The Health Insurance Obstacles
February 28, 2009
There are many obstacles to enjoying health insurance. Even though people may be eligible, often they do not have health insurance. The reason is the daunting paperwork and other such hurdles that need to be crossed. In fact it is startling to know that more than a third of New York State’s Medicaid receipients fail to reenroll due to such obstacles.
This is according to a study by the NYSHF. This nonprofit is making an effort to improve pubic health through education as well as more high quality care access. The organization says that people fall off the rolls because of the annual recertification process. The reapplication then costs the state more money.
According to Davind Sandman, SVP of the New York State Health Foundation, the doors to the program are wide open but the back doors should be shut so that eligible people stay in. In the focus group, participants said that they valued the health insurance programs and wanted to stay enrolled. However they had lost their coverage because of the daunting re-enrollment process.
The process is so complicated that it takes someone with a deep knowledge of law to fill out the paperwork. Some people realize their coverage has lapsed only after reaching the doctors office for an appointment. Now why don’t we just cut the red tape?
Health Insurance Prices May Dip
February 24, 2009
Your health is the most valuable asset you have. All your other assets depend upon and build from this basic asset of your life. If you have lost a job, maintaining your health insurance coverage becomes extremely important. If you are unlucky enough to become ill while uninsured, you will wish you had taken that health insurance cover.
COBRA is the most popular way to stay insured in the event of loss of job. This safety net lets you remain insured for up to 18 months after job loss. The premium and fees of COBRA amounts to about $500 per month for the average person. Now with the government subsidizing the health insurance costs up to 65 percent in the first 9 months of coverage people have a reason to cheer.
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Losing Health Insurance? Here Are Some Ideas
February 21, 2009
As a result of the recession jobs have vanished into thin air and with them, the health insurance. There are a number of ways Americans can avoid the emergency rooms and stay healthy. Losing health insurance results in medication costs, doctor costs and the resulting stress on how the individual is going to handle them.
One number you may call is 311. This is the Baltimore Healthcare Access Hotline – they might be able to help. According to them there have been more calls for medical assistance than ever the last three months. Many callers qualify for programs available based on their income, if the income is too high, they don’t qualify.
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Job Cuts And Lower Insurance Rates
February 15, 2009
About 598000 Americans had to lose their jobs in the past month. The unemployment rate is now 7.6 percent. This means the number of uninsured people have increased as well. Since December, the unemployment rate is up 0.4 percent. This is the data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. South Carolina’s rate of unemployment increased by 1.1 percent making it 9.5 percent.
Of the unemployed, only 1 in 5 has private insurance. This is according to a new report from Families USA. This organization has said that losing a job equals losing insurance. Many of those laid off cannot afford COBRA. They also do not qualify for public health safety net programs.
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Afraid of getting sick?
February 8, 2009
Many Americans cannot afford to get sick. And they are more and more afraid to contract an illness. Personal bankruptcies in large part are due to medical expenses. However what is shocking is that 76 percent of these individuals owned insurance at the time of getting sick. Apart from the 46 mn Americans without health insurance there are a large number of Americans who are underinsured.
Here is what happens to the unfortunate – they lose their jobs and with it their health insurance. Then they have to choose between using money on medicines or on food and housing. Soon you go bankrupt. Medicare for All is supported by most physicians and general citizens of America as well.
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