Category: Health Care Reform

America’s health care system is undergoing many changes – it’s hard for insurance professionals to keep updated let alone consumers. Here we make it easy and publish daily articles on the changes and challenges that health care reform has ahead.

One in 6 employees stay at their jobs for the health plan

G. Turner
Health plan - Helath Insurance Plan

A West Health and Gallup study showed that people are sticking with employers that cover them. West Health and Gallup recently released the results of a study in which they found that 16 percent of workers are staying at their jobs in order to keep their health plan. The fear of losing their insurance benefits is locking people into positions they’d like to leave. “Approximately 158 million people, or more than half of the U.S. adult population, receive health insurance via their own employer or the employer of a household…

Read More

Almost three quarters of insurers charge fees or co-pays for COVID-19 insurance coverage

Logan B.
COVID-19 insurance - health insurance increase

An infection leading to hospitalization will now be more expensive to policyholders than it used to be. COVID-19 insurance coverage in a case of hospitalization will now come at a higher price even to those with a health plan due to increased co-pays and fees when compared to earlier in the pandemic. The Kaiser Family Foundation recorded that fewer insurers are waiving out of pocket costs. Researchers from the Kaiser Family Foundation determined that early in the pandemic, 88 percent of the largest American insurers voluntarily waved COVID-19 insurance out…

Read More

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…

Read More

Health insurance costs 54 percent less for the average gig worker

Marc
Health insurance - health costs - keyboard - money- stethoscope

The American Rescue Plan has made plans considerably more affordable for independent workers. Gig workers have traditionally faced health insurance expenses too high for many of them to be able to afford to keep them up, until the American Rescue Plan (ARP) changed the game for high-quality coverage in March. Since ARP passed earlier this year, a growing number of independent workers have been enrolling. Gig workers are using the Healthcare.gov marketplace to purchase their health insurance and are paying less for it than they ever have before. New benefits…

Read More

Health insurance birthday rule may be coming to an end

Marc
Health insurance birthday rule - parents with newborn

Proposed law would remove large, unexpected expense from new parents in rare unfortunate circumstances. The obscure health insurance birthday rule could be on its way out, sparing new parents the risk of enormous unexpected medical expenses in the case of certain care requirements for the newborn. This regulation dictates the way that insurance companies choose coverage when both parents have a plan. The bill would take away the health insurance birthday rule, letting the parents decide which policy covers their child. As it stands, the regulation requires the coverage of…

Read More

Why the Country Still Needs the Affordable Care Act

Guest Author
Why the Country Still Needs the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act, ACA or “Obama care,” was enacted in 2010 and has had extreme proponents and detractors ever since. The Act was a reaction to the soaring costs of healthcare and health insurance, leaving millions uninsured and going into medical bill debt. So, what is the ACA, exactly, and what are its benefits? Read on to find out. Affordable Health Insurance The central pillar of the ACA is Obama care plans that provide affordable insurance to millions of people who previously had no coverage. Over 20 million Americans…

Read More

Free health insurance easier to find for low-income Californians

Logan B.
Free Health Insurance

Access to the state’s Medi-Cal and Medicaid plans will be based exclusively on residents’ incomes. Low-income Californians will no longer be subjected to the asset test when enrolling in free health insurance through either Medi-Cal or Medicare. This was a component of the state budget, which recently received its approval. Instead of having to pass the asset test, the 2 million Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal and Medicare will have their eligibility determined exclusively by their income. This is the case for the millions of other participants in Medi-Cal and is…

Read More