Tag: healthcare insurance

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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Nearly 3 in 10 Americans lost health insurance last year, says study

H. Cutner
Lost health insurance - person wearing mask looking distressed

A ValuePenguin study revealed that 29 percent lost their plans in 2020, and many remain uninsured. Twenty-nine percent of Americans lost health insurance coverage during 2020, say the results of a ValuePenguin healthcare study. Among those who did lose their coverage, more than half continue to be uninsured in 2021. It should be noted that the study was a limited one, involving only 2,000 participants. Therefore, the accuracy of its representation of nationwide trends has been called into question. That said, the research suggested that 45 percent of consumers seeking…

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The percentage of kids without Pennsylvania health insurance is rising

Nordstrom
Pennsylvania health insurance - children sitting on bench

The trend had been steady in 2018, but the segment of uninsured children in the state has climbed. In 2018, Pennsylvania health insurance data showed that the rate of uninsured kids had been holding study. However, last year, showed that the trend broke and more children were going without coverage. There are concerns that this situation could worsen as families face COVID-19 pandemic fallout. The Pennsylvania health insurance uninsured rate among children aged 18 years and younger hit 4.6 percent. That grew by 0.2 percent from 2018 and 2019, according…

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High health care costs still “catastrophic” to millions despite insurance coverage

G. Turner
High health care costs - hospital - money - calculator

High price tags for services and drugs remain a problem, despite widening ACA cover, says study. High health care costs can be detrimentally high for millions of Americans, even when they are already covered by insurance plans, says a new study. The price of medical necessities such as an insulin kit, for example, often make them cost-prohibitive. The study was recently published in JAMA and showed that even with insurance coverage, worries about high health care costs remain in place. Even as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to gain…

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Health insurance plan enrollment has shifted due to the pandemic

Marc
Health insurance plan enrollment - pandemic - American flag on face mask

As is the case with everything else, signing up for coverage has been impacted by COVID-19. As has been the trend with virtually everything in 2020, health insurance plan enrollment has been impacted by the presence of the pandemic. The coverage and benefits have altered due to the impact of the pandemic on health care. As insurers, employers, and even Medicare have seen the needs of policyholders change throughout the pandemic, they have made changes to coverage in an effort to better respond COVID-19. Consumers are also taking a closer…

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