Health Insurance Quote - Medicare / Medicaid

Study: Not understanding Medicare could hurt some retirees

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:00:00 -0600

Many middle class retirees have some important misunderstandings when it comes to Medicare costs and coverage, according to a survey from health insurance company Bankers Life and Casualty Company's Center for a Secure Retirement.

The study, "Retirement Healthcare for Middle-Income Americans," found that 33 percent of respondents were unaware of how much the plan would cover doctor's appointments. In addition, another 31 percent were unaware of how much they would be covered in the event of a hospitalization.

"Financial fallout from healthcare related expenses can devastate savings and strip away the enjoyment of one's retirement years," said Chris Campbell, vice president of strategic marketing and business development for Bankers Life and Casualty Company. "Review your Medicare plan options annually and look into new health and prescription drug plans that better meet your needs."

However, 65 percent of those who were on Medicare noted they paid the same for health insurance now, if not more than when they used a private plan, the study added.

If a Medicare plan isn't fulfilling a person's health insurance needs, it could be a better idea to look at other options by comparing health insurance quotes.

Some aging Americans finding healthcare costs too high

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 -0600

Healthcare expenses are becoming burdens for a large portion of older Americans, according to a report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

The survey noted that 21.5 percent of households with Americans over the age of 50 have been forced to alter their prescription drug options due to cost. In addition, nearly 20 percent reported avoiding the doctor when they have needed to go.

"We know that consumption tends to fall with age, but it's difficult to measure whether falling consumption is voluntary," said Sudipto Banerjee of EBRI, author of the study. "However, we found evidence that a significant segment of the older population may be making spending adjustments to their health care in order to save money."

More than 27 percent of older Americans noted they have experienced trouble with their ability to make bill payments, due to their healthcare costs, the survey noted. Another 30 percent of older consumers who have struggling health needed to change their prescription drug habits.

Older Americans who are struggling with health insurance payments may be better served by a plan with a lower deductible. Comparing affordable health insurance rates may help save money, especially with rising costs elsewhere.

Medicaid cuts affecting more than health insurance patients

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:00:00 -0600

While Medicaid is expected to expand when healthcare reform ramps up in 2014, the plan could receive a significant amount of state cuts in the interim that will affect both patients and industry members, according to The Associated Press.

The program costs $427 billion annually, and is funded at both federal and state levels. That number was due to be cut by a congressional committee this year, but the group was unable to come to a compromise on how to trim it, the news source noted. Some of the eventual cuts coming could be drastic and may have legal ramifications.

"Everybody understands that doctors are basically small business people, and we have to meet our cost plus make a living." Dr. Douglas Tolley, the head of a California practice, told the news source. "Just meeting our cost doesn't mean staying in business."

For those concerned about the future of public healthcare and its availability, it may be a good idea to explore private options. There could be many health insurance options with low rates that are attractive alternatives to public plans.

Healthcare industry members unsure of Medicare ACO participation

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:00:00 -0600

A recent poll found that a large percentage of those involved in the healthcare industry are on the fence about whether or not their workplace will be involved in the Medicare ACO program.

In total, 57 percent of industry members were unsure if they would be involved in the program, which is also known as the Medicare Shared Services Program, according to the poll by KPMG.

"Our survey findings indicate that healthcare leaders are still trying to get their hands around the opportunity and the risks associated with these programs," said Ed Giniat, partner and sector leader for KPMG Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals. "Clearly, the priority for executives is to rapidly increase their knowledge about payment model reform and to accelerate their organizations' movement toward new business models."

If a certain Medicare program is not available to you, it may be a good plan to look at private health insurance plans. Not all of these are expensive, and there may be affordable health insurance rates attached to plans that fit a consumer's needs.

Uninsured patients could lose access to medicine

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:00:00 -0600

A recent report from the National Association of Free Clinics recently warned consumers without health insurance of the risks they take by not having a plan.

Pharmaceutical company Sanofi recently said that it will stop giving free clinics medicine, which could affect many consumers, the report noted. The company distributes Lantus, which is a form of insulin, as well as Lovenox, a blood thinner. The cost of Lovenox is $4,000 a month, while Lantus is more than $350 per month.

"The company's sudden shift in limiting pharmaceutical access for those who can not afford their medication came as a huge surprise to us," said Nicole Lamoureux, executive director of the National Association of Free Clinics. "At sites across the country, over $10 million worth of Sanofi medications were administered in the last year to our patients."

For those who are uninsured, the best choice may be to compare affordable health insurance quotes, as there are many available for consumers of multiple income levels. It could avoid a potentially bad situation for those losing access to their prescribed medications.

Long-term care discussions important

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:00:00 -0600

A recent release from LTC Financial Partners noted that consumers should speak to their elderly relatives about their plans for long-term care, and the holidays may be the perfect opportunity to bring it up.

Health insurance is a big part of the conversation, as a consumer needs to determine if a government-sponsored plan is a good plan, the release said. In addition, for those not looking for a public plan, it may be a good idea to search for affordable health insurance quotes.

"Why not make every Thanksgiving, from here on, a little more hopeful - by attacking the long-term care threat now?" said Denise Gott, national sales manager and chairman of the board of LTC Financial Partners. "Consider all the thinking and discussing you do just to plan for the turkey dinner and getting together. Why not make time for a side conversation on long-term care - an issue vital to everyone's future happiness?"

It may be wise for a family to determine where the person will live when receiving long-term care, the release added. This is especially true if another family member needs to adjust their own housing situation.

Medicare could receive future cuts

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:00:00 -0600

With a congressional super committee unable to come to an agreement to cut Medicare costs, a standard 2 percent cut was put in place, but significant trimming could be looming in 2013, according to Reuters.

Overall, there is more than $700 billion that will be cut from the federal budget in the next 10 years, and more than $100 billion of it is attached to Medicare. However, some lawmakers had made their intended changes, cuts could have reached $700 billion.

The current default cut isn't worrying some industry professionals, though.

"Two percent is not a lot for Medicare to absorb," Joseph Antos of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, told the news source. "About all that happens is a few more providers, like doctors and hospitals, stop accepting new Medicare patients."

If no changes are on the horizon, healthcare programs sponsored by the government, as well as Social Security, will use up all revenue from taxes by 2047, the news source added.

Consumers may want to keep an eye on legislation, as it could have significant impacts on affordable health insurance rates.

Americans know long-term care is expensive

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:00:00 -0600

A recent survey from the LIFE Foundation showed that many Americans are aware of the daunting costs attached to long-term care, despite low enrollments in these types of health insurance plans.

More than 70 percent of those surveyed think that between half and 80 percent of senior citizens will need some sort of long-term healthcare. Another 65 percent think that those who have to move to a nursing home will need to spend between $58,000 and $88,000. The figure is actually around $78,000 annually.

"Most of us would quickly get wiped out financially if we had to come up with $70,000 or $80,000 every year for home care, nursing home care or an assisted living facility," said Deb Newman, chair-elect of the LIFE Foundation. "Long-term care insurance helps ensure that you'll get the care you need, without wiping out your life's savings."

Consumers who are not in one of these plans may want to act early, as they are more valuable the earlier they are acquired. Looking for the lowest health insurance rates may help lessen the load that comes with long-term medical care.

Medicare, healthcare bills hurting elderly financially

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:00:00 -0600

A recent report from the National Council of Aging noted that many older Americans are being hurt by the financial situation they find themselves in due to high medicare costs.

According to Census information, nearly 16 percent of Americans over the age of 65 are classified as poor individuals, the report noted. In addition, Medicare patients typically pay three times more of their budget on healthcare fees than those who do not use the government-sponsored benefits program.

"We have tested solutions that can help - increased access to benefits, employment and training assistance, better self management of health issues - but we need more systemic change from our elected leaders to help make these increased poverty numbers head back in the other direction," said Sandra Nathan, senior vice president for Economic Security at NCOA.

Those consumers who are not able to find affordable health insurance quotes may want to go online and examine the options available. There may be an alternative plan that is attractive and fits the budget the person has set out.

Cancer patients with Medicare treated more cheaply by physician

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 -0500

A recent study from The US Oncology Network showed that per-patient-per-month cancer treatment for those with Medicare cost less when procedures are carried out in the doctor's office.

The Site of Service Cost Difference for Medicare Patients Receiving Chemotherapy study noted that PPPM enabled costs to be as much as $600 less than non-physician's office treatments. Copays were also, on average, 10 percent lower in these situations. Currently, the federal government is pondering a major Medicare cut that could jeopardize these types of treatments for those without private health insurance.

"When cancer care providers shift from the community to more urban settings, this often represents an access to care challenge for patients constituted by added travel costs and lodging requirements that many patients simply cannot afford, especially those patients residing in rural communities," said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, founder and chief executive officer of the National Patient Advocate Foundation.

It may be a good plan for those who are getting cancer treatment to make sure that their health insurance plan is sufficient. If not, shopping around for alternative coverage may not be a bad idea.

Nebraska Senator aims to keep Medicare untouched

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 02:00:00 -0500

A recent announcement from Republican Senator from Nebraska Ben Nelson, noted his intent to keep Medicare as well-funded as possible.

He made the announcement in a press release after visiting a nursing home in his home state, which made him comment on the special needs of retired individuals who are looking for affordable health insurance.

