Podcasts about health insurance coverage

It's that time of year again—open enrollment is here! Don't worry, we're here to help you choose the best health insurance for you and your family. Lacey Varnon from the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy (NAMAPA) is back with Dr. Gupta and Kortney to discuss everything you need to consider when selecting a health insurance plan. This episode is all about understanding health insurance during open enrollment, from picking the right type of plan to ensuring your coverage fits your specific needs. We cover essential aspects of open enrollment health insurance, including networks, premiums, copayments, and long-term medication coverage, so you can feel confident you're choosing a plan that works for you. What We Cover in Our Episode on Open Enrollment Health Insurance: Key Factors to Consider: Lacey explains the importance of listing your doctors, diagnoses, and medications to ensure they're covered. Understanding Premiums, Deductibles, and Networks: Gain insight into how these elements impact your out-of-pocket costs and access to care. Plan Types – HMO, PPO, EPO, and POS: We break down each type of plan, including pros and cons, to help you decide which suits your healthcare needs. Special Considerations for Pharmacy Benefits and Long-Term Medications: Lacey offers advice on accessing necessary medications through your health plan or alternative methods if they are not covered. Navigating Open Enrollment with Family Needs in Mind: Tips on choosing a plan that considers your family member's medical needs and how you've used insurance in the past. More resources about health insurance:  Health Insurance Coverage in the United States Why was my prescription denied by insurance? Health Insurance for Asthma and Allergies Choosing the Right Health Insurance Plan Navigating Insurance Denials and Filing Appeals NAMAPA: National Association for Medication Access and Patient Advocacy Medication Access Network This episode is made in partnership with the Allergy & Asthma Network and in collaboration the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy (NAMAPA). We thank Amgen for sponsoring this episode. 

Summary: Fast-rising premiums, frequent rejection of claims and complicated contracts are only some of the challenges the health insurance sector presents. As a result, hundreds of millions are left out of the safety net. What's urgently needed is clarity of what's covered by policies and what's not as well as simplified claims processes. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has your medication been denied? Now what? Before patients can access medications—whether it's inhalers or biologic therapies—they often have to jump through many hoops to get insurance approval. Navigating the world of health insurance approvals for medication can be overwhelming for both patients and providers. In this episode, we break down what to expect, what you can do, and how to advocate for yourself throughout the process. Lacey Varnon from the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy (NAMAPA) joins Dr. G and Kortney to dive into the complex world of health insurance. Lacey shares insights into common reasons for medication denials, how to appeal them, and how patients and healthcare providers can work together for better outcomes. What We Cover in Our Episode About Health Insurance Approvals for Medications: Health Insurance Basics: Understanding essential terms like payer and formulary. Navigating Insurance Approvals: Tips for a smoother process, understanding prior authorization, and common reasons for medication denials. Teamwork Between Patients and Providers: How patients and doctors can collaborate to improve chances of approval and streamline the documentation process. The Appeals Process: A step-by-step guide to appealing denials and ensuring access to necessary treatments. Support Programs & Resources: Insights into sample programs, bridge programs, and tools to help patients through the approval process. More resources about health insurance denials and appeals:  Health Insurance Coverage in the United States Why was my prescription denied by insurance? Health Insurance for Asthma and Allergies Choosing the Right Health Insurance Plan Navigating Insurance Denials and Filing Appeals NAMAPA: National Association for Medication Access and Patient Advocacy Medication Access Network This episode is made in collaboration with the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy (NAMAPA). We thank Amgen for sponsoring this episode.  

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a personal experience into a thriving business? In this inspiring episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, we dive into the incredible entrepreneurial journey of Jasmine Jones, a remarkable founder and CEO who channeled her life's experiences and challenges into creating a groundbreaking company. This episode offers invaluable insights for anyone interested in the power of resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.Jasmine Jones, the dynamic founder, and CEO of Myya, joins host Marcia Dawood to share her unique journey. From witnessing her father's real estate investments to selling diamonds at Tiffany's, Jasmine's path to entrepreneurship is anything but conventional. A former beauty pageant winner and Miss DC USA, Jasmine leveraged her varied background and life experiences to create Myya, a company dedicated to providing customizable and insurance-billable breast prosthetics for breast cancer survivors. Jasmine's inspiring story was also featured in the documentary Show Her the Money, showcasing her entrepreneurial journey to a global audience.This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom and inspiration. Jasmine discusses the evolution of Myya, from its humble beginnings as a boutique store to its current status as a scalable telehealth platform serving patients nationwide. Hear firsthand how Jasmine navigated the complexities of fundraising, securing over $2.25 million in venture capital, and why the COVID-19 pandemic was a surprising catalyst for her business growth. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or an angel investor, Jasmine's compelling story offers invaluable lessons on persistence, adaptability, and the importance of aligning business with purpose. This is a must-listen episode for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact through entrepreneurship. To get the latest from Jasmine Jones, you can follow her below!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminerjones/https://myya.com/ Sign up for Marcia's newsletter to receive tips and the latest on Angel Investing!Website: www.marciadawood.comLearn more about the documentary Show Her the Money: www.showherthemoneymovie.comAnd don't forget to follow us wherever you are!Apple Podcasts: https://pod.link/1586445642.appleSpotify: https://pod.link/1586445642.spotifyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angel-next-door-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelnextdoorpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marciadawood

