Family Health Insurance

Is the cost of health insurance so out of reach that even when the federal government helps out, many people still can’t afford coverage? According to a new analysis by the Employee Benefits Research Institute, the answer may be yes.

The institute, a nonpartisan group, looked at the recent experience with the Cobra program that allows people to extend their employer-provided coverage when they lose their job by letting them pay their own premiums. Last year, the federal government offered to pay 65 percent of the cost of the premiums, but fewer people than expected took advantage of the subsidy, according to the institute’s analysis of census data.

No matter how you count it, according to the Institute, the results were disappointing. “Th Read more…

We’re always looking for something that won’t break the bank, as money is very important for a lot of different people. There seems to be a lot of people that are boarding this train lately, and there’s a good chance that you’ll find something if you’re diligent enough. Of course, there are those people out there who are looking to save some money on their insurance policies, and that’s completely understandable. We all know that insurance happens to be some of the most expensive things in our lives, and without it, there can be some serious complications. There are those types of insurance that people need by law, and since no one wants to be stiffed with fines, penalties or jail, it’s always best for the person to do everything that they can to assure that you’re doing everything the right way. Read more…

Recent changes to health insurance implemented through President Obama’s health care reform bill have made it possible for twenty-somethings who would otherwise have no coverage to be added back on to their parents’ policies. Now, anyone age 26 and under is eligible to remain on Mom or Dad’s employer-sponsored health insurance plan, even if they’re no longer a student or living at home.

That’s good news for an age group that has a hard enough time paying off fresh student loans, let alone healthcare premiums. However,

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Good health begins early: what happens to babies shortly after they’re born will affect them for the rest of their lives. Many studies have found that breastfeeding provides many health benefits over bottles of formula. Unfortunately, doing so can be inconvenient and expensive. For the majority of working mothers, it is impossible to bring their children with them to work every day. T

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There are many different areas of life that you may wish to insure. Many people find that having insurance adds to their peace of mind as well as providing a strong arm to catch them when they have fallen. One of the only types of insurance that is mandatory for nearly everyone in the United States is car insurance. Nearly every state in the Union has mandates in regards to car insurance that make it illegal to operate a motor vehicle without it. Even in states that do not have mandatory car insurance laws there are many strict guidelines in place in regards to auto insurance. Another type of insurance that is very popular is home owners and renters insurance. Read more…

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Health insurance companies are going through many changes at the moment. For Aetna, this is just one more: their CEO, Ronald A. Williams, is stepping down from that role next month. (He will retire from the company entirely early next year.) Williams was the chief executive officer since 2006, and was in charge of the lucrative segment of health insurance plans during a period of soaring costs.

Who will replace him?

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On Thursday, state insurance regulators finalized their recommendations on how to present a provision of the new health care law to the Obama administration. This provision works largely in favor of consumer advocates and could disappoint officials in the insurance industry.

Medical Loss Ratio Rules

The provision of health reform law is known as the Medical Loss Ratio rules and is being proposed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

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This Medicare Advantage Data Spotlight provides an overview of recent changes made to the Medicare Advantage program and examines trends in plan participation, premiums and certain benefits. About 12 million people, or nearly a quarter of the Medicare population, are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, the privately administered plans that are an alternative to the traditional fee-for-service Medicare program.

The analysis was conducted by a team researchers at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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