Posts Tagged ‘Insurance’

Five Facts About Health Care Reform

September 12th, 2011

It’s time to tune out the misinformation mission when it comes to health care reform. The political battle is over and President Obama and the Democratic party won. Health care reform is now the law of the land. The important thing now is that all Americans become informed about what this actually means for them and that’s what this article aims to do with these five facts. A big part of the Republican party’s fear campaign on this bill was that it would cut Medicare benefits for seniors (and of course there was the “death panel” lie but that’s too ridiculous to even consider.) The truth is actually the opposite. Because of this bill people on Medicare will have access to new benefits.

There will be an immediate $250 rebate for those who hit the “Donut Hole” this year and beginning next year there will be a 50% discount on all name brands in the “Donut Hole.” By 2020 it will be closed entirely. But that’s not the only benefit, another big one is that beginning next year there will be no more co-pays for any preventative care visits! This will enable seniors to go to the doctor without having to worry about what it costs them because it will be free.

Because of this bill it will be illegal for health insurance companies to deny coverage to children due to pre-existing conditions as of September (6 months after the bill became law.) In 2014 this law will go into place for adults too. Prior to this bill, it was entirely legal for a health insurance company to deny coverage to a newborn baby with a “pre existing condition.” When the Republicans are running for repeal they are running for making that legal again.

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Home Health Care – Nursing Care Opportunities

September 10th, 2010

The most in demand careers today fall mostly in the group of nursing occupation. One definite example is becoming a home health aide. This profession provides care to patients living at home. Responsibilities of home health aides include monitoring any fluctuation and rise with the patient’s vital sign, preparing of daily meal, patient grooming, a few housekeeping, and most importantly accompanying patient to his or her whereabouts. If you are thinking of working in home health care, following are the best reasons why you should enter this noble profession.

Career Development
Based on studies, most elderly decide to age in their own homes. Since aging is part of life, this profession will never go out of fashion. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook rate for home health aide is still outstanding. Actually, home health aide is the second-fastest growing career in the United States after the Registered Nurse.

Benefits And Profit Advantage
As a health care professional, you will receive various benefits including paid vacation and sick leave, medical insurance, disability insurance, as well as retirement plans. Each benefit varied depending on every employer, though some employers provide only some of the mentioned benefits, in some case employers offer no extra paid benefits but offer access to employee-paid benefit programs.

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California Health Insurance Exchange

September 10th, 2010

With the inception of health care reform, we have seen numerous changes in health care, such as full coverage of preventive care services and work has already begun to create state-based “exchange” around the country. But, how can you use one of these exchanges? How can it help consumers looking for affordable health care coverage in California?

An exchange is a marketplace where individuals and small business firms can shop and compare different California health plans online. Plans will be standardized; every plan sold by insurance companies will offer the same benefits to make it easier for consumers to shop for health coverage. Consumers will simply focus on the cost and quality of the health plan when doing comparison shopping. It’s designed to make it easier than the complicated fine print we now should read, but can’t always understand.

Why Would A California Health Insurance Exchange Be Controversial?

Like almost everything else, state-based exchanges are enmeshed in politics. In California and other states, lawmakers have agreed to adopt the legislation in setting up exchanges, but many Republican governors are fighting the exchanges. Some governors even refuse to implement any part of the health care reform, such as in Florida.

California, Florida and Texas contribute 40 percent of the 4.3 million uninsured children in the country and lack of coverage hurts the adults in these states, as well. The insurance exchange can give the public a better chance to get affordable health plans. However, some insurance experts predict that healthy individuals will opt out from the exchanges if they are not well planned. That would leave insurance companies insuring sicker people, which typically drives up CA plan premiums.

When Will The California Health Insurance Exchange Be Ready?

The new health insurance marketplace is required to be fully functional on January 1, 2014. By that date, all states are expected to have set up their state-based exchange. If they fail to do so, the federal government will run an exchange for that state.

The CA exchange will initially be open only for individuals buying their own health coverage and for small businesses looking for plans to cover employees. Most U.S. citizens will still get health coverage through their jobs, but there are millions of people who don’t have that choice. For better or worse, immigrants without documents will be barred from buying health insurance through the exchanges. Since many illegal immigrants work in food production in the U.S., keeping them healthy sounds like it would be extremely important.

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