Health Insurance & Money

Monthly premiums for stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans (PDPs), which are part of Medicare Part D, will rise an average of 11 percent to $38.94, according to a report by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. This means that since 2006, the first year that Medicare Part D drug benefits were offered to seniors, the cost has risen by 50 percent.

Concerns over the negative impact of health insurance reform on children have been raised recently by child health and industry advocates. One concern is the possible burden on children’s hospitals because of cuts to hospitals, while another is associated with the repeal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Several organizations representing the business community have bemoaned the potential negative impacts health insurance reform could have on them. On the one hand, this isn't surprising. Chambers of commerce generally espouse laissiez-faire economic viewpoints that protect their best interests. On the other hand, small businesses in particular have been hit especially hard by soaring healthcare costs.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius helped kick off American Diabetes Month by releasing a report entitled “Preventing and Treating Diabetes: Health Insurance Reform and Diabetes in America.” The report came one day after Sebelius met with patients and caregivers of patients who have diabetes in Bradenton, Florida.

A mammoth-sized healthcare reform bill barely squeaked by the House of Representatives. It intends to provide health insurance to the majority of Americans through new programs and regulations. Nearly 40 Democratic representatives refused to vote for the bill; most of them are from conservative districts and believe a bill that includes the public option is too radical. Representative Dennis Kucinich stands out among the objectors, because he feels that Speaker Nancy Pelosi's bill doesn't go far enough.

Quite a few veterans who were honorably discharged are now suffering due to their ability to buy a health insurance plan.

The health insurance plans of millions of Americans will be affected by the Senate's decisions on healthcare reform. While the House of Representatives recently passed their own bill, the future of reform is now in the hands of the Senate. Democratic Senators like Majority Leader Harry Reid have written their own bill, and will have to approve it before reconciling it with the House's version. This process may take months.

The healthcare reform bill will make health insurance plans more affordable for women by prohibiting gender rating. Gender rating is a commonly practiced by many insurers and consists of charging a woman higher health insurance premiums, compared to a man of similar age and health status.

DentalPlans.com, an online provider of discount dental plans, announced a new relationship today that allows members of the Delta SkyMiles program to earn miles when they join any discount dental plan from DentalPlans.com.

Once again Medicare’s annual open enrollment time is upon our senior citizens. This year the enrollment runs from November 15th through December 31st.