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Jay Angoff: Free the Navigators

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The federal healthcare law -- Obamacare -- establishes and funds organizations known as Navigators which are required to help consumers select and enroll in health insurance. On August 15, the Department of Health and Human Services announces its first grants to Navigators -- $54 million to Navigators in 33 states.

Unlike insurance agents, Navigators receive no compensation from any insurance company and thus have no economic incentive to recommend any particular policy.

Navigators can therefore be of great benefit to consumers. And because their efforts will result in more people buying insurance, they can also benefit insurance companies.

Navigators do not, however, benefit insurance agents. To the contrary, despite the frequent statements from both the government and insurance companies about the value of insurance agents in the new health insurance system, Navigators make agents unnecessary.

To be sure, the new rules Obamacare imposes on insurance companies -- even without the establishment and funding of Navigators -- will reduce the need for insurance agents. Because the law establishes websites in each state -- the Exchanges -- on which insurers must sell the same benefit packages, or at least benefit packages of the same value, it enables consumers to make apples-to-apples price comparisons. Because it requires insurers to accept anyone who applies regardless of health status, and prohibits them from charging people more based on health status, it enables people to buy from the company of their choice. Perhaps most important, the law allows people to get the information they need and compare price on-line, and to actually buy on-line.

In this system, agents can still help people select and enroll in insurance. But the health reform law authorizes Navigators to do both, and health advocacy groups already do both.

To hamstring their competition, therefore, insurance agents have persuaded legislatures in more than a dozen states, including Florida, Ohio and Missouri, to enact laws limiting the role of anyone who helps people with insurance who is not an insurance agent -- including not only Navigators but also public-interest groups who currently educate people about insurance, and even private individuals who assist other individuals.

These laws accomplish those goals in three basic ways. First, they make it very difficult for anyone to be licensed as a Navigator. For example, they establish burdensome examination, training, and continuing education requirements for Navigators; allow the state to impose unlimited fees on them; give the Commissioner unlimited discretion to penalize them; and allow the Commissioner unlimited access to their books and records.

Second, they provide that even if an individual or entity is licensed as a Navigator, it can't do what the federal law requires Navigators to do. For example, some states prohibit Navigators from telling consumers that one policy is better than another, or even telling consumers about the benefits of a particular plan without comparing it to another plan. Other states prohibit Navigators from offering advice about plans not sold on the new Exchanges. Some even go so far as to require Navigators to discontinue helping any individual who they learn has bought insurance from an agent -- in that case they must tell the consumer that he should consult with his agent. All these provisions prevent Navigators from distributing fair and impartial information to consumers and from facilitating enrollment in health insurance, which is what they must do under federal law.

Third, some state laws prohibit any entity not receiving federal funding from doing anything the federal law authorizes Navigators to do. Those laws would prevent public interest and health advocacy groups whose purposes include helping people choose and buy health insurance from continuing to do so. More troubling still, those laws would prevent private citizens from helping friends and family enroll through the Exchanges. If they did, they could be fined.

The open enrollment period for the new Exchanges is scheduled to begin October 1 of this year. Navigators are supposed to be able to help consumers with the selection and enrollment process at that time. Unfortunately, in the states that have enacted these anti-Navigator laws, it looks like they're not going to make the deadline, unless Navigators or public-interest groups challenge them in court and courts enjoin them.

And these laws should be enjoined. States can impose additional requirements on Navigators, but they can't impose requirements that conflict with federal requirements. And when the federal government requires Navigators to help consumers select and enroll in health insurance and a state prohibits them from doing so, that's a pretty clear conflict. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.

Nonprofits asked for enrollment help

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Pittsburgh’s foundations and nonprofits on Wednesday were asked to help get people enrolled in health insurance plans starting in October with the opening of online insurance marketplaces. In recent months, the government has been ramping up consumer outreach efforts along with Highmark Inc. and UPMC Health Plan. The Pittsburgh area is targeted for the campaign because of the high number of people without health insurance, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Deputy Regional Administrator… Reported by bizjournals 2 hours ago.

Study: Half who now buy own health plan to get aid under Obama's health care law

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About half the people who now buy their own health insurance — and potentially would face higher premiums next year... Reported by Deseret News 52 minutes ago.

Are Benefits Still Beneficial?

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PRIVATE EXCHANGE OF AMERICA, ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF CUSTOMIZABLE PRIVATE EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE REVOLUTION OCCURRING IN HEALTH INSURANCE.


PRIVATE EXCHANGE OF AMERICA, today announced the launch of a PRIVATE EXCHANGE technology system that provides employers and employees the ability to participate in one of the fastest growing trends in health insurance - Defined Contribution Health Plans. Like the 401k transition of years ago, this trend will continue as group insurance plans become less and less viable due to cost and regulations.

According to Ms. Lisa Glassman, Licensed Agent with PRIVATE EXCHANGE OF AMERICA, a defined contribution health plan is an important alternative to traditional group health plans for those who can no longer qualify for or afford them and they are growing rapidly in popularity. Rather than paying a portion, or all of a premium, under a defined contribution health plan, an employer can offer no contribution at all or IF PREFERRED set aside a fixed dollar amount each month for employees to use to pay for their choice of individual health insurance or other medical costs such as doctor visits, dental insurance, and prescription drugs, often on a pre-tax basis.

Ms. Glassman said that this approach allows even the smallest of businesses to offer their employees quality health-related benefits, while maximizing the IRS approved benefits of tax savings for both the employer and employees.

Ms. Glassman said that employees participating in a defined contribution program through their employer are directed to the agent’s private exchange website where they can compare and select a policy from among a variety of individual health plans being offered by health insurers in their area. Ms. Glassman said that the private exchange is a tool that provides employees with more choice and makes it possible for agents to more effectively provide services to large numbers of individuals and their families rather than employer groups. Employees can choose to be connected to live experts, licensed in all 50 states, who can provide them the best options for their family regardless of pre-existing conditions or budget. Experts will look for the right plan in 4 different markets:

1. Personal health plans - all the major carriers, medically underwritten
2. Short Term Medical Plans - fewer UW requirements, lower cost
3. State and Federal Risk pools - must qualify, guaranteed issue
4. Limited benefit plans - low cost options, guaranteed issue

The Private Exchange is not limited to just health insurance solutions, although that is the greatest concern for most employers and employees. We have experts available in life insurance, long term care insurance, Medicare supplements, voluntary benefits (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity), and even property and casualty insurance.

Forward thinking employers have already begun adopting the PRIVATE EXCHANGE OF AMERICA solution to their benefits challenges. Early adopters to this model are already finding it to be the perfect solution especially if they had given up on offering their employees any type of benefits. Now you can offer access to individually owned, selected benefits at little or no cost to you the employer. In fact many are seeing savings and no financial obligations!

More information about defined contribution plans and PRIVATE EXCHANGE OF AMERICA services can be found at [url:http://www,privateexchangeofamerica.com]

About PRIVATE EXCHANGE OF AMERICA
PRIVATE EXCHANGE OF AMERICA was founded in partnership with Health Partners America, a leading advocate nationwide for the health care solution known as "Defined Contribution".

