Federal auditors to review insurance rates in 10 states

According to an article in the New York Times, the Obama administration is scheduled to take over the review of health insurance rates in 10 states where it says state officials do not adequately regulate premiums for insurance sold to individuals or small businesses.

Several states acknowledged that they lacked the power to review health insurance rates. Several insurance commissioners tried and failed to get the authority they needed from their state legislatures this year.

Benefits in health insurance for the poor

An interesting post today on the NYT Economix blog focuses on how health insurance affects health. The post highlights a new study being released today that focused on an Oregon health insurance experiment. The study found that while expanding health insurance does not save society money, it does make people mentally and physically healthier.

Survey on Access to Doctors

An interesting article published on NYT this past Sunday discusses a "mystery shopper" survey to be conducted that will study how difficult it is for those who need care to get it when they need it.
The administration says that it will "address a critical public policy problem": the increased shortage of primary care doctors.

The mystery shoppers will call medical practices to see if doctors are accepting new patients and if so, how long the wait would be. The government is eager to know whether doctors will give different answers to callers based on whether the caller says they are covered by public medical insurance (Medicaid) or private (Blue Cross).

Pre-existing condition insurance plans - covering the uninsurable

A recent article in the New York Times details the experience of Jerry Garner, a kidney transplant recipient of Michigan, who lost his insurance when he failed to send back a survey sent from his health insurer. When looking for a replacement insurer, his existing kidney condition made that task just about impossible. While continuing to look for new options, his wife came across an ad for Michigan's pre-existing insurance coverage program. Mr. Garner applied and was accepted and is now paying less for his insurance and receives more comprehensive coverage.

Pre-existing condition insurance plans (P.C.I.P's), required by the new health care law, started in July. The federal government set aside $5 billion for these programs. Twenty-seven states run their own plans with federal money with the rest relying on the Department of Health and Human Services to administer their plans. (To learn more about the offerings in each state, go to pcip.gov).

Report by Commonwealth Fund - Insurance coverage still tough to get for individuals

According to a recent report by the Commonwealth Fund, 71% of an estimated 26 million people who tried to buy health insurance on the individual market in the previous 3 years had problems purchasing affordable insurance. About 35% said they were turned down or charged higher prices due to their medical history.

You can read more about this on CNN.

Friday Roundup

Here is a listing of articles of interest published within the last 7-10 days:

Health
1. U.S. gets 'unsatisfactory' grade on women's health, WebMD, December 9, 2010
Brief Intro: "The nation and most states continued to receive a grade of “unsatisfactory” on key issues affecting women’s health in an updated report released today by the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC)."

2. 1.5 million to be notified that their insurance is below standard, MSNBC.com, December 9, 2010
Brief Intro: " The Obama administration on Thursday outlined what must be in the notices sent to people with limited-benefit plans, which cap coverage for medical care, sometimes to as little as $2,000 a year. The law bans annual limits entirely in 2014, but restricts them in the meantime: the current limit is $750,000 annually."

3. US life expectancy dips, Chicago Sun-Times, December 9, 2010
Brief Intro:"

Life expectancy in the United States fell slightly in 2008, even though deaths from heart disease, cancer and other chronic diseases continue to drop, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.

Americans born in 2008 can expect to live 77.8 years on average, about a month less than the all-time high of 77.9 years reached in 2007, the CDC reported."

Education
1. House backs legal status for many young immigrants, NYT.com, December 8,2010
Brief Intro:"The bill, known as the Dream Act, passed the House by a vote of 216 to 198. But a vote in the Senate on opening debate on the bill was scheduled for Thursday, and the measure seemed likely to fail there.

Friday Roundup

Here is a listing of of articles of interest published within the last 7-10 days:

Health
1. New health care changes are only the beginning, CNN.com, Sep. 23, 2010
Brief Intro:"The Armstrongs' story is familiar to many young adults and their families, and the frustration of being uninsured is taking its toll on people of all age groups. Thursday, six months after the Affordable Care Act was enacted, several provisions go into effect. Health officials are hoping this first wave of changes will "put consumers in charge of their health care." This week, President Obama unveiled a website to help provide critical information to consumers regarding the legislation."

2. Insurers scramble to comply with new rules, NYTimes.com, Sep. 22, 2010
Brief Intro:"The first big wave of new rules under the federal health care law goes into effect on Thursday, leaving many insurers scrambling to get ahead of the changes."

3. Chronically ill, and covered, NYTimes.com, Sep. 22, 2010
Brief Intro:"Joe and Mary Thompson had agreed to adopt Emily before her birth in 1999, and it never occurred to them to back out when she was born with spina bifida. But that same year, their residential remodeling business in Overland Park, Kan., went under, prompting job changes that left the family searching for health coverage with a child who was uninsurable."

4. Obese kids face bias from parents, MSNBC.com, Sep. 23, 2010
Brief Intro:"Studies have shown parents are less likely to help overweight or obese offspring pay for college but researchers from the University of North Texas in Denton have also found parents may be less willing to help their overweight child buy a car."

Education
1. City reports nearly a fivefold increase in students repeating a grade, NYTimes.com, Sep. 23, 2010
Brief Intro: "The number of New York City elementary and middle school students who failed to move on to the next grade skyrocketed this school year, as weak students faced a higher bar on state tests and the broadening of the city’s tough promotion policy.

Nearly five times as many students in the third through eighth grades are being required to repeat a grade this year compared with last year, the city announced on Thursday. The weakest performance was in the eighth grade: 5,017 students, or 8 percent of all eighth graders, were held back."

Vulnerable Populations
1. Some Obama allies fear school lunch bill could rob food stamp program, NYTimes.com, Sep. 23, 2010
Brief Intro:"At issue is how to pay for additional spending on the school lunch program and other child nutrition projects eagerly sought by the White House. A bill that the House is expected to consider within days would come up with some of the money by cutting future food stamp benefits.

When the Senate passed the bill in early August, Mrs. Obama said she was thrilled. But anti-hunger groups were not. They deluged House members on Thursday with phone calls and e-mails expressing alarm."

Employers pass on more health costs to workers

According to a recent article in the New York Times, a survey has shown that employers are passing on more of the health costs to employees. The employee contribution towards family coverage rose an average of 14% or $500 more than what employees paid last year. Workers now pay close to $4,000 for a family policy, which translates into a jump of 47% since 2005.