Health Insurance News Online

New Orleans Health Care System Shows Signs of Recovery

2008-08-19T11:59:00.004-04:00

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences reports that the number of doctors per capita in the New Orleans area has now exceeded the national average. While the national average is 237 physicians per 100 thousand people, the New Orleans region had 256 doctors per 100 thousand people. Although there is enough health care available, access continues to be a problem. A lack of New Orleans health insurance coverage and financially unstable hospitals remain serious issues in the region.

Find a high quality health plan to make sure you have access to the hospitals and physicians you need. Specialists have been slow to return to the area, so it's important to get a health plan that provides coverage for your specific health needs.

Obama & Clinton Debate Health Care

2008-02-27T10:19:00.002-05:00

In last night's Democratic debate, Senators Clinton and Obama argued over their plans to establish universal health care in the United States. The details were hard to follow because most of their disagreements were over what each candidate had done to allegedly misrepresent the other's plan. What is the difference between the health care plans?

Obama charges that Clinton's plan would 'force' all Americans to obtain health insurance, 'whether they can afford it or not'. Clinton defends this accusation by stating that her plan would subsidize coverage for those who cannot afford it.

Clinton asserts that Obama's plan would not work, in the same way that Social Security would not have worked if Franklin Roosevelt had made it optional.

Obama defended his position by explaining that people want health insurance coverage, and if it were affordable, people would invest in it because it's a 'good deal'. Obama's plan does require that parents obtain health insurance coverage for their children, but also stipulates that young people will be covered under their parents' insurance until the age of 25.

While Hillary Clinton has a great deal of experience in fighting for universal health care, Obama contends that she has not been successful in bringing the powerful players together to make it happen. Clinton has admitted that she learned a lot after her health care initiative failed in 1993.

The focus of the 16 minute health care discussion that opened the debate was whether or not health coverage should be mandated. Obama and Clinton have very similar plans aside from this detail. In either case, the fight for universal health care will be an uphill battle. Depending on public and legislative sentiment, not to mention health insurance and pharmaceutical companies, the details of either plan may have to be altered to ultimately be successful.

Barack Obama's Health Plan

2008-02-21T12:27:00.002-05:00

Obama's Plan for a Healthy America will offer a new national health plan to all Americans that is similar to the plan covering Congressmen. Obama's Health Plan will have features including:

Guaranteed Eligibility: no one will be refused insurance because of illness or pre-existing conditions
Comprehensive Benefits: the plan will cover all essential medical services including preventive, maternity and mental health care
Easy Enrollment
Ability to move from job to job without jeopardizing health care coverage
Affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles
Mandatory coverage of children

Hillary Clinton's Health Plan

2008-02-21T11:44:00.004-05:00

Hillary Clinton's web site describes her 'American Health Choices Plan' as affordable, available and reliable. The plan is to cover ALL Americans and improve health care quality while decreasing expenses.

How will Hillary's Health Plan ensure affordable health insurance coverage for every American?

Provide Tax Relief: working families get a refundable tax credit to assist in acquiring high quality coverage
Create Small Business Tax Credit: health care tax credit for small businesses will offer incentive for employee based coverage
Limit Premium Payments to a Percentage of Income: refundable tax credit will prevent premiums from exceeding a set percentage of family's income
Start a Retiree Health Legacy Initiative: to offset a substantial portion of catastrophic expenditures, a new tax credit for qualifying public and private retiree health insurance plans
Strengthen Medicaid and CHIP: plan will fix problems with safety net to protect most vulnerable members of American society

The plan would allow Americans to select a plan from the same Health Care Menu offered to members of Congress, or keep your current plan.

Infertility May Be Prevented With Diet & Lifestyle Changes

2007-11-07T15:14:00.000-05:00

Boston, Massachusetts
2007 October 31
Harvard School of Public Health

The November 2007 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports that women who implemented five or more lifestyle changes, such as altering certain aspects of their diet, experienced over eighty percent less relative risk of infertility (due to ovulatory disorders) than women who did not implement such changes. Factors include protein, fat and dairy consumption as well as iron levels and exercise.

About the Harvard School of Public Health: Harvard School of Public Health is dedicated to advancing the public's health through learning, discovery, and communication. More than 300 faculty members are engaged in teaching and training the 900-plus student body in a broad spectrum of disciplines crucial to the health and well being of individuals and populations around the world. Programs and projects range from the molecular biology of AIDS vaccines to the epidemiology of cancer; from risk analysis to violence prevention; from maternal and children's health to quality of care measurement; from health care management to international health and human rights.

Read the article in full.

APA Offers Disaster & Mental Health Resources to California Fire Victims

2007-10-26T13:17:00.000-04:00

In an effort to help those affected by the California wildfires, the American Psychiatric Association has offered advice on how best to cope with this type of trauma. Suggestions for maintaining good mental health in this type of situation include:

- Talk to friends and family who are experiencing the same feelings
- Stay informed of new developments but do not obsess or watch news coverage constantly
- If feelings of anxiety and depression continue, seek help from a psychiatric professional

For more information, read the full article.

75 ,000 Deaths Attributed to Gap in Quality Health Care

2007-10-12T15:02:00.000-04:00

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) reports that the quality of health care is continually improving for about 84 million Americans. Over 100 million Americans, however, are missing out on this level of health care. NCQA attributes an estimated 75,000 deaths to this gap in health care. Visit the NCQA web site to read this article in full.

RWJF Links Childhood Obesity with TV Ads & School Policies

2007-10-03T16:43:00.000-04:00

Press Release
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Chicago, IL

Studies released in a special edition of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine indicate that childhood obesity can be partially attributable to soft drink company contracts with middle schools & high schools, a disproportionate number of fast food restaurants in low income neighborhoods and advertising that encourages young people to spend their money on junk food.

Find information on family and individual health insurance options.

To read the article in its entirety, please visit the RWJF Newsroom.

Employer-Based Health Care Coverage Dropping for Low and Moderate Income Families, says UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

2007-08-07T10:13:00.000-04:00

Californians living at or below the poverty level are becoming less likely to obtain job-based health insurance coverage. From 2001 to 2005, coverage for California workers living below the poverty level dropped from 19.1% to 13.7%.

