Posts Tagged ‘ health insurance ’
Fox Business Takes On WellPoint…in case you missed it
March 31st, 2010. By AbiK
“Bad public relations move at a very bad time…” Check it out:
Shopping the best Health Insurance deal? Maybe you can’t
February 26th, 2010. By AbiK
On the heels of posting about the recent WellPoint/Anthem health insurance rate hikes, an American Medical Association (AMA) report on competition in the health insurance industry came out this week.
Guess what? AMA President Dr. J. James Rohack summed it up as: “The near total collapse of competitive and dynamic health insurance markets has not helped patients. As demonstrated by proposed rate hikes in California and other states, health insurers have not shown greater efficiency and lower health care costs. Instead patient premiums, deductibles and co-payments have soared without an increase in benefits in these increasingly consolidated markets.”
The report, Competition in Health Insurance: A Comprehensive Study of US Markets, looked at data from 43 states. Interestingly, in 24 of the states, the two largest insurers had a combined market share of 70% or more. Not a consumer packaged goods company out there that wouldn’t love to be sitting in that position.
Also according to the report:
- In 54% of the metro markets, at least one insurer had a market share of 50% or more
- In 92% of metro markets, at least one insurer had a 30% or more market share
The best quote from the Rohack news release is this though—in reference to the lack of competition within the health insurance industry—it “is clearly not in the best economic interest of patients”.
No kidding.
WellPoint, Anthem Blue Cross rate hikes: Bloodless Economics?
February 16th, 2010. By Hunter West
The mind-boggling increase in healthcare premiums promoted to policyholders of WellPoint Inc. and its subsidiary, Anthem Blue Cross comes down to a central question, according to a story today in the New York Times…
Is this the bloodless economics of risk, or a corporate culture of greed?
In Los Angeles Bernhard Punzet opened up his envelope from Anthem Blue Cross and saw that Anthem intended to increase his insurance premiums by 34 percent. His partner’s would rise by 36 percent.
Joshua Needle, a trial lawyer in Santa Monica, got a similar shock when he saw that Anthem intended to increase his premium by 33 percent. “I have no problem with profits,” he said in comments published this morning in the New York Times, “but they’re maximizing profits without any concern that they have a captive audience.”
He is not alone. About 700,000 Anthem Blue Cross clients are reeling with the news that they may be facing increases averaging 25 percent. That’s the average. A full 25 percent of policyholders are facing premium increases of anywhere from 35 to 39 percent.
That’s four times the rate of medical inflation.
Needless to say, consumers are screaming bloody murder, while advocates of public healthcare are using the issue as fodder for a renewed push behind President Obama’s universal health care reform.
The increase has been delayed by two months, at the request of the insurance commissioner in California, in order Read the rest of this entry »
Get Ready for the Social Security Disability Insurance Tsunami
August 10th, 2009. By janem
Increasingly, as aging and injured baby boomers make claims, a Social Security Disabilities Insurance tsunami will likely make landfall soon. Compound that with the recession and at least 10 states ready to furlough hundreds of employees who process initial benefit claims: more waves are predicted.
According to unions.org, two out of every three Social Security Disabilities Insurance applicants initially are denied. And the Associated Press reports that since last October, the number of people waiting to have a claim processed has jumped a whopping 30 percent, from about 556,000 eight months ago to more than 736,000 in July of this year. Some applicants wait years to resolve their claim, but about 61 percent of those who appeal are ultimately approved for benefits. So if you are initially denied, DON’T GIVE UP.
What You Can Do—Here are some great tips from disabilitysecrets.com:
1: Take everything you are told about your Social Security Disability claim with at least one grain of salt.
2: Get copies of your medical records and supply these with your SSD or SSI disability application.
3: Respond to letters and notices regarding you disability case promptly–from social security, DDS, or your attorney.
4: The rule of three always applies–for those who are applying for benefits or appealing a denial.
5: If you are denied for Social Security Disability or SSI, you will need to file an appeal.
6: Call DDS for updates on your SSD or SSI claim, not the local Social Security office.
7: If you have dire financial problems and have a Disability case, let people know.
8: If you have child support obligations which you cannot fulfill, ask your attorney or representative to help.
9: Contact your congressman or senator to help you with your Social Security Disability or SSI claim.
10: If you have been approved for Social Security Disability or SSI, you will receive…
11: Get your doctor to write a supporting statement for your Social Security Disability or ssi case.
12: Make sure your doctor REALLY DOES support your SSD or SSI disability case.
AND 2 more important tips: you may want to consider legal help:
13: Representation will increase your chance of winning Social Security Disability or SSI benefits.
14: If you have representation on a Social Security Disability or SSI disability case, keep your attorney fully informed.
Paying Out of Network the Aetna Way: How Out-of-Network Charges are Determined
May 9th, 2009. By LucyC
If you’re wondering how some of those big-name insurance companies figure out out-of-network medical fees, look no further than the Aetna website; better yet, read on—we did the search & click for you…
We blogged about the company Ingenix being a part of UnitedHealth. Aetna does disclose the relationship between UHC and Ingenix and the recent settlements with the NY Attorney General’s office. It won’t increase how much reimbursement you’ll get on your out-of-network medical expenses, but hey, at least they’re upfront about it. Read the rest of this entry »
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