Nelson was hopeful that the current state of Medicare can be improved, due to its widespread use across the United States. He noted his intention to lead reform that will not only make the plan more widespread, but more affordable. The Medicare Secondary Payer Program may be able to be made cheaper, as it is being coupled with the SMART Act. There is hope that this will lower costs for taxpayers, while still allowing for efficient, top-level healthcare for senior citizens.

Consumers who are interested in obtaining health insurance, but don't think they will be approved for Medicare may want to obtain affordable health insurance quotes and compare rates. This could help find a plan form-fit to a person's needs at the lowest cost.

Michigan Medicare plan ranked in top 25 nationally

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:00:00 -0500

A recent report from the National Committee for Quality Assurance named HealthPlus the number one Medicare plan in the State of Michigan, as well as the 21st in the United States.

The organization's Health Insurance Plan Rankings also awarded the HMO-POS plan with a rating of "Excellent." This is not the only notoriety that HealthPlus has recently earned. The Medicare and You handbook gave the plan five stars out of a possible five, while Medicare.gov listed the insurance policy with a 4.5 out of five rating.

"We recognize that, when it comes to choosing a Medicare plan, quality ratings are one of the most important factors causing members to stay with a plan or to switch to a new one," said Bruce Hill, president and chief executive officer for HealthPlus.

Consumers who need affordable health insurance, but do not qualify for Medicare programs such as these, may want to examine other private options. There are many plans available, and it may be best to compare rates before making a decision.

AARP: Don't cut Medicare

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:00:00 -0500

A recent announcement from the American Association of Retired Persons revealed that a significant amount of its base will be traveling to the East Coast to visit members of the federal government and plead that cuts are not made to Medicare.

Medicare, the government-funded health insurance plan typically used by seniors, may lose some funding, which could potentially make health insurance for seniors more expensive, while limiting their ability to seek out a doctor. Social Security is also at risk of facing cuts, which could damage seniors' ability to pay for services or bills.

"Seniors have spent their lives working for their Medicare and Social Security benefits and they should not be just another line-item in the budget," said David Mitchell, AARP Arizona state director. "Congress instead should be looking at closing tax loopholes and cutting waste as ways to cut our federal budget."

Consumers who are concerned about this may want to look at other healthcare options that are available, as not every private plan is expensive. Examining health insurance rates could help a consumer find something that is both affordable and useful.

Organizations encourage elderly to look for alternative health options beyond Medicare

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:00:00 -0500

A recent poll from the National Council of Aging found that many older Americans who are eligible for Medicare do not know enough about it, and may still improve their situation by comparing different health insurance rates.

Nearly half of the people polled by the NCOA, UnitedHealthCare and GfK Roper, never shopped around for different Medicare rates and coverage. A total of 35 percent of these people were confused by Medicare, while nearly 20 percent didn't understand the plan whatsoever. Two in five of those polled thought it was a lost cause to try and save money.

"In this economy, many seniors are justifiably worried about their financial future," said Jim Firman, president and chief executive officer of NCOA. "When it comes to Medicare costs, now is the time they can do something about it. Research your options and apply for available extra benefits. You'll be surprised how much money you can actually save."

It may be a good idea for those looking for healthcare coverage to look at multiple insurance quotes, as it could make the plan much less expensive.

Report: Planning for healthcare important for senior citizens

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:00:00 -0500

A recent report from compliance service Allsup showed that senior citizens need to do their part to plan for their healthcare planning later in life.

Many people have financial planners to help them along when it comes to expenses, but the organization stressed that they need to do their part in the process when looking at Medicare plans, as well.

"Seniors are expected to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on healthcare during retirement, as fewer employers offer retiree healthcare benefits and the baby boomers now entering Medicare live longer. This makes healthcare planning a very real financial issue," said Adrienne Muralidharan, senior Medicare specialist for the Allsup Medicare.

One important point is to be clear if a health change has occurred recently, the report noted. If so, it may be necessary to note this to see if the healthcare plan will cover it.

Seniors who are looking for a healthcare option may want to abandon their current options, as there may be affordable plans out there. Those looking for inexpensive options are encouraged to examine health insurance rates to find which is best for them.

Report: Medicare enrollment beginning early

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:00:00 -0500

Those whose health insurance is through Medicare may be confused later this year, as the federal government has changed the annual enrollment process, as well as its policies.

The Affordable Care Act changed the annual open enrollment period from mid-November through the end of the year to mid-October through the beginning of December. The period is used by people who want to make changes to their plans, and while it could be a shock to some, it will actually help make sure that consumers have the proper insurance cards by the beginning of the year, the report said.

"With this change, people will have an easier time seeking healthcare when January arrives, since Medicare will have more time to confirm coverage for 2012," said Adrienne Muralidharan, senior Medicare Specialist for Allsup. "In the past, some people with Medicare had to pay out-of-pocket for care at the start of the year because enrollment went through Dec. 31."

Prescription drug prices will likely increase due to the changes, albeit only a little, the report added. Medical insurance premiums will also be a bit higher for Part B, as well.

Medicare Fraud Task force saves public health insurance dollars

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:00:00 -0500

While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was designed in large part to protect consumers and curb rising health insurance costs, it was also drafted to help protect the healthcare industry from fraud, USA Today reports.

The legislation has already aided officials in efforts to prosecute individuals who have made fraudulent medical claims, and the number of suits is predicted to rise by 85 percent this year. Thus far, there have been 903 prosecutions in 2011. That is a 24 percent increase over 2010 and a 71 percent rise from five years ago, the source reports.

In the past, many fraudulent claims were filed through Medicare's electronic payment system . The Medicare Fraud Task Force, established by the Obama administration, now uses that same system to target those that make false claims and rid the health insurance system of illegal transactions. In 2010 alone, the efforts of the task forced recovered $4 billion in tax payer dollars, The Los Angeles Times explains.

The task force has been busy locating health insurance scammers in the past two years and the number of medical fraud convictions has been steadily rising as a result. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice saw a total of 23 trial convictions for Medicare fraud, while they have already had 24 in the first half of 2011, according to USA Today.

Seniors getting a break on Medicare Part D

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:00:00 -0500

While health insurance costs are rising for most Americans, it seems the nation’s seniors may be getting a break on their premiums. That is because the Obama administration has announced that the Medicare Part D prescription drug program for retirees will not be getting more expensive in 2012, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The Medicare Part D program was created during President George W. Bush’s tenure and works to subsidize prescription drug costs for the elderly. The plan is far less expensive for the government than experts predicted and it will now be cheaper for seniors as well, the source reports.

Individuals adding Medicare Part D to their health insurance plan had to pay an additional $30.76 per month this year. In 2012, the cost will be just $30, according to the source.

This is just one of the many pieces of legislation enacted by the Obama administration that helps make healthcare more affordable. Another important law helped get seniors out of the “doughnut hole” when it comes to prescriptions by creating a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs, subsidized in part by drug companies, according to Kaiser Health News.

Increased access to Medicaid improves health and finances

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:00:00 -0500

A recent study lead by Harvard University's School of Public Health and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that increasing the availability of Medicaid would help more low-income adults access medical care while taking some of the financial strain off of individuals already covered by health insurance.

The ongoing study is the first of its kind to evaluate the benefits of insuring the uninsured, according to officials from Harvard's School of Public Health. Katherine Baicker, a professor of health economics at HSPH explained that the study showed that Medicaid recipients gained access to healthcare that is not necessarily available to those without health insurance.

"This study shows that Medicaid substantially expands access to and use of care for low-income adults relative to being uninsured," she said.

Researchers claim Medicaid increased the likelihood that a person would use outpatient care and prescription drugs to maintain health. Preventative care services like mammograms and cholesterol control also rose as did routine doctor's visits.

These services combined work to improve overall health and make it less likely that a person will succumb to an illness that could cause them to go into medical debt in the future, researchers reported.

Medicaid may not be enough for some dentists

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 26 May 2011 02:00:00 -0500

A study that was conducted by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia found that children who use Medicaid as their primary form of health insurance may have a difficult time at the dentist, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Conducted between February and May of last year, the study, which was led by Joanna Bisgaeir of the department of emergency medicine at the university, used six female research assistants who posed as the mother of a 10-year-old child who had chipped his tooth in an accident.

The women contacted 85 dental practices in Illinois, telling identical stories about their son's injury and the care that was required. Each office was contacted twice over the course of four weeks.

The study found that when the women said that their child had medicaid they had far more difficulty booking an appointment. Only 36.5 percent of those who claimed to have medicaid were able to obtain an appointment, compared to 95.4 percent for those who said that they had Blue Cross Blue Sheild, according to the report, which was published in the journal Pediatrics.

These findings may have important implications for healthcare reform and the future success of publicly funded health insurance plans.

Medicare funds to run out sooner than expected

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 18 May 2011 02:00:00 -0500

The annual Medicare Trustees Report projects that the trust fund that helps to support the program will be exhausted in 2024, five years earlier than previously predicted, according to The National Journal.

A summary of the report that was published by the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees points to rapid growth in Medicare costs through 2035 as a main reason for the fund's depletion. The summary also states that Medicare part B, a supplementary health insurance plan that pays physician's and outpatient bills, and Medicare part D, which covers prescription drugs, are likely to continue to receive adequate funding because current law provides monies every year to meet the following year's projected costs.