The decline is even more dramatic for those living at the poverty level. In this group, the percentage of individuals with coverage dropped from 42.6% to just 33%. To read the full news release, visit the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research web site.

RAND: Health Insurance Subsidies Will Not Have Significant Effect on Uninsured

2007-07-26T13:18:00.000-04:00

A recent study from the RAND Corporation shows that government subsidies will only reduce the uninsured population by an estimated 3 percent. The study contradicts supporters' claims that cutting health insurance premiums in half would allow a large number of individuals to enroll in health insurance plans. Many of the 45 million uninsured Americans are from mid to low income families, without employer coverage, who do not meet the requirements for Medicaid.

To read the press release in its entirety, visit the RAND web site.

Governor Spitzer Begins Plans for Universal Health Insurance in New York

2007-07-12T13:04:00.000-04:00

Governor Eliot Spitzer and Lieutenant Governor David Paterson have taken the first step towards universal health insurance for the state of New York. On July 11th, Spitzer and Paterson directed the NY Insurance Superintendent and the Health Commissioner to begin creating a comprehensive strategy to achieve this goal.

Spitzer asserted that the plan will incorporate some features utilized by other states but will be designed to meet the needs of New York's uninsured population and health care challenges. Ideally, the plan would reduce the overwhelming health expenses burdening many New York residents. For more information, read the full press release at the New York state web site.

Substitution of Anti-Epileptic Drugs Under Review

2007-06-28T13:35:00.000-04:00

28 June 2007

PR Web - Press Release

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Epilepsy is a neurologic condition involving unprovoked and recurring seizures that can cause mental and physical disability and dysfunction. In the United States, approximately 2.7 million people are affected by epilepsy, with 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year. By 20 years of age, 1% of the general population will be expected to have epilepsy, and about 10% of patients will have at least one seizure in their lifetime. Treatment for epilepsy involves individual titration of one or more anti-seizure medications to prevent future seizures, minimize or prevent adverse drug effects, and enable seizure patients to lead active lives.

Pharmacist's Letter is a subscription service that provides recommendations for pharmacists on new developments in drug therapy, and trends in pharmacy practice. Pharmacist's Letter started in 1985 and currently serves most pharmacists in the United States and Canada. The service consists of a monthly letter, plus Detail-Documents available 24 hours a day.

Therapeutic Research is a completely independent research and publishing organization that provides evidence-based information for physicians, pharmacists, and other medical professionals. In addition to Pharmacist's Letter, Therapeutic Research publishes Prescriber's Letter, a similarly formatted advisory service for prescribers, as well as Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Ident-A-Drug Reference, and a variety of continuing medical education courses including live courses. Therapeutic Research accepts no advertising and provides objective information for subscribers.

The $20 billion dollar practice of substituting generic antiepileptic drugs for their brand name equivalents will soon be under review by law and policy makers. Therapeutic Research Center, the publisher of Pharmacist's Letter and Prescriber's Letter, informs patients, pharmacists and prescribers on both sides of the argument and provides recommendations on how to provide the best drug care to patients. A growing controversy over substituting generic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for their brand name counterparts will impact pharmacists, prescribers, and patients with epilepsy. Almost all older anti-epilepsy drugs are already available generically.

Many newer agents have recently gone generic, and nearly all epilepsy drugs will be available generically over the next few years. Generic substitution in pharmacies is common, legal, well accepted, and can save patients and insurers a lot of money. Manufacturers of the newer anti-epilepsy drugs stand to lose a lot of money if generic equivalents are dispensed instead of the brand name medicines. Expect both insurance providers and drug manufacturers to try to sway practices to their benefit.

The practice of switching to therapeutically equivalent generics could save more than $20 billion a year. This figure represents revenue that the manufactures don't want to lose and the insurance providers don't want to spend. Critics of generic substitution for epilepsy drugs point out that epilepsy is different than other conditions. Many anti-epilepsy drugs must be used at very precise doses. Experts call this a "narrow therapeutic window."

These narrow blood levels are required because slightly too little of the medicine may not control the patient's seizures, and slightly too much of the drug can lead to toxicity. These critics point to potential variability among the many available generic products and say this increases the likelihood of a problem. For example, Zonegran went generic in 2005 and there are now over 15 different generic zonisamide products. The FDA does allow a slight variability between generic and brand medications...and among generics...but this usually isn't a problem.

Despite this, some experts worry that this small variability is too much in epilepsy, where the effectiveness of drugs is heavily dependent on consistency, and argue that generic substitution guidelines for anti-epilepsy drugs should be stricter than with other medications. There are cases of drug toxicity or breakthrough seizures in patients switching to generic versions of older AEDs like phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and others.

Breakthrough seizures can be devastating to epilepsy patients and may lead to loss of driving or work privileges. But most epilepsy experts say that similar equivalency problems aren't likely with generics of the newer meds because of different drug characteristics. Most experts agree it is safe and economical to switch to a generic version of a drug when it is therapeutically equivalent. Any variability allowed by the FDA is very small and highly unlikely to impact a patient's therapy.

Many states refer to the FDA's Orange Book rating for bioequivalence and authorize substituting "A-rated" drugs. Experts say generic substitution can save money for patients and provides equal therapeutic effects when bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent products are substituted. "The key for health professionals is to focus on the needs of the patient." says Kristin Weitzel, PharmD, CDE, Assistant Editor for Pharmacist's Letter.

"Pharmacists are in an ideal position to help epilepsy patients by using their clinical judgment and following their state's substitution laws for epilepsy drugs. For example, there are many AB-rated generics for phenytoin, but it's probably a good idea to keep phenytoin patients on the same product if you can from refill to refill. This can help to decrease any potential variability among epilepsy patients that may have problems."

"Keep in mind you don't necessarily need to do this with every epilepsy medication, but it may help some patients on older agents like phenytoin and carbamazepine." Experts at Pharmacist's Letter indicate that many of the anti-seizure drugs are used for many purposes other than treating epilepsy.

