Choices hard for Medicare recipients Seniors must decide this month on their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage Dec 13, 2008
Each plan also has a monthly premium, yearly deductible, co-payment, coverage gap and formulary to consider. "I get confused with all these Medicare choices," said Shirley McChesney, 70, of Fredericksburg. (Fredericksburg.com, VA)
Worried about losing your health care? One insurer has an answer Dec 13, 2008
Under the UnitedHealth option, a typical non-smoking couple in their 40s in Baltimore would pay about $63 a month for the right to buy a traditional health plan with a $2,500 deductible in the future. That couple would pay about $57 a month for the right to purchase a health savings account or another consumer-driven health plan in the future. (Baltimore Business Journal, MD)
PANORA CITY COUNCIL Dec 12, 2008
Also, the city offers its employees a health deductible reimbursement arrangement which must be administered by a third party. Kabel Business Services was chosen for that role. (The Guthrian, IA)
Save money in the next three weeks Dec 12, 2008
Take advantage of vision benefits, elective surgeries if you've met deductible ... "Let's say you need knee surgery and you've been putting it off for a while. If you've already met your deductible for 2008, have the surgery before the end of the year, or you'll have to start your deductible all over again," said Amy O'Meara Chambers, an employee benefits lawyer and associate vice president for market development at Priority Health, a health insurance company based in Michigan ... For example,... (CNN)
Health care as economic issue Dec 12, 2008
So here s what I propose: every person in this country automatically gets health coverage via a POS plan with a $10K family deductible and no lifetime limit ... to reduce the high deductible or to add additional coverage for vision/dental/whatever ... It also means maybe you ll think twice before asking for a prescription for the latest heartburn pill instead of taking some OTC drug b/c YOU have to pay for it thru the high deductible. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Universal Energy Group Releases Fiscal 2008 Financial Results and Operational Updates Dec 12, 2008
4% Tax at statutory rates 2,165 (12,250) Increase resulting from: Tax effect of expenses that are not deductible for income purposes 1,030 1,168 Adjustment for differences between current and future enacted rates on temporary difference 4,752 765 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income tax/(recovery) 7,947 (10,317). (b) Components of the Company's future taxes are as follows. (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
Milner delivers final progress report Dec 12, 2008
There is a $20,000 deductible for inmate catastrophic medical insurance so long as there is continuous confinement. Right now, however, Milner said he has another bill that amounts to $26,000 that the county is totally responsible for because confinement was not continuous. (Bradford County Telegraph, FL)
Employee health-insurance costs to rise in 2009 Dec 12, 2008
Additionally, more than one-third of employers intend to shift costs to employees by raising deductibles, copays/coinsurance or out-of-pocket maximums ... The median deductible for preferred-provider plans is $1,000, up from $250 in 2000 ... High-deductible plans allow employers to offer a more affordable option, she says. (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)
Plan provides low-cost health coverage to state's uninsured Dec 11, 2008
28 monthly, with a $250 annual deductible. The same coverage for a 30-year-old male costs $109. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
Businesses struggle with health benefits as county subsidy ends Dec 11, 2008
The company offers a full range of insurance plans, including one with a high deductible that costs about the same as what employers spent on the subsidized program, WHA spokesman Rick Heron said ... Knotts took a plan that increases costs for his seven employees through higher copayments and deductibles. (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)
New Starkville health plan saves near $60,000 Dec 10, 2008
Many employees already have met their deductible this year, so the city could end up dishing out more money in December than in the past few months, Outlaw said. But Outlaw believes the savings will increase in January when employees have to start paying their deductibles again from scratch and the city won t pay out as many funds ... We re looking to pay more out in December because now a lot of our employees have met their deductible, Outlaw said. (Columbus Commercial Dispatch, MS)
Senior Life Matters Dec 9, 2008
Understanding Medicare Part D Coverage. By Janell Sluga POSTED: December 8, 2008. (Jamestown Post Journal)
Get The Best Deal On Health Insurance Dec 9, 2008
Health care costs also include payments to cover deductibles (the amount you pay for treatment before the insurance kicks in) and co-payments to doctors and hospitals--meaning that the overall health bill takes an even bigger bite ... Getting a handle on premiums and deductibles is the easy part, but there are a flurry of befuddling details too, such as coverage exceptions (hospital costs, prescription-drug benefits); the number of hospitals and doctors per plan; and the number of doctor visits... (Forbes)