In a White House blog that was posted last week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius suggested that Medicare could be salvaged if reform focuses on improving care and lowering costs, instead of shifting to the private vouchers that have been proposed by some Republicans.

"Social Security and Medicare have given America’s seniors a dignified retirement and high-quality healthcare for decades," Sebelius wrote. "Together, we’ll ensure they continue to provide future generations of seniors with the health and retirement security they have earned and deserve."

Medicaid gets makeover in Florida

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 12 May 2011 02:00:00 -0500

The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that would overhaul the state's Medicaid program, according to The New York Times.

Florida is home to one of the largest pools of Medicaid recipients in the country and spends a reported $21 billion to provide care for the under insured and those without health insurance.

Senate Majority Leader Democrat Andy Gardiner expressed the importance of the reform to both the state and its residents. The bill will "transform the current system into one that is more sustainable and patient-centered," Senator Gardiner told the media outlet.

The bill, which is sponsored by the Republican Senator Joe Negron, would require a shift from a traditional Medicaid structure to one that relies on managed care to curb costs and improve patient experience by regulating services and eliminating the fee-for-service system currently in place, according to the news source.

"Medicaid has grown faster than any other part of our budget," Senator Negron told The New York Times. “It is crowding out funding for education, economic development and other parts of the budget that are equally important."

If approved by the federal government, the bill is projected to save the state $1.1 billion in its first year.

Florida congressman faces angry voters over support of Medicare overhaul

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Sun, 01 May 2011 02:00:00 -0500

U.S. Representative Allen West was greeted with mixed emotions by a crowd of his Florida constituents during a town meeting earlier this week, according to the Palm Beach Post.

The Republican congressman is an outspoken supporter of House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan's recent spending plan, which completely revamps Medicare to turn it into a voucher system that would provide subsidies for retirees to buy private insurance. The newspaper said West, who voted for the plan, was met by demonstrators and angry locals who oppose his support of the controversial legislation.

West spoke to a crowd of about 300 people, who the source said alternatively cheered and heckled the congressman. In a question and answer section of the meeting where West sifted through constituent questions, the paper said many of them had to do with his stance of Medicare. One card simply asked, "Why are you turning your back on the middle class?"

However, West claimed the reform is necessary to reduce U.S. spending and lower the federal deficit.

According to published reports, Ryan himself has faced criticism at multiple town meetings following the release of his budget.

CVS pays $17.5 million to settle Medicaid suit

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

CVS Caremark has been ordered to pay $17.5 million to resolve claims that it overcharged Medicaid programs in 10 states, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The company's pharmacies overbilled the government health program, which insures low-income people, for medications for those who were also covered by a private health insurance plan. CVS was charged with submitting inflated prescription claims in stores across Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada and Rhode Island.

Under the terms of the settlement, CVS will pay almost $8 million in damages to the federal government, and about $9.5 million to the states where the overbilling occurred.

"Medicaid covers the poorest, most vulnerable people in American society. Overcharging this needed government program for prescriptions is a disservice to everyone, and won't be tolerated," said Daniel Levinson, the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The allegations were brought to the government by a CVS pharmacist in Minnesota, who was awarded about $2.6 million for her information.

More than 53 million people in the U.S. are enrolled in Medicaid, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Enrollees must fit into an eligibility group that is recognized by federal and state law, although requirements for the program vary across the states.

Bonuses will ease Medicare Advantage cuts for seniors

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

Millions of seniors who receive health insurance coverage from private insurance plans offered through Medicare may soon qualify for bonuses from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to the Associated Press.

The $6.7 billion in bonuses could make up for cuts to Medicare Advantage that were included in President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law. A Medicare spokesman told the news source the bonuses are being awarded in order to improve the quality of the program and will be evaluated as it goes along. Moreover, the insurance industry claims the bonuses will turn what would have been a net loss for the program in 2012 into a small increase.

More than half of Medicare Advantage's 11 million enrollees are covered by plans that are rated as average, and would therefore qualify for a bonus.

The Affordable Care Act cut $145 billion over 10 years from Medicare Advantage in an effort to correct overpayments, according to published reports. Insurers were expected to transfer that burden to beneficiaries, causing many people to abandon the program for traditional Medicare coverage.

Florida homeless get free checkups at event

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

Homeless Americans, in addition to numerous other problems, almost universally suffer from a lack of adequate medical care, experts say. Fortunately for some of them, however, the Palm Beach County Health Department is offering a number of free services at a Wednesday event.

Numerous types of screenings and checkups will be offered, including STD and HIV/AIDS checks, dental workups, pregnancy tests, breast exams, blood pressure and diabetes checks and health insurance consultations, organizers said.

More importantly, however, the event is also an opportunity for the homeless to learn about some of the day-to-day options available to them via the government and nonprofit organizations, so that they can enjoy access to basic care without the need for a special event like this one.

Dr. Alina Alonso told the Sun-Sentinel recent federal grants have expanded care options for some of the hardest-hit populations in the country.

Knowing one's options for health insurance should the worst happen - the layoff, the bank foreclosure - is frequently not considered important by many Americans. Nevertheless, experts say, it's worth thinking about.

House, Senate introduce bill to improve care for Medicare recipients

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

AARP announced it is endorsing the new Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act, a bill currently in the U.S. House and Senate that would help Medicare beneficiaries reduce their out-of-pocket expenses for hospital observation stays.

In a statement, AARP Iowa State Director Bruce Koeppl said seniors are often caught off guard by expensive medical bills because of a little-known distinction between an inpatient stay and hospital observation.

"These costs add an unnecessary burden to Iowans in Medicare who need vital follow-up care," he said.

To receive Medicare coverage, patients must be admitted to a hospital as an inpatient for at least three consecutive days. However, more hospitals are choosing to observe patients instead of admitting them, causing some to be billed for high out-of-pocket costs for follow-up care.

The bipartisan legislation - sponsored by Reps. Tom Latham (R-IA) and Joe Courtney (D-CT), and Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) - aims to relieve this issue by applying time spent in hospital observation toward the three-day requirement for Medicare coverage.

Approximately 8.2 percent of the U.S. spent a night in the hospital in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Couple pleads guilty to $200 million Medicare fraud scheme

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

A Miami couple has pleaded guilty in a federal court to conducting a massive conspiracy to steal $200 million from the tax-payer funded Medicare program.

The couple, Lawrence S. Duran and Marianella Valera, organized the nation's largest known mental health racket and could now face more than 20 years in prison. According to published reports, the two were among 22 people at the American Therapeutic Corp. who were charged in the scheme.

Duran and Valera, who own a chain of seven mental health clinics, were accused of filing false claims for mental health services, paying kickbacks to patients and bribing assisted living facilities and halfway houses to get patients. Many of the company's customers were elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, and could not have benefited from the costly therapy sessions that Medicare was ultimately billed for, according to the Miami Herald.

The National Crime Insurance Bureau reports there was a 10 percent increase of fraudulent health insurance claims in 2009. Florida saw the largest increase in questionable claims, followed by California and New York.

Obama proposes changes to Medicare, Medicaid

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

President Barack Obama has proposed tightening Medicare spending and altering the way Medicaid and children's healthcare costs are shared with the states, as part of an effort to curb federal spending.

While addressing a crowd at George Washington University, Obama laid out his plan to reduce the federal deficit by $4 trillion in 12 years or less. The reduction would be phased in over time to strengthen the nation's economic recovery and aid the recovering labor market.

Although the policy mostly preserves the entitlement programs in their existing form, a central aspect of the Medicare proposal would rely on creating a board that would be able to devise ways to slow Medicare spending if it grew by 1 percent faster than the gross domestic product. In addition, Obama proposed changing the way the federal government pays its share of the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. Under the plan, each state would be paid a single blended rate that combines both programs.

The plan greatly differs from the one Representative Paul Ryan's recently outlined in his budget proposal. Ryan's proposal called for converting Medicare into a voucher program and Medicaid into block grants, which would give states more room to cut people and benefits from the program.

Medicare releases list of hospital mistakes

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

Medicare has released a list of the eight most common things that can go wrong during a hospital stay, as experienced by Medicare recipients between October 2008 and June 2010, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The data was released over strong objections from the hospital industry. The most common hospital acquired conditions experienced by patients included serious bed sores, objects left in patients after surgery, transfusions with incompatible blood types, infections related to catheters or the urinary tract, falls, broken bones, air or gas trapped in blood vessels, and poor control of blood sugar for patients with diabetes.

The newspaper said all of Chicago's top medical centers appeared on the list of hospitals with safety issues, including the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, the University of Chicago Medical Center, and the Rush University Medical Center, which all had high amounts of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections associated with catheters.

According to a 2010 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, of the one million elderly and disabled Medicare patients hospitalized each year, 135,000 people experience an adverse event.

New member of Medicare MEDCAC board announced

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has named a new member to its Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC), which is responsible for evaluating medical literature, technology and other data to determine what items and services are covered for people who receive health insurance from the agency.

Dr. Michael Mills, a longtime member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) has been chosen to serve a two-year term on the committee beginning June 1. Mills is currently the Chief of Physics and Associate Professor at the University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center, and is a national expert in procedural and manpower issues in radiation oncology. He also has multiple board certifications that qualify him as an expert in imaging, nuclear medicine and therapeutic physical modalities.