For more information contact:

Ms. Lisa Glassman
Toll Free 1-877-778-8973
Mobile (561) 674-2734
By Appointment Only

Be Prepared. Know the Facts!
Free Webinar & Online Presentations

Company Contact Information
Private Exchange of America
Lisa Glassman
PO Box 244492 Boynton Beach, FL
33424
877-778-8973

News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 9 minutes ago.

Frontrunning: August 15

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· This won't end well: Islamists call Cairo protest march as Egypt death toll mounts (Reuters)
· JPMorgan Said to Expect Multiple Fines for Whale Loss (BBG)
· Ex-bosses at JPMorgan unlikely to face charges in 'Whale' scandal (Reuters)
· China could target oil firms, telecoms, banks in price probes (Reuters)
· For once, it's not the weather's fault: U.K. Retail Sales Increase More Than Forecast on Heatwave (BBG)
· Japanese visits to shrine on war anniversary anger China (Reuters)
· India Fighting Worst Crisis Since ’91 Seeks to Buoy Rupee (BBG)
· Japan Signals Corporate Tax Cut a Long Shot as Deflation Eases (Reuters)
· Indonesia Tackles Graft in Energy Sector (Reuters)
· Merkel Touts Strength of German Economy (WSJ)
· and... *British stuntman who parachuted into London Olympics opening ceremony as James Bond dies in fall *(AP)

 

*Overnight Media Digest*

WSJ

* Lawyers for American Airlines and US Airways Group Inc spelled out the arguments they would use to defend their proposed merger, one day after the Justice Department sued to block the deal. The suit ignored several benefits the merger would offer, including more flights to more destinations, reduced airlines' costs, lower fares and better service, they said.

* Network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc on Wednesday said it would cut 4,000 jobs, or 5 percent of its workforce, despite reporting an 18 percent jump in profit in the fourth quarter. Chief Executive John Chambers said the job cuts were due to a disappointing economic recovery that is affecting particular countries and product lines in different ways.

* Many of the new health insurance marketplaces will include relatively few choices of doctors and hospitals. The big reason behind these limited plans: Cost. Insurers are betting that consumers will be willing to trade some choice and flexibility in order to get cheaper premiums.

* The television industry is anticipating an advertising bonanza related to the rollout of the federal health overhaul, with as much as $1 billion expected to be spent on ads by insurers alone, according to TV executives and a broadcasters' trade group.

* Activist investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management LP has taken a $1.3 billion stake in DuPont Co, said people familiar with the New York investment firm, and will push the venerable chemical maker to improve its long term growth prospects.

* A United Parcel Service Inc plane approaching the Birmingham, Alabama, airport crashed about a mile short of the runway early Wednesday, killing the pilot and co-pilot.

* Activist hedge fund manager William Ackman exited his stake in snack maker Mondelez International Inc in the second quarter and reduced his position in Matson Inc. Ackman has been under pressure recently, with his Herbalife Ltd and JC Penney bets working against him.

* Samsung Electronics Co is facing a lawsuit that alleges dangerous work conditions at its factory in Brazil. Federal prosecutors said that the company is subjecting employees to the risk of disease by repetitive activity and intense pace of work on the assembly line at its Manaus plant, which employs 6,000 workers producing electronics for Latin American markets.

 

FT

Two former JPMorgan Chase traders face criminal charges for allegedly falsifying the bank's books to hide its multibillion dollar "London whale" trading losses.

A German court has blocked Liberty Global's completed 3 billion euro ($4 billion) purchase of KabelBW, putting in doubt latest attempts to consolidate the country's cable industry.

Chinese authorities announced on Wednesday they would widen their investigation into drug pricing and corruption in the healthcare sector in the country.

An independent foundation that can block a takeover of Dutch telecoms group KPN wants Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim to set out his strategy for KPN or risk a poison pill defence of his 7.2 billion euro bid.

International Airlines Group announced an order with Airbus for 62 narrow-body passenger jets as it embarks on an aggressive expansion plan for Vueling, its new budget airline.

Spain's Telefonica SA emerged as the preferred bidder for two smart metering contracts in the United Kingdom.

 

NYT

* After a decade of rapid consolidation in the U.S. airline industry, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to block the proposed merger between American Airlines parent AMR Corp and US Airways Group Inc, which would create the world's largest airline. It underscores a newly aggressive approach by the Justice Department's antitrust division, which has been more closely scrutinizing proposed mergers as the economy recovers.

* Hedge fund titan William Ackman resigned this week from the board of J.C. Penney Co Inc, just days after he began a public rebellion against his fellow directors over the future of the company. At the same time, he has made a very public bet against Herbalife Ltd, the nutritional supplements company, that has not gone his way over the last several months. By some counts, Ackman has lost about $1 billion on both companies.

* Private equity firm Kohlberg & Co, which offered last month to buy Steinway Musical Instruments Inc, said on Tuesday that it would not seek to raise its bid in the face of a rival offer. That puts Steinway in a position to complete a buyout deal with the rival bidder, which offered this week to buy the company for $38 a share, or about $475 million. The rival bidder, which has not been publicly identified, is the hedge fund Paulson & Co, according to a person briefed on the matter.

The Senate's committee on homeland security sent a letter this week to the major financial regulators and law enforcement agencies asking about the threats and risks related to virtual currency like bitcoin. These currencies, whose popularity has grown in recent years, are often used in online transactions that are not monitored by traditional financial institutions.

* The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is proposing a major overhaul of how company audits are reported to the public, a move that could provide investors with deeper insights into the health of corporations.

* On Wall Street, strange financial products sometimes exist not because they are good for investors or companies, but because they offer their promoters a way to profit. Silver Eagle is a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, which raises money through an IPO and then casts a wide net in search of a private company to buy. Silver Eagle's IPO is the largest in the past seven years for a SPAC and sure to earn its promoters millions, but the outcome is not so clear for its investors or even the company itself.

* Private equity firm Advent International agreed on Tuesday to sell Domestic and General, an extended warranty company, to CVC Capital Partners for about $1.2 billion, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

 

Canada

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

* Two Canadian Conservative MPs who hosted fundraising events featuring Senator Pamela Wallin say they didn't know she had billed taxpayers for travel costs. Wallin attended events for Harold Albrecht and Kellie Leitch that were flagged by auditors in a report released this week. All told, the report found Wallin claimed C$121,000 ($117,200) in improper expenses, some of it for partisan work.

* Canada has so weakened its environmental laws that it is "in violation" of its obligations under the North American free trade agreement, the West Coast Environmental Law association says. The non-profit legal foundation asked the Commission for Environmental Cooperation to take a hard look at Canada's actions, saying the government has exposed the environment to undue risk to give Canadian industry an edge over the U.S. and Mexico.

Reports in the business section:

* Verizon Communications Inc is putting off the potential acquisition of two small wireless companies, Wind Mobile SA and Mobilicity, a shift that may signal the U.S. carrier is cooling on the idea of entering Canada despite moves by Ottawa to entice foreign players into the market.

* The deadly oil-by-rail disaster in Quebec has done little to quell plans to move more crude on trains in Canada, with the third announcement of a new loading terminal unveiled in as many weeks. Proposals to ratchet up capacity to move oil to market on rails, the latest being a C$100 million terminal planned for Saskatchewan, are coming as major pipeline projects, including TransCanada Corp's Keystone XL conduit to Texas refineries from Alberta.

