The Brokerage, Inc. Opens New San Antonio Office with a New, Bilingual Area Manager

July 21, 2014, 4:05 am

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The Brokerage, Inc., a national insurance marketing organization and leader in the Health and Life Insurance marketplaces, expands in Central and South Texas with a new office and hires bilingual area manager to match.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) July 21, 2014

Due to the incredible growth of their product portfolio in Texas and across the country, the Lewisville-based brokerage recently saw the need for additional support in niche markets. A big step towards satisfying that need is the opening of their charming new office in San Antonio managed by highly qualified Claudia Rodriguez-Diaz—a Spanish-speaking business manager with all the right experience.

With a degree in Management and a minor in Marketing from the University of The Incarnate Word, Rodriguez-Diaz has served as a Sales Representative, a Community Relations Manager, and Business Development Manager. She comes to The Brokerage, Inc. from United Healthcare, and will be applying her unique skill set to her new home base in San Antonio.

Conveniently located in the emerging hybrid downtown suburb of Cadillac Lofts, The Brokerage’s new office is an accessible location that offers a place for agents to meet prospects and clients, learn the latest product news and marketing ideas, as well as visit with The Brokerage’s new local area manager.

"Our emphasis on better serving our clients, both agents and consumers, creates an incredible demand for strong leaders capable of speaking across carrier and product lines," said The Brokerage, Inc. Vice-President John Dubas, "The Brokerage is thrilled to have Claudia available to help those we serve. We anticipate an immediate positive influence on our agents, particularly in Central and South Texas."

The San Antonio Office’s address is:

Cadillac Lofts
317 Lexington, Suite 1
San Antonio, Texas 78215

For more information, visit http://www.thebrokerageinc.com.

About The Brokerage, Inc.
The Brokerage, Inc., a national insurance marketing organization specializing in life, health and accident products, has been a nationally recognized leader in the insurance marketplace for over 36 years. The Brokerage, Inc. is proud to provide products such as annuities, health insurance, life insurance, and long term care insurance, as well as marketing services to over 10,000 actively appointed independent insurance agents nationwide. The Brokerage, Inc. helps independent brokers with their marketing efforts and increases the value of their agency with specialized features such as quality Medicare leads, help with Medicare certification, top contracts, free E&O coverage, and marketing support through various avenues year-round, not just during the Annual Enrollment Period. The Brokerage, Inc. has also played a vital role in training agents for the upcoming Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is a preferred GA for Blue Cross Blue Shield. For more information, visit http://www.thebrokerageinc.com Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.

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How Your Health Insurance Company Can Still Screw You, Despite Obamacare

July 21, 2014, 5:04 am

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No law has done more to reform health insurance and protect consumers against the industry's most heinous practices than the Affordable Care Act. But Obamacare didn't magically transform insurers into benevolent entities solely devoted to taking care of sick people.

Health insurance companies, even those that are not-for-profit, have to collect more money in premiums than they shell out in claims for medical care. That means they have a financial incentive not to pay for things.

And since health insurance companies can no longer shun the sick to maximize profits -- either by denying coverage to people based on their medical histories or by rescinding the policies of paying customers who fall ill and rack up bills -- insurers are employing other tactics to shift costs to sick people and make it harder to get health care, consumer advocates say.

"One of the things that occurred to me, even as the bill was working its way through Congress, was that once it was passed, insurers would do all they could to try to preserve profit margins," said Wendell Potter, a former Cigna executive turned industry critic.

Here are a few of the tactics that consumers and advocates have complained about:

*Refusing to pay for medical care that should be covered*

Nothing in Obamacare says insurance companies have to pay any bill that comes their way. That's fine, because doctors and patients want things all the time that are wasteful and unnecessary, and everyone shares the cost for that.

But it means the law doesn't prevent stuff like this from happening:


"Coverage denied...doesn't meet criteria for medical necessity". I WOULD CALL SAVING MY HUSBAND'S LIFE A MEDICAL NECESSITY YOU FUCKERS

— Zoe Keating (@zoecello) May 28, 2014Zoë Keating is a musician with more than 1 million followers on Twitter. Her husband, Jeffrey Rusch, had been diagnosed with cancer at the emergency room, hospitalized and given chemotherapy. The insurance company refused to cover it -- until Keating told her story to a San Francisco television station, according to reports on KPIX.

While the Affordable Care Act beefed up patients' right to appeal denials by insurance companies, people still have to fight, which is to the insurer's advantage. "A lot of people just simply don't understand their appeals rights and don't appeal, or think that they just don't have a chance of getting something overturned," Potter said. "The insurance companies know that." Most people don't have a million Twitter followers, either.

*Making patients pick up a bigger share of the bill*

To keep premiums as low as possible, insurance companies are pushing more of the cost of actual care on to their customers in the form of things like high deductibles and "coinsurance," which requires patients to pay a percentage of the cost of their care, instead of making a flat copayment.

"Okay, Ashley, you've got diabetes, so you have to pay half the tab. Oh, and Brittany had a second glass of wine."And it's virtually impossible to learn in advance how much medical care will actually cost, meaning patients are left in the dark.

"What this means for someone with cancer is that they may end up being directed away from a plan because they can't find out whether their doctor is in the network, or whether the plan covers their drugs, on what tier and how much they have to pay out of pocket," said Kirsten Sloan, senior director policy at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Sending a cancer patient to a competitor would count as a win in the insurance industry.

*Designing benefits to make the sickest patients pay more for drugs*

Advocates for patients with serious medical conditions have been incensed by the practice of "tiered" drug lists, which have become a popular way for insurers to limit their expenses. Under this mechanism, the amount patients pay at the pharmacy is generally lower for cheap generic medicines and "preferred" brand-name drugs, higher for other brand-name drugs and higher still for the most expensive specialty medications.

