Health Insurance Blog

For many American families, COBRA coverage is still too expensive even with the current COBRA subsidy which is temporarily in place.  The COBRA subsidy program pays 65% of the monthly premiums for up to 15 months, but still can require a substantial monthly expense, as the average family of four still pays on average $389 per month even with the subsidy.

A recent report by eHealthinsurance.com found that in twenty states, families could save $600 per year ($50/mo) by purchasing a family health insurance plan as oppose to opting for the COBRA coverage.  Even with the subsidy!

The twenty states that were found to offer the affordable health insurance identified in the report include:  Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The state sponsored program Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) is currently providing health insurance to more than 46,000 low income Indiana residents.  It has been recently been announced that 5,000 enrollment slots have been opened up to childless adults due to attrition among members of the program.

To be eligible for the program applicants:

• can’t earn more than 200% of federal poverty level
• can’t have access to employer sponsored health insurance
• must be between the ages of 19-64
• must be a resident of Indiana
• must have been uninsured for the previous six months

More information about affordable Indiana health insurance plans.

Despite the fiscal crisis being experienced nationwide, 14 states found money this year to increase health insurance coverage for an additional 250,000 children nationwide.

The states took advantage of $33 Million that was appropriated by Congress when it reauthorized the Children’s health insurance program (CHIP) back in February.

the 14 states that are expanding their children’s health insurance programs inlcude: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and West Virginia

Since 2008, at least 21 other states have had to cut state sponsored health programs due to financial woes.  In addition the recession has caused at least 15 states to make cuts to Medicaid Programs during 2010-2011, and 8 states have made cuts to Medicaid benefits for 2009

Many states have state sponsored health insurance plans that are designed for “the working uninsured”.  Generally the monthly premiums of these plans are subsidized by the state and in order to qualify, applicants must have household income levels that don’t exceed 200% of federal poverty level, and being a resident of the state.  Each state has their own set of eligibility requirements.  For example in some states applicant may not have access to an employer sponsored health plan.

Some examples of these state sponsored plans for adults include:  The Healthy Indiana Plan, Insure Oklahoma, Washington Basic Health Plan, CoverTN, and BadgerCare.

Even if you don’t qualify for a state sponsored health insurance plan, because you make too much money or other reasons, there are many quality affordable health insurance plans available in each state.   You can compare plans online here at healthinsurancesort.com with no obligation.

Since the Healthy Indiana government-subsidized health care program was opened to adults without children in January 2008, it has given thousands greater access to Indiana health insurance. According to the Courier-Journal’s Leslie Stedman Weidenbener, the plan has been so successful that many people are on a waiting list to enroll (due to limited program funds). State legislators negotiated an exception to Medicaid regulations that limit the program to families. 34,000 out of 49,000 enrollees are adults without children who are unable to afford individual health insurance.

People covered under the Healthy Indiana program must pay a sliding scale monthly premium based on their income (from $20 to $75).

What’s included under the Healthy Indiana plan?

1. $500 in free preventative care each year
2. An annual health savings account (HSA) of $1,100
3. After the HSA is spent, there is a traditional health insurance plan without co-payments or deductibles.

To qualify for the Healthy Indiana program, Leslie writes that a childless adult must meet the following requirements:

• They must work for a company that doesn’t offer health insurance (so employers can’t drop them from their coverage and shift the burden onto the state)
• A single adult can make no more than $21,660 per year, or 200% of the poverty level
• They must have been without health insurance for at least six months.

A recent research report has shown that the number of uninsured children in Indiana has decreased from 162,000 to 131,000.   In addition, the number of uninsured could go down even lower as of the 8% of Indiana children that go without health insurance coverage, about 48% are eligible for Hoosier Healthwise, Indiana’s state sponsored health insurance program for children.

In any event, Indiana children are insured at a higher rate than the national average.  Nationally, approximately 11% or 8.6 Million of this nations children go without health insurance coverage.

In addition to state sponsored programs for uninsured children, Indiana also has a new state sponsored plan for low income families that is aimed at adults called Healthy Indiana Plan.  Currently over 35,000 Indiana residents have enrolled in thise program.

More information about Indiana Health Insurance.

2008 was the fourth year that US News and World Report, released their annual ranking of commercial health insurance plans.  The results are in, and the following list is how US News and World Report ranks the top Indiana health insurance plans.

1. CIGNA Healthcare of Ohio - was the top rated health plan in Indiana, as their service area covers portions of both Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky
2. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana - received the highest rating by customers
3. Aetna Health
4. CIGNA Healthcare of Indiana
5. CIGNA Healthcare of Illinois - serving both Indiana and Illinois
6. United Healthcare of Kentucky - serving both Indiana and Kentucky
7. United Healthcare of Illinois - serving both Indiana and Illinois
8. Humana Healthplan of Kentucky - serving both Indiana and Kentucky

Compared with other states, the overall ranking score (scale of 1 to 100) for Indiana health plans were lower than the other states that we have blogged about so far, with the top plan scoring only an 83.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana (a subsidiary of Wellpoint) announced an incentive program for physicians in their network which could increase their reimbursements by 10% if they follow recommended care guidelines.

Bonuses that physicians would be eligible for would be based their relative ranking when comparing the health status of their patients to others in the region.

The effectiveness that this program will have on improving care for Indiana residents is yet to be determined.

More information about Indiana health insurance, and a listing of top carriers who provide individual health insurance plans to Indiana residents.