Montana opens public comment period for Medicaid expansion Federal officials are taking public comment in Montana concerning the expansion of Medicaid coverage. The state is currently working on expanding Medicaid coverage to some 70,000 low-income residents. The comment period is set to run through October 15, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Expanding the state’s health insurance program has been a hard battle, as state lawmakers have resisted expanding the program due such an action’s association with the Affordable Care Act. State has already outlined plans to…
Read MoreAuthor: S.Vagus
Electric vehicles also come with higher auto insurance premiums
Research shows that those with electric vehicles pay more for their insurance coverage Research from NerdWallet suggests that those with electric vehicles have higher auto insurance premiums. The organization has compared the premiums that drivers of electric vehicles and those with conventional vehicles experience. The reason why electric vehicles are attached to higher auto insurance premiums is due to the relatively high costs associated with operating and maintaining these vehicles. Repairing an electric car can be a costly process, which could lead to financial losses for insurance providers, which has…
Read MoreFlorida’s Citizens aims to shed more homeowners insurance policies
Insurer aims to become more consumer friendly by getting rid of additional policies Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance is looking to become more consumer friendly by shedding additional policies in order to become more financially sustainable. Over the past four years, Citizens, which is the last resort provider of homeowners insurance policies for consumers in the state, has shed approximately 1 million policies. These policies have been transferred to private insurers that are honoring the policies that were initially sold by Citizens. The insurer has been shedding these policies in order…
Read MoreDirect care allows consumers to bypass their health insurance
More consumers are taking advantage of direct care medical services A growing number of consumers are beginning to bypass their health insurance coverage in order to take advantage of direct care from medical professionals. For many, the high deductibles associated with their insurance coverage is simply too high, which is encouraging them to receive care directly from medical care providers rather than make use of their insurance policies. Some consumers are finding it less expensive to take advantage of direct care rather than use their costly insurance coverage. High deductible…
Read MoreArkansas pauses development of health insurance exchange
Governor issues request to insurance exchange board to halt development for the time being Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has informed the Department of Health and Human Services that he has asked the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace Board to pause the development of an exchange for individual consumers. The board is in charge of overseeing the development of such a marketplace, which is meant to serve as a place for consumers to find affordable, yet comprehensive coverage. Governor Hutchinson wants the board to wait while a legislative task force develops recommendations…
Read MoreHealth insurance deductibles have risen sharply since 2010
Survey finds that deductibles for employer-sponsored coverage have grown aggressively A new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust has found that health insurance deductibles have risen dramatically since 2010. These deductible increases have primarily affected those with employer-sponsored coverage. Many employers have been facing greater financial strain in providing their workers with insurance coverage, especially as insurers make their plans more expensive. As a result, consumers have been facing higher out-of-pocket costs for their coverage even as premiums have continued to grow. Workers…
Read MoreHigh deductible health insurance policies are becoming more common among consumers
Many consumers show favor for high deductible plans because of the money they can save on premiums More consumers are beginning to favor high deductible health insurance plans, especially as employers begin shifting insurance costs to workers. High deductible plans have proven interesting to consumers because they have lower monthly premiums. Cost has been an issue that has prevented many consumers from purchasing health insurance policies. With premiums on the rise, many people are looking for ways to keep their costs down, and high deductible policies may be the best…
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