Today's mailbag Nov 8, 2009
On the other hand, my sister, who is married to a somewhat wealthy husband whose family business has insurance for them, must pay a $4,000 deductible for their coverage. Forget it if either of them should need minor surgery or important, life saving tests that they cannot afford. (The News-Press -- Opinion)
Letter: Reader finally sees the light; no more government service Nov 7, 2009
You hang up and try Backdraft, LLC. They'll accept your insurance, but it looks like you have a 1,500 deductible and a 20 percent co-pay. "Will you be paying with cash or credit?" they ask. (Montana Standard, MT)
Health insurance hikes blamed on HB 1355 Nov 6, 2009
In the meantime, Anthem urged clients who are hit hard by rising premiums to consider charging employees more for coverage or re-arranging plan options by creating higher co-payments and deductibles ... 2 percent in 2010 after employers make changes in their plans, such as raising deductible levels or cutting benefits ... He added that premiums in the small group market have leveled off in part because the popularity of high-deductible plans is alleviating pressure on insurance carriers. (Denver Business Journal, CO)
County receives state payment for detour use Nov 5, 2009
After returning to open session, the Board approved a motion to accept the recommendations of outside and local legal counsel to settle the case as presented in the closed session including payment of a deductible in the amount of $5,000. No further information was provided about the matter. (Kalona News, IA)
Healthcare Reform Nov 4, 2009
That would still be prohibitively expensive for many, though, especially because the only option the states would have to offer -- they're forced to provide two, but the other is up to them -- is a high-deductible plan. That is, high premium and high deductible. (Salon)
Medicare open enrollment: time to make sure you're in the right plan Nov 3, 2009
Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage and stand-alone Part D plans may have a , sometimes known as the "donut hole." This means once you have paid your deductibles and the plan has paid its coverage - you'll have to pay the full cost until it reaches a certain dollar level ... Traditional Medicare may be inexpensive, but it comes with high deductibles ... Medicare Advantage plans may have similar or higher monthly premiums, but offer a zero-dollar deductible and low co-pays;... (Ontario Argus Observer, OR)
IRS rules for medical deductions are sickening Nov 1, 2009
Medical expenses are deductible as a "miscellaneous itemized deduction" only to the extent they exceed 7 ... Mitigation, in particular, covers a lot of expensive territory, The IRS has said that false teeth, prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, laser eye surgery, hearing aids, crutches, wheelchairs and guide dogs for the blind or deaf are all deductible medical expenses. (MSNBC -- Business)
Maine health insurance legal battle Nov 1, 2009
The Maine Bureau of Insurance estimates the average individual policy holders pays $6,000 in premiums while also paying an average of $7,520 in deductible payments. Legg said this type of policy "barely qualifies as insurance" given the cost of premium and deductibles that can run up to $20,000 depending on the plan. (Seacoast New Hampshire)
Some terms used by health plans to describe their costs and services Nov 1, 2009
Co-insurance: A method of cost-sharing in which the plan member is required to pay a defined percentage of their medical costs after the deductible has been met ... These plans usually have a high deductible paired with a consumer-controlled savings account for health care services ... High-deductible health plan: A plan with a deductible high enough to meet federal requirements for favorable tax treatment for contributions made to a health savings account. (Boston Globe)
It can pay to compare health plans Nov 1, 2009
A. Most plans fit into four categories, although not all employers offer all four: Preferred provider organizations, health maintenance organizations, point of service plans, and high-deductible plans. All the plans have different premiums and out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, copays, and co-insurance ... Most HMOs do not set a deductible amount that consumers must pay before coverage kicks in, but there may be deductibles for some services in an HMO plan, such as hospital stays, day... (Boston Globe)
Soaring costs hurt employee benefits Nov 1, 2009
Higher deductibles possible ... As businesses go through their annual benefits-enrollment periods, a number of them likely will face higher deductibles or other changes to their benefits ... Terry resident Mike Fletcher said he'll see a higher health-care deductible in his health benefits plan effective in January, one he said could greatly impact his overall spending habits. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves, Wizards & Orcs! At Gilroy Gardens Oct 31, 2009
Come help celebrate next year and buy your fully tax deductible 2010 Membership today. With it you get: Unlimited Admission and FREE parking for the rest of 2009, and all of the 2010 season, and 2009 Holiday Lights. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Proud of who we are Oct 31, 2009