The good stuff is always on a high shelf. Almost got it!High cost-sharing and top-tier status for drugs that treat ailments like HIV and multiple sclerosis are common in insurance policies bought via the Obamacare exchanges, the consulting firm Avalere Health reported last month. That looks an awful lot like insurers discriminating against sick people, the AIDS Institute claimed in a complaint filed against four Florida insurers with the federal government in May.

"Where we've seen the problems is putting every single HIV drug, including generics, on the highest tier, and that with very high coinsurance, like 40 or 50 percent," said Carl Schmid, deputy executive director of the AIDS Institute. "There's plenty of plans in Florida that don't do this, and charge $10, $20 a copay for the same drugs."

*Limiting access to doctors and hospitals*

Health insurance plans sold via Obamacare exchanges often have "narrow networks," or shorter lists of medical providers that accept those plans than people with job-based insurance or Medicare might expect. Insurers need to keep costs down, and tough negotiating with high-priced doctors and hospitals can do that. This ends up saving the whole health care system money, including insurance customers.

The trouble is, when those networks don't include enough of the specialty care providers that take care of the sickest, most expensive patients -- like, say, cancer centers -- it has the effect of denying care to those very sick people because they can't get appointments.

"Sorry, bro. Not on the list.""Insurers might try to avoid people with HIV or cancer or expensive conditions by avoiding the doctors that tend to treat those people, but otherwise their network looks robust," said Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. "Whether it's happening -- no way to know yet." The Obama administration and state regulators are poised to take action to compel insurers to beef up their networks, The New York Times reported.*Rolling out the red tape*

To save money, insurance companies will be stricter about approving and paying for medical treatments, said Carmen Balber, executive director of the nonprofit organization Consumer Watchdog. "I have no doubt that claims denials or delays will be the new discriminatory tactic of the industry," she said.

In Seattle, one doctor said she has to work harder to get treatments approved this year. "There are more hoops that the provider has to jump through," said Grace Wang, the medical director of the International Community Health Services Holly Park Medical and Dental Clinic.

"We'll gladly pay your claim -- after you perform a death-defying escape, Houdini."

Wang returned to the clinic after Memorial Day weekend and attempted to follow up on a request she'd made to refer a patient to a specialist. The insurance company said her request already had been rejected because she hadn't called back quickly enough.

"Their clock started ticking on Sunday. Monday was a national holiday, and so when 48 hours went by, they denied," said Wang. "A conspiracy theorist would wonder." Reported by Huffington Post 11 hours ago.

Half of People Know a Hoarder – Report Shocking Details of Junk Piles

July 21, 2014, 5:05 am

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An Insure.com survey reveals who’s hoarding and what’s in the ceiling-high stacks.

Foster City, CA. (PRWEB) July 21, 2014

Junk piled to the ceiling, bugs on food, used cat litter, rat droppings, dead animals, stacks of fast-food cups, boxes of empty pill bottles, and used Band-Aids are among the items seen in hoarders’ houses by respondents to a new survey by Insure.com, an independent consumer insurance website.

According to a survey of 2,000 adults, 46 percent know someone who hoards, and 6 percent of people identify themselves as hoarders.

Among people who know a hoarder, 36 percent said they had to clean out a house after a hoarder moved or passed away.

Compulsive hoarding is a disorder that goes beyond “collecting” or lack of cleaning. Hoarders are unable to stop adding to their piles, and the items end up impeding daily activities. Hoarders may feel emotional attachments to objects that others regard as trash, even while health, fire, and even structural hazards are apparent to others.

“A stack of old newspapers doesn’t necessarily make you a hoarder,” said Amy Danise, editorial director of Insure.com. “A stack of old newspapers that blocks a door does.”

Here’s who’s hoarding, according to survey results:

1.    Friend: 32 percent.
2.    Family member: 27 percent.
3.    Neighbor: 23 percent.
4.    Parent: 15 percent.
5.    Spouse: 8 percent.
6.    Myself: 6 percent.
7.    Child: 5 percent.
8.    Other: 5 percent.

These are the most commonly hoarded items:

1.    Mixed items: 34 percent
2.    Knickknacks: 16 percent
3.    Magazines and newspapers: 11 percent
4.    Clothes: 9 percent
5.    Food: 7 percent
6.    Electronics: 5 percent
7.    Containers: 4 percent
8.    Other: 4 percent
9.    Animals: 4 percent
10.    Bags: 4 percent
11.    Appliances: 1 percent

Among the answers for “other,” people named boxes, broken-down cars or simply “everything.” Many people reported seeing items “stacked to the ceiling.”

Hoarding usually leads to fire or health hazards, according to people who know a hoarder. When asked about specific hazards they have witnessed, people point to:·     Fire hazard: 59 percent
·     Health hazard: 53 percent
·     Hazard to health of animals: 20 percent
·     Other hazard: 9 percent. (Respondents often reported trip and fall hazards.)

Efforts to throw out items often backfire when the person who hoards becomes even more resistant to getting rid of the piles. Among the survey respondents who know hoarders, 71 percent have tried to get rid of items. Of those:·     25 percent said they were successful.
·     34 percent said they failed.
·     41 percent said they were able to throw away only some items.

People who have tried to throw out items said the hoarder reacted in these ways (respondents could choose more than one selection):·     Tried to make piles of things to save: 36 percent
·     Cried or screamed: 29 percent
·     Weren't there: 25 percent
·     Blocked entry: 24 percent
·     Recalled memories associated with the things: 21 percent
·     Locked them out: 12 percent
·     Other: 8 percent.
·     Left the premises: 7 percent

Hoarding can have serious insurance implications if a home insurance company performs an inspection and discovers the hazards. Hoarding could also come to light during an insurer’s visit for an insurance claim, such as a kitchen fire or even a claim unrelated to the piles, such as weather damage.