(AURN News) — President Joe Biden seized on newly released Census reports on Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage to paint a picture of economic progress under his administration, while simultaneously calling for more aggressive measures to support the middle class and reduce poverty. The report shows that the poverty rate fell 0.4% in 2023 and that median household incomes increased from $77,540 in 2022 to $80,610 in 2023. The White House statement, released in response to the Census Bureau's findings, emphasized positive trends in income growth and health insurance coverage. According to the president, middle-class incomes have risen by more than $3,000 over the past year, with overall gains since he and Vice President Kamala Harris took office outpacing inflation. However, the president's statement was not without criticism of his political opponents. “Let's be clear: we must do more to lower poverty by restoring the expanded Child Tax Credit that cut child poverty nearly in half in 2021 and passing our plan to build millions of homes and make rent more affordable—policies Congressional Republicans have repeatedly blocked,” he said. Biden also touted record-high health insurance coverage rates, attributing the improvement to his administration's efforts to bolster the Affordable Care Act and reduce healthcare costs. These achievements, he argued, demonstrate tangible progress in the administration's goal of strengthening the middle class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

God is the author of life therefore life matters to God. Join Pastor Eric Cartier and Rich Bennett to get equipped on legislation that will be on your ballot in November.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a Text Message.DId you know that domestic health insurance typically does not cover you when travelling abroad? If you're still in the planning zone for a summer vacation and beyond, or if you're already set to go, stop what you're doing and listen up. Is travel health insurance on your agenda? Lean in, and find out why you may want to consider getting some insurance, before you go, especially if you're heading abroad.As we continue our summer haitis, we're re-purposing some fan faves. This AGG podcast episode originally dropped last May, but the information is still relevant and so needed. Our guest was Dr. Katy Votava, an expert in healthcare reimbursement and outcomes, including those related to Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care. Dr. Katy is also an author.BIO:Dr. Katy Votava is the President and Founder of GOODCARE.com®, a unique consulting firm designed to help people have the best healthcare coverage now and in retirement. Dr. Votava is a Nurse Practitioner with a Ph.D. in healthcare economics from the University of Rochester and a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Katy, as she prefers to be called, is also the author of the Amazon best-selling book, "Making the Most of Medicare: A Guide for Baby Boomers."  The 10th edition will be released soon.Dr. Katy focuses her research on health policy and public health on healthcare economics, homecare, and telehealth. She has written for and is quoted by the Financial Advisor, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, CNBC, Consuelo Mack's WealthTrack, Money, Financial Advisor, Fox News, Journal of Financial Planning, Investment & Wealth Institute, InvestmentNews, NerdWallet, Retirement Daily, The Street.com, Retirement Daily, and has been a guest on the Ageless Glamour Girls Podcast. Dr. Katy is a sought-after speaker on retirement healthcare finance, Medicare, and Long-Term Care.https://goodcare.com/https://www.facebook.com/DrKatyV/https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatyvotava/Support the Show.www.linkedin.com/in/marqueetacurtishaynes www.agelessglamourgirls.com https://www.youtube.com/@agelessglamourgirls Instagram and Facebook: @agelessglamourgirlsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/agelessglamourgirlsPrivate (AGG) FB Group: The Ageless Café: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theagelesscafeTikTok: @agelessglamourgirlsPodcast Producers: Purple Tulip Media, LLC and WEG Media Group, LLC

*Content Warning: anxiety, depression, mental health, mental illness, suicidal ideation, self-harm, suicide, police brutality, and racism.*Resources:Life 4 All Minority Mental Health Resources: life4all.co/minority-mental-healthLifeline Network: https://988lifeline.org/BEAM Collective: http://beam.communityFree + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: somethingwaswrong.com/resources *Sources:“Prioritizing Minority Mental Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 June 2023, www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/minority-mental-health/index.htmlNirmita Panchal, Matthew Rae. “How Does Use of Mental Health Care Vary by Demographics and Health Insurance Coverage?” KFF, 24 Mar. 2022, www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/how-does-use-of-mental-health-care-vary-by-demographics-and-health-insurance-coverage/MacMillan, Amanda. “4 Reasons for the Increase in Mental Health Conditions.” Health, 21 Aug. 2023, www.health.com/condition/depression/8-million-americans-psychological-distress. Ijoma, Bassey. “5 Common Health Conditions That Affect Minorities and Ways to Reduce Risk Factors.” SummaCare, 23 Feb. 2023, www.summacare.com/blog/entries/2023/02/5-common-health-conditions-that-affect-minorities-and-ways-to-reduce-risk-factors. Brandt, L., Liu, S., Heim, C., & Heinz, A. (2022). The effects of social isolation stress and discrimination on mental health. Translational psychiatry, 12(1), 398. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02178-4Turner, Erlanger A., et al. “Predictors of Seeking Mental Health Treatment in Black Men: Therapy Fears and Expectations about Counseling - Community Mental Health Journal.” SpringerLink, Springer US, 8 Sept. 2023, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10597-023-01183-1. Reingle Gonzalez, J. M., & Connell, N. M. (2014). Mental health of prisoners: Identifying barriers to mental health treatment and medication continuity. American Journal of Public Health, 104(12), 2328–2333. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302043.Sheftall, Arielle H., et al. “The Tragedy of Black Youth Suicide.” AAMC, 11 Apr. 2023, www.aamc.org/news/tragedy-black-youth-suicide. Dr. Corey Emanuel: Dr. Corey Emanuel's website: http://coreyemanuel.com Dr. Corey Emanuel's Linktree: http://linktr.ee/coreyemanuel Dr. Corey Emanuel's Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/coreyemanuel Dr. Corey Emanuel's TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/drcoreyemanuel Men Talking Shift: http://www.instagram.com/mentalkingshiftArtwork by the amazing Sara Stewart: Instagram.com/greaterthanokayFollow Something Was Wrong:Website: somethingwaswrong.com IG: instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcastTikTok: tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast Follow Tiffany Reese:Website: tiffanyreese.me IG: instagram.com/lookieboo See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatments is now law in Michigan after Republicans and Democrats came together on legislation. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 27 on Tuesday, requiring insurance companies to cover both issues to the same degree as medical coverage. Inpatient, outpatient and emergency services, and prescribed medication all fall under the bill's classification of treatment.Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_128aff76-17b7-11ef-985d-97ee4806f551.html

March 29, 2024 - Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, a Queens Democrat, is hoping to inject new life into Coverage for All, a progressive proposal to expand state health insurance to undocumented adults.

