- 'Moral Clarity' Espoused In Debate Over Health Care Reform By : Medical Insurance News
When the Clinton health care reform initiative died in 1994, the problems it promised to address didn't disappear with it; they grew worse. - 52% Of U.S. Adults Are Dissatisfied With Health Insurance Costs, Study Finds By : Medical Insurance News
Fifty-two percent of U.S. adults are dissatisfied with health insurance costs, compared with 33% in 2005, according to the ninth annual Health Confidence Survey released on Tuesday by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the Los Angeles Times reports. - 56% Of U.S. Residents Who Cannot Afford Health Insurance Are Not Eligible For Public Assistance, Stu By : Medical Insurance News
"The Uninsured and the Affordability of Health Insurance Coverage," Health Affairs: The Health Affairs Web exclusive by Lisa Dubay - 60% Of U.S. Adults Believe Congress Would Address Issue Of The Uninsured In Event Democrats By : Medical Insurance News
Sixty percent of U.S. adults believe Democrats would work to provide health insurance to the uninsured if they take control of Congress after the midterm elections, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll released Thursday, USA Today reports. - A.M. Best Completes Review of Health Insurer By : Health News
A.M. Best Co. recently completed its annual review of public data (pd) financial strength ratings for health maintenance organizations (HMO). A.M. Best has upgraded the pd ratings of 57, downgraded the pd ratings of 20, affirmed the pd ratings of 67 and assigned pd ratings to three HMOs. - A.M. Best Takes Various Rating Actions on Coventry Health Care, Inc. By : Health News
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of B++ (Very Good) for the following subsidiaries of Coventry Health Care, Inc. (Coventry) [NYSE: CVH] (Bethesda, MD): Coventry Health & Life Insurance Company (Wilmington, DE), Carelink Health Plans, Inc (Charleston, WV), Coventry HealthCare of Georgia, Inc (Atlanta, GA), Group Health Plan Inc (Earth City, MO), HealthAmerica Pennsylvania and HealthAssurance Pennsylvania (both of Harrisburg, PA). - AARP Long Term Care Insurance By : rateempire
The AARP insurance is a long-term policy that rises above common coverage of Medicare. These plans help you to discover solutions to care for your loved ones. AARP insurance covers anyone over the age 50. - AHIP Releases $300B Plan To Expand Health Insurance To All U.S. Children, Most Adults By : Medical Insurance News
America's Health Insurance Plans on Monday released a proposal that seeks to extend health insurance to all children within three years and to almost all adults within 10 years, the New York Times reports. About 46.6 million U.S. residents lacked health insurance in 2005, a 17% increase from 2000. Under the proposal: - America's Health Insurance Plans To Announce Proposal To Provide Health Care Coverage By : Medical Insurance News
America's Health Insurance Plans on Wednesday said it will announce a plan next month to provide health care coverage to all uninsured U.S. residents, CQ Today reports. - Ameriplan: The Best Dental Plans By : Jim Martinez123 Jim Martinez123
Various Discount Schemes Of Leading Health Care Provider Ameriplan
Ameriplan is one of the leading providers of affordable supplemental health programs including dental services. They provide both general and special dental services. Ameriplan has more than 30,000 dental service centers.
The patient has the freedom to choose the dentist. If a program dentist operates the patient, he will be entitled to discount dental plans of 20% to 80%. Various discount dental benefits are available that can be availed and oral surgeries and root canal surgeries can be done at special rates. Attractive discount dental plans are available on children’s tooth check up, gum treatment and braces as well. The patient need not wait for the program that he is about to use. Unlimited visits to the dentist are possible. One can also wash his hands off insurance and unnecessary paperwork.
Ameriplan provides a host of options in terms of general check ups. One can avail this service even if one was being treated elsewhere under any other scheme, and continue the treatment. An individual can also get a plastic surgery done. Additional services like diabetic supplies, hearing services, physical therapy, mental health services, imaging centers as well as laboratory procedures are available. - Are you getting the best deal in Low Cost Health Insurance? By : Jame Kermitson
Learn how you can get the maximum out of a low cost insurance plan. - Articles Address Employer-Sponsored Health Benefit Issues By : Medical Insurance News
Three newspapers recently published articles related to employer health care costs. Summaries appear below. - athenahealth Launches PartnerWise Affinity Program; Offers Alternative to Traditional VAR By : Health News
athenahealth, Inc., the premier provider of web-based services, knowledge, and software for medical practices, has launched its PartnerWise Affinity Program. The PartnerWise Affinity Program is designed to harness athenahealth’s expanding physician network and unique business model to offer significant benefits to professional service firms (including healthcare consultants and accountants), medical societies, and value-added resellers who are interested in significantly improving the financial - Austin texas health insurance By : Richard05 Cantu05
Looking for Health Insurance in Austin Texas?
