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Republican presidential hopefuls gathered on Tuesday during the second day of a cancer forum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to discuss issues related to the disease and to providing health care and affordable health insurance to those who need it most. As it's reported at the Kaiser Daily Report, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) said that he would seek to increase federal funds for cancer research by as much as three times the current level of $6 billion as part of an effort to eliminate deaths from the disease in 10 years. And former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) said that the U.S. health care system should focus more on preventive care and healthy lifestyles. And the best way to achieve this? Well, that would be more affordable health insurance. Good medical coverage provides the kind of checkups and facet-to-face guidance with doctors that prevent diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. These 3 sicknesses account for the premature deaths of millions of Americans, and are often entirely preventable. When it came to affordable health insurance both candidates agreed on one thing, that "health insurance proposals offered by Democratic presidential candidates would prove less effective than proposals to improve the affordability of and access to private coverage." Whether or not that's true remains to be seen, but so long as there is change on the horizon, there's hope that affordable medical coverage is on the way to the 47 million uninsured people in this country.
Kaiser's Daily Report wasn't great news today, as data reveals that in 2006 "the number of uninsured U.S. residents grew by 2.2 million to 47 million, up from 44.8 million in 2005." The majority of the uninsured can't find individual health insurance at prices they can afford, but there are some tricks that can help consumers find coverage, if they know where to look and what to look for. According to the US Census Bureau, "58.7% of the uninsured worked either full- or part-time during 2006," and "of the uninsured, 62% live in households with annual incomes less than $50,000, and of that group, more than half live in households with annual incomes between $25,000 and $50,000." What does this mean? That these are working people who don't get employer based medical coverage, and probably don't know where to go for affordable individual health insurance. The best place to find a plan that is affordable and covers some of the important basics would be the Internet. By shopping around aggressively online and comparing companies, rates, and plans, most people can find an individual health insurance policy that is more affordable. And, it's very important to have yearly checkups to reduce the likelihood that disease or sickness will strike. So, knowing what is covered, what isn't, and what kind of out-of-pocket expenses you'll incur can save you a lot of money down the road.
In the midst of all the bad news regarding medical coverage, it was a pleasant surprise today to see the Kaiser Daily Report offer a more positive analysis of small business health insurance in America. Employers, buried under the weight of healthcare costs, have been struggling to provide coverage to employees for the last 5 years. However, regardless, they seem to doing their best. According to the report, "71% of U.S. private-sector employees have access to employer-based health care benefits this year, and 52% of workers with access chose to participate in the plans, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics." Of course, these statistics are down from decades past, where small business health insurance was more affordable and didn't eat into business profits. But with today's more affordable "cafeteria style" plans, many business owners are doing their best to provide some kind of coverage for their employees. And those who do offer small business health insurance often benefit later on with higher morale, lower turnover, and beneficial tax breaks. Hopefully, as attention continues to be focused on this issue, more and more employers will find themselves in a position to offer insurance, protecting the health and wellbeing of their employees and their business.
The Wall Street Journal reported today that obesity is still on the rise, continuing to impact the health of millions of Americans, including their access to individual health insurance. Obesity rates continued their climb in 31 states last year, and no state showed a decline. And as the waistlines of adults and children alike continue to grow, their quality of life, as well as lifespan itself, is shrinking. People who are overweight are at an increased risk for diabetes, heart problems and other chronic diseases that also contribute to greater health care costs, which is why so many doctors and specialists are linking obesity to increased medical debt and the rise in individual health insurance premiums. Some carriers have already begun to charge more for "unhealthy" employees on the job, and individual applicants have long been excluded from policies altogether. Sadly, those people who most need medical coverage are the least likely to get it. The overweight and obese need access to regular medical checkups, which are the most effective means of controlling the factors that lead to obesity, such as poor diet and lack of education regarding health choices. But, since individual health insurance is difficult to get for those classified as "unhealthy," they often don't get that help. This is why it is so important to lead a healthy lifestyle, and to go to those checkups every year. It saves hospitals and patients alike a lot of money in the long run.
At wral.com, the plight of the underinsured reveals that sometimes, even those people who do have medical health insurance can't afford to pay down their medical debt. According to the article, 25% of insured Americans are underinsured, and "In a Consumer Reports survey of 3,000 people, an even larger percentage reported they could not pay for care in an unexpected serious health problem came up." This happens when a medical health insurance plan is too limited in its coverage, and doesn't allow for either a major emergency, or charges too much for basic services like checkups and medications. So what should people do? What kind of medical health insurance should people get? Well, it's important to get the best coverage you can afford, but it's also good to know your needs. If you're a single person, and you are relatively young and healthy, then you'll want to focus on insurance that provides basic services. However, if you have children, if you like activities that can lead to injury, or if you have health habits that could lead to sickness, be prepared for major medical issues that could arise. And no matter what, there are options for those who want to dispute a claim or charge. The law allows people to appeal decisions companies make about the coverage and payments health plans offer.
