Tag: healthcare insurance

Are health insurance companies required to cover home COVID-19 tests?

Logan B.
Health Insurance Companies - COVID-19 home test

The Biden-Harris Administration announced that insurers and group plans must cover FDA-approved tests. This week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that health insurance companies and group plans will be required to cover FDA-approved home COVID-19 tests as of January 15. As of January 15, policyholders will be able to obtain those home tests without out-of-pocket costs. “This is all part of our overall strategy to ramp-up access to easy-to-use, at-home tests at no cost,” said Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Since we took…

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Why Should You Get Health Insurance As An Expat In Canada?

Guest Author
Health Insurance for Expats

For new expats living in Canada, the first thing that you should do is settle all of the necessary living needs before fully enjoying the country and its offers. Consider delaying trips and vacations for a short while and prioritize what is really needed for a convenient long-term stay in the country.  If you don’t know where to start yet, then availing health insurance is the best answer. Although some people are against health insurance mainly because Canada’s healthcare is free and it will just be additional fees to live…

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Employer-sponsored health insurance costs jumped this year

H. Cutner
Health insurance - Costs - money - stethoscope

The average cost of the coverage per worker rose by the largest amount in 2021 that it has since 2010. The average cost of employer-sponsored health insurance per worker saw its highest annual increase this year that it has since 2010. This occurred as the benefit costs rose faster than inflation and the earnings of the workers themselves. The Mercer 2021 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans showed that there was a 6.3 percent average increase in the cost of employer-sponsored health insurance this year. Employees and their families began…

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Nearly three quarters of health insurance markets are highly concentrated, says study

Logan B.
Health insurance markets - metropolitan area

The American Medical Association found that this was the case in 73 percent of MSAs. A new American Medical Association (AMA) study has revealed that almost three out of every four metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are concentrated health insurance markets. The analysis was based on data from the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission. The AMA’s study revealed that 73 percent of MSAs were highly concentrated health insurance markets based on the horizontal merger guidelines from the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In 91 percent…

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How Healthcare Reform May Impact Physicians

Guest Author
How Healthcare Reform May Impact Physicians

Healthcare reform is a touchy topic in America today. Phrases like “single-payer system” and “public option” are tossed around a lot these days, but the emphasis usually centers on the patient experience. However, as the past year has shown us, the functions of our healthcare system are heavily dependent on healthcare workers and physicians who are equally impacted by U.S. healthcare reform. Let’s explore the insurance versus cash-only debate to better understand available insurance alternatives and physician involvement in healthcare reform. Insurance vs. Cash-Only  Healthcare demand is growing rapidly in…

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Affordable Care Act challenge dismissed by Supreme Court

Marc
Affordable Care Act - Supreme Court

The justices turned down the Republican state-led challenge to the health care law. At the end of last week, the Supreme Court dismissed the challenge to the Affordable Care Act. This left the law intact, keeping millions of Americans’ health care coverage in place. The justices rejected the former Trump administration and Republican-led states’ effort to block the law. The challenge to the Affordable Care Act led by Republican states and the former Trump administration sought to have the justices block the law in its entirety. According to the Supreme…

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Health insurance costs are rising in part due to unhealthy Millennials

H. Cutner
Health insurance costs - Millennials

A recent Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Index points to medical claims in younger people. A recent Blue Closs Blue Shield Health Index medical claim study showed that health insurance costs are being driven upward by the frequency of claims from medical conditions among Millennials. Though still young, this generation has a range of conditions reducing quality of life and life expectancy. According to the study, one in every three Millennials has a medical condition that will reduce their quality of life and life expectancy. “Based on these findings, we’re…

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