In these instances, the slight variations in the drug products are even less likely to be noticed in a patient. If a blanket requirement to avoid therapeutic substitution were to apply to all anti-seizure drugs, many patients without seizure problems would pay significantly higher prices for products that offered no increase in benefit.

Rural Health Care Bill Cosponsored by Senator Domenici

2007-06-20T09:05:00.000-04:00

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Office of Senator Domenici

13 June 2007

The Bill Offers Added Payments for Rural Hospitals, Other Care Providers

WASHINGTON:

U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today again joined fellow members of the Rural Health Caucus to introduce a wide-ranging rural health care bill that includes provisions he has championed to improve Medicare and Medicaid payments to physicians who treat seniors in rural, under-served areas. Domenici is an original cosponsor to the bipartisan Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity (R-HoPE) Act of 2007 (S.1605), which was introduced Wednesday by Senators Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.). They, like Domenici, are all Senate Rural Health Caucus members.

The bill will be renamed in honor of the late Senator Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.), a previous sponsor of similar legislation who last week died of cancer. This bill, a Rural Health Caucus effort, takes several steps to shore up health care in rural states like New Mexico and includes a number of provisions supported by Domenici in the past.

It would extend expiring rural health provisions from the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003, the prescription drug benefits law. "New Mexico is among large rural states that are consistently challenged to provide health care to their citizens. The states’ economic condition has improved, but that does not diminish hardships faced by small town hospitals and clinics in attracting and retaining physicians and health care workers,” Domenici said. “In addition, there are many areas where rural hospitals and clinics need special attention because they cannot realistically keep pace with health care demands and rising costs,” he said.

Included in the R-HoPE Act is an extension of provisions—included in the MMA that Domenici first authored and offered as legislation in February 2003—to put rural physicians more on par with urban doctors in terms of Medicare reimbursement levels.

The R-HoPE Act would extend these Physician Fee Schedule Work Geographic Adjustment provisions through Jan. 1, 2010. They are set to expire at the end of this year. Medicare bases physician payments, in part, on geographic adjustment factors.

The purpose of the geographic index is to reflect relative cost differences in a given area compared to the national average. Payments to physicians in rural areas are adjusted downward by this geographic index, thus lowering the reimbursements to rural caregivers. Domenici also pointed out that the bill contains a provision to benefit community health care centers and rural health clinics, which play an important role in health care delivery for many low-income and rural New Mexicans.

The bill increases the all-inclusive payment rate cap for rural health clinics from $63 to $92 per patient to more appropriately cover service costs. Overall, the R-HoPE Act would extend benefits to all of New Mexico’s 27 rural hospitals that serve a disproportionate share (DSH) of low-income Medicaid recipients and rural hospitals.

It would, for instance, reinstate the “hold harmless” provisions for small rural hospitals with fewer than 100 beds. It would also provide aid to low-volume rural hospitals, as well as expand Medicare reimbursement eligibility to mental health care providers in rural areas, including marriage and family therapists. Preliminary estimates demonstrate that if all the provisions in the Act were to be enacted the financial impact on New Mexico’s rural facilities could result in as much as a 15 percent increase in Medicare revenues.

Tufts Health Plan Names New CEO

2007-06-08T14:57:00.000-04:00

2007 April 5
Tufts Health Plan
Press Release
Waltham, Massachusetts

Tufts Health Plan announced today that Thomas A. Croswell has joined its senior management group as chief operating officer.

Croswell, a health insurance veteran, brings more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of managed health care. Most recently, he has served as senior vice president, medical management and specialty businesses, at CIGNA HealthCare. He starts at Tufts Health Plan on April 30, 2007. James Roosevelt, Jr. assumed the role of president and chief executive officer in June 2005.

According to Roosevelt, the time is right to fill the COO position because the organization is in a growth mode and will benefit from the enhanced oversight and direction brought by a COO. He said, "Tom brings a track record of success together with hands-on experience in areas of critical value to us. Of equal importance, he understands the culture of Tufts Health Plan and will be a good fit with the rest of our senior management." During Roosevelt's leadership, tufts health plan has reversed declining membership and is on track for continued growth.

It is the area's third largest not-for-profit health insurer; its most recent published membership is 625,000. Croswell will report to and work closely with Roosevelt, and will be responsible for the daily management of corporate functions as well as establishing relationships with clients.

Roosevelt will focus on the organization's strategic direction and more broadly engage with clients, providers, legislators, regulators and other key constituents. Tufts Health Plan is a Massachusetts-based health plan nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage. The plan supports its members and employers with an array of physician and clinician led medical management programs.

These programs use evidence-based medicine to design coverage that supports proven approaches to providing care and improving quality. Tufts Health Plan's HMO, POS and Medicare Advantage plans maintain Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. And, Tufts Health Plan HMO has been recognized as a Distinguished Health Plan by J.D. Power and Associates, for providing "An Outstanding Member Experience."

Tufts Health Plan is the first health plan in Boston to earn a J.D. Power and Associates award for 11 years, for outstanding member satisfaction or service excellence.

Anthem BCBS Press Conference: Cost of Excess Weight

2007-05-28T14:05:00.000-04:00

Press Release
Westbrook, Maine
2007 May 23

A study sponsored by the largest health insurer and largest health system in Maine indicates that physical inactivity and excess weight are costing Maine’s economy a conservatively estimated $2.56 billion in avoidable medical and workers’ compensation costs and lost productivity each year.

The study, sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and MaineHealth, quantifies the economic costs of inactivity and excess weight for Maine, in addition to the already well-documented cost in lives lost and diminished quality of life. The study by Dr. David Chenoweth of Chenoweth & Associates, a North Carolina-based econometrics consulting firm, quantified the cost of three important risk factors – physical inactivity, overweight and obesity – on three major cost components – medical care, workers’ compensation, and lost productivity.

Like Dr. Chenoweth’s studies in seven other states, the cost of these three risk factors in Maine is staggering and warrant immediate attention and corrective action. “Our lifestyle is taking a tremendous toll on our health and economic well-being in Maine,” said Erin Hoeflinger, President, anthem blue cross and Blue Shield.

