limited coverage to low-income adults who do not have young children.

In other BadgerCare news, applications for BadgerCare Plus Core (the plan for low-income families without children) have come in more quickly than expected and the state is currently working through the application backlog that has developed in the first two months since its launch.  In the first 7 weeks more than 37,000 applications were received and only 5,000 were processed.

More information about Wisconsin health insurance.

State Farm Health Insurance is giving America a highly needed challenge.  They are challenging Americans to collectively lose 50 million pounds across the nation, according to the article “Insurance agency challenges Americans to lose weight” on wqow.com. 

Bob Johnson, an agent at State Farm Insurance, says that the healthier you are the less frequently you visit the doctor which will help lower your health insurance rates over time.  There is also the benefit of living a longer, higher quality life the healthier you live.  A healthy lifestyle will help you lose weight, have more energy and just feel better overall.

Online registration is available and participants can track their progress throughout the challenge.  There is also information on how to lead a healthier lifestyle.  State Farm Health Insurance is offering a kit which includes a pedometer and an information booklet.  Hopefully America is up for the challenge because obesity continues to be on the rise. 

One of the most popular arguments against a government run health care plan is the lack of competition that would arise among health insurance providers, but according to the article “Competition Lacking Among Private Health Insurance Companies” by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar on the huffingtonpost.com, private insurance companies already lack sufficient competition.

Studies show that in a number of areas across the country one or two health insurance companies dominate the marketplace.  When this happens prices can be driven up since those needing health insurance do not have many options.  The Democrats believe that a public health insurance plan would fix this problem since it would directly compete with the private insurers.  The Republicans are concerned over the government having that much power.

As Congress tries to figure out the best way to provide health care in this country, it’s important that consumers take matters into their own hands for now.  If you are in the market for health insurance get numerous health insurance quotes to ensure you know what’s available out there.

The September issue of Consumer Reports ranks the top PPOs and HMOs in the country.  In all, 41 PPOs were rated as well as 35 HMOs.  The ratings were based on surveys of 37,000 respondents.

Some of the findings included in the report inlcude:

• Median health insurance premiums were $1,829 (up 38% from two years ago).  PPO members paid $2,003 on average, while HMO members paid $1,466.
• The highest rated PPO health insurance plan was Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Connecticut
• The highest rated HMO was Group Health of Idaho & Washington
• 64% of respondents were very or completely satisfied with their health insurance carrier.  10% were dissatisfied.