NATIONAL POST

* Ongoing hostilities are likely to flare up as new defense minister Rob Nicholson is forced to make some unpalatable decisions on resource allocation, including the possibility of reducing the size of Canada's 68,000 regular forces by chopping one or more of its nine infantry battalions.

* Concerns are rising about several government proposals for flood recovery, chief among them, a plan to brand homes that take disaster recovery program money from the government. Homeowners who take the cash and fail to adhere to the government's pricey flood mitigation standards will have it noted on their property titles. Those properties will never again be allowed to access disaster recovery funds. The regulatory changes could affect hundreds of Calgary homes on flood fringes.

FINANCIAL POST

* Canadian home prices rose in July from June to an all-time high, but the modest monthly gain suggests the robust housing market may be cooling again, according to data from the Teranet-National Bank Composite House Price Index on Wednesday. The report echoes data on both sales activity and prices that suggest Canada's housing market has recovered well after the government tightened mortgage rules in July 2012, causing a sharp slowdown in demand in the second half of 2012.

* Toronto's thunderstorm last month set a record for the most expensive natural disaster in Ontario's history, with insured property damage estimated at more than C$850 million, in what has been one of the worst summers for insurers in recent memory, according to the Insurance Bureau of Ontario

 

China

CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL

- China's use of electricity in July increased by 8.8 percent year-on-year, according to data released by the National Energy Administration.

- China's micro-stimulus policies, such as railway and airport construction, are important for local economies, but must be dealt with caution in order to control risks inherent in local financing platforms, the paper said in a front-page editorial.

CHINA DAILY

- Chinese millionaires' confidence in the country's economy in the next two years has fallen for a second year in a row, according to a report released by the GroupM Knowledge and Hurun Wealth Report on Wednesday.

PEOPLE'S DAILY

- China plans to increase the value of information technology consumption to above 3.2 trillion yuan ($522.91 billion) by 2015, which would mean a yearly increase of over 20 percent, according to an opinion adopted by the State Council at an executive meeting on Wednesday.

 

*Fly On The Wall 7:00 AM Market Snapshot*

*ANALYST RESEARCH*

Upgrades

BRF Brasil Foods (BRFS) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill
Baker Hughes (BHI) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital
Carnival (CCL) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman
Cisco (CSCO) upgraded to Neutral from Cautious at ISI Group
ITC Holdings (ITC) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at ISI Group
Integra LifeSciences (IART) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray
JinkoSolar (JKS) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Roth Capital
M.D.C. Holdings (MDC) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Sterne Agee
Martin Midstream Partners (MMLP) upgraded to Outperform at Raymond James
National Oilwell (NOV) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital
Nexstar (NXST) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Evercore
SunTrust (STI) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Drexel Hamilton
The Medicines Co. (MDCO) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill

Downgrades

Anixter (AXE) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at William Blair
Avago (AVGO) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Brean Capital
Green Dot (GDOT) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Compass Point
HSBC (HBC) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Mizuho
Helmerich & Payne (HP) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital
Houston Wire & Cable (HWCC) downgraded to Market Perform at William Blair
Oceaneering (OII) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital
PulteGroup (PHM) downgraded to Outperform from Top Pick at RBC Capital
Smith & Wesson (SWHC) downgraded to Underweight from Hold at KeyBanc
Synovus (SNV) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Drexel Hamilton

Initiations

ArcelorMittal (MT) initiated with an Underweight at Barclays
Bazaarvoice (BV) initiated with a Buy at B. Riley
Cole Real Estate Investments (COLE) initiated with an Outperform at JMP Securities
Quantum (QTWW) initiated with a Strong Buy at Ascendiant
Westport Innovations (WPRT) initiated with a Sector Perform at RBC Capital

HOT STOCKS

American Safety Insurance (ASI) holder Catalina offers $30.75 per share
CorpBanca (BCA) acquired control of Helm Bank through subsidiary CorpBanca Columbia
Cisco (CSCO) announced workforce reduction of about 4,000 employees
Said comfortable with 5% to 7% revenue growth “over the long run”
Cisco (CSCO) CEO Chambers: "My confidence in our ability to be the number one IT company is increasing.”
Dean Foods (DF) announced 1-for-2 reverse stock split
IBM (IBM) acquired Trusteer, terms not disclosed
Plains All American (PAA) discontinued joint pursuit with Keyera
Precision Castparts (PCP) announced additional $750M share repurchase plan

EARNINGS
Companies that beat consensus earnings expectations last night and today include:
Constellation Energy (CEP), NetEase.com (NTES), Vertex Energy (VTNR), WidePoint (WYY), Dillard's (DDS), Agilent (A), Cisco (CSCO), Vermillion (VRML), NetApp (NTAP)

Companies that missed consensus earnings expectations include:
Alexco Resource (AXU), Silver Wheaton (SLW),  Bluebird Bio (BLUE), Hyperion Therapeutics (HPTX), Vipshop (VIPS), Summer Infant (SUMR), Atossa Genetics  (ATOS)

Companies that matched consensus earnings expectations include:
CUI Global (CUI)

NEWSPAPERS/WEBSITES

· As details emerge about the coverage available through the new consumer marketplaces created by the federal health law, many of the plans (WLP, UNH) will include relatively few choices of doctors and hospitals. In some cases, plans will layer on other limits, such as requirements that patients get referrals to see specialists, or obtain insurer authorization before pricey procedures, the Wall Street Journal reports
· Billionaire investor John Paulson, who has been one of the most bullish investors in gold, cut his hedge-fund firm's exposure to the precious metal by more than half in Q2, according to a securities filing, the Wall Street Journal reports
· Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) are among the suitors advancing to the next round of bidding for Newfield Exploration’s (NFX) Malaysian and Chinese oil and gas fields valued at about $1.2B, sources say, Reuters reports
· China Mobile (CHL) Chairman Xi Guohua said talks with Apple (AAPL) have been progressing smoothly and both sides are positive about reaching a possible agreement, Reuters reports
· BP (BP) asked a federal judge in Houston to deny U.S. investors the right to pursue a class action, or group, lawsuit claiming the company misled them before and after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Bloomberg reports
· Lenovo Group (LNVGY) CEO Yang Yuanqing said the company is looking for acquisitions in PCs and smartphones as expanding share for those products boosted quarterly profit 23%, Bloomberg reports

SYNDICATE

Diamondback Energy (FANG) 4M share Secondary priced at $40.25
Hyperion Therapeutics (HPTX) files to sell 8.73M shares of common stock
Medical Properties Trust (MPW) to sell 10M shares of stock
Third Point Reinsurance (TPRE) 22.222M share IPO priced at $12.50
ZELTIQ Aesthetics (ZLTQ) files to sell 12.5M shares of common stock Reported by Zero Hedge 3 days ago.

Your Employer Could Help You Lose Weight. That's Good News For You, And For Them

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Jacinda Jones had a hard time losing weight. At more than 350 pounds, the 32-year-old insurance claims specialist in Bowling Green, Ky. said she’d tried “just about everything” to slim down and was about to take the drastic measure of gastric bypass surgery. But then she found success in the most unexpected of places: the buttoned-up world of the insurance agency where she works.

