LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada officials are hoping that additional advertisements, health fairs and other efforts will encourage more residents to sign up for subsidized health insurance during the last few days of this enrollment season. The deadline to choose a plan using the federal HealthCare.gov website is Friday. This enrollment period is about half […]
Reported by Seattle Times 16 hours ago.
Nevada boosts ads ahead of health insurance sign up deadline
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North Carolina governor seeks ‘Obamacare’ deadline extension
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s governor is asking the federal government to extend the enrollment period for Affordable Care Act insurance. The state is among 39 served by the federal HealthCare.gov website, and the deadline for signups on the site is Friday. Most states that run their own health insurance websites have later deadlines. […]
Reported by Seattle Times 15 hours ago.
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Hogan urges reauthorization of children’s health program
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is calling on congressional leaders to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Hogan sent a letter to leaders of both parties in Congress on Tuesday. Hogan says the program serves more than 146,000 low-income children. If Congress fails to reauthorize funding, Hogan says Maryland will run out […]
Reported by Seattle Times 13 hours ago.
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In letter to Congress, Hickenlooper and other governors say CHIP should be “the one thing we can all agree on”
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper -- in what has become something of a trademark move -- signed onto a letter to Congress by a bipartisan group of governors urging the renewal of the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Reported by Denver Post 13 hours ago.
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Deadline is Friday to enroll in NYS health care starting Jan. 1
New Yorkers who want to choose a health insurance policy with coverage starting Jan. 1 have until Friday to sign up on the state insurance marketplace.
Reported by Newsday 13 hours ago.
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Why People are Dropping Obamacare and Joining Healthshare Programs Instead
HSA for America reports that over 50% of its clients not receiving a subsidy on the health insurance exchange are choosing to join a lower-cost healthshare program rather than sign up for health insurance during this year’s open enrollment period.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (PRWEB) December 13, 2017
Online health insurance agency HSA for America reports that thousands of Americans are dropping traditional health insurance plans and joining healthshare programs instead.
First started over 30 years ago, healthshare plans have paid millions of dollars for hospital and other medical expenses and are gaining thousands of new members every week. Monthly fees are typically about half that of health insurance premiums, and deductibles are often much lower. With the average family not receiving a subsidy now paying over $1,400 a month for the least expensive health insurance plan available, most families are able to cut their monthly costs by $600 or more.
Healthshare programs are a non-insurance way for people to share medical expenses and legally opt out of Obamacare. In a healthshare program, members pay a monthly fee, which is then used to pay eligible medical expenses for its members.
Members of healthshare programs are not subject to the mandate requiring most Americans to carry health insurance, nor are they subject to the tax penalty for not carrying approved coverage.
Healthshares are offered by medical cost sharing organizations called health care sharing ministries (HCSMs). They also typically contain a faith-based component in which enrollees must agree to a statement of belief or principles. Some programs are strictly Christian-based, while others are more secular. In order to meet the requirements for exemption from Obamacare, they are required to (1) have continuously been around since prior to December 31, 1999 and (2) be a non-profit 501(c) organization.
According to Wiley Long, president of HSA for America, choosing to join a healthshare program is the smarter choice for many families. He explains, “The costs of Obamacare disproportionately fall on the small business owners, self-employed individuals and others not covered by a corporate plan or government-provided plan. Many people find these programs simply meet their needs better.” This group, after all, is less likely to have the kind of disposable income to pay such a high premium.
To give a real-life example, Long says, “We have a long-term client whose premium has just about doubled every year for the last three years. He has had to switch plans every year, until this year he found out his premium is going from $753 for 2017 up to $1176 for his 2018 renewal offer on a $6700 deductible HSA plan. We instead enrolled him in an Aliera Unity Healthshare Bronze with $2,500 MSRA for just $700.71 a month.”
However, healthshare plans are not a good choice for everyone. Because they have limitations on what they will pay for pre-existing conditions, Long says that many people are better off staying with a more expensive Obamacare plan.