For years several sources have agreed that Austin Texas is one of the healthiest places in the country to live. The weather is among the finest in the USA. Austin has some of the best recreation centers and parks which create a sense of pride among the residents of Austin. The atmospheres these state–sponsored parks provide are among the best in the entire US, and there is little possibility of health hazards. The overall health of people living in Austin is among the best in the USA. - Automaker Toyota Builds Employee Health Clinic In New Factory To Reduce Health Care Costs By : Medical Insurance News
In an effort to contain health care spending, Toyota Motor will construct a $9 million medical clinic for employees and their families at its new San Antonio truck factory, the Detroit News reports. The clinic will "provide a wider array of treatments and services than a typical factory medical office," including eye care, dental services, pediatrics, laboratory tests and physical therapy, according to the News. - Benefits of San Antonio Health Insurance By : Richard08 Cantu08
Choosing the best Health Insurance San Antonio TX
When you have to make a tough decision about which San Antonio health insurance company to go for, there will be a lot of doubt and insecurity in your mind. How do I know which is the right one for me? What if things don’t work out with the payments? Are there any hidden clauses I am not seeing? These thoughts will plague everyone who is making a decision regarding their finances and something important like their cars, houses or their health. It is true that there are some people today that sit without any form of health insurance in San Antonio Texas companies will offer simply because they are too expensive. Even though this region has one of the lowest premiums, it is still too high for some of the population. - BestWeek: Visionary Is Lost With Departure of UnitedHealth's McGuire After Stock-Option Scandal By : Health News
The departure of Dr. William W. McGuire as head of UnitedHealth Group Inc. amid a stock-option scandal means the loss of a visionary whose ideas helped change the U.S. health-care system, industry analysts say. The direction of the company, among the biggest U.S. health insurers, is uncertain as new leadership takes charge, according to an article in the Oct. 23 BestWeek. - Big Three Automakers Should Not Receive U.S. Help On Health Care Costs, Editorial States By : Medical Insurance News
General Motors, Ford and the Chrysler Group, the CEOs of which met with President Bush on Wednesday to discuss the future of the U.S. automobile industry amid concerns about health care costs and trade issues, - Big Three Automakers To Meet With President Bush To Discuss Industry Future, Including Rising Health By : Medical Insurance News
The CEOs of the Big Three U.S. automakers on Tuesday plan to meet with President Bush to seek help on health care costs and trade issues, which have contributed to recent losses reported by the companies, the AP/Washington Times reports. In the last fiscal quarter, Ford reported a loss of $5.8 billion; General Motors reported a loss of $91 million, compared with $1.6 billion a year earlier; and Chrysler Group reported a loss of $1.5 billion (AP/Washington Times, 11/14). - Biowave Corporation to Present at Medtech Insight's ''Investment In Innovation'' Boston Conference By : Health News
Biowave Corporation has announced that its President & CEO, Bradford Siff, will be presenting at Medtech Insight's "Investment In Innovation (In3) EAST: A Preview of Early-Stage Medical Technology Companies" Conference at 10:10 a.m. on Thursday, October 19th, at The Westin Copley Place Hotel in Boston, MA. - Bloomberg Administration To Negotiate 300,000 Municipal Workers' Health Care Costs By : Medical Insurance News
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration on Tuesday announced that it aims to negotiate savings for the health care coverage of about 300,000 municipal workers after reaching a tentative contract with the teachers' union late Monday, the New York Times reports. - BlueCross BlueShield Of Illinois Adds Coverage For Partial-Breast Radiation Therapy By : Medical Insurance News
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois after meeting with experts last week has decided to cover the partial-breast radiation therapy known as MammoSite for patients with early stage breast cancer, officials for the insurer said, the Chicago Sun-Times reports (Rackl, Chicago Sun-Times, 9/17). - Boston Should Join State Workers' Health Care Plan To Reduce Costs, Report Says By : Medical Insurance News
Boston should attempt to join Massachusetts' health care plan and change some of its health care policies for city workers to reduce health care costs that have nearly doubled in the past six years, according to a report released on Thursday by the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, the Boston Globe reports. - Budget Cuts Jeopardize Massachusetts Health Insurance Law Education Efforts, Official Says By : Medical Insurance News
Spending cuts enacted last week by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) compromise the state's effort to educate residents about the new health care law taking effect next year - Burrill & Company Announces Agenda for Indiana Life Sciences Forum By : Health News
