Health Insurance Blog

Consumer Reports recently came out with a survey about consumers and their satisfaction with their current health insurance plan.  This is according to the article “Health Plans Get Only So-So Reviews” on the Washington Post’s website.

The survey’s findings were based on responses from 37,481 readers who reported their health insurance experience over a course of a year.  The numbers represent a good benchmark for HMO’s and PPO health insurance.  84% of the respondents have an employer based plan they will be able to keep under most proposals being discussed in Congress.

The Consumer Reports National Research Center found that only 64% of readers were very or completely satisfied with their current individual health insurance plan.  This shows a drop from the 2007 survey which revealed 67% was satisfied.  Based on other Consumer Reports surveys people are less satisfied with health insurance than other industries such as pharmacies and real estate agents.  Over 30% of readers are not completely satisfied with their health insurance and this leaves a lot of opportunity for health care reform.

Effective January 1, Blue Shield of California will be removed from the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP) because their premiums were substantially higher than the rates offered by the other two insurers that make up the Program.

The MRMIP currently covers almost 7,000 California residents who are unable to purchase private health insurance due to pre-existing conditions.

Health insurance companies that participate in the MRMIP Program are allowed to charge 25% higher premium than the market rate for a given health insurance policy, and if the insurer loses money they will be reimbursed by the state.  Despite the state subsidization, Blue Shield’s health insurance rates were much higher than both Kaiser Permananete’s or Anthem Blue Cross of California.

Current enrollees in the MRMIP Program via Blue Shield will be able to keep their existing coverage until January 1, and then must enroll with one of the other health plans that participate in the Program.

More information about California health insurance.

Nobody should have to worry about becoming ill from utilizing health care services (such as visiting their doctor etc. ) however that has been happening far too often.

Patients have been picking up infections, ranging from from pneumonia to antibiotic-resistant staph (MRSA), while under treatment for other medical issues, or even while just in the hospital having a baby.  This recurring problem can and should be completely avoidable.

These maladies cost the U. S. Health Care System an estimated $20 Billion annually, not to mention the other inherent concerns with these incidents.

Kimberly-Clark Health Care has made it a priority to address this concern and is on the forefront of protecting patients from Health care-Associated Infections (HAI).  They have developed a site dedicated to eliminating HAI called HAI Watch: Not on My Watch.  The site has information for both health care professionals and health care consumers.

You can visit the site at http://www.haiwatchnews.com/

Health Care Lane is a new and interactive website where experts explain health insurance topics offered by UnitedHealthcare health insurance according to their Newsroom on uhc.com.  Health Care Lane enables an online community to get common health insurance questions answered quickly.

Health Care Lane was launched in time for open enrollment and offers help with selecting the right health insurance plan and understanding health insurance quotes.  The straightforward conversations are designed to be user friendly and easy to understand. 

Not only is Health Care Lane available to UnitedHealthcare members, but it’s also offered to anyone interested in learning more about health care topics.  Visitors can learn about simple topics such as the definition of a premium or more complex topics such as the benefits of a Health Savings Account.  This site is a great opportunity for consumers to educate themselves on the many facets of health insurance, now more than ever as the health care system is up for debate. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and people in Houston, Texas are gathering together to support the cause.  According to the article “Community Breast Health Event at Cy-Fair Hospital” found on the cypresstimes.com, the Women’s Imaging Center at Cy-Fair Hospital is hosting a Breast Health Event on October 29th.

The Cypress Fairbanks Women’s Imaging Center has an experienced and caring staff who understand the importance of supporting breast health.  This event will not only raise awareness, but they will be offering education on self exams, general breast health information as well as offering giveaways and bone density testing. 

The article points out that breast cancer affects 1 in every 8 women in the US.  Early detection is very important in treating breast cancer.  The American Cancer Society recommends that women over 40 years of age should get a mammogram once a year and many Houston health insurance companies should cover this screening.

According to the article “Medicare Advantage Premiums Expected to Rise 25% Next Year” by Jane Zhang for The Wall Street Journal online, premiums that seniors pay for Medicare Advantage are increasing.  This is mostly because insurance companies are cancelling many plans that carry no premiums in response to new federal guidelines. 

Humana Health Insurance Inc is setting up networks for its Private Fee for Service insurance plans and consolidating them next year.  Humana will have 149 Private Fee for Service Plans, which is down from 173 in 2009.  Humana made other changes such as the special needs plans which targets sicker people enrolled. 

The number of Medicare Advantage plans will drop by approximately 40% in total.  This is according to an Avalere analysis of Medicare data.  Some consumers will see their plans change dramatically and others will see their plans simply go away.  It’s important they are prepared for what changes may impact them directly.

Aetna has announced that they are discontinuing two Medicare Advantage Plans.  The first is being shut down because its membership dropped below the Federal requirement of at least 100 members.  It had 75 members.  The other is being phased out in all but 5 states due to a new Federal requirement that all fee for service Medicare Advantage plans be network based by 2011.

In similar news, Independence Blue Cross is terminating plans that current cover about 44,000 seniors.

If you have lost your Medicare Advantage plan, you can shop for replacement coverage here at healthinsurancesort.com

A new poll came out from Mason-Dixon Polling Research Inc. for the Las Vegas Review Journal last week reviewing where Nevadans stand on the health care debate.  The survey consisted of phone responses from 500 registered voters in Nevada.  Nevada and Las Vegas health insurance issues are definitely a concern for residents.  All of this information is according to the article “Most Nevadans Believe Health Reform Includes Tax Hikes” by Calli Fisher at krnv.com, News 4.

The poll shows that 49% of Nevadans are against President Obama’s health care proposal while 43% support it.  Only 8% believe no action is necessary.  A shocking 77% believe that President Obama’s plan will include an increase in taxes.  This goes against what most residents believe should be the main concerns when revamping health care.  This includes cheaper health insurance, easier to access and fewer restrictions. 

74% of Nevada Democrats support Obama’s plan and only 9% of Republicans approve of it.  Some say these numbers include many who don’t fully understand the proposal nor do they understand how it will affect them directly.  The poll does have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5%.  It is still to be determined how and when Nevada health insurance will be affected.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has an awards program called Blueworks which is a collaboration between BCBSA and the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield website in their Newsroom.

The Blueworks program is in its 5th year and last week they recognized 6 Blue Cross Blue Shield companies with a total of 7 Blueworks Awards for innovative approaches to improving the quality of health care for comsumers. 

Harvard researchers evaluate and choose BCBS companies’ health care programs for recognition based on their innovation, and potential for replication.  BCBSA president and CEO, Scott P. Serota says that the winning programs are great examples of the work Blue Cross Blue Shield companies are doing in the community to improve health care.  They are providing consumers with valuable information needed to help make educated health care decisions. 

In September, Humana Inc. released 7 new videos in their well known series “Stay Smart, Stay Healthy”, according to the Humana website. 

This series is designed to help those looking for Humana quotes and health care, better understand how health insurance works.  It also covers factors that go into the costs of health insurance.  The options for health insurance in America have become much more diverse over the years and so has Humana’s products.  Humana’s short and informative videos can be viewed by consumers to answer common questions. 

Continuous interest in these videos encouraged Humana to make more health care videos.  They now offer Spanish translations and they can easily be shared through email, bookmarking sites and social sites.  Videos are available at staysmartstayhealthy.com and You Tube where they have been ranked highly among educational content because of the fun and easy-to-understand format.  Humana continues to be dedicated to educating the public on their health care options.