In several counties, more than 1 in 5 residents has no health coverage, according to a new report from Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “If anyone doubts the need for health care reform,” said Kreidler,”there are a million people out there that they should talk to.”
As obesity among young people continues to rise, a growing number of clinicians say that weight-loss surgery may be their best chance to take off significant weight. But although health plans frequently cover bariatric surgery in adults, coverage for patients under age 18 is spotty.
From 2003 to 2010, the average health insurance premium for a family in Washington state rose from $9,212 to $14,188 a year, a 54 percent increase. Premiums for individuals rose from an average of $3,520 a year to $4,981 a year, a 42% increase.
By agreeing to hear challenges to President Obama’s 2010 health care law, the Supreme Court has set the stage for a decision — probably in late June and in the midst of the presidential campaign — that could be among its most important in decades.
While HSAs give consumers control over their medical spending, they are problematic for low-income individuals, especially those with chronic conditions who use the health care system frequently.
Whether you’re covered by an employer’s plan, by Medicare, or you are self-employed or unemployed, doing homework during “open enrollment” can help you get the best value for your money.
$6.8 Billion spent yearly on 12 unnecessary tests and treatments – according to a new study. The most common ordered unnecessary test: a complete blood count for a routine physical.
Support for health care reform has hit an all-time low with 51 percent of those polled saying they dislike the law and only 34 percent saying they favor it.
Judge rules decision to drop 11,000 people from the state’s Basic Health plan for the working poor because of their immigration status was unconstitutional.
Thanks Obamacare! – new campaign seeks to make ‘Obamacare’ a positive brand by highlighting 10 reasons people should be thankful for the health law.
As they shoulder more health care expenses, workers in some plans can reduce their costs by participating in company wellness programs.
The key finding is that the majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents all supported state action to control health care costs.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Lost in translation: Lack of trained interpreters can lead to medical errors
Interpreter services at hospitals and other medical settings are often inadequate, forcing family members, including children, to step in, or the task falls to medical staff members who may not speak the language well.
Some insurers deny ER coverage to people who have been drinking
Laws in more than half the states permit insurers to deny payment for medical services related to alcohol or drug use. Faced with the prospect of not getting paid for care, some ER personnel sidestep the problem by simply not testing patients’ blood or urine for alcohol.
Travel insurance can protect your wallet — and your health on vacation
Think your regular health insurance policy will cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas?
Don’t bet on it.
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