While the Affordable Care Act requires most Americans to carry approved health insurance, there is a way a way to opt out. Thousands of Americans are joining healthshare programs as a way to protect themselves from the risk of high medical expenses, while reducing the monthly cost they would otherwise be spending on health insurance.
About HSA for America
HSA for America has helped thousands of individuals and families protect themselves from the risk of unexpected medical expenses since 2001. They represent insurance companies including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Healthnet, and others, as well as healthshare organizations like Aliera, Altrua, Medi-share, and Sedera.
Instant quotes on health insurance and healthshare programs are available at their website: http://www.HSAforAmerica.com. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (PRWEB) December 13, 2017
Online health insurance agency HSA for America reports that thousands of Americans are dropping traditional health insurance plans and joining healthshare programs instead.
First started over 30 years ago, healthshare plans have paid millions of dollars for hospital and other medical expenses and are gaining thousands of new members every week. Monthly fees are typically about half that of health insurance premiums, and deductibles are often much lower. With the average family not receiving a subsidy now paying over $1,400 a month for the least expensive health insurance plan available, most families are able to cut their monthly costs by $600 or more.
Healthshare programs are a non-insurance way for people to share medical expenses and legally opt out of Obamacare. In a healthshare program, members pay a monthly fee, which is then used to pay eligible medical expenses for its members.
Members of healthshare programs are not subject to the mandate requiring most Americans to carry health insurance, nor are they subject to the tax penalty for not carrying approved coverage.
Healthshares are offered by medical cost sharing organizations called health care sharing ministries (HCSMs). They also typically contain a faith-based component in which enrollees must agree to a statement of belief or principles. Some programs are strictly Christian-based, while others are more secular. In order to meet the requirements for exemption from Obamacare, they are required to (1) have continuously been around since prior to December 31, 1999 and (2) be a non-profit 501(c) organization.
According to Wiley Long, president of HSA for America, choosing to join a healthshare program is the smarter choice for many families. He explains, “The costs of Obamacare disproportionately fall on the small business owners, self-employed individuals and others not covered by a corporate plan or government-provided plan. Many people find these programs simply meet their needs better.” This group, after all, is less likely to have the kind of disposable income to pay such a high premium.
To give a real-life example, Long says, “We have a long-term client whose premium has just about doubled every year for the last three years. He has had to switch plans every year, until this year he found out his premium is going from $753 for 2017 up to $1176 for his 2018 renewal offer on a $6700 deductible HSA plan. We instead enrolled him in an Aliera Unity Healthshare Bronze with $2,500 MSRA for just $700.71 a month.”
However, healthshare plans are not a good choice for everyone. Because they have limitations on what they will pay for pre-existing conditions, Long says that many people are better off staying with a more expensive Obamacare plan.
While the Affordable Care Act requires most Americans to carry approved health insurance, there is a way a way to opt out. Thousands of Americans are joining healthshare programs as a way to protect themselves from the risk of high medical expenses, while reducing the monthly cost they would otherwise be spending on health insurance.
About HSA for America
HSA for America has helped thousands of individuals and families protect themselves from the risk of unexpected medical expenses since 2001. They represent insurance companies including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Healthnet, and others, as well as healthshare organizations like Aliera, Altrua, Medi-share, and Sedera.
Instant quotes on health insurance and healthshare programs are available at their website: http://www.HSAforAmerica.com. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
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Weigh short-term costs vs long-term value when looking for a new health insurance partner
While Washington continues to grapple with sweeping health insurance changes, employers continue their work in controlling their own health plan costs. Regardless of size or industry, employers annually review strategies and products as they seek new ways to control health care costs. If premiums for their current plan are rising, employers may be tempted to switch to a less costly plan for the coming year. This short-term view may help balance the budget, but may not effectively address the challenge…
Reported by bizjournals 1 day ago.