Dr. Susan Bornstein talks about the goal of the Asclepius Initiative and how they are striving to get everyone health insurance coverage. She also talks about the difference between HSA and FSA accounts...

Do you ever wonder what is covered under your private medical insurance? And, why does one company cover some medications and devices but others do not? Come to the Huddle and listen to Gerri Klein answer all your questions. Gerri will discuss how to navigate health insurance coverage to your advantage.If you would like to join our session, please RSVP for the Huddle through the link available in our linktree on Instagram.

Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. SOURCES:Brad Bolman, postdoctoral member of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study.Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, prosthodontist and chief editor for Dental Economics.Wendell Potter, president of the Center for Health and Democracy; former executive at Cigna. RESOURCES:"Dental Medical Loss Ratios: Understanding the Landscape in Massachusetts and Beyond," by Shaza Stevenson, Megan D'Alessandro, Sandra Wilkniss, and Nicole Evans (National Academy for State Health Policy Blog, 2023)."Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2021," by Katherine Keisler-Starkey and Lisa N. Bunch (U.S. Census Bureau Reports, 2022)."Medicare and Dental Coverage: A Closer Look," by Meredith Freed, Nancy Ochieng, Nolan Sroczynski, Anthony Damico, and Krutika Amin (KFF, 2021)."Dentists' Group Fights Plan to Cover Dental Benefits Under Medicare," by Julie Bykowicz (The Wall Street Journal, 2021)."Antisocial Dentistry," by Brad Bolman (Hypocrite Reader, 2021). EXTRAS:"'Insurance Is Sexy.' Discuss," by Freakonomics Radio (2023)."Does Health Insurance Make You Healthier?" by Freakonomics, M.D. (2022).

To mark Insider's one-year anniversary, enjoy $40 off Insider or Unlimited for new members! Use discount code InsiderAtOne.Sign up Today.Health Affairs Editor-in-Chief Alan Weil interviews Andrew Bolibol, a Ph.D. candidate in the Health Policy Program at Harvard University on his recently-published paper examining trends in health insurance coverage among LGBT adults.He and colleagues found a closing gap in health insurance among LGBT adults relative to non LGBT adults. But disparities in access persist.Order the June 2023 issue of Health Affairs.Read the Issue's Table of Contents.Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.Subscribe: RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts  To mark Insider's one-year anniversary, enjoy $40 off Insider or Unlimited for new members! Use discount code InsiderAtOne.Sign up Today.

Amy went through the exact same challenges as many women do during infertility and leveraged her expertise to develop an approachable remedy. She discovered that for herself and others, the crucial element in achieving pregnancy was surprisingly uncomplicated: comprehending the roles of hormones, their distinct functions, and ways to maintain equilibrium. This knowledge completely changed Amy's approach to fertility - ultimately resulting in the birth of her second child. On this episode she discusses the lack of education around healthy conceiving in the school systems, the misconceptions around ovulation in the current healthcare system, revealing the surprising ways that traditional off-the-shelf fertility tests fall short in truly testing ovulation. She also explains how traditional fertility tests available over-the-counter do not accurately measure ovulation. Additionally, she highlights the inadequate coverage for fertility treatments in health insurance plans and a discussion on the regulatory journey her device that was initially exempt from pre-market clearance by the FDA but eventually had to undergo a 510k process after contact with the FDA. Get in touch with Amy Beckley - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybeckley/ or https://proovtest.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/QRAMedical Subscribe to the Podcast --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themedtechpodcast/support

Let's talk about the challenges of health disparities... I've recently discussed in the previous episodes how technology and social media are of great help for the practice of medicine. There's no denying that I'm all for the power of these two as these help me reach more people and allow more people to have access to important healthcare information. There were significant amounts of people who look like me who were not able to get the information they need in relation to their health, and there's no way I'm ignoring that reality anymore. If we don't talk about access to healthcare and the challenges our patients face in relation to that, then we're only doing half the job, and that's not in any way playing a significant role towards betterment. As a physician, it's hard to sleep at night knowing that these deserving yet minority community people get to be severely behind the eight ball in healthcare just because of color. So today, we'll address these issues and face the reality that as physicians, we still need to go above and beyond. Why you need to check this episode: Understand what these health disparities are and how these affect minority communities; Discover the social determinants of health and why that has played such a significant factor in minority communities being severely behind the eight ball in their healthcare; Learn about the current situation of access to healthcare and why it's something that should be talked about; and Recognize the importance of being culturally competent, especially on how it affects the practice of medicine “Help us help you; that's what I always say. And for healthcare providers, understand that we still need to go above and beyond, because we know our patients are dealing with things that we can't even ignore anymore.”– Dr. Berry Pierre Notable Quotes: “If you do not talk about access in regards to the challenges of health and being healthy, then again, you're only doing half the job.” – Dr. Berry Pierre Sign up at www.listentodrberry.com  to join the mailing list. Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member. Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and Spotify Links/Resources: Lunch and Learn Patreon Family CDC's Office of Minority Health and Health Equity NCBI's Social Determinants of Health in the United States KFF's Health Insurance Coverage in the United States