Mills said he hopes his expertise will help MEDCAC provide high quality and innovative medical services to Medicare beneficiaries.

"There is no lack of clever innovation in the array of new devices, drugs and procedures available in the medical marketplace. Medicare beneficiaries derive special benefit from those emerging technologies that are proving to be relatively cost-efficient as well as effective," he said.

The AAPM includes more than 7,000 medical physicists and publishes the journal Medical Physics. The organization works to to promote the use of physics in medicine and biology and encourage interest and training in the medical physics field.

Plan from House GOP would redesign Medicare, Medicaid programs

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are preparing to introduce a 10-year budget that would eliminate Medicare and replace it with a private insurance system, while also ending Medicaid as an entitlement program.

Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan plans on releasing a 2012 proposal that would call for more than $4 trillion in spending cuts in the next decade. While the proposal would leave the system intact for current Medicare recipients, or anyone expected to be on the program in the next 10 years, future beneficiaries would no longer have a single-payer health system to rely on. Instead, they would receive subsidies to help them purchase coverage from a private health insurance company, and would not have any protection if insurers decide to raise premiums.

Ryan's proposal would also cap spending on Medicaid and give states more power in running the program, which is jointly financed by the federal government and states.

The proposal is a part of Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future," a plan that also includes raising the retirement age, cuts to social security, and creates a lower tax rate for the wealthy in order to reduce the federal deficit.

CMS approves coverage of prostate cancer drug

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:00:00 -0500

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that it plans to pay for the immunotherapy drug Provenge for its health insurance recipients after determining it is genuinely effective in treating men with advanced stage prostate cancer.

The expensive medication, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April, is a therapeutic vaccine designed to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells. But, it has only been found to extend patients' life by about four months, prompting many to question whether it is worth the $93,000 treatment price, according to published reports.

However, in a statement CMS said the medication was worthy of coverage since it has been shown to improve the health of Medicare beneficiaries with metastatic prostate cancer.

Since men are usually older when they are diagnosed with the ailment, Medicare's approval will make Provenge much more accessible to the general public. The proposal will be subject to public comment for 30 days, and a final decision will come 60 days after that.

Medicare has recently approved a slew of expensive cancer medications for coverage. Earlier this month, the agency announced it will cover the melanoma drug Yervoy, which costs $120,000 for one treatment cycle.

Study finds Los Angeles County has highest rate of hunger

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0500

The Los Angeles County area had more hungry people in 2009 than any other county in the U.S., according to new research from Feeding America.

More than 1.7 million county residents struggled with hunger that year according to the organization's Map the Meal Gap study. The analysis uses statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Census Bureau and other agencies to understand food insecurity across the country.

There are people in every county of the nation who at times cannot provide enough food to fuel a healthy lifestyle for every member of the household. Los Angeles had a food insecurity rate of nearly 17 percent, about the national average. However, rural areas had higher rates, such as California's Imperial County, where 31 percent of people did not have enough to eat.

"It's hard to imagine in a nation that grows much of the world’s food that people cannot always afford to feed themselves or their kids," Vicki Escarra, Feeding America's president and chief executive, told the Los Angeles Times.

Malnutrition, which can result from frequent hunger, can cause a slew of problems that raise health insurance rates. The nonprofit Malnutrition Matters reports that the lack of vitamin and nutrient ingestion can severely weaken the body, make it more vulnerable to disease, and influence mental health.

Medicare to cover off-label use of some drugs

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0500

A federal judge has ruled that Medicare must cover the off-label use of medications when treatment is medically necessary, reported the American Medical Association, even if the use is not listed in an official medical compendium.

The ruling settled a 2007 lawsuit filed by the Medicare Rights Center on behalf of two patients who did not have necessary medications covered by the agency. One plaintiff, Judith M. Layzer, was denied coverage for a drug prescribed to control her ovarian cancer, according to the news source, making her pay for the costs out-of-pocket. Layzer has since passed away from her illness.

Joe Baker, the president of the Medicare Rights Center, told the source that his organization has received calls regarding the issue for years from Medicare patients struggling for drug coverage.

"This ruling brings us closer to removing a sizable obstacle to coverage of these drugs," Baker said.

To prevent more cases like Layzer's, two U.S. Representatives have introduced a bill to clarify coverage guidelines. The Part D Off-Label Prescription Parity Act would allow Medicare to cover the off-label use of medications in cases where clinical evidence in peer-approved sources supports the move.

Joining Medicare Part D - the agency's branch for prescription drug plans - is voluntary, and open to older adults who don't have drug coverage. Anyone who has health insurance through either Medicare Part A, B or C is eligible for prescription coverage.

Medicare will not change coverage for anemia drugs, for now

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0500

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it does not immediately plan on changing its coverage of certain anemia medications used to treat patients with kidney disease.

The agency said it will not issue a ruling on how doctors should use the drugs, produced by Amgen and Johnson & Johnson, should be used when treating patients who receive health insurance coverage through Medicare. However, CMS added that it will not make its final decision on the matter until June and will take comments on the proposal before that time.

A government plan may lower the dosages of the medication Epogen, which is used for kidney patients undergoing dialysis. Other medications such as Aranesp and Procrit are used to treat anemia in patients not yet sick enough to need dialysis treatment. CMS began to review the use of those drugs after a study by indicated they may increase the risk of stroke and heart attack in patients with failing kidneys. A 2007 review by the Food and Drug Administration also found that the drugs may encourage tumor growth in cancer patients, causing the agency to ban its use for those with certain forms of the disease.

Chronic kidney disease can result from a number of ailments, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The National Kidney Foundation reports that failure can happen slowly over an extended period of time, causing many to be aware of the problem until kidney function is significantly impaired.

California counties say Medicare has underpaid some doctors

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0500

Three doctors and seven California Counties are suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for $3.2 million, reported the American Medical Association, claiming that the agency knowingly underpaid some physicians through Medicare.

According to the plaintiffs, Medicare knowingly used an outdated geographic rate system to pay physicians for the last decade. Attorney Dario de Gehtaldi told the news source that the old formula continues to group some urban areas with rural locations under a locality map that helps determine Medicare rates in a given area. However, the model has not been updated since 1996, de Gehataldi said, meaning it does not account for the current cost of living and medical care in those areas. As a result, some doctors are paid almost up to 24 percent less than those in nearby counties.

Ted Mazer, the president of the San Diego County Medical Society, told the source that the unequal pay is driving physicians away from the state.

"I'm hoping someone is going to wake up and see the struggle of these medical practices," he said. "This is driving doctors out."

Rural areas of California are already suffering from a drastic shortage of doctors, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Some communities have had to largely rely on nurse practitioners and medical assistants for their medical needs.

Audit finds Medicare illegally paid for seniors' ED medication

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0500

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) spent $3.1 million during 2007 and 2008 on reimbursements on Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs for senior citizens, according to government investigators, despite the fact that the agency banned coverage for those medications in 2005.

More than $3 million was spent on Viagra reimbursements during that period, while the rest went toward similar drugs such as Cialis and Levitra. Medicare administrators said the payments were the result of a software error and said they would attempt to recover payments from private insurance companies.

In a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Office of the Inspector General, the authors wrote that Medicare, "should not have covered these drugs". According to George Reeb, the acting deputy inspector general for audit services, Medicare also covered an undetermined amount for erectile dysfunction drugs in 2009 and 2010.

CMS said it would update its computer databases with codes for the prohibited medications to help prevent a similar error.

According to the American Medical Association, the Bush Administration cut Medicare funding for sexual dysfunction drugs to help pay for health and unemployment benefits and end the, "government subsidization of seniors' recreational sex."

Rural residents will suffer from Arizona Medicaid cut

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0600

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's proposal to cut up to 280,000 adults from the state Medicaid system may have a drastic impact on the state's rural population, reported Arizona Public Media.

The reduction will increase emergency room visits in rural areas, reported the station, since many local residents will not be able to afford another means of health insurance. Arizona hospitals already have difficulty attraction emergency room doctors, a problem that will become even more pronounced under the possible Medicaid cut.

The station reported that Alison Hughes, the head of the Rural Health Office at the University of Arizona's College of Public Health, told the television news program Arizona Week that the state's Native American population will be particularly affected. A majority of the them receive healthcare through Medicaid, according to Hughes, who said 70 percent of Native Americans in eastern Arizona's Whiteriver area rely on the program.

A cut will also hurt employment opportunities, reported the source, since healthcare facilities in rural towns often provide higher-paying jobs that other employers.

Although many believed Brewer's plan would be opposed at the federal level, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has approved the cut, according to American Medical News, paving the way for other states to potentially follow suit.

Medicare Advantage changes stump some analysts

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:00:00 -0600

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the government is increasing reimbursement for Medicare Advantage plans in 2012, a surprise to analysts who expected to see a decrease that year.

Unlike traditional Medicare plans, Medicare Advantage provides health insurance coverage for seniors by giving them vouchers that can be used to purchase health plans from private insurers. While the plans are popular among retired adults, Forbes reports that Democrats voted to cut over $200 billion in funding from the program over the next decade to fund Medicaid expansion for lower-income households.

Furthermore, the 1.6 percent increase is also surprising to some since rates were kept flat for 2011.