“We knew intuitively that a less active life coupled with weight gain can lead to health problems later in life but this study shows the problem is here and the impact is harming Maine’s competitiveness today.” According to the report, the costs mainly impact employers in the form of more expensive health insurance and lost productivity. Direct and indirect costs of the risk factor physical inactivity totaled $1.289 billion, while risk factors for overweight and obesity totaled $414 million and $863 million, respectively.

Lost productivity (absenteeism, presenteeism, short term disability, and on-the-job injury) in direct and indirect costs totaled $2.09 billion annually based on 2004 data. The study suggests that without changes in lifestyle, the costs are likely to get worse.

Unless current trends towards increased weight and less physical activity are slowed or reversed, the total impact on Maine’s economy will rise to $3.10 billion in 2009, a cumulative 5-year increase of more than 21%. “We already knew that this epidemic had a big impact on healthcare costs,” says Bill Caron, president of MaineHealth. “This study adds up all the financial impacts, and the bottom line is chilling.

MaineHealth is working hard on the problem, but we need the help of every person and every organization to address it effectively.” The bulk of the cost of this epidemic is borne directly by employers and taxpayers, but it affects everyone.

In fact, the report divides the annual cost by the number of Maine residents, giving a per-person per year cost of nearly $2,000. Greg Otterbein, President of SYSCO Food Services of Northern New England hosted the press conference to emphasize the importance of businesses to implement workplace wellness. SYSCO employees completed a walking trail earlier this month as a means to encourage their fellow employees to walk during breaks and at lunch.

“This study’s findings underscore the need for every employer to include wellness activities in their overall strategy to contain health care costs and improve employees’ health.”

The report says that nearly 47 percent of Maine adults are physically inactive, 43.9 percent are overweight and almost 30% of Maine adults are obese according to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is that if just 5 percent of inactive Maine adults took a brisk 20 minute walk five times per week, the savings to Maine’s economy would total more than $150 million a year or $750 million over five years. “If there is a single message to take from this study, it is that the strength of Maine’s economy will depend, in part, on Maine people becoming physically more active,” said Hoeflinger.

Hoeflinger, Caron and Otterbein noted that both the State of Maine and the private sector are calling attention to the importance of Maine people to include more physical activity in their daily lives. Maine’s “Be Fit for Maine’s Future” campaign as outlined in the State Health Plan is an important part of this effort. Workplace wellness programs are becoming increasingly common in businesses throughout the state.

Anthem has hosted a series of statewide conferences on wellness, including an upcoming conference on May 31 on the role of communities in encouraging physical activity and a healthy diet in Maine children and adults.

Kaiser Permanente: National Survey Reflects Americans' Desire To Go Digital With Their Health Care

2007-05-09T11:59:00.000-04:00

Kaiser Permanente
Washington, DC
2007 May 2

Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit; group practice program headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves more than 8.7 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia.

Today it encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, kaiser permanente includes approximately 156,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and 13,000 physicians representing all specialties.

By nearly a 3 to 1 margin, American adults believe the benefits of electronic medical records outweigh any potential risks. Though their direct experience with electronic medical records is limited, U.S. health care consumers show strong interest in utilizing them further, according to a new national survey about Americans’ awareness of, and acceptance towards, health information technology released today at the Health IT: Unlocking the Potential summit in Washington, D.C. The survey, which was conducted by StrategyOne, an independent public opinion research company, on behalf of Kaiser Permanente, found that American adults favor providers (51% over 17%) and insurance carriers (68% over 16%) who use electronic medical records over those who do not. It confirms what past surveys have found; that large numbers of Americans are seeking out general health information online through Web sites such as Web MD.

It also shows that those online searches are increasingly focusing on the location and management of personal health information. And while only one in ten (12%) of Americans currently review their personal medical records on their health insurance company's Web site, over half say they would like to be able to check claims and coverage (56%) or access personal records (51%) electronically in the future. "It is clear that Americans are ready to enter a digital health care age," said George Halvorson, Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. American adults overwhelmingly believe (at 72%) that a computer system is more efficient than a paper system when it comes to managing medical records.

But there is still some ambiguity about the relative security of electronic medical records compared to paper records. Forty seven percent of Americans say paper is more secure, compared to 42% who believe electronic records are more secure. However, nearly three in four Americans (73%) believe the benefits of electronic records, such as better care in emergencies and reduction in medical errors, outweigh any potential privacy risks. While interest in this technology is clearly high, not enough information is being shared with patients about its value to their own health care.

Over half of those surveyed (57%) did not recall seeing, hearing or reading about electronic records before being surveyed. Myrl Weinberg, President of the National Health Council, believes that patient awareness of the benefits of electronic medical and health records "will be the key to wider adoption."

"The more familiar patients get with this technology, the more they will see its relevance to their own lives."

This survey was conducted by StrategyOne, an independent public opinion research company, on behalf of Kaiser Permanente. Data were collected via telephone among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 American adults, 18 years of age and older, using a random digit dialing (RDD) methodology. The overall margin of error for this survey is ± 3.1% at the 95% confidence interval.

StrategyOne is an independent, full-service corporate positioning, market research and strategic communications agency with offices in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, and London. StrategyOne analysts have backgrounds in political research and polling, journalism, public relations, advertising, and library science. They have directed and analyzed public opinion and market research projects for a number of corporate, association, international and political clients and many have been tapped as public opinion experts for major print and broadcast news outlets. StrategyOne’s clients include NOAA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pfizer, Microsoft, Nissan, Michelin, the Panama Canal Authority, Biotechnology Industry Organization, GE, Unilever, Wal-Mart, the National Association of Broadcasters, and the Association of American Railroads.

Natural Diet Supplements

2007-04-27T10:53:00.000-04:00

PR9.Net Press Release
California 2007 March 17

Looking for a natural diet supplement that you can use in addition to a healthy lifestyle? Recent research has shown that the Hoodia Gordonii species contains a molecule P57 that is similar to glucose.

Scientists believe that this molecule in Hoodia fools the body into believing that it has just eaten. Hoodia is the most effective natural appetite suppressant on the market. Recent research has shown that the Hoodia Gordonii species contains a molecule P57 that is similar to glucose; Scientists believe that this molecule in Hoodia fools the body into believing that it has just eaten.