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Watch out for these holiday mishaps
Holiday activities, such as baking, sledding and shopping are staples of the season, but they also present ample opportunities for accidents. Amino, a healthcare assistance company based in San Francisco, analyzed health insurance claims from November 2016 to January 2017 to determine the most common holiday-related injuries. Ice and snow contributed to most of the accidents – 29,700 fell because of ice and snow, 9,700 were diagnosed with superficial frostbite, and 8,900 hurt themselves sledding. Cooking…
Reported by bizjournals 1 day ago.
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Congress must make children's health a priority | Editorial
Gov. John Bel Edwards and 11 other governors sent a letter urging Congress to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program right away.
Reported by nola.com 1 day ago.
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40 Square Cooperative Solutions Extends Health Plan Open Enrollment Deadline
Extended deadline will give Minnesota farm families opportunity to enroll for 2018 coverage
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (PRWEB) December 13, 2017
Today 40 Square Cooperative Solutions (40 Square) announced that due to overwhelming demand, it has extended its health insurance open enrollment deadline to December 20, giving farmers an additional five days to enroll in a health insurance plan through the co-op’s health plan consortium.
“Late harvest posed a challenge for open enrollment this year,” said Charlene Vrieze, project manager for 40 Square. “Farmers told us they were committed to signing up for a 40 Square health plan, but needed to tend to their crops first. Now that harvest is complete, we’ve been swamped with enrollments and recognized additional time will allow every farmer interested in 40 Square to get signed up. It’s been a great problem to have.”
40 Square began organizing for open enrollment season after the state legislature recognized the need for a new health plan solution for farmers in 2016. Earlier this month the 40 Square Board of Directors officially approved the release of its health plan consortium for 2018 coverage, solidifying a 15-year mission to offer cooperative health plan choices to members of the Minnesota farm community.
Insurance agents are available for walk-in enrollments at cooperative locations in Waconia, Winthrop, Lake Crystal and Lamberton through December 15, and by personal appointments with local agents through December 20. A full list of agent availability, locations and times are listed at 40square.coop.
“We encourage every farmer to visit our website or reach out by phone if they want to work with one of our agent partners to get signed-up. We’re dedicated to ensuring every farm family in Minnesota has the opportunity to enroll in a health plan they will own for years to come,” said Vrieze.
For more information, visit 40Square.coop or call 844-205-9579.
About 40 Square Cooperative Solutions
40 Square is a health plan cooperative providing Minnesota farm families the control to
manage their health care. The initiative was founded by Cooperative Network, the Minnesota and Wisconsin state trade association of cooperatives, and United Farmers Cooperative (UFC), an agricultural supply cooperative based in Winthrop, Minnesota. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (PRWEB) December 13, 2017
Today 40 Square Cooperative Solutions (40 Square) announced that due to overwhelming demand, it has extended its health insurance open enrollment deadline to December 20, giving farmers an additional five days to enroll in a health insurance plan through the co-op’s health plan consortium.
“Late harvest posed a challenge for open enrollment this year,” said Charlene Vrieze, project manager for 40 Square. “Farmers told us they were committed to signing up for a 40 Square health plan, but needed to tend to their crops first. Now that harvest is complete, we’ve been swamped with enrollments and recognized additional time will allow every farmer interested in 40 Square to get signed up. It’s been a great problem to have.”
40 Square began organizing for open enrollment season after the state legislature recognized the need for a new health plan solution for farmers in 2016. Earlier this month the 40 Square Board of Directors officially approved the release of its health plan consortium for 2018 coverage, solidifying a 15-year mission to offer cooperative health plan choices to members of the Minnesota farm community.
Insurance agents are available for walk-in enrollments at cooperative locations in Waconia, Winthrop, Lake Crystal and Lamberton through December 15, and by personal appointments with local agents through December 20. A full list of agent availability, locations and times are listed at 40square.coop.
“We encourage every farmer to visit our website or reach out by phone if they want to work with one of our agent partners to get signed-up. We’re dedicated to ensuring every farm family in Minnesota has the opportunity to enroll in a health plan they will own for years to come,” said Vrieze.
