Health Insurance Blog

According to a recent report released by Families USA, North Carolina health insurance rates have increased sharply.  It now costs over $13,000 to insure the average North Carolina family via an employer sponsored health insurance plan.   Of that amount, the family will end up paying $4,000-$5,000 out of pocket.

The cost of Group health insurance coverage in North Carolina has increased 97% since 2000.

BCBSNC the largest health insurance company in North Carolina took in $2.2 Billion in group health insurance premiums in 2008 vs. $841 Million in 2001 (a 161% increase).  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Individual health insurance plans (such as Blue Advantage) brought in $971 Million in premiums in 2008 vs. $311 Million in 2001 (212% growth).

It should be noted that BCBSNC’s growth in premiums collected cannot be attributed solely to the increase in prices as they have grown their membership base significantly over the period of time examined in the report.

According to the article “Health Care Reform bus makes a stop in Las Vegas” from KTNV.com, President Obama supporters for his health care reform made a scheduled stop in Las Vegas, Nevada.  They have been traveling the country to educate people on the benefits of Obama’s plan and Las Vegas health insurance consumers were encouraged to spread the word.

The rally was held at the Culinary Workers Union Hall on Commerce Street.  Organizers of the event worked hard to gain excitement and momentum to spread the word about the Obama health care plan.  One man pointed out that it’s time for the government to help people lacking health insurance.  He mentioned that America supports humanitarian efforts around the world but they do not seem to do the same thing for Americans in need. 

Humana Health Insurance’s website has useful health and wellness articles including one in particular entitled “Couch Potatoes - Here’s Food for Thought”.  This article is encouraging members to exercise for many different reasons. 

The article points out that being a “couch potato” can be deadly.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the underlying causes of deadly diseases can often be prevented by lifestyle changes.  The American Diabetes Association states that 300,000 deaths a year are because of obesity related illnesses.  Small changes in your lifestyle may extend your life.

In the article it discusses the high cost of living an unhealthy life with no exercise.  High blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes are expensive to treat.  There are high costs associated with pills, tests, medical procedures and other high-tech services.  In many cases, the healthier you are, the lower your Humana quotes will be.  It’s encouraging to know that our health is mostly in our hands, but it takes dedication and consistency over time to see significant changes.

According to a recently released report by the US Census Bureau, about 23% of New Mexico residents did not have health insurance coverage in 2007-2008.  Not only is the rate of uninsured in New Mexico the second highest in the country, but the 23% that were uninsured in New Mexico according to the report was measured prior to the current economic downturn that we have experienced over the last couple years.

Nationally, just over 15% of the adult population is uninsured.  Texas has the highest uninsured % in the country as about one in four Texas residents go without health insurance coverage.

More information about New Mexico health insurance.

The Senate Finance Committee is coming close to figuring out a healthcare reform bill according to Maggie Guo’s article on The Ethiopian Review site.  Health care cooperatives are still on the table, which has the idea of building large groups so that the price of expensive medical costs are spread out among members to reduce costs for everyone.

But Consumer Watchdog says this will not necessarily lower health insurance quotes for consumers.  They say that in practice there has not been enough members for cooperatives to carry out their function and people with less medical risk often opt out of joining. 

For a cooperative to be effective, member enrollment would need to be near 500,000 consumers according to some estimates.  There have been attempts in Texas, Florida and Colorado without much success.  There is also the concern that if small states get together to create bigger groups, then health insurance companies may insist on a suspension of state regulations because of the different types of customers they would be serving.  This would in turn cause a whole new type of oversight and possibly a lack of proper regulation. 

Recently released results show that 7.8% of Hawaii residents lack health insurance.  Nationally, the number of uninsured Americans has swelled to 46.3 Million according to the same report.

Hawaii has performed better than most other states when it comes to health insurance coverage,  because of Hawaii’s passage of the 1974 Prepaid Health Care Act that requires employers to provide health care coverage for employees who work at least 20 hours a week for four consecutive weeks.  As a result of this legislation, Hawaii has the country’s second highest coverage rate, trailing only Massachusetts.

More information about Hawaii Health Insurance.

As unemployment rises so does the number of people who need help finding health insurance.  A lost job usually means a loss in employer based health insurance as well.  According to the article on WISN.com, millions of Americans are an illness away from financial ruin because they are not protected by health insurance. 

Finding health insurance does not have to be difficult.  Consumer Reports supports checking to see if you qualify for Medicaid.  If you do not, another option is checking to see if your kids qualify for the Children’s Health insurance program (CHIPS). 

By visiting govbenefits.org you can see if there are any other government insurance programs you may be eligible for.  It’s important to shop around and educate yourself on the different types of health insurance options out there.

Approximately 1 million Americans have been infected with the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as the swine flu, according to the article “Individual Health Insurance Could Provide Assistance for Swine Flu Vaccines” by Maggie Guo found on the Ethiopian Review. 

People who are covered by certain individual health insurance companies may have the swine flu vaccine paid for.  Anthem Blue Cross is covering their customers who carry vaccine coverage and America’s Health Insurance Plans says it will offer similar protections according to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch report.

Once the Food and Drug Administration approves treatment there will be roughly 160 million doses of innoculations according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Clinical trials are currently in progress.  Across the country, cities are establishing free clinics to give vaccines.  There will be 100 centers in NYC alone in addition to a center at each elementary school.  Chicago and LA are following similar plans.

You may not know that State Farm, in addition to insuring more cars and homes than any other insurance company in the US, offers health insurance.  This is made possible through the national alliance that allows Assurant Health’s individual medical products available through State Farm health insurance across the country, according to the press release “State Farm, Assurant Health Renew National Distribution Alliance” found on Assurant Health’s website.

The alliance was renewed last year and included a 10 year term with the option for either company to leave after 5 years.  It also highlighted a marketing program that will allow for expansion of various sales opportunities for State Farm and licensed agents. 

Assurant Health President and CEO Don Hamm said that the alliance with State Farm is beneficial to everyone involved and they are very pleased to be continuing the relationship.  State Farm is one of their largest business alliances. 

Seniors seem to love Medicare Advantage Plans.  In some areas, such as South Florida, 40% of seniors aged 65+ have enrolled in these plans for those eligible for Medicare. Nationally about 22% of seniors are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

It isn’t hard to see why these plans are popular, many Medicare Advantage plans require members to pay no monthly premiums in addition to no deductibles or co-pays to see their doctors.

However, Medicare Advantage plans may become collateral damage of health care reform which is primarily focused on addressing the nations uninsured.  President Obama seeks to cut $177 Billion in federal payments to private health plans over the next decade in order to finance his plan for health care reform.  A large portion of these cuts to payments to private health plans will likely be in subsidies for Medicare Advantage Plans, which at the very least could mean a reduction in benefits and/or increased monthly premiums required by members.