Recently host Josh Nelson had the opportunity to visit with Danielle Roberts, a founding partner at Boomer Benefits, which is a national agency specializing in Medicare-related insurance products since 2005. She is a nationally recognized expert in the Medicare and health insurance industry and the author of the bestselling book 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can't afford to Make  which is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  Their conversation focuses on what challenges a lot of people face as they're getting older and transitioning into retirement or early retirement, figuring out what to do for medical benefits. Danielle Roberts helps making the walk through the Medicare maze easier for you. Resources:National Association of Underwritershttp://nahu.orgBoomer Benefitshttps://boomerbenefits.com/Josh Nelsonhttp://keystonefinancial.comThe Wiser Financial Advisor Podcasthttps://www.keystonefinancial.com/podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/keystonefin/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Keystone_Fin?advisorid=33004651Contact Josh: https://www.keystonefinancial.comEditor: Tim Leaman/info.primegen@gmail.comMarketing Director: Macy Chapmanhttps://www.keystonefinancial.com/team/macy-chapman

Prof. Sabrina Corlette is a research professor and codirector of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. S. Corlette and C.H. Monahan. U.S. Health Insurance Coverage and Financing. N Engl J Med 2022;387:2297-2300.

Last updated : 2022.12.13 The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

Ken talks with Rick Notter, Vice President, Individual Business, Blue Cross Blue Shield See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://thecitylife.org/2022/11/16/ny-state-of-health-announces-annual-open-enrollment-period-for-2023-health-insurance-coverage-begins-today/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/citylifeorg/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/citylifeorg/support

