Dr. Adit Ginde of the University of Colorado School of Medicine recently released a report showing that consumers who altered their healthcare policy may be more likely to end up in the emergency room than a doctor's office, according to HealthDay.

The report found that last year, approximately 21 percent of insured Americans and 20 percent of uninsured consumers utilized an emergency care setup last year. However, of those who were under a new plan and were not yet covered, 30 percent had to use an emergency room. Only 20 percent of adults who didn't change their coverage had to do this.

"[A]lthough adjusted [emergency department] use rates were similar for insured adults and uninsured adults, those with recent changes in health insurance status had greater [emergency department] use," researchers wrote in the report, according to the news source.

The study added that those under Medicaid coverage - especially as the plan began - were much more likely to be using the emergency room.

Consumers who are concerned about their healthcare policy leaving them at risk of being underinsured may want to look for other options. It may help to go online and compare affordable health insurance rates, especially if cost is the major hurdle.

A report from the National Institute of Aging noted that male middle-aged smokers in middle age may be at a higher risk of cognitive decline than men in the same age bracket who don't smoke.

The findings noted that the men and women surveyed averaged 56 years of age and smoked had a more noticeable drop in cognitive abilities than non-smokers did. In addition, those who quit within the past decade had a more significant decline. However, those who had quit more than one decade earlier showed a decline that was comparable to the rest of non-smokers.

Women studied by Dr. Severine Sabia, head of the report, did not show a connection between smoking and cognitive abilities, the report added.

Those consumers who do what they can to stop partaking in unhealthy habits may be able to prevent diseases such as Alzheimer's later in life. In addition, they may be eligible for special healthcare benefits due to their wellness practices. If their employer does not offer this in the company's health insurance plan, it could be a good idea to compare health insurance quotes online.

A poll from Harris Interactive revealed that a significant portion of Americans are unsure about healthcare reform, while the rest of consumers are nearly split down the middle on the issue.

The Harris Poll found that 36 percent of Americans support the Affordable Care Act, while another 41 percent oppose it altogether. In addition, there is still 23 percent of consumers who are not sure yet.

Furthermore, many Americans showed that they don't know much about the legislation in relation to them, the survey found. However, 54 percent knew that insurers were not able to deny coverage to the ill, while 55 percent were aware of the insurance extension for those under the age of 26. More than half of those polled noted that medium-sized businesses must allow for their employees to be covered affordably.

Consumers who are concerned about the reform's impact on their lives may want to explore healthcare options in advance. By comparing health insurance quotes, a person can examine what they currently have and find out what out there is a stronger choice going forward.

A study compiled by the American Association for Dental Research, along with United Concordia Dental and Highmark, found that consumers with diabetes who have gum disease treatment may be more likely to lower their overall healthcare costs.

Hospitalizations dropped by one-third, while visits to the doctor fell by 13 percent, according to the report. Currently, close to 26 million Americans had diabetes in 2011. The figure has grown by more than double since 1999.

"The study showed that periodontal treatment and ongoing maintenance is associated with a significant decrease in the cost of medical care for people with diabetes - in the amount of $1,800 per year," said Dr. James Bramson, chief dental officer for United Concordia.

Those who think they are at risk of certain health issues such as diabetes may want to look for a plan that fits their situation. Comparing health insurance quotes may make achieving that goal a bit easier. There are likely many health insurance rates available that are affordable and still are practical for a person's needs.

The Midwest Business Group on Health recently unveiled the results to a survey which showed that more employers are not as concerned about the effects of the Affordable Care Act on benefits, as they were in previous years.

Fewer than 10 percent of employers noted that they would drop coverage altogether and pay a penalty fee to save on costs, according to the report. This has dropped by more than 50 percent since 2010. In addition, 42 percent of employers still are hopeful the act is declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and removed altogether.

"While employers uniformly expressed concern with the administrative costs and reporting burdens in the law, there was surprising support for many of the coverage and system reform provisions," said Larry Boress, MBGH's president and chief executive officer.

Despite this, healthcare reform leaves many questions unanswered, and it could be worrisome to those who don't take advantage of a healthcare policy beforehand. Many consumers may be going online to compare affordable health insurance rates, as these could be good alternatives if their employer's plan isn't sufficient enough.