Encyclopedia article covering topics such as types, principles, indemnification, the insurance industry, and controversies.
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06/23/2010 02:02 PM
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(Best Syndication News) - According to a report issued by a Commonwealth Fund, the United States is last place when compared to six other industrialized countries for healthcare, we also have the most expensive healthcare costs. The report compared the US against Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom on five criteria: quality, efficiency, access to care, equity and the ability to lead long, healthy, productive lives.
The Commonwealth Fund said that health care could improve for all of the countries in the report, but they point out the the United States is not getting a good value for the amount of money that is spent for health care. The United States spends o$7,290 per capita on health care costs in 2007 compared to $3,837 per capti in healthcare costs in the Netherlands, which was ranked as the best in this report.
05/05/2010 05:22 PM
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[Best Syndication News] The debate has been heating up between those for and against the Proposition 17 auto Insurance reform on the June 8th Ballot. Largely supported by Mercury General Corp. the measure wants to extend deep discounts to new customers that have had the same insurance for the past five years. The opponents to Proposition 17 see this as a way for auto insurance companies to tack on huge surcharges if it goes through.
According to the Consumer Watchdog group they have received a letter that Mercury Insurance Company asking for policyholders to vote in favor of proposition 17. In addition, Mercury has begun advertising on TV for the passage of Prop 17. The Consumer Watchdog points out that Proposition 17 would make it possible for insurance companies to raise the rates. They continue to say that there was a lawsuit that was filed against both the Attorney General and consumer advocates by Mercury because they wanted to prevent information regarding rate increases from being printed in the voter's guide. Mercury had lost the court battle and the voter's guide will read “will allow insurance companies to increase cost of insurance to drivers who do not have a history of continuous insurance coverage.”
03/23/2010 03:50 AM
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(Best Syndication News) Not only is ING Life Insurance lowering their rates, they are also offering a new 25-year term life insurance policy to their lineup. Originally formed in the Netherlands, ING has clients in 40 countries and a workforce of over 100,000 people.
The company already offers life insurance in the United States with of 10, 15, 20, and 30 year terms. On Monday they began offering a 25-year level term option.
Life insurance provides a basic and economical way to protect your family and business in the event of your death. “"ING remains committed to being a leader in this market,” said ING U.S. Insurance CEO Butch Britton.
03/22/2010 02:27 PM
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[Best Syndication News] The long debated health care reform has been approved by the legislative branches over the weekend. The final signing into law will be completed on Tuesday by President Obama. This legislation has many of the features not going into effect until 2014.
The legislation will force individuals and businesses larger than 50 employees, to purchase health insurance or be faced with a penalty. If you are low-income you won't have to pay. If you have an employer that already provides health insurance and you make less than $200,000 per year you won't see any big changes in your current situation.
The health care bill is estimated to cost $938 billion and will be paid for by tax increases on wealthy along with cuts in Medicare. There will be 32 million Americans the will be able to get health insurance coverage that would have be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
03/21/2010 07:28 PM
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[Best Syndication News] It appears that the Health Care Reform bill will very likely be approved today. President Obama is planning to make a formal statement to the nation this Sunday night regarding the historic health care reform.
Obama was reported to made agreements that he would ban the abortion funding from the government which has added democratic party votes in favor of the legislation.
According to CBS News 'Face the Nation' interviewed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) who is against the health reform, and thinks that it needs to be rewritten.
"We owe it to the American people to do the very best we can to keep this bill from passing so that we can start over and get it right," said McConnell.
03/17/2010 07:36 PM
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(Best Syndication News) Dennis Kucinich, a longtime supporter of a single-payer health care system, has caved-in to the current health care bill supporters.
Earlier this week President Obama traveled to Ohio to make his pitch, and it worked. “After careful discussions with the President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Elizabeth my wife and close friends, I have decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation,” Kucinich said in an announcement today.
Previously Kucinich said he would not support any bill that did not include a public option.
