Pre-existing Condition Credits on Short Term Health Insurance Plans
Unlike traditional major medical plans, short term health insurance policies do not provide pre-existing conditions credits. Simply put, pre-existing conditions are not covered.
Although short term plans can provide a good option to fill a gap in coverage, I would recommend going with a traditional major medical health insurance plan if you are eligible and can […]
Assurant offers alternative to Ohio’s high risk pool
As Ohio’s high risk pool continues to accept new members, the window of opportunity to enroll on this plan closes more and more every day. The high risk pool, which is administered by Medical Mutual of Ohio, was created as a result of the health care reform bill and is intended to provide affordable coverage […]
Group plans to cost more in 2011
As reported by the American Medical News (10/11, Berry), “Workers are expected to pay more for health care coverage in 2011 than in 2010 as part of the steepening rise in premiums and employees’ share of the cost. Experts say that increase could keep workers from getting the care they need.” The “average cost of […]
HHS unable to waive high risk pool requirements
As posted on CQ.com, (10/9, Adams, subscription required) it is reported that HHS (US Department of Health and Human Services) “officials do not have the power to change a requirement that people who enroll in the high-risk pools created by the new health care law must have been uninsured for six months, an agency spokeswoman […]
Federal judge upholds health care reform
In what is determined to be the first ruling regarding the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a Michigan federal judge ruled that Congress has the constitutional authority to require individuals to have health insurance or face penalties.
U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh said of his decision: “The minimum coverage provision, which […]
Medical costs on the rise
Year after year it seems that healthcare related costs are on the rise. Some reasons for the increased spending includes: increased utilization of services, an aging population and the development of new drugs and technologies.
Recently, a number of stories have documented some reasons for rising premiums, including:
A recent report from AARP says that the retail prices […]
Cost of Healthcare Reform
A recent report that was released by the office of the chief Medicare actuary claims that healthcare reform will have a negligible effect on total national health care spending over the next decade. The report counters both the argument that reform will lead to explosive cost increases and the argument that it will slow these […]
Uninsured stats according to the US Census Bureau
During the week of September 13th, the US Census Bureau released their annual report that discloses poverty, income and the uninsured. As for those figures relating to health insurance, please see below:
The total number of uninsured increased to 50.6 million, up 4.3 million from last year.
That means the uninsured rate is now 16.7 percent.
The number […]
Healthcare Reform Changes and the Impact on Grandfathered Plans
Grandfathered plans are required to meet some, but not all, of the health insurance reform changes as described in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. A “Grandfathered Health Plan” is defined as a group health plan or health insurance coverage in which an individual was enrolled on or before March 23, 2010. To learn […]
Recent Healthcare Reform Changes!
On September 23, 2010 new laws regarding health insurance were enacted as a result of the healthcare reform bill. Since then the following changes have been implemented:
Lifetime limits: Health insurance plans may not impose dollar limits on essential health benefits.
Rescissions: No rescissions are permitted, except in cases of fraud or misrepresentation.
Coverage for adult children: Children […]
