Helpful Health Care Links: December 19, 2014

Thumbs Up!Our helpful health care links focus on a variety of topics this week — the 5 most affordable cities for assisted living and the affects of high medical costs on Americans. We also include a story from Spectrum Health touching on many American parents who feel their teen and young adult children are unable to manage their own health care. All are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

How the High Cost of Medical Care Is Affecting Americans

The New York Times/CBS News poll found that affording medical care is a hardship for more Americans than a year ago.

The 5 Most Affordable Cities For Assisted Living

Looking for assisted-living facilities for yourself or a loved one? If so, you should probably start by examining a map and your portfolio: Due to a variety of factors, the spot you choose on the former will have a huge impact on the latter.

Report: US Unprepared For Disease Outbreaks Despite Billions Spent

Major gaps exist in the country’s capacity to handle public health crises like Ebola despite massive government spending over the last decade, according to a new report.

Few Parents Think 18-Year-Olds Can Handle Their Health Care

Many American parents don’t think their teen and young adult children are able to manage their own health care.

Managed Care Plans Make Progress In Erasing Racial Disparities

Years of efforts to reduce the racial disparities in health care have so far failed to eliminate them. But progress is being made in the western United States, due largely to efforts by managed care plans to identify patients who were missing out on management of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

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All of this information and more will be explained in MyHealthSpin’s soon-to-be-released book, Easy Healthcare:  Choose Your Health Insurance.  For more information,  go to myhealthspin.com.

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Helpful Health Care Links: December 12, 2014

Confused woman - people feeling confusion and chaos. Indecisive,Our helpful health care links focus on a variety of topics — 6 tips to avoid headaches during the holiday season and the suspension of the trial for a Canadian-Developed Ebola Vaccine. We also include a story from The Wall Street Journal touching on the importance of exercise, which doctors call a “vital sign.” All are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

Healthcare.gov breaks 1 Million as Obamacare Sign-Ups Surge

The upsurge in enrollment comes in advance of next Monday’s deadline to sign up for health insurance that goes into effect by Jan. 1, 2015.

Canadian-Developed Ebola Vaccine Trial Suspended

A clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine has been halted temporarily as a precautionary measure after four patients complained of joint pains.

6 Tips To Avoid Holiday Headaches

Between the shopping, the cooking and the decorating, does holiday stress make your head throb? These tips may help you avoid holiday headaches.

Many Aren’t Seeking Cheaper Health Plans As First Deadline To Switch Nears

Across the nation, millions of people who bought insurance through the exchange must decide by Monday whether to switch plans for 2015 if they want a new plan starting January 1.

Doctors Dole Out Prescriptions For Exercise

Patients are coming out of the doctor’s office with prescriptions for physical activity in addition to drugs, doctor referrals and follow-up protocols.

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All of this information and more will be explained in MyHealthSpin’s soon-to-be-released book, Easy Healthcare:  Choose Your Health Insurance.  For more information,  go to myhealthspin.com.

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Can Patients Still Have High Deductible Health Plans?

Health insuranceSurprisingly the answer is “yes.”  Due to a loophole in ObamaCare, high deductible plans are still allowed when an employer  also offers one health plan to its employees that meets the Affordable Care Act’s requirements.

For patients, this means that it is more important than ever to check to see what your coverage is before assuming that a health insurance will cover all costs.

Many companies are providing its employees with “fixed indemnity” plans which will cover certain services like a doctor’s visit for a set price but will have limits on the amount of visits per year.  Thus, many necessary services will not be covered or the patient will max out of coverage before the necessary services are provided.

Starting in 2015, employers with over 50 employees must provider health plans that meet the basic requirements of the Affordable Care Act or face penalties.  Many employers are planning on offering 2 plans – one that meets the basic requirements and one that does not.  Article

Patients should make sure to:

  1. Check their insurance prior to receiving care.
  2. Educate themselves about ObamaCare.
  3. Become aware of any changes their insurance and relay this to their healthcare practitioner. Communication is “key.”
  4. If you have questions your healthcare provider can’t answer, call your insurance company, employer or 1-800-318-2596 for questions about healthcare.gov

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All of this information and more will be explained in MyHealthSpin’s soon-to-be-released book, Easy Healthcare:  Choose Your Health Insurance.  For more information,  go to myhealthspin.com.

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