‘HEALTH INSURANCE’ Category
»Posted On: March 17, 2010
California investigating health insurers for illegal business practices
Based on reports that the five largest health insurance companies in California are denying up to 39.6 percent of insurance claims, California’s attorney general recently announced an investigation into potentially illegal business practices. » read on…
»Posted On: March 15, 2010
Don’t kiss that frog!
I’ve always tried to steer my children away from petting zoos that are at carnivals and other events. In my mind, the only place germier than a petting zoo is the pediatrician’s waiting room. » read on…
»Posted On: March 9, 2010
Where are your mental health records?
Think only your therapist sees your mental health records? Think again. Your mental health records may be shared with your health insurance company, and even with a state agency that oversees your insurer. In New Jersey, state agencies and health insurance companies require psychiatrists and therapists to turn over confidential mental health records for patients in order to authorize payment for care. » read on…
»Posted On: March 9, 2010
Think your health insurance policy is incoherent? You are correct!
If you’ve ever felt that trying to read your health insurance policy is like deciphering gobbledygook, you’re not alone. DALBAR, Inc., a Boston-based company that evaluates customer-service experiences for the financial services industry, has evaluated 34 leading insurance companies (including the federally funded Medicare program) and found that most of them fail to explain benefits well to their clients. » read on…
»Posted On: March 2, 2010
“Not for public disclosure”
The state of Oregon has done something groundbreaking — and it may be a boon to health insurance consumers everywhere. Oregon’s Insurance Division recently started publishing health insurance rate filings online. What does this mean? Any member of the public now has online access to previously confidential information about rate hikes that insurance companies are requesting from the state. This new transparency gives more power to consumers. » read on…
»Posted On: February 23, 2010
Who should pay for you to stop smoking?
There’s an effort underway by the American Lung Association to require group health insurance plans to pay for comprehensive smoking-cessation programs — meaning counseling combined with coverage for prescription and over-the-counter treatments. In its recent State of Tobacco 2009 Report, the association points to states like Pennsylvania as weak on insurance mandates for smoking-cessation programs. » read on…
»Posted On: February 18, 2010
Dodge or death spiral? Health insurance rate hikes ruffle feathers
Health insurers are posting record profits these days. Despite this, many of them insist that they need to keep raising their rates substantially to remain viable. How is it that they can justify charging consumers more money when they’re already making money hand over fist? » read on…
»Posted On: February 8, 2010
Is your cart filled with “expired” products?
I have to admit, when I go to the store I rarely check the expiration date of anything that’s not produce, meat or dairy. For example, I don’t look at the expiration date of canned goods or boxes of cereal. Even medicines, like Advil, I’ll throw in my cart without examining, in the interest of time. But I should rethink that. » read on…
»Posted On: January 29, 2010
Let’s blow this wide open: New York to reveal secret health insurance charges
Change is in the air for health insurance at the national level, but one state is not letting debate slow reform. In a monumental move, New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced in late October the formation of a new not-for-profit company, FAIR Health, Inc., to provide independent data to guide “usual, customary, and reasonable” (UCR) rates for out-of-network health charges. » read on…
»Posted On: January 22, 2010
Californians will have faster access to doctors, by law
Have you ever had to wait a few weeks to see your doctor? If you live in California and belong to an HMO, that could soon change. Following years of negotiations among state officials, doctors, insurance companies and consumer and health care activists, California could become the first state to set time limits for doctors to see patients. » read on…