Hoodia is the most effective natural appetite suppressant on the market. The active ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii, the molecule known as P57, copies the effect that glucose has on your brain, telling part of your brain (the Hypothalamus) that you feel full, so you eat less.

This is done naturally by tricking the part of the brain that controls your appetite, convincing it that you have already eaten. "Obesity has now been recognized as a serious, chronic disease - a disease that affects more people than any other, a disease that can cause serious medical conditions and early death." says Robert Brown CEO of Buy Hoodia Diet Pills.

"Pure hoodia gordonii diet pills may be the answer to millions of peoples needs." They don't burn fat, increase metabolism, or magically melt the weight away. All they do (if they work for you - not everyone responds to them) is make you feel full.

The idea behind hoodia diet pills is that if you feel full, you'll eat less. Thus, you'll lose weight. Unfortunately, the majority of the hoodia diet pills on the market today are fake. They contain very little, if any, hoodia gordonii. Hoodia gordonii cactus is actually quite rare and hard to get in large quantities because it only grows in Southern Africa, there are only small number of hoodia plants and there is a huge demand for it in the USA. So buyers beware of fake products.

Hoodia, a natural appetite suppressant, is earning attention as a potentially powerful weapon in the war against obesity and the World Wide focus on losing weight. A diet pills is not a substitute for a healthy diet. For best effects, you should take Hoodia Gordonii Diet Pills in conjunction with a diet and exercise program.

Women Have More Trouble Affording Necessary Health Care, New Survey Finds

2007-04-27T06:54:00.000-04:00

Commonwealth Fund
Press Release
2007 April 19

As Cover the Uninsured Week approaches, a new Commonwealth Fund report by researchers at the National Women’s Law Center finds that even women with health insurance coverage are more likely than insured men to go without needed health care because of costs. Also, a higher percentage of women than men struggle with medical bills. The report, Women and Health Coverage: The Affordability Gap, by Elizabeth M. Patchias and Judith G. Waxman of the National Women’s Law Center finds that women are at a disadvantage because they have greater health care needs and lower incomes than men.

More specifically, the report finds that 38% of women are struggling with medical bills compared with 29% of men. And, the high cost of health care services and premiums is forcing many women, even women with health insurance, to go without needed care.

In fact, 33% of insured women and 68% of uninsured women don’t get the health care they need because they can’t afford it. In contrast, 23% of insured and 49% of uninsured men are avoiding care because of cost.

Further, 16% of women are underinsured, meaning they have high out-of-pocket costs compared to their income, while only 9% of men are underinsured. "Women are more likely than men to go without needed health care services because of costs, yet they still have higher out-of-pocket expenses.

This disparity exists for both insured and uninsured women," said Waxman, vice president for Health and Reproductive Rights at the National Women’s Law Center. "As policymakers and advocates explore how to expand and improve health coverage, they should ensure that any proposal provides comprehensive benefits and low cost-sharing."

Other factors contribute to this gender gap in health care coverage and access: women are slightly more likely than men to purchase coverage in the individual insurance market which is often more expensive and less comprehensive than employer coverage. Women are also more likely than men to take prescription drugs. "These findings show that comprehensive health care coverage that doesn’t require high out-of-pocket costs is vital to ensuring that women get the care they need to be healthy," said Sara Collins, assistant vice president for the Program on the Future of Health Insurance at The Commonwealth Fund.

"As policymakers consider health care reform initiatives, they should consider plan designs that will result in meaningful, affordable, and equitable access to health care for everyone."

Methodology: Most data in the report are from three surveys: the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS), 2005 (a sample of about 99,000 households); the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 2004, of about 13,000 families, representing approximately 33,000 people; and the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey, 2005, a nationally representative sample of 4,350 adults age 19 and older.

Assurant Health Offers Insurance Advice for College Grads

2007-04-26T12:22:00.000-04:00

Assurant Health has been in business since 1892 and is the brand name for products underwritten and issued by Time Insurance Company, John Alden Life Insurance Company and Union Security Insurance Company. Together, these three underwriting companies provide health insurance coverage for almost one million people nationwide. Each underwriting company is financially responsible for its own insurance products.

Press Release From Assurant Health
Friday, April 13th, 2007

If you’re looking for a different kind of gift for your new college grad that’s more sensible (and much more affordable) than a flashy car, you may want to consider health insurance. In fact, concerned parents might make this their top priority if only they knew that, as soon as their sons or daughters doffed their caps and gowns, many of these grads were no longer protected against medical catastrophes.

Unfortunately, many parents are unaware that some health insurance plans stop providing coverage to adult children, even if are living at home. Plus, they don’t realize affordable, short-term medical insurance is readily available. “It’s a shame that this lack of knowledge is putting so many young adults needlessly at risk,” said Heidi Hanstein, vice president for Assurant Health, which helped to pioneer the concept of short-term coverage.

“I’m sure many parents and grads wouldn’t take such a chance if they knew how easy it is to apply for and purchase temporary coverage.” This disturbing news is supported by two surveys conducted by Assurant Health. Other findings included:

...Approximately 40 percent of parents mistakenly believed that adult children (ages 21 -24) living at home were covered under their health insurance plans.

...20 percent of college parents have no idea when their health insurance will no longer cover their college-age children.

...Most believe that short-term health insurance for a healthy young adult costs more than $100 per month; in fact, such policies generally cost around $50 per month.

...68 percent of the parents were not even aware of the availability of short-term health insurance.

These results are consistent with previous studies such as a report from the Commonwealth Fund that found nearly 40 percent of college graduates (and 50 percent of high school grads not attending college) are uninsured at some time during their first year after graduation. Typically, most adult children who are students will lose their coverage when they attain a certain age, graduate or are no longer attending school on a full-time basis.

Since most of these new college graduates won’t have coverage until after they have found a job, many find themselves falling through a gap in coverage. Companies such as Assurant Health can fill that gap with policies that usually cover periods ranging from one to twelve months, depending on the state and company. The enrollment process for such policies is simple and fast. Applicants can go online to answer a series of yes/no questions and coverage can begin the next day. Because temporary policies are usually designed to cover the unexpected, most do not include coverage for preventive care, physicals, immunizations, dental or eye care. Also, temporary policies generally do not cover pre-existing conditions.