Worker benefits cut as firms fight to stay afloat Dec 9, 2008
Others are looking for ways to provide health coverage, but at a lower cost; many are switching to plans with higher deductibles ... If a business decides to buy insurance with a higher deductible, it can also set up flexible spending accounts or health reimbursement accounts that will help workers save some money even as they're paying out more. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Transit workers OK contract Dec 8, 2008
And union members will pay up to a $500-a-year deductible for family plans. "We've had a long, difficult month here. We've had a long, long day," Mr. McMahon said, as he spoke to assembled television cameras with his executive board and the union's attorneys standing behind him. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Health coverage hikes are bitter pill Dec 7, 2008
Shoemaker's situation is extreme, but many Capital Region workers with or without jobs are dealing with rising health insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles ... The toolbox for shifting costs to you, the employee, includes raising "point of service" fees like co-payments on drugs and doctors' visits, coinsurance that requires you to pay a percentage of your medical care, and deductibles that force you to pay for services until you reach a ceiling, typically $500 ... Nationally, the median... (Albany Times Union)
High cost of living Dec 7, 2008
When purchasing this insurance, a person must consider their deductible and the maximum amounts for coverage, which helps determine whether a policy purchased now will be sufficient to cover costs in the future. One should also ask whether the policy will cover the costs of home health care, assisted living and nursing homes. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Customs official charged with hiring illegals... Dec 6, 2008
" Would you be saying the same thing if the chief of police told a bank robber to "be careful" when robbing banks? Would the chief of police be showing compassion? AMERICAN CITIZENS love America. Posted by Russ December 5, 08 05:10 PM Now I'll sleep better at night............... Posted by sgp December 5, 08 05:11 PM The U.S admits more LEGAL immigrants each year than any country in the world (upwards of a million). We do not need illegal immigrants who have no allegiance to anyone but... (The Drudge Report)
Blackford County health insurance costs escalate 40 percen Dec 3, 2008
She suggested increasing the deductible from $2,000 to $2,500 for an individual and from $4,000 to $5,000 for family coverage ... With the higher deductible, the premium would be about $100 a month more, or $494 per month ... That would mean an extra $64,800 from the county coffers, and up to $500 a year more for employees that reach the deductible. (Hartford City News-Times, IN)
Health Savings Accounts can benefit employers and employees Dec 3, 2008
To open an HSA, an eligible person must first be covered by a qualified high deductible health plan ... Rather than traditional co-payments which many people are familiar with, under an HDHP most covered medical services will track towards a person s deductible, which is typically higher than most traditional plans ... As I mentioned earlier, the HDHP features a deductible that is typically higher than most traditional health insurance plans. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Citigroup bailout doesn't calm jitters over 'toxic' assets Dec 2, 2008
"That's a lot like an insurance policy" with a $29 billion deductible and a 10 percent copayment above that, says Mark Thoma, an economist at the University of Oregon in Eugene. "It's a way of rebuilding trust," he says. (Christian Science Monitor -- USA)
Pay limits raised for disabled workers Dec 2, 2008
4 million by the program's fifth year, even including offsetting fees and deductibles to be charged people with higher incomes ... "Medical benefits are not easy to replace -- a lot of jobs may not offer them."If they lost eligibility for full Medicaid, they would have had to meet a deductible, and that could be thousands of dollars over a six-month period. (News & Observer)
Health care costs likely to spike statewide Dec 1, 2008
One-third of employers headquartered in Florida plan to raise deductibles, co-payments or out-of-pocket maximum charges in 2009, a survey by found ... Raising deductibles allows employers to shift costs to workers without taking money out of paychecks, said Matthew Snook, a principal and senior consultant in Mercer s Tampa office ... The $1,000 health plan deductible became the norm in 2008, doubling in just one year, the survey found. (Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL)
New West revamps Web site Nov 30, 2008
With the increasing use of high-deductible health plans, Americans are taking a greater interest in what they re paying for health care and how it s delivered ... The high deductible plans increase the awareness of the cost and the resources going into health care, and that increases interest because people want to make an informed choice, Kibbe said. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Taking pain out of cost: Cost Care adds fourth site; other area clinics have offered walk-in service since 1980s Nov 30, 2008