According to the Wall Street Journal, President Obama vowed to eliminate Medicare Advantage during his 2008 election campaign, leading some to believe he may be holding off on that promise until after 2012 in order to placate seniors and secure their vote.

As of February, approximately 12 million retired seniors were enrolled in Medicare Advantage, making up 26 percent of the country's Medicare-eligible population.

Medicare may cover sexually transmitted disease tests

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 02:00:00 -0600

The U.S. government is weighing the possibility of allowing Medicare to pay for tests for sexually transmitted diseases for the elderly and disabled.

If the idea is accepted, Medicare recipients would be covered for tests for for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, syphilis and sex counseling for high-risk individuals. Currently, the program is considering adding the change to a future initiative to emphasize preventative means.

Medicare already covers HIV testing, as well as many procedures that aim to prevent such STDs, including pelvic exams and human papillomavirus testing. The government-sponsored program gives also tests for diabetes and colorectal cancer. Many non-government health insurance plans also cover these types of tests already.

The review by Medicare also found out that because so many U.S. citizens have extended and healthier lives - because of improved healthcare and health insurance - they have a tendency to be sexually active for longer periods.

Medicare has grown significantly since being started in the 1960s. It now covers 39 million Americans over the age of 65, in addition to 7.6 million disabled citizens.

Justice Department announces guilty plea in health insurance fraud case

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:00:00 -0600

An office manager at a medical supply company accused of defrauding Medicare of more than $6 million pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy charges, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

Darawn Vasquez admitted that she conspired with a former church pastor and several other associates to file numerous false claims to Medicaid and pocketing the reimbursement funds, the DOJ said. The conspirators also set up fake companies to process payments and used fake prescriptions for expensive power wheelchairs manufactured by Vasquez' company to obtain money from the government.

In addition, the DOJ said, Vasquez admitted destroying records of the people who had sold bogus prescriptions to her and her associates, after being alerted to the news that subpoenas had been handed down for the records of the shell companies she used to bill Medicare.

The costs of insurance fraud, experts say, are borne by taxpayers and customers as well as health insurance companies, since the money lost to illegitimate claims hurts insurers' profits and causes them to raise rates.

Report: New Jersey city may have done well from health insurance switch

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:00:00 -0600

Healthcare costs are now less of a problem for Fair Lawn, New Jersey, after a switch to a non-traditional insurance plan which, the city's former mayor says, has saved more than $1 million, according to the Bergen Record.

Joe Tedeschi told the newspaper the shift has been a good budgetary move for Fair Lawn.

"We're getting health costs under control. We have the opportunity to make savings, and we’re going to leverage that into more savings," he said.

However, opponents told the Record the savings may be deceptive. The president of the local Police Benevolent Association, David Boone, said it was too soon to label the switch a success.

"Right now, he may think he looks good, but it's going to ultimately end up disastrous for the town," he told the newspaper, adding that some costs were still being paid by the previous health insurance provider, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which would stop doing so soon.

Consumers as well as municipalities could realize savings by switching their plans, but experts say it's important to do extensive research before such a decision is made.

Boomers wonder how long Medicare will last

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:00:00 -0600

More than 40 percent of baby boomers surveyed believe their longevity will surpass that of Medicare, according to an AP-GfK poll.

Most Americans are willing to increase the age in which people qualify for the health insurance plan, according to the Associated Press, if it means keeping the benefits as they are.

Currently, Americans become eligible for Medicare at age 65 and some of those approaching their turn to take advantage of the program expect it to still be there a few years from now. Lynn Barlow, 60, told the AP she deserves access to the coverage after working for so long.

"I started working when I was 16 and I expect a benefit after putting into it for so many years," Barlow told the news agency.

There are many Americans who don't qualify for Medicare and don't have access to group plans. People in such circumstances should purchase an individual health insurance plan to ensure they covered.

Consumers can conduct research online to find a plan that best meets their needs. In 2014, healthcare exchanges will be in place where consumers can compare rates in one location.

Number of Medicaid beneficiaries expected to jump in Iowa

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 02:00:00 -0600

Healthcare reform could make a huge difference for Iowa residents. Health reporter Cindy Hadish from SourceMedia Group News says the number of Medicaid recipients could jump by 25 percent once all measures are in place.

Iowa Medicaid Enterprise director Jennifer Vermeer told SourceMedia Group News that Medicaid and healthcare reform are "intertwined."

By 2014, states have to have a health insurance exchange set up or the government will run it. A computer system will allow consumers to compare individual health insurance plans as well as see if they qualify for Medicaid, Vermeer told SourceMedia Group News.

Thousands of Iowa residents have already benefited from the Affordable Care Act. According to HealthCare.gov, nearly 18,000 Medicare beneficiaries received a "donut hole" rebate check to help cover medication expenses this year.

The state has received $1 million to help set up the health insurance exchange system, according to the website. The funds can be used to help design and implement outreach efforts and administrative needs.

The Affordable Care Act was signed in March of this year by President Barack Obama. Recently, a Virginia judge said part of the legislation was unconstitutional.

Healthcare reform projected to aid older Americans

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:00:00 -0600

People from all walks of life stand to benefit from healthcare reform. Research from the Commonwealth Fund indicates those between 50 and 64 years of age in particular are poised to be positively affected by the law.

The study highlights how adults in the 50 - 64 age bracket are "suffering the highest rates of longtime unemployment." Current data reveals the jobless rate nationwide is at approximately 10 percent. Not working is a problem as many people obtain coverage through their employer.

Half of the nearly 8.6 million uninsured adults in the age bracket with an income of less than $29,000 will qualify for Medicaid coverage, under the new laws. Another 3.5 million will qualify for subsidized individual health insurance.

Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis says the research indicates new laws will benefit older uninsured Americans.

"This report paints a picture of a baby boomer generation whose health and financial security are in jeopardy because of rising health care costs and declining health insurance coverage," says Davis.

There are other steps people can take to help make healthcare more affordable. Avoiding fattening foods, for example, can help ensure people are fit and therefore require less medical attention.

Clinic to aid the uninsured

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 02:00:00 -0600

More than one thousand uninsured people in North Carolina are expected to take part in a free health care clinic this month. The National Association for Free Clinics is running the event.

Wanda Morgan is recently uninsured and told news station WSOC that going to the doctor without coverage can be expensive.

"I feel terrible because I'm one of those persons who is in and out of the hospital a lot," Morgan told the station. "They ask me for $75, $100, just to be seen."

Some people may delay seeking care when they need it because they are unemployed and lack health insurance and find medical visits don't fit into their budget. Delaying care can make some medical conditions worse and more costly to treat.

Healthcare reform is designed to help fix that problem for many Americans. By 2014, most people will be required to have health insurance.

Those who cannot obtain coverage through an employer will be able to purchase an individual health insurance policy through an exchange. People who meet certain requirements may qualify for government plans.

Research shows seniors will need substantial funds later in life

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:00:00 -0600

Healthcare reform is anticipated to yield many positive outcomes. Since insurers will now cover preventative care screenings, elderly individuals could experience substantial savings.

However, research by the Employee Benefit Research Institute says seniors will still need to save up substantial amounts of money in order to cover medical expenses. EBRI estimates a man retiring at 65 years of age will need at least $65,000 to cover health insurance payments.

EBRI health research and education program director Paul Frontstin says people need to prepare to be held accountable for a large portion of their medical care costs.

"Because employers are continuing to scale back retiree health benefits, and policymakers may soon begin to address Medicare's funding shortfall, more of the financial costs of healthcare will be shifted to Medicare beneficiaries in the future," says Fronstin.

It's wise for people to start planning for their future medical care costs early. Due to inflation, money won't have as much purchasing power down the road. Furthermore, one never knows what kind of illnesses may arise.

Most Medicare Advantage Plans to disappear

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 02:00:00 -0600

Thousands of people will become eligible for Medicare this year, but the number of options for beneficiaries is decreasing. The Louisiana Department of Insurance is urging those on Medicare to closely look at benefit offerings.

Many Medicare Advantage Plans will no longer be available, as some health insurers have opted not to renew agreements with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Some people will notice costs and coverage differences next year as a result.

The Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says consumers need to educate themselves before selecting a plan.

"Choosing a health care plan and prescription drug plan are important decisions," says Donelon. "This year, many Medicare recipients will choose new plans due to companies no longer providing coverage for Medicare and due to reduced options being available."

Medicare recipients in Louisiana aren't the only ones that will feel changes from the plan. Residents nationwide will share their experience. In addition to using government plans, consumers can also look into individual health insurance policies to find coverage that best meets their needs.

California continues to spearhead healthcare efforts

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 02:00:00 -0600

Last month, California became the first state to set up health insurance exchanges. Now, the state is aiming to continue its leadership trend by expanding coverage to uninsured residents and improving care.

The state's "Bridge to Reform" Medicaid waiver will result in $10 billion in resources that will help bring care to those who are uninsured. Department of Health Care Services director David Maxwell-Jolly says the waiver is needed to extend medical care.

"We believe this waiver will help provide more effective and efficient health care to California's most vulnerable populations and strengthen the capacity of our public hospitals to meet increasing demands for care," says Maxwell-Jolly.

Those who are uninsured can purchase individual health insurance plans. The coverage can be a good option for those who cannot get affordable rates through their employer' plan and don't qualify for federally subsidized coverage. Plan rates can vary depending on the health of those being insured along with the type of policy. Furthermore, consumers can save even more by using funds in a flexible savings account for copays and other medical care services.

