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.

7 percent of Illinois residents are without health insurance

Marc
Health insurance - Illinois Sign

New US census data shows that state uninsured rates climbed just slightly between 2020 and 2021. Last year in Illinois, 7 percent of residents were without health insurance coverage, according to recently released data from the US Census. This number represents about 875,000 people across the state who don’t have medical coverage. When compared to 2020, this represented a slight increase in the number of people who didn’t have health insurance. That year, the uninsured rate in the state was about 6.8 percent. That said, the margin of error this…

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Health care costs propelled skyward by labor, inflation, and insurance rates

Marc
Health care - stethoscope on folded bills

There are several factors all contributing to the rising cost associated with medical services and products. Consumer prices are rising across the country, but it hasn’t been specifically determined how much higher health care costs will be headed skyward and how quickly. Product and labor costs alike have been rapidly climbing throughout the United States. With consumer prices climbing as they are, health care expenses are expected to go with them, which will send insurance rates upward in 2023 as well. According to a presentation by the Kaiser Family Foundation,…

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“Leading Idaho” plan slashes 12 percent from health insurance costs

H. Cutner
Health insurance - Wealth to Health

A key waiver in the plan is meant to help ensure that coverage is accessible to more state residents. The State of Idaho recently achieved a key milestone in its “Leading Idaho” plan in the form of a waiver that will reduce the cost of health insurance for state residents, helping to make the coverage more broadly available, according to an announcement from Governor Brad Little. The state’s innovation waiver is expected to reduce the average premiums by 12 percent. “Idahoans benefited from another win from our ‘Leading Idaho’ plan…

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Dental insurance brings most US adults peace of mind

G. Turner
Dental insurance - Woman smiling in dentist office

A Delta Dental study found that the coverage eased concerns of 89 percent of US adults. Dental insurance not only provides coverage for oral health care, but most people also find that it provides them with comfort in knowing that they have the added protection, according to a recently released 2022 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report. The report is a nationwide analysis of US consumer oral health opinions and behaviors. The research was commissioned by the Delta Dental insurance company. It focused on US adults and parents…

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HHS to invest over $49 million into health care for kids and parents

H. Cutner
Health care - Investment - Piggy Bank

The funds will be in the form of 36 awarded grants to strengthen Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced through its Centers for Medicare & Medical Services (CMS) that it is awarding grants worth a total of $49 million to organizations working to reduce the rate of uninsured Americans and to bring health care access to more kids and parents alike. This represents the largest outreach and enrollment effort from the HHS through Connecting Kids to Coverage. The investment…

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Under half of American adults have basic health insurance literacy

G. Turner
Health insurance - Confusion about coverage

People across the US have widespread misconceptions about important coverage concepts. Many adults across the United States have a weak health insurance literacy, according to a new Forbes Advisor survey. Americans are struggling with issues such as basic terms and concepts regarding their coverage. The survey from Forbes Advisor showed that as much as 77 percent of Americans were confused by basic terms used in their health insurance policies, such as co-payment, co-insurance and deductible. The survey was conducted online and involved the participation of 2,000 US adults with a…

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Covered California rates announced and they’re on their way up

Marc
Covered California - Health Insurance rate increase

Coverage purchased through the state health insurance marketplace will rise by an average of 6 percent. The Covered California rates have been announced for next year, and the cost of coverage will be increasing by an average of 6 percent for 2023. Officials cautioned that coverage could be far more expensive for some if federal aid isn’t renewed by Congress. They cautioned that some consumers could see their premiums as much as doubling if Congress chooses not to renew federal aid. The rate hike announcement represents the largest increase Covered…

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