Burrill & Company has announced the agenda for the upcoming Indiana Life Sciences Forum. The event will take place at the Westin in downtown Indianapolis October 23-24, 2006. - Businesses, Insurance Companies Promote Medical Tourism To Reduce Costs By : Medical Insurance News
Some U.S. businesses and insurance companies are outsourcing health services to the developing world as a way to reduce health spending, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. Last year, about 500,000 U.S. residents traveled to countries like India, Singapore and Thailand for medical treatment. - Calif. Gov. Vetoes Bill To Provide Insurance For All Residents Through A State-Run, Single-Payer By : Medical Insurance News
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Friday vetoed legislation (SB 840) that would have created a state-run, single payer health system, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Gledhill/Yi, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/23). - California Governor Signs Law To Create Prescription Drug Program For Uninsured, Low-Income Resident By : Medical Insurance News
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Friday signed legislation (AB 2911) that will create a prescription drug program that is expected to provide discounts to six million residents, the AP/Ventura County Star reports (Thompson, AP/Ventura County Star, 9/30). - California Health Care Task Force Works To Devise Plan To Reduce Costs, Improve Residents' Health By : Medical Insurance News
California officials on Friday said that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) 2007 health care agenda includes plans aimed not only at reducing costs and expanding coverage, but also at encouraging personal responsibility and preventing disease, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Chorneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 11/18). - Car Insurance: Are you Paying To Much? By : .JohnSmith.
This is an excellent source to learn more about new and renewal insurance rates. This is an oppinion that is worth putting to test. The author is very confident that car insurance companies not only charge old custmers more than new ones, they often charge hundreds of dollars more! Read more to learn what you can do to save money! - Care Quality For Privately Insured Individuals Increases In Several Categories, NCQA Says By : Medical Insurance News
The quality of care for patients enrolled in private insurance plans in 2005 improved in 35 of 42 categories, including cervical cancer and colorectal cancer screenings and the controlling of high blood pressure in hypertension patients, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the AP/Seattle Post Intelligencer reports. - CEOs Of Big Three Automakers Meet With President Bush To Discuss Health Care Costs, Trade Issues By : Medical Insurance News
President Bush on Tuesday met with the CEOs of General Motors, Ford and the Chrysler Group to discuss the future of the U.S. automobile industry amid health care cost and trade concerns, the AP/Detroit News reports. - Choose the Most Affordable Health Insurance Plan By : Groshan Fabiola
We all know that it’s better to be safe than sorry, and this the main reason why people opt for health insurance. - Christian Groups' Establish Programs For Medical-Bill Sharing By : Medical Insurance News
The New York Times on Friday profiled the Christian Care Ministry, a "medical-bill sharing ministry" that "looks like a business and, in many ways, acts like one" but "is beyond the reach of most of the rules and government oversight that apply to businesses because it is a church mission." - CNN's 'Lou Dobbs Tonight' Special Examines U.S. Residents With Inadequate Health Coverage By : Medical Insurance News
CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" on Wednesday aired a two-hour special report titled "The War on the Middle Class," which examined the challenges facing middle-class U.S. residents, including health care. - Cold and Flu Tips for Parents: HealthAmerica® and HealthAssurance® By : Health News
Every child gets sick from time to time. When your child isn't feeling well, you'll want to know how to recognize the symptoms, how to help, and when to call the doctor. Here are some quick and easy tips to keep the winter sniffles and coughs from taking over your family this season. - Colorado Health Commission Holds First Meeting To Discuss Health Coverage Expansion, Affordability By : Medical Insurance News
A state-mandated commission for Colorado health care system change on Monday held its first meeting to identify ways to expand health care coverage and reduce costs, the Denver Post reports. - Comparing Home Insurance By : rateempire
Mortgage or home insurance is important. When you take out your loan your lender may had attached PMI coverage for your home. This is only a security blanket for the lender. You want to find a policy that benefits the lender as well as you. - Congress Should Guarantee Affordable Health Care For All U.S. Residents By 2012 By : Medical Insurance News