03/15/2010 07:14 PM
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(Best Syndication News) We can expect a vote on the health care bill later this week, President Barack Obama said Monday. At a rally in Ohio the President said every argument has been made and it is time to act.
“They’re waiting for us to act,” the President said. “They’re waiting for us to lead. They don’t want us to put our finger up to the wind.” The House is expected to vote on a reconciled bill later this week.
Although some consumer protection rules will take place immediately, the bulk of the coverage for 25 million people will take place in four years. Most of those people will get tax credits to assist them in purchasing coverage.
03/11/2010 05:18 PM
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[Best Syndication News] The US Department of Transportation announced that there was a record low of overall traffic fatalities for 2009, so low that it hasn't been this low since 1954. This was the 15th quarter in a row that has seen a decline in traffic deaths which is showing as a consistent trend.
The number of highway deaths for 2009 were 33,963 which was a reduction by 8.9 percent from the previous year with 37,261 deaths reported. The fatality rate is also the lowest of record with 1.16 fatalities per 100 million Vehicle Miles Traveled which in 2008 this number was 1.25 per 100 million.
03/05/2010 05:44 PM
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(Best Syndication News) Republicans are angry because Democrats may use the reconciliation process to bypass a possible filibuster in the Senate. A budget reconciliation may allow the measure to pass with a simple majority, even without any Republican votes.
First introduced in 1974, reconciliation is a process intended to allow consideration of a contentious budget bill without the threat of filibuster. It limits debate in the Senate preventing a Senator or group of Senators from halting the process through an extended debate on the proposal. A filibuster could go on for days.
03/02/2010 07:43 PM
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[Best Syndication News] While teens already have high enough car insurance premiums, one thing they can do is to not get in an accident and see the rates increase after this occurs. One bad habit that many teens, and adults have acquired is the habit of texting while driving. This combination of activities has been involved in many dangerous and life-threatening accidents.
A new bill is being introduced that was prepared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that will help make it easier to law enforcement officers to stop a vehicle and issue a citation for a driver that is caught texting while driving.
03/02/2010 07:02 PM
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[Best Syndication News] With the threat of individual health insurance plans in California potentially being kicked out of the state for possible non-compliance with the state laws, some people with individual health insurance policies are probably holding their breath in hopes to have reasonably priced health insurance that will still cover them. The question looms in many people's minds how do you get health insurance if you can't afford it or if you have a pre-existing condition. Here are some different ideas to get health insurance or medical care when you have a pre-existing condition.
A divorced lady was sharing her plan to get health insurance coverage on the day-time syndicated television show 'The Doctors.' She has posted her plea for a man to marry that has a good health insurance plan. So far she has received 7,000 marriage proposals. The doctors asked her if she would seriously marry someone just for good health insurance. She said yeah, but at the same time she hasn't agreed to marry anyone yet. She pointed out on the show that if she went to prison she could get the necessary health care and medication. She spends 90 percent of her income paying for her medications and medical care. She is a working person that can't get health insurance, but if she marries she could get covered.
03/02/2010 05:20 PM
[Best Syndication News] Anthem Blue Cross recently raised health insurance policy premiums up to 39 percent on some individual health plans, which has caused government as well as others to take notice. The Consumer Watchdog organization has filed a lawsuit today against Anthem Blue Cross because of the rate hike and forcing policy holders into less coverage because of the excessive rate hike.
Anthem Blue Cross is a subsidiary of WellPoint Inc., which is the largest health insurance provider in the United States. The lawsuit filed today against the corporation is accusing them of increasing monthly rates, so much as to force consumers into lower-benefit coverage with higher-deductibles. The Consumer Watchdog group is saying that this is a violation of state law and the lawsuit is being filed by Blue Cross policyholders as well as consumer advocates.
02/25/2010 08:03 PM
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[Best Syndication News] The Los Angeles Attorney General, Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that his office has subpoenaed financial records and other documents from seven of the largest health insurance companies in California to further investigate unwarranted rate hikes and denial of coverage cases.
