A new study from the Gallup Organization, a research and performance-management consulting firm that monitors public opinion, shows that employer-sponsored health insurance is on the decline. Gallup, well known for its studies and polls concerning the insurance industry and federal government, says that the number of people receiving health insurance from their jobs has fallen nearly 2% from the level it was at a year before. The study suggests that the decrease may be due to high levels of unemployment and new insurance regulations that make it more costly for…
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Georgia receives waiver for medical loss ratio provision of the Affordable Care Act
While many provisions of the Affordable Care Act have been submerged in controversy, one provision, in particular, has garnered the ire of the insurance industry. The new federal law requires all health insurers to spend at least 80% of the money the collect from premiums on improving medical care for patients. If insurers cannot meet the standard, they are required to return the money to policyholders. This single provision has major financial implications on the nation’s insurers, both big and small. Insurers have been petitioning state lawmakers to obtain a…
Read MoreNew form of insurance battle building among sufferers of eating disorders
Sufferers of eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia are now struggling on a new battlefield within the insurance world, calling into question the extent to which laws regulate equivalent protections for mental illnesses. Court cases and claims regarding severe instances of eating disorders are attempting to require payment for residential treatment center costs, as those institutions provide patients with monitoring around the clock every day so that they will not have the opportunity to skip meals or purge what they have consumed. Recently, some insurers have re-stated the fact…
Read MoreHealth insurance price increases may slow next year, shrinking profits for smaller insurers
An analyst at Wedbush has released estimates that have shown that in 2012, there may be a slowing in the rising cost of health insurance, but that this may cause smaller insurers that concentrate on commercial coverage to achieve smaller profit margins. The Wedbush analyst, Sarah James, released a research note that showed that employer and insurer surveys have been indicating that price increases will be slower next year than they were in 2011, as a result of some of the health care reform elements having been implemented. Though this…
Read MoreHealth care costs may be uncontrollable as the populace ages
The costs of health care are on the rise, putting heavy financial strain on insurance companies which, in turn, translates into higher premiums for consumers. While arguments regarding the cause of rising health care rates abound, the real reason for the phenomenon may be something that is impossible to control. The so-called baby boomers generation is steadily aging, with many reaching the twilight years of life. With age comes a sleuth of new medical concerns ranging from cancer to dementia. While older generations have been dealing with such troubles for…
Read MoreNew website allows users to watch rate increases for health insurance
Web users across the United States can use a new federal website to watch the status of a health insurer in order to determine whether or not that company has increased its rates, and may view the insurer’s justification for doing so. According to the deputy director for oversight at the Department of Health and Human Services, Steve Larsen, the data now available on this website is information that was primarily unavailable before the site’s launch. There were only a few states that offered rate increases on their official websites.…
Read MoreHealth insurance industry begins showing support for presidential candidates
The health insurance industry is beginning to show tentative support for political candidates in the upcoming election season, according to research from the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-profit political research group. The two candidates receiving this support are Republican Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama – the only candidates to have shown support for a health insurance mandate. Such mandates stand to benefit the health insurance industry and throwing support behind the candidate with the most popular health care policy may prove to be lucrative in the future. Health…
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