These are people who do have insurance through their employers, but who have decided to take a higher deductible to get a lower premium, she said. Then they use us for regular doctor visits and keep their insurance in place in case they have a major medical event. (Missoulian, MT)
Mutual Funds &Personal Finance Nov 29, 2008
An option that many companies make available is the high-deductible plan ... Your contributions to an HSA are tax-deductible ... Those expenses can include deductibles on the plan itself. (Investors Business Daily)
Key to drug savings: shop around Nov 26, 2008
The agency says 26 of those offer some improved benefits or services, 27 have a zero deductible and two charge premiums of less than $25 a month. Rounds said South Dakotans can get help reviewing their needs and the available plans through the Senior Health Information and Insurance Education (SHINE) program. (Sioux Falls Argus Leader)
Employees paying more for health coverage Nov 26, 2008
Employees increasingly are being asked to shoulder a larger chunk of their own health bills either through greater payroll deductions and rising co-payments or by adopting plans with higher deductibles ... Employers have changed the mix of plans available to employees, increased employees' payroll contributions, raised deductibles and emphasized "consumer" plans that put more responsibility on employees ... About 32 percent of companies surveyed by Mercer planned to shift costs to employees by... (AZCentral -- Business)
Economy sank faster than first predicted. new data show Nov 26, 2008
About 32 percent of companies surveyed by Mercer planned to shift costs to employees by raising deductibles, co-payments or out-of-pocket maximums ... If you don't have chronic health conditions, a high-deductible plan may make sense because you often have a lower premium ... These plans typically have a higher deductible than a traditional HMO (health-maintenance organization). (AZCentral -- Business)
United offers new insurance plans Nov 25, 2008
The Indianapolis-based company s new product includes new coinsurance and deductible choices, a 24-month rate guarantee option, preventive coverage for health savings account plans, a new HSA plan with coinsurance and monthly direct billing for customers. They are designed to give consumers more choices and control over their health care spending. (Bizjournals.com)
Outpatient center surgeries rise Nov 25, 2008
Block said that toward the end of the year, people with insurance coverage typically schedule elective procedures to take advantage of a paid deductible, and that the numbers may be inflated. He said these numbers will probably decrease by next year. (San Jose Business Journal, CA)
Time to sign up for Medicare Part D Nov 22, 2008
"Each plan can differ on premiums, deductibles, co-pays and the drugs they cover. Take time to read through the plans and to call plan representatives for additional information," says Paul Precht, policy and communications director for the , an advocacy group based in New York City and Washington, D.C. ... So long as a pharmacy chain is in the Part D plan's pharmacy network, the drugs you buy will count toward your deductible, says Precht of the Medicare Rights Center. (Los Angeles Times)
Should the government bail out automakers, too? Nov 22, 2008
My rates go up, my deductibles and co-pays go up, and my coverage goes down ... Since my chiropractor is out of network , I shoulder that cost entirely, never reaching the ridiculously high deductible. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
How to Choose the Right Pet Health Insurance Plan Nov 21, 2008
Do I have to pay a deductible. Just like with human insurance, different plans have different deductibles ... PurinaCare pet health insurance, the first pet health insurance under the Purina brand, allows pet owners to choose from four different deductible options: 100, 250, 500 or 1,000. (Pekin Times, IL)
CAHI Stands by Its Principles for Health Insurance Reform Nov 21, 2008
It also means that coverage options that may be out of political favor -- e.g., Health Savings Accounts, high deductible policies, Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or other consumer driven options -- could face significant hurdles intended to limit their adoption, if not explicitly exclude them. Finally, an individual mandate has been tried in only one state, and it has yet to achieve its objective: universal coverage. (PR Newswire)
Economy wounds hospitals Nov 21, 2008
It's people who have insurance but they have a $1,000 deductible, a $5,000 deductible ... It's people who have insurance but they have a $1,000 deductible, a $5,000 deductible. (Akron Beacon Journal)
Health-Insurance Deductible of $1000 Now Common Nov 20, 2008
Health-Insurance Deductible of $1,000 Now Common - WSJ.com ... Health-Insurance Deductible of $1,000 Now Common ... Health-insurance deductibles of $1,000 or more have become commonplace for people who receive coverage through their employers. (Wall Street Journal)
