The contest pits 20 cities across the country against each other to compete for the highest percentage of health insurance sign-ups through HealthCare.gov, just as open enrollment begins for Obamacare
Reported by CBS News 16 hours ago.
Obama launches Healthy Communities Challenge for ACA sign-ups
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↧
"$19,000 Premiums, Up 4x Since Passage": The 'Crippling Effect' Of Obamacare On The Middle Class
The past month has seen a veritable litany of reports that have slammed Obamacare, from sources on both the left and the right. Some examples:· In Latest Obamacare Fiasco, Most Low-Income Workers Can't Afford "Affordable Care Act"
· The Stunning "Explanation" An Insurance Company Just Used To Boost Health Premiums By 60%
· Your Health Insurance Premiums Are About To Go Through The Roof -The Stunning Reason Why
· Obama Promised Healthcare Premiums Would Fall $2,500 Per Family; They Have Climbed $4,865
· Largest Health Insurer On Colorado Exchange Abruptly Collapses
· Co-Op Insurers Across America Are Collapsing, And Now There Is Fraud
As we have warned over the years, all of this was expected, and is precisely what happens when the government tries to take over a critical industry. It may have had "good intentions" but the result has been a total failure.
And nowhere is it seen better than from the laments of those whom it was supposed to benefit, such as Ed Elliott, who has laid out precisely what the "Affordable Care Act" means for the US: "*This is crippling effect of ACA on small biz owners & middle class. $19000/yr premiums up 4x since passage.*"
This is crippling effect of ACA on small biz owners & middle class. $19000/yr premiums up 4x since passage. #tyranny pic.twitter.com/irHW4Oms2m
— Ed Elliott (@gunsntoolz) October 30, 2015
Still curious why the US middle class is expiring (even as the 1% are thriving), and has no discretionary income left at all? Simple: all of said "discretionary income" was spent to cover a soaring tax which was supposed to make life better for everyone.
h/t @noalpha_allbeta Reported by Zero Hedge 11 hours ago.
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America isn’t broken; its leadership is
Are Americans becoming less compassionate? As we approach the “giving” season, when we also pause to give thanks for what we have, the politics abroad in the land are worrisome. The leading Republican candidate for president first said he wanted to dismantle Medicare, which provides health insurance for 49 million seniors. Then he said people […]
Reported by Seattle Times 9 hours ago.
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White House targets Dallas' poor health-insurance enrollment
Reported by DallasNews 1 day ago.
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Insurer Blue Shield sues ex-executive who became nonprofit's critic
Health insurance giant Blue Shield of California sued its former public policy director and accused him of disclosing confidential company information.
Reported by San Jose Mercury News 1 day ago.
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There is a darkness spreading over part of our society
A couple of weeks ago President Obama mocked Republicans who are “down on America,” and reinforced his message by doing a pretty good Grumpy Cat impression. He had a point: With job growth at rates not seen since the 1990s, with the percentage of Americans covered by health insurance hitting record highs, the doom-and-gloom predictions […]
Reported by Seattle Times 1 day ago.
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iPatientCare Successfully Concludes National User Conference (NUCON) 2015
iPatientCare National User Conference 2015 Concluded with Great Fanfare and Enthusiasm to Embrace Challenges of Revised MU Rule, Revenue Cycle Management and Patient Engagement
Woodbridge, New Jersey (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
iPatientCare, Inc., a pioneer in mHealth, cloud-based ambulatory EHR, integrated Practice Management, and Patient Engagement solutions, announced today the successful conclusion of its National User Conference (NUCON) 2015 that provided end-users and channel partners of iPatientCare an opportunity to cement their relationships and stand united in adopting to the challenges of healthcare IT reforms.
The conference keynote address was delivered by Udayan Mandavia, President/CEO, iPatientCare, in which he focused on the theme of “Reinventing Organizations”. Udayan, being a serial entrepreneur traced the healthcare IT reforms since mid-nineties and discussed the reinventions these reforms forced on the physicians’ offices and iPatientCare as a leading national healthcare IT vendor serving physicians’ offices. He concluded his address by saying, “the challenges ahead would come from penalties on not reporting quality measures and staying complacent on care coordination, referral tracking, preventative medicine, and interoperability.”
The special attraction of this year’s conference was the informative session from Ashley Spence, Health Insurance Specialist in the Division of Electronic and Clinician Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), on 2015 PQRS Reporting Overview. Ms. Spence elaborated on selecting PQRS measures, reporting to PQRS registries, and how CMS can help in achieving triple aims of better health, better care, and reduced costs. All iPatientCare users and exhibitors/sponsors attended this session and had very lively interaction with the speaker.
There were highest number of exhibitors/sponsors at this event than any similar events before and iPatientCare users visited exhibit booths during lunch and coffee breaks in large numbers. PatientPay, the Platinum Sponsor of the event commented, "PatientPay is thrilled to have the opportunity to present Paperless Billing to iPatientCare's practices. PatientPay provides a secure solution that saves up to $4.00 on every patient balance and has an average payment time of under 11 days. The time and cost savings generate an appreciable effect on the bottom line. We look forward to working with all of iPatientCare's practices to help them succeed financially and provide greater patient satisfaction."- Tom Furr, CEO, PatientPay.
“We never miss attending iPatientCare NUCON since this astonishing yearly event started 6 years back”, said Theresa Romero, Office Manager, McLeod Medical Center, New Mexico. Asad Karim, MD, Cardiovascular Wellness Center of Texas said enthusiastically, “NUCON 2015 was an outstanding conference.”
Kedar Mehta, CTO, iPatientCare, shared the platform with Mr. Mandavia during the Keynote and provided a sneak preview of R2016. The key highlight of the session was new platforms for Provider-to-Provider Exchange and a Wellness Portal released in the memory of iPatientCare’s Late Chief Medical Director, John L Bartley, MD. Kedar commented “We lost Dr. Bartley last year, however, his vision continue to drive us in delivering innovative products geared towards providers and patient engagement to make healthy communities. We were happy to receive applaud from our users on the launch of new wellness portal.”
The grand-finale of the conference was an Award Ceremony followed by an innovative game, iPatientCare Jeopardy and iPatientCare Lucky Draw giving away free cruise trip to Bahamas. All attendees and exhibitors/sponsors enjoyed and appreciated the prizes and the fun they all had in attending iPatientCare NUCON 2015.
About iPatientCare
iPatientCare, Inc. is a privately held medical informatics company based at Woodbridge, New Jersey. The company is known for its pioneering contribution to mHealth and Cloud based unified product suite that include Electronic Health/Medical Record and integrated Practice Management/Billing System, Patient Portal/PHR, Health Information Exchange (HIE), and mobile point-of-care solutions that serve the ambulatory, acute/sub acute, emergency and home health market segments.
iPatientCare EHR 2014 (2.0) has received 2014 Edition Ambulatory Complete EHR certification by ICSA Labs, an Office of the National Coordinator-Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB), in accordance with the applicable eligible professional certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Full certification details can be found at ONC Certified Health IT Product List.
iPatientCare Inpatient EHR 2014 (2.0) Received ONC HIT 2014 Edition Complete EHR Certification from ICSA Labs, determines ability to support eligible hospitals with meeting meaningful use stage 1 and stage 2 measures required to qualify for ONC Health IT funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Full certification details can be found at ONC Certified Health IT Product List.
The ONC 2014 Edition criteria support both Stage 1 and 2 Meaningful Use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The company has won numerous awards for its EHR technology and is recognized as an innovator in the field, being a pioneer to offer an EHR technology on a handheld device, an innovative First Responder technology to the US Army for its Theatre Medical Information System, the first to offer a Cloud based EHR product. iPatientCare is recognized as one of the best EHR and Integrated PM System for small and medium sized physicians’ offices; has been awarded most number of industry Awards; and has been recognized as a preferred/MU partner by numerous Regional Extension Centers (REC), hospitals/health systems, and academies.
Visit http://www.iPatientCare.com for more information. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
Woodbridge, New Jersey (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
iPatientCare, Inc., a pioneer in mHealth, cloud-based ambulatory EHR, integrated Practice Management, and Patient Engagement solutions, announced today the successful conclusion of its National User Conference (NUCON) 2015 that provided end-users and channel partners of iPatientCare an opportunity to cement their relationships and stand united in adopting to the challenges of healthcare IT reforms.
The conference keynote address was delivered by Udayan Mandavia, President/CEO, iPatientCare, in which he focused on the theme of “Reinventing Organizations”. Udayan, being a serial entrepreneur traced the healthcare IT reforms since mid-nineties and discussed the reinventions these reforms forced on the physicians’ offices and iPatientCare as a leading national healthcare IT vendor serving physicians’ offices. He concluded his address by saying, “the challenges ahead would come from penalties on not reporting quality measures and staying complacent on care coordination, referral tracking, preventative medicine, and interoperability.”
The special attraction of this year’s conference was the informative session from Ashley Spence, Health Insurance Specialist in the Division of Electronic and Clinician Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), on 2015 PQRS Reporting Overview. Ms. Spence elaborated on selecting PQRS measures, reporting to PQRS registries, and how CMS can help in achieving triple aims of better health, better care, and reduced costs. All iPatientCare users and exhibitors/sponsors attended this session and had very lively interaction with the speaker.
There were highest number of exhibitors/sponsors at this event than any similar events before and iPatientCare users visited exhibit booths during lunch and coffee breaks in large numbers. PatientPay, the Platinum Sponsor of the event commented, "PatientPay is thrilled to have the opportunity to present Paperless Billing to iPatientCare's practices. PatientPay provides a secure solution that saves up to $4.00 on every patient balance and has an average payment time of under 11 days. The time and cost savings generate an appreciable effect on the bottom line. We look forward to working with all of iPatientCare's practices to help them succeed financially and provide greater patient satisfaction."- Tom Furr, CEO, PatientPay.