Jones began taking advantage of some of the fitness and nutrition coaching provided by her employer, Progressive. In the year and a half since, Jones says she’s dropped more than 150 pounds.

“I have done a complete 180,” Jones, who's been with Progressive for 11 years, said of her transformation.

Though it may seem odd for workers to enlist their employers in their weight-loss battles, stories like Jones’s could soon become the norm. Progressive, which started offering programs to boost its workers' health in earnest in 2011, is among the 50 percent of employers now offering some kind of wellness program, according to a recent survey from the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization.

The insurance giant’s offerings -- which include health screenings, an on-site gym at its Cleveland headquarters, in-office yoga classes, lactation rooms for nursing mothers and an herb garden -- are more extensive than most.

But as President Barack Obama’s health care reform law goes into full effect next year, the number of employers targeting employee health is likely to grow; Obamacare offers employers that provide wellness programs more leeway to boost health insurance premiums on workers who don't meet certain health metrics.

Companies are now so eager to help their workers lose weight that Weight Watchers is zeroing in on employers as it seeks to boost its struggling business.

Another factor that could push employers to offer Progressive-style health programs: rising health care costs. Christy Palfy, Progressive’s recruiting manager, said the company doesn’t know exactly how much it's saved thanks to its wellness offerings, but the growing cost of health care is “one of the reasons why we have made a conscious effort,” to address worker health. A different spokesperson for Progressive declined to share how much the company spends on health insurance for its workers.

Unhealthy workers can cost businesses in a variety of ways, such as boosting the cost of health care coverage for their employers. Absenteeism due to illness and sick workers' lost productivity cost employers more than half a trillion dollars last year.

Palfy said Progressive's programs are “a way of investing in our biggest asset,” and help the company recruit and retain top talent.

Progressive may not be seeing a financial return on its investment in its 25,000 employees yet, but it’s likely to pay off in the future, according to Kristin Van Busum, a health project associate at RAND. Van Busum worked on a study that found workplace wellness programs offer no immediate financial benefit for employers, but if they're successful, she said, workers will get healthier and be less likely to develop chronic conditions, saving employers big bucks in health care costs down the line. And, she noted, the programs are successful in other ways.

“These are working, they’re making people open their eyes,” Van Busum said. “It improves people’s health-related behaviors,” like cutting down on smoking and increasing exercise.

That was definitely the case for Jones, who says constant email communication with a nutritionist provided by Progressive converted her diet from hamburgers, fries and Kentucky’s famous sweet teas to one made up of mostly lean proteins and fruits and vegetables. A former takeout maven, Jones says she now won’t go to a restaurant unless she knows the offerings' calorie counts in advance.

She's also transformed her workout routine, using a trainer and a gym membership paid for by the company to exercise five times a week. While it was tough at first, Jones said the rigorous program she crafted was likely the difference between success and failure.

“[Without the help] I would have done like I did before and I would have puttered out, to be honest,” she said. “That’s a big motivator when you know that other people are watching you.” Reported by Huffington Post 3 days ago.

Watch out for health reform insurance scams

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*Watch out for health reform insurance scams*

You can't start buying individual health insurance through your state's health insurance marketplace (or "exchange") until Oct. 1, 2013. That's the date set by the new health reform law, the Affordable Care Act. But scammers are trying to get consumers to sign up for bogus plans in advance of that date—and make off with their money, the Federal Trade Commission has warned.

The agency first warned in May that it had received reports from consumers and other federal agencies that scammers were offering enrollment in individual plans months before the marketplaces actually open in October. Typically the scammers try to get the person to give up money, personal information, or both.  

*Got a question about health insurance? Ask our insurance guru, Nancy Metcalf. Or check out our comprehensive health insurance buying guide. *

In a recent alert posted on its website, the FTC urges any consumer who receives a phone call from someone trying to sell them insurance under the Affordable Care Act—or who otherwise observes someone trying to sell such insurance—to report it online or at the toll-free number 1-877-382-4357 (1-877-FTC-HELP). If there's a number on the caller ID or if the caller provided a name or location, be sure to include that information in the report.

To start learning about your choices and get ready to enroll, go to HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Beginning Oct. 1, you can create an account and shop for qualified health plans that start Jan. 1, 2014, the date by which all Americans will be required to have health insurance or pay a fine. 

—Jamie Kopf

*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.*

*Subscribe now!*
Subscribe to *ConsumerReports.org* for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products.
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Update your feed preferences Reported by Consumer Reports 3 days ago.

Healthy SF's future unclear as U.S. law kicks in

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Mayor Ed Lee won't rule out trying to remove a central underpinning of San Francisco's groundbreaking universal health care law - the requirement that most employers contribute toward their workers' medical care - as the city tries to harmonize its rules with President Obama's national health care overhaul. The privately run reimbursement accounts, however, won't qualify as insurance under federal law starting next year, and a central question about the use of the city-run plan remains unanswered: whether the federal government will allow the city to purchase insurance for workers with the money businesses hand over. Businesses won't be required to provide coverage until 2015, but individuals will have to secure health insurance by next year or face a fine. Eliminating the city requirement could ultimately leave taxpayers on the hook for those employees' health costs, say labor leaders and some of the city's more liberal elected officials, because those mostly low-wage workers will probably forgo paying for their own insurance and end up back in emergency rooms and city clinics. Lee's administration maintains the situation is nuanced, insisting that even without a spending requirement, employers would still face competitive pressures to provide health insurance. [...] most of the businesses have pocketed that money for themselves. In May, at least 19 restaurant owners accused of charging customers more in health care surcharges than they put aside for workers agreed to pay $844,644 in restitution to 1,500 employees as part of a consumer-fraud investigation by City Attorney Dennis Herrera. "What's on the table is a money grab by the least-responsible employers in San Francisco at the expense of workers and taxpayers," said Paul Kumar, a health policy consultant with close labor ties who helped draft the original Health Care Security Ordinance. Reported by SFGate 3 days ago.

Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on Eligibility Requirements for Medicaid and Individual Health Insurance Tax Credits

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Under the ACA, the eligibility requirements for Medicaid and tax credits are to be based on an individual’s modified adjusted gross income.

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) August 15, 2013

Today, Zane Benefits, the number one online small business health benefits solution, published new information on eligibility requirements for Medicaid and individual health insurance tax credits.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will come with changes in eligibility requirements for Medicaid and individual health insurance tax credits. In some states, eligibility will be based on an individual’s modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Previously, eligibility was determined by state-specified thresholds based on personal income and assets.

Medicaid is a federal program that offers health services to low income individuals. The ACA gives each state the option for Medicaid Expansion. The states that elect to Expand Medicaid will broaden Medicaid coverage to include non-elderly citizens with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, as determined by their MAGI. The following groups will not be effected by the change in eligibility requirements:

Individuals who are eligible for Medicaid through another federal or state assistance program:
-The elderly
-Certain disabled individuals who qualify for Medicaid on the basis of being blind or disabled
-The medically needy
-Enrollees in a Medicare Savings Program

In addition, MAGI does not affect eligibility determinations through "Express Lane" enrollment (to determine whether a child has met Medicaid or CHIP eligibility requirements), for Medicare prescription drug low-income subsidies, or for determinations of eligibility for Medicaid long-term services and supports.

