NC Group & Individual Coverage
Town Hall Protests Seen as Not Derailing Health Reform
CQ Today reports that town hall protests, while loud and angry, have not had their desired effect: to derail President Obama’s health insurance overhaul effort. In DC, staff meetings on the bills continue and Democratic leaders are mounting an effort to help their rank-and-file members counter criticism of the legislation, especially any erroneous claims. However, if the protests are sustained and proponents of the overhaul do not respond with more robust demonstrations of support, some are concerned Democrats eventually will scale back their legislation. In what CQ calls a worst-case scenario for liberals, Democrats could be forced to drop plans to create a government-run insurance plan that would compete with private plans, the so-called ‘public option.’
Healthcare Debate Shifts to Television Screens
The CBS Evening News reported, “As tempers flare in the healthcare debate, both sides are employing everything in their arsenals to win over Americans.” USA Today reports the “healthcare battle…is shifting to television screens as groups on each side of the issue launch multimillion-dollar ad blitzes to influence the debate. Advocacy groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce and the AARP are spending a combined $500,000 on healthcare ads every day.” Groups on all sides have invested a combined $57 million in healthcare ads this year…and supporters have outspent those who oppose the legislation by roughly 2-to-1.
OBAMA Needs Health Care Reform in 2009
In order to gain momentum for successful Health care reform, President Obama needs to make every attempt to gain some momentum for his program in 2009. Those intersted in NC Health Insurance are watching closely that activities that are taking place. Health care reform may end up being the primary moniker for Obama’s presidency. Without making headway with a program in 2009, many believe that it will be difficult for the President to gain much footing for a health care program in 2010 and beyond.
Insurance Options for the Self-Employed
The self-employed have their own unique challenges in finding and keeping health insurance. The self-employed typically have to apply for individual health insurance, which is individually underwritten by health insurance companies. This means if you or a family member you need covered have a pre-existing medical condition, you may be turned down for a health insurance policy. This often can mean the difference between self-employment, or staying in an unfullfilling job which, at least, provides health insurance protection for their famiy. Get NC Health Insurance has many options for the self employed. Contact us to see what plans might be a good fit for you!
Student Health Insurance Options
Long before the first class of the first college semester begins, prospective students and their families need to begin doing their homework to ensure that their health coverage will not only continue uninterrupted, but that coverage will receive more than a passing grade. Get NC Health Insurance is positioned to assist those looking for individual health insurance.
A recent report released by the Government Accounting Office revealed that roughly 1.7 million traditional age college students are uninsured in the United States. It’s a disturbing statistic, considering that young Americans – while tending to be more healthy – are among the group of Americans also more likely to end up in the emergency room.
NC Health Insurance Risk Pool
Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. North Carolina health insurance participants are served in the state’s risk pool through Inclusive Health. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition or significant health issues. These programs can vary significantly from state-to-state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage
How Healthy is Living in North Carolina?
Interesting information regarding NC health insurance. The state is ranked the 36th healthiest state in which to live, according to United Health Foundation which tracks 20 factors in creating its annual list. North Carolina cracks the top ten list in only one category — ranking 7th for low rate of binge drinking. It ranks in the bottom ten in three other measurements: children living in poverty; infant mortalty; and premature death. It also has black marks in number of incoming ninth graders who will graduate high school within four years — nearly 30 percent will not. Areas which are improving are in the number of cases of infectious disease and number of people who smoke.
Healthcare Spending Trends Slow Slightly
North Carolina Health Insurance participants have a little good news in that healthcare spending in the state, as well as across the U.S., already the highest in the industrialized world, eased slightly to its lowest rate in 10 years. A report in the LA Times stated that the mild slowdown — due in part to less growth in drug spending — was a rare bit of good news as Washington policymakers begin to debate how to reshape the nation’s healthcare system, a top priority of congressional Democrats and the new administration.
Layoffs Increase Need for Individudal Health Insurance
With the economy lagging, unemployment running at a 30-year high, and people facing layoffs and reductions in force, many are being forced to look for health insurance in the individual markets as a cost effective alternative to COBRA. In many cases, individual health insurance plans can save consumers significantly when compared to COBRA premiums - especially in the case of young and/or healthy applicants. Getnchealthinsurance.com is a licensed agent of Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC and offers many individual health insurance options. These alternatives might be a much better option than COBRA.
Shortage of Primary Care Physicians Affects NC Health Insurance
There are plenty of surgeons and other medical specialists in America - more than enough, perhaps. And specialized institutionalized care of high quality is available for people who are seriously ill. But primary care - the continuing personal supervision of a family’s overall health, with emphasis on prevention and early treatment of illness - is sadly lacking for the urban poor, for most rural residents and for millions of middle-class people, too. How this shortage of primary care physicians affects health insurance in North Carolina remains to be seen.