It was temporary and as soon as the market declined, the profits became tax deductible losses. The health-care cost estimates are based on statistics from the general population. (Longview Daily News, WA)
Pelosi's biggest one yet! 1,990 pages... Oct 30, 2009
I DEMAND that I be allowed to keep my BC/BS with it's high deductible and million dollar cap. That's what keeps insurance premium costs low. (The Drudge Report)
Job-Hunt Tax Write Offs Oct 30, 2009
Printing and postage for your resume are deductible, too. But, you cannot deduct these expenses if it's your first job or one in another line of work. (W-USA News, DC)
Health care businesses at risk in House overhaul Oct 30, 2009
"We look forward to working with Congress and the administration on critically important implementation issues," Ubl said, including seeking AdvaMed priorities such as delaying the tax until 2013 -- which the House measure does -- tying it to specific products, exempting small companies with less than $100 million in annual revenue and making it deductible. The measure is less kind to drug makers, an industry that did strike a deal with Obama and key senators to hold down its costs. (Albany Times Union)
How to File an Insurance Appeal Oct 30, 2009
This last amount can be a deductible, copayments or coinsurance, or it can be a charge the insurer does not believe it should cover. The EOB should also give some kind of explanation of why any charges were denied, but it may not give specifics. (Suite101.com)
State prescription drug program open to residents Oct 29, 2009
However, the program can also be used by people who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits -- common in many health savings accounts and high deductible health plans. People who do have prescription coverage can use this program for non-covered drugs. (Green River Star, WY -- Local)
A year on the road Oct 29, 2009
com that should run around $600 for the year with a $500 deductible. BudgetMy estimated total for the trip is $46,000, including car and tent; shipping the car five times while flying myself; gas and repairs; insurance and vaccinations. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Health care reform ideas 2009 Oct 29, 2009
INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS SHOULD BE FULLY TAX DEDUCTIBLE, up to a certain limit set by Congress, whether paid by employer or employee. This would allow small businesses to compete more effectively with large businesses, since their workers could still have insurance without the business being saddled with the cost directly -- rather, workers would figure it in during salary negotiations with prospective employers. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
No Surge Seen in Pseudoephedrine Purchases in Area Oct 28, 2009
They're seeing some, but that's due to the time of the year," Grellner said. The task force commander noted that prior to 1976, pseudoephedrine was a prescription-only drug. Then, the FDA bowed to pressure from the pharmaceutical industry to make it an over-the-counter medicine despite warnings from the Drug Enforcement Administration about the dangers of methamphetamine. Initially, people could buy unlimited amounts of pseudoephedrine, Grellner said, and 100-count bottles of the drug were... (Missourian Publishing, MO)
Changes should be made to health care bill Oct 26, 2009
Issue policies with a 2,000 or 3,000 deductible, and pay doctor calls for accidents and surgery. Doctor calls are abused more than anything else, and so let them pay for them and cost will come down. (Lodi News Sentinel, CA)
Speak Out (2) Oct 25, 2009
In response to the General Motors salaried retiree who has health care and pays no deductibles or co-pay ... Mine is $179 a month - that plus a deductible of $800 equals $2,912 ... How is it that you're so lucky - no deductibles, no premiums, no co-pays. (Shelby Twp Advisor & Source, MI)
Score Big Savings on Health Coverage Oct 25, 2009
The policy carries a $1,500 deductible, doesn't charge for annual exams and screenings, and offers maximum coverage of $7 million ... They wanted insurance their doctor accepted, but they didn't mind a $2,500 deductible because they plan to use HealthyCheck centers, which charge just $25 for basic visits and screenings ... Anyone can lower health-insurance premiums by raising the deductible. (FOX61, CT)
Health lessons from Switzerland Oct 25, 2009
This year, the basic Swiss health insurance policy cost an average of about $3,800 per adult older than 25, with a deductible of about $300 for the year and a co-payment after that of 10 percent (up to a ceiling of about $700) ... In January, when people have that deductible to pay, nobody comes to the doctor. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch)
Behr may shutter Dayton plant Oct 24, 2009
After meeting those limits, employees and the company would have shared the rest of the cost leaving individuals to pay $4,800 toward an $8,000 deductible and families to pay $9,600 toward a $16,000 deductible. After that point, the company would have paid 70 percent of costs. (Dayton Business Journal, OH)
The Healthcare Reform Fraud Oct 24, 2009
Theres also a provision that raises the threshold at which medical expenses become tax deductible, from the current 7 ... Make the total amount taxpayers pay for their healthcare insurance and medical expenses a tax deductible item. (Nogales International, AZ)