Insurers that discover hoarding will often give a customer a timeline for improving the property. In extreme cases where a hoarder can’t clean up enough, an insurer could cancel the policy rather than take the risk of future claims.

“By the time your insurance company is thinking of cancelling you, you’ve likely had fire and health hazards for years,” said Danise.

See the full article at http://www.insure.com/home-insurance/hoarding.html.

Methodology

Insure.com commissioned a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, half women and half men. The survey was fielded in June 2014.

About Insure.com:

Insure.com provides a comprehensive array of information on auto insurance, home insurance, health insurance, and life insurance. The site offers an extensive library of originally authored insurance articles and decision-making tools that are not available from any other single source, including its extensive car insurance discounts tool. Insure.com is owned and operated by QuinStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ: QNST), one of the largest Internet marketing and media companies in the world. QuinStreet is committed to providing consumers and businesses with the information they need to research, find and select the products, services, and brands that best meet their needs. The company is a leader in visitor-friendly marketing practices. For more information, please visit QuinStreet.com.

Twitter: @InsureCom

Press contact:
Amy Danise
860-386-6446
adanise(at)insure(dot)com Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.

Watch: The Crusade Against Reproductive Rights

July 21, 2014, 7:08 am

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Previously published on BillMoyers.com

Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court's landmark decision establishing a woman's right to an abortion, was issued 41 years ago. Despite consistent public opinion to the contrary, conservatives and the religious right have patiently and relentlessly campaigned against it for decades. And recently, their efforts are finding some success. Two major rulings by the Supreme Court this last session limited health insurance coverage for contraception and gave protesters increased rights to demonstrate outside abortion clinics. Several states -- especially in the South -- in the name, legislators say, of women's health, have passed regulations that creatively use technicalities to force clinics to close.

I talk about the politics of reproductive freedom with Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. For nearly a century, Planned Parenthood has been the leading advocate for reproductive health care in the United States, with 69 affiliates nationwide, operating more than 700 health centers.

"It's better to be a corporation today than to be a woman in front of the Supreme Court," Richards tells me. "I think that the Hobby Lobby decision is just the beginning of giving corporations free license to obey those rules and laws that they agree with, and not ones that they don't."

Richards has been an organizer of low-wage janitors, hotel and health care workers, the founder of the Texas Freedom Network, which defends civil liberties and religious freedom in her native state, and a deputy chief of staff to the Democratic leader in the House, Nancy Pelosi.

Moyers & Company airs weekly on public television. Explore more at BillMoyers.com. Reported by Huffington Post 9 hours ago.

Lifepoint Informatics Introduces a New Patient Access Portal for Lab, Hospital and Diagnostic Imaging Customers Complaint with CLIA and HIPAA

July 21, 2014, 7:06 am

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Lifepoint Informatics is empowering labs, hospitals and diagnostic imaging centers to comply with government and state regulations, reduce administrative costs, help promote collaborative care, and improve patient satisfaction and personal health management with the release of a patient access portal.

Glen Rock, NJ (PRWEB) July 21, 2014

Lifepoint Informatics is empowering labs, hospitals and diagnostic imaging centers to comply with government and state regulations, reduce administrative costs, help promote collaborative care, and improve patient satisfaction and personal health management with the release of a patient access portal.

According to the Federal Register, a final rule which amends the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) specifies that by October 4, 2014, “upon the request of a patient (or the patient’s personal representative), laboratories subject to CLIA may provide the patient, the patient’s personal representative, or a person designated by the patient, as applicable, with copies of completed test reports that, using the laboratory’s authentication process, can be identified as belonging to that patient.”

“At Lifepoint Informatics, we strive to equip our customers with the technology they need to connect with their patients, compete within their market, and comply with ever-changing government regulations, so they can focus on what they do best,” Lifepoint Informatics CEO, William Seay said. “With our patient access portal, our customers not only meet CLIA and HIPAA requirements, but they also can reduce the administrative costs associated with manually compiling and sending patient diagnostic results, and give patients the ability to better manage their own healthcare needs in collaboration with their physicians.”

Benefits of the Lifepoint Informatics patient access portal include:

-Can reduce the administrative cost to manually prepare and supply results to patients. (CMS estimates that the cost to manually provide patients results is an average of $5.00 per test.)

-Complies with CLIA and HIPAA requirements, and can be customized for individual State laws

-Supports communication between patients and lab, diagnostic imaging center and hospital

-Creates a patient outreach mechanism for communication via email capabilities

-Encourages patients to be more engaged in their healthcare with 24 hour access to diagnostic results

-HIPAA secure patient authentication achieved using advanced algorithms to match patients’ lab and diagnostic test results to their protected health information

Empowering patients and promoting collaborative care
Each patient that signs up for the patient access portal is given a unique “token” for the initial login. The patient can create a personalized login and password to securely access their lab results and diagnostic imaging reports from any internet location and device. An advanced algorithm matches each individuals protected health information to their own medical record.

Patients become more engaged in their own healthcare and with guidance from their physicians, can modify their lifestyle and diet based on their own ability to see and track changes in their health.

“Giving patients the ability to see and track their diagnostic test results, can empower them to be better advocates for their own health,” Seay said. “It increases the patient’s satisfaction with the lab, diagnostic imaging center or hospital which gave them access to the portal, cutting down on phone calls and administrative time needed to manually send results for each inquiry.”