Deductibles march higher for employer-provided health insurance Nov 20, 2008
By Lisa Girion November 20, 2008 Employers are dramatically shifting healthcare costs onto workers, so much so that the average annual deductible for an individual surpassed $1,000 for the first time this year, according to a new study ... "Raising the deductible has become the fallback for employers faced with cost increases they can't handle," said Laura Baker, a consultant for Mercer, the benefits consulting firm that conducted the annual survey of about 2,900 companies ... Health maintenance... (Los Angeles Times)
Medicare Part D,the yearly puzzle Nov 20, 2008
"Every year, it gets more complicated the amount of the premium increase, what medications they cover and what the deductible is," said Betty Marino of Haledon, one of 60 people who attended a free seminar at Passaic County's Office of Senior Services ... "Every year, it gets more complicated the amount of the premium increase, what medications they cover and what the deductible is," said Betty Marino of Haledon, one of 60 people who attended a free seminar at Passaic County's Office of... (NorthJersey.com)
Auto industry bailout bombs in TBJ poll Nov 20, 2008
I really don't want to pay with my tax dollars for the "right" for an auto worker to continue company-paid health insurance with no co-pay and no deductible. Bail me out, please. (Raleigh Triangle Business Journal, NC)
SEAGO offers help on Medicare Nov 18, 2008
One of those changes is an increase in the deductible for prescription drugs. Last year the deductible for Part D was 275, and it s now up to 295, Murico said. (Douglas Daily Dispatch, AZ)
A healthcare system badly out of balance Nov 17, 2008
Faulkner is one of thousands of Massachusetts residents who save money on insurance by purchasing lower-cost plans that require patients to pay a higher deductible before insurance kicks in. Faulkner had to pay the $526. (Boston Globe)
Young cancer survivors start support group Nov 17, 2008
LaBrune searched for coverage elsewhere, and finally found a state insurance plan offered to people with life-threatening illnesses, but LaBrune would have to meet a 1,000 deductible and 2,500 out-of-pocket expense plus 30 co-pays. Ultimately, the insurance company reinstated the policy with her original company, but by that time, LaBrune had moved on to another company. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
American Insurer Embraces Indian Hospitals Nov 16, 2008
Serigraph will waive the insurance deductible and coinsurance for employees who agree to go, paying all medical costs as well as travel expenses for the patient and a companion. "This is a leap of faith, obviously, to say if you go to India, we'll pay for the whole shebang," said , Serigraph's senior vice president of human resources. (NBC Bay Area)
Medicare drug sign-up begins today Nov 15, 2008
Still, actual plan costs can vary widely based on charges such as deductibles and co-payments ... How much will you pay for an annual premium and deductible. (AZCentral -- News)
Enrollment nears for Medicare prescription plans Nov 14, 2008
The 2009 deductible for the Medicare drug benefit is up about 7 percent to $295 and the doughnut hole -- where coverage runs out before picking again -- is up $237 to $3,453. Tips* Calculate what you'd pay overall for 2009 based on each plan's coverage of specific medications. (News & Observer)
Get help with Medicare form Nov 13, 2008
"If they qualify, the program will pay for the monthly premium and deductible, and bring medication costs down to as little as $1.05 for generics and $3.25 for name brands."They still have to meet that same guideline," she cautioned, "but it may be worth it to look at the extra help plan to see if they can get any help at all. "In Lexington, SHIP is in the Legal Aid offices at the Black and Williams Center, 498 Georgetown Street. It's best to call first, because workers could be out talking with... (Kentucky.com)
Auto Industry Situation Dire; Congress May Offer Aid Nov 13, 2008
plans to offer legislation on Monday making the interest payment on new car loans tax deductible. "We've got to start massaging the American economy," she said. (ABC 7 News, DC)
Increase in medical deductible? Get used to it Nov 13, 2008
Increase in medical deductible ... Increase in medical deductible ... The university has begun offering a high-deductible health plan to its employees alongside its traditional preferred provider organization plan. (Cincinnati Business Courier, OH)
Confusion over health plans stymies consumers Nov 11, 2008
In many plans, coinsurance payments start after the insured person has paid their deductible, a set amount they must pay each year before insurance coverage kicks in ... Health Savings Account (HSA) A tax-free savings account for people who have high-deductible insurance plans to help cover medical expenses. (MSNBC -- Health)
Companies Cutting Worker Benfits Nov 11, 2008
The folks at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield tell me, with premiums going up, they're seeing a lot of local employers offer high deductible health plans, combined with a health savings account ... In the meantime, workers like Debbie are being told to consider, for the first time, a health plan with a high deductible. (WKRC.com, OH)