“We never miss attending iPatientCare NUCON since this astonishing yearly event started 6 years back”, said Theresa Romero, Office Manager, McLeod Medical Center, New Mexico. Asad Karim, MD, Cardiovascular Wellness Center of Texas said enthusiastically, “NUCON 2015 was an outstanding conference.”
Kedar Mehta, CTO, iPatientCare, shared the platform with Mr. Mandavia during the Keynote and provided a sneak preview of R2016. The key highlight of the session was new platforms for Provider-to-Provider Exchange and a Wellness Portal released in the memory of iPatientCare’s Late Chief Medical Director, John L Bartley, MD. Kedar commented “We lost Dr. Bartley last year, however, his vision continue to drive us in delivering innovative products geared towards providers and patient engagement to make healthy communities. We were happy to receive applaud from our users on the launch of new wellness portal.”
The grand-finale of the conference was an Award Ceremony followed by an innovative game, iPatientCare Jeopardy and iPatientCare Lucky Draw giving away free cruise trip to Bahamas. All attendees and exhibitors/sponsors enjoyed and appreciated the prizes and the fun they all had in attending iPatientCare NUCON 2015.
About iPatientCare
iPatientCare, Inc. is a privately held medical informatics company based at Woodbridge, New Jersey. The company is known for its pioneering contribution to mHealth and Cloud based unified product suite that include Electronic Health/Medical Record and integrated Practice Management/Billing System, Patient Portal/PHR, Health Information Exchange (HIE), and mobile point-of-care solutions that serve the ambulatory, acute/sub acute, emergency and home health market segments.
iPatientCare EHR 2014 (2.0) has received 2014 Edition Ambulatory Complete EHR certification by ICSA Labs, an Office of the National Coordinator-Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB), in accordance with the applicable eligible professional certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Full certification details can be found at ONC Certified Health IT Product List.
iPatientCare Inpatient EHR 2014 (2.0) Received ONC HIT 2014 Edition Complete EHR Certification from ICSA Labs, determines ability to support eligible hospitals with meeting meaningful use stage 1 and stage 2 measures required to qualify for ONC Health IT funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Full certification details can be found at ONC Certified Health IT Product List.
The ONC 2014 Edition criteria support both Stage 1 and 2 Meaningful Use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The company has won numerous awards for its EHR technology and is recognized as an innovator in the field, being a pioneer to offer an EHR technology on a handheld device, an innovative First Responder technology to the US Army for its Theatre Medical Information System, the first to offer a Cloud based EHR product. iPatientCare is recognized as one of the best EHR and Integrated PM System for small and medium sized physicians’ offices; has been awarded most number of industry Awards; and has been recognized as a preferred/MU partner by numerous Regional Extension Centers (REC), hospitals/health systems, and academies.
Visit http://www.iPatientCare.com for more information. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
↧
Speakers for AIS’s Third-Annual Conference on Private Exchanges Includes Execs from Towers Watson, Cigna Corp., HCSC, Aon, and More
Leaders at Towers Watson, Cigna Corp., Health Care Service Corp., Aon Hewitt, KPMG, Leavitt Partners, National Business Group on Health, Standard and Poor’s, and more will provide the latest industry intelligence on private insurance exchanges at an upcoming virtual conference, sponsored by Atlantic Information Services.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS) is pleased to announce the speakers for “Making Private Exchanges Work for Insurers: Market Strategies for 2016 and Beyond,” its third annual virtual conference on private health insurance exchanges. Leaders at Towers Watson, Cigna Corp., Health Care Service Corp., Aon plc, KPMG, Leavitt Partners, National Business Group on Health, Standard and Poor’s, and more will provide what health insurers need to know about private exchanges to improve their bottom-line strategies.
The speakers for this Nov. 18 program are:· Lisa Feddema, Executive Director, Private Exchange Management at Health Care Service Corp.
· Patty Fontneau, President of Private Exchange Business for Cigna
· Matt Graham, Director at Leavitt Partners
· Don King, Vice President of Compensation and Benefits at Envision HealthCare
· Jacob Lawrence, Managing Consultant for Towers Watson’s Denver office
· Matt Levin, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Strategy for Aon plc
· Brian Marcotte, President and CEO of the National Business Group on Health (NBGH)
· Joseph Marinucci, Senior Director, Insurance Ratings Group at Standard & Poor’s Financial Services
· Dan Schuyler, Senior Director of Exchange Technology at Leavitt Partners
· Ash Shehata, Partner at KPMG
AIS’s virtual conference allows participants to attend a live conference without having to travel to a meeting site. Plus, the registration fee includes a free On-Demand recording of each session, so any agenda items can be reviewed at a later time.
For more information, including a full agenda, speaker biographies and how to register, visit https://aishealth.com/marketplace/c5vr05_111815.
About AIS
Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS) is a publishing and information company that has been serving the health care industry for more than 25 years. It develops highly targeted news, data and strategic information for managers in hospitals, health plans, medical group practices, pharmaceutical companies and other health care organizations. AIS products include print and electronic newsletters, websites, looseleafs, books, strategic reports, databases, webinars and conferences. Learn more at http://AISHealth.com. Reported by PRWeb 23 hours ago.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS) is pleased to announce the speakers for “Making Private Exchanges Work for Insurers: Market Strategies for 2016 and Beyond,” its third annual virtual conference on private health insurance exchanges. Leaders at Towers Watson, Cigna Corp., Health Care Service Corp., Aon plc, KPMG, Leavitt Partners, National Business Group on Health, Standard and Poor’s, and more will provide what health insurers need to know about private exchanges to improve their bottom-line strategies.
The speakers for this Nov. 18 program are:· Lisa Feddema, Executive Director, Private Exchange Management at Health Care Service Corp.
· Patty Fontneau, President of Private Exchange Business for Cigna
· Matt Graham, Director at Leavitt Partners
· Don King, Vice President of Compensation and Benefits at Envision HealthCare
· Jacob Lawrence, Managing Consultant for Towers Watson’s Denver office
· Matt Levin, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Strategy for Aon plc
· Brian Marcotte, President and CEO of the National Business Group on Health (NBGH)
· Joseph Marinucci, Senior Director, Insurance Ratings Group at Standard & Poor’s Financial Services
· Dan Schuyler, Senior Director of Exchange Technology at Leavitt Partners
· Ash Shehata, Partner at KPMG
AIS’s virtual conference allows participants to attend a live conference without having to travel to a meeting site. Plus, the registration fee includes a free On-Demand recording of each session, so any agenda items can be reviewed at a later time.
For more information, including a full agenda, speaker biographies and how to register, visit https://aishealth.com/marketplace/c5vr05_111815.
About AIS
Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS) is a publishing and information company that has been serving the health care industry for more than 25 years. It develops highly targeted news, data and strategic information for managers in hospitals, health plans, medical group practices, pharmaceutical companies and other health care organizations. AIS products include print and electronic newsletters, websites, looseleafs, books, strategic reports, databases, webinars and conferences. Learn more at http://AISHealth.com. Reported by PRWeb 23 hours ago.
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Chris Christie Video Shows That GOP Empathy Is Real -- And Limited
The famous video of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie talking about addiction is a sign of how much Republican Party attitudes toward vulnerable people have changed.
It’s also a reminder of how much those attitudes have stayed the same.
If you follow politics, you probably have seen or heard about Christie’s appearance at a New Hampshire tavern late last month, where he was campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination. In response to a question about illegal drug use, Christie said society should help addicts, not demonize them. To make his point, he talked movingly about two people in his life -- his mother, who couldn’t stop smoking even though she knew it was killing her, and a law school friend, who became addicted to painkillers after an injury and eventually took his own life.
Nobody questions trying to treat smokers like his mother, Christie explained. So why should anybody question trying to treat people with different kinds of addictions? “We have to stop judging and start giving them the tools they need to get better,” Christie said.
The Huffington Post posted footage of the soliloquy, which runs about six minutes. The video went viral about a week ago and, since that time, nearly 8 million people have watched it online. It’s likely that millions more have seen excerpts on television.
The raw authenticity of the moment has quite obviously struck a chord. But it’s likely that the message has, too.
Politicians know this. Not so long ago, candidates for office wooed voters by promising severe, mandatory sentences for illegal drug use. Now, they boast about their compassion toward addicts -- even in the Republican primary, where voters have long favored tougher, less-forgiving approaches to crime.
One reason for the transformation is practical. Filling jails with nonviolent offenders has turned out to be very expensive.
The other reason is personal. Large numbers of Americans have seen first hand how addiction strikes -- and, more important, they have seen who it strikes. They see neighbors, friends, and family struggling. And while they don’t hold these addicts blameless, they also understand that many people struggling with drugs are victims of bad luck -- the kind of misfortune that, as Christie put it, “could happen to anyone.”
“There but for the grace of God, go I,” Christie said.
Of course, Christie could have used those same sentences to describe other people. He could have been talking about the unemployed or the uninsured, people who fell behind on mortgage payments or people who have dropped out of school. The Americans experiencing those kinds of misfortune are just like the addicts Christie discussed so poignantly in that video -- neither wholly blameless nor wholly responsible for their fates.
Look into the ranks of the jobless and you’ll find all kinds of people -- some who frittered away good positions because they didn’t work hard, some who got pink slips because their employers shifted operations overseas, and plenty whose circumstances are somewhere in between those extremes. Spend time in a community medical clinic and you’ll find people who opted not to buy health insurance that they could have afforded -- or put off medical care when they had a chance to get it. Alongside them, you’ll see people unable to get coverage because it was too expensive or unavailable to them because of pre-existing medical conditions.
But you rarely hear Republicans invoke Christie's forgiving, empathetic language when describing these people. On the contrary, for several decades, the GOP’s rhetoric has tilted in the other direction, ostracizing the poor, the downtrodden, and the marginalized. That’s how it was in 1980, when Ronald Reagan was attacking “welfare queens,” and that’s how it was in 2012, when Mitt Romney was bemoaning the “47 percent” of Americans on some kind of federal assistance.