The recently signed gun law, S. 2938: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, contained a surprise dingleberry postponing a regulation designed to save seniors money on their pharmaceutical drugs by prohibiting kickbacks to an industry few have heard of: Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). This little-known but extremely powerful industry deserves much of the blame for ever rising prescription drugs costs in the United States. In this episode, Jen gives you the scoop on PBMs and how they make their money at the expense of Americans who are most dependent on medications. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536. Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! View the shownotes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd255-pharmacy-benefit-managers-pbms We're Not Wrong Berlin Meetup Contact Justin at WereNotWrongPod@gmail.com Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD134: The EpiPen Hearing US Healthcare Landscape Jessi Jezewska Stevens. Apr 23, 2020. “A Brief History of the Great American Healthcare Scam.” Bookforum. Tanza Loudenback. Mar 7, 2019. “The average cost of healthcare in 21 different countries.” Insider. Chuck Grassley and Ron Wyden. 2019. “Insulin: Examining the Factors Driving the Rising Cost of a Century Old Drug [Staff Report].” U.S. Senate Finance Committee. “Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population.” Kaiser Family Foundation. Sara R. Collins and David C. Radley. Dec 7, 2018. “The Cost of Employer Insurance Is a Growing Burden for Middle-Income Families.” The Commonwealth Fund. PBMs What are PBMs? JC Scott. Jun 30, 2022. “Drug manufacturers are root cause of high drug costs; PBMs drive costs down.” The Hill. Zach Freed. Jun 22, 2022. “The Pharmacy Benefit Mafia: The Secret Health Care Monopolies Jacking Up Drug Prices and Abusing Patients and Pharmacists.” American Economic Liberties Project. Adam J. Fein. Jun 22, 2021. “The Top Pharmacy Benefit Managers of 2020: Vertical Integration Drives Consolidation (rerun).” Drug Channels. “Flash finding: How drug money from sick people really works.” Nov 11, 2021. 46brooklyn. Adam J. Fein. Feb 3, 2019. “Don't Blame Drug Prices on ‘Big Pharma.'” The Wall Street Journal. How PBMs Make Money “DIR Fees.” National Association of Chain Drug Stores. “How PBMs Make Money: PBM Practices & Profits.” RxSafe. True North Political Solutions. Oct 25, 2017. “White Paper: DIR Fees Simply Explained.” Pharmacy Times. ACA “Vertical Integration” Loophole Peter High. Jul 8, 2019. “A View From Inside Cigna's $67 Billion Acquisition Of Express Scripts.” Forbes. Angelica LaVito. Nov 28, 2018. “CVS creates new health-care giant as $69 billion merger with Aetna officially closes.” CNBC. David Dayen. Oct 12, 2018. “Why the Aetna and CVS Merger Is So Dangerous.” The American Prospect. Jeff Byers. April 12, 2018. “Optum a step ahead in vertical integration frenzy.” Healthcare Dive. Graph: Optum opens up wider market for UnitedHealth Group Graph: Optum's pharmacy business contributes the majority of its revenue Susan Morse. May 10, 2017. “Secret weapon: UnitedHealth's Optum business is laying waste to old notions about how payers make money.” Healthcare Finance. Lobbying “Client Profile: Pharmaceutical Care Management Assn.” Open Secrets. The Demise of Independent Pharmacies Christine Blank. Oct 17, 2019. “Independents Prepare to Close Up Shop.” Drug Topics. Paulina Firozi. Aug 23, 2018. “The Health 202: Here's why rural independent pharmacies are closing their doors.” The Washington Post. What Is a Formulary? Ana Gascon Ivey. May 19, 2020. “A Guide to Medication Formularies.” GoodRx. Previous Delays in Rebate Regulation Paige Minemyer. Jan 29, 2021. “In a win for PBMs, Biden administration delays rebate rule.” Fierce Healthcare. Paige Minemyer. Jan 12, 2021. “PCMA sues Trump administration over rebate rule.” Fierce Healthcare. “Incorporating the Effects of the Proposed Rule on Safe Harbors for Pharmaceutical Rebates in CBO's Budget Projections—Supplemental Material for Updated Budget Projections: 2019 to 2029.” May 2019. Congressional Budget Office. The Gun Law Passage Process Office of the Clerk. May 18, 2022. “Roll Call 212 | Bill Number: S. 2938.” U.S. House of Representatives. Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board. May 12, 2022. “Republican lawmakers should be ashamed for failing to honor Justice Joseph Hatchett.” Miami Herald. Annie Karni. Apr 12, 2022. “House G.O.P., Banding Together, Kills Bid to Honor Pioneering Black Judge.” The New York Times. Background on Most Important Provisions Mary Katherine Wildeman. May 26, 2022. “Data show most school shootings carried out by young adults, teens.” CT Insider. Jeffrey Pierre. May 26, 2022. “Experts say we can prevent school shootings. Here's what the research says.” NPR. The Dingleberry Erik Sherman. Jun 30, 2022. “Gun Safety Bill Extends Drug Middlemen Protection From Anti-Kickback Measure.” Forbes. Molly Rutherford. Jun 28, 2022. “Gun legislation provision puts drug supply chain profits over patients.” The Hill. Marty Schladen. Jun 22, 2022. “Deep inside the gun bill: a break for prescription drug middlemen.” Iowa Capital Dispatch. Poland Train Station Taylor Popielarz, Maureen McManus and Justin Tasolides. Mar 25, 2022. “‘The help given is remarkable': Inside the Poland train station that's become a hub for Ukrainian refugees.” Spectrum News NY1. The Law and the Regulation S. 2938: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Senate Vote: 65-33 (All Nos GOP) House Vote: 234-193 (All Nos GOP) Jen's Highlighted PDF of S. 2938: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Fraud and Abuse; Removal of Safe Harbor Protection for Rebates Involving Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Creation of New Safe Harbor Protection for Certain Point-of-Sale Reductions in Price on Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Certain Pharmacy Benefit Manager Service Fees U.S. Health and Human Services Department November 30, 2020 Audio Sources The State of Competition in the Pharmacy Benefits Manager and Pharmacy Marketplaces November 17, 2015 House Committee on the Judiciary Witnesses: Bradley J. Arthur, R.Ph., Owner, Black Rock Pharmacy David Balto, Law Offices of David A. Balto PLLC Amy Bricker, R.Ph. Vice President of Retail Contracting & Strategy, Express Scripts Natalie A. Pons, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, CVS Health Clips 53:48 Bradley Arthur: The Big Three PBMs control almost 80% of the entire market and these PBMs have the upper hand both in negotiating the contract with the payer, as well as strongly influencing the actual plan design itself. The PBM industry typically states that they can use their economic power to harness enhanced market efficiencies, but for whom? However, the staggering annual revenues that continue to grow each year of the big three suggests that these efficiencies are going directly to their corporations' bottom lines. Small community pharmacies like mine are faced on a daily basis with the impact of the PBMs' disproportionate market power. Community pharmacies routinely must agree to take-it-or-leave-it contracts from the PBMs just to continue to serve our long-standing patients. As if that weren't enough, the PBMs also directly set the reimbursement rates for pharmacies, the very same pharmacies that stand in direct competition of some of these PBM-owned mail-order and specialty pharmacies. