health insurance

The use of Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements is on the rise, both in the number of those using them and the amount of funds contributed. Almost 70 percent of workers with an HRA or HSA said their employers contributed to the account in 2012, continuing a steady increase since 2009, according to a recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Employer contributions of $200−$499 increased from 14 percent to 22 percent…

The American workforce is expected to see major changes to how their health insurance benefits are managed and received in the coming years. As medical costs increase for employers and employees alike, the employees are expected to take a more active role in this, according to Aon Hewitt. The amount employers spend on health care has increased by 40 percent in the past six years to approximately $8,800 per employee. Over this same period, employee…

Fewer people reported having employer-based health insurance in 2012 than in years past, although it remains unchanged from 2011. According to a recent Gallop survey, 44.5 percent of respondents reported getting health insurance at work, which is the same as last year but less than in 2008, 2009 or 2010. At the same time, more Americans reported having a government-based health plan such as Medicare, Medicaid or military or veterans’ benefits — with the 25.6…

Although binge drinking is a dangerous behavior that can lead to tragic circumstances, it’s not often associated with women. Yet nearly 14 million U.S. women binge drink about three times a month and consume an average of six drinks per binge, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women who engage in this behaviro are at an increased risk for many health problems such as breast cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, heart disease and…

Although seeing a doctor is still the preferred choice for serious medical issues, an increasing number of Americans are turning to the internet for a first or second opinion. One in three U.S. adults said that at one time or another they have gone online specifically to try to figure out what medical condition they or someone else might have, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project….

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, berries might be even better. A recent study in the U.S. and the U.K. discovered that women who ate at least three servings of blueberries and strawberries per week had fewer heart attacks. It seems blueberries and strawberries contain high levels of compounds that have cardiovascular benefits. The research, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, indicated that women who ate three or more…

The flu season started early in the U.S. and has reached epidemic proportions, according to the Centers for Disease Control. With hospital wards filling up and people lining up for vaccinations, the CDC warns this could continue for some time. Fortunately there are steps people can take to avoid getting the flu, or keep from passing it on to others if they do become sick. Influenza, commonly called the “flu,” is a contagious viral infection…