| Health insurance costs still a problem for employee, employer
For an employer, the ever-increasing cost of employee health insurance is a constant concern. For an employee, the ever-increasing cost of medical care also is a constant concern. Therefore, it is apparent that the cost of health care and health- care coverage is important to everyone. It most certainly has the attention of the three presidential candidates who are falling all over each other to see who can promise the most. But on a more practical level, as a small-business owner, the problem is more pragmatic: how to pay for adequate health insurance while still being able to pay all the other bills. To stay in business, a company must have enough money in the bank to make payroll and to pay taxes, insurance, rent, utilities, and all the other expenses that it takes to keep the doors open.
Retiree insurance protected
Retirees can breathe easier knowing their health insurance is safe for at least one more year. Gov. Paterson has signed a NYSUT-backed bill that will continue health insurance coverage protections for many public education retirees. The law extends until May 15, 2009, a measure that prohibits educational employers from diminishing health insurance benefits or contributions for retirees and their dependents, unless there is a corresponding reduction in benefits for active employees. The law was set to expire May 15. It requires any changes to retiree health insurance be subject to collective bargaining. "This extension provides the legal requirement that educational employers continue their longstanding commitment to providing health insurance coverage to retirees," said NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin.
A health insurance dilemma
For three years, Minnie Hopkins pushed out of her mind the fact that she could have cancer. She had two lumpectomies to remove surgically what turned out to be benign breast calcifications. Then she lost her job and her health insurance. The 63-year-old North Charleston resident skipped her mammogram appointments, afraid a diagnosis would plunge her and her five adult children into debt. "Sometimes we tend to put things in the deep recesses of our mind," Hopkins said. "The more you think about it, the more it drives you crazy." Lynn Bailey, a Columbia-based health care consultant, said ignoring the problem is a common approach. "They ignore it," she said. "They pretend it's not there." Then when they have an emotional diagnosis, they are asked to navigate a labyrinthine health care system, Bailey said.
Finding Affordable Health Insurance Is Easy
(ARA) - Having health insurance gives us piece of mind. But have you ever thought you might be overpaying for your coverage? Or what if you find yourself without health coverage and need to find something affordable fast? The answers to these questions can easily be found on the Internet.Health insurance premiums are determined by the health insurance company and regulated by every state. HealthInsuranceFinders.com is a free service that helps you find your options depending on the type of coverage you want and where you live. All the information is collected in one place in one directory making it easy for searching."You will not find a lower premium for any of the major health insurance plans quoted by agencies listed," says Todd Faucher of HealthInsuranceFinders.com. "Premiums would be the same if you were to purchase your medical insurance directly from the insurance company.
Mandate madness: Hiking health insurance costs
IN THE "let's make everything worse" category, the House is to vote today on two alleged health care reforms that will not make health insurance more affordable and might make it more expensive. First, Senate Bill 312 mandates that insurers cover the cost of surgery to treat obesity. Sounds great. But health insurance mandates always sound great until the bill comes due. One of the reasons health insurance is so costly is that employers and individuals cannot choose plans that make the most sense for them. They have to pay for plans that carry all sorts of extra coverage mandated by the state, even if they don't want or need it. SB 312 only adds to that problem. Then there is SB 540, Gov. John Lynch's Health First insurance plan. It would mandate that insurers offer to small employers a basic insurance plan with premiums priced at no more than 10 percent of the median income in the state.
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