And these aren't just slogans. Republicans have fought repeatedly to limit government programs, whether by limiting eligibility for food stamps and housing vouchers or by rolling back Obamacare. One big reason for that is the perception, which Republican leaders and voters share, that the poor people who benefit from these programs are “takers” instead of “makers” -- and that they don’t deserve so much “free stuff.”
To be clear, Reagan and Romney and the other Republicans also had more practical concerns about the efficacy of the welfare state -- like whether providing benefits to the poor discourages them from working, or whether, in a time of constrained budgets, the federal government must simply be more thrifty. But Republicans used to make similar arguments when they justified harsh sentences for drug crimes. They’re relenting now because they know the victims -- because, suddenly, suffering has become personal. They don’t see the other groups of vulnerable people in the same way.
This pattern, of Republicans selectively supporting beneficiaries they know well, is a familiar one. After Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast in 2012, for example, Republicans from other parts of the country tried to block large chunks of federal aid because, they said, it would be fiscally irresponsible. But when floods hit Texas, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who helped lead the fight against Sandy aid, sought federal assistance for his constituents. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), who also opposed Sandy relief, begged for help when his home state of South Carolina needed it.
It’s the same underlying dynamic that famously drove Rob Portman, the Republican senator from Ohio, to change his views on same-sex marriage. Like most conservatives, Portman had opposed it -- until his son came out of the closet. “It allowed me to think of this issue from a new perspective, and that's of a dad who loves his son a lot,” Portman said at the time.
Portman's change of heart on same-sex marriage, like Christie's determination to help addicts, is a sign of empathy. But that empathy clearly has limits. It stops when the misfortune or marginalization is no longer something these conservative politicians can understand personally.
*Also on HuffPost:*
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 23 hours ago.
It’s also a reminder of how much those attitudes have stayed the same.
If you follow politics, you probably have seen or heard about Christie’s appearance at a New Hampshire tavern late last month, where he was campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination. In response to a question about illegal drug use, Christie said society should help addicts, not demonize them. To make his point, he talked movingly about two people in his life -- his mother, who couldn’t stop smoking even though she knew it was killing her, and a law school friend, who became addicted to painkillers after an injury and eventually took his own life.
Nobody questions trying to treat smokers like his mother, Christie explained. So why should anybody question trying to treat people with different kinds of addictions? “We have to stop judging and start giving them the tools they need to get better,” Christie said.
The Huffington Post posted footage of the soliloquy, which runs about six minutes. The video went viral about a week ago and, since that time, nearly 8 million people have watched it online. It’s likely that millions more have seen excerpts on television.
The raw authenticity of the moment has quite obviously struck a chord. But it’s likely that the message has, too.
Politicians know this. Not so long ago, candidates for office wooed voters by promising severe, mandatory sentences for illegal drug use. Now, they boast about their compassion toward addicts -- even in the Republican primary, where voters have long favored tougher, less-forgiving approaches to crime.
One reason for the transformation is practical. Filling jails with nonviolent offenders has turned out to be very expensive.
The other reason is personal. Large numbers of Americans have seen first hand how addiction strikes -- and, more important, they have seen who it strikes. They see neighbors, friends, and family struggling. And while they don’t hold these addicts blameless, they also understand that many people struggling with drugs are victims of bad luck -- the kind of misfortune that, as Christie put it, “could happen to anyone.”
“There but for the grace of God, go I,” Christie said.
Of course, Christie could have used those same sentences to describe other people. He could have been talking about the unemployed or the uninsured, people who fell behind on mortgage payments or people who have dropped out of school. The Americans experiencing those kinds of misfortune are just like the addicts Christie discussed so poignantly in that video -- neither wholly blameless nor wholly responsible for their fates.
Look into the ranks of the jobless and you’ll find all kinds of people -- some who frittered away good positions because they didn’t work hard, some who got pink slips because their employers shifted operations overseas, and plenty whose circumstances are somewhere in between those extremes. Spend time in a community medical clinic and you’ll find people who opted not to buy health insurance that they could have afforded -- or put off medical care when they had a chance to get it. Alongside them, you’ll see people unable to get coverage because it was too expensive or unavailable to them because of pre-existing medical conditions.
But you rarely hear Republicans invoke Christie's forgiving, empathetic language when describing these people. On the contrary, for several decades, the GOP’s rhetoric has tilted in the other direction, ostracizing the poor, the downtrodden, and the marginalized. That’s how it was in 1980, when Ronald Reagan was attacking “welfare queens,” and that’s how it was in 2012, when Mitt Romney was bemoaning the “47 percent” of Americans on some kind of federal assistance.
And these aren't just slogans. Republicans have fought repeatedly to limit government programs, whether by limiting eligibility for food stamps and housing vouchers or by rolling back Obamacare. One big reason for that is the perception, which Republican leaders and voters share, that the poor people who benefit from these programs are “takers” instead of “makers” -- and that they don’t deserve so much “free stuff.”
To be clear, Reagan and Romney and the other Republicans also had more practical concerns about the efficacy of the welfare state -- like whether providing benefits to the poor discourages them from working, or whether, in a time of constrained budgets, the federal government must simply be more thrifty. But Republicans used to make similar arguments when they justified harsh sentences for drug crimes. They’re relenting now because they know the victims -- because, suddenly, suffering has become personal. They don’t see the other groups of vulnerable people in the same way.
This pattern, of Republicans selectively supporting beneficiaries they know well, is a familiar one. After Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast in 2012, for example, Republicans from other parts of the country tried to block large chunks of federal aid because, they said, it would be fiscally irresponsible. But when floods hit Texas, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who helped lead the fight against Sandy aid, sought federal assistance for his constituents. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), who also opposed Sandy relief, begged for help when his home state of South Carolina needed it.
It’s the same underlying dynamic that famously drove Rob Portman, the Republican senator from Ohio, to change his views on same-sex marriage. Like most conservatives, Portman had opposed it -- until his son came out of the closet. “It allowed me to think of this issue from a new perspective, and that's of a dad who loves his son a lot,” Portman said at the time.
Portman's change of heart on same-sex marriage, like Christie's determination to help addicts, is a sign of empathy. But that empathy clearly has limits. It stops when the misfortune or marginalization is no longer something these conservative politicians can understand personally.
*Also on HuffPost:*
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 23 hours ago.
↧
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Report: GE retirees suing over benefit changes
General Electric Co. is the target of a new lawsuit, filed Monday by its former hourly workers, the Times Union reports. The federal class action suit alleges that the Connecticut-headquarter company violated federal labor law when it announced it will change health insurance for its 65,000 retirees. The shift, which will take effect on Jan. 1, will move retirees from a Medicare supplement plan to a private exchange. The company will provide a $1,000 subsidy for the purchase of an insurance supplement.…
Reported by bizjournals 21 hours ago.
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LISI Adds Sutter Health Plus to Product Portfolio for Brokers
LISI announces a new partnership agreement with Sutter Health Plus
San Mateo, California (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
LISI, Inc., a general agent that’s served the broker community for more than 30 years, announces a new partnership agreement with Sutter Health Plus, a not-for-profit HMO in Northern California. The agreement allows LISI to introduce 12 new small group products (13 in 2016) to its broker partners.
Sutter Health Plus products include traditional and high-deductible health plans compatible with health savings accounts. The HMO’s network includes 5,600 doctors, 25 hospitals and campuses, and dozens of care centers, urgent care locations and other outpatient facilities in 14 Northern California counties.
“Working directly with Sutter Health Plus is a valuable opportunity for our broker partners in Northern California,” said LISI President and CEO Becky Patel. “This partnership provides our brokers direct access to Sutter Health Plus, which gives them more options so clients can shop and compare benefit plans, prices and provider networks.”
The LISI sales team offers Sutter Health Plus alongside other regional and national carriers, such as Chinese Community Health Plan, Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare.
“We’re excited to start working with LISI as another way to give more people affordable access to care,” said Rob Carnaroli, Vice President of Sales at Sutter Health Plus. “Our sales team is already hearing a lot of interest from brokers and employers about this partnership.”
About Sutter Health Plus
Sutter Health Plus, a not-for-profit HMO affiliated with Sutter Health, offers competitively priced health plans to individuals, families and employer groups in the greater Sacramento, Central Valley and Bay Area communities. Sutter Health Plus’ provider network includes many of Sutter Health’s doctor groups and hospitals that consistently rank among California’s highest performers. The not-for-profit Sutter Health network has a long history of sharing best practices that have led to reduced infection rates, lower readmission rates and elimination of unnecessary variations in care. For more information about Sutter Health Plus visit: Website|
About LISI
LISI has offices in San Mateo, Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, and has serviced the needs of health insurance brokers since 1977. One of the state’s largest general agencies, LISI enables more than 8,000 affiliated brokers to offer Medical, Dental, Vision and Specialty coverage for large and small employers from over two dozen carriers. For more information on LISI, please visit: Website|
###
Media Contacts
Hadley Weiler
Executive Director of Sales Northern California Region
LISI
HWeiler(at)lisibroker(dot)com
866-570-5474
Sy Neilson
Director, Commercial Marketing and Plan Communications
Sutter Health Plus
neilsor(at)sutterhealth(dot)org
916-292-0666 Reported by PRWeb 21 hours ago.
San Mateo, California (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
LISI, Inc., a general agent that’s served the broker community for more than 30 years, announces a new partnership agreement with Sutter Health Plus, a not-for-profit HMO in Northern California. The agreement allows LISI to introduce 12 new small group products (13 in 2016) to its broker partners.
Sutter Health Plus products include traditional and high-deductible health plans compatible with health savings accounts. The HMO’s network includes 5,600 doctors, 25 hospitals and campuses, and dozens of care centers, urgent care locations and other outpatient facilities in 14 Northern California counties.
“Working directly with Sutter Health Plus is a valuable opportunity for our broker partners in Northern California,” said LISI President and CEO Becky Patel. “This partnership provides our brokers direct access to Sutter Health Plus, which gives them more options so clients can shop and compare benefit plans, prices and provider networks.”