Assurant's primary products include individual medical, small group, short term and student health insurance products, as well as non-insurance products and consumer-choice products such as Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements. With almost 3,000 employees, Assurant Health is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., and has operations offices in Minnesota, Idaho and Florida, as well as sales offices across the country.

http://www.fast-health-insurance.com/news/health-insurance-blog.html

BCBS Supports Medicare Advantage

2007-04-06T12:46:00.000-04:00

Washington
2007 March 21
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Scott P. Serota, Releases Statement Supporting Medicare Advantage...

The House Ways and Means health subcommittee hearing today on Medicare Advantage (MA) offers an excellent opportunity to reinforce for the Congress and the public the critical, value-enhanced health coverage private health plans provide to 8.3 million Americans. The medicare advantage plans provide comprehensive, coordinated benefits not available in traditional Medicare.

According to CMS, MA plans provide Medicare beneficiaries with an average monthly value of $86. The additional benefits and protection from the high cost-sharing under traditional Medicare that MA plans provide is particularly valuable to low-income seniors. A significant challenge facing the Medicare beneficiary population today is the management of care for chronic illness - 82 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries have at least one chronic condition and 65 percent have multiple conditions.

MA is helping our nation's seniors meet this challenge by providing access to care coordination, disease management programs, and chronic care and wellness programs that are not offered through traditional Medicare.
Proposed funding cuts - which would be in addition to the $13 billion already eliminated from the program in the last Congress - will have devastating consequences.

Reducing MA payments to county-level costs under traditional Medicare would result in millions of MA enrollees losing coverage due to increases in premiums, reductions in benefits, or withdrawal of their MA plan.

Low-income and minority populations rely disproportionately on this program and would be harmed by the loss of the protection MA provides from the high cost-sharing under traditional Medicare. Finally, as Congress debates the future funding of Medicare Advantage, it should not lose sight of the fact that beneficiaries are overwhelmingly satisfied with the MA program.

In a recent survey for BCBSA conducted by The Mellman Group, 84 percent of the respondents said they are happy with their healthcare coverage and 97 percent of the MA beneficiaries said they believe it is important for Congress to work to maintain adequate funding for Medicare Advantage.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is made up of 39 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for more than 98 million - nearly one-in-three- Americans.

Berkeley: Exploring the Stigma of Mental Illness

2007-03-12T16:26:00.000-04:00

Yasmin Anwar, Media Relations
Berkeley, January 16, 2007

One need not look far to find evidence of the stigma of mental illness, as can attest Andrea Stier, a graduate student in psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She observed it in a recent clinical psychology class when a student made the frank disclosure that she suffered from bipolar disorder. "Other students, who had previously been engaged and excited about learning about mental illness in the abstract, became extremely uncomfortable, refused to make eye contact with her, and were quiet and withdrawn," Stier says.

That enduring fear of mental illness is precisely what UC Berkeley psychologists - under the tutelage of Stephen Hinshaw, chair of the Department of Psychology - are working to combat.

Indeed, Hinshaw's new book, "The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental Illness and an Agenda for Change" (Oxford University Press, 2007) could well boost compassion for the mentally ill from the grass roots to the U.S. Capitol. As Congress considers legislation that would require the same health coverage for mental illness as for physical ailments, lawmakers are becoming more receptive to evidence of the injustices suffered by those with disorders ranging from depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to schizophrenia and autism.

According to Hinshaw's book, those who suffer from mental illnesses continue to face housing and job discrimination, as well as hurdles when voting, obtaining a driver's license and maintaining child custody. "As a result, they lose out on major life opportunities," he says. Indeed, the public perception of serious mental illness is more negative today than it was a half century ago, despite significant advances in education, medication and psychological therapies, says Hinshaw, who will give a public reading from his book at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, at Cody's Books at 1730 Fourth St. in Berkeley. In his book, Hinshaw uses scientific, cultural and qualitative evidence to explain the historical roots of the stigma of mental illness, how it plays out on a daily basis, and what can be done to remedy this continuing problem.

He warns that the stigma of mental illness will persist until a "civil rights movement" establishes equality for the mentally ill. As part of their research into the stigma of mental illness, Hinshaw's team of graduate psychology students are looking into how the mentally ill are depicted in the news media, public versus hidden attitudes about mental illness, and the responses of grade schoolers and their parents to film clips about mental illness.

They are also studying how interpersonal dynamics change when one member of a group is led to believe that another has been referred for mental health care and may have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or depression. Meanwhile, studies show that the stigma of mental illness prevents tens of millions of Americans from seeking treatment.

A 2005 government-funded study, the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, found that fewer than half of those who reported mental illnesses during that year sought treatment, and those who did waited at least a decade, by which time they were more likely to have developed additional problems. Comorbidity is the simultaneous occurrence of two or more illnesses. "Given the negative perceptions of mental illness, and the shame, it is not surprising that people with mental disorders delay seeking help for decades," Hinshaw says.

"Concealment remains a major means of coping." Largely to blame, Hinshaw says, are primal human fears of members of an "outgroup" threatening stability and survival, alarmist portrayals of the mentally ill in the media, and the failure of politicians and the health care industry to give equal footing to mental health insurance coverage.

While reports in newspapers and on television often depict the mentally ill as dangerous and unpredictable, the reality is that only a sub-group of people with mental illness are likely to be violent, Hinshaw argues. Indeed, people with mental illnesses are more likely victims than victimizers. "Neglect and exclusion impede adequate research funding and clinical care, fueling the myth that mental illness is lifelong, hopeless and deserving of revulsion," Hinshaw writes in his book. Hinshaw, who previously has written about his father's lifelong struggle with misdiagnosed bipolar disease and is a longstanding investigator of developmental psychopathology, is particularly committed to combating the sense of shame that prevents the mentally ill from seeking help. "While there is a strong recognition that prejudice based on race, ethnicity and gender is a social problem that we need to understand and address, such recognition has not been given to prejudice - or its consequences - based on mental illness," says UC Berkeley psychology professor Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, whose research also deals with stigma, but as it pertains to race and ethnicity.

