| Health Benefits Direct Announces Addition of Aetna Coverage to ...
RADNOR, PA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 12, 2007 -- Health Benefits Direct Corporation (OTCBB: HBDT), a leading innovator in the direct marketing and distribution of a wide range of health and life insurance products to individuals, today announced that Aetna has joined Health Benefits Direct's online insurance portal as an official health insurance carrier partner. The addition of this leading provider expands the company's consumer selection to include coverage availability from four of the largest major medical insurance carriers in the nation. "Selective carrier mix expansion is a key component of our organic growth plan, and this addition marks a significant achievement in the ongoing development of our interactive online insurance agency," said Alvin H. Clemens, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Health Benefits Direct.
What unions do
Union employees earn higher wages and are more likely to have employer-provided health insurance and retirement plans. The benefits of unions, however, extend far beyond the individual worker.Compared to states with few union members (like North Carolina), states with a high percentage of union members have higher average wages, fewer people in poverty, fewer people without health insurance, lower workplace fatality rates, higher public education spending per pupil and higher voter participation rates.The labor movement is responsible for the 40-hour work week, child labor laws and worker health and safety protections. In recent years, unions have organized against bad trade deals and the movement offshore of American jobs. Unions have fought to protect Social Security and increase access to affordable health care and prescription drugs.At a time when CEO pay, health-care costs and gas prices are skyrocketing while employees' wages remain stagnant, Americans need unions more than ever if we want the middle class to survive.Ajamu DillahuntOutreach coordinator, N.C.
Florida Group Health Insurance At Lower Costs
Florida Group Health Insurance is very difficult to compare with individual health insurance. Recent polls taken by the Washington Post said that "33% of the consumer population didn't realize that group and individual health plans are different". How do I get a group health insurance policy? And what are my options to get lower cost health insurance? Group health insurance plans allow you to participate in a good policy, based on your inclusion in a specific workplace group of people. If you're a business owner, then offering a good group health insurance plan is the best idea for a many reasons. Do you qualify for one of these plans? Many employers think that, with just a few employees, their businesses are too small. To the contrary, even a two person company can qualify for a group health plan.
Are Your CLIENTS Covered? Some Planners Are Taking on the Complex ...
HEADLINE:Are Your CLIENTS Covered? Some Planners Are Taking on the Complex, Expensive Market for Individual Health Insurance. And They're Finding Solutions. SUMMARY
Picture this: You've spent years with a couple, helping them craft a savings strategy that will enable them to retire at 62. But the retiree health benefits they counted on have been discontinued, and they've had trouble finding an affordable option to tide them over until they can sign up for Medicare. The couple is forced to use their savings to pay their staggering medical bills, and all your hard work, let alone theirs, is lost.
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Health Care Insurance: The Basics
To cope with the potentially high costs of medical care, insurance policies provide some financial protection. Many individuals with insurance are covered under an employer-based plan (options offered and partially funded by their employer). Individual health insurance coverage, though more costly, can be obtained through some companies. Uninsured persons depend on their own ability to pay, qualifying for government insurance, or the care that physicians and institutions donate to those unable to pay. The March 14, 2007, issue of JAMA is a theme issue on access to health care. TYPES OF INSURANCE COVERAGE .
Consumers Beware: Individual Health Plans Are Confusing
Today's Health Insurance Market Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2007--Consumers who purchase individual health insurance plans solely on the initial price they are quoted by a broker or via the internet could be hurting themselves financially and be missing out on important benefits they probably want, states Charles O'Neill, CEO of Avalon Healthcare. More than nine percent of all people insured buy individual plans and the numbers in Florida are increasing, O'Neill said. Avalon is Florida's newest statewide health plan selling individual and group consumer directed health insurance plans. "Buying health insurance is confusing and while products may look alike, most are not," O'Neill said. "As more Floridians purchase consumer directed health plans for themselves and their families, they need to become better educated about the products they are buying.
Over 50 Rockford business groups, advocate organizations ...
ROCKFORD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott joined over 50 Rockford organizations and individuals, including healthcare providers and advocates, business owners, education supporters, and other nonprofit organizations, where he accepted endorsements for the Governor's Investing in Families Initiatives, the Governor's proposed budget for FY08. The proposed budget includes the Illinois Covered plan to provide affordable comprehensive insurance to all Illinoisans, the Helping Kids Learn plan to invest an additional $10 billion in Illinois schools over the next four years, the Tax Fairness Plan that requires big wealthy businesses to pay their fair share and gives the middle class the relief it deserves, and a plan to address the state's long-time pension deficit and ensure secure retirements for thousands of workers.