All U.S. residents should have access to affordable health care by 2012, according to a report released on Monday by a federal advisory panel, the New York Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 9/26). - Congressional Action On Health Care Legislation Before Midterm Elections Appears Uncertain By : Medical Insurance News
Bills that would promote the adoption of health care information technology and address a scheduled cut in Medicare reimbursement to physicians "appeared to be just hobbling along Tuesday afternoon," CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard [1], CQ HealthBeat, 9/26). - Consumer-Driven Health Plans Appear To Reduce Costs, But Some Plan Beneficiaries Forgo Needed By : Medical Insurance News
Consumer-driven health plans can help employers reduce health care costs but might lead some patients to forgo necessary care to save money, according to a study by RAND, the Washington Post reports. - Continucare Shareholders Approve Pending Acquisition of Miami Dade Health Centers By : Health News
Continucare Corporation (AMEX:CNU) today announced that its shareholders overwhelmingly approved the proposal submitted to them relating to Continucare's proposed acquisition of Miami Dade Health Centers, Inc. and its affiliated companies. In excess of 99% of the Continucare shares voting voted in favor of the transaction. Continucare expects that the transaction will close in the fourth quarter of calendar 2006. - Contract Negotiations Between Insurers, Hospitals Increasingly Acrimonious By : Medical Insurance News
The AP/Arizona Daily Star on Monday examined how contract negotiations between insurers and hospitals increasingly have "taken an ugly turn" as both sides work to control rising costs. Insurers "are under pressure to lower premiums to win business," while hospitals believe that insurers are "skimping on payments to boost their earnings," the AP/Daily Star reports. - Cover Tennessee High-Risk Insurance Poll To Reserve Spots For Disenrolled TennCare Beneficiaries By : Medical Insurance News
About 4,500 of the estimated 6,000 slots in Tennessee's new high-risk health insurance pool will be reserved for adults with chronic illnesses who were disenrolled from TennCare last year, the AP/Knoxville News-Sentinel reports. - DaimlerChrysler Announces Chrysler Group Will Lose $1.5B In Third Quarter By : Medical Insurance News
DaimlerChrysler AG's unexpectedly announced that its Chrysler Group will lose about $1.5 billion in the third quarter -- more the double previous forecasts, the Wall Street Journal reports (McCracken et al., Wall Street Journal, 9/17). - Dallas health Insurance By : Richard06 Cantu06
Health Insurance in Dallas
Finding health insurance in Dallas can be a stressful experience for many people. Not only are you trying to find a respectable company who is reliable but you are also trying to achieve the best quote. Finding health insurance in Dallas does not have to be as difficult as it seems. If you are searching on a budget then Unicare may be the company for you. With the Unicare health plans, the consumer is able to control their health insurance plan, not the other way around. Each plan is flexible and has an acceptable payment for those on a budget. - Democratic Leadership, AHIP Proposal Point Way Toward Universal Health Coverage, According To Hartfo By : Medical Insurance News
The prospects for universal health coverage in the U.S. have "brightened after years of gridlock," with the Democratic takeover of Congress and the recent release of a proposal by America's Health Insurance Plans - Democrats Likely To Seek Health Insurance Expansion Next Year By : Medical Insurance News
Democratic lawmakers next year likely will seek to "close the gap" between those with health insurance and those who lack coverage, as well as reduce inequalities between higher- and lower-income U.S. residents, the Wall Street Journal reports. - Details Released For Wisconsin Governor's Plan To Provide Health Insurance To More Children By : Medical Insurance News
Details of Gov. James Doyle's (D) proposal to expand health coverage for children and some adults were released Thursday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Doyle's plan, which he first announced in his state of the state address, would allow families to buy Medicaid coverage for their children at a cost ranging from $10 to $60 a month, depending on family income. - Detroit News Series Examines Effects Of Increased Health Care Costs On General Motors By : Medical Insurance News
The Detroit News last week published a series of articles that examined the effects of increased health care costs on General Motors. Summaries of articles in the series appear below. The complete four-day series, titled "The General and the Beast," is available online. - Direct Pet Health Brings on Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Agent By : Health News
Direct Pet Health (Pink Sheets:DPHG) announced today that it had brought on a new member of the team with a Property and Casualty License as well as expertise within the insurance industry. - Disability Insurance – Statistics about Insuring Your Most Valuable Asset By : Kingston J. Amadan
Never has there been more unanimity from financial experts, educators, media on a financial strategy than the advice to insure one’s most valuable asset, one’s future income, with disability insurance.