"This is why professor Hinshaw's book is so important." "The Mark of Shame" demonstrates how mental illness has historically been marked with ignorance, superstition and even torture, from the early practice of boring holes in heads to release evil spirits to inhumane post-Renaissance asylums, to eugenics and Hitler's genocide programs. Moreover, the deinstitutionalization strategies of the latter part of the 20th century, Hinshaw says, emptied most mental hospitals.

As a result, huge numbers of the mentally ill today live on the streets or are warehoused in jails and prisons.

Meanwhile, conditions in psychiatric wards at the few remaining public hospitals are plagued by understaffing, assaults, suicides, drug trafficking and the excessive disbursement of psychotropic medicines, he says. "A far brighter future can and will emerge when knowledge replaces ignorance, when effective treatments supplant custodial care and inadequate community intervention, when legislation mandates equality and when contact with the realities, rather than the stereotypes of mental disorder, taps people's empathy," writes Hinshaw in the book.

NY State Health Commissioner Pushes Plan to Cut Number of Uninsured in Half

2007-03-09T19:22:00.000-05:00

Albany, New York

March, 9 2007 -

Acting New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D. today called for enactment of a plan to cut New York's uninsured population in half over the next four years.

The plan, included as part of the proposed state budget, would expand access to health insurance to 400,000 uninsured children by increasing the State's Child Health Plus program and simplifying Medicaid rules to reach both uninsured children and the 900,000 uninsured adults who are currently eligible for coverage. "By expanding the Child Health Plus Program and removing bureaucratic hurdles that keep eligible New Yorkers from getting on and staying on Medicaid, we will be able to cut New York's 2.6 million uninsured population in half over the next four years," said Dr. Daines.

Daines testified about increasing access to health care insurance Friday at a hearing held by the Assembly Health, Insurance and Labor committees.
In his testimony, Dr. Daines noted that the proposed state budget would expand Child Health Plus to cover kids in families up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, with co-premiums based on a sliding scale.

"Our plan ensures that every family in New York will be able to provide their children with the health insurance they need," he said.

"There is a direct correlation between the ease of application and enrollment procedures and participation in health insurance programs," Dr. Daines testified before a joint Assembly committee hearing. "That is why the Department is undertaking a top-to-bottom review of the enrollment and renewal requirements for these insurance programs and seeks to implement measures that make it easier for eligible families to obtain and maintain coverage."

Increased access to Medicaid will allow more individuals to receive primary and preventative care and reduce reliance on expensive hospital care, a goal that will also be reached for children with increased access to Child Health Plus, which would provide health insurance to virtually every child in the State. Both actions will ultimately result in saving the State hundreds of millions of dollars from reduced charity care in emergency rooms, said Dr. Daines.

"Ultimately," he said, "the State will develop a plan for affordable, universal health insurance for all New Yorkers. However, unless we first restructure our health care delivery system to lower health care costs we will force an undue burden on families, businesses and government to cover the cost of universal coverage." As one way of increasing the accessibility to public health insurance programs, Dr. Daines said the Department is exploring ways to streamline and simplify guidelines and also apply uniform benchmarks to the Medicaid, Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus programs. "For example, currently 21 different income eligibility categories apply to these programs," he said.

California Governor & Broad Coalition Supporting Personal Responsibility to Lower Health Care Costs

2007-02-15T11:12:00.000-05:00

Governor Schwarzenegger & Broad Coalition Supporting Personal Responsibility to Lower Health Care Costs

A cornerstone of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's comprehensive health care reform proposal is prevention and wellness. With a broad coalition representing labor, business, consumer, insurer, nurse and physician, ethnic, senior and hospital groups, Governor Schwarzenegger today discussed how focusing on personal responsibility will make California a leader in prevention, lower health care costs and save lives. "It's great to be joined here today with people from groups that don't always see eye to eye on health care issues, but they all support our emphasis on prevention because it is the least expensive and most effective way to lower health care costs" said Governor Schwarzenegger. "As someone who has spent his whole life exercising and staying fit, I am excited and proud to see California lead in this area."

The Governor's five-part prevention and wellness plan will:

Reward Californians who fight disease and illness before they start: Healthy Action Programs reward people who take preventative health actions by participating in smoking cessation, diabetes management, weight reduction, breast cancer screenings and immunizations programs with vouchers and credits for health-related goods, services and items, such as gym and weight management class memberships. Under the Governor's reforms, health plans and insurers will be required to offer benefits and incentives, including premium reduction, if certain goals are met. Healthy Actions programs are not punitive. Individuals who are overweight, smoke or suffer from diabetes, for example, will not be charged higher premiums. Healthy Actions Programs will be offered through Medi-Cal, CalPERS, Healthy Families and commercial coverage.

Increase patient safety: Under the Governor's reforms, California's health care providers will work with the state to reduce errors and make patients safer. His proposal includes:

o Requiring e-prescribing by all providers by 2010.
o Issuing a call to action for California's health care facilities to implement critical safety measures related to infection control, surgical errors and adverse drug events by 2008.
o Enacting new health care safety measures and reporting requirements.
o Establishing an Office of Patient Safety within the Department of Public Health.

A 10 percent reduction in medical errors will reduce health care costs by an estimated $450 million per year. In 2005 the Institute of Medicine estimated the total national costs of medical errors to be between $37.6 billion and $50 billion annually. The Governor proposes that all prescriptions be electronic by 2010. Currently, medical errors cost California $4.5 billion a year and result in thousands of preventable deaths.

Fight obesity through public awareness: The Governor's reforms take on the obesity epidemic using the same approach as California's internationally recognized anti-tobacco campaign. Strategies include:

A public education campaign to encourage physical activity and motivate Californians to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Local assistance grants and state technical support to promote "community makeovers" that make healthy choices the easy choice.
Helping employers integrate wellness programs into employee benefits plans and worksites.
New standards and policies to improve nutrition in our schools, and school-based wellness activities established by local school districts and communities.

