from our friends at: APNews SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom last year agreed to a tax increase that aimed to do two things: Help balance a budget with a multibillion-dollar shortfall, and pay doctors more money to treat patients covered by Medicaid — the taxpayer-funded health insurance program for people with low incomes that now covers one … Read More
Get Your Healthcare Through Covered California? Beware Of This Tax Peril
from our friends at: CalMatters Covered California offers generous subsidies for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Enrollees should keep the agency updated of any life changes that might affect their income or they could be hit with a repayment bill from the IRS. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters Every year thousands of Californians are shocked to learn … Read More
Changes To Part D: Lower Out-Of-Pocket Drug Costs In 2024 And 2025
from our friends at MedicareRights.org Many people with Medicare Part D drug coverage—in particular those who reach the catastrophic coverage phase—may experience unexpected costs and significant confusion as their out-of-pocket obligations change throughout the year. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) brings much-needed consumer protections and predictability to these coverage phases, limiting financial exposure for everyone and generating significant savings for … Read More
Warning Signs Of Melanoma That Are Easy To Spot
from our friends at: AARP The dangerous skin cancer can take on odd forms and pop up in unexpected places Roughly 100,640 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma this year, according to the American Cancer Society, making it one of the most common types of cancer in the U.S., especially among older adults who have endured decades of sun exposure … Read More
Survey Reveals Employers Prioritize Holistic Wellness Over Price When Selecting Employee Benefits
from our friends at globalnewswire Low unemployment, shifting employee priorities and the work-from-anywhere marketplace pose new staffing challenges for employers, according to a recent national survey of employee benefits brokers and advisors. Conducted by IdentityForce, a TransUnion brand, the annual survey — now in its sixth year — revealed employers are most concerned with: Concerns about the digital safety of … Read More
California’s Home Insurer Of Last Resort Sees Enrollment Surge, Raising Concerns Over Its Finances
from our friends at Yahoo News With home insurers scaling back coverage in the state, enrollment is surging in California’s backstop insurance plan — as is the plan’s risk of sustaining losses that it can’t cover. Victoria Roach, president of the FAIR Plan Assn., told lawmakers this week that property owners even in areas with low wildfire risk were finding … Read More
Study Shows Part D Plans Ratcheting Up Restrictions on Coverage
from our friends at Medicare Rights Center A new study from University of Southern California (USC) researchers shows that Medicare Part D plans have been increasingly restricting access to some prescription drugs through the years. Plans have used prior authorization, step therapy, and formulary restrictions to curb beneficiaries’ ability to take certain important prescriptions. The study covered 10 years, from … Read More
Tai Chi Beat Moderate Exercise At Lowering Blood Pressure In Study
from our friends at: The Washington Post Tai chi, a gentle Chinese martial art involving slow movements, outperformed moderate aerobic exercise in lowering blood pressure in a recent clinical trial. An analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, tracked 342 18- to 65-year-olds with prehypertension, or blood pressure that is slightly higher than normal, between late July 2019 and mid-January 2022. … Read More
Appealing An Insurance Company Claim Decision
from our friends at: Healthcare.gov Internal appeals There are 3 steps in the internal appeals process: You must file your internal appeal within 180 days (6 months) of receiving notice that your claim was denied. If you have an urgent health situation, you can ask for an external review at the same time as your internal appeal. If your insurance … Read More
Dental Insurance: What’s Covered, What’s Not
from our friends at: WebMD What Is Dental Insurance? Dental insurance is insurance that covers dental health and care. Because dental health, also called oral health, is important to your overall health, you may want to get dental insurance to help you pay for the cost of your dental care. You can purchase dental insurance as part of a medical … Read More