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the PBMs present employer and government payers with carefully tailored suggested plans designs that steer beneficiaries to these PBM-owned entities. Drug Pricing in America: A Prescription for Change, Part I January 29, 2019 Senate Committee on Finance Witnesses: Kathy Sego, Mother of a Child with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Ph.D., President, American Action Forum Mark E. Miller, Ph.D., Vice President of Health Care, Laura and John Arnold Foundation Peter B. Bach, MD, MAPP, Director, Memorial Sloan Kettering Center for Health Policy and Outcomes Clips 1:57:30 Sen. John Cornyn (R - TX): Can anybody on the panel explain to me why we have a general prohibition against kickbacks — they call them rebates — under the Social Security Act, but we nevertheless allow it for prescription drug pricing? What's the sound public policy reason for excluding prescription drug pricing from the anti-kickback rule under federal law? Douglas Holtz-Eakin: I can't explain that and won't pretend to. [laughter] Sen. Cornyn: I thought I was the only one who didn't understand the wisdom of that. Well, it's not a transparent arrangement and it does produce upward pressure on drug prices. And obviously, the negotiations between the PBM and the pharma in terms of what the net cost is, is not transparent, nor is it delivered to the consumer. Is it Dr. Miller? Dr. Bach? Peter Bach: It's delivered to the consumer indirectly through the reduction of the total cost of the benefit, but it is not delivered to the actual consumer using the drug, and that is a disassociation, that is a problem. Because it essentially reverses the structure of insurance. Lowering the total costs are people who use it the least, and raising the costs are people who use it the most, relative to if you allowed the rebate to be used at the point of sale, including all discounts. 1:59:49 Douglas Holtz-Eakin: If we had the negotiation be about the upfront price, so instead of a high list price and a rebate, you just negotiate a lower price, that would be the price that Ms. Sego would pay and insurance companies would look at that and say, okay, she's not paying as much as she used to, we're going to have to make up that money somewhere else and they might raise premiums. That means that people who don't have extreme insulin drug costs would pay a little bit more in a premium every month, and people who have extremely devastating medical conditions and high health care costs would get less costs. That's exactly what insurance is supposed to do. And so the rebate system is more than giving strange incentives on pricing. It's undercutting the purpose of insurance in general. Drug Pricing in America: A Prescription for Change, Part II February 26, 2019 Senate Committee on Finance Witnesses: Richard A. Gonzalez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AbbVie Inc. Pascal Soriot, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca Giovanni Caforio, M.D., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Jennifer Taubert, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Chairman, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Merck & Co., Inc. Albert Bourla, DVM, Ph.D., Chief Executive Office, Pfizer Olivier Brandicourt, M.D., Former Chief Executive Officer, Sanofi Clips 1:22:03 Albert Bourla: Adverse incentives that favor higher cost biologics are keeping biosimilars from reaching patients. In many cases, insurance companies declined to include lower cost biosimilars in their formularies because they would risk losing the rebates from covering higher cost medicines. I can't think of a more concerning example of a broken system and we need to do something about it. 1:33:35 Sen. Chuck Grassley (R - IA): So many of you have voiced support for the recent rebate rule proposed by the administration. Should the administration finalized this rule, will you commit to lowering your drug prices? Richard Gonzalez [CEO, AbbVie]: Mr. Chairman, we are supportive of the rule. We'd like to see it in its final form, obviously, to make a final decision, but we are supportive of taking the discount to the patient at the point of sale. Sen Grassley: Okay. AstraZeneca? **Pascal Soriot [CEO, AstraZeneca]**The same for us Senator, I would go one step further: if the rebates were removed from the commercial sector as well, we will definitely reduce our list prices. Sen Grassley: Okay. And Bristol? Giovanni Caforio [CEO, Bristol-Myers Squibb]: We have the same positions. Sen Grassley: Okay. Johnson and Johnson? Jennifer Taubert [EVP, J&J]: Yes, we're supportive, and that definitely would be my goal. We would just need to see the final legislation, provided that there aren't additional fees that are added into the system to compensate for the rebates. Sen Grassley: Merck? **Kenneth C. Frazier: I would expect that our prices would go down if we change the system. Again, on the commercial side as well as the Medicare side. Sen Grassley: Okay, Pfizer? Albert Bourla [CEO, Pfizer]: It is a very clear intention that we will not keep a single dollar from these rebates. We will try to move every single penny to the patients and we think if this goes also to the commercial plants that will be even better for more patients. Sen Grassley: Okay. Sanofi? Olivier Brandicourt [Former CEO, Sanofi]: Lowering list price has to be linked to better access and affordability at the counter for the patients. 1:35:20 Sen. Ron Wyden (D - OR): Is it correct that your company, and nobody else, sets the starting price for all drugs sold by Pfizer? Yes or no? Albert Bourla: It is a negotiation with PBMs and they are very powerful. Sen. Wyden: But you still get to set the list price? Albert Bourla: Yes, but we set this price and the rebate limit(?). 1:35:40 Sen. Ron Wyden (D - OR): Is it correct, when a hypothetical patient, let's call her Mrs. Jones, goes to pay for her drug at the pharmacy counter, her coinsurance is based on the price of the drug you set? Albert Bourla: It is correct in many cases. Sen. Wyden: Okay. I just want you all to know that the number one reason consumers are getting hammered, is because these list prices, which you have the last word with respect to where they are, are unaffordable. And the high prices are tied to what the consumer pays at the pharmacy counter. And all this other stuff you talk about, the rebates and the discounts and the coupons, all this other stuff is window dressing, all of that. And the fact is on Part D, 40% of the drugs don't even have a rebate. So I want it understood, particularly because I've asked you, Mr. Borla, I think you and others in the industry are stonewalling on the key issue, which is actually lowering list prices. And reducing those list prices are the easiest way for American consumers to pay less at the pharmacy counter. 2:12:45 Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE): First is eliminating rebates to PBMs. That's the first one, eliminating rebates to PBMs. The second is value based arrangements. And the third is increasing transparency industry-wide on how you set your prices. 2:13:20 Richard Gonzalez: We clearly support providing the discount at the patient level, eliminating rebates essentially. 2:14:10 Pascal Soriot: If the rebates, as I said earlier, were to be removed from Part D and the commercial sector, we would actually reduce our list prices. 2:15:10 Giovanni Caforio: I would say that not only do we support all three elements that you mentioned, but I do believe those three elements together with the continued effort to develop a generic and biosimilar market would mean significant change, and would clearly alleviate the concerns that patients have today. 2:14:44 Jennifer Taubert: We are very supportive of all three elements that you outlined 2:15:52 Kenneth Frazier: We too support all three. 2:15:55 Albert Bourla: All three elements are transformational for our industry, will disrupt it. However, we do agree that these are the three things that need to be done and also I believe that will have significant meaningful results if we do. 2:16:10 Olivier Brandicourt: We support the three Senator, but we want to keep in mind at the end of the chain the patient has to benefit, so if rebates are removed it has to be to the benefit of patients. Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE): Good, thanks. 2:18:10 Albert Bourla: 50% of the American people are in commercial plans and these rebate rules apply to Medicare. If the rules apply to all, definitely the list price will go down. 2:18:30 Albert Bourla: The list price is not irrelevant, it's very relevant for a lot of people because they have to pay list price during the deductible period. However if the rebate rule is applied, then they become irrelevant because the patients will not be paying the list price at the purchase point. 2:19:10 Sen. John Thune (R-SD): How would manufacturers respond if the rebate rule were finalized for government programs? I mean, what does that what does that mean for the commercial market? Albert Bourla: Senator, as I said before, all these proposals that they're discussing, [undistinguishable], eliminating the rebate rule, are transformational and will disrupt the way we do business. I don't know exactly how the system will evolve, and I really don't favor a bifurcated system. I would like to have a transparent single system across both parts. So we need to see how the whole thing will evolve. 2:25:26 Johnny Isakson (R-GA): Who sets the discount and who sets the rebate? 2:26:20 Richard Gonzalez: We negotiate with payers, so managed care and PBMs— Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA): You're a supplier though, so you have to go negotiate with the PBMs and those people, is that right? Richard Gonzalez: Correct, and they negotiate aggressively. Sen. Isakson: Is that pretty much true with everybody, that they're the major component between the end retail consumer price and the origin of the product? Richard Gonzalez: Yes, Senator. Sen. Isakson: Well, that seems like that's someplace we ought to focus, because that's where the distorted numbers come in. Johnson & Johnson, Janssen, in your testimony, you talked about your average list price of 8.1%, up, but an average net price change of only 4.6%. So while your gross went up 8.6, your net went down 4.6 In the same pricing period. How does that happen? If you're setting the price, how does it not go up on the bottom? Jennifer Taubert: Yeah, and in fact, in 2018, our net price actually declined 8.6%, so even more than that. The intermediaries in the system are very, very effective negotiators— Sen. Isakson: Tell me who the intermediaries are. Jennifer Taubert: Those would be the PBMs and the insurers. Sen. Isakson: …and the insurance companies? Jennifer Taubert: Right, and they set the formularies for patients. Sen. Isakson: And they're not the same. They're two different people? Jennifer Taubert: Yes, correct. 2:40:45 James Lankford (R-OK): All of you have mentioned the rebate issue has been a problem and that insurance companies and PBMs are very effective negotiators. Part of the challenge of this is, health insurance companies pay their PBM based on the quality of their negotiation skills, cutting a price off the list price. And so if a list price is higher and a rebate is higher, that also gives preference to them. So the difficulty is, as you raise list price, and the rebate gets larger, the insurance company gives that preference, making it harder for biosimilars. Am I tracking this correctly? 2:43:00 Albert Bourla: Here in the US, the penetration of biosimilars is much lower than in other places, but it is disproportional to different parts of the US healthcare system. For example, in open systems, systems where the decision maker it is a PBM, the one biosimilar we have has a market share of 5% in the US. In closed systems, in systems like Kaiser, for example, integrated healthcare systems where the one who decides has the whole cost of the healthcare system in its interest, we have 73%. 5% and 73% for the same product. I agree with what Mr. Fraser said that we need to create incentives, but I would add also that we need to break this rebate trap that creates significant disincentives for providers, and the healthcare system, and insurance companies. 3:19:25 Kenneth Frazier: If you went back a few years ago, when we negotiated to get our drugs on formulary, our goal was to have the lowest copay by patients. Today the goal is to pay into the supply chain the biggest rebate, and so that actually puts the patient at a disadvantage since they're the only ones that are paying a portion of the list price. The list price is actually working against the patient. 3:19:50 Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT): Why do we have a system today? Where you all are setting, I'll just say very, very high list prices, which is the starting point for negotiation. Why? Olivier Brandicourt: Senator, we're trying to get formulary position. With those list prices. High list price, high rebates. It's a preferred position. Unfortunately the preferred position doesn't automatically ensure affordability at the end. Kenneth C. Frazier: Senator, If you bring a product to the market with a low list price in this system, you get punished financially and you get no uptake because everyone in the supply chain makes money as a result of a higher list price. Drug Pricing in America: A Prescription for Change, Part III April 9, 2019 Senate Committee on Finance Witnesses: Steve Miller, MD, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Cigna Corporation Derica Rice, Former Executive Vice President and President, CVS Health and CVS Caremark William Fleming, Pharm.D., Segment President, Healthcare Services, Humana Inc. John Prince, Chief Executive Officer, OptumRx Mike Kolar, JD, Interim President & CEO, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Prime Therapeutics LLC Clips Sen. Ron Wyden (D - OR): Pharmaceutical Benefit Managers first showed up decades ago, back when prescription drugs were being utilized more extensively. The PBMs told the insurance companies, “we're the ones who know drug pricing, we will handle the negotiations for you.” But there is little evidence that the pharmaceutical benefit managers have actually held down the prices in a meaningful way. In fact, most of the evidence shows just the opposite. Pharmaceutical Benefit Managers actually make more money when they pick a higher price drug over a lower price drug. Colleagues, let's remember that all the way through this discussion, benefit managers make more money when they pick a higher price drug over a lower price drug. The logic on this isn't exactly complicated, graduate-level economics. PBM profits are based on taking their slice of the prescription-drug pie. More expensive drugs means there's a bigger pie. When there's a bigger pie, [there are] bigger slices for the pharmaceutical benefit managers. 50:24 Mike Kolar: Rebates and the role they play have been key areas of focus in the drug cost debate. In our view, rebates are a powerful tool to offset high prices, which are set by pharmaceutical companies, and pharmaceutical companies alone. The fact that rebates are not offered on many of the highest cost drugs, and that studies show no correlation between prices and rebates underscore that rebates are a key to mitigating rather than causing high drug prices. We pass rebates through fully to our plans, and we believe our plans should be able to choose how to apply these rebates in ways that best serve their members and market needs by balancing premiums and cost sharing. 56:05 Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): I'd like to talk about consolidation, including the recent integration of PBMs with insurance companies. Last year I wrote to the Justice Department on the issues, it reported that the three largest PBMs who are before us today now covers 71% of Medicaid, Medicare Part D enrollees and 86% of standalone Drug Plan enrollees. 