A look at the statistics tells you why. Most people don’t know the actual data of the likelihood of disability or the devastation that a loss of income can cause. Without getting pessimistic one can still take a rational look at one’s own life and see what would happen if income stopped for a long period of time or worse, for the rest of one’s life. - Disability Insurance: The Who What and When By : Kingston J. Amadan
The most common questions we get in the thousands of inquiries we get about disability insurance are the “who, what and when” questions: Who do I buy it from? Who should get it? These are accompanied by: What type of disability insurance is best? What company should I get it from? Along with, when is the best time to purchase it? - Doctor and Hospital Pricing Available for First Time; Added to HealthGrades' Consumer Reports By : Health News
The amount a specific doctor or hospital is paid for surgical procedures, hospital admissions and office visits by Medicare will be available to consumers for the first time, HealthGrades (Nasdaq: HGRD) announced today. As of today, the consumer reports HealthGrades offers on individual physicians, hospitals and medical procedures at HealthGrades.com will contain the amount that the doctor or hospital is paid in an effort to help consumers better plan their healthcare finances. - Eight Most Common Health Insurance Questions By : Kingston J. Amadan
This article discusses and answers the most commonly asked questions about health insurance. - Employees Should Study Health Plan Options Before Enrollment, Experts Say By : Medical Insurance News
"The fall can be an anxious time for employees," as companies hold annual open enrollment periods for health plans, and experts recommend that employees "take the time to study their past health and insurance needs and think about their long-term goals," the AP/Winston-Salem Journal reports. - Employees' Health Care Cost Increases Offset With Incentives By : Medical Insurance News
The Washington Post on Sunday examined how companies are developing different ways to increase workers' responsibility for their own health care costs while maintaining worker satisfaction. - Employer Health Care Spending Could Increase By 12% Without Changes, Report Finds By : Medical Insurance News
Without changes to their current employee health plans, companies in 2007 could face cost increases of between 10% and 12%, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report released this week, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. - Employer Health Plan Premiums Show Smallest Increase Since 2000, But Rise Twice As Fast As Wages By : Medical Insurance News
Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums increased by an average of 7.7% in 2006, compared with increases of 9.2% in 2005 and 13.9% in 2003, according to an annual survey released on Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, the New York Times reports (Freudenheim, New York Times, 9/27). - Few Candidates Discuss Health Care In Detail As Part Of Campaigns By : Medical Insurance News
Health care "almost always gets mentioned in campaigns, but often not in detail," and it "is always somewhere on the list of serious voter concerns" but "almost never at the top," in part because of the complexity of the issue, the Baltimore Sun reports. - Fewer Colorado Residents Enroll In HMOs, Hospital Profits Increase, Report Finds By : Medical Insurance News
Fewer Colorado residents enrolled in HMO plans in 2005, but Denver-area hospitals "enjoyed their strongest profits in recent memory," according to findings released Friday from the Colorado Managed Care Review 2006, the Denver Post reports. For the report, Minnesota health care analyst Allan Baumgarten examined financial information from federal cost reports filed by hospitals participating in Medicare among other sources. - Firms Covering Large Majority Of Nation's Workers View Health Benefits As Important Recruitment Tool By : Medical Insurance News
Despite intense health care cost pressures, firms covering more than 90 percent of the nation's workforce view health benefits as an important tool to attract and retain qualified workers - Firms Covering Large Majority Of Nation's Workers View Health Benefits As Important Recruitment Tool By : Medical Insurance News
Despite intense health care cost pressures, firms covering more than 90 percent of the nation's workforce view health benefits as an important tool to attract and retain qualified workers - Fitch Affirms Speare Memorial Hospital (New Hampshire) Revs at 'BBB-' By : Health News
Fitch Ratings has affirmed the 'BBB-' rating on approximately $13,520,000 New Hampshire Health and Education Facilities Authority hospital revenue bonds (Speare Memorial Hospital Issue), series 2004. The Rating Outlook is Stable. - Fitch Downgrades Health Care Property Investors' IDR To 'BBB' By : Health News
Fitch Ratings has downgraded Health Care Property Investors (HCP) as follows:
--Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'BBB' from 'BBB+';
--Bank credit facility to 'BBB' from 'BBB+';
--Senior unsecured notes to 'BBB' from 'BBB+';
--Preferred stock to 'BBB-' from 'BBB'. - Fitch Downgrades Weirton Medical Center's, West Virginia Revs to 'BBB-'; Outlook Stable By : Health News
Fitch Ratings has downgraded to 'BBB-' from 'BBB' the rating on approximately $8.9 million Weirton Municipal Hospital Building Commission hospital revenue bonds (Weirton Medical Center, Inc.), series 2001A. Fitch does not rate approximately $14.4 million Weirton Municipal Hospital Building Commission adjustable-rate demand hospital revenue bonds (Weirton Medical Center, Inc.), Series 2001B. The Rating Outlook is Stable. - Fitch Maintains Rating Watch Negative for UnitedHealth Group By : Health News
Fitch is currently maintaining all ratings of UnitedHealth Group (UNH) on Rating Watch Negative. A list of Fitch's ratings on UNH can be found below.
