Anthem Blue Cross Slipping Out of Top Spot in California Health Insurance
With the beginning of April it becomes time to start running quotes for a May 1st effective start date. The new rates and changes that Anthem Blue Cross of California announced in March now become very evident.
My quick assessment from the first half dozen quotes I've run is that Anthem has given up a huge chunk of their lead over the other individual & family health insurance companies in California. Several of their lowest cost plans no longer exist, and the remaining plans are now only slightly ahead of Aetna plans, and are a little more costly than Blue Shield of California' plans. Going into the remainder of the year, I expect to see more new clients opting for Blue Shield because they offer richer benefits at lower costs.
Stay tuned for more.
http://surf4nix.com/ 1
http://af-visa.com/ 2
Monday, April 2, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Health Care Reform Mandate In Jeopardy
The initial arguments in the Supreme Court hearings about the individual mandate seem to indicate that the mandate will not be accepted. The general tone of the discussions had the 4 liberal Justices supporting the mandate, and the 4 conservative Justices against the mandate. Judge Clarence Thomas sat quietly and listened to the proceedings but did not ask any questions or make any comments. It is believed that Judge Thomas will not support the mandate, thus giving a 5 to 4 advantage to overturning the mandate.
The next step is to determine if the mandate can be severed from the remainder of the Affordable Care Act, and those discussions are underway.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/sbz84
http://ping.fm/mKpb9
http://ping.fm/fjLOA
http://swingples.com/
The initial arguments in the Supreme Court hearings about the individual mandate seem to indicate that the mandate will not be accepted. The general tone of the discussions had the 4 liberal Justices supporting the mandate, and the 4 conservative Justices against the mandate. Judge Clarence Thomas sat quietly and listened to the proceedings but did not ask any questions or make any comments. It is believed that Judge Thomas will not support the mandate, thus giving a 5 to 4 advantage to overturning the mandate.
The next step is to determine if the mandate can be severed from the remainder of the Affordable Care Act, and those discussions are underway.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/sbz84
http://ping.fm/mKpb9
http://ping.fm/fjLOA
http://swingples.com/
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Supreme Court Begins Hearing Health Care Reform Arguments
Yesterday the legal boxing began with the first round being about the Anti-Injunction Act (AIA) of 1867 and whether or not the court could actually hear arguments about health care reform mandate if no penalties had been paid yet. The AIA is the basis of all tax collections which says that you have to pay the tax before you can challenge the tax in court. From the sounds of the arguments in hearing yesterday, it appears the AIA is a none issue for the rest of the week's health care reform arguments.
Today the Supreme Court will be hearing the first arguments about the ability of the federal government to impose a mandate to buy health insurance on all citizens.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/7IdWG
http://ping.fm/WOYCZ
Yesterday the legal boxing began with the first round being about the Anti-Injunction Act (AIA) of 1867 and whether or not the court could actually hear arguments about health care reform mandate if no penalties had been paid yet. The AIA is the basis of all tax collections which says that you have to pay the tax before you can challenge the tax in court. From the sounds of the arguments in hearing yesterday, it appears the AIA is a none issue for the rest of the week's health care reform arguments.
Today the Supreme Court will be hearing the first arguments about the ability of the federal government to impose a mandate to buy health insurance on all citizens.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/7IdWG
http://ping.fm/WOYCZ
Sunday, March 25, 2012
California Hospitals Taking Action Before Health Care Reform Kicks In
Hospitals all around America are struggling to find ways to reduce costs and eliminate duplication of efforts. These cost cutting measures are part of the hospitals preparation to survive once health care reform fully begins in 2014.
In California, hospitals are trying to figure out how to make due with fewer patients, because the amount hospitals will be paid for providing medical services will be based upon keeping patients from returning to the hospital. This is a whole new world for hospital administrators, and on top of that they face significant cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, which make up over 50% of California hospital revenues.
Let's hope the hospitals figure this all out, because it would be a shame to only have a couple of hospitals left a few years after health care reform kicks in.
Stay tuned for more.
http://greenirisproductions.com/
http://worryfreewills.info/
http://pessoccer2011.info/
http://sacomaservicios.com/
Hospitals all around America are struggling to find ways to reduce costs and eliminate duplication of efforts. These cost cutting measures are part of the hospitals preparation to survive once health care reform fully begins in 2014.
In California, hospitals are trying to figure out how to make due with fewer patients, because the amount hospitals will be paid for providing medical services will be based upon keeping patients from returning to the hospital. This is a whole new world for hospital administrators, and on top of that they face significant cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, which make up over 50% of California hospital revenues.
