A few years ago, we had a client who completed an application for individual health insurance for herself, her husband and their child with a major Colorado health insurance provider. The application asked health history questions looking back over ten years, and she thought that she completed it accurately. The family was approved, and coverage… Read more about Protecting The Insured
Archives for October 2007
Cavalcade of Risk Is Up
Take a look at the newest edition of the Cavalcade of Risk at Hill’s Personal Finance.
Obesity Ads Too Soft to be Effective
The Ad Council and the US Department of Health and Human Services are facing criticism that their ads against obesity are too soft, “namby-pamby” and wimpy to do any good. We’ve all seen the ads that show people finding lumpy-looking fat blobs here and there, and being told that they are love handles that someone… Read more about Obesity Ads Too Soft to be Effective
The Health of Colorado
The Colorado Health Foundation funded a report released yesterday that graded the health of Colorado citizens, and compared us to the rest of the nation. Overall, we’re not doing too badly – we are the thinnest state in the country, but then again, the bar isn’t set too high for that factor. And even though… Read more about The Health of Colorado
An Inappropriate Relationship
When you go to your doctor and leave with a prescription for a fancy new drug, how do you know that it’s really in your best interest? You don’t. An eye-opening new study shows that 67% of academic leaders at US medical schools and teaching hospitals have received some type of financial support from the… Read more about An Inappropriate Relationship
Open Mic – Claims Dispute
At the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, we’ve decided to start an “open mic” so our readers can express their views in an open forum. They’ll be able to get feedback from other readers and engage in discussions about Colorado health insurance topics. The opinions expressed in the “Open Mic” category do not reflect those of… Read more about Open Mic – Claims Dispute
An Over-medicated Country
For years, the United States has had the highest health care spending per capita of any country in the world. If all our citizens were bursting with health and living to be 95 years old, one could look at the spending side and say that it’s money well spent. But in fact our health is… Read more about An Over-medicated Country
Emotional Health Care Hearing in Fort Collins
On Friday, about 100 Fort Collins residents gathered at the Lincoln Center for an emotional hearing sponsored by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care. More than 30 people got to address the panel about how to craft a health insurance program for Colorado. Most of those 30+ people that addressed the panel voiced support… Read more about Emotional Health Care Hearing in Fort Collins
Claim Denied? Here’s How to Appeal
Jim Flynn is an attorney in Colorado Springs, and he’s written a great article on the process of making an appeal if your health insurance company denies your claim. If a health insurance company denies a claim for the above stated reason, it must provide a written notice that includes a detailed explanation for the… Read more about Claim Denied? Here’s How to Appeal
SCHIP In Colorado
Although the recent votes on SCHIP in Congress were not completely divided along partisan lines, the vetoed bill to expand SCHIP by $35 billion was supported by far more Democrats than Republicans. From Colorado, Senator Wayne Allard, and US Rep Marilyn Musgrave, both Republicans, voted against the bill. And within the state legislature, there is… Read more about SCHIP In Colorado
Just Put it on the Credit Card – It’ll All Work Out
Democrats obviously haven’t thought far enough ahead about their plans to fund SCHIP. On the other hand, Senator Trent Lott has: “They fund it with a 61 cent a pack tax increase and say by the way, that will discourage people from smoking. That’s good. But the problem is if people do stop smoking you… Read more about Just Put it on the Credit Card – It’ll All Work Out
SCHIP – More Than A Political Debate
No big surprise – the president vetoed the SCHIP expansion bill yesterday. He’s made it very clear for weeks that he would veto the $35 billion expansion proposal from congress, and he prefers a $5 billion increase to the SCHIP budget (critics charge that $5 billion isn’t even enough to pay for the increasing health… Read more about SCHIP – More Than A Political Debate
Another Group Working To Fix Colorado Health Care
Representatives met today from several diverse groups in the Colorado health care sector, with a goal of reaching a bipartisan solution to the health care problems facing Colorado. The list of partners in the project is long and impressive, including Kaiser Permanente, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Service Employees International Union, the Colorado… Read more about Another Group Working To Fix Colorado Health Care
Humana Acquires CompBenefits
It’s not as newsworthy as when United Healthcare acquires a company like PacifiCare or AMS, or the “Don’t taze me bro” loser getting tazed. But I figure I should still mention the fact that Humana acquired CompBenefits today. http://www.compbenefits.com/news/100107.html CompBenefits is a dental and vision provider. So this should make Humana even more competitive in… Read more about Humana Acquires CompBenefits
Taxing Our Vices
The recent debate between congress and the president over expansion of SCHIP has mostly been in regards to the total spending increase. The president wants a $5 billion increase, while congress wants to increase the SCHIP budget by $35 billion in order to further expand the federal health insurance program. And it doesn’t appear that… Read more about Taxing Our Vices