Tax credits will be available through each state’s health insurance exchange, which the ACA requires in order for individuals and families to compare and purchase health insurance plans. Depending on an individual’s MAGI, they may be eligible for assistance to make coverage more affordable – this assistance will be provided through health insurance tax credits.

These tax credits will be advanceable and refundable, meaning that the tax payer may claim the full credit amount before the end of the year, even if they have little or no federal income tax liability.

The amount a person will have to pay for their insurance premium will be capped as determined by what percent of the FPL their MAGI is. The most eligible tax payers will pay for their health insurance premiums will be 9.5% of their MAGI, the rest will be subsidized to them in the form of premium tax credits.

Click here to read the full article.
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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHRA") for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to small businesses and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about ZaneHRA, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 3 days ago.

Special Car Insurance Rates as Low as $39/Month - Get Quotes Now

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Insurance-Online.us has been created to offer low car insurance policy options.

(PRWEB) August 15, 2013

The introduction of this new website has consumers talking and spreading the word about how it has enhanced their lives. Consumers are finding more affordable insurance pricing faster than ever before, and they have this innovative company to thank for the convenience.

Click here to visit this website.

Simply put, the website saves time and money. It puts all the pertinent information related to auto insurance shopping at the consumer’s fingertips. Enter the zip code, and insurance companies in the area appear. For additional information, simply click on the link to learn more about the insurance companies. The process is convenient and time-saving.

The website designers thought of what most consumers would want from an auto insurance website and provided it. If auto insurance is not what consumers want, there is also a place to select home insurance, health insurance or life insurance. The tool provides information for every type of insurance available. Different insurance options save consumers time when shopping for car insurance because they can find all of their insurance needs in one location.

All skill levels can easily access this website and obtain the necessary information. If the person can point and click, the website navigation is simple. High usability is one of the most coveted features of this new website. Many users who are averse to the Internet have few to no complaints about the website. That is a huge accomplishment for a company attempting to appeal to the people who need car insurance.

Since busy professionals value time and money, the company delivered a website to accomplish this goal. The result is a website that has high usability ratings and has comprehensive information about each car insurance company. Most consumers will not argue with a website that will save them both time and money.

Click here to learn more or save money on auto insurance quotes. Reported by PRWeb 3 days ago.

Research and Save on Car Insurance Rates in One Place

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lnsure.org has been launched to offer No Hassle auto insurance comparison.

(PRWEB) August 15, 2013

With the launch of lnsure.org, drivers now have a simple way to find local insurance providers and to compare major carriers' rates instantly. Click here to visit the website.

"Drivers usually overpay for their auto insurance because they stick with their insurance carriers for years without comparing premiums every once in a while," said a representative of the website. "Because the insurance market is incredibly competitive right now, there's never been a better time to get a deal on auto insurance premiums. Unfortunately, many drivers simply don't realize that they could pay less."

The website also offers other resources for buyers who need home insurance, life insurance and health insurance. By offering a simple way to find information on several types of insurance in one place, lnsure.org allows buyers to control their household insurance bills without spending too much time on research.

"Educated buyers make better decisions about their insurance," said the representative of this website. "We offer the best resources online for learning about local insurance options, and our users get the best rates available as a result."

Click here to learn more or save on insurance quotes. Reported by PRWeb 3 days ago.

Sign Up For Obamacare At Your Local Planned Parenthood

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More than 100 organizations in 34 states will receive $67 million in federal funding to help consumers shop for health coverage on the new health insurance exchanges under President Barack Obama's health care reform law, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday.

These "navigators," which include hospitals, charities, nonprofit community organizations and health clinics, will guide people who don't get health insurance at work through the process of understanding the health insurance exchange marketplaces, what certain health plans cover and how to apply for financial assistance. These groups won't be permitted to recommend specific health insurance companies or products, HHS said.

With polls consistently showing the public remains unsure and uninformed about Obamacare, in-person assistance from these navigators and others could be crucial to getting people enrolled into health insurance coverage during the six-month enrollment period that begins Oct. 1 and runs through March.

The Obama administration has set a target of 7 million people to enroll in health insurance coverage through the exchanges, online marketplaces where consumers will comparison-shop for health benefits and learn whether their incomes qualify them for Medicaid coverage or for tax credits to reduce their costs.

The list of navigator grant recipients runs the gamut from large private companies, charities, health care providers and universities to local legal-aid providers and faith-based organizations.

Ascension Health, the largest nonprofit hospital chain in the U.S., will serve as a navigator in Alabama and Kansas. Planned Parenthood affiliates in Iowa, Montana and New Hampshire won navigator grants. United Way will provide navigator services in Alaska, Indiana and Texas. Organizations focused on outreach to Latinos, people with mental illnesses, Native Alaskans and Native Americans, AIDS patients and others also won federal grants.

"Navigators will be among the many resources available to help consumers understand their coverage options in the marketplace,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a press release. "A network of volunteers on the ground in every state -- health care providers, business leaders, faith leaders, community groups, advocates and local elected officials -- can help spread the word and encourage their neighbors to get enrolled."

The administration previously announced health insurance enrollment initiatives being conducted by community health centers and public libraries. These programs will be bolstered by the private efforts of hospitals, health insurance companies, retail pharmacies and coalitions like Enroll America.

The health care reform law provides for a number of types of in-person help to consumers, run either by the federal government or the states and including these navigators, certified application counselors and private insurance agents and brokers.

The newly announced grants will go to organizations in the 34 states where the federal government will operate the health insurance exchanges or is working in partnership with state authorities. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia are setting up their own exchange marketplaces and are establishing state-based assistance initiatives separate from the federal navigators program.

Navigators employed by the grant winners will undergo 20 to 30 hours of training on the health insurance exchanges and on ensuring the security of consumers' personal information, according to HHS.

The administration also released a list of more than 100 "Champions for Coverage" -- organizations that have pledged to assist federal and state governments with health insurance enrollment efforts. Participants include the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, the NAACP and the American Heart Association.

*See the full list of Affordable Care Act navigator grant recipients below:*

Navigator Grant Recipients Reported by Huffington Post 3 days ago.

National Quality Forum Appoints Trenton Health Team Director Dr. Ruth Perry to Healthcare Workgroup and Task Forces

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Dr. Perry brings her expertise in improving health outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction and lowering health care costs in local urban areas to the National Quality Forum as they work to transform the healthcare system.

Trenton, NJ (PRWEB) August 15, 2013

The National Quality Forum (NQF) has appointed Dr. Ruth Perry, executive director of the Trenton Health Team, to its national healthcare workgroup and two subcommittees, where she will provide her expertise to inform national healthcare quality. Dr. Perry will serve as a subject matter expert for the Dual Eligibility Beneficiaries Workgroup, part of the NQF’s Measure Applications Partnership (MAP). The workgroup focuses specifically on quality of care for Medicare/Medicaid dual eligible beneficiaries across the care spectrum, developing quality measurement frameworks to improve health outcomes for dual eligible beneficiaries.

In addition to this three-year appointment, Dr. Perry will serve on two new time-limited task forces sponsored by MAP: the Health Insurance Exchanges and the Medicaid Task Forces, which will provide input on the Health Insurance Exchange Quality Rating System and the Medicaid Adult Core Measure Set.