The LISI sales team offers Sutter Health Plus alongside other regional and national carriers, such as Chinese Community Health Plan, Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare.
“We’re excited to start working with LISI as another way to give more people affordable access to care,” said Rob Carnaroli, Vice President of Sales at Sutter Health Plus. “Our sales team is already hearing a lot of interest from brokers and employers about this partnership.”
About Sutter Health Plus
Sutter Health Plus, a not-for-profit HMO affiliated with Sutter Health, offers competitively priced health plans to individuals, families and employer groups in the greater Sacramento, Central Valley and Bay Area communities. Sutter Health Plus’ provider network includes many of Sutter Health’s doctor groups and hospitals that consistently rank among California’s highest performers. The not-for-profit Sutter Health network has a long history of sharing best practices that have led to reduced infection rates, lower readmission rates and elimination of unnecessary variations in care. For more information about Sutter Health Plus visit: Website|
About LISI
LISI has offices in San Mateo, Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, and has serviced the needs of health insurance brokers since 1977. One of the state’s largest general agencies, LISI enables more than 8,000 affiliated brokers to offer Medical, Dental, Vision and Specialty coverage for large and small employers from over two dozen carriers. For more information on LISI, please visit: Website|
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Media Contacts
Hadley Weiler
Executive Director of Sales Northern California Region
LISI
HWeiler(at)lisibroker(dot)com
866-570-5474
Sy Neilson
Director, Commercial Marketing and Plan Communications
Sutter Health Plus
neilsor(at)sutterhealth(dot)org
916-292-0666 Reported by PRWeb 21 hours ago.
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BenefitGeek.com Launches Obamacare Health Insurance Site For Open Enrollment
BenefitGeek.com Launches Website For Open Enrollment Allowing Individuals to Obtain Obamacare Health Insurance in Under 5 Minutes
Irving, TX (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
Open Enrollment is underway and BenefitGeek.com is poised to help Americans enroll for Obamacare health insurance. From November 1st to January 31st, anyone can enroll in a health insurance plan in under five minutes with three easy steps. Just enter your zip code, age and income to see plans. From there you’ll be able to complete plan enrollment in moments.
Gone are the headaches of dealing with the long, arduous enrollment process at healthcare.gov. No more overwhelming questions, entering repetitive information and email roadblocks to obtain health insurance. Through the BenefitGeek.com website and mobile apps, you’ll be able to get the same low rates without the hassle.
“We are excited to launch our new website to help individuals enroll in health insurance faster and easier. Health insurance shouldn’t have to be difficult. Through BenefitGeek.com, we are changing the way people enroll so they can have more time to enjoy life.” says Ashley Glenn, Senior Vice President of Marketing. “BenefitGeek.com makes enrolling in health insurance fast and easy, removing all the complexities and presenting health plans in a simple, user-friendly format.”
Registering for affordable health care is enough to make anyone crazy. Even the search for information about obamacare, the affordable care act (ACA), or health insurance plans is overwhelming. That’s exactly the ailment BenefitGeek.com aims to fix. By providing consumers with knowledge and an easy three step enrollment process, the company is simplifying the way people obtain their Obamacare health insurance while instilling ease of mind.
In the crowded world of online health insurance enrollment options, BenefitGeek.com breaks the mold. BenefitGeek.com was created with a consumer first approach. Consumers have plenty of things to worry about, health insurance shouldn’t be one of them.
Visit BenefitGeek.com to experience the change and obtain your health insurance plan today!
____________________________________________________________________________
ACAExpress.com, a certified Web-Broker Entity(WBE), has to date enrolled in excess of 150,000 individuals for health insurance coverage in less than one year. While still young in its corporate life, the company has quickly risen to be the leader within the aca agent enrollment technology space. Originally founded in early 2014 as a bootstrapped venture, ACAExpress.com has recently taken significant angel investment through a Series A round. For more information contact ACAExpress.com press relations at press(at)acaexpress(dot)com or 888-668-3909. Reported by PRWeb 20 hours ago.
Irving, TX (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
Open Enrollment is underway and BenefitGeek.com is poised to help Americans enroll for Obamacare health insurance. From November 1st to January 31st, anyone can enroll in a health insurance plan in under five minutes with three easy steps. Just enter your zip code, age and income to see plans. From there you’ll be able to complete plan enrollment in moments.
Gone are the headaches of dealing with the long, arduous enrollment process at healthcare.gov. No more overwhelming questions, entering repetitive information and email roadblocks to obtain health insurance. Through the BenefitGeek.com website and mobile apps, you’ll be able to get the same low rates without the hassle.
“We are excited to launch our new website to help individuals enroll in health insurance faster and easier. Health insurance shouldn’t have to be difficult. Through BenefitGeek.com, we are changing the way people enroll so they can have more time to enjoy life.” says Ashley Glenn, Senior Vice President of Marketing. “BenefitGeek.com makes enrolling in health insurance fast and easy, removing all the complexities and presenting health plans in a simple, user-friendly format.”
Registering for affordable health care is enough to make anyone crazy. Even the search for information about obamacare, the affordable care act (ACA), or health insurance plans is overwhelming. That’s exactly the ailment BenefitGeek.com aims to fix. By providing consumers with knowledge and an easy three step enrollment process, the company is simplifying the way people obtain their Obamacare health insurance while instilling ease of mind.
In the crowded world of online health insurance enrollment options, BenefitGeek.com breaks the mold. BenefitGeek.com was created with a consumer first approach. Consumers have plenty of things to worry about, health insurance shouldn’t be one of them.
Visit BenefitGeek.com to experience the change and obtain your health insurance plan today!
____________________________________________________________________________
ACAExpress.com, a certified Web-Broker Entity(WBE), has to date enrolled in excess of 150,000 individuals for health insurance coverage in less than one year. While still young in its corporate life, the company has quickly risen to be the leader within the aca agent enrollment technology space. Originally founded in early 2014 as a bootstrapped venture, ACAExpress.com has recently taken significant angel investment through a Series A round. For more information contact ACAExpress.com press relations at press(at)acaexpress(dot)com or 888-668-3909. Reported by PRWeb 20 hours ago.
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Florida has 3rd-highest uninsured rate post-Obamacare
Florida has the third-highest number of uninsured among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, post-Obamacare implementation, a new WalletHub study shows. With the third open-enrollment period for health insurance upon us and 11.7 percent of the U.S. population still lacking coverage, personal finance website WalletHub analyzed data to estimate the rates of uninsured pre- and post-Obamacare. Here's what the WalletHub analysis found in Florida: Obamacare reduced the children’s uninsured…
Reported by bizjournals 19 hours ago.
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Health Insurance Mergers Fact Check: Why Consumers Will Lose
In today's political climate, it is rare when Democrats and Republicans agree on any issues. But both parties, including presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Carly Fiorina, agree it's time to take notice of mega-mergers. And, both concur that the mergers of health insurance giants Aetna and Humana and Anthem and Cigna are a bad deal for consumers.
The CEOs of the merging entities, Mark Bertonlini from Aetna and Joseph Swedish from Anthem, have put on a road show before Congress, in both the House and Senate, trying to suggest the mergers will lead to greater efficiencies and better service for consumers. But, as Senator Daniel Moynihan famously said, "everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."
And here the facts that tell a simple truth - the mergers will make things worse as consumer currently have too few choices and pay too much. Health insurance markets are already highly concentrated, the mergers will result in higher premiums, and that harm will not be overcome by new entry.
Myth #1: There is significant competition in health insurance markets
While no one disputed that the merger would combine four of the nation's five national insurers, they did argue that the U.S. insurance market is "flush with competition." That assertion is completely devoid of facts. By any measure, the vast majority of health insurance markets, 72 percent according to the American Medical Association, are highly concentrated. Moreover, data compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation demonstrates that on average a state's largest insurer has a 55 percent market share. Only three insurers within a state have at least a five percent market share. Concentration is even more pronounced within Medicare Advantage markets. A recent study by The Commonwealth Fund found that 97 percent of Medicare Advantage markets are highly concentrated.
Along with impacting nearly 100 million beneficiaries, the mergers of Aetna and Humana along with Anthem and Cigna would further consolidate already highly concentrated insurance markets. According to antitrust analysis, the combinations and lessening of available plans would substantially lessen competition in nearly half of the United States. If the mergers between these four entities is allowed to proceed, the lack of competition in health insurance will result in even less consumer choice and higher premium prices.
Myth #2: The mergers will benefit consumers
The CEOs of both Aetna and Anthem have stated that the mergers will create significant cost-savings. However, when pressed in the Senate hearing by Senator Al Franken, the parties could not offer a single piece of evidence demonstrating that health insurance mergers would create efficiencies, or that they would pass along any savings to consumers. That is because there is no evidence that insurance mergers benefit consumers.
In fact, past mergers have done the complete opposite. Two separate studies, one analyzing the 2008 merger of UnitedHealth and Sierra and one analyzing the 1999 merger of Aetna and Prudential, demonstrate that post-merger, insurers raised consumers' premiums. The only way to truly ensure lower premiums is by increasing the number of insurers in each market. Without strong competition, there is no reason for the merged insurance companies to pass any savings to consumers. Furthermore, eliminating insurance competitors will not only lessen consumer choice, but also deter insurer innovation in coverage benefits. If there's no need to compete for customers, why change the way you do business?
Myth #3: Entry by new market participants will offset any harm
While dismissing their ability as national insurers to enter new markets, Anthem and Aetna were both quick to note that insurance entry by co-ops and vertically integrated-provider health plans would provide viable competitive alternatives to the merged parties. First, let's be clear about the legal standard - in order to justify their merger the insurance giants must demonstrate that entry will be sufficient to deter any anticompetitive effects. This concept runs counter to the market for insurance. The Justice Department carefully studied entry and conditions and found that "entry defenses in the health insurance industry will be viewed with skepticism and will almost never justify an otherwise anticompetitive merger."