In addition, patients can share the diagnostic results with their physicians and specialists helping to promote care collaboration.

Lifepoint Informatics’ mission is to help healthcare providers improve patient care and lower costs through the use of information technology by enabling customers to integrate disparate healthcare information systems, comply with government regulations, and improve the communication, accuracy and flow of clinical information. Lifepoint’s solutions can improve the quality of patient care at a reduced cost, achieving positive return on investment.

About Lifepoint Informatics
Lifepoint Informatics is a leader in healthcare IT focusing on laboratory outreach connectivity, health information exchange and clinical data interoperability to help healthcare providers improve patient care and lower costs through the use of information technology. Since 1999, Lifepoint Informatics has enabled more than 200 hospitals, clinical labs and anatomic pathology groups to grow their market share and extend their outreach programs through the deployment of its ONC-ATCB certified Web Provider Portal and its comprehensive portfolio of ready-to-go EMR and EHR interfaces.

For more information, please visit http://www.lifepoint.com. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.

Invidasys Introduces Solutions to Simplify Administrative Platform Management Systems for Health Insurance Plans

July 21, 2014, 7:06 am

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Invidasys’ VIDAFlow Workflow Management system streamlines operations for health insurance providers.

Mesa, AZ (PRWEB) July 21, 2014

Invidasys, a software engineering firm that develops component solutions for health insurance plans, announced the release of its VIDAFlow™ Workflow Management system. VIDAFlow™, when combined with Invidasys’ components and a health insurance plan’s core administrative platform, offers an alternative to the costly and time consuming “rip and replace” method associated with mitigating compliance and reporting issues unique to healthcare administration providers. VIDAFlow™ is designed to coordinate the stream of information and synchronize the data between system components.

As a result of the Affordable Care Act and specific reporting requirements of the Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), insurance plans require new tools to comply with the timely and accurate submission of encounter-data, manage eligibility requirements and track provider information.

“Health insurance plan administrators demand increasingly sophisticated solutions to comply with the continual changes in healthcare administration,” said Sherwood Chapman, co-founder and CEO of Invidasys. VIDAFlow™ is a groundbreaking solution that reduces both the time needed to complete complex operations as well as the potential for human error in health plan administration.”

The Invidasys’ software solutions focus on particular problems and enhance a health insurance plan’s administrative efficiency. VIDAFlow™ is just one of the professional software solutions offered in the company’s VIDASuite™ component system. Invidasys can integrate VIDASuite components, including VIDAFlow™, with most health plan legacy core administration systems.

For more information or to schedule a demo, please visit http://www.invidasys.com.

About Invidasys:
Invidasys delivers agile health information management component solutions and services to the complex health insurance plan sector. The Arizona-based software engineering firm develops software components and services for health insurance plans that are primarily focused on Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Insurance Exchange product offerings, and subject to strict government compliance. Invidasys identifies specific administrative pain points of health insurance plans and offers strategic solutions to assist organizations maximize the value of their IT investment. For more information about Invidasys, please visit http://www.invidasys.com/. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.

Cherry Bekaert Benefits Consulting Announces the 2014 Affordable Care Act Survey Results

July 21, 2014, 10:06 am

≫ Next: Why New York state regulators may reduce double-digit health insurance spikes in 2015

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CBBC's Affordable Care Act Survey asked employers how the new healthcare reform affected their business decisions.

(PRWEB) July 21, 2014

Receiving hundreds of responses, Cherry Bekaert Benefits Consulting LLC (“CBBC”) is pleased to announce the results from its 2014 Affordable Care Act Survey (“ACA Survey”).

Evaluating how the ACA is impacting employers and their business decisions, the survey was issued in May 2014. Questions covered topics such as hiring practices, cost impact of the ACA, medical plans and insurance benefits. CBBC specializes in consultation, implementation and administrative services for group health and welfare plans, including assessing and advising on the impact of the ACA. The survey was initiated to better understand how companies are handling the uncertainty and ever-changing rules created by the ACA.

Key results from the CBBC’s ACA Survey include the following:·     Employers say the ACA is driving costs higher. About 83 percent of respondents believe that the ACA will continue to put upward pressure on medical plan costs.
·     The ACA has had a significant impact on hiring practices. One out of four respondents are hiring more part-time workers, with another 14.5 percent considering similar action.
·     ACA results in fewer employer sponsored medical plans. Almost 25 percent of respondents indicated they are considering the elimination of employer-sponsored plans.
·     Increasing costs of medical plans are affecting other employer sponsored benefits. 25.7 percent of respondents indicated they have already reduced expenditures or are considering such action on dental, vision and life coverage’s as a result of the ACA’s impact on medical plan costs.
·     Employers believe the ACA will have negative impact on business. 73 percent of respondents indicated that the ACA will negatively impact profits.

In working with clients on the impact of the ACA and evaluating the results of the survey, some key findings are as follows:·     Employers are taking steps to control the cost of health insurance by either increasing contributions and/or reducing benefit levels.
·     In transferring cost burden to participating employees, the results are contradictory to stated objectives of ACA as it will be more difficult and costly for participants to access health care.
·     More and more employers are changing full-time positions to part-time to avoid employer requirements of the law which could negatively impact employee morale, productivity and loyalty.
·     Employers are frustrated with complexities, costs and administrative burdens imposed by ACA and increasingly considering the elimination or reduction of employee benefit plans
·     Overall perception and trending impact of the law is negative with ACA reducing profits and making it more difficult for businesses to compete.

Complete survey results are available here.