A Guide to Long -Term Care Insurance
According to the Small Business Council of America (SBCA) buying a long-term care (LTC) insurance plan is probably one of the most important decisions in a person's life. In fact, based on American Society on Aging (ASA) estimates, LTC insurance should not be an option for aging boomers. It should be a requirement. According to ASA, people who are 65 and older have a 70% chance of needing long term care before they die. Dying is the inexpensive part. The average annual national cost for nursing home care is over $70,000. At $52,000 annually, home healthcare may be relatively cheaper but could still easily deplete financial resources. The costs are expected to increase threefold in the next 20 years based on a 5% rate of inflation in long-term care costs. Few will argue the value of LTC insurance plans for aging individuals.
Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner Unveils Low-Premium ...
Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner Christopher Koller on Tuesday unveiled new low-premium "wellness health benefit plans" that are intended to encourage small businesses to offer health coverage to workers, the Providence Journal reports. The plans, which will be offered by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and UnitedHealthcare of New England, will include coverage for physician visits, hospitalization, preventive services and prescription drugs. Under a law passed last year, the insurers must offer the plans to businesses with 50 or fewer employees beginning Oct. 1. The law requires premiums to equal no more than 10% of the average annual wages in the state. Premiums for individual coverage will average $322 per month for Blue Cross plans and $309 per month for UnitedHealthcare plans -- 18% lower than similar plans currently on the market.
Avalon Healthcare Signs Hospital Contract with BayCare Health System
TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Avalon Healthcare, Florida's newest statewide individual and group health insurance plan has signed a hospital agreement with BayCare Health System. BayCare represents nine hospitals in the Tampa Bay marketplace. The agreement became effective March 1, 2007. "Creating a relationship with BayCare meets another milestone for Avalon in our on-going strategic plan to provide healthcare consumers with the highest quality health plan option in Florida," said Avalon CEO Charles O'Neill. "Avalon's philosophy is to provide access to outstanding medical care while creating a better consumer experience." BayCare is a family of health care providers consisting of nine leading not-for-profit hospitals in the Tampa Bay region. With 17,000 employees and other health care services, BayCare is the largest, community-based health system in the region.
Utah State University Student Health Insurance Costs Decline
LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- The price of student health insurance at Utah State University will decrease about 15 percent next school year, university officials said. The lower costs are a result of fewer claims being made in 2005 and 2006. The school's least expensive health insurance plan will drop from $2,093 per individual to $1,780, and from $7,305 per couple to $6,210 for the 2007-2008 school year. USU insurance coordinator Noell Hansen said he hopes insurance costs will remain stable. "I hope that we wouldn't see a significant increase where the price would jump right back up in a year," Hansen said. "It's hard to say because it will depend on usage (of the system)." The lower insurance costs come as student leaders discuss asking administrators to make student health insurance mandatory.
Health Savings Account participants take on more risk ...
With health insurance costs spiraling, employers and consumers are looking for ways to regain control over their health-care expenses and choices, and lawmakers are looking for ways to make the health-care system more competitive. One option is for consumers to take on more risk and responsibility. That's where consumer-directed health plans come in. These are high-deductible insurance plans paired with a tax-deferred account. Because the premiums for high-deductible plans are significantly lower, participants can invest the money saved into an account for future health-care expenses on a tax-free basis. They can also use the funds to pay for medical expenses until they reach their deductible, with preventative care often covered by the plans. In a Health Savings Account (HSA), the account is owned by the individual or employee, though an employer can contribute.
Coalition plans rally in support of universal health care bill
TRACY A coalition of local organizations in support of universal health care will be staging a rally in front of the post office today. The demonstration is intended to raise awareness for Senate Bill 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, which would provide universal health coverage for every resident of the state, regardless of their ability to pay. Today's event is being organized by the San Joaquin Coalition for Universal Health Care, as part of the statewide "365 Day One Care Now Campaign." The goal is that each day, one community in California will host an educational/informational activity to raise awareness and offer solutions for the skyrocketing costs of health care. According to One Care Now, the bill would "create one plan and one public trust fund which would pay all health care bills and collect all the monies already being spent on health care and insurance plans." If enacted, the bill would "replace all health premiums, taxes, deductibles and co-payments now paid by employers, employees and individuals with one affordable premium." The organization states that more than 5 million Californians have no insurance at any time during the year, with an additional 2 million lacking insurance for part of the year.
Couch potato lifestyle 'costs NHS £1bn'
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Glasgow 'healthiest' UK city
Save money on your health insurance. free independent advice for companies and individuals. Click for a fast quote from UK insurers. www.healthinsurancegroup.co.uk Medical Insurance Join AXA PPP Healthcare and receive up to three months free cover. Affordable medical insurance with plans to suit your needs. www.axappphealthcare.co.uk .
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