Additionally, the heightened entry cited by the parties is misleading. While the Affordable Care Act did allow for the creation of co-ops and other insurance entities, the majority are failing within the marketplace. And, in the case of the limited number of successful vertically integrated-provider health plans, none of them have expanded beyond their core markets. Lastly, while 2015 saw a 25 percent increase in new issuers entering the Health Insurance Exchanges, in 2016, there will be 12 percent fewer plans and 40 percent fewer preferred provider organization plans.
The CEOs of Aetna and Anthem are playing it fast and loose with the facts. Even a cursory review of the publicly available information and scholarly studies proves that each of the defensive statements offered by Aetna and Anthem is at best misleading or completely false. Americans will get a bad deal if these mergers are allowed to proceed.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 18 hours ago.
The CEOs of the merging entities, Mark Bertonlini from Aetna and Joseph Swedish from Anthem, have put on a road show before Congress, in both the House and Senate, trying to suggest the mergers will lead to greater efficiencies and better service for consumers. But, as Senator Daniel Moynihan famously said, "everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."
And here the facts that tell a simple truth - the mergers will make things worse as consumer currently have too few choices and pay too much. Health insurance markets are already highly concentrated, the mergers will result in higher premiums, and that harm will not be overcome by new entry.
Myth #1: There is significant competition in health insurance markets
While no one disputed that the merger would combine four of the nation's five national insurers, they did argue that the U.S. insurance market is "flush with competition." That assertion is completely devoid of facts. By any measure, the vast majority of health insurance markets, 72 percent according to the American Medical Association, are highly concentrated. Moreover, data compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation demonstrates that on average a state's largest insurer has a 55 percent market share. Only three insurers within a state have at least a five percent market share. Concentration is even more pronounced within Medicare Advantage markets. A recent study by The Commonwealth Fund found that 97 percent of Medicare Advantage markets are highly concentrated.
Along with impacting nearly 100 million beneficiaries, the mergers of Aetna and Humana along with Anthem and Cigna would further consolidate already highly concentrated insurance markets. According to antitrust analysis, the combinations and lessening of available plans would substantially lessen competition in nearly half of the United States. If the mergers between these four entities is allowed to proceed, the lack of competition in health insurance will result in even less consumer choice and higher premium prices.
Myth #2: The mergers will benefit consumers
The CEOs of both Aetna and Anthem have stated that the mergers will create significant cost-savings. However, when pressed in the Senate hearing by Senator Al Franken, the parties could not offer a single piece of evidence demonstrating that health insurance mergers would create efficiencies, or that they would pass along any savings to consumers. That is because there is no evidence that insurance mergers benefit consumers.
In fact, past mergers have done the complete opposite. Two separate studies, one analyzing the 2008 merger of UnitedHealth and Sierra and one analyzing the 1999 merger of Aetna and Prudential, demonstrate that post-merger, insurers raised consumers' premiums. The only way to truly ensure lower premiums is by increasing the number of insurers in each market. Without strong competition, there is no reason for the merged insurance companies to pass any savings to consumers. Furthermore, eliminating insurance competitors will not only lessen consumer choice, but also deter insurer innovation in coverage benefits. If there's no need to compete for customers, why change the way you do business?
Myth #3: Entry by new market participants will offset any harm
While dismissing their ability as national insurers to enter new markets, Anthem and Aetna were both quick to note that insurance entry by co-ops and vertically integrated-provider health plans would provide viable competitive alternatives to the merged parties. First, let's be clear about the legal standard - in order to justify their merger the insurance giants must demonstrate that entry will be sufficient to deter any anticompetitive effects. This concept runs counter to the market for insurance. The Justice Department carefully studied entry and conditions and found that "entry defenses in the health insurance industry will be viewed with skepticism and will almost never justify an otherwise anticompetitive merger."
Additionally, the heightened entry cited by the parties is misleading. While the Affordable Care Act did allow for the creation of co-ops and other insurance entities, the majority are failing within the marketplace. And, in the case of the limited number of successful vertically integrated-provider health plans, none of them have expanded beyond their core markets. Lastly, while 2015 saw a 25 percent increase in new issuers entering the Health Insurance Exchanges, in 2016, there will be 12 percent fewer plans and 40 percent fewer preferred provider organization plans.
The CEOs of Aetna and Anthem are playing it fast and loose with the facts. Even a cursory review of the publicly available information and scholarly studies proves that each of the defensive statements offered by Aetna and Anthem is at best misleading or completely false. Americans will get a bad deal if these mergers are allowed to proceed.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 18 hours ago.
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You're Getting Ripped Off By Forced Mandatory Arbitration -- Here's How to Stop It
From Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia and Senator Al Franken of Minnesota
Forced arbitration rigs the game in favor of big corporations and against consumers and employees. And recently, a New York Times investigation has exposed just how prevalent this damaging practice is; indeed, the story almost certainly affects you, personally.
If you've ever opened a credit card, rented a car, or engaged in any number of other routine interactions with big corporations, you've probably had to sign away your right to go to court, or band together in a class action with other customers. Instead, you have legally (if unwittingly) agreed that, if a dispute occurs, you will seek justice only through a secret, profit-driven arbitration process -- one in which no comprehensive records are kept, no meaningful appeals are allowed, and the arbitrator likely has significant financial incentive to rule in favor of the corporation.
That arbitration clause was likely buried deep in the fine print in a lengthy terms-of-service agreement. Even if you had read (and correctly interpreted) the entire contract, and decided to take your business elsewhere, odds are you would have seen the same clause in every competing company's terms-of-service agreement, too. Consumers are left with no real recourse: you sign, or you do without a cell phone, or cable TV, or Internet service.
Now, imagine facing the same dilemma when placing a loved one in a nursing home -- or even looking for a job. Believe it or not, more than 30 million American workers are bound by forced arbitration clauses as a condition of their employment.
Make no mistake: These clauses, which are practically impossible to avoid, are designed to make it easier for big corporations to break the law and rip you off without facing any real consequences. It's unbelievably unfair. And it shouldn't be legal.
That's why we have introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act, which has been co-sponsored by 16 Democrats in the Senate and another 74 in the House. Our legislation doesn't ban arbitration. If both parties want to arbitrate instead of going to court, they can. But you would get to make that decision after a dispute arises. Corporations wouldn't be able to force you to preemptively waive your right to go to court or pursue a class action -- often your only real avenue for holding these giant companies accountable.
Congress isn't the only place where we can level the playing field. Earlier this month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced it was considering a proposal to ban arbitration clauses that block class action lawsuits in consumer financial contracts. While we would like to see the CFPB go further and eliminate the use of forced arbitration clauses altogether in consumer financial service contracts, this proposed rule would be a big win for consumers.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed reforming its requirements for long-term care facilities like nursing homes, acknowledging the negative impact of these clauses on residents and suggesting some ways to make these clauses more transparent and easier to understand. That is a start. But forced arbitration clauses have no place in these agreements, and we urge CMS to ban them altogether.
We are hopeful that these processes will result in real progress for consumers. But the law requires that any CFPB proposal must undergo an arduous review before being finalized and implemented, and CMS, which has already received thousands of comments on their relatively modest proposal, will likely engage in a lengthy rulemaking process, as well. And that leaves plenty of room for the Chamber of Commerce and other corporate-backed pressure groups to make their mark. It's up to ordinary Americans everywhere whose rights are at stake to weigh in, as well.
There's one more arena where this fight will play out: the Supreme Court. After rulings this summer to protect health insurance subsidies and make marriage equality the law of the land, many thought that perhaps concerns about the Roberts Court's conservative bent were overblown.
But, as the Times revealed, Roberts himself was a driving force behind the creation of the forced arbitration scheme a decade ago. And in a long series of 5-4 decisions, including the two that paved the way for these unbelievably unfair forced arbitration clauses, he and the other members of the Court's conservative majority have systematically slammed shut the courtroom door on millions of Americans.
These cases may not garner the same headlines as those involving public displays of religion or government surveillance, but they affect the rights, and the pocketbooks, of nearly all of us -- something to keep in mind when evaluating not just the current Court's record, but also future nominees.
Americans are beginning to understand that the game is rigged. Now we must take action to level the playing field.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 16 hours ago.
Forced arbitration rigs the game in favor of big corporations and against consumers and employees. And recently, a New York Times investigation has exposed just how prevalent this damaging practice is; indeed, the story almost certainly affects you, personally.
If you've ever opened a credit card, rented a car, or engaged in any number of other routine interactions with big corporations, you've probably had to sign away your right to go to court, or band together in a class action with other customers. Instead, you have legally (if unwittingly) agreed that, if a dispute occurs, you will seek justice only through a secret, profit-driven arbitration process -- one in which no comprehensive records are kept, no meaningful appeals are allowed, and the arbitrator likely has significant financial incentive to rule in favor of the corporation.
That arbitration clause was likely buried deep in the fine print in a lengthy terms-of-service agreement. Even if you had read (and correctly interpreted) the entire contract, and decided to take your business elsewhere, odds are you would have seen the same clause in every competing company's terms-of-service agreement, too. Consumers are left with no real recourse: you sign, or you do without a cell phone, or cable TV, or Internet service.
Now, imagine facing the same dilemma when placing a loved one in a nursing home -- or even looking for a job. Believe it or not, more than 30 million American workers are bound by forced arbitration clauses as a condition of their employment.
Make no mistake: These clauses, which are practically impossible to avoid, are designed to make it easier for big corporations to break the law and rip you off without facing any real consequences. It's unbelievably unfair. And it shouldn't be legal.
That's why we have introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act, which has been co-sponsored by 16 Democrats in the Senate and another 74 in the House. Our legislation doesn't ban arbitration. If both parties want to arbitrate instead of going to court, they can. But you would get to make that decision after a dispute arises. Corporations wouldn't be able to force you to preemptively waive your right to go to court or pursue a class action -- often your only real avenue for holding these giant companies accountable.
