Survey reveals ‘most feared’ diseases in U.S.

Survey reveals 'most feared' diseases in U.S.

Amy Higgins When people are diagnosed with a serious disease they’re likely to ask, “What’s next?” When treatment is an option, those with insurance coverage will probably undergo any procedure a doctor deems necessary. But treatment may not seem as viable an option to Americans without health insurance. The most feared diseases A February 2011 … Read more

Fewer Americans getting insurance through their employers, study says

Fewer Americans getting insurance through their employers, study says

Marcus Pickett The number of Americans who get health insurance through their employers is dropping, according to March 2011 numbers from Gallup.  Between January 2008 and January 2011, the number of those covered by their employers dropped from 50 percent to 44.6 percent. Over the same period, the number of Americans who received government-assisted health insurance … Read more

Patients trapped in communication gap between primary care and ER docs

Patients trapped in communication gap between primary care and ER docs

Stephanie Taylor Christensen As a patient, you assume that medical professionals involved in your care are all coordinated when it comes to your needs, especially in critical situations involving your primary care physician and a hospital emergency room. However, a study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) indicates that care coordination is not … Read more

Understanding the controversy of selling health insurance across state lines

Understanding the controversy of selling health insurance across state lines

Marcus Pickett Selling health insurance across state lines has been a controversial proposal since its inception. While the basic principle is easy enough to understand, the concept has gotten caught up in political disagreements. In light of federal health reform legislation, it’s a good time to review what exactly interstate health insurance means and how it might … Read more

Proposal would give states a way out of federal health care reform

Proposal would give states a way out of federal health care reform

Amy Higgins The federal health care reform law, passed in 2010, requires that all states fall in line with the federal health insurance mandate beginning in 2014. But in March 2011, a year after the law passed, President Obama announced he would support giving states the ability to opting out of national reform if they agree to … Read more

Health care 2.0: Virtual house calls and online appointment bookings

Health care 2.0: Virtual house calls and online appointment bookings

Jill Overmyer The Internet has made life easier in many ways, allowing people to complete common tasks without ever leaving their homes. Now, patients can book doctor’s appointments — and even “visit” a doctor — online. According to a survey by the American Medical Association, nearly 40 percent of U.S. doctors communicated with their patients online in … Read more

Georgia health insurance bill would let residents buy out-of-state coverage

Georgia health insurance bill would let residents buy out-of-state coverage

Jill Overmyer If you live in Georgia and find an affordable health insurance policy in another state, can you buy it? Soon, you might be able to. In April 2011, the Georgia House and Senate passed a bill, HB 47, which would allow Georgia residents to buy health insurance policies from other states. H.B. 47 basics … Read more

Health care reform aims to shrink dreaded Medicare ‘donut hole’

Health care reform aims to shrink dreaded Medicare 'donut hole'

Marcus Pickett For years, many seniors enrolled in Medicare prescription drug benefits have found themselves trapped in the so-called ‘donut hole,’ shelling out thousands in out-of-pocket costs. The health care reform law has taken aim at the donut hole — and seeks to eliminate it permanently by 2020. What is the donut hole? For seniors … Read more

Medical identity theft can rob your money and your health

Medical identity theft can rob your money and your health

Jill Overmyer A growing crime that can have devastating consequences for patients and hospitals alike is medical identity theft. Privacy research organization the Ponemon Institute estimates that this type of fraud costs U.S. hospitals nearly $6 billion a year. What is medical identity theft? In addition to stealing information like names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers … Read more

Even with Medicare, seniors struggle with medical bills

Even with Medicare, seniors struggle with medical bills

Crawford Frazer In many cases, Medicare provides a very valuable health benefit, particularly to seniors. The program has been designed to pay for care for those over age 65 (and some younger people with disabilities), and it covers close to 50 million people. But that doesn’t mean that Medicare recipients get free care. Premiums, cost-sharing … Read more