BETTER LIFE: More on senior health issues Nov 8, 2008
Senior health care - Better Life - USATODAY.com. Raising funds for Parkinson's. (USA Today -- Money)
The Medical Consumer: Dunkin' Seniors: Medicare, Rx drugs and the 'doughnut hole' Nov 5, 2008
In addition, most Plans imposed a $275 deductible ... Because of the concerns about the effects of cost inflation, the program requires a shared responsibility for payment of drug expenses that exceed the deductible: Medicare pays 75% and the enrollee pays the remaining 25 ... This amount represents the aggregate of the deductible, plus both the beneficiary's 25% out-of-pocket payment and the 75% that Medicare picks up. (Hillsdale Independent, NY)
Expect Changes in Drug Co-Pays for Medicare Nov 4, 2008
Consumers' total out-of-pocket expenses, including premiums, deductibles and co-payments, will vary depending on such factors as what part of the country they live in and what specific drugs they use ... 90 a month and that his yearly deductible would rise $20 to $295 ... "Premiums are going up. More plans have deductibles. The overall picture seems to be less rather than more.". (Wall Street Journal)
LETTERS: NCT, Nov. 3, 2008 Nov 4, 2008
Political organizations are not tax deductible and churches should be the same. You have the right to your freedom of religion. (North County Times)
Employers trim health expenses Nov 4, 2008
Some companies are opting to switch to high deductible consumer-driven health plans like health savings accounts, or HSAs, and health reimbursement accounts, or HRAs, to lower costs. Higher deductible plans can lower the overall premium costs paid by employers ... Under traditional coverage, employees typically have about a $250 deductible to pay before insurance coverage kicks in. (Baltimore Business Journal, MD)
Why John McCain's health plan is sick Nov 3, 2008
Since health insurance premiums are tax deductible up to 7. 5 percent of gross income, a taxpayer filing such a deduction will get a reduced tax liability, plus the appropriate tax credit, $2,500 or $5,000. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Taking the pulse Nov 2, 2008
US HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Medicare: government-funded healthcare for over-65s Medicaid: government funded healthcare for poor people Employer-funded health insurancee: paid by salary deduction, tax deductible Uninsured: treated in emergency rooms only. "We have to worry about Goldman Sachs. That's where we are.". (BBC News)
Rising health care costs an extra burden on small businesses Nov 2, 2008
Health savings accounts, which have a higher deductible and cheaper monthly premiums, have been increasingly popular for small businesses, local insurance agents said. With the rise of HSAs, managed-care preferred provider organizations are less attractive as contracts between providers and insurance companies can lead to bitter negotiations, leaving the consumer in the middle without much of a voice, DeVito said. (DeKalb Daily Chronicle, IL)
Keeping house on a budget Nov 2, 2008
Terry Seligman took a close look at her insurance policies and trimmed $350 a year by raising the deductible on her health insurance and consolidating her home and auto policies with one insurer ... Raising your deductible is one way to lower your premiums, but make sure you can afford to pay that higher deductible if disaster strikes. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Valley events Nov 2, 2008
Donations may be tax deductible ... Donations are accepted and Hannah s will offer a tax deductible receipt. (Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald, NC)
More of this story Nov 1, 2008
The current policy is written with a 500 deductible, and an option to increase the deductible to 2,500 would keep the county's cost at 415 ... The deductible increase will not affect co-pay amounts ... The option to pay the increased amount will be offered to employees should they wish to remain at the 500 deductible level. (Searcy Daily Citizen, AR)
Getting a Handel on long voting lines Nov 1, 2008
Regarding health care, a high deductible health insurance is all a 24 year old needs ... A 24 year old can afford high deductible health insurance as long as all his money isnt being spent on cell phone usage, satellite TV, and video games. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Pray for our next president Oct 31, 2008
Now with insurance it is $1500 dollars deductible. " Gotcha Bonnie wrote on Oct 28, 2008 8:48 AM:" If we keep calling Bonnie on her lies she is bound to get even more befuddled and expose herself. (Rockingham Daily Journal, NC)
American women buying health policies pay a penalty Oct 30, 2008
Humana, for example, says its Portrait plan offers "ideal coverage for people who want benefits like those provided by big employers." For a Portrait plan with a $2,500 deductible, a 30-year-old woman pays 31 percent more than a man of the same age in Denver or Chicago and 32 percent more in Tallahassee, Florida. In Columbus, Ohio, a 30-year-old woman pays 49 percent more than a man of the same age for Anthem's Blue Access Economy plan. (International Herald Tribune)