Congress isn't the only place where we can level the playing field. Earlier this month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced it was considering a proposal to ban arbitration clauses that block class action lawsuits in consumer financial contracts. While we would like to see the CFPB go further and eliminate the use of forced arbitration clauses altogether in consumer financial service contracts, this proposed rule would be a big win for consumers.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed reforming its requirements for long-term care facilities like nursing homes, acknowledging the negative impact of these clauses on residents and suggesting some ways to make these clauses more transparent and easier to understand. That is a start. But forced arbitration clauses have no place in these agreements, and we urge CMS to ban them altogether.
We are hopeful that these processes will result in real progress for consumers. But the law requires that any CFPB proposal must undergo an arduous review before being finalized and implemented, and CMS, which has already received thousands of comments on their relatively modest proposal, will likely engage in a lengthy rulemaking process, as well. And that leaves plenty of room for the Chamber of Commerce and other corporate-backed pressure groups to make their mark. It's up to ordinary Americans everywhere whose rights are at stake to weigh in, as well.
There's one more arena where this fight will play out: the Supreme Court. After rulings this summer to protect health insurance subsidies and make marriage equality the law of the land, many thought that perhaps concerns about the Roberts Court's conservative bent were overblown.
But, as the Times revealed, Roberts himself was a driving force behind the creation of the forced arbitration scheme a decade ago. And in a long series of 5-4 decisions, including the two that paved the way for these unbelievably unfair forced arbitration clauses, he and the other members of the Court's conservative majority have systematically slammed shut the courtroom door on millions of Americans.
These cases may not garner the same headlines as those involving public displays of religion or government surveillance, but they affect the rights, and the pocketbooks, of nearly all of us -- something to keep in mind when evaluating not just the current Court's record, but also future nominees.
Americans are beginning to understand that the game is rigged. Now we must take action to level the playing field.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 16 hours ago.
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The latest blow to Obama's sweeping immigration overhaul could mean a gigantic Supreme Court showdown
President Barack Obama's sweeping, unilateral overhauls to the nation's immigration system, which could shield an approximate 5 million people from deportation, now seem destined to head to the Supreme Court.And that could happen right in the heat of a campaign season in which immigration reform has featured prominently and inflamed political tensions unlike any other issue.
The Justice Department said Tuesday it would appeal to the high court a decision handed down Monday night by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana, which upheld a lower court's block on the implementation of the plans.
"The Department of Justice remains committed to taking steps that will resolve the immigration litigation as quickly as possible in order to allow DHS to bring greater accountability to our immigration system by prioritizing the removal of the worst offenders, not people who have long ties to the United States and who are raising American children," Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesman for the Department of Justice, said in a statement.
"The Department disagrees with the Fifth Circuit’s adverse ruling and intends to seek further review from the Supreme Court of the United States."
The decision from the 5th Circuit court, which had been expected, nevertheless served as a blow for proponents of Obama's executive actions, which he announced nearly one year ago and had planned to begin implementing in May.
The plan would shield about 5 million immigrants living in the country unlawfully from deportation. It would extend the protection of immigrants who came to the country as children without documentation, as well as parents of US citizens and legal permanent residents.
"The Supreme Court has been clear that presidents have the authority to set federal immigration policy, and I’m confident that the President’s actions will ultimately be upheld," said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), the No. 2 Senate Democrat.
The big question is when that will happen. The Justice Department can appeal quickly to the Supreme Court, at which point the state of Texas — which led a field of 25 states in suing the administration over the plans — would have 30 days to respond.
The Supreme Court must decide by mid-January to hear the case in the ongoing term that ends next June. If it decides in February or later to hear the case, it could push a decision to 2017 — likely after Obama has left office.
Judge Carolyn Dineen King, who was the sole dissenter in the three-judge panel, criticized her colleagues for a nearly five-months-long review that preceded the eventual decision.
"There is no justification for that delay," she wrote in her opinion.
If further legal proceedings move swiftly, it would mean that — for the second straight election — one of the president's signature legislative achievements would make its way to the nation's highest court just months before the nation is set to choose a president.
In 2012, the Supreme Court heard a case that could have dismantled the Affordable Care Act. Ultimately, the court upheld the law's key provision — a mandate that most people buy health insurance or pay a penalty — handing Obama a significant victory on his way to re-election.
This time, Obama is not on the ballot. But Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential front-runner, has promised to go even further than the current president in taking executive action to reform the immigration system in the face of congressional opposition.
Most Republican presidential contenders, meanwhile, have pledged to undo Obama's executive actions if they are elected to the nation's highest office. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, for one, has gone much further, promising to deport the approximately 11 million immigrants living in the country unlawfully and to build a wall along the US-Mexico border.
*SEE ALSO: One of Obamacare's biggest success stories is suddenly under serious threat*
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: The man who got spit on at a Donald Trump rally explains why he didn't fight back Reported by Business Insider 16 hours ago.
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Welltheos Offers the Largest Amount of Tools, Resources, & Choices - with over 28,700 Individual & Family Health Insurance Plans
STONY BROOK, N.Y., Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Welltheos.com, the nation's largest private health insurance exchange, backed by Softheon, has introduced a number of tools and resources for enrolling individuals and families in a broad range of Affordable Care Act compliant health...
Reported by PR Newswire 14 hours ago.
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Individuals And Families Who Are On Cobra Now Have Until December 15th To Take Advantage Of Subsidies And Enroll In Marketplace Coverage with a 1/1/2016 Effective Date
ACAenroll.com (The Health Insurance Superstore) provides guidance on how this new Special Enrollment Period will work and how COBRA participants can evaluate their options on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Bedford Park, IL (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
Under the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period, Individuals who are currently enrolled in COBRA can enroll in the health insurance Marketplace from November 1, 2015 until January 31, 2016. Individuals enrolling by 12/15/2016 may receive a 1/1/2016 Effective date. “This is important for people on Cobra due the fact that most health insurance policies reset back to zero on January first. Typically individuals on COBRA are experiencing claims, December 15th is a very important deadline to hit for those seeking a less expensive alternative," says Bill Hallberg Chief of Enrollment Officer at ACAenroll.com The Health Insurance Superstore.
Previously, individuals on their employer’s COBRA plan could only enroll on the Marketplace during Open Enrollment or when their COBRA expired. This new opportunity has the potential to help individuals and their beneficiaries on COBRA enroll in plans on the Marketplace that may be more affordable than COBRA. Under the traditional and often expensive COBRA option, individuals are responsible for paying 100% of the premium for their employer-sponsored coverage plus 2% for administrative costs.
As a result of the Affordable Care Act, individuals currently on COBRA can choose from a variety of plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Some of these individuals will even be eligible for subsidies to cover a substantial portion of their premium and can review plans and benefit options from a variety of insurance carriers.
The total cost of a Marketplace plan may end up costing significantly less than the traditional COBRA option.
The Marketplace option may seem overwhelming or confusing for some people who are unfamiliar with individual health insurance plans. ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions stands ready to assist consumers, employers, and COBRA Administrators so they can take advantage of this new Special Enrollment Period and help current COBRA beneficiaries find a new plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
How can ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions (ACAMES) help current COBRA beneficiaries and employers?· ACAMES is a licensed, certified and multi-lingual national enrollment firm that specializes in Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment.
· ACAMES is not affiliated with any governmental agency. As a Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment provider, we are here to assist individuals and families secure health insurance. ACAMES is compensated by the insurance carrier and there is no cost to the potential customer or enrollee.
· ACAMES agents certified on the Marketplace possess extensive knowledge about the enrollment process. These certified agents can help calculate subsidies and explain how deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and copayments work under The Affordable Care Act.
· ACAMES can also offer assistance at no cost to employers who are looking to educate their employees about the Marketplace options available to them when their employer-sponsored coverage ends.
· ACAMES represents national and regional health insurance carriers across the country that offer products both on and off the Health Insurance Marketplace. Visit our website at http://www.acaenroll.com or call us at (800) 342-0631 to get more information.
About ACAMES:
ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions (ACAenroll.com) is a national enrollment firm specializing in the Health Insurance Marketplace and the Senior Product Market. ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions is not affiliated with any governmental agency. We work with consumers to determine their subsidy eligibility, review benefits and plans that will meet their healthcare needs and get them enrolled for coverage. We offer opportunities for producers to have access to our carriers on a national level. Our Call Center is staffed with multi-lingual and licensed health insurance agents who also are certified on the exchange. The company’s website http://www.ACAenroll.com and our Call Center staff are available to assist enrollees through the entire enrollment process. Go to http://www.ACAenroll.com or contact 1-800-342-0631 for more information. Reported by PRWeb 14 hours ago.
Bedford Park, IL (PRWEB) November 10, 2015
Under the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period, Individuals who are currently enrolled in COBRA can enroll in the health insurance Marketplace from November 1, 2015 until January 31, 2016. Individuals enrolling by 12/15/2016 may receive a 1/1/2016 Effective date. “This is important for people on Cobra due the fact that most health insurance policies reset back to zero on January first. Typically individuals on COBRA are experiencing claims, December 15th is a very important deadline to hit for those seeking a less expensive alternative," says Bill Hallberg Chief of Enrollment Officer at ACAenroll.com The Health Insurance Superstore.
Previously, individuals on their employer’s COBRA plan could only enroll on the Marketplace during Open Enrollment or when their COBRA expired. This new opportunity has the potential to help individuals and their beneficiaries on COBRA enroll in plans on the Marketplace that may be more affordable than COBRA. Under the traditional and often expensive COBRA option, individuals are responsible for paying 100% of the premium for their employer-sponsored coverage plus 2% for administrative costs.
As a result of the Affordable Care Act, individuals currently on COBRA can choose from a variety of plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Some of these individuals will even be eligible for subsidies to cover a substantial portion of their premium and can review plans and benefit options from a variety of insurance carriers.
The total cost of a Marketplace plan may end up costing significantly less than the traditional COBRA option.