57:45 Derica Rice: This is a highly competitive space. In addition to the three that you've pointed out here, CMS has noted there are over 60 PBMs across the US. Therefore, the competition, there's many options for the employers that are out there, government entities, as well as unions to choose from given their specific needs. 1:10:35 Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): So when we look at Express Scripts has 100 million Americans covered, CVS 90 million, OptumRx 65 million, Prime Therapeutics 27 million, Humana 21 million, and yet Americans still pay the highest prices in the world. Even though you are negotiating for millions of people. The VA has its own pharmacy benefit manager service, they negotiate for 9 million veterans, and they pay, on average, 40% less for the same drugs that the rest of the healthcare system pays for. Despite greater volume, you are unable to secure these kinds of low prices. With all due respect, you guys are pretty bad negotiators. Given the fact that the VA can get 40% less. And so I'd like to know from each of you why that's the case. Dr. Miller? Steve Miller [Former EVP and Chief Clinical Officer, Cigna Corporation]: Yes. Part of the equation is giving patients choice. At the VA, they actually limit their formulary more than any of us at this table do. So oftentimes, they'll have one beta blocker, one ace inhibitor. And so if it's going to get to that level of choice, then we could get better prices also. Sen. Stabenow: Let me jump in, in the interest of time. I know you create nationwide drug formularies, you have pre-authorization, you give preferred status to certain medications. So you don't use any of those tools that the VA is using? Because you do. Steve Miller: We definitely use those tools, but we also give people choice. It's crucial for both physicians and patients to have the choice of the products they want to be able to access. Many of our plans want us to have broad formularies and when you have more products, it means you move less market share. Sen. Stabenow: So basically you're saying a 40% premium gives them more choice. 1:24:30 Sherrod Brown (D-OH): If the administration's rebate rule were finalized as proposed, would you in some way be required to change the way you do business? Mike Kolar: Yes, Senator we would. John Prince: Yes. William Fleming: Yes. Derica Rice: Yes. Steve Miller: Yes. Sen. Brown: Thank you. 1:25:05 Sherrod Brown (D-OH): What percentage of prescriptions that you fill across Part D actually receive a rebate? Roughly what percentage? Mike Kolar: So Senator, approximately 8% of the prescriptions that we cover in Part D are associated with a rebate. Sen. Brown: Okay, Mr. Prince? John Prince: Senator, I don't know the exact number, I know our overall business is about 7%. Sen. Brown: Okay, thank you. William Fleming: About 7-8%. Derica Rice: Senator, I do not know the exact number but we pass through 100% of all rebates and discounts. Sen. Brown: [Grunt] Steve Miller: 90% of the prescriptions will be generic. Of the 10% that are branded, about two-thirds have rebates. So it's about seven-- Sen. Brown: 7-8% like the others. Okay. To recap, PBMs do not set drug prices. Forcing you to change the way you do business -- as the administration's rule would — will not change that fact. And while the rule might impact a small percentage of drugs and Part D that receive a rebate, it does nothing to lower costs, as your answer suggests, for the other 90% of prescriptions you fill. Most importantly, absolutely nothing in the proposed rule would require Secretary Azar's former employer or any other pharma company to lower the price of insulin or any other drug. It's important to establish that, so thank you for that. 1:41:40 Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV): Let me ask you, Dr. Fleming, in your testimony, you say Humana's analysis of the rebate rule -- and we're talking about the administration's rebate rule now — found that approximately 17% of beneficiaries will see savings at the pharmacy counter as a result of this rule. Can you tell me a little bit more about who these people are? And what kind of conditions do they have? William Fleming: Senator, there will be a number of members who are taking brand drugs for which we get rebates and so it could vary all the way from the common chronic conditions, things like diabetes or hypertension or high cholesterol, all the way over to occasionally, not usually, but occasionally on the specialty drug side. When you think of some medications like treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, places where there's competition. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom! On today's show, we're taking a look at Health Insurance. It can be a dizzying experience with a seemingly endless pile of options that can leave you confused and unsure where to start. Let's calm that chaos.   The first thing to consider when you're scaling your business is simply offering a health insurance package to your current (and potential future) employees. There are many employees looking to switch jobs but don't because they have awesome benefits. If you're hoping to attract those employees by having that benefits package, offering a great package could do the trick.    Next, consider the level of plans of packages and the variability of the cost. Costs can vary in price range based on the size of your group, your location, or the type of business. Reaching out to a local licensed agent is the best thing that you can do. Be sure that this person is someone that is going to be able to grow with you because your business is going to grow.    Don't feel like you have to add everything to your health insurance package in the first year. You can start with a basic package and add on additional benefits as your team needs them. By expanding your package, you're scaling your business by bringing in new talent.    Talk with your employees about the package you're offering. It helps employees understand not only the cost but the decisions that you're making and what benefits you're bringing to them.    Key Takeaways   The first thing to consider when you're scaling your business is simply offering a health insurance package to your current (and potential future) employees.   Consider the level of plans of packages and the variability of the cost.   Don't feel like you have to add everything to your health insurance package in the first year.

Medicare Advantage or MA Plans are another way for beneficiaries to get Medicare Part A and Part B coverage delivered through private insurance companies. MA Plans adhere to the rules set by Medicare to cover beneficiaries, but their benefits are delivered by Medicare approved private companies. MA plans are part of a broader trend towards public sources of coverage, like Medicare and Medicaid, increasingly relying on private health plans to provide or administer their health benefits. Last year 42 % of all Medicare beneficiaries got their. benefits through private MA plans. Enrollment in these plans is growing at nearly 10% per year. There is serious concerns that coverage and patient access are being eroded as a result of health insurer efforts to restrict access and that there is a tremendous burden on health care providers to manage these insurer policies. In fact the HHS Office of Inspector General recently published a report finding that MA plans have exhibited a pattern of denying prior authorization and payment requests that would have covered by original Medicare. These types of denials have raised fears about certain insurer practices, which may impede beneficiary access to medically necessary care. Joining the podcast