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.

Most Americans with health insurance have experienced problems

Marc
Health insurance - Problems - Stress

Almost 60 percent of covered individuals have struggled with their plans in the last year. A nationwide survey has revealed that almost 60 percent of Americans with health insurance have experienced a problem with their plan within the last year. The research conducted an evaluation of healthcare coverage among adult Americans with plans. Among the problems health insurance customers have faced within the last year have included challenges in finding an in-network provider, denied claims, and denied or delayed care that required an insurer’s prior authorization. According to the researchers…

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More than half of US adults with health insurance struggle with their plan

G. Turner
Your Health Insurance Plan Form

People with poor of fair mental health faced the highest challenges with their coverage. Over half of insured adults in the United States are facing struggles with their health insurance, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey. The survey results showed struggles in everything from payment discrepancies to limited mental healthcare coverage. The online survey was conducted this year between February 21 and March 14. It involved the participation of 3,605 adults who are covered by employer-sponsored health insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare, a Military plan, or Affordable Care Act…

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Health insurance coverage improved for LGBTQ+ community after 2015

Marc
LGBTQ+ Flag - Health Insurance - Percentage

The Supreme Court’s ruling recognizing same-sex marriage brought more equitable coverage for couples. Following the 2015 Supreme Court ruling to recognize same-sex marriage, health insurance companies responded by providing LGBTQ+ couples with improved and more equitable coverage, including spousal benefits, according to the findings of a recent study published in the Health Affairs journal. The findings showed that LGBTQ+ adults saw a substantial increase in healthcare access. The Health Affairs journal published the study titled “Health Insurance Coverage And Access To Care Among LGBT Adults, 2013–19,” by Andrew Bolibol of…

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65% of Americans believe employer-sponsored health insurance is financially critical

Nordstrom
Health insurance - Survey - Keyboard

A new AHIP survey showed that employers feel it is important to recruitment and retention. About 65 percent of US adults feel that their employer-sponsored health insurance gives them “financial peace of mind” according to the results of a new AHIP survey. The survey was conducted as a component of a broader AHIP Coverage@Work campaign. The survey was conducted by Locust Street Group and ran from April 17 to April 25 on behalf of AHIP. The purpose was to gather insights into the thoughts adults have across the US regarding…

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Georgia to operate its own health insurance market under newly signed law

Logan B.
Health insurance - Georgia Laws

The state government will be operating the exchange on its own for the first time. Governor Brian Kemp (R) has signed a bill into law that will have the Georgia state government taking over its own health insurance marketplace for individual coverage for the first time. Among the reasons the governor signed the bill is to boost competition and give consumers options. According to Governor Kemp, who spoke at a ceremony at the state Capitol, this new law will provide state residents with a better way of “knowing and comparing…

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NY bill would require health insurance coverage for cancer biomarker testing

Marc
Health insurance - Cancer biomarker test

Lawmakers and cancer survivors came together in support of the New York legislation. Last week, New York lawmakers and cancer survivors gathered by the hundreds in Albany in support of legislation that would require health insurance companies to cover patient testing for cancer biomarkers. Insurers, however, have expressed their opposition to the bill for this new coverage requirement. Cancer Action Day at the New York state Capitol was focused on the mandate which would apply to Medicaid all health insurance policies providing major medical coverage. They would all be required…

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North Carolina lawmakers considering major health insurance changes

Logan B.
Health insurance - Changes Coming

At the same time, they are also considering substantial changes to the prescription drug industry. A number of bills are currently moving forward in North Carolina with the intention of overhauling components of the health insurance and pharmacy industries. Powerful companies are pushing hard in the hopes of securing regulations in their favor. The changes to the laws in the state would include those regulating Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the largest health insurance company in the state. Those have already made it through their first committee, though…

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