The Marketplace option may seem overwhelming or confusing for some people who are unfamiliar with individual health insurance plans. ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions stands ready to assist consumers, employers, and COBRA Administrators so they can take advantage of this new Special Enrollment Period and help current COBRA beneficiaries find a new plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
How can ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions (ACAMES) help current COBRA beneficiaries and employers?· ACAMES is a licensed, certified and multi-lingual national enrollment firm that specializes in Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment.
· ACAMES is not affiliated with any governmental agency. As a Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment provider, we are here to assist individuals and families secure health insurance. ACAMES is compensated by the insurance carrier and there is no cost to the potential customer or enrollee.
· ACAMES agents certified on the Marketplace possess extensive knowledge about the enrollment process. These certified agents can help calculate subsidies and explain how deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and copayments work under The Affordable Care Act.
· ACAMES can also offer assistance at no cost to employers who are looking to educate their employees about the Marketplace options available to them when their employer-sponsored coverage ends.
· ACAMES represents national and regional health insurance carriers across the country that offer products both on and off the Health Insurance Marketplace. Visit our website at http://www.acaenroll.com or call us at (800) 342-0631 to get more information.
About ACAMES:
ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions (ACAenroll.com) is a national enrollment firm specializing in the Health Insurance Marketplace and the Senior Product Market. ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions is not affiliated with any governmental agency. We work with consumers to determine their subsidy eligibility, review benefits and plans that will meet their healthcare needs and get them enrolled for coverage. We offer opportunities for producers to have access to our carriers on a national level. Our Call Center is staffed with multi-lingual and licensed health insurance agents who also are certified on the exchange. The company’s website http://www.ACAenroll.com and our Call Center staff are available to assist enrollees through the entire enrollment process. Go to http://www.ACAenroll.com or contact 1-800-342-0631 for more information. Reported by PRWeb 14 hours ago.
↧
How To Pick The Best Health Insurance And Win Open Enrollment
Enrolling in health care is complicated, and according to research, most of us are making the wrong selections -- and taking a significant financial hit as a result.
"Insurance literacy matters a lot,"* *Ben Handel, an assistant professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, told The Huffington Post. "People who have less information end up losing quite a bit of money -- sometimes up to thousands of dollars."
Nearly three-quarters of the insurance-buying public falls into this 'illiterate' category. In ongoing research conducted by Saurabh Bhargava, an assistant professor of economics at Carnegie Mellon, and his colleagues, 71 percent of people surveyed couldn't define the basic cost-sharing features of a health care plan, including terms like "deductible,""copay,""coinsurance" and "out-of-pocket max." (Be honest. Do you really know what a deductible is? If not, check out our cheat sheet below.)
What's more, Bhargava's team found that *people who didn't understand how health insurance worked picked plans that were worse for them, and tended to overpay for their health care needs. *
The biggest mistake? A lot of people believe that the higher tier (read: more expensive) plans correlate to a better quality of health care.
"People choosing the more generous plan thought that plan gave them access to fancier doctors and hospitals," Handel said, a notion that his research found to be patently false.
If you’re a healthy person, but you choose a very intensive plan with a lot of coverage, you’re basically implicitly subsidizing all the sick people.
Instead, the tiers represent the way you'll split costs with your provider, not how luxurious each plan is. "If you’re really healthy, regardless of your income, you might be better off choosing a less generous plan," Bhargava said.
Another big problem is that people prefer paying a predictable premium to paying unexpected out-of-pocket costs, even if it means paying more for their plan in the long run. In Bhargava's study, this meant employees were willing to spend $500 more in premiums to reduce their deductible by $250 -- clearly a bad deal over time.
*Ready to take the plunge? Here's what plan you should pick if... *
-*You're a young, healthy person.*-
If you're young and healthy, you should almost always pick the low-coverage option, Handel and Bhargava said. "In the Affordable Care Act, that would be the catastrophic plan or the bronze plan," Handel said. "In an employer [plan], that would be whatever high-deductible option they’re offering."
*The rationale:* From a financial perspective, low-tier plans still have reasonably low out-of-pocket maximums, and as a young, healthy person, your chance of hitting that out-of-pocket max -- basically the worst-case scenario -- is low.
Moreover, if you choose a more expensive plan with higher coverage that you don't actually need, you're pooling yourself with the sick people who do need that coverage. That means your premiums, which cover the average costs of everyone enrolled in your plan, are likely to go up over time.
"If you’re a healthy person, but you choose a very intensive plan with a lot of coverage, you’re basically implicitly subsidizing all the sick people," Handel said. "Most people don’t know that. But that’s definitely the case."
That said, before you default to the lowest coverage option, consider the network of doctors included in your plan. If your favorite doctors aren't covered, and you can't stomach the idea of switching providers, it might not be worth paying non-network doctors out of your own pocket just to get lower premiums.
-*You have a chronic health issue.*-
Let's say you have diabetes, and know in advance that you'll be using a lot of health care next year. You still shouldn't default to the highest-tier plan. If you're already close to the out-pocket-maximum, you aren't likely to take much of a hit by selecting a plan with a lower deducible. Instead, it might make sense to pick your plan based on whether your doctors are in-network or not.
*The rationale:* If you have a chronic condition or expect to use a lot of health care, you probably already know which doctors you want to see. So look them up and see which plan covers them, or opt for a broader network in general. PPO plans are usually the more flexible type, with biggest networks.
-You're a middle-aged, healthy adult with two kids.-
Again, just because you can pay for premium health care doesn't mean you should. People say, "I'm a healthy person, but I want to make sure that my family always has the best coverage on every dimension, so I’m just going to pick whatever the premium option is," Handler explained.
Unfortunately, that's not how health insurance works. If you or a family member on your plan has a chronic condition, or if you anticipate using a lot of health care, by all means, upgrade. But before you do, it's worth comparing your expected health care expenses to each prospective plan's out-of-pocket maximums, as well as researching your provider networks to see if your doctors are covered -- just like you would if you were a single person.
"A lot of times, a wealthy person will say, 'Oh, I don’t really understand insurance, but I know that I want to be able to see the doctors I want to see and I don’t want to get a bill for $200,000,'" Handler said. "They’re really just picking the fanciest thing, and in the process, often losing money by doing so."
*The rationale: *When you select a premium plan, what you're paying for is additional cost sharing, not improved health care quality. "What should determine whether or not you're willing to pay for the more generous plan isn’t whether or not you want a luxurious health care experience, but whether or not you expect to use a lot of care," Bhargava said.
-*You're perfectly happy with last year's plan.*-
Welcome to the financial hellhole that is consumer inertia. If you're like the majority of consumers, you find a plan you like and stick with it without paying attention to rising premiums or coverage changes from year to year. Alas, this set-it-and-forget-it mentally, while common, isn't the most financially responsible.
In 2014, people who stayed in the cheapest and most popular plan saw an average increase in premiums of 9.5 percent, the Upshot reported last year.
"Overwhelmingly, people passively remain in their same plan year to year, even when there are significant changes to plan prices and people’s health changes," Bhargava said. "I think people just don’t recognize that they’re leaving that kind of money on the table."
And even when people do realize they're losing money, these deeply entrenched beliefs are tough to uproot. So difficult, in fact, that Bhargava couldn't convince his own mother to pick a more cost-effective plan.
"I think my mom’s exact words were, 'Well, your research doesn’t apply to everyone,'" he said.
-*Ready to pick a plan? Ask yourself these three questions about each plan you're considering:*-
*1. What do I expect to pay?*
· Your expected costs should basically be a combination of your premium and your anticipated out-of-pocket health expenses.
*2. Worst-case scenario, what will I pay? (This is your out-of-pocket max.)*
· One plan might have lower premiums, but if the out-of-pocket maximum is astronomical, that's worth considering in your decision-making process.
*3. How broad is my provider network? Can I see the doctors I want to see?*
· If you have doctors or specialists you can't live without, check and see if the are covered by each plan.
-*Want to be a savvy health insurance consumer? Here are the terms you need to know:*-
Term
Definition
*Coinsurance*
The amount pay after you reach your deductible, calculated as a percentage. For example, if your plan pays 80 percent of in-network surgical services after your deductible, and your deductible is $1,100, you'll need to pay the first $1,100 of the surgery before you start receiving the discounted coinsurance rate of 20 percent.
*Cost sharing*
How your plan is split between you and your insurer. For you, this means your deductible, copay, coinsurance and out-of-pocket expenses, but not premiums, out-of-network or uncovered health costs. A low cost-sharing plan usually means that the insurer incurs more risk (and you pay more). A high cost-sharing plan usually means that you incur more risk (and pay less).
*Copayment*
A fixed fee you pay at the end of a doctor's appointment or other covered health service. (You can use your HSA or FSA to pay for this.)
*Deductible*
How much you owe for covered health care services each year before your insurance plan starts footing the bill. For example, if your annual deductible is $1,100, you need to spend $1,100 on covered services before your insurance company starts paying a percentage of the cost. Note: Preventative care and routine exams are often covered by insurance companies regardless, so a high-deductible plan doesn't mean you're automatically going to be paying more out of pocket.
*FSA (flexible spending account)*
Pretax money you set aside for health expenses, such as copayments, prescriptions, glasses, etc. This is usually use-it-or-lose-it money, so it's smart to take a look at your health expenses in the previous year and calculate how much you want to put in your FSA accordingly.
*HSA (health savings account)*
Pre-tax money (in most states) you set aside for covered health expenses, such as copayments, prescriptions, glasses, etc. To be eligible for an HSA, you need to have a high-deductible health insurance plan (at least a 1,300 deductible for an individual in 2015). HSAs are different than FSAs because they roll over, so you can essentially turn yours into a medical IRA if you so choose.
*Out-of-pocket maximum*
This is most you will possibly have to pay -- basically the worst-case scenario -- for health care in a given year. (Keep in mind that some plans have different in-network and out-of-network maximums.) Once you've reached your out-of-pocket maximum (which includes deductibles, coinsurance and copays), your insurance company will pay for 100 percent of your covered health care services.