Pre-existing conditions can make it seem impossible to get or keep a decent and affordable individual health insurance policy. But as an article at U.S. News and World Report makes clear, covering up a past condition can lead to big trouble. In insurance terms, pre-existing conditions can encompass any medical problem you have now or may have had years ago. If the ailment (or the history of it) makes you a high-risk patient, insurers and employers know that covering you could prove to be expensive. This is why insurance carriers can and will remove people from policies. But when it comes to individual health insurance, it's very important not to conceal a pre-existing condition. Why? Because covering up a pre-existing condition that way would give the insurer an opening to refuse to pay any claim you later file, but the company will be happy to accept your premium payments in the meantime. In other words, they'll take the money and then refuse to pay if something happens to you. The moral here is that if you're a person looking for a good individual health insurance policy, shop around, compare rates, and be honest in your applications.
New data regarding advertisements aimed at boosting prescription drug use reveal how it is that the costs of medication are still eating into healthcare spending, and raising premiums for employer insurance, Medicare, and individual health insurance. Forbes recently released information regarding Drug Company spending, finding that "Drug Company spending on direct-to-consumer advertising continues to skyrocket, even as criticisms against it have soared." Prescription drug use in the last 10 years has skyrocketed, beginning about the time that pharmaceutical companies got permission to start advertising directly to consumers. As consumers see this advertising, as well as doctors themselves, the prescribing of the drugs goes way up, often regardless of whether or not the patient can afford them. Which is why the costs for individual health insurance, among others, have gone up alongside prescription drug use. Employer based coverage can't seem to keep up at all these days, and Medicare has funneled millions into covering these medications. For those seeking individual health insurance, or for those whose other types of coverage don't offer much for out-of-pocket costs, it's always wise to go with generic drugs whenever possible. The actual chemical makeup of generics is exactly the same as pricier drugs, and the costs can be much, much more affordable.
According to MSN Health, between 2000 and 2005, the average annual premium for small business health insurance that covers families increased from $6,772 to $10,728. And as employer based premiums continue to go up, consumers everywhere are searching for affordable individual medical coverage. The average annual cost for single-person coverage increased from $2,655 to $3,991 during the same period, a jump that is also costing the consumer. But employers are still paying more; this 48% overall jump in the last 5 years has made it very difficult for them to offer small business health insurance without taking significant financial losses. But as state by state healthcare plans consider forcing employers to cover employees, many say that this will eat into the free market, and significantly impact the American economy. Thankfully there are some more affordable options for those employers who do want to offer small business health insurance. Many agencies offer tailor-made plans designed to suit a variety of different budgets. It's important to be aware of what you the employer will be required to pay, and what the employee must pay, as well as types of coverage. Flexibility helps as well, since some people will want the option to pay more, or less, based on the kind of coverage they need. By choosing a plan that is designed for your business, your employees, and your budget it will be easier to insure your employees without damaging your bottom line.
The Kaiser Daily Report revealed today that while many minority men are taking steps towards screenings for diabetes, overall all minorities are less likely to enjoy the preventative benefits of medical health insurance. Of course, it's good news that "Black and Hispanic men no longer are less likely than whites to be unaware that they have diabetes, according to a report published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." Public health education efforts towards the necessity of testing for diabetes have begun to pay off. But the news regarding minorities in general and medical health insurance is less positive. "Hispanics, among other ethnic and minority groups, are not utilizing preventive care to help prevent and detect conditions for early treatment." At the same time, while minority women are also more likely to be aware of their diabetes, they are not improving as rapidly as men. And the higher incidences of diabetes, obesity, and obesity related illness can quickly be tied to limited access to medical health insurance. It's still very important to discover and treat diabetes, but it's preventative care that can prevent it in the first place.
Recent reports revealing that America ranks 41st in global life expectancy have many individuals pointing to our health insurance coverage system as the culprit. But, as many specialists have made clear, medical coverage is only a piece of the puzzle. According to the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, "life expectancy in the U.S. has reached its highest point ever, but it is exceeded by the rates in 41 other countries," including most of Europe, Japan, and the Cayman Islands. How can the richest country in the world lag so far behind in terms of the health if its citizens? One quick and obvious answer is the state of our health insurance coverage system. We pay more into healthcare than any other country in the world, and yet over 43 million people aren't insured and millions are underinsured. This means that they're not getting the kind of checkups and regular medical attention needed to extend life. But it's more than that. Certainly our health insurance coverage needs a major overhaul, but so does the American lifestyle. With 60% of Americans overweight or obese, Americans are shortening their own lifespan considerably. As one professor is quoted as saying, "The U.S. has the resources that allow people to get fat and lazy," and, "We have the luxury of choosing a bad lifestyle as opposed to having one imposed on us by hard times."