Research team finds flu vaccination rates lower for Medicaid recipients

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Receiving the flu vaccination can result in significant savings from avoiding hospitalization. However, a number of people don't receive the vaccination every year. Research from the University of Rochester Medical Center found that vaccination rates vary depending on insurance type.

Children who are Medicaid beneficiaries are less likely to be vaccinated for the flu in comparison to those who have family health insurance or private health coverage, according to the researchers. However, the team predicts more patients may receive the shot if doctors are reimbursed at a higher rate from Medicaid.

Study author and assistant professor Dr. Byung-Kwang Yoo says a doctor's compensation for treating Medicaid beneficiaries varies from each state.

"In most states the reimbursement from Medicaid is far below the actual cost," says Yoo. "The may create an obvious disincentive when physician's offices lose money every time they give a flu shot, even though vaccines are provided for free."

The number of people receiving health insurance from government programs like Medicaid and Medicare is likely to increase in the future under the Affordable Care Act, which plans to broaden the requirements to qualify for the plan.

Poll finds more people relying on government health insurance

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:00:00 -0500

With economic recovery slow and unemployment numbers still high, obtaining health insurance has become difficult for some people. A large number of Americans have struggled to find affordable health insurance quotes on their own and are turning to government healthcare for their needs.

A Gallup poll shows that more than 26 percent of Americans reported relying on Medicare, Medicaid, or military benefits last month. The increased reliance on government healthcare plans coincides with a decline in people reporting they received health insurance through an employer-sponsored plan. When Gallup began collecting data on health insurance in January 2008, just over 22 percent reported being on a government-sponsored plan.

The number of Americans who are uninsured has been holding steady since August at approximately 16 percent. Gallup notes that such findings may change in the future as provisions under the Affordable Care Act are implemented.

Medicaid is a health insurance option for those who meet income and other eligibility requirements. With the unemployment numbers being high, more people may become qualified for such programs. Those who don't qualify for such programs may want to try researching plans online to find one that meet their needs and price range.

Research on Minnesota residents finds low-income children more likely to be uninsured

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Receiving appropriate healthcare early in life is important as it can impact a person's health in adulthood. Many families struggle to get affordable health insurance quotes and opt to go without coverage, even if they may be qualified for government-sponsored programs.

A report from Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota reveals that more than 10 percent of children living in the state were uninsured at any given time last year. Furthermore, low-income children were 3.5 times more likely to be uninsured than their wealthier counterparts.

A data analysis was conducted by the State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota to see how the state's children are faring in comparison to the rest of the nation. Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota president and CEO Dr. Alan Goldbloom says that while the state is doing well in some respects, other areas need improvement.

"We want to start a dialogue on the health and well-being of our children," says Goldbloom. "Overall, Minnesota ranks high in children's health. We can be proud of that, but this report shows areas of concern and we have work to do."

Without health insurance, children may not receive important preventative care or help when they are ill.

Millions of Medicaid-eligible children go without coverage

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Efforts have been made by the government to expand requirements for Medicaid coverage in an attempt to get more people health insurance. However, researchers estimate there are 4.7 million children in the country who were eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, but are not enrolled in 2008.

Enrollment levels in government health insurance programs vary in each state. A large number of uninsured children are clustered in three states: California, Texas, and Florida.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan aim to enroll five million eligible children in Medicaid or CHIP in five years.

Duncan says the school system will play a role in identifying and enrolling eligible students. Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says health-related factors can lead to poor academic performance.

"If a child is not healthy, he or she cannot learn," said Duncan. "The education community has a critical role to play in finding and enrolling eligible children."

Those who don't qualify for Medicaid or CHIP shouldn't go without coverage. If an insurance plan isn't offered through an employer, people can begin researching plans and get individual health insurance quotes online.

Number of Medicare beneficiaries receiving rebate checks increases

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:00:00 -0500

As people age, many decide to forgo their individual health insurance plans and opt for Medicare as soon as they become eligible to do so. Many people switch to Medicare because individual health insurance premiums can be high and Medicare offers inexpensive prescription drug plans.

Under the Affordable Care Act, people stand to benefit even more from having Medicare. Recently, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that 1 million Medicare beneficiaries have received assistance with paying for their prescription medications.

The government has been helping those on Medicare who fall into the "donut hole" by mailing $250 rebate checks to those who qualify. The "donut hole" is a gap in coverage for those who have Medicare prescription drug coverage and aren't receiving Medicare Extra Help.

"These checks will make a difference in helping seniors continue to get the medications they need, and are one of many ways that the Affordable Care Act is helping seniors," said Sebelius.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, prescription medication costs have increased faster than other areas of the healthcare industry.

Exchanges earn high marks from seniors

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:00:00 -0500

The healthcare system in the country has undergone some major changes already, with more to come in the upcoming years. One segment of the population that stands to be significantly affected by healthcare decisions is the senior population.

The American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health and Aging says that those over the age of 65 average 10 doctor visits per year and that number increases to 15 when a patient reaches the age of 85.

Fortunately, research shows that retirees are happy with their experiences using health care exchanges. Health care exchanges allow consumers to compare insurance plans. A survey from Extend Health found that 85 percent of those who have used a health insurance exchange report being happy with their experience.

Our retiree customers are at the leading edge of what is next in healthcare – individuals with access to health insurance through an exchange," said Extend Health CEO Bryce Williams. "These survey results suggest that the exchanges authorized by health care reform legislation passed earlier this year will be greeted with enthusiasm when they go into operation for individuals and small businesses in 2014."

Many pleased with Medicare coverage

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Many Medicare recipients are happy with the coverage the plan offers, according to survey data released by Extend Health.

The survey of over 500 retirees found that 85 percent are either "very" or "somewhat" satisfied with Medicare. One of the top reasons retirees said they are satisfied with the plan is that they experience fewer billing and payment issues than they did with other forms of health coverage.

"Retirees on Medicare have long been among the most satisfied of all Americans with their health insurance coverage, and after 45 years of Medicare, we now know that two-thirds of retirees like Medicare as much or more than the group plans provided by their former employers," said Extend Health CEO Bryce Williams. "This is important information as large employers consider how best to honor their commitments to retirees for health benefits."

As of 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there were 37.9 million people in the United States over the age of 65, the age at which a large number of people aim to retire and receive Medicare coverage.

Funds available to help elderly stay in their home

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Getting older isn't easy for many people, especially when it means possibly having to leave their home for a long-term care facility. However, those wishing to live independently stand to get some extra financial assistance to do so.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is giving $2.25 billion in grants to help people go from a nursing home to their own home or small group setting. Currently, 29 states and the District of Columbia have "Money Follows the Person" programs, which are meant to help states manage their long-term care systems.

"The Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration has been critical to our efforts to deliver on the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act and expand access to community living services," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Many people end up living in a nursing home because of health conditions. A 2004 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that there were over 16,000 nursing homes in the country. At that time, approximately 1.5 million people made those facilities their home.

No more cuts to Medicaid, says healthcare association

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Cutting Medicaid funds designated for nursing home care puts patients and jobs at risk, says the Texas Health Care Association.

THCA president Tim Graves cited the government's $15 billion cut in Medicaid as more than enough during a meeting with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

"The impact of continued Medicaid and Medicare funding cuts is a growing squeeze on Texas seniors' care benefits," says Graves. "This funding squeeze is also impacting providers' ability to recruit and retain quality caregivers. In addition to putting key frontline care jobs at risk, the worsening Medicare and Medicaid cost squeeze inhibits facilities' continued investment in cost-effective care, and is directly at odds with our state and national health policy goals."

A large number of people rely on Medicare to cover their health expenses. There are over 2.9 million Medicare beneficiaries in Texas, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

As the population continues to age, more money will be needed to help care for sick patients. Additional cuts will further squeeze the system, THCA points out.

Poll finds many seniors unaware of health care reform's impact on them

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Understanding one's health insurance plan can be confusing, especially with all the new changes taking place. It appears that senior citizens, in particular, are not well-informed about the Affordable Care Act and what it means for them, according to a poll from the National Council on Aging.

Less than a quarter of those surveyed understood that new laws were not going to result in a reduction in their Medicare benefits. Even those who considered themselves very knowledgeable about healthcare reform proved otherwise when questioned.

The NCOA is establishing "Straight Talk for Seniors on Health Reform" to help educate this age group.

"The health reform debate was long and complicated and often dominated by political spin that confused seniors," says NCOA president and CEO James Firman. "The fact that this poll revealed that so many people are misinformed or don't know much about the new law means we have our work cut out for us with the "Straight Talk for Seniors on Health Reform" campaign."

Under the Affordable Care Act, some seniors are eligible for a $250 rebate check for prescription drugs, preventative care and yearly wellness visits. There are other changes made in the health insurance industry as well that effect all citizens.

Second round of rebate checks to be distributed to seniors

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:00:00 -0500

More financial relief is on it's way to seniors who are struggling to pay expensive medication bills.

Over 300,000 seniors can can expect a check worth $250 from Medicare as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says that the government knows the financial assistance is badly needed to help seniors combat escalating health care costs.

