Health Insurance Rates increase twice as Fast as salaries
Posted by Avatar on May 13, 2008
As if there wasn’t enough bad news, studies have found that the cost of health insurance has doubled nearly twice as fast as salaries which would explain why more and more younger generation Americans do not have insurance coverage. True thet the benefits of having insurance has been realized prompting many to get at least minimum coverage but many simply still cannot afford the quality care that everybody associates with helath care. The US is considered to be one of the best countries with the best doctors and medical facilities but with all the best tools and people comes increased costs. Costs that are passed onto the consumer whom without coverage from an insurance form ends up having to shell out more than what is earned in a day causing many to choose not obtaining coverage.
Health Care News: Many Cosmetics Products Sold in the US contain substances banned in other countries
Posted by Avatar on May 9, 2008
Yep, and talks are underway between cosmetics manufacturers and the FDA on how the said products ended up on the market. This calls for better regulation of the cosmetics industry which till now was purely considered to be trivial matter and did not need regulation. But since women on the average place around 200 compounds onto their bodies daily the news is truly alarming. Many of the said ingredients have long been banned in other developed countries yet they still continue to be used in products sold in the US. This raises questions whether the cosmetics industry are to be subject to safety and quality testing controls buy the Food and Drugs Administration for screening of possible harmful chemicals and compounds.
Medical Professionals vs. Patients = Trial by Ratings?
Posted by Avatar on May 1, 2008
There are a dozen or so web sites like HealthGrades.com, which allow people or rather patients to do ratings on doctors and their practices that are quite controversial due to the career ending effects they may have on a health professional. From surgeons, psychologists to plastic surgeons, they’re all rated and criticized there. This is quite unique for you can find ratings regarding the newest LCD TV’s and other goods but never for professionals who are so revered as doctors. Doctors like all humans are prone to make mistakes and so do the rest of us, so they should also be subject to the criticism we get when we do something wrong. Disgruntled patients and other people who have had clashes with these professionals do get to speak their mind but it is a dangerous game to play for any false claims or details can end the career of a wonderful doctor or health professional. These sites may have to get some oversight or regulation system in place that has doctors themselves act as arbitrators for they truly can be dangerous so just to be fair, as the law says, anyone is considered innocent till proven guilty in the court of law, so they too should get their fair trial.
AFL-CIO’s survey says…
Posted by editor on Apr 25, 2008
by: Christine Zafra
If you want genuine consumer opinion, do a survey with the right number of population… and this was what AFL-CIO did. They gave out a survey amongst the people (it was done online), and they found out that 95% of the respondents think that the American health insurance system should undergo a total revamp. It looks like they are not satisfied with the services offered by the insurance companies.
Oh no, if you think the data is not credible, think twice. All of the respondents have insurance policies, most of them had jobs as some are still schooling (they all belong to the upper half of the strata).
Washington’s health insurance dilemma.
Posted by editor on Apr 22, 2008
by: Christine Zafra
According to the latest study made by Families USA, an advocacy group for the health insurance customers, one person dies each day in Washington due to the fact that he or she is not covered by any health insurance at all. If we are to take into consideration the said count, then that would amount to 365 people a year. That only calls for the ones who don’t have insurance (what if we add too the mortality rate of those who HAVE? How many Washingtonians are dying per annum?). Because people can’t afford insurance some of them suffer this dreaded fate.
Balanced billing: time to bill the patients right.
Posted by editor on Apr 18, 2008
by: Christine Zafra
Have you heard of balanced billing? That is actually what most doctors do to their patients. If you have insurance and you got into an accident, chances are, your insurance company will pay for your hospital bills provided that your injury is covered by your policy. But what if, you got into an accident and the insurance paid for it (it means it’s covered), but you are asked to pay for a little more amount because the doctor’s “regular fee” was imposed upon your treatment? California scrapped this style of billing and prohibited doctors from doing such. The ban covers all hospital related treatments (even emergency cases).
Cigarettes and health programs: how can they be of help to each other?
Posted by editor on Apr 16, 2008
by: Christine Zafra
Cigarettes are addictive. And no matter what warning the government disperses to the public, they just can’t stop. That’s the effect of nicotine.
Now, the governor of Maine, John Baldacci, has found a way to make something out of this addictive vice. He planned to raise the taxes on cigarettes to fund the state’s health care program. Very clever indeed. The residents of Maine are in full support of the said program as this will not only benefit those under the state’s health care but, it will also discourage people from smoking (and prevent further lung cancer probabilities for first and second hand smokers).
Kentucky’s new House Bill.
Posted by editor on Apr 11, 2008
by: Christine Zafra
Are you living in Kentucky? Single (unmarried)? Under the age of 25?
This is not another Kentucky dating ad. It is the new House Bill that allows children who are under the age of 25 to be included in their health plans. Other states do not allow this as these people are already considered as adults. In Kentucky however, parents are required to put them in their policies. This is in fact better since unmarried adults (aged 25) still belong to the household count of the family (not unless he or she already has a life of his or her own).
Can a Democrat handle it better?
Posted by editor on Apr 8, 2008
by: Christine Zafra
The presidential race in the United States is a close fight amongst the 3 contenders from 2 parties. The two parties involved have stable platforms that never had a total revamp in years (same principles guiding each). It is not a surprise though that when the survey of Washington Post and ABC News regarding who the Americans trust more, Obama or McCain, regarding the health care system, a democrat emerged.
Almost 55% of the total said that they think Obama can handle the health care system of the United States better. But apart from the outcome, from the 1,122 adults that were surveyed (nationwide), only about 10% think that health care is a vital issue.
Employee discrimination on insurance: EBSA’s plan of action.
Posted by editor on Apr 4, 2008
by: Christine Zafra
Good news to those who have been discriminated against by their employers regarding insurance issues! A new monitoring body has been made to ensure the employees that they will get the benefits they deserve. Since insurance companies are considered as a “for profit” organization or institution (business is more like it), then they would do their best to hoard as many individuals who would like to get insurance, but, limit them when the time comes that policy holders need them. Now, US Dept. of Labor’s EBSA started to monitor the insurance companies so as minimize, if not eliminate, these greedy insurance corporations from violating some of the rights of their policy holders (right to insurance, getting what he or she paid for).