Health Insurance Update

If there is a single group of people whom we talk about disability insurance with, it would be the physicians. This is so primarily because physicians are involved in highly skilled personal service that can not be passed on to anyone else, it must be done only by a doctor. Hence, if the doctor won’t be able to perform his duties because of illness or injury, the flow of cash stops. Secondly, physicians are very much aware that the human body can get hurt or fall ill. We are aware of this as well but it is not imprinted in our consciousness as it is for physicians. In effect, this poses an even greater pursuit for the physicians to get disability insurance during their residency.
There are three ways that a physician acquires disability insurance. One is from a local agent whom he knows or is referred to. Another one is through association group plans, and last is from a credible online disability insurance site like protectyourincome.com. Relying on the first is somewhat of a risk based on two factors: the proficiency of the local agent and his/her access to the leading companies. The second may lead to insufficient coverage. The final option allows private study of the subject on your own, keeps confidential your affairs and gives you access to leading companies as well as advice from professionals who are very learned of disability insurance.

(Further reading: http://protectyourincome.com/disabilityinsurance/physician.asp)

Attempts to provide universal health care is being done in San Francisco. The success of the plan is based on rarely discussed notion: cultural competency. Treatment of patients will no longer be based solely on raw data such as cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Demographics like race, gender, sexual orientation and such will be taken into account in marketing the proposed plan.

In a city populated by various ethnic and racial groups, multitudes of immigrants with more than 100 different spoken languages, significant gay and lesbian population, success of the plan will hinge largely on how cultural competency is practiced.

Children’s health financing in the United States is primarily public sector funded. Financing is shouldered by the state and federal governments with administration falling under the state. Other sources of public insurance are the military and Medicare, however, coverage of both is fewer than 5% of the children’s population.

Majority of the children’s population remain uninsured due to various reasons ranging from socio-economic status of the family or lack of employer’s coverage for dependents. Majority of working parents do not have coverage from employers or meager earnings make health insurance unaffordable. Some do not even qualify for public health insurance due to residency or status. Health care for uninsured children has remained out of reach.

There is a growing discontent amongst people and small business owners who may have to shell out more cash to pay for the government’s move to revamp the health care system. This has brought about by plans to further revamp the health care system as the new government takes office this coming 20th of January. Many are already feeling the pinch of the recession and hate this type of tax increases for they are already stretched to the limit, strapped of cash.
Most jobless, almost 12 million by the middle of this year if trends continue are getting more help but in the long run, even after recovery they still have to bear the brunt of the costs for the proposed health care overhaul. Big plans have been laid out and as the government grows its financial budget deficit who else would be paying for the said costs but consumers and regular citizens themselves. This is not a good sign form many who have already lost jobs due to downsizing, laid off as victims of the recession are having to go without health insurance in whatever form. Time will tell if the moves to revamp the system would be effective enough to decrease the gap of insured and uninsured as the recession takes hold.

The recently passed SCHIP Bill has raised many questions regarding the timing of the law that allows more children to benefit from State Funded Health Care including those illegally living in the US. Many taxpayers wouldn’t have raised a brow if it hadn’t been for the bad timing of the bill which came at a time when more citizens were suffering and illegals were seen as burdens to the already cash strapped country. It also raises a question that if it covers the children who live illegally within the country, wouldn’t it act as a lure to encourage more for the parents might not be covered by the health care system but their children are automatically entitled to it.
Many holes in the provisions of the bill are too hot to handle and in these economically challenging times, it was passed to help the American public, many of whom cannot afford proper health care on their own. Future reforms for the bill would indeed be needed but during these hard times, at least children get more access to care which is enough good news.

SPD is an acronym for Summary Plan Description which is by law a requirement that must be provided to participants of different group benefit plans including health plans, retirement plans and cafeteria or flexible benefit plans. This written document must be prepared in a language that is understandable by the average person. However, what has transpired are lengthy, redundant, boring and repetitive documents that the average person seldom pays attention to until such time that a problem arises and refers it to an attorney.

The SPD must include among other things the following:
1. Information on qualifying events
2. Definition of qualified beneficiaries
3. Premiums
4. Election and Notice requirements
5. Length of Coverage
6. Qualified beneficiaries and employers� procedures
7. Circumstances that result in reduction or denial of coverage