About Cherry Bekaert Benefits Consulting LLC
Cherry Bekaert Benefits Consulting LLC ("CBBC") provides access to top talent and resources who can assist clients in navigating the complexities associated with implementation of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act ("ACA"). CBBC specializes in providing consultation, implementation and administrative services for group health and welfare plans, including assessing and advising on the impact of the ACA. With a focus on optimizing the bottom line and generating growth, CBBC works with clients to develop long-term solutions for employee benefits and retirement plans, compensation and human resource programs, and provides merger & acquisition due diligence services related to compensation & benefits and risk management issues. | http://www.cherrybekaertbenefits.com Reported by PRWeb 6 hours ago.

Why New York state regulators may reduce double-digit health insurance spikes in 2015

July 21, 2014, 11:21 am

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Gary Fitzgerald, president of Iroquois Healthcare Alliance, predicts health insurance cost increases next year in New York will be lower than the 13 percent average spike currently facing businesses and individuals. Fitzgerald, who oversees the Clifton Park-based trade group representing 53 hospitals, says state regulators will reduce the proposed 2015 rates due to political pressure and uncertainty tied to the proposals. "They're probably going to get it down to single-digit (increases)," Fitzgerald… Reported by bizjournals 5 hours ago.

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ACA's 'Spillover' Effect: Dental Coverage Rate Increasing for Young Adults Whose Parents Receive Health Insurance through Employers

July 21, 2014, 12:01 pm

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WASHINGTON, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to a new report published in Medical Care, some young adults are enjoying extended dental coverage under the health care policies of their parents, whose employers are voluntarily expanding dental coverage in conjunction with... Reported by PR Newswire 4 hours ago.

Government's New Year's Resolution. Grant all Americans Affordable Health Care Coverage

July 21, 2014, 12:39 pm

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Did you remember to cheers the ACA? You know that, ahem - controversial, requirement to have health insurance coverage that began January 1, 2014. Love it or hate it, most taxpayers must have minimum health insurance coverage or pay a penalty when they file their tax return in 2015. The good news is that you may qualify for a tax credit to help offset the cost of health insurance. That credit is generally paid directly to your health insurance company. You, then, only pay the part of the premium that the credit doesn't cover. But, getting that credit requires you to file a tax return to reconcile your payments and actual credit due. Sound confusing? It can be, so let me break it down for you.

*Who must have health insurance? * Probably you. Actually, any non-exempt person who is a U.S. citizen, national, or a lawful alien in the U.S. must have minimum (health insurance) coverage or face a tax penalty.

*Who is eligible for the Credit? * Maybe you. As long as you cannot be claimed as a dependent by another person, do not have coverage available through your employer, your income falls within a specified range, and you do not qualify for other types of coverage such as Medicaid or Medicare, then you may qualify for tax credits to help with the cost of purchasing coverage through your state's Health Insurance Marketplace. If you are married, your spouse must meet all the qualifications as well and you cannot file your tax return using the filing status of "Married Filing Separately."

To help you determine if your family income is within the credit range, check out the simple list on healthcare.gov. The exact amount of credit will be determined by your family income when you file your tax return with lower incomes receiving higher credit amounts and higher incomes receiving lower credit amounts.

*Who is eligible for the Advanced Premium Tax Credit?* Again, maybe you. You must be eligible to purchase your insurance through the Marketplace (you don't have affordable minimum coverage available through an employer and you don't qualify for other insurance plans such as Medicare or Medicaid) and your income must be within the Premium Tax Credit range. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the Marketplace will calculate your potential credit based on the income information you submit when you apply. If you are eligible for the advanced credit you have the option to accept the credit in the form of monthly payments made directly from the U.S. Treasury to your insurance carrier or you can decline the advanced payment option and claim the full credit when you file your tax return. The advanced credit payments are designed to help you pay for health insurance without the hit of full out of pocket cost. If your income is in the lower range, the credit could be big enough to cover the full cost of your insurance premium. Also, you may qualify for special cost-sharing reductions which can lower your deductible.

The advanced credit payment is a big help when your budget is already stretched tightly, but be careful with this option. If your income or family size changes anytime during the year, the amount of credit you will be eligible for may change. All taxpayers who received the advanced credit payments must file a tax return for 2014 to reconcile the amount of advanced payment against the actual credit allowed. If you received an advanced credit based on estimated income that turns out to be less than your actual income for the year, you could owe taxes on that amount. At the same time, if you over-estimate your income, you could be due an additional credit at tax time.

*Who will be assessed a penalty?* Hopefully - not you. But, anyone on your tax return that does not have minimum (health) coverage during the taxable year and does not qualify for an exemption could cause a penalty situation when you file your tax return. The penalty can be as much as 1% of your total family income for the entire year. And next year, that amount doubles to 2% of total income. For example, a single taxpayer with a $40,000 income and no health insurance could pay a penalty of as much as $300 in 2014 and $600 in 2015. Yikes.

*What to do now?* The new rules and regulations governing health insurance and taxes are every bit as confusing and complex as health care itself. So if you think you might qualify for financial help getting health coverage or if someone in your family was uninsured for even just part of 2014, you should seek advice from a tax professional. Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.

Syrian and Afghan Conflicts Highlight Need for International Health Cover for Voluntary Workers

July 21, 2014, 1:04 pm

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LONDON, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Figures release this week by international health insurance provider MediCare International show the potential cost of not having effective international health insurance cover in place can be very high, if you are one of the many voluntary NGO and... Reported by PR Newswire 3 hours ago.

