Health Insurance Blog

BCBSAL has a unique walking program available to their members.  More information is available on their webiste.

The walking program offers the opportunity to make a committment to walk regularly and to keep a record of your success.  Research shows that a regular routine of walking briskly daily can help with weight loss, lowering cholesterol, strengthening your heart and reducing health problems down the road. 

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recommends 30 minutes of brisk walking five days a week.  It also is recommened to take approximately 10,000 steps daily to produce the best results.  The BCBSAL Walking Works Program online assists in these goals.  It outlines the importance of walking and offers all the tools you will need to make your walking program effective.

This Monday, health officials in Dallas reported the 17th death linked to the H1N1 virus in Dallas County according to the article “Dallas County Reports 17th H1N1 Death” by WFAA.com staff on that website.  A 51 year old man with an underlying health issue passed away recently and was infected with H1N1 according to Dallas County Health and Human Services.

The health department has been urging everyone to get the H1N1 vaccine to protect themselves from getting severely ill.  The county has administered around 10,000 vaccines to residents without Dallas health insurance last week and they now have ran out.  There is no word yet when it will be made available. 

There are certain people on a priority list to get the vaccine.  These include pregnant women, health care workers, people who care for babies under 6 months old, and those between 6 mos and 24 years old and those 25-64 with health conditions.  Many are frustrated that there has been such an emphasis on getting the vaccine, yet it is challenging to find the vaccine in many parts of the country.

Residents living in Chicago suburbs pay on average 14.6% less on their health insurance rates according to the article “Health-care Insurance Cheaper in the Suburbs” by Sandra Guy on suntimes.com.  This may surprise many carrying Chicago health insurance.

Those living 15 to 25 miles from downtown Chicago pay 12-15% less on their health insurance premium and those living 25-40 miles outside the city pay 20-30% less.  This is according to data gathered by Norvax Inc.  They also found that people who live in the southern and western suburbs, which are generally considered blue collar, pay 24.5% less for Chicago health insurance.  Those who live in the northern areas pay 14.6% less.  The findings highlight the cost of health care in these various regions.

Health insurance quotes are definitely being affected by location, but the question is, is this fair?  Health insurance companies claim it’s a matter of risk-based pricing.  Astonishingly, 26.5% of Chiacgo residents do not carry health insurance according to the latest US Census Bureau report.  This may be a direct result of the insurance companies and the way they price their customers as well as regulations created by the state.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has information about a great program on their website.  “Baby Yourself” is a unique prenatal wellness program which gives expectant mothers important information about infant care and health care during pregnancy.

On the BCBSAL website, it discusses the benefits of the program.  “Baby Yourself” offers all expectant mothers support and educational materials from a Blue Cross registered nurse.  The nurse is experienced in labor, delivery, and newborn care.  You will be assigned your own personal nurse who can be contacted with any questions or concerns.  Gifts and products are available to help support health habits as well as show the importance of understanding all the changes that come with being new parents. 

The program is available to all members and is free as part of their health insurance benefits through BCBSAL.  A video is available on their website entitled “Baby Yourself, A Prenatal Wellness Program” where you can learn more.  You can enroll either online or by telephone.  This is a great initiative by Blue Cross to help support often overwhelmed new mothers and their families.

Many Americans between the ages of 50-64 are losing their health insurance according to the article “Health Insurance Hard to Find for the Newly Unemployed” by Richard Martin TampaBay.com.  The reason these people are losing their insurance so rapidly is because of rising unemployment and an increasing number of businesses unable to afford health insurance for their employees.

The AARP estimates that approximately 7 million people between 50-64 are uninsured.  This number is growing rapidly and causing much stir in the health care debate in Washington DC.  Until recently, most of the focus has been placed on the young uninsured or Medicare for over 65. 

The main problem with this generation losing their health insurance is this is when they need it most.  Finding health insurance for this group can be challenging as well.  Individual health insurance plans for those over 50 cost much more than employer sponsored plans.  Many plans exclude pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or depression, conditions that often come with age.  Studies show that uninsured people are more likely to put off treatment which can lead to declining health.  It’s a vicious cycle that hopefully Congress can end.

A recent study conducted by the Texas Public Interest Research Group examines how the current health insurance system affects small businesses across the nation.  This is according to the article “Study finds that small businesses are disadvantaged by higher health care costs” by Priscilla Pelli on dailytexanonline.com. 

Austin’s small businesses are at risk under the current health insurance system according to this study.  There are negative effects on these Texas small businesses as increases in the cost of health care plans for employees are in place.  Businesses also have the inability to provide health insurance coverage to the employees because of very high costs.

Individual health insurance in Texas can be easy to find, but when you own a small business you may not always have the cash flow to cover monthly premiums, especially for employees.  Smaller businesses are finding it harder and harder to attract quality employees since the benefits they can afford to offer are not competitive.  This is putting small business at an extreme disadvantage.  Hopefully the health care reform plan that Congress votes for will assist these affected businesses.

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/