Georgia health insurance costs are about to go up again for those who work for the state. About 350,000 state and school employees and retirees will be hit with about a 10% increase in their health insurance premiums on Jan. 1, Department of Community Health officials said Thursday. As it's reported at The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the price increases come after a year of no premium rate hikes. "In 2006, when Gov. Sonny Perdue and the General Assembly faced re-election, they put extra money in the budget for fiscal 2007 so state employees and teachers wouldn't have to pay higher premiums for Georgia health Insurance." Unfortunately, as this is not a re-election year, that didn't happen again, an issue that does not bode well for those who hoped that upcoming elections would solve a great many healthcare issues. And as employees only received a 3% wage increase this year, finding a more affordable Georgia health insurance plan might be the only way for many state-employed Georgians to make ends meet.
At a recent forum in Las Vegas, Nevada, sponsored by the National Association of Black Journalists, presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton discussed her perceptions of private health insurance, including whether or not she believes our healthcare should follow a socialist model. As reported by the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, Clinton was asked why she is "still insisting" on the implementation of a system of "socialized medicine" in the U.S. at a time when Canada and Britain have begun "pulling away" from such systems. But in response, Clinton assured the audience that she doesn't support socialist medicine, and that her own model for a private health insurance plan would look more like those offered in Japan, Australia, and Canada. Plans such as these offer basic healthcare needs to all citizens, so whether or not more advanced procedures would still need coverage is a question that hasn't been answered. Shifting from a private health insurance system to a government subsidized version could be costly and time consuming. But, since our own system clearly isn't working, some kind of change is definitely on the horizon.
According to data released at the Kaiser Daily Health Report, thousands of lives could be saved each year in America if everyone had the kind of individual health insurance that provides yearly checkups, and if everyone who had access to them actually went. The CDC, which helped to fund the study, found that the most dangerous illnesses can be caught with preventative treatment that usually comes at the advice of doctors. This includes being advised to take low-dose aspirin daily, receiving medications to help stop smoking, annual flu shots, and breast cancer screenings. All of the above are usually provided in the yearly checkups that consumers ought to have covered by individual health insurance. Unfortunately, the 43 million uninsured in this country don't get those checkups, and therefore aren't diagnosed with disease until it has become very serious. And many more who do have coverage just don't go. This leads to unnecessary deaths, or high medical bills. This is why it is so important to have individual health insurance that covers yearly checkups. An estimated 100,000 lives could be saved every year if we focused less on treating disease, and more on preventing it.
Group health insurance in Montana has become a bit easier to come by for a select few small business owners. But, many critics argue that the money being used to subsidize their coverage ought to go towards insuring children and vulnerable populations, not those who can theoretically afford to buy some kind of insurance for themselves. The Helena Independent Record addresses the situation with the new and somewhat small program called Insure Montana. According to the article, Insure Montana does a great job of covering the group health insurance for about 1,600 small business owners. Approved almost 2 years ago, and funded by a tobacco tax increase, Insure Montana offers excellent coverage at affordable rates. Unfortunately, the costs of healthcare are such that only a small group of business owners enjoy the benefits of Insure Montana. "600 businesses are on a waiting list to buy its pooled coverage," and detractors argue that "public funds ought to provide the coverage directly to people most in need, such as children and low-income workers, instead of subsidize private insurance for whoever's buying it." But those enjoying group health insurance at affordable rates aren't complaining, and it's easy to see why. It's just unfortunate that we must choose between insuring hard working Americans, and insuring those more vulnerable populations like kids and low-income workers.
A recent article at MSN Health reveals that MRIs are one of the best types of breast cancer treatment for finding the disease before it can spread and become more deadly. But, at a cost of $1000 each, the lack of affordable health insurance could be putting many women in danger. The articles states that "MRIs caught more breast cancers in women at high risk for the disease than either mammography or ultrasound," and as a result, MRIs should be used to screen those women who are considered "high-risk." The researchers defined high risk in women 25 and older as a woman who carries one of the breast cancer genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 or a 20 percent probability of carrying a mutation, or a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer. But MRIs aren't cheap; in fact, a standard screening is at least $1000 before medical coverage kicks in. For those who don't have very comprehensive coverage, or who are still struggling to find the right affordable health insurance plan, this type of breast cancer treatment could be well out of reach. Fortunately, the difference between mammography and MRI was slim, so much so that it doesn't look like MRI screening will replace mammograms for some time. But, it's still very important for all women to receive their yearly mammogram to catch and prevent breast cancer. Those women searching for an affordable health insurance plan are advised to shop around aggressively, especially online, for a type of coverage that includes yearly mammograms and a physical. Simply by attending such appointments a woman's chances of developing the disease go way down.
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