Promote better diagnosis and self-management to keep diabetes in check: The Governor proposes a five-year Diabetes Prevention and Management Initiative to: Screen Medi-Cal beneficiaries for diabetes; promote self-management of diabetes; reduce the impact of diabetes on the health of Californians; and reduce the diabetes-related costs on California's health care system.

Help Californians Quit Tobacco: The Governor's reforms will help an estimated 46,000 people get access to programs that can help them stop smoking, and double the number of Californians using their health insurance cessation benefits.

The benefits of achieving a healthy weight and staying fit include: lower health care costs, more lives saved and improved student achievement. A 2005 study by the California Department of Health Services estimates that if the number of physically active Californians increased by 5 percent to 52.5 percent, we could realize a reduction in direct and indirect medical costs of $1.3 billion/year or $13 billion over ten years.

The Governor's reforms can help achieve a 10 percent reduction in heart disease, the number one killer of Californians, over 15 years. This could translate to 7,000 lives saved annually if healthy lifestyles were broadly adopted in California. The physical well-being of students has a direct impact on their ability to achieve academically. Higher achievement on the Stanford Achievement Test is associated with higher levels of fitness.

Kaiser Permanente: Hospitals Called to Improve Treatment for Heart Attacks

2006-11-27T15:22:00.000-05:00

Denver, Colorado
November 13, 2006

Hospitals Called to Improve Treatment After Heart Attack

Kaiser Permanente Emergency Room Physician Among Researchers Pushing for Set of Strategies That Saves Lives

Prompt treatment saves lives when patients arrive at hospitals having heart attacks. A new study has identified simple steps that hospitals can take to speed life-saving treatment. The research, which was led by Elizabeth Bradley and a team of researchers that included David Magid, MD, MPH, Kaiser Permanente emergency medicine physician and researcher, was announced today by the New England Journal of Medicine at the American Heart Association’s annual conference.

It outlines simple hospital strategies that work when patients arrive at the emergency department needing percutaneous coronary intervention or balloon therapy. The team is challenging hospitals to improve what has been dubbed “door-to-balloon” times.

Those strategies include:

Having emergency medicine physicians activate the catheterization lab (cath lab), the hospital room where the balloon treatment is performed.

Activating the cath lab with one-call central page operators who can mobilize the entire medical team at once.

Activating based on pre-hospital electrocardiograms while the patient is still en route to the hospital as opposed to waiting until the patient arrives.

Having interventional cardiologists on location within 20 – 30 minutes.

Using real-time data feedback with emergency department and cath lab staff.

The study of 365 hospitals found that only a handful of hospitals use some of the strategies and none uses all. Researchers say implementing this simple set of effective and feasible strategies holds promise for substantially improving patient care.

Balloon therapy has become the preferred approach to treating certain kinds of heart attacks. While, hospitals have been seeking ways to improve their door-to balloon times, overall performance at most hospitals lags behind the national standard of 90 minutes or less. Dr. Magid practices at Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital and as part of this study partnered with the hospital to adopt the life-saving strategies.

Saint Joseph Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the country to make these important improvements. “The great point about these strategies is that most involve little or no cost to implement,” said Magid.

“The study offers a terrific guide for hospitals to follow as they push to improve door-to-balloon times and the quality of care for patients.”

This study is part of the Health Care Quality Improvement Project initiated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which has encouraged identification of quality improvement projects to improve patient safety.

It also is one of more than 100 research projects conducted every year by the Kaiser Permanente Colorado researchers.

Kaiser Permanente is the largest private health care provider in Colorado. More than 475,000 members in the Denver/Boulder and Colorado Springs areas have access to Kaiser Permanente through an expanded suite of health care products.

Kaiser Permanente physicians and care teams focus on prevention as well as curing disease, all in an effort to help patients live well and thrive.

Medicare Private Drug Plans Fail to Offer Accurate Information to Consumers, New Report

2006-11-17T12:10:00.000-05:00

Compare and find affordable health insurance plans.

Sacramento, California
October 16, 2006

Report Finds Medicare Private Drug Plans Fail to Offer Accurate Information to Consumers - Consumer Groups call for dramatic reform before 2007 Part D enrollment opens on November 15

With the next enrollment period for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit looming, California Health Advocates and the Medicare Rights Center are demanding that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) require Medicare private drug plans to provide timely and accurate information to people with Medicare who turn to the plans’ call centers for assistance. According to a new report issued today by the two consumer organizations, call center representatives for companies offering Part D coverage remain unable to answer basic consumer questions regarding how the benefit works.

The report found that the call centers frequently could not provide the information people with Medicare needed to make appropriate enrollment decisions. In “Getting the Runaround: Problems with Obtaining Accurate Information from Part D Plans,” the two advocacy groups state that plan call centers are expected to serve as a crucial link to information about Part D coverage, but “independent surveys and anecdotal reports from counselors show serious lapses in the ability of Part D plans to provide accurate and timely information and to successfully guide people with Medicare seeking to access the benefit.”

“Good advice is the only antidote to the convoluted prescription drug benefit that older and disabled Americans are forced to navigate,” said Robert M. Hayes, President of the Medicare Rights Center. “Too often a call to one of the private drug plans does more to mislead, than to help.”
According to the report, CMS has failed to set adequate standards for the accuracy of information given by call centers.

In preparation for the next enrollment period, the report recommends that CMS provide detailed requirements for the information customer service representatives (CSRs) must be able to provide, and take action to ensure those requirements are being met. “The level of frustration expressed by people contacting our office is acute,” remarked Clare Smith, President/CEO of California Health Advocates, “The plans must be required to put resources into the provision of responsive and reliable service to those seeking access to prescription drug benefits.”

The report recommends that CMS ensure that the training and scripts provided to call center operators enables them to provide information about the following:

Enrollment process

How the specific plan works, including explanations of the coverage gap and important information for people eligible for the low-income subsidy

Plan formulary, including which drugs are covered and specifics on any coverage restrictions and limitations

The report also recommends strengthening Medicare private drug plans’ capacity to communicate with non- and limited-English speakers and designating staff as experts in specific subject matter, such as enrollment, premium/cost-sharing, and coverage appeals.

California Health Insurance