UNH filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission this morning disclosing several new developments related to ongoing issues involving its stock option granting practices. The disclosures included the following: - Fitch Rates Ascension Health's 2006 Bonds 'AA+'; Upgrades Outstanding Sr.& Sub Debt By : Health News
Fitch assigns a long-term rating of 'AA+' to Ascension Health's following new bond issues:
Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority
--$120,000,000 Revenue bonds series 2006A
Indiana Health Facilities Financing Authority
--$95,580,000 Revenue bonds series 2006B-1
--$101,010,000 Revenue bonds series 2006B-2
--$95,080,000 Revenue bonds series 2006B-3 - Fitch Rates Carroll Hospital Center (Maryland) $35MM Bonds 'BBB+'; Outlook Stable By : Health News
Fitch Ratings assigns a 'BBB+' rating to Maryland Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority's $35 million revenue bonds (Carroll Hospital Center), series 2006 and affirms its 'BBB+' on the hospital's outstanding Maryland Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority (Carroll County General Hospital Issue) series 2002. - Fitch Rates Group Health Cooperative (WA) $100MM Series 2006 Bonds 'A-' By : Health News
Fitch assigns an 'A-' underlying rating to Group Health Cooperative's (GHC) $100 million series 2006 revenue bonds issued through the Washington Health Care Facilities Authority. In addition, Fitch assigns an underlying 'A-' rating to the outstanding series 1991 and 2001 bonds (listed below).
Fitch has also assigned the following:
GHC
--Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of 'A-' ;
--Insurer financial strength (IFS) rating of 'A'. - Fitch Rates New Catholic Health Initiatives Issues 'AA/F1+'; Affirms Outstanding at 'AA/F1+' By : Health News
Fitch assigns a rating of 'AA/F1+' to the $200,000,000 Montgomery County, OH variable rate revenue bonds, series 2006B issued on behalf of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). Fitch also assigns an 'AA' rating to the $450,000,000 Colorado Health Facilities Authority, variable rate revenue bonds, series 2006C and the $100,000,000 Montgomery County. - Fitch Rates Salem Hospital's (OR) Ser 2006 'A+'; Downgrades Outstanding to 'A+' By : Health News
Fitch has assigned an 'A+' rating to the approximately $120 million City of Salem Hospital Facility Authority revenue bonds series 2006 (Salem Hospital) and downgraded to 'A+' from 'AA-' its underlying ratings on the approximately $125 million series 2004 A&B bonds and rating on the approximately $38.2 million outstanding series 1998 bonds (listed below). The Rating Outlook is Stable. - Fitch Revises Watch on Valley Health System (California) 'BB-' Bonds to Evolving By : Health News
Fitch Ratings has revised the Rating Watch to Evolving from Negative the 'BB-' rating on the approximately $36.3 million Valley Health System hospital revenue bonds (refunding and improvements project), 1996 series A, and $48.4 million Valley Health System certificates of participation (refunding project), series 1993. The Rating Watch revision reflects Valley Health System's (VHS) pending $485 million bond referendum and the receipt of the fiscal 2005 audited financial statements. - Fitch Withdraws Advanced Medical Optics's Ratings By : Health News
Fitch affirms the senior secured credit facility, the Issuer Default Rating (IDR), the senior subordinated convertible debt ratings, and the Stable Rating Outlook of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. In addition, Fitch simultaneously withdraws all ratings for this issuer. The withdrawn ratings are as follows: - Fitch Withdraws Q-IFS Rating of Group Health Options, Inc. By : Health News
Fitch Ratings has withdrawn it's 'BBq' rating on Group Health Options, Inc. The company no longer meets Fitch's criteria to be eligible to receive a Q-IFS rating. - Florida Health Plans Rank Lower On Quality Measures Compared With Plans In Other Parts Of The U.S By : Medical Insurance News
Health insurers in Florida rank lower on a series of quality measures compared with insurance companies in other parts of the country, according to a report released on Monday by the Florida Health Care Coalition, the Miami Herald reports. - Florida Officials Discuss Strategies For Reducing Number Of Uninsured Residents By : Medical Insurance News
Florida Rep. Holly Benson (R) and more than 200 health care officials from the American Medical Association, Wal-Mart, Microsoft and other organizations met at Broward General Medical Center on Thursday to discuss strategies for encouraging people to buy health insurance in order to reduce the number of uninsured residents in the state, including a program that allows individuals to earn airline miles for exercising, the Miami Herald reports. - Ford, Chrysler, GM To Ask Congress For Legislation To Help With Health Care Costs By : Medical Insurance News
