Few Seniors Have Long-Term Care Insurance
Given the complexity of these high-cost policies, experts agree it’s tough to decide whether they’re right for you.
Health Law’s Aim: Multiple Vaccines For More People
Adults need vaccines to protect against serious diseases, including shingles, pneumonia and hepatitis. The health reform law, with its emphasis on prevention, will expand coverage to improve vaccination rates, currently too low.
In New Insurance Model, Costs Are Based On Value Of The Treatment
More employers are moving toward coverage in which consumers’ out-of-pocket medical costs are based on the value of a medical service to their health, rather than its price.
Retirees Can Find Insuring Young Adult Children Difficult
Medicare doesn’t cover dependents, and many private retiree health plans are not affected by the new health law so they can kick young adults out after school ends.
Many Individual Health Policies Do Not Cover Pregnancy
Families buying insurance on their own often find that the plans do not cover any of the usual expenses associated with having a baby.
OTC Medicines Cut From 2011 Flexible Spending Accounts
Beginning in 2011, the new health law bars payments for over items such as aspirin, vitamins and cough medicine from the popular accounts set up with pretax dollars. Consumers can still get the coverage with a prescription.
Seniors Should Consider Changes in Medicare Part D Plans
Open season begins Nov. 15 and beneficiaries need to check their options to make sure they are signed up for the plan that best meets their needs.
High Risk Pools For People With Medical Issues Start Slowly
Response has been modest and reviews are mixed for insurance plans set up by the federal health law for people with medical problems.
Open Insurance Season May Bring Sticker Shock
Workers are likely to see increases in premiums, deductibles and co-payments, as well as changes in dependent coverage and wellness options.
New Laws Expand Mental Health Coverage
Insurance coverage of mental illness and addiction problems often is skimpier than for physical illness. But that is changing with the mental health parity law that took effect earlier this year and the new health overhaul.
Health Law Calls For Breast Cancer Warnings To Young Women
Provision aims to raise awareness about the risk of the disease to women between the ages of 15 and 44.
Coordinated Care System Helps Physicians Meet More Patient Needs
In medical home model, a primary-care doctor leads a team responsible for coordinating and managing all of your care, whether it’s making sure you’re on top of routine lab tests to keep your diabetes in check or being available in off hours to handle unexpected problems.
Key Health Law Provisions Begin Sept. 23
Some insurers have already altered their plans to reflect the law. But starting this month, a number of provisions become mandatory for insurance plans, including a ban on lifetime benefit limits and the ability to keep adult children on parents’ plans.
Medicare Will Experiment With Expansion Of Hospice Coverage
The health law calls for a demonstration program to test covering hospice treatments for patients still seeking to fight their illness.
Regulators Probe Allegations Of Fraud In Health Credit Cards
Think twice before signing up for a new credit card to cover some doctor or dentist’s services. Regulators and consumer advocates warn that many of these special deals are deceptive.
Health Law Requires Continued Coverage For Patients In Clinical Trials
In the past, many patients who opted for experimental treatments for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses found that their insurance companies stop covering all routine care for their illness. The health overhaul mandates that insurers continue to pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, test and other routine treatments.
Health Law Expands Medicare Coverage Of Preventive Care
In addition, beneficiaries will get free annual wellness visits that include a health risk assessment and a review of functional and cognitive abilities.
2 New Provisions In Health Law Will Help Seniors
A look at the new health law’s long-term-care program and the plan to close the Medicare drug doughnut hole.
New Rules Guarantee Patients’ Right To Appeal Insurance Claim Denials
The Obama administration issues regulations that will set some minimum requirements for the process, including allowing patients to appeal the insurer’s decision to an independent outside panel.
Out Of Network ER Visits Won’t Cost More Under New Health Law
The health overhaul prohibits new insurance plans from charging higher copayments or coinsurance amounts for out-of-network emergency services or from imposing other coverage limitations that wouldn’t apply to in-network care.
