DNA Tests Being Hidden Over Insurance Trouble Fears
February 24, 2008
Many people are shunning and hiding DNA tests over fears of insurance trouble. Personalized medicine has great benefits. However these are being lost because Americans are worried that genetic information will be used against them as far as health insurance goes.
According to doctors, patients who might have learned that they were at an increased risk of breast or colon cancer and who could then have made informed health care decisions, do not do so because of the consequences related to their health insurance. Still other Americans may spend a lot of money doing DNA tests in secret. These tests would have been otherwise covered by the insurer but the clients prefer to avoid scrutiny.
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Family Health Policies To Be Redefined By The State
February 22, 2008
Many youngsters are going to extreme measures to avoid health costs in the absence of health insurance. Case in point Thomas Mahoney. He preferred to get driven to hospital by his wife and girlfriend rather than bear the cost of an ambulance. He had lost his coverage when he turned 19 and was no longer a full time student.
More than thirteen million people between 19 and 29 years of age do not have health insurance. Although this group usually enjoys good health they often take it for granted. Over the last two years laws have been passed by 17 states to ensure that young adults stay on the family policy till the mid twenties.
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Legislation Against Insurers
February 15, 2008
There is new legislation being introduced in California by a lawmaker that cracks down on insurers. The legislation needs insurers to get state permission before canceling a members coverage. The bill was introduced by Hector De La Torre from Los Angeles County.
This bill comes after news about certain letters Blue Cross of California has been sending to doctors. The letters ask doctors to report pre-existing conditions and discrepancies that can be used as grounds to cancel the policies of new members.
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Rising Insurance Costs
February 9, 2008
Contrary to what some presidential candidates claim, the growing cost of health insurance is probably not mainly due to health insurance companies. The main reason is the laws passed by politicians.
A health insurance “mandate” is a legislative requirement for health plans or insurance companies. According to this requirement insurance plans should offer coverage of common health care providers, patients and benefits.
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Medicare Insurance Malpractice Legislation
February 7, 2008
Reacting to reports that some seniors purchased wrong plans after being misled by door to door salesmen, private Medicare insurance plans might now be regulated if Democratic lawmakers have their way.
According to this legislation, call centers can no longer be used to generate sales leads. Medicare Advantage is a plan which has approximately nine million elderly and disabled people enrolled in it.
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Should Health Insurance Cover Autism?
February 2, 2008
Autism is not covered by health insurance. There is no valid reason for this. Autism is highly treatable. With the proper treatment, autistic children can live an improved quality of life and lead an independent life to a fair degree.
It is a pity that insurance does not cover autism, even high priced insurance. Cancer, diabetes and many such medical treatments are covered by insurance and there is a strong case for even autism being covered by insurance. For an autistic child to lead a normal life takes a lot of effort.
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