The National Quality Forum is a nonprofit public service organization committed to transforming the healthcare system by developing and recommending performance measures to evaluate how well services are delivered.

MAP is a public-private partnership that supplies the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with informed healthcare knowledge to help achieve the department’s three goals: better care, healthy people/community and affordable care. Dr. Perry also shares these goals as part of THT’s mission to transform healthcare for Trenton’s significant Medicaid and Medicare population.

Since April 2011, as executive director of the Trenton Health Team, Dr. Perry has focused on making nation-leading innovative improvements in healthcare. Since her tenure at THT began, she has drawn upon her 25 years of experience as an urban emergency room physician and corporate healthcare leader to solidify THT’s infrastructure and implement healthcare changes to improve lives in the Trenton community.

“One of the key goals of the Trenton Health Team is to overcome obstacles to quality healthcare by expanding access to care, providing community-wide clinical care coordination and engaging our community. These goals lay the foundation for the Trenton Health Team to become a Safety-net Accountable Care Organization, focusing on improving health outcomes, increased patient satisfaction and lower health care costs,” said Dr. Perry. “The efforts of this pioneering healthcare collaborative to ensure that Trenton’s residents receive the best possible healthcare can inform others throughout the nation on approaches that work on the ground, despite what previously seemed to be insurmountable challenges.”

David Knowlton, president and CEO of the N.J. Health Care Quality Institute, who recommended Dr. Perry for the Workgroup position, said, “Dr. Perry brings a broad spectrum of healthcare experience and vision, having served in a leadership role in corporate environmental health and safety and as an emergency room physician prior to leading the Trenton Health Team. Her rich background will enable her to contribute significantly to this national effort to ensure quality healthcare outcomes.”

About the Trenton Health Team
The Trenton Health Team (THT) is an alliance of the city's major providers of healthcare services including Capital Health, St. Francis Medical Center, Henry J. Austin Health Center and the city's Health Department. The THT is working to become one of New Jersey’s and the nation’s first safety-net Accountable Care Organizations. In collaboration with residents and the city's active social services network, THT is developing an integrated healthcare delivery system to transform the city's fragmented primary care system and restore health to the city. Its vision is to make Trenton the healthiest city in the state. The THT receives generous support from The Nicholson Foundation, corporate partners and other foundations. For more information, visit http://www.trentonhealthteam.org. Reported by PRWeb 3 days ago.

Funds allocated to help people with health insurance options

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday announced grants to organizations, including five in Missouri and Kansas, that will help people understand options offered on the upcoming online federal health insurance marketplaces. Reported by KansasCity.com 3 days ago.

White House Awards Grants for Enrolling Citizens onto Obamacare Exchanges

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White House Awards Grants for Enrolling Citizens onto Obamacare Exchanges Over 100 organizations—including Planned Parenthood affiliates, community groups, health care providers, and business groups—will receive $67 million in grants to serve as “navigators” who will help Americans sign up for health insurance in Obamacare’s new state exchanges.

Among the “navigator” recipients of the awards are Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Mobile ($20,750), University of Arkansas ($774,745), Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona ($190,268), Pinellas County (FL) Board of County Commissioners ($600,000), National Hispanic Council on Aging ($646,825), University of Georgia ($1,657,378), Mercy Hospital and Medical Center (IL) ($452,590), Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services ($276,593), University of Mississippi Medical Center ($831,986), Mental Health America (in multiple locations), and Migrant Health Promotion, Inc. ($589,750).

CMS.gov has a complete list of “navigator” recipients who will be helping Americans sign up for the Obamacare exchanges.

Jason Millman at Politico reported Thursday that The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the $67 million in grants is in excess of what the Obama administration initially said would be available for the “navigators.” An additional $13 million was taken from the health law prevention fund for those states that refused to set up the exchanges, leaving it instead to the federal government to do so.

The “navigators” will especially be utilized in what Millman refers to as “Obamacare-resistant states,” where the president’s signature legislation is not being promoted. Navigators cannot recommend a specific health insurance plan or coverage but are supposedly working to help Americans understand their options. Navigators are also prohibited from accepting compensation from insurers.

Texas and Florida, Millman reports, have been “singled out” as key to Obamacare’s success. Navigators in those states will receive about $10.9 million and $7.9 million, respectively.

Millman writes:



The single biggest grant — approximately $5.9 million — went to the United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County, which serves the Fort Worth and Arlington areas of Texas. The group says it plans to work across the state, according to HHS.



He further reports that 19 of the “Obamacare-resistant states” have put forward additional requirements for more navigator training and licensure beyond what the Obama administration requires, leading to some legal issues regarding state versus federal laws.

Three Planned Parenthood affiliates in Iowa, Montana, and New Hampshire received a grant of $655,000 to serve as “navigators.”

President Obama asked Planned Parenthood to help him promote Obamacare during his appearance at the organization’s gala event in April.

"I’m here to… ask for your help, because we need to get the word out,” he told Planned Parenthood supporters. “We need you to tell your patients, your friends, your neighbors, your family members what the health care law means for them.”

Obama added:



Make sure that they know that there are plans out there right now that cover the cost of contraception and preventative care free of charge. We’ve got to spread the word, particularly among women, particularly among young women, who are the ones who are most likely to benefit from these laws.



Regarding the “navigators,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement:



Navigators will be among the many resources available to help consumers understand their coverage options in the Marketplace. A network of volunteers on the ground in every state – health care providers, business leaders, faith leaders, community groups, advocates and local elected officials – can help spread the word and encourage their neighbors to get enrolled.



According to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), navigators must perform the following functions:

· Conduct public education activities;
· Distribute fair and impartial information on health plan enrollment, premium tax credits, and free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid;
· Facilitate enrollment in qualified health plans;
· Provide referrals to other consumer assistance organizations or state agencies that address health insurance issues; and
· Provide information in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.

In addition to the navigator program, Enroll America, a nonprofit group with close associations to the Obama administration, is also pushing to get Americans signed up for health insurance.

As Breitbart News reported in April, the head of Enroll America is Anne Filipic, a former Obama White House official under Valerie Jarrett, and the advisory board of Enroll America includes prominent members of AARP, NAACP, and SEIU.

HHS also is using the help of “Champions for Coverage,” businesses and organizations across the nation that are “pitching in to help consumers understand the coming options for quality, affordable coverage.”

“Champions for Coverage” include the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), NAACP, the National Baptist Convention, the National Council of La Raza, and the National Partnership for Women and Families.

HHS provides a complete list of “Champions for Coverage” here.

On Wednesday, Kirsten Andersen at LifeSiteNews reported that Washington D.C. Planned Parenthood was awarded $375,000 to serve as a “Health Link Assister” that will steer its clients toward the D.C. health insurance exchange.

The abortion giant was one of 35 “Health Link Assisters” selected by the D.C. Health Benefit Exchange Authority to receive part of the $6.4 million in grants to pay for “in-house ‘experts’ on Obamacare to promote the health insurance exchanges to their clients.”

D.C. Health Link Assisters “are a critical part of our enrollment efforts,” said Mila Kofman, executive director of the D.C. Health Benefit Exchange Authority. “These organizations are trusted voices and sources of information in their communities and they will be our boots on the ground.”