The big three U.S. automakers, which reported steep losses in the third quarter, will not seek a bailout from the federal government and instead will ask Congress to focus on legislation that would relieve their health care costs, among other legislative priorities, CQ Today reports. - Former Intel CEO Grove Proposes Health Care Reforms By : Medical Insurance News
The Wall Street Journal last week examined health care reform proposals by Intel CEO Andy Grove. Grove has raised concerns about the large number of uninsured U.S. residents who often visit emergency departments for primary care. According to the Journal, "Grove is a big fan of low-cost, walk-in clinics, the sort beginning to appear in stores like Wal-Mart," which provide primary care to uninsured residents and reduce overcrowding in EDs. - Forum Focuses On State Initiatives To Expand Coverage To The Uninsured By : Medical Insurance News
At a forum on Monday hosted by the Alliance for Health Reform and the Commonwealth Fund, health care experts discussed recent initiatives taken in Massachusetts, Utah and Vermont to expand health coverage to the uninsured, CQ HealthBeat reports. - Getting the Best Quote on Home Insurance By : Thomas Kerrin9 Thomas Kerrin9
Getting the Best Quote on Home Insurance
Like many other forms of insurance, home insurance can often be a financial burden. It’s not a legal requirement to have it, so some people cut out the bill by avoiding it altogether. However, this can be a risky strategy if you own the property you reside in, or if you have contents of substantial value. Just think if there was structural damage to your home and you had to pick up the bill, or if some of your prized possessions were stolen. Some form of home insurance should be thought of as a necessity, but there are plenty of ways to cut your costs. - Go the Health-y Saving Account way By : Andrew Warren Andrew Warren
Go the Health-y Saving Account way
The costs of medical care are sky-high and health saving account (HSA) is an absolute necessity nowadays. HSA was introduced by Medicare in 2003 to help people save money that are tax-exempt for future health and medical expenses. A lot of people in California are looking into this as the impact of high cost of living and health hazards are slowly realized and change and their perspective in finances. - Great-West Healthcare Climbs Ladder in Business Insurance Ranking of CDHC Leaders By : Health News
Great-West Healthcare, a national employee benefits provider, captured the seventh position in Business Insurance magazine’s annual ranking of the largest consumer-driven health care (CDHC) providers. Great-West Healthcare moved up three places from 10th in 2004. - Greystone Servicing Corporation Closes on $82 Million Seniors Healthcare Related Bridge Loans By : Health News
Greystone Servicing Corporation Inc., (“GSC”), announced that in September it has closed on bridge loans in the seniors health care lending market totaling $82 million. GSC is one of the top tier FHA lenders and is a top tier Fannie Mae seniors lender as well as a direct bridge lender. - Group Health Will Reduce Premiums For Washington State-Subsidized Health Plan For Low-Income By : Medical Insurance News
Group Health Cooperative on Monday announced it would lower its monthly premiums for Washington's state-subsidized health plan for low-income working residents by as much as 80% beginning Jan. 1, 2007, the Seattle Times reports. - Group Says AccessTN Will Be Unaffordable For Many Uninsured Tennessee Residents By : Medical Insurance News
Some health care advocates say that the AccessTN program will be able to serve fewer than 10% of state residents eligible for the benefit and that about half of those residents will receive financial assistance, the Tennessean reports. AccessTN is one of three new plans introduced by Gov. - Half Of Consumer-Directed Health Plan Enrollees Say They Would Be Likely To Switch Plans If Given Th By : Medical Insurance News
Half of individuals enrolled in consumer-directed plans said they would switch out of the plans if given the opportunity - Hartville Group, Inc., Launches ‘ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’ By : Health News
Hartville Group, Inc. (OTCBB:HTVL) announced the launch of a brand-new private-label pet insurance program developed in conjunction with the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), the country’s oldest animal welfare organization. - Health Affairs Publishes Web Exclusives Examining Massachusetts' Health Reform Laws By : Medical Insurance News
