Identity, Insurance and Identity Theft
June 28, 2008
The latest fraud scam to hit the US is of medical-identity theft. If you are thinking as to how that is possible, the answer is so simple that it is literally staring you in the face but yet you are unaware of it. Recent studies show that a simple thing like a stolen or lost health insurance card and divulging of seemingly harmless personal information can lead to medical-identity theft.
Often involved in this scam are the workers in the health-care industry who have access to personal files of patients and are readily selling them off to identity-theft rings. The mechanism behind is simple; the thief assumes your identity and gets his medical bills accounted in your name. Ordinary citizens are unaware of this scheming till they realize that they have hit their insurance cap and that too for illnesses they never had. A more fatal revelation can come when the doctor administers treatment to you based on your imposter’s personal records, including his allergies and blood-type.
Old maladies, New solutions
June 24, 2008
In an extremely ‘welcome’ development, insurance policy holders will be relieved to know that from now on their pre-existing diseases will be covered under the policy after a time period of four years.
This much needed regulation comes after a long history of disputes between the insurance agencies and policy holders as regards what actually qualifies as a ‘pre-existing’ disease. The General Insurance Council has now come up with a standard definition of a pre-existing disease that will be put into effect starting this month. Read more
The Insured, The Uninsured and the Underinsured
June 20, 2008
In the latest issue of the Health Affairs journal, a study reveals that in the US about 25 million people belonging to the 19 to 64 age group in 2007 were underinsured. This has increased since 2003 when there were 16 million underinsured people.
The authors of the study give the definition of “underinsured” as pertaining to those people who earn more than $40, 000, have health insurance but still end up spending about 10 percent of their every day income on immediate pocket medical expenses. The percentage lowers to 5 percent in case of those earning below $40,000.
Insurance Issues That Must Be Discussed
June 19, 2008
There are over 47 million uninsured American citizens and that too when the US spends twice more than any other rich country on per person health care. The health care outcomes for those who are insured are also nothing to brag about.
The enormous discrepancy in the US Insurance System is said to be the root cause of the problem. Countless insured citizens encounter difficulties in trying to get a reimbursement for their medical bills. More often than not they end up paying the bills themselves. The insurance agencies keep making the common man run around trying to fill up the innumerable forms only to be denied reimbursement in the end. No explanation is offered by the agency for its refusal to reimburse and people are left with no option but to accept the verdict or waste precious time trying.
US lawmakers serious about Health policies
June 12, 2008
In a recent development, New Jersey lawmakers have decided to keep the wealthy out of health care programs for the poor. It was found in a recent State audit that people earning as much as $295,000 were enrolled in tax-payer funded health programs created for low-income people. The Assembly now requires the State to verify applicants’ incomes before letting them enjoy the benefits of the health schemes.
The bill which was cleared by the Senate Committees will now involve a mandatory submission of the applicants recent pay stubs from every employer and source of income. The applications will also be compared with State labor and income tax records. In another major development, a panel comprising of lawmakers and health experts considered a Commonwealth Fund proposal that would provide insurance to 44 million of the 48 million uninsured US residents.
All Kids May Be Covered By 2010
June 6, 2008
With the expansion in health coverage and the signing of SB 160 and SB 161, all kids may be covered by 2010. On June 3rd the said bills were signed by Governor Bill Ritter. Barriers to health coverage were reduced by these bills.
Lieutenant Governor Barbara O’Brien said that “Our children deserve nothing less” than for them to have access to quality health care and learning. She said she was committed to ensuring that access.
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