Insurance Prices for U.S. Motorists Now Include SR22 Rates at Auto Insurer Website

July 21, 2014, 2:17 pm

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Insurance prices for U.S. motorists can now be viewed for SR22 plans using the Quotes Pros website. All high risk policies that exist for drivers can be found at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 21, 2014

U.S. motorists who are comparing insurance companies by way of the Internet can now use the Quotes Pros website to find a variety of pricing. The insurance prices for SR22 plans that are now featured from the company homepage are meant for high risk drivers to review at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

An American driver who has been classified under a risk policy by an insurance agency could pay a higher premium due to accident risks. The SR22 plans that are available to explore for pricing and for policy declarations using the Quotes Pros website are helping to simplify research.

"A motorist using our website can find different plans, coverage amounts and other data by entering a zip code into our nationally updated database," said a Quotes Pros source.

The available pricing that is available for any motor vehicle owner to review using the national quotation system is updated with SR22 and other plan prices. A vehicle owner who is not a high risk to insurance agencies can utilize the search platform for locating full coverage, liability or other similar plans.

"The variety in vehicle insurance plans that our website helps to deliver to consumers removes many aspects of the offline research process to evaluate coverage policies," the source included.

The Quotes Pros company adds different packages for insurance coverage to the search tool each week of the year. The current system has been expanded to feature vehicle, renter, homeowner and health plans quotable automatically visiting http://quotespros.com/health-insurance.html.

About QuotesPros.com

The QuotesPros.com company issues quotations for different insurance coverage plans through a connected portal online. The company adds and changes the types of providers that consumers can review in the company search system. The QuotesPros.com company has secured new partnerships with data suppliers to distribute rates and information to the public this year. Forms of life, health, auto and renters plans are now fully quotable using the company website. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

Auto Insurance Quotes for Collector Cars Now Featured at Insurer Portal Online

July 21, 2014, 3:03 pm

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Auto insurance quotes for owners of collector cars can now be viewed using the Quotes Pros portal online. A new source of rates can be accessed from http://www.quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) July 21, 2014

Owners of a vehicle that is considered to be collectible in North America now have a new method for researching reliable insurance policies over the Internet. The Quotes Pros website has added auto insurance quotes for collector cars in the national finder platform installed at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

The vehicle policy quotations that are currently available include the popular coverage plans that owners of collector motor vehicles require. Pricing for agreed value, non owner and general loss policies are now easy to explore and quote using the entirely automated tool available.

"We've one of the few independent insurance agency websites that compiles data from numerous sources into one usable system," said a Quotes Pros company source.

The collector car policies that are part of the national system available for consumers to access are now grouped with the standard coverage plans that any vehicle owner can explore. Regular plans for full coverage, liability and state minimum are priced using the quotation system to broaden the independent research available to car owners.

"A person who depends on our website as a main source of vehicle insurance information can find a lot of useful data without giving away any VIN number, mailing address of telephone numbers," said the source.

The revolutionary method of exploring prices for coverage plans setup through the Quotes Pros website uses zip codes in place of other customer identifiers. Plans for health, life and renter insurance packages are now quotable at http://quotespros.com/health-insurance.html.

About QuotesPros.com

The QuotesPros.com company is one main source on the Internet to locate and compare real time insurance pricing. The company data that is provided is direct from national companies or state level agencies that are pricing consumer plans. The QuotesPros.com company has a team of experienced researchers who maintain the open system used by the public daily. Plans for auto, health, renters and life can now be reviewed at the company website. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

Judge tosses Wisconsin senators health care suit

July 21, 2014, 3:53 pm

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A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson filed to stop members of Congress and their employees from getting subsidized health insurance through small business exchanges. Reported by MyNorthwest.com 29 minutes ago.

Judge tosses Wisconsin senator's health care suit

July 21, 2014, 4:04 pm

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A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson filed to stop members of Congress and their employees from getting subsidized health insurance through small business exchanges. Reported by Miami Herald 18 minutes ago.

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Insurance Quotes Delivered in Real Time at Auto Website Now Searchable by Zip Code

July 21, 2014, 4:05 pm

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Insurance quotes are now delivered through a real time process using the QuotesPros.com website. A zip code platform finds local rates at http://www.quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) July 21, 2014

The process of exploring, reviewing and quoting car insurance policies can be lengthy for the average person who relies mostly on offline sources to obtain data. The Quotes Pros company is now delivering its insurance quotes through a zip code tool at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

The verified quotations that are now available come from top companies that are selected once entry to the organized system is made. A car owner who has an existing plan with a national or local insurer can still use the zip code finder to obtain what could be the best rates available nationally.

"A real time price exploration can be conducted when entering our public system and no data is stored for car owners to review pricing," said a Quotes Pros source.

The real time price data that is immediately viewable upon entry to the Quotes Pros finder service is monitored by licensed agencies. A quote for SR22, liability, collector or full coverage can be obtained when zip codes are matched with existing providers participating in the quotes calculations.

"A person who uses the national system gets to choose between the types of companies that are offering insurance packages to make it easier to find bundle deals online," the source added.

The Quotes Pros company has adjusted the U.S. providers that appear inside of the search system to open up more options for American consumers uses the company tools. This change has increased the health, life, renter and business insurance plans available to review at http://quotespros.com/health-insurance.html.

About QuotesPros.com

The QuotesPros.com company is one national source quoting insurance plans with the help of national companies on the Internet. The independent review system that has been setup for public usage instantly distributes policy pricing. The QuotesPros.com company has adjusted the types of policies that a person can review online this year and now features more statewide options for American visitors to the company website. Reported by PRWeb 17 minutes ago.

Cheap Auto Insurance in Texas Now Searchable Through Top Providers at Auto Website

July 21, 2014, 4:05 pm

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Cheap auto insurance in Texas is now available to review using the Quotes Pros price tool online. State companies are now featured at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) July 21, 2014

The state of Texas is now a part of a group of states that have higher than national average insurance premiums, according to released insurer industry data. The Quotes Pros company is now helping car owners find cheap auto insurance in Texas as part of its national expansion at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

The options to find better insurance that are now available to any motor vehicle owner using the Quotes Pros website have been enhanced this year. To ensure that TX residents can find the lowest prices, a special zip code format is now used to immediately present pricing from companies in the 254 counties available for review.

