All articles about health insurance or related to health insurance from Consumer Insurance Guide
Healthcare spending rose by just 3.9 percent for the third year in a row in 2011, according to a study published in the journal Health Affairs and based on data from the National Health Expenditure Accounts. It’s the slowest rate of growth in the 52-year history of these records. Total health care spending growth in 2010 and 2011 continued to track closely with the growth in nominal Gross Domestic Product in both years, and the health…
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Although doctors have long warned about the health risks of being overweight, having just a few extra pounds might offer some benefit. Obesity is still as lethal as it ever was. The question involves those who have a slightly elevated Body Mass Index. In an analysis of nearly 100 studies that included approximately 3 million adults, relative to normal weight, overall obesity and higher levels of obesity were both associated with a significantly higher all-cause risk of…
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Although health insurance plans are required to include tobacco cessation coverage, many of them don’t according to a study by Georgetown University researchers. The requirement is for all tobacco users, not just smokers. The authors recommend that federal and state regulators give insurers detailed guidance on what tobacco cessation coverage is required under the Affordable Care Act. The ACA requires all new private health insurance plans to cover preventive health services recommended with an A…
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There’s more to the Super Bowl than grown men hitting each other, pop tarts tripping over the national anthem and overproduced ads that disappoint—there’s also the issue of spectator health. After all, a Super Bowl party wouldn’t be complete without a cooler full of suds, mounds of fatty, salty foods and a relish tray that usually gets ignored. Unfortunately for many, what also gets ignored are health problems that take a back seat to watching…
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Bounce houses, moonwalks and similar inflatable attractions caused an increasing number of injuries in kids, according to a recent study. Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital examined pediatric injuries associated with inflatable bouncers. They discovered that from 1995 to 2010 there was a 15-fold increase in the number of inflatable bouncer-related injuries that were treated in U.S. emergency departments among children younger than 18 years of age….
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This year toys with the potential to seriously harm or kill children continue to be found on store shelves, in catalogues and on e-retailers’ websites. World Against Toys Causing Harm publishes its list each year with the warning that consumers should be proactive in shopping to make sure the toys they buy are safe. “These particular toys are illustrative of some hazards in toys being sold to consumers, and should not be considered as the…
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Divorce not only takes a toll on personal finances and the kids, it can also leave women without health insurance, according to a recent stud by the University of Michigan. The study appears in the December issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior. Every year about 115,000 women lose their health insurance from divorce and women’s overall rates of health insurance coverage remain depressed for more than two years afterwards. “Given that approximately…
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Each year thousands of deer hunters take to the field in hopes of snagging a buck or a doe but instead wind up in the hospital or worse. Although shooting accidents do happen, it’s the act of hunting itself that can often prove more dangerous in the form of falls, heart ailments and other issues. A study by the Ohio State University Medical Center and 2010 found that among hunting- related injuries, 50 percent were…
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For many adults looking older could have an impact that reaches far below what’s on the surface. According to a recent study, people who show visible signs of aging are also at a higher risk of heart disease. The study, presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2012, found those who had three to four aging signs — receding hairline at the temples, baldness at the head’s crown, earlobe crease or yellow fatty deposits…
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Whatever happens with healthcare reform, it remains a complicated issue and hard for many Americans to understand. To help ease the confusion, Consumer Reports has released a new guide, “Health Reform: The Seven Things You Need to Know.” “It’s no surprise that we continue to hear from consumers with questions about the health reform law. As we approach a season where many people will make important health insurance decisions, it’s critical that consumers understand how…
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Thousands of residents from Los Angeles
When you’re young, long-term care insurance is not something