Let's hope the hospitals figure this all out, because it would be a shame to only have a couple of hospitals left a few years after health care reform kicks in.
Stay tuned for more.
http://greenirisproductions.com/
http://worryfreewills.info/
http://pessoccer2011.info/
http://sacomaservicios.com/
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Republicans Plan To Use IPAB Against Democrats In November Elections
The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) was created as part of the Health Care Reform bill to force cuts to drug companies, insurers, and medical service providers if Medicare spending continues to climb. Republicans believe that the IPAB would squeeze payments to service providers and eventually stifle medical innovation and cause providers to see patients with non-Medicare coverage. Effectively rationing healthcare to those who can pay more, and making it difficult for Medicare patients to get the care they need.
The House of Representatives recently passed a symbolic bill to repeal the IPAB, but that bill is expected to stall out in Congress. Many Democrats would have also voted to repeal but the Republicans added additional caps on medical malpractice awards which Democrats oppose.
The Republican strategy is to make the IPAB an issue for the elections, but to wait until after the beginning of 2013 to get the IPAB repealed. Republicans are hoping that Seniors will see them as better stewards of Medicare.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/bI02y
The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) was created as part of the Health Care Reform bill to force cuts to drug companies, insurers, and medical service providers if Medicare spending continues to climb. Republicans believe that the IPAB would squeeze payments to service providers and eventually stifle medical innovation and cause providers to see patients with non-Medicare coverage. Effectively rationing healthcare to those who can pay more, and making it difficult for Medicare patients to get the care they need.
The House of Representatives recently passed a symbolic bill to repeal the IPAB, but that bill is expected to stall out in Congress. Many Democrats would have also voted to repeal but the Republicans added additional caps on medical malpractice awards which Democrats oppose.
The Republican strategy is to make the IPAB an issue for the elections, but to wait until after the beginning of 2013 to get the IPAB repealed. Republicans are hoping that Seniors will see them as better stewards of Medicare.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/bI02y
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Supreme Court To Hear Mandate Arguments Next Week
The US Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments about the Health Insurance mandate in the Affordable Care Act, and ultimately decide if the mandate is constitutional or if it oversteps the federal governments powers to control commerce. Some people want the mandate to be passed (the insurance companies and democrats) and other want the mandate to be struck down (republicans).
Either way, the decision will have major impacts of the future of health care in the US, so the outcome is very important for every US citizen.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/EsECn
The US Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments about the Health Insurance mandate in the Affordable Care Act, and ultimately decide if the mandate is constitutional or if it oversteps the federal governments powers to control commerce. Some people want the mandate to be passed (the insurance companies and democrats) and other want the mandate to be struck down (republicans).
Either way, the decision will have major impacts of the future of health care in the US, so the outcome is very important for every US citizen.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/EsECn
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Health Care In The US Not As Bad As Believed
In a new research report Christopher Conover from Duke University's Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, the facts about how America's health care system compares to those of other countries is finally laid bare. The reality is that we've got it pretty good after all. (see the article in the Los Angeles Times: http://ping.fm/LH9VW)
Some examples are: Life Expectancy in the US is greater than in all other countries, instead of 39th, if deaths related to violence and automobile accidents are removed. This adjustment seems fair since we're looking for the effects of health care on life expectancy.
Another comparison is the quality of health care outcomes. People with cancer live longer in the US than in any other country. Many of the "avoidable deaths" that could be treated are in fact caused by the lifestyle choices of Americans, and thus make the numbers look like US health care is worse than other countries.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/3YVQo
http://trsgallery.org/
http://ping.fm/J6x5O
http://stuct.info/
In a new research report Christopher Conover from Duke University's Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, the facts about how America's health care system compares to those of other countries is finally laid bare. The reality is that we've got it pretty good after all. (see the article in the Los Angeles Times: http://ping.fm/LH9VW)
Some examples are: Life Expectancy in the US is greater than in all other countries, instead of 39th, if deaths related to violence and automobile accidents are removed. This adjustment seems fair since we're looking for the effects of health care on life expectancy.
Another comparison is the quality of health care outcomes. People with cancer live longer in the US than in any other country. Many of the "avoidable deaths" that could be treated are in fact caused by the lifestyle choices of Americans, and thus make the numbers look like US health care is worse than other countries.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/3YVQo
http://trsgallery.org/
http://ping.fm/J6x5O
http://stuct.info/
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