For more information, visit 40Square.coop or call 844-205-9579.
About 40 Square Cooperative Solutions
40 Square is a health plan cooperative providing Minnesota farm families the control to
manage their health care. The initiative was founded by Cooperative Network, the Minnesota and Wisconsin state trade association of cooperatives, and United Farmers Cooperative (UFC), an agricultural supply cooperative based in Winthrop, Minnesota. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
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Obamacare sign-ups rise to 1 million as pace picks up before deadline
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The number of consumers who signed up for 2018 Obamacare health insurance next year surpassed the 1 million mark in the second-to-last week of enrollment on the federally-run HealthCare.gov website, picking up the pace ahead of the Dec. 15 deadline.
Reported by Reuters 21 hours ago.
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Obamacare sign-ups rise but overall enrollment set to fall
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The number of consumers who signed up for 2018 Obamacare health insurance surpassed the 1 million mark in the second-to-last week of enrollment, the government said on Wednesday, but it did not appear to be enough to grow the program.
Reported by Reuters 19 hours ago.
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Obamacare Sign-ups Rise but Overall Enrollment Set to Fall
The number of consumers who signed up for 2018 Obamacare health insurance surpassed the 1 million mark in the second-to-last week of enrollment, the government said on Wednesday, but it did not appear to be enough to grow the program.
Reported by Newsmax 19 hours ago.
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26-year-olds face challenges as they fall off parents' health insurance
Marguerite Moniot felt frustrated and flummoxed. Despite the many hours she had spent in front of the computer this year reading consumer reviews of health insurance plans offered on the individual market in Virginia, she still did not know what plan was right for her.
Reported by CNNMoney 20 hours ago.
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26-year-olds face insurance challenges
For young adults, buying their own health insurance for the first time is anything but simple. Now, Trump administration revisions to the law and congressional bills injecting uncertainty into insurance markets has made the task much more difficult.
Reported by CNNMoney 17 hours ago.
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HealthCare.gov Enrollment Ends Friday. Sign-ups Likely to Trail Last Year's
A shorter enrollment period and big cuts in the federal budget for outreach are taking a toll, say those helping with health insurance sign-ups. Deadlines for most state exchanges are a little later.
Reported by NPR 16 hours ago.
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More than 26,000 confirm insurance plans so far
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont officials say more than 26,000 people have confirmed health insurance plans during the open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act. Sean Sheehan, spokesman for the Vermont Department of Health Access, said Wednesday that about 1,300 of those people were either new enrollees or people who had previous coverage and […]
Reported by Seattle Times 16 hours ago.
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Strong Demand for Health Insurance as Deadline Looms
Nearly 4.7 million people have signed up for health insurance despite cutbacks in federal efforts to promote enrollment under the Affordable Care Act.
Reported by NYTimes.com 13 hours ago.
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Apollo Munich eyes Rs 150 crore from its new product
Apollo Munich Health Insurance (AMHI), a joint venture between Apollo Hospitals Group and global reinsurance company from Germany, Munich Re, is eyeing Rs 150 crore premium income in the next 12-18 months from its new product Health Wallet.
The company has introduced a new category WINSURE with its new insurance plan Health Wallet.
Krishnan Ramachandran, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Munich Health Insurance said, "With this, we have created a new category and we have been getting good response for this. This product offers Reserve Benefit that pays for a variety of healthcare expenses."
Calling it a next-gen product, Ramachandran said, it solves problems, including affordability issues that come when one gets closer to retirement.
Health Wallet creates a reserve kitty for the customers and that can be used for various expenses such as speech therapy, vaccinations, contact lenses, spectacles and so on.
Almost 65-70% of the total healthcare spend is incurred out of pocket, and also under insurance is quite prevalent, he said.
"We have invested heavily in technology and online training. When it comes to sales, there is lot of digital influence, and more than 30% of our consumers renew online," he said.