Health Affairs on Thursday published several Web exclusives that examine Massachusetts' new health insurance law, which requires all state residents to purchase health insurance by July 1, 2007, and requires employers in the state with 11 or more employees to provide coverage for workers or pay an annual fee of $295 per worker. - Health Care and Health Insurance Reform Options Now Being Discussed By : Jeff McClendon
Every election year, candidates make promises of sweeping health care and health insurance reform. The proposals this year cover a lot of territory. It is important to understand what some of the very specific projected changes might mean to average Americans. - Health Care For Undocumented Immigrants Cost $1.1B In 2000, Study Finds By : Medical Insurance News
Health care for undocumented immigrants between ages 18 and 64 cost the U.S. $1.1 billion in 2000, or about $11 per taxpayer household, according to a study by RAND published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs, the Los Angeles Times reports. - Health Care For Undocumented Immigrants Cost $1.1B In 2000, Study Finds By : Medical Insurance News
Health care for undocumented immigrants between ages 18 and 64 cost the U.S. $1.1 billion in 2000, or about $11 per taxpayer household, according to a study by RAND published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs, the Los Angeles Times reports - Health Care For Undocumented Immigrants Cost $1.1B In 2000, Study Finds By : Medical Insurance News
Health care for undocumented immigrants between ages 18 and 64 cost the U.S. $1.1 billion in 2000, or about $11 per taxpayer household, according to a study by RAND published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs, the Los Angeles Times reports. - Health Care Spending For Privately Insured U.S. Residents Increased By 7.4% In 2005, Study Finds By : Medical Insurance News
Health care spending on U.S. residents with private health insurance increased by 7.4% in 2005, in part because of increased spending on hospital and physician services, according to a study conducted by the Center for Studying Health System Change, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports. In addition, the study finds that health care spending increased by 7.7% in the first quarter of 2006. - Health Insurance and Health Quotes By : advancehealth advancehealth
Individual Health Insurance and Plans
With the individual health insurance you will find that it is rather affordable and on this you will be covered for a certain number of illnesses and medication as well as surgical procedures. You will also have to consider that maybe one day you will need the maternity plans that some of the health insurance plans have to offer. While finding the cheapest insurance is always the key, you should also not fail to consider all of the options that you may need further down the line. - Health Insurance Plan Tools Are Easing Health Care Cost Increases By : Medical Insurance News
Growth in spending for prescription drugs continues to slow as consumers take advantage of health insurance plans' cost-containment strategies, a study released today by the Center for Studying Health Systems Change found. - Health Insurance Plans And Pharmacists Launch Interactive Online Guide To Help Seniors Choose By : Medical Insurance News
Millions of Medicare beneficiaries now have access to a new online resource to evaluate their prescription drug plan choices for 2007. By visiting http://www.healthdecisions.org/guide, beneficiaries can work through an interactive prescription drug plan guide to determine which type of drug plan best meets their individual needs. - Health Insurance Premiums Rise At Over Twice Inflation Rate In USA By : Medical Insurance News
Even though health insurance premiums have had their lowest increase for seven years, they still managed to go up at over twice the USA's rate of inflation. Not much comfort for millions of workers who have to fork out even more money - especially when their wages have not kept pace. - Health Insurance Tax Incentives Should Be Offered To Reduce Health Care Costs, Number Of Uninsured By : Medical Insurance News
The federal government should offer tax incentives for the purchase of health insurance to help reduce the number of uninsured U.S. residents and reduce health care costs, Edward Hill, immediate past president of the American Medical Association, said on Thursday in a keynote address at the Economic Club of Memphis, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. - Health Insurers Targeting Growth in All Markets By : Health News
Health insurers are selectively targeting growth in all segments of the industry, according to Mark Farrah Associates (MFA). Commercial plans, focused on consumer-driven opportunities, are offering expanded HSA and HRA options for the private insurance market.
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