Paul Bedard at the Washington Examiner reported that the Obama administration is intent on selling Obamacare to Americans so that the October 1st opening day of the exchanges will be successful.

On Monday, Sebelius told her department workers in an email, “We have a huge opportunity to help even more Americans – and you can help the effort.”

Sebelius suggested to her staff to “help spread the word by adding a widget to your email signature.” [link added]

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Sebelius has been traveling to Republican-led states that have chosen not to set up exchanges where, according to her, “the job is made doubly difficult.”

“We know that there will be states where things will go very well because the states are all in,” Sebelius said. For those in other states, “getting correct facts to them, drilling down through the misinformation, is going to be more complicated. That’s where a lot of my time and effort is going to be spent, on the markets that are really federal markets.”

Sebelius ridiculed the campaign of Republicans such as Sen. Mike Lee (UT) and Ted Cruz (TX) who have threatened to defund Obamacare.

“There still is a dialogue being perpetuated by some opponents that this is gonna go away, and that this is not the law,” she said. “The Affordable Care Act was signed in March of 2010, it was upheld by the Supreme Court a year ago, the president was re-elected and we will implement the law. This is the law; it’s not a debate any longer, it’s not a discussion.”

 
 
 
  Reported by Breitbart 2 days ago.

Planned Parenthood To Receive Obamacare Funds For Insurance Push

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NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Planned Parenthood will get federal funds to help Americans enroll in insurance via President Barack Obama's healthcare program, U.S. officials said on Thursday, drawing fire from critics who oppose contraception and abortion in such coverage.
Across the country, 105 groups were awarded a total of $67 million in so-called navigator grants, ranging from the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida and AIDS Alabama, Inc. to the Greater Phoenix Urban League and the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.
The inclusion of Planned Parenthood groups in three U.S. states, which provide women's health services including contraception and abortion, drew new criticism from Republicans and others. The healthcare law has attracted major opposition and legal challenges from religious and conservative groups for requiring insurers to cover the cost of birth control.
"More than 90 percent of what our health centers do is provide basic, preventive care, including cancer screenings and annual well-woman exams," said Eric Ferrero, vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
The navigator grants, he said, will enable local affiliates to help women enroll in insurance plans that cover preventive care and maternity care, and "have nothing to do with abortion and won't be used for abortion services."
Rep. Diane Black, a Tennessee Republican, blasted the grants to Planned Parenthood groups "despite assurances from the President when the law was passed that Obamacare would not give federal funding to abortion providers."
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, in Iowa, will receive $214,427. The Intermountain Planned Parenthood Inc. of Montana will receive $295,604, allowing it to provide assistance at its health centers or via phone, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, in New Hampshire, will receive $145,161 to "assist patients and other consumers with understanding new programs, taking advantage of consumer protections, and navigating the health insurance system to find the most affordable coverage that meets their needs."
Roughly half of the 3 million patients Planned Parenthood treats every year in its clinics, most of them for women's health services such as Pap tests and pelvic exams, are uninsured. Planned Parenthood has therefore been training its health centers' staff to tell women about their options for obtaining insurance under Obamacare.
The grants were awarded only in 34 states that have declined to run their own exchange, requiring the federal government to do so. States such as California, Oregon and New York, which are operating their own exchanges, have their own "navigator" program.
"People are hungry for information on finding the security and peace of mind that come with affordable healthcare coverage," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters. Navigators will undergo 20 to 30 hours of training by HHS, with an emphasis on securing people's privacy, and will be paid through the grants.
HHS originally allotted $54 million for navigators in these states. The additional $13 million came from the department's Prevention and Public Health Fund.
The spending leaves the 34 states that are not running their own exchanges, because they oppose "Obamacare," well short of what other states have for navigators and other in-person assistance programs. For instance, California has $43 million to spend, Maryland has $24 million, and tiny Vermont has $13 million, according to numbers collected by healthcare consultant Avalere Health LLC.
The list of navigator awards is at http://cciio.cms.gov/programs/exchanges/assistance.html (Reporting by Sharon Begley; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Andrew Hay) Reported by Huffington Post 2 days ago.

KANETIX Exposes the Ten Most Popular Myths About Canadians

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Popular myths range from Mounties wearing red coats to all Canadians having the ability to speak French.

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) August 16, 2013

Canada is one of the biggest countries in the world and with this distinction – there are numerous myths surrounding Canadians says KANETIX. If a traveller is thinking about visiting Canada in the near future – a few myths will have to be debunked.

When people think about Canadians, their first image is typically of the Canadian Mountie, which is the common term for a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. While the Mounties are Canada's federal police force, the iconic red jacket, boots and tall brown hat are a type of dress uniform. Just like how the United Kingdom’s police force doesn’t wear tall black hats, most Mounties wear a very recognizable civic uniform for day to day duties.

In the United States, there is a general idea that Canada is a country that does not have guns. The truth of the matter is that while Canada does not have many guns compared to the United States, it does have more guns than most countries in the world. Where the United States boasts more than 90 guns per 100 citizens, Canada is in the top 15 with roughly 30 guns per 100 citizens. Canada has a great deal of rural country, where hunting is a common practice and thus where guns see a fair amount of use.

While Canada does have two official languages, English and French, French is not spoken nearly as widely as English. The majority of French speakers reside in the province of Quebec, a place which was originally settled by the French during the colonization of the country. Even in Quebec, there are a high number of people who only speak English, and plenty of people who can speak both languages with some degree of fluency. Also, it is essential to remember that Canada also has a fairly sizable minority of people who speak German, Spanish, Cree, Inuktitut and Ojibwe.

When referring to Canada, many people refer to it as the frozen north, but the truth of the matter is that Canada is enormous, and it has a wide variety of climates. While northern Canada does have routinely sub-zero temperatures, the southern reaches enjoy a four-season climate with lengthy springs and summers. As a matter of fact, with the coastal cities to the east and the west, the winds over the ocean conspire to make the climates beautifully temperate and liveable.

While Canada does have some excellent food producing land and some of the most beautiful forests in the world, the truth is that this is not all of Canada. Particularly on the coasts, Canada offers a wide variety of cities and urban areas. Some of Canada's largest cities include Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Edmonton. Canada's large cities are thriving centers of culture and commerce, and they offer an impressively varied counterpoint to Canada's beautiful natural interior. Canada has some beautiful natural resources, but it also has very wonderful city centres as well.

Toronto is the biggest city in Canada by population, with more than 2 million people calling it home. Toronto is often named as the country's cultural capital, and in many cases, it is Canada's most famous city. However, the truth of the matter is that while Toronto is big, bustling and beautiful, it is not the capital of the country. The actual capital of the country is Ottawa, the fourth largest city. Located in Southern Ontario, Ottawa was named the capital of Canada in 1857 by Queen Victoria.

While Canada was originally colonized by the British and the French, today it is an independent country with a parliament that acts as the primary legislative body. However, adding to some of the confusion, the Crown is recognized as a legal and practical entity, though not as a political one. To this extent, Canada is also called a constitutional monarchy. However, to all rights and purposes, Canada is a self-governing nation whose full independence was won over an extended period of time. The gradual nature of Canadian independence is such that it is difficult to pick a specific date and point to that as the split. Essentially, the process of independence had a great deal to do with the gradual dismantling of British control in judicial, executive and legislative matters.

