health life insurance

Biden’s junk fee crusade turns to short-term health insurance plans

sarah08/07/2023 19 Views

By Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -US President Joe Biden on Friday announced new steps to crack down on short-term health insurance plans and surprise medical bills, stepping up his war against so-called junk fees to lower healthcare costs.

This will include a proposed rule that closes loopholes companies use to offer misleading short-term insurance products, discriminate based on pre-existing conditions, offer little to no coverage and saddle consumers with thousands of dollars worth of medical expenses, Biden said.

“It’s not necessarily about healthcare, it’s about being played for a sucker,” Biden said at a White House event announcing the policies.

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3 min read

Health Insurance

Does health insurance cover skin cancer screening? Dr. Mallika Marshall answers your questions

sarah06/07/2023 22 Views

Does health insurance cover skin cancer screening?

00:59

BOSTON-Dr. Mallika Marshall is answering your medical questions. If you have a question, email her or message her on Facebook or Twitter.

Christine asks, “Is skin cancer screening covered under health insurance? I have light skin and want to protect myself from skin cancer.”

Most insurance companies do cover skin cancer screenings as part of your annual wellness visit but if you’re not sure, call and ask. Even better, ask if they will cover a skin exam by a dermatologist.

All adults should see

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2 min read

Health Insurance

New Reporting on Insurance Claim Denials Highlights ‘Scam’ of For-Profit Healthcare

sarah03/07/2023 58 Views

A pair of new stories examining the increasingly common but shadowy US insurance industry practice of refusing to pay for certain treatments drew outrage Wednesday from patient advocates and Medicare for All proponents, who said the reporting further revealed the harms of for-profit healthcare.

The investigative outlet ProPublicafocused its attention on the “galling” secrecy around insurance companies’ claim denials, which frequently leave patients with massive medical bills and little clarity as to why their claims were rejected.

“How often insurance companies say no is a closely held secret,” ProPublica‘s Robin Fields reported. “There’s nowhere that a consumer or

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4 min read

Health Insurance

Georgia launches Medicaid expansion in closely watched test of work requirements

sarah01/07/2023 22 Views

ATLANTA — Georgia is offering a new bargain to some adults without health insurance beginning Saturday: Go to work or school and the state will cover you.

But advocates decide the plan, which will insure far fewer people than a full expansion of the state-federal Medicaid program, as needlessly restrictive and expensive.

The program is likely to be closely watched as Republicans in Congress push to let states require work from some current Medicaid enrollees. Georgia would be the only state that requires Medicaid recipients to meet a work requirement.

Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration is unlikely to approve work

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7 min read

Health Insurance

California poised to spend $19 billion on Medicaid and other health care programs

sarah29/06/2023 24 Views

Once federal funds are factored in, the state will be able to spend north of $35 billion, said Jennifer Kent, a former administration official who helped the coalition propose a structure for the tax.

It would be the largest-ever investment in Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid system.

“We’re trying to serve a Medi-Cal program that’s the size of some states’ total population,” said Linnea Koopmans, CEO of the Local Health Plans of California, who was part of the coalition. “It takes an investment of this magnitude to have a meaningful impact.”

To pull it off, doctors and health plans, hospitals and organized

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5 min read

Health Insurance

The Dangers of the EHR

sarah28/06/2023 19 Views

Electronic Health Records can be an incredibly helpful tool. However, they are not without fault. A recent warning highlights that electronic health records (EHRs) are a top target of cybercriminals. They can also lead to inappropriate billing if they are not set up correctly.

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The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) issued a warning to healthcare entities regarding EHR vulnerabilities and protections.

Protected health information (PHI) continues to hold its …

3 min read

Health Insurance

UnitedHealth Buys Amedisys for $3.3 Billion

sarah27/06/2023 23 Views

Health insurance behemoth UnitedHealth Group (UNH) agreed to buy home health and hospice caregiver Amedisys (AMED) for $3.3 billion in an all-cash deal that will expand UnitedHealth’s home healthcare business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

UnitedHealth Group has agreed to buy Amedisys, a home healthcare provider, for $101 per share.
Amedisys will pay a $106 million fee to terminate its merger with Option Care, which offered to buy Amedisys for $97.38 per share in an all-stock agreement in May.
Amedisys will merge with UnitedHealth’s subsidiary Optum after the deal gains shareholder and regulatory approval.

UnitedHealth will pay $101 per outstanding share of Amedisys

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2 min read

Health Insurance

Mandatory health benefits: OREA members not permitted to speak at Tuesday’s special meeting

sarah25/06/2023 47 Views

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) is considering the implementation of a mandatory insurance and benefits program for its members. the Ontario Realtor Wellness Program (ORWP) program is set to be voted on by the OREA assembly today and, if approved, will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

background

The proposed program aims to address the issue of many realtors lacking private health insurance by offering a comprehensive package of benefits. OREA President Tania Artenosi highlighted that the ORWP would be the first of its kind in North America. The program includes life insurance, critical illness insurance, out-of-country emergency

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4 min read