"Obtaining the best price for a coverage plan is one of the goals of the average vehicle owner and our system is contributing to a faster way to research discounts," said a Quotes Pros source.

The Texas insurers that are now found during a basic search of the detailed quotation system are in comparison to the agencies located in other states. New data for California, Florida, Ohio and New York has been added that is sortable when a zip code from the aforementioned states is supplied.

"Because our system is national and regional, a provider in one state could be underwriting policies in another state and pricing is immediately displayed," included the source.

The Quotes Pros website has received positive feedback from car owners this year partly due to the expansion of more agencies. To improve the price access for the public, new agencies can be found and quotes can be obtained. Life, auto, health, renters and commercial coverage plans are quotable at http://www.quotespros.com/health-insurance.html.

About QuotesPros.com

The QuotesPros.com company uses a searchable system to present consumers with prices for insurance plans on the Internet. The programming that has adjusted the insurer types available now makes it easier to find consumer plan pricing. The QuotesPros.com company is continuing to work directly with providers of plans to expand the consumer resources now available. Coverage for life, homeowner and renter plans have been added for review this year. Reported by PRWeb 17 minutes ago.

Cost of Pet Care Continues to Rise, Pet Parents Using Pet Insurance for Reimbursement

July 25, 2014, 12:24 am

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PetFirst shares top claims with costly vet bills.

Jeffersonville, Ind. (PRWEB) July 25, 2014

Veterinary bills are continuing to rise and more pet parents are relying on pet insurance to help cover the cost of caring for their dog or cat.

“Pet insurance is the fastest growing category in the insurance arena,” said Katie Grant, CEO of PetFirst, a pet health insurance provider. “Pet owners are seeking ways to protect their pet from accidents and illnesses, while also protecting their wallet from unpredictable expenses associated with vet bills.”

Three claims recently submitted to PetFirst range in expense as well as level of care required for recovery, painting a great example of how unpredictable pets – particularly dogs – can be when it comes to their health.

Roxie, a two-year-old mixed breed, found a package of disposable razors. She managed to eat the entire package, handles and razor blades, without hurting her mouth, but the ingestion of the hard plastic and sharp razor blades called for immediate action by her pet parent and the veterinarian. As a result, Roxie had surgery and spent four days in the animal hospital. During her stay she had several x-rays to ensure no additional damage had been done internally. Once she was ready to leave, Roxie had a veterinary bill totaling more than $4,000. Her pet parent submitted a claim and was able to be reimbursed for $3,888.40 of the out-of-pocket expense.

Pluto, an 11-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, underwent a laminectomy for intervertebral disc disease. This procedure removes bone crowding the spinal canal which causes swelling and pain for the pet. This is particularly common in pets with long spines such as dachshunds, Pekingnese and Lhasa apsos. The procedure required a four day hospital stay, CT scan, the expertise of a neurosurgeon, and pain management during the immediate recovery. Overall the veterinary bill was more than $7,163.53; however, with the Lifetime 5,000 policy, Pluto’s pet parent was reimbursed the maximum amount of $5,000 for the out-of-pocket expense.

Delilah, a three-year-old mixed breed, found herself in need of immediate medical treatment after being bitten by a snake. The water moccasin bite in June required Delilah to be hospitalized for a few days, given the antivenin along with fluids to keep her hydrated. The final bill for Delilah’s treatment was more than $1,500, but her pet parent is well protected with pet insurance and was reimbursed $1,374.93.

Pet parents have several choices in tailoring the pet insurance plan that best fits their pet’s needs with PetFirst pet insurance. Choices include selecting the reimbursement percentage, deductible amount and coverage limit, as well as add-ons for routine care, prescriptions and food. For more information on pet insurance and PetFirst, visit http://www.petfirst.com or call 877-894-7387.

About PetFirst
PetFirst is the fastest growing pet insurer in North America offering easy-to-understand lifelong coverage for dogs and cats. PetFirst’s comprehensive coverage is unique in the industry providing simplified policies with coverage for hereditary, chronic and breed-specific conditions with no per diagnosis limits. PetFirst offers pet insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia through animal welfare agencies, retailers, employers as well as other partners. PetFirst polices are underwritten by American Alternative Insurance Corporation (Munich Re) which is rated by A.M. Best as A+. Additional services are underwritten by Lloyd’s. For more information about PetFirst pet insurance, visit http://www.petfirst.com or call 877-894-7387.

-30- Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.

India Network Alerts USA-bound Visitors about Health Insurance Plan Benefit Choices and Limitations

July 25, 2014, 12:07 am

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India Network Health Insurance offers a customized health insurance program for visiting parents of all ages, including pre-existing condition coverage. India Network health insurance is designed to offer benefits that are truly payable with no exceptions.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) July 25, 2014

India Network Foundation has been helping thousands of Asian Indian families in the United States with visitor health insurance for more than two decades. During that time, the Foundation's plans progressively covered more and more of the typical problems often denied by almost all other insurance companies in the world. In the last five years, India Network Foundation has sponsored plans that include coverage for pre-existing health conditions, accidental death benefits, repatriation benefits, and medical evacuation benefits as a part of their health insurance coverage. However, there are many visitors that choose a wrong policy, often attracted by low premiums and attractive TV advertising and realize the problem when they had a claim.

