Health Insurance Blog

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has signed a deal with Carolinas HealthCare System to provide hospital and doctor network services to members enrolled in their Blue Medicare HMO and Blue Medicare PPO health insurance plans.

Carolinas HealthCare System includes more than 1,000 physicians and 22 hospitals across 22 North Carolina counties.

BCBSNC is North Carolina’s largest health insurance company, covering about 3.7 million North Carolinians, about half of the state.

More information about BCBSNC and North Carolina health insurance.

According to the article “Higher Taxes on Wine May Result From Health-Care Reform” by Mitch Frank on WineSpectator’s site, one of the biggest unknowns on President Obama’s health insurance plan is how it will all be paid for.  It is estimated to cost about 1.2 trillion dollars over the next ten years. 

Wine, spirits and beer makers are not encouraged by one proposal.  The Senate Finance Committee published a report on some different proposals to pay for the reform.  One suggestion is called the “lifestyle tax proposal” which recommends raising federal tax on alcohol, sodas and other sweet drinks.  They believe this would promote health by discouraging the purchase of these items. 

The idea to raise taxes on alcohol would affect wine especially.  The proposal calls to tax wine, beer and spirits at rates that are equal based on ounces of alcohol in each drink.  Currently wine is taxed at 21 cents a bottle and under the new plan it would increase to 70 cents per bottle, a 233% spike.  Because there are many options still on the table for the funding of the health care reform, the wine industry is remaining relatively quiet and waiting patiently for the final outcome of this ongoing debate.

–Announcement –

You can now follow the healthinsurancesort.com blog on twitter!  Follow us at http://twitter.com/JeffLevyHIS

President Obama’s economic advisers stated in a report released today that if the growth in health care spending can be lowered from 6% to 4.5% there would be huge benefits for the US economy such as creating as many as 500,000 new jobs and increasing income for the average family of 4 by $2,600 over the next 10 years.  Cutting costs as well as covering the 46 million uninsured would improve the US budget and increase economic stability by approximately $100 billion a year.

But is this aggressive goal even feasible?  Obama’s economists recognize that slowing the growth rate of health insurance spending by 1.5% would be incredibly challenging.  But if the goal can be reached it would mean huge benefits for companies, households and the economy overall, and this is obviously much needed.  Health care expenditures are about 18% of gross domestic product and is on a path to reach as much as 34% by 2040 if reform is not implemented.  Obama recently met with industry leaders who are reaching to help find $2 trillion in health care savings over the next 10 years.  It’s a top priority on Obama’s economic agenda and he finds reform to be critical.

Florida’s Health First InsuranceWound Management & Hyperbaric Center now offers free foot screenings for anyone diagnosed with Diabetes. 

The American Diabetes Association says that diabetes patients can suffer from poor circulation especially in the legs and feet and have a harder time fighting infection in these areas.  Many with diabetes also have a reduced sensation in the lower extremities because of nerve disease.  These two risks increase the chance of ulcers and infection which may lead to amputation. 

Because of these serious risks, Health First Insurance is offering weekly Diabetes Foot Check Clinics to check patients by a physician.  The free screening includes an evaluation of foot circulation, temperature, feeling, toenails, calluses and open sores.  They also provide patient education and recommendations.

For more information on these clinics, please visit Health First Health Plans’ website.

Senate Bill 189 recently passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives which will allow children of parents covered on their group health insurance plan to remain on the health plan until age 30.  Seventeen other states have already extended the age limit for dependent health insurance coverage.

To be eligible for the Pennsylvania health insurance extention, the child must be unmarried, have no dependents themselves, be a Pennsylvania resident or be enrolled as a full-time college student and have no other health insurance coverage.

Some of the top individual health insurance plans available to PA residents include:  Aetna, Highmark BCBS, Health, HealthAmerica, and Capital Blue Cross , Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield

Many Americans have health insurance through their employers.  But as the economy struggles and the working world changes, employment is no longer a health insurance guarantee.  America continues to move from a manufacturing based economy to a service economy and working patterns are evolving.  This, in turn has made employer based health insurance less stable. 

Many small employers cannot afford to offer health benefits.  And of the companies who do offer health benefits, many are charging the employee more of the cost.  Because of these factors, many Americans are choosing to not take advantage of job based health insurance.  But having coverage is still as important as ever.  Everyone should have health insurance with basic benefits at a minimum. 

The State Health Plan - North Carolina’s health plan for state employees lost $137.6 Million in the fiscal year ending in June 2008.  The plan covers roughly 667,000 North Carolinians.  The primary driver of the financial implosion was the introduction of a more generous PPO health insurance option that prompted 76,000 existing enrollees to switch over to this plan, as well as prompting an additional 30,000 state employees to sign up for the state sponsored plan.

The members who were enrolled in the PPO plan specifically took advantage of routine eye and hearing exams and their increased utilization of services overwhelmed the discounts with network hospitals and doctors negotiated by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).

BCBSNC, The largest North Carolina health insurance company administers the PPO plan, and claims ended up costing nearly $164 million more than was projected.  In addition, administrative costs were extremely high ($66.6 Million), but they were allowed based on the contract that was signed.

The health insurance industry has recently stated it shouldn’t charge women higher rates for health insurance coverage than men. 

For more information read the following article:  Health Insurance Industry Agrees to Gender Parity on Rates 

To see if you are getting the best health insurance rate visit www.healthinsurancesort.com.

Healthinsurancefinders.com has recently published a 2009 Guide for Health insurance for the Unemployed.  The free report can be found at http://www.healthinsurancefinders.com/unemployed/guide/

According to a press release announcing the publishing of the report, the objective of the report is to empower the recently unemployed to become more knowledgeable about finding and purchasing the best health insurance coverage for their needs.

The report includes:  FAQs, a comparison chart with pros and cons of health insurance aspects, and other tips and advice.

More information about various health insurance topics:  health insurance essentials, health insurance glossary, PPO health plans,