The size of the health insurance industry is Rs 34,000 crore, and Ramachandran is confident that it will touch Rs 1 lakh crore in the next five years. He also sees huge potential in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
While the industry is growing at 18-20% Y-o-Y, the company is growing at 32%. AMHI closed the last fiscal year with gross premium of Rs 1,300 crore, and it expects to close this year above Rs 1,700 crore.
"We have 158 branches and there are 11 in Karnataka. We have been profitable in the last three years. We are planning to add 35-40 branches in the next three years," Ramachandran said, adding that the company has a total workforce of 3,500. Reported by Deccan Herald 1 hour ago.
The company has introduced a new category WINSURE with its new insurance plan Health Wallet.
Krishnan Ramachandran, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Munich Health Insurance said, "With this, we have created a new category and we have been getting good response for this. This product offers Reserve Benefit that pays for a variety of healthcare expenses."
Calling it a next-gen product, Ramachandran said, it solves problems, including affordability issues that come when one gets closer to retirement.
Health Wallet creates a reserve kitty for the customers and that can be used for various expenses such as speech therapy, vaccinations, contact lenses, spectacles and so on.
Almost 65-70% of the total healthcare spend is incurred out of pocket, and also under insurance is quite prevalent, he said.
"We have invested heavily in technology and online training. When it comes to sales, there is lot of digital influence, and more than 30% of our consumers renew online," he said.
The size of the health insurance industry is Rs 34,000 crore, and Ramachandran is confident that it will touch Rs 1 lakh crore in the next five years. He also sees huge potential in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
While the industry is growing at 18-20% Y-o-Y, the company is growing at 32%. AMHI closed the last fiscal year with gross premium of Rs 1,300 crore, and it expects to close this year above Rs 1,700 crore.
"We have 158 branches and there are 11 in Karnataka. We have been profitable in the last three years. We are planning to add 35-40 branches in the next three years," Ramachandran said, adding that the company has a total workforce of 3,500. Reported by Deccan Herald 1 hour ago.
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Embrace Pet Insurance Offers Tips to Include Dogs Safely in a Holiday Celebration
Five tips to include your dog safely in your holiday celebration this year
CLEVELAND (PRWEB) December 14, 2017
Would you like to include your pup in your holiday celebrations this year? If your dog is the kind of pooch who really loves having company over, pet blogger Roxanne Hawn has some great ideas for you on how to include your dog in a variety of ways.
1. Make Sure Your Dog is Healthy
“If you have older dogs or ones who’ve been recently ill, have your veterinarian check your dog out before the holiday season begins,” says Jenna Mahan, Director of Claims at Cleveland-based Embrace Pet Insurance. Arthritis pain, an ear infection, or stomach problems can flair up resulting in an otherwise friendly dog becoming anything but. Embrace processes a higher number of claims than usual for vomiting and lethargy during the holidays.
2. Exercise Dogs Before Guests Arrive
Getting plenty of exercise before everyone puts on their best clothes and manners is a good start. Don’t overdo it because some dogs make worse decisions if they are overly tired, but a good, brisk walk or some fetch can take the edge off high-energy pups.
3. Greet Guests Outside
If weather allows, think about taking your dog outside on a leash to greet guests as they arrive. This alleviates some of the stress of unfamiliar guests coming through the door, such as jumping or urination due to the doorbell ringing, etc.
4. Plan Appropriate Activities
Always supervise your dog around guests – especially children. Look for ways your dog can take part without necessarily letting guests run the game. Here are a few examples:· Have your dog show off his tricks for guests. You ask for and reward the trick. Everyone gets to tell him how smart he is.
· Play fetch. If your dog is a good fetcher and can give back the ball without being too slobbery, then let guests throw the ball for him outside. With little kids, have them sit in your lap and help them throw the ball.