While hockey is Canada's most popular winter sport, it actually shares the status of being the national support with lacrosse. Lacrosse is Canada's national summer sport, while hockey reigns supreme in the winter. While hockey is Canada's most successful sport in the international arena, there are many sports that are commonly played. Canadian football is the second most popular spectator sport, and the Canadian football event, the Grey Cup, is Canada's most widely attended, widely watched sporting event. Just as everywhere else, there are simply people who do not care for sports!

While universal health care is a source of pride for many Canadians, the system is far from perfect. While nine out of 10 Canadians prefer the Canadian system to the privatized health care offered in the United States, plenty still say that there is room for improvement. In 2010, more than 50 per cent of Canadians stated in a survey that vast changes are required to make the system more usable, while 10 per cent want it rebuilt entirely.

KANETIX offers a free health insurance quote comparison service for individual medical health insurance coverage. Buy your health insurance plan online from the most affordable provider that best suits your needs.

For those planning to visit Canada as a tourist, immigrate to Canada, or have family or friends coming for a trip, travel medical insurance is a must. Use the KANETIX.ca quote comparison service to get instant visitors to Canada travel insurance quotes from top travel insurance companies.

KANETIX also offers a quote comparison service for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada. Use the KANETIX Ltd. free service to compare quotes and buy a Super Visa insurance policy online.

As a matter of fact, Canadians do not live exclusively in igloos, in tents or in farmhouses. The vast majority of Canada's population is urban, centred on cities like Toronto and Vancouver. While there are definitely people in the interior who live more rural lives, the truth is that Canada is one of the world's leading industrialized nations.
Canada is a rich and varied place with a lot to offer, so travellers should go and visit with an open mind instead of focusing on popular myths.

-30-

About KANETIX®

Launched in October 1999, KANETIX was Canada's first online insurance marketplace and today provides over a million quotes per year to consumers looking for insurance, as well as comparisons for mortgage rates and credit cards.

The KANETIX comparison service is a one-stop shopping environment for consumers. Each day, thousands visit the KANETIX website at http://www.kanetix.ca to comparison shop their various financial needs. Shoppers choose what they want to compare, obtain a quotation and complete an online application or, with the help of KANETIX connect with the provider to purchase or apply for the product over the phone.

Through its Software as a Service team, KANETIX is also the leading provider of online insurance quotation technology, developing online quotation systems, mobile solutions, actuarial tools and websites for many of Canada's largest insurance brands.

For more information, visit KANETIX.ca or contact:

Natasha Carr
416.599.9779 ext. 343
publicrelations(at)KANETIX(dot)ca
KANETIX Ltd. Reported by PRWeb 2 days ago.

Health First Insurance Pleased to Announce New Small Group PPO Plan

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Health First Insurance is pleased to announce a new Small Group Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan. This new plan offers an expanded, nationwide network for Brevard and Indian River Counties.

Rockledge, FL (PRWEB) August 16, 2013

Health First Insurance is pleased to announce a new Small Group Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan. This new plan offers an expanded, nationwide network for Brevard and Indian River Counties.

“The new Small Group PPO Plan is the perfect addition to the other quality plans we offer our community,” said Health First Health Plans Vice President of Sales and Business Development Andrew Weintraub. “This new plan will provide increased flexibility when it comes to out-of-network coverage and fulfilling the needs of our employer groups. Buying local also helps our local economy stay strong.”

The new plan offers:· A comprehensive network with a wide variety of doctors, specialists and hospitals. Hospitals include Health First Cape Canaveral Hospital, Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center, Health First Palm Bay Hospital, Health First Viera Hospital, Indian River Medical Center, Parrish Medical Center and Sebastian River Medical Center.
· Extensive board-certified network of local physicians throughout Brevard and Indian River Counties.
· Open access to specialists—no referrals required.
· Generic prescription drugs as low as $2.
· Free fitness center membership.
· Urgent and emergency care covered anywhere in the world.

For more information, please call toll-free 1-800-716-7737 or visit http://www.HealthFirstInsurance.org.

About Health First
Founded in 1995, Health First is a not-for-profit and is Central Florida’s only fully integrated health system and employs more than 7,500 people and has four hospitals (including Holmes Regional Medical Center, Palm Bay Hospital, Cape Canaveral Hospital and Viera Hospital). Health First Health Plans also offers a wide variety of health insurance plan options for Brevard and Indian River Counties. In addition, Health First is home to Brevard County’s only Trauma Center. Health First Medical Group is the largest multi-specialty physician group on the Space Coast. Health First offers numerous outpatient and wellness services, including four Pro-Health and Fitness Centers. Visit http://www.Health-First.org for more information. Reported by PRWeb 2 days ago.

Ga. receiving $3.8M for health insurance guides

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Georgia groups will receive $3.8 million so they can hire counselors to guide people seeking health insurance coverage through a new online marketplace, officials said Thursday. Reported by Miami Herald 2 days ago.

Healthinsurancecompaniesinfo Providing Online Information About Buying Health Insurance

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Healthinsurancecompaniesinfo working as health insurance advisor in buying health insurance plans.There are several reasons why people need some reliable and useful guidance while purchasing health insurance plans. Purchasing health insurance plans is a very crucial and expensive decision and customer need to get the right kind of health insurance coverage in addition to the best value for the money they pay. Customers need to make informed decisions while choosing a health insurance carrier and plan. The underline is this. They need to know what kind of health insurance carriers are reliable, dependable and genuine with a good track record in the insurance arena. They must also know which carriers have the right kind of plans for their specific needs and budget to choose from. Also, they must know how to research over various types of health insurance plans and land on a plan that works right for them.

None can hope to stay without a health insurance cover. There are heavy penalties for not purchasing health insurance coverage. Finally when a customer decides to buy a health insurance plan, he or she must know how to make a choice from a host of plans and how to customise the plan to tailor-make it for their specific needs. For instance if they happen to discover that the plan they purchased does not cover the items they crucially require, then the policy is a mere waste of money and will add up to your burden. At the same time, customers also need to ensure they pay an adequate premium to get enough coverage besides being able to save a good amount of money by not paying for the coverage they will never require. Therefore, the assistance of a professional firm is very essential in finding the right kind of health insurance plan.

Healthinsurancecompaniesinfo offers the complete suite of information on various health insurance plans available. This site can help in determining the health care needs of your family or business and find appropriate health insurance plans meeting your requirements. This company is one of the most popular insurance arrangers in the U.S. health insurance market and provide a valuable assistance to individuals, families and businesses to find the right kind of health insurance plans. In addition to information on various insurance companies and their products, this site also offers free quotes from these carriers. The company also has a team of professionals to detail the customers regarding the various health insurance avenues and provisions available. Therefore, your job of searching for a health insurance plan is made extremely easy now.

Healthinsurancecompaniesinfo a highly respected source to simplify the often complicated process of purchasing coverage at very attractive rates from the most reputable companies in the market. Guiding in Buying Health insurance California, Health Insurance Florida and In Health Insurance Texas Guidance is given on all aspects of insurance and the most effective steps for purchasing the right plan to match the needs of the individual, family, or organization.

Company Contact Information
HealthInsuranceCompaniesInfo
David Miller

News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 2 days ago.
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