Although there is an increase in utilization and higher costs, the rate of growth of health insurance premiums is still reducing. According to a study, even if the premiums increased by 8.8 percent between year 2004 and 2005, it is still 36 percent lower compared to the 13.7 percent increase in the same study found in year 2002. Research also shows that 43 percent of the increase is because of the higher utilization of services, the factors of which are the increase in consumer demands, aging and unhealthy lifestyle, and the latest medical treatments. Recent reports stated that 86 cents from every dollar paid on premiums are directed towards paying for medical services.
By year end of 2006, the number of uninsured Americans increased by 2.1 million which brings the total number of uninsured non-elderly Americans to 46.5 million. With employer based coverage dropping and premium payments rising, many Americans of different income levels are caught in a bind. Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program may help to cover lower income children who lost access to employer based coverage; the same cannot be said with those belonging to middle income families where Medicaid and SCHIP is in short supply. Majority of the increase in uninsured children come from the income levels between 200 percent and 399 percent of the federal poverty level.
It’s a ray of light amidst the looming doom and gloom of the global financial crisis is the news that recently terminated workers will still get some healthcare benefits under the recent economic stimulus package of President Barack Obama.
A provision in the recently enacted economic stimulus package that would provide federal subsidies to help cover the cost of health insurance premiums under COBRA will make the program more affordable and accessible, the Wall Street Journal reports. Under the provision, workers involuntarily terminated between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009, and whose annual incomes do not exceed $125,000 for individuals or $250,000 for families qualify for subsidies to cover 65% of the cost of health insurance premiums under COBRA for as long as nine months.
Read the full story here.
This is finally, good news amidst the seemingly overwheming odds stacked against many American workers, especially those who have recently been laid off and are wondering and worrying about their future. This gives newly laid-off people easier access to state health care plans which are helpful in emergencies and those who need constant trips to the doctor. We hope that the stimulus package pays off even more for these workers – and for everybody for that matter – in the long run.
The millions of Americans who have lost their jobs and the millions more expected to fall victim to this economic recession are going to take a lot of muscle to handle, maybe a bit too much for the Health care system. Public health care has undergone revamp after revamp but with the strain that is currently being placed on it, more funding would be needed to add capacity. More and more people are going on day by day without proper health insurance and with more people opting for out-patient home treatment rather than stay in hospital are on the rise. Chronic disease accounts for 75% of all health care costs and this being the case, the new administration must have a quick way to provide much needed funding for the system to continue working.
Most private health care policies are too expensive and yet the gap where most Americans are now, not poor enough yet not rich enough is a target for the incoming administration. Just hope the solution comes in force, enough to bolster the capacity and abilities of the current health care system.
by: Christine Zafra
The national healthcare system of Kenya has been in the dumps four years ago. It has failed and has not given fellow Kenyans the health care that they needed. There was actually a go signal from the government to resume the program this coming July but due to the post election violence, problems surfaced. The government has been brainstorming about the possibility of giving Kenyans the lowest possible rate for health care. They also hope to bridge social, cultural and other aspects of Kenyan living through this project (bring health care to everyone).
Photo taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk
www.mypartyforaliving.com
In 2007, Ohio was the 29th healthiest state where you can live in. However, this statistic already fell slightly compared to 2006, when it was the 24th healthiest state. Although it shone in certain areas such as a high percentage of women receiving prenatal care, a significant decrease in infectious disease, and a drop in death rate, it still struggles in some health areas – it ranks 43rd for obesity, 43rd for cancer deaths, 40th for infant mortality rates and 40th for preventable hospitalizations.
With these kinds of challenges, it is very important for the residents of Ohio to be covered by health insurance.
Lawmakers looking into solutions in lessening the number of uninsured are looking at tax credits to provide effective health insurance to the uninsured. Government intervention and assistance will be required in order to meet the goal to provide health insurance to the low-income workers and their dependents.
Tax credits, although modest, will allow people to avail of health insurance coverage that is both comprehensive and affordable. Tax credits can purchase benefits relevant to a population both geographically and demographically. Continuous development of tax credits and reevaluation of current insurance regulations is one key way to help expand health insurance coverage to a large number of uninsured.