· Play find it. If your dog knows how to hunt around the house to find treats or toys, allow guests (again, great for kids) to hide items, then send the dog to find them. Just be sure the hiding spots are safe. For example, you don’t want your canine pal rooting through gifts or everyone’s coats for his favorite ball.
5. Give Food-Stuffed Toys During the Meal
Give your dog a break from the celebration. Hand over a well-stuffed food toy – either inside a crate or in the safe zone in your home – during the meal, so that everyone can relax and enjoy holiday treats.
Some dogs are naturally social. Some are not. If your dog is not particularly social, never force them to interact with guests. Instead, give them a safe zone in the house that is away from the noise and commotion, where they will not be bothered by anyone and they can relax.
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About Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace Pet Insurance is an Ohio-based pet health insurance provider, offering comprehensive, personalized insurance products for dogs and cats across the United States. Embrace is consistently ranked as one of the highest-rated U.S. pet insurance companies, and is a proud member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. Embrace is the only company to offer a diminishing deductible feature, the Healthy Pet Deductible, and continues to innovate and improve the pet insurance experience for pet parents across the country. For more information about Embrace Pet Insurance, visit http://www.embracepetinsurance.com or call (800) 511-9172. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
CLEVELAND (PRWEB) December 14, 2017
Would you like to include your pup in your holiday celebrations this year? If your dog is the kind of pooch who really loves having company over, pet blogger Roxanne Hawn has some great ideas for you on how to include your dog in a variety of ways.
1. Make Sure Your Dog is Healthy
“If you have older dogs or ones who’ve been recently ill, have your veterinarian check your dog out before the holiday season begins,” says Jenna Mahan, Director of Claims at Cleveland-based Embrace Pet Insurance. Arthritis pain, an ear infection, or stomach problems can flair up resulting in an otherwise friendly dog becoming anything but. Embrace processes a higher number of claims than usual for vomiting and lethargy during the holidays.
2. Exercise Dogs Before Guests Arrive
Getting plenty of exercise before everyone puts on their best clothes and manners is a good start. Don’t overdo it because some dogs make worse decisions if they are overly tired, but a good, brisk walk or some fetch can take the edge off high-energy pups.
3. Greet Guests Outside
If weather allows, think about taking your dog outside on a leash to greet guests as they arrive. This alleviates some of the stress of unfamiliar guests coming through the door, such as jumping or urination due to the doorbell ringing, etc.
4. Plan Appropriate Activities
Always supervise your dog around guests – especially children. Look for ways your dog can take part without necessarily letting guests run the game. Here are a few examples:· Have your dog show off his tricks for guests. You ask for and reward the trick. Everyone gets to tell him how smart he is.
· Play fetch. If your dog is a good fetcher and can give back the ball without being too slobbery, then let guests throw the ball for him outside. With little kids, have them sit in your lap and help them throw the ball.
· Play find it. If your dog knows how to hunt around the house to find treats or toys, allow guests (again, great for kids) to hide items, then send the dog to find them. Just be sure the hiding spots are safe. For example, you don’t want your canine pal rooting through gifts or everyone’s coats for his favorite ball.
5. Give Food-Stuffed Toys During the Meal
Give your dog a break from the celebration. Hand over a well-stuffed food toy – either inside a crate or in the safe zone in your home – during the meal, so that everyone can relax and enjoy holiday treats.
Some dogs are naturally social. Some are not. If your dog is not particularly social, never force them to interact with guests. Instead, give them a safe zone in the house that is away from the noise and commotion, where they will not be bothered by anyone and they can relax.
###
About Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace Pet Insurance is an Ohio-based pet health insurance provider, offering comprehensive, personalized insurance products for dogs and cats across the United States. Embrace is consistently ranked as one of the highest-rated U.S. pet insurance companies, and is a proud member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. Embrace is the only company to offer a diminishing deductible feature, the Healthy Pet Deductible, and continues to innovate and improve the pet insurance experience for pet parents across the country. For more information about Embrace Pet Insurance, visit http://www.embracepetinsurance.com or call (800) 511-9172. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
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