"Seniors and other Medicare recipients in the Medicare donut hole are struggling to afford the medications they need and their basic living expenses," says Sebelius. "Seventy percent of our first round of these $250 rebate checks were cashed within a week of eligible Medicare recipients receiving them; so, we know that folks really need some help."

The first round of checks were distributed last month. Seniors who find themselves in the coverage gap during the second quarter of this year will be eligible for the next round of checks.

Even with the rebate check and Medicare assistance, the funds still may not be enough to help seniors pay all their medical bills. Government data suggests that senior couples may need to spend $300,000 of their own money for health care fees not covered by Medicare.

Stop messing with Medicare, says AMA president

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

The recent passage of a six-month delaying in cutting Medicare physician pay is not a long-term solution for seniors who rely on the plan for health coverage, says president of the American Medical Association Cecil Wilson.

Seniors are already suffering from mismanagement on Congress' behalf, Wilson said in a statement. A quarter of Medicare recipients are experiencing difficulty finding a primary care physician. Roughly 20 percent of doctors are capping off the number of Medicare patients they are willing to treat, Wilson said.

Patients can't wait any longer for the Medicare system to be overhauled, according to Wilson. Seniors' health and care is at risk.

"In December, the Medicare physician payment cut will be a whopping 23 percent, increasing to nearly 30 percent in January," said Wilson. "Congress is playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette with seniors' health care."

A major cut in Medicare physician pay was temporarily avoided when the Senate passed a 2.2 percent pay increase yesterday, reports the American Medical News. Doctors who accept Medicaid beneficiaries were dealing with a 21 percent cut in pay that started at the beginning of June.

Expanded Medicaid coverage won't be in Minnesota until 2014

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Early Medicaid enrollment will not happen in Minnesota this year, according to state Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Minnesota residents who meet specific criteria will have to wait until 2014 to enroll in the health coverage program.

The governor cited fears over the upcoming year's budget for his decision. Potentially another $430 million in expenses could hit the state by implementing the program at this time, according to Pawlenty.

"Signing Minnesota up early for this entitlement program would strain the state budget and put us at significant risk," said Pawlenty. "Rather than simply expanding these rapidly growing and unsustainable programs, we should reform health care to pay for quality, rather than volume of procedures, and look for ways to provide additional access through the private market."

Some officials have voiced their opposition towards Pawlenty's stance. In a statement, state Representative Tom Huntley said that the delay will hurt middle-class families through increased costs and that early Medicaid implementation makes more sense financially.

Not all states are hesitant about embracing the health coverage plan. Earlier this month, Connecticut became the first state to roll out Medicaid coverage to childless low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act.

Government center to tackle health costs

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation will be in charge of creating several reform models under the Affordable Care Act. Research by the Commonwealth Fund reveals that there are several key things the center must do in order to achieve the government's goals.

The Fund is suggesting that the CMI test multiple health care payment models to ensure that there is a correlation between cost and care.

The inclusion of both public programs and private programs when testing new programs to widen impact should also be done, says the Fund.

"Changing the way we pay for and provide health care to reward high-quality, efficient care is an essential step toward a high performance health system," says Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis. "If health reform is to succeed in improving care and curbing spending, this new center must function like a research and development laboratory for health care delivery, designed to discover, support, and disseminate the best and most innovative ideas."

The CMI is designed to run pilot programs and test their effectiveness, says The New England Journal of Medicine and will begin full operations next year.

Connecticut first to offer Medicaid to low-income adults

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Low-income adults residing in Connecticut are the first in the country to benefit from access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. All other states will be required to follow suit by 2014.

With health care reform, states will receive financial assistance to help offer Medicaid coverage to adults earning less than $14,400 a year.

Before the Affordable Care Act was enacted, childless adults could only have access to Medicaid with a temporary waiver and strict guidelines.

Government officials are pleased the state's move.

"We applaud Connecticut's speedy action to expand coverage for its lowest-income residents who will now have reliable access to affordable, quality care as a result of the incentives contained in the Affordable Care Act," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Today's action will bring substantial new federal support to the state and help improve the health of its citizens."

The Affordable Care Act has several provisions that aim to spread health care coverage. In addition to providing greater access to Medicaid, the Act is suppose to streamline the enrollment process and push states to encourage preventative care.

Alternative drug could save Medicaid millions

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Substantial funds could be saved by switching medication used to treat age-related macular degeneration, the Wall Street Journal reports.

A study by federal officials and a University of Miami eye doctor found that Medicare could save more than $500 million a year if patients were given Avastin, instead of Lucentis, according to the WSJ. Avastin doses cost Medicare approximately $42 whereas Lucentis runs up to $1,593.

While both medications are made by the same company, Genetech, Avastin hasn't been approved by the Federal Drug Administration for treatment of the disease, says the WSJ. However, clinical trials suggest that the drug would be effective.

"Doctors have been 'voting for Avastin with their feet,'" retina specialist and study author Philip Rosenfeld told the WSJ. "Some pharmacies take supplies of Avastin and divide it into tiny doses suitable for injection in the eye."

The study reveals that more than half of Medicaid patients with age-related macular degeneration are treated with Avastin, reports the WSJ.

The FDA approved Avastin to treat cancer, but not age-related macular degeneration. In order to obtain approval, the FDA must run a series of tests to determine a drug's safety and health benefit.

Mental health organization fights against Medicaid cuts

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

An extension of federal Medicaid assistance is being called for by the National Alliance of Mental Illness.

NAMI says that cut in funding made early Wednesday will only hurt the already financially strapped mental health care system.

Previous state budget cuts have resulted in assistance and benefits being reduced or altogether taken away for those who suffer from mental illness. NAMI asserts that mental health programs can't take any more cuts in funding.

Mental illness can effect all areas of a person's life and create other conditions, making a person reliant on other programs.

"Mental health cuts end up costing more through lost jobs and careers, broken families, more homelessness, higher insurance costs, more welfare and much more expensive costs for hospital emergency rooms, nursing homes, schools, police and courts, jails and prisons," says NAMI executive director Michael Fitzpatrick.

Approximately a quarter of Americans over the age of 18 suffers from a mental disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Untreated mental conditions can be burdensome to both the individual and society if appropriate treatment isn't given to patients.

Medicare cuts must stop, says Obama

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Payment cuts to doctors who treat Medicare patients cannot continue, says President Barack Obama.

Doctors take a 21 percent pay cut each time they treat a patient who uses Medicare, the president noted in his weekly radio address. Simply reducing pay to doctors is not a long-term solution to fixing Medicare, he said.

American Medical Association president J. James Rohack agrees with the president that reform is needed.

"Already, 31 percent of primary care physicians are limiting care to Medicare patients, according to a new online survey of physicians who treat Medicare patients," say Rohack. "Congress' mismanagement of the Medicare program must end to protect and preserve access to health care for today's seniors and the baby boomers who begin aging into Medicare next year."

The survey also revealed that doctors are forced to reduced the number of Medicare patients they see because payment is already too low, but operating costs are escalating.

The number of patients on Medicare is expected to increase within the next couple of years. Health care reform is easing the requirements for Medicare treatment, resulting in more people being eligible for the plan.

Seniors using Medicare Advantage more likely to avoid hospital readmission

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Seniors on the Medicare Advantage program are less likely to be readmitted to a hospital, compared to those on the original Medicare plan, an analysis by America's Health Insurance Plans found.

The AHIP reports that a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that almost 20 percent of patients on the original Medicare plan were readmitted into the hospital within 30 days.

Repeated trips to hospitals put patients at a greater risk of being exposed to harmful germs that may cause infections, notes the AHIP. The reduced number of hospital visits shows that patients are getting appropriate care under the plan.

"There is a crisis facing our nation's health care system with the increase and frequency of preventable hospital readmissions that has significant patient safety and quality implications," says president and CEO of AHIP Karen Ignagni. "Health plans have implemented programs that are helping patients get appropriate follow-up care and avoid preventable hospital readmissions and emergency room visits."

The Medicare Advantage Plan requires beneficiaries to visit doctors that are part of the plan and may have them seek care at specific hospitals.

Medicare fraud can be stopped, government officials say

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Medicare scams and fraud can be prevented with enforcement from officials at the federal, state and local levels working together. That is the message being sent out by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

Government officials are voicing their concerns about potential identity theft scams as consumer educator group, Senior Medicare Patrols, has reported more phone calls about potential fraud schemes.

This announcement follows the heels of the first round of rebate checks being sent to Medicare participants who have a gap in their coverage.

"We are especially concerned about fraud and increased activity by criminals seeking to defraud seniors - and we are seeking your help to stop it," said Secretary Sebelius and Attorney General Holder in the letter. "Building on our record of aggressive action, we will use the new tools and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act to further crack down on fraud."

Under the Affordable Care Act, those with Medicare are entitled to a $250 rebate check this year. Starting in 2011, a 50 percent reduction will be given on prescription drugs that fall in the coverage gap.

Extra help on its way for those on Medicare

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Financial assistance is on its way to help more low-income people on Medicare pay for their prescription drugs.

Revisions to the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act will provide more people with access to Medicare's Low-Income Subsidy Program, "Extra Help."

Individuals will not pay more than $2.50 for generic drugs and $6.30 for brand-name drugs under the program, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"These changes to the 'Extra Help' program make it easier for more people to get help paying for their prescription drugs," said CMS principal deputy administrator Marilyn Tavenner.