*Premium*
The amount you pay for your health insurance plan. You probably pay this amount directly out of your paycheck every pay period. You should compare the yearly cost of your plan premiums when picking an insurer -- this number adds up.
*PPO (preferred provider organization)*
PPO plans are generally the most flexible variety. You have more in-network options and your plan likely covers a portion of seeing an out-of-network provider. Still, opting for in-network doctors almost always saves you money.
*EPO (exclusive provider organization)*
Similar to an HMO, you must use in-network doctors, but you don't need referrals to see specialists.
*HMO (health maintenance organization)*
Similar to an EPO, you must use in-network doctors and usually need a referral from your primary-care doctor to see an in-network specialist.
*Also on HuffPost:*
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 13 hours ago.
"Insurance literacy matters a lot,"* *Ben Handel, an assistant professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, told The Huffington Post. "People who have less information end up losing quite a bit of money -- sometimes up to thousands of dollars."
Nearly three-quarters of the insurance-buying public falls into this 'illiterate' category. In ongoing research conducted by Saurabh Bhargava, an assistant professor of economics at Carnegie Mellon, and his colleagues, 71 percent of people surveyed couldn't define the basic cost-sharing features of a health care plan, including terms like "deductible,""copay,""coinsurance" and "out-of-pocket max." (Be honest. Do you really know what a deductible is? If not, check out our cheat sheet below.)
What's more, Bhargava's team found that *people who didn't understand how health insurance worked picked plans that were worse for them, and tended to overpay for their health care needs. *
The biggest mistake? A lot of people believe that the higher tier (read: more expensive) plans correlate to a better quality of health care.
"People choosing the more generous plan thought that plan gave them access to fancier doctors and hospitals," Handel said, a notion that his research found to be patently false.
If you’re a healthy person, but you choose a very intensive plan with a lot of coverage, you’re basically implicitly subsidizing all the sick people.
Instead, the tiers represent the way you'll split costs with your provider, not how luxurious each plan is. "If you’re really healthy, regardless of your income, you might be better off choosing a less generous plan," Bhargava said.
Another big problem is that people prefer paying a predictable premium to paying unexpected out-of-pocket costs, even if it means paying more for their plan in the long run. In Bhargava's study, this meant employees were willing to spend $500 more in premiums to reduce their deductible by $250 -- clearly a bad deal over time.
*Ready to take the plunge? Here's what plan you should pick if... *
-*You're a young, healthy person.*-
If you're young and healthy, you should almost always pick the low-coverage option, Handel and Bhargava said. "In the Affordable Care Act, that would be the catastrophic plan or the bronze plan," Handel said. "In an employer [plan], that would be whatever high-deductible option they’re offering."
*The rationale:* From a financial perspective, low-tier plans still have reasonably low out-of-pocket maximums, and as a young, healthy person, your chance of hitting that out-of-pocket max -- basically the worst-case scenario -- is low.
Moreover, if you choose a more expensive plan with higher coverage that you don't actually need, you're pooling yourself with the sick people who do need that coverage. That means your premiums, which cover the average costs of everyone enrolled in your plan, are likely to go up over time.
"If you’re a healthy person, but you choose a very intensive plan with a lot of coverage, you’re basically implicitly subsidizing all the sick people," Handel said. "Most people don’t know that. But that’s definitely the case."
That said, before you default to the lowest coverage option, consider the network of doctors included in your plan. If your favorite doctors aren't covered, and you can't stomach the idea of switching providers, it might not be worth paying non-network doctors out of your own pocket just to get lower premiums.
-*You have a chronic health issue.*-
Let's say you have diabetes, and know in advance that you'll be using a lot of health care next year. You still shouldn't default to the highest-tier plan. If you're already close to the out-pocket-maximum, you aren't likely to take much of a hit by selecting a plan with a lower deducible. Instead, it might make sense to pick your plan based on whether your doctors are in-network or not.
*The rationale:* If you have a chronic condition or expect to use a lot of health care, you probably already know which doctors you want to see. So look them up and see which plan covers them, or opt for a broader network in general. PPO plans are usually the more flexible type, with biggest networks.
-You're a middle-aged, healthy adult with two kids.-
Again, just because you can pay for premium health care doesn't mean you should. People say, "I'm a healthy person, but I want to make sure that my family always has the best coverage on every dimension, so I’m just going to pick whatever the premium option is," Handler explained.
Unfortunately, that's not how health insurance works. If you or a family member on your plan has a chronic condition, or if you anticipate using a lot of health care, by all means, upgrade. But before you do, it's worth comparing your expected health care expenses to each prospective plan's out-of-pocket maximums, as well as researching your provider networks to see if your doctors are covered -- just like you would if you were a single person.
"A lot of times, a wealthy person will say, 'Oh, I don’t really understand insurance, but I know that I want to be able to see the doctors I want to see and I don’t want to get a bill for $200,000,'" Handler said. "They’re really just picking the fanciest thing, and in the process, often losing money by doing so."
*The rationale: *When you select a premium plan, what you're paying for is additional cost sharing, not improved health care quality. "What should determine whether or not you're willing to pay for the more generous plan isn’t whether or not you want a luxurious health care experience, but whether or not you expect to use a lot of care," Bhargava said.
-*You're perfectly happy with last year's plan.*-
Welcome to the financial hellhole that is consumer inertia. If you're like the majority of consumers, you find a plan you like and stick with it without paying attention to rising premiums or coverage changes from year to year. Alas, this set-it-and-forget-it mentally, while common, isn't the most financially responsible.
In 2014, people who stayed in the cheapest and most popular plan saw an average increase in premiums of 9.5 percent, the Upshot reported last year.
"Overwhelmingly, people passively remain in their same plan year to year, even when there are significant changes to plan prices and people’s health changes," Bhargava said. "I think people just don’t recognize that they’re leaving that kind of money on the table."
And even when people do realize they're losing money, these deeply entrenched beliefs are tough to uproot. So difficult, in fact, that Bhargava couldn't convince his own mother to pick a more cost-effective plan.
"I think my mom’s exact words were, 'Well, your research doesn’t apply to everyone,'" he said.
-*Ready to pick a plan? Ask yourself these three questions about each plan you're considering:*-
*1. What do I expect to pay?*
· Your expected costs should basically be a combination of your premium and your anticipated out-of-pocket health expenses.
*2. Worst-case scenario, what will I pay? (This is your out-of-pocket max.)*
· One plan might have lower premiums, but if the out-of-pocket maximum is astronomical, that's worth considering in your decision-making process.
*3. How broad is my provider network? Can I see the doctors I want to see?*
· If you have doctors or specialists you can't live without, check and see if the are covered by each plan.
-*Want to be a savvy health insurance consumer? Here are the terms you need to know:*-
Term
Definition
*Coinsurance*
The amount pay after you reach your deductible, calculated as a percentage. For example, if your plan pays 80 percent of in-network surgical services after your deductible, and your deductible is $1,100, you'll need to pay the first $1,100 of the surgery before you start receiving the discounted coinsurance rate of 20 percent.
*Cost sharing*
How your plan is split between you and your insurer. For you, this means your deductible, copay, coinsurance and out-of-pocket expenses, but not premiums, out-of-network or uncovered health costs. A low cost-sharing plan usually means that the insurer incurs more risk (and you pay more). A high cost-sharing plan usually means that you incur more risk (and pay less).
*Copayment*
A fixed fee you pay at the end of a doctor's appointment or other covered health service. (You can use your HSA or FSA to pay for this.)
*Deductible*
How much you owe for covered health care services each year before your insurance plan starts footing the bill. For example, if your annual deductible is $1,100, you need to spend $1,100 on covered services before your insurance company starts paying a percentage of the cost. Note: Preventative care and routine exams are often covered by insurance companies regardless, so a high-deductible plan doesn't mean you're automatically going to be paying more out of pocket.
*FSA (flexible spending account)*
Pretax money you set aside for health expenses, such as copayments, prescriptions, glasses, etc. This is usually use-it-or-lose-it money, so it's smart to take a look at your health expenses in the previous year and calculate how much you want to put in your FSA accordingly.
*HSA (health savings account)*
Pre-tax money (in most states) you set aside for covered health expenses, such as copayments, prescriptions, glasses, etc. To be eligible for an HSA, you need to have a high-deductible health insurance plan (at least a 1,300 deductible for an individual in 2015). HSAs are different than FSAs because they roll over, so you can essentially turn yours into a medical IRA if you so choose.
*Out-of-pocket maximum*
This is most you will possibly have to pay -- basically the worst-case scenario -- for health care in a given year. (Keep in mind that some plans have different in-network and out-of-network maximums.) Once you've reached your out-of-pocket maximum (which includes deductibles, coinsurance and copays), your insurance company will pay for 100 percent of your covered health care services.
*Premium*
The amount you pay for your health insurance plan. You probably pay this amount directly out of your paycheck every pay period. You should compare the yearly cost of your plan premiums when picking an insurer -- this number adds up.
*PPO (preferred provider organization)*
PPO plans are generally the most flexible variety. You have more in-network options and your plan likely covers a portion of seeing an out-of-network provider. Still, opting for in-network doctors almost always saves you money.
*EPO (exclusive provider organization)*
Similar to an HMO, you must use in-network doctors, but you don't need referrals to see specialists.
*HMO (health maintenance organization)*
Similar to an EPO, you must use in-network doctors and usually need a referral from your primary-care doctor to see an in-network specialist.
*Also on HuffPost:*
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 13 hours ago.
↧
3 industries affected most by Kentucky's Medicaid expansion
Nearly 74,000 low-wage Kentucky workers got health insurance last year as a result of the state's Medicaid expansion, according to U.S. Census data collected by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. Those workers make up more than half of the 137,220 Medicaid-eligible adults who gained health coverage in 2014, the data showed. "While most of the adults gaining insurance are working, they are in jobs that do not offer them affordable coverage," according to a news release from the Kentucky Center…
Reported by bizjournals 12 hours ago.
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