Health insurance is a complex subject and visitor health insurance plans are much more complex, as each company is free to create their own exclusion list. Many agents that market through internet web sites do not understand the exclusions of each plan themselves, and therefore cannot explain these exclusions to the customer clearly. For example, Internal Medical Group plans such as Patriot America (Platinum) offered on many web sites excludes coverage for urinary tract infections (UTI), while Atlas America Plans do not cover chiropractor or skin diseases among others. There is no advantage for consumers to purchase plans that offer millions of dollars of coverage with exclusions that would make it impossible to receive even one tenth of those amounts.
The pre-existing condition coverage offered under these two plans is much higher than India Network Plans but the definition of pre-existing coverage is so conditioned by words like ‘Acute Onset’ and ‘Sudden Recurrence’ that makes it very difficult for anyone to claim the benefits. India Network health insurance plans are realistic, consumer-oriented plans and the policy language is geared towards paying the claims concept than avoiding them.

A recent analysis of claims data predominantly demonstrated that the insurance plans with pre-existing conditions have been extensively helping visiting parents. In the United States, heart disease was noted on 68% of diabetes related death certificates among citizens 65 years or older. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failures in 44 percent of all new cases. On top of all, about 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have some form nervous system damage (http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf).

It is estimated that 87 million people in India are likely to be suffering from diabetes and its related complications. Diabetes associated medical conditions are among the leading causes of death in India. As of 2010, about 56% of all diabetes patients were aged 50 and over (Central Bureau of Health Intelligence, India). This is still an under estimate due to inconsistent medical record-keeping and a lack of early diagnosis. Diabetes and high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, seem to be among the major medical problems faced by majority of 50 years or older population from Urban India.

Dr. KV Rao, Founder President of India Network Foundation advises everyone looking for visitor health insurance to pay attention to coverage details rather than premium dollars. Then only you will have full appreciation and satisfaction of your health insurance coverage for visitors and the realize the value of India Network decadal experience in helping the Asian Indian community in the US.

About India Network Foundation, USA
India Network Foundation, established as a US non-profit organization, has been helping the Asian Indian community in North America with programs and grants to academics from India for more than two decades. India Network Foundation sponsors visitor health insurance to students, temporary workers (H1 visa holders) and their families.

http://www.indianetwork.org

About India Network Health Insurance
India Network Services administers visitor health insurance to visiting parents, transient residents, tourists, students, temporary workers and their families. Cashless Visitor health insurance plans are offered for all age groups with network-based comprehensive coverage and with pre-existing condition coverage.
For more information visit http://www.kvrao.org. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.

Mesothelioma Victims Center Urges All Diagnosed Victims And Their Family Members To Take Seriously Compensation Because The ACA Will Not Do Away With Medical Bankruptcies

July 25, 2014, 12:07 am

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The Mesothelioma Victims Center is urging diagnosed victims of mesothelioma, or their family members, to call them at 866-714-6466 for a new service that includes a full explanation of the costs of treating mesothelioma for any victim who has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The center would like to see all diagnosed victims receive the best possible compensation, and wants to make sure none are buried with enormous medical bills that may lead to bankruptcy. http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

(PRWEB) July 25, 2014

The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "If you are a US Navy Veteran and you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we would strongly advice you to avoid the VA, and to use your Medicare instead. For US Navy Veterans,or diagnosed victims who are on Medicare we encourage the victim, or their family members to call us anytime at 866-714-6466, for information about the best compensation, and treatment options for this rare form of cancer."

According to Fox Business News in February of 2014, "The Affordable Care Act may give more people access to health insurance, but experts don’t expect it to help solve a major problem in this country: medical bankruptcies. According to a 2013 study by NerdWallet Health, unpaid medical bills are expected to be the No.1 cause of bankruptcy filings, surpassing both credit card and mortgage debt.

"But medical bankruptcy doesn't just happen to the uninsured. In fact, research shows that many people who file for bankruptcy due to exorbitant medical costs have existing health insurance.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/02/18/medical-bankruptcies-are-still-problem-here-what-to-expect/

“As we would like to explain to a diagnosed victim, or their family members, some treatments for mesothelioma may not be covered by Medicare. Our free service will help you come up with a treatment plan that does not include medical procedures that could potentially bankrupt any diagnosed victim or their family, and we put a premium on making certain you have the nation's top mesothelioma compensation attorneys," says the Mesothelioma Victims Center.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma please call the Mesothelioma Victims Center at 866-714-6466 for their nationwide service that is focused on the best possible compensation for this rare form of cancer, along with advice on the best possible treatment options. http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

Information About Mesothelioma For Diagnosed Victims And Their Families From The Mesothelioma Victims Center:

According to the US Center for Disease Control, the average age for a diagnosed victim of mesothelioma is 72 years old. Frequently victims of mesothelioma are initially misdiagnosed with pneumonia. This year between 2,500 and 3,000 US citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is attributable to exposure to asbestos.

High-risk work groups for exposure to asbestos include: US Navy Veterans, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, manufacturing workers, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, machinists, and construction workers. Typically the exposure to asbestos occurred in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s.

The states with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include: Pennsylvania, Maine, New Jersey, West Virginia, Florida, Wyoming, and Washington. However, based on the calls the Mesothelioma Victims Center receives diagnosed victims could be in any state including California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska.

The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, “Before you hire a mesothelioma attorney please call us at 866-714-6466, and compare the qualifications of who we consider to be the nation's most skilled mesothelioma attorneys to any other lawyer, or law firm. When it comes to obtaining the best mesothelioma settlement, the quality of the attorney matters, as we would like to explain." http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

For more information about a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos called mesothelioma, please visit the US Centers For Disease Control's website: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5815a3.htm Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.