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE | Oct. 22, 2009 Oct 23, 2009
The letter went on to describe how, in five years, the writer's premium had gone up over 200 percent and her deductible over 300 percent. She described the Catch 22 she was in. (Herald Online, SC -- Opinion)
Locals aren't getting cars fixed in slow economy Oct 23, 2009
"It's possible that they can't meet their deductible. It's possible, again, that they're using money for other expenditures," said auto repair shop owner Mark Heymann. WWL-TV. (WWLTV.com, LA)
Anthem: Info on 1,000 Ohio docs exposed in Blue Cross Blue Shield data breach Oct 22, 2009
That program offers $25,000 in identity theft insurance with no deductible and provides alerts to changes in credit reports. The Ohio doctors whose information was potentially exposed are a fraction of the 30,000 physicians contracted with the provider in the state, a fact that came as a relief to the Ohio State Medical Association. (Columbus Business First, OH)
Dems Try to Put Clamps on Health Insurers Oct 22, 2009
My employer's company has cut insurance back to a 10K deductible (yes, that's right, NO payments AT ALL for any bills under 10K) and the cost of this insurance to my employer is still rediculous - and it has been jacked up every year almost 20. Years ago my employer used to have a lot better coverage. (CBS News -- Politics)
Click to read:Health Care Lobbyists' Rise to Power Oct 21, 2009
Health Care Lobbyists' Rise to Power - CBS News. CBS News Investigates. (CBS News)
Many business owners support controlling health care costs Oct 21, 2009
When I started providing coverage to my full-time employees approximately 15 years ago, it was inexpensive enough that I covered 100 percent with a $250 deductible. For a number of years it was a 75/25 split, and effective Nov. 1, it will be 50/50 split of the premium with a $2,500 deductible ... I'm looking at the possibility of a $5,000 deductible next year. (Juneau Empire)
Dealing with difficult health choices Oct 20, 2009
This companys health plan was more expensive than the no-deductible plan at the masonry company, he said. The insurance at the engineering firm set deductibles of $1,500 for an individual and $3,000 for a family, he said ... Between paying the deductible and having to pay 20 percent of his or Jordans doctor bills, we started thinking, Should we have health insurance. (The Herald-Mail Online)
Health care gamble Oct 18, 2009
The standard plan includes a $100 deductible for prescriptions and a $20 copay for doctors visits. McGowin is hoping federal health care reform will make health coverage less expensive. (Albany Times Union)
Getready to pay morefor your healthcoverage Oct 17, 2009
Some employers are offering workers a choice: Pay a higher premium for your current low deductible or pay a much lower premium with a much higher annual deductible the amount you're responsible for paying out of pocket before full coverage kicks in. Those higher deductibles can range from $1,000 to as much as $5,000; employers typically then contribute a portion of that amount to an account employees can use to pay their medical bills ... But not all employers are offering a choice: some... (MSNBC -- Health)
Overweight? Smoker? Health bills hit hard Oct 16, 2009
Valeo, a supplier of auto parts, four years ago raised the deductible on an employee health plan to $2,200 from $200 for individual coverage and to $4,400 from $400 for family coverage. Then it gave employees the opportunity to reduce the deductible to its starting point by being nonsmokers and meeting goals for blood pressure, cholesterol, and body mass index, said Robert Wade, Valeo's director of human resources for North America. (MSNBC -- Politics)
Do I have a "Cadillac Plan"? Oct 16, 2009
Keep in mind that these figures include everything you and your employer spend on health care except for the deductible: premiums for medical (the portions paid by you and by your employer), dental, and vision coverage, as well as any money you put into a flexible spending account, which allows you to set aside pretax money to cover medical costs ... The top-of-the-line planssay, the $40,000-a-year plan offered to Goldman Sachs CEOslikely have no copayments, no deductibles, few limits on... (Slate)
DEMS REVENGE ON HEALTH INSURERS; PLAN PLOTTED IN PELOSI CHAMBERS... Oct 15, 2009
" Health insurance officials dismissed the effort as a political ploy. Health insurance is one of the most regulated industries in America at both the federal and state level, said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America s Health Insurance Plans. McCarran-Ferguson has nothing to do with competition in the health insurance market. The focus on this issue is a political ploy designed to distract attention away from the real issue of rising health care costs. Still, the push is likely to gather... (The Drudge Report)
Group rallies for public health insurance option Oct 15, 2009
"It's not through a government-run program. I pay premiums and deductibles and have a choice of what insurance is the best fit for me. So should [constituents]." ... It was some of the best service and access I ever had," Holloway said. "When I switched to the private sector, my premiums go up, my co-pay goes up, my deductible goes up, and service goes down, down, down ... His yearly deductible is $5,000. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