Brown said that this investigation into the unfair practices of these health Insurance companies have been going on for several months. Brown said, "Not only are the rate increases devastating to Californians strapped by the economy, but in some cases, they are possibly illegal."
02/25/2010 05:06 PM
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(Best Syndication News) Today President Barack Obama is holding a health care summit with both Democrats and Republicans present. The goal is to reconcile the bills in the House of Representatives and Senate to facilitate final passage.
Democrats are debating whether there should be a tax on premium health care plans while Republicans are against both bills but would like to see a removal of barriers between states that prevent consumers from buying plans in other states. Republicans would also like to see tort reform that would limit the damages caused by reckless doctors.
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02/24/2010 04:16 PM
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(Best Syndication News) Later this year Blue Cross of California is expected to go forward with their 39 percent rate hikes in California. This has prompted a curiosity of why our medical bills are so high. It is not just Wellpoint and various pharmaceuticals registering incredible profits, hospitals and surgery room equipment manufactures are also raking in earnings.
Recently Dr. Sanjay Gupta examined some of the costs associated with surgery. On Anderson Cooper 360 he explained that renting the operating room could cost $3,000 per hour. An IV bag could cost over $200 while surgical staplers could cost upwards of $1,200. He went through a list of other devices including: chest tubes to treating chest compression - $1,100, sutures for $200, and biopsy needles for $800.
02/06/2010 11:29 PM
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(Best Syndication News) – Recent fines assessed against two insurance companies highlights the importance of understanding your life insurance policy. The Department of Insurance for the state of Missouri fined Nationwide Life Insurance Co. and Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Co. for not taking the required steps to ensure that Waddell & Reed Inc supervision and control were adequate.
"Annuities can be highly complex products," said John M. Huff, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance. He is right; annuities are not your typical run of the mill insurance option.
12/24/2009 05:09 PM
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(Best Syndication News) The United States Senate passed an overhaul of the health care system this morning as votes fell along party lines. Like any controversial legislation, it was hailed as a great breakthrough by supporters but denounced by opponents (see details of the bill below).
Vice President Joe Biden sat in as President of the Senate for this historic vote. “The Yays are 60 and the Nays are 39”, HR 3590 as amended passes the Senate with more votes than required over the simple majority. The “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” will require all Americans to purchase private health insurance.
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12/16/2009 05:47 PM
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There is a perfect storm brewing in long-term care. Most of those at risk are either oblivious to it, in denial that it will not happen to them or procrastinating thinking they have lots of time to act.
The truth of the matter is taking responsibility for your long-term care sooner than later will give you options that you may not have later on. Your options will disappear as you get older and with that you won't be as healthy.
The truth of the matter is that people are living longer and as there is a growing need for long-term care. The resources for providing this type of care are shrinking. There will be more "baby boomers" needing this type of care than there will be caregivers ready and able to provide care.
12/16/2009 05:29 PM
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If you are looking to choose an affordable individual health insurance plan, take a look at your health and what choice of doctors you will have with the plans. Once you see what is available to you then you can pick and choose a few plans to compare and narrow your search. You have two choices to choose from, you have managed care and indemnity plans to pick from.
With the managed care plans there are two options that you have available to you. One of the options is the Preferred Provider Organization or PPO and the second one is to opt for the HMO or the Health Maintenance Organization.
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12/16/2009 05:15 PM
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If you are looking for dental insurance, then undoubtedly, you will need a list of the best providers so that you can contact them to request quotes or make comparisons. I have prepared the following list below which comprises of the top dental providers in the United States:
- Aetna Dental Access
It has 64,000 dental professionals in its network so you can be certain to find at least one specialist in your area that will accept their plans. Their family plans start at $149.95. As this is a large company you can have the peace of mind knowing that you will be taken care of and even though their plans are inexpensive, they offer high quality service.
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