In order to qualify for the program, an individual's income cannot exceed $16,245 a year and they must have less than $12,510 in available funds, according to CMS. Savings from the plan could be nearly $4,000 for some beneficiaries.

While Medicare does significantly assist many people, the program is still not as robust as those offered by a large-employer plan, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Out-of-pocket expenses for health care for those on Medicare grew from 11.9 percent in 1997 to 15.5 percent in 2003.

Deadly drug errors more likely to occur in July with new doctors, study finds

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 02:00:00 -0500

A rise in deadly medication mistakes during July may be caused by the increase of new and inexperienced physicians that begin work, according to a study.

Most mistakes include patients being given the incorrect medication, the wrong dosage of a drug, or accidental medication use during surgery, reports HealthDay.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, medication mistakes occur due to a lack of communication, vague product names and writing, and unclear directions. They say that not enough training, unclear package labels and job stress are also to blame.

Researchers reviewed over 244,000 death certificates from 1979 to 2006 that listed medication error as the cause of death, says HealthDay. The research found that each July, incidents of deadly medication errors rose at teaching hospitals.

The researchers from the University of California, San Diego believe that their research provides evidence that new residents need more supervision and education about medical safety, HealthDay reports. Such precautions may prevent unnecessary deaths from occurring.

According to the FDA, "medication errors cause at least one death every day and injure approximately 1.3 million people annually in the U.S."

Uninsured numbers expected to drop

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 27 May 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Under health care reform, for the first time millions of low-income adults will be able to get health insurance through Medicaid, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Urban Institute.

The government's decision to make Medicaid more widely available will greatly lower the number of uninsured people, according to the analysis.

By 2019, the number of people on Medicaid is expected to jump by 15.9 million more than would have otherwise, found the analysis. The government is expected to cover 95.4 percent of the costs for Medicaid, with states covering the rest.

California and Texas both have high numbers of uninsured residents, the analysis discovered. With Medicaid being offered to more people, 1.4 million residents are expected to qualify for coverage by 2019.

"For a relatively small investment of state dollars, states could see huge returns in terms of additional coverage for their lowest income residents - with federal dollars covering the bulk of the bill," said executive vice president of the foundation Diane Rowland.

Young adults are more likely than any other age group to lack health insurance, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Roughly 30 percent of young adults lack health coverage.

Medical costs may be higher for healthy retirees

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Despite paying less for health insurance quotes now, healthy retirees should expect higher medical costs than their sick counterparts, according to a report by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

This is because such individuals are expected to live longer, which increases the likelihood that they'll need some type of long-term care. Many healthy retirees will eventually succumb to a chronic health condition, according to the report, adding new costs to their medical routine.

"Households planning for retirement need to decide how much to set aside for health care costs and whether to purchase Medigap and/or long-term care insurance," the report said. "Those currently in good health would be unwise to infer that they will continue to enjoy lower than average healthcare costs."

As a result, couples currently entering retirement without a chronic health condition may end out spending hundreds of thousands of dollars more than couples in which at least one partner is sick. This is why such individuals may want to invest in a long-term care insurance policy, which can cover daily medical assistance.

A recent report by Genworth Financial showed that long-term care costs increased within all categories in 2010.

Many physicians would cut off care if Medicare cut takes place

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Recent healthcare reform may bring changes to the ways an array of medical services are obtained and afforded.

It may also inspire some physicians to cut off access to consumers, according to a recent survey from the American Osteopathic Association. Twenty-four percent of physicians who currently have a say in the kind of insurance they accept said they would probably or definitely drop Medicare patients if the program receives its proposed 21.3 percent cut.

Thirty percent of respondents said they might stop accepting such patients if the payment cut was implemented. Physicians were significantly more receptive toward increasing Medicare costs yearly in order to reflect growing medical expenses, according to the report.

"The proposed cut of 21.3 percent and the lack of a predictable and equitable payment formula will, without question, have a severe negative impact on physicians' future participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs," Larry Wickless, president of AOA, said.

In 2008, 43 million Americans received health insurance coverage through Medicare, according to the Census Bureau. This figure represents 14.3 percent of the population.

New rules guarantee gay partners visitation right

nospam@example.com (Brafton) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:00:00 -0500

Following recent reform aimed at putting affordable health insurance quotes within reach for all Americans, the Obama administration has extended healthcare rights for gay couples.

A recent memorandum from the president addressed policies currently preventing gay and lesbian Americans from visiting their partners while in the hospital. These policies prevent some individuals from getting the medical care they need and forces some to die alone, according to the memorandum.

New rules would require that hospitals accepting Medicare or Medicaid respect their patients' visitation rights and allows designated individuals to make informed decisions regarding their partner's medical care. Some gay rights groups have responded positively to the president's efforts, according to an article by the New York Times.

"It’s an enormous step," David Smith, vice president of policy for the Human Rights Campaign, told the newspaper. "In the absence of equal marriage rights in most jurisdictions, this step provides an essential right to LGBT families for a gay person or a lesbian person to spend time with their partner in a critical situation."

Several states - including Nebraska, North Carolina, Delaware and Minnesota - have already passed similar legislation, according to the memorandum.

Medicare a model for US health insurance?

nospam@example.com (Todd Page) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:14:52 -0500

Granted most Seniors like the way their Medicare health insurance works and most buy a supplement from private insurers to help offset what medicare does not pay.

Is this model however sustainable for the entire US population?

To learn more please click here: Medicare is Broke

Keep your private health insurance and Medicare...maybe not.

nospam@example.com (Todd Page) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:34:00 -0500

Many Seniors are worried about the cut back that may happen with Medicare. The promises made by the current administration that "if you like your health insurance you can keep it" may not be all true.

To read more on this click here: Medicare advantage going away?

Medicare for the whole country?

nospam@example.com (Todd Page) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:43:00 -0500

An recent argument concerning a public option mentions that if we do not want a public option that we shouldn't like Medicare either.

That's right we shouldn't like it.......

1) Medicare is already broke and only covers a very small percentage of the US population.
2) Fraud is out of control.
3) The government is in charge of policing our money although they think it's theirs.
4) The program was created by liberals a long time ago and it's the only option Seniors know.

So in other words Medicare works so well right now with care, and costs we should turn the whole country over to the same system. Now that would be scary....

To read more about why we should love Medicare and the public option click here:Medicare for the country?

AARP makes it official- NO to HR 3200 !!

nospam@example.com (Todd Page) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:33:00 -0500

Yesterday we posted a blog about whether or not AARP endorsed health insurance legislation or not.

Well they have now made it official. That answer is NO.

To read more about AARP saying NO click here: AARP NO to HR 3200 !!

AARP is going to have a lot of explaning to do with health care.

nospam@example.com (Todd Page) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:57:00 -0500

You would think that the Nation's largest senior advocate group would have some better answers when it comes to the new health care proposal but apparently not.

Here another good question: If their members find Medicare a good choice now why do the majority of them have to buy a Medicare Supplement from AARP? Maybe that IS the answer.

To see AARP's views and answers (if you can find one) on National Health Insurance click here: AARP.......huh ??? What did you say?

What Medicare does NOT cover.

nospam@example.com (Todd Page) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:07:00 -0500

Many now say they are happy with their current health insurance plan (almost 80%) and some even say they are happy with the way Medicare covers them now.

Some however are not aware of what Medicare pays for now and what it does NOT. More importantly is what is does NOT especially when you are facing a LARGE MEDICAL BILL.

Here is the Medicare website that will tell you exactly what Medicare will and will NOT pay for. click here: What will Medicare cover?

What will the government cover when the entire US is under their plan?

Medicare premiums and coinsurance rates for 2009

nospam@example.com (JLBG Health) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:42:00 -0500

Following are the 2009 adjustments to Medicare premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates:

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) Monthly Premiums for 2009:
$0 - Requires 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered employment.
$244 - 30-39 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.
$443 - Less than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

Medicare Part B: (Medical Insurance) Monthly Premium for 2009
$96.40 - Less than $85,000 annual income ($170,000 Joint Tax Return)
$134.90 - Less than $85,001 - $107,000 ($170,001 - $214,000 Joint Return)
$192.70 - Less than $107,001 - $160,000 ($214,001 - $320,000 Joint Return)
$250.50 - Less than $160,001 - $213,000 ($320,001 - $426,000 Joint Return)
$308.30 - more than $213,000 (more than $426,000 Joint Return)

A penalty will be assessed for late enrollment. For Part B, the penalty is a 10% surcharge for every full 12 months the enrollment is late, and will be in effect for as long as the beneficiary has Part B.

Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts for 2009:

Part A: (inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health care) For each benefit period Medicare pays all covered costs except the Medicare Part A deductible of $1,068 during the first 60 days and coinsurance amounts for hospital stays that last beyond 60 days and no more than 150 days.

For each benefit period the beneficiary pays:
A total of $1,068 for a hospital stay of 1-60 days.
$267 per day for days 61-90 of a hospital stay.
$534 per day for days 91-150 of a hospital stay (Lifetime Reserve Days).
All costs for each day beyond 150 days are the responsibility of the beneficiary

Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance
$133.50 per day for days 21 through 100 each benefit period.

Part B: (Medicare eligible physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment)
$135.00 per year + 20% of the Medicare-approved amount

Read the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) fact sheet here