Status quo no option for small businesses Oct 14, 2009
When I started providing coverage to my full-time employees approximately 15 years ago, it was inexpensive enough that I covered 100 percent with a $250 deductible. For a number of years it was a 75/25 split, and effective Nov. 1, it will be 50/50 split of the premium with a $2,500 deductible, and I m looking at the possibility of a $5,000 deductible next year. (Anchorage Daily News)
Crush of cancer, medical bills snares family Oct 14, 2009
When the family's plan required payment of a $250 deductible and a 20 percent share of the costs of medical care, the Elders could afford it ... They increased their deductible to offset the high premiums ... By the time Leslie Elder got breast cancer for a second time, in 2001, the family's deductible was up to $5,000. (CNN)
Is your family buying flood insurance now? Oct 14, 2009
There is a $1,000 deductible for each part of the policy ... (Also $1,000 deductible. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Living)
Health Care Progress Report: October 12 Oct 13, 2009
The government has no moral or constitutional authority to (a) force people to buy insurance -- whether they need or want to or not, (b) force people to buy plans with specific coverage -- whether they need or want this coverage, (c) force people to buy plans with a specific deductible -- whether they need or want this deductible or not, or (d) force companies to provide and/or subsidize health insurance to their employees -- whether employers want to or not. These mandates give the government a... (CBS News -- Politics)
Businesses find creative ways to save on benefits packages Oct 13, 2009
Across the board, employers are opting for plans with higher deductibles and office visit co-payments; in several cases they ve increased the amount an employee contributes for health care coverage ... It s very problematic for an employer to go to an employee and say they re going to dramatically increase their health care cost exposure, whether it s higher contributions, or higher deductibles and co-pays, said Karl Hansen, founder and president of , a broker based in Mountain View ...... (San Jose Business Journal, CA)
Employees May See New Insurance Plan This Fall Oct 13, 2009
The tradeoff is higher deductibles, which have the potential to swamp customers with big bills ... Employees could see these higher deductible plans among their choices for the first time as open enrollment, the annual window when businesses allow employees to adjust their coverage, begins in a few weeks at many companies ... A consumer-directed health plan typically pairs insurance that carries a high annual deductible with an account fed either by an employer or by the employee through pre-tax... (KIRO TV, WA)
CDHPs and HSAs? The ABCs of Health Insurance Oct 12, 2009
This is insurance that typically carries a premium lower than traditional coverage, but the trade-off is accepting a deductible that tops $1,200 and can stretch as high as $10,000 for some family plans. Typically, that deductible must be paid before insurance coverage starts. (ABC News -- Wire)
Will costs ease? Oct 12, 2009
Add in your deductible, and suddenly you're out nearly $1,000 for the hospital visit ... Next year, the average worker is expected to pay more than $4,000 a year in premiums and other out-of-pocket costs, including co-pays and deductibles ... In a 2009 national survey, nearly 40 percent of employers said they were likely to make their workers pay more for health care next year through higher deductibles or co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions. (AZCentral -- News)
Farmers seek relief in dairy prices, health care Oct 11, 2009
Now the family pays 3,000 per month on a plan that has a 6,400 deductible for each member of their family. When the couple had to have their twins daughters immunized for school this year, it cost them 1,500 out-of-pocket. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Health-Insurance Forms Also Need Reform Oct 9, 2009
"The health-insurance industry must be transparent and really specific about what they are going to cover, what their premiums are, what they're going to expect in co-pays, and what the deductible is," McKay says ... Instead of the term "formulary," for example, Cigna's people must say "drug list." In 000003DD stead of "patient liability," they must say "your responsibility." Instead of "carry-over funds," they must say "last year's unused funds," or "money left in your account from last year."... (BusinessWeek)
Senate panel to vote on health care bill next week Oct 9, 2009
local4life wrote on Sep 9, 2009 10:46 AM:" TDNBB-i am so glad that you know everything! I am neither a junkie, dropout nor illegal and I pray daily that this bill passes! I do work fulltime and have quote unquote healthcare, if you count a $5000 yearly deductible, $250 out of pocket each month followed by 75% coverage after i meet my deductible as good healthcare. Great huh? Good healthcare benefits are not as easy to come by as you think. I am not a big fan of junkies, dropouts and people too... (Longview Daily News, WA)
Highmark: Stolen laptop contained doctors' personal info Oct 8, 2009
Doctors have until the end of the year to enroll in the credit monitoring program, which offers $25,000 in identity theft insurance with no deductible and alerts to key changes in credit reports. Martinelli said Highmark would no longer be including social security numbers with the data sent to the association. (Pittsburgh Business Times, PA)
City offering early retirement to 15 employees Oct 8, 2009
The police and fire unions agreed to have a high deductible option while AFSCME did not. The council on Tuesday also reviewed plans to issue 6. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
A glossary for health insurance open enrollment Oct 8, 2009
Coinsurance: This is the percentage a patient pays for a medical service generally after a plan deductible is met, and it can vary by plan ... Consumer-directed health plans: These plans typically pair high-deductible insurance with a health savings account or an employer-funded health reimbursement arrangement to help manage out-of-pocket costs ... These plans often give the customer a lower premium, but they must pay a high deductible before coverage starts. (AZCentral -- Business)
More conversation, more stories Oct 7, 2009
is that the cost of health care your premiums and your out of pockets, deductibles and co-pays should annually never be more than 10 percent of your annual income, Muzzi replied, noting that in one bill being proposed the premiums are 13 percent, but the addition of deductibles and co-pays actually raises cost the 27 percent ... Since I liked my job so well, I opted for self-pay with a high deductible. (Menomonie Dunn County News, WI)
Jane Taub: America needs 'true moral fiber' Oct 7, 2009
I had lymphoma in 2000, and now my insurance is very near $1,200 monthly, with a $10,000 deductible. I cannot change companies because of this pre-existing condition. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Rising health care costs Oct 7, 2009
1 = deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance; 2 = projectedSource: Hewitt Associates ... More high-deductible plans ... With these plans, workers accept a higher deductible in exchange for lower premiums. (USA Today -- Money)
Small Employers Struggle to Offer Health Insurance Oct 7, 2009
To keep the policy affordable this year, he agreed to higher deductibles for doctors' visits and prescriptions ... Workers see ever-higher deductibles ... "A company that maybe has a $1,500 deductible today might renew and get a $2,500 deductible," says Carey Wolf, sales manager for the small group health unit at online insurance broker eHealth (). (BusinessWeek)
Regional plans billing changes to help patients, combat bad debt Oct 6, 2009
Rather, it was used by people who have insurance with a reasonable deductible but saw the opportunity to save by paying immediately. Six percent of the total patient population took the discount. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Medicare open enrollment: time to make sure you're in the right plan Oct 5, 2009
Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage and stand-alone Part D plans may have a , sometimes known as the "donut hole." This means once you have paid your deductibles and the plan has paid its coverage - you'll have to pay the full cost until it reaches a certain dollar level ... Traditional Medicare may be inexpensive, but it comes with high deductibles ... Medicare Advantage plans may have similar or higher monthly premiums, but offer a zero-dollar deductible and low co-pays;... (Ontario Argus Observer, OR)
Obama Links Job Growth to Health Care Plan Oct 4, 2009
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2009. Says Reform Would Create Jobs by Making Small Business Startups More Affordable. (CBS News)
Military Update: 'Small' inpatient fee hike of 21% seen as broken promise Oct 3, 2009
Thats because the catastrophic cap is reached using most out-of-pocket cost under TRICARE Standard including the annual deductible payment, pharmacy co-pays, outpatient cost shares and costs exceeding TRICARE-allowable charges. TRICARE for Life, the golden supplement to Medicare for retirees and dependents age 65 and older, is unaffected by the new inpatient fees. (Hanford Sentinal, CA)
What Makes a Health Plan a "Cadillac"? Oct 2, 2009
More common are the generous health benefits that many union workers receive -- plans with high employer-paid premiums, low deductibles, prescription drug coverage, vision and dental care, and low or no co-payments ... knows he has a Cadillac plan, with a low co-pay and no deductible. (CBS News -- US)
Seven Insurance Myths That Can Cost You Oct 1, 2009
Low Deductibles are Best for Home and Auto Policies ... For one thing, the lower the deductible, the higher the premiums ... What to Do: Tell your agent to increase your deductible, and while youre at it, ask if youre eligible for a claim-free discount. (CBS News)
Stock questions? Ask Matt Oct 1, 2009
For instance, if you smash your car, with insurance, you can pay a deductible of $1,000 and the insurance will either repair or replace your vehicle. Now, some investors wonder if they should apply the same concept to their portfolios. (USA Today -- Money)
