Category: Health Insurance
Enrollment on Washington State’s health exchange starts today
Offerings this year include more health plans, new health insurance carriers, and lower premiums available in most counties
Grief Grew Into A Mental Health Crisis And A $21,634 Hospital Bill
She purchased individual insurance on the open market, not through the Affordable Care Act exchange. It didn’t cover mental health care.
Pharma Sells States On ‘Netflix Model’ To Wipe Out Hep C. But At What Price?
Washington state is paying for the marketing campaign as part of a deal to give AbbVie the exclusive right to treat its citizens who have hepatitis C.
Compression Garments Can Ease Lymphedema. Covering Costs? Not So Easy.
Lymphedema is incurable, but compression stockings, sleeves and gloves help prevent complications such as swelling and infection. But they’re expensive.
You can now preview the 2020 Exchange Health Plan Choices
Customers have the opportunity to compare plans and rates prior to open enrollment
Whistleblower Alleges Medicare Fraud At Iconic Seattle-Based Health Plan
Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, one of the nation’s most respected nonprofit health insurance plans, is accused of bilking Medicare out of millions.
Think ‘Medicare For All’ Is The Only Democratic Health Plan? Think Again
Let us walk you through a few proposals Democratic candidates have championed, plus what President Donald Trump is offering.
Patients Eligible For Charity Care Instead Get Big Bills
Nearly half of nonprofit hospital organizations routinely sending medical bills to patients whose incomes are low enough to qualify for charity care.
Medicare open enrollment for 2020 starts Oct. 15
The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program, part of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, can help with choices you may need to make.
Walmart To Give Workers Financial Incentives To Use Higher-Quality Doctors
“Rather than relying on word of mouth or social media to find a provider, patients can get information based on actual data and proven results.”
Medicaid expansion linked to improved mental health, job performance
New findings about low-income adults with behavioral health conditions, mental health and substance use disorders, suggest importance of continuous coverage
Air Ambulances Woo Rural Consumers With Memberships That May Leave Them Hanging
While membership programs promise customers will avoid out-of-pocket expenses, in reality the contractual fine print “isn’t as cut and dry.”
‘Locally Grown’ Insurance Companies Help Fortify Washington State Market
Premiums for the state’s individual market are rising less than 1% on average, and the insurance commissioner, credits that to homegrown insurance plans.
UW Medicine leaders say ACA critical to continuing mission
Harborview could lose up to $80 million a year should the ACA be struck down as a result of a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general now in the courts.
Where Tourism Brings Pricey Health Care, Locals Fight Back
An alliance of locals struck a deal with the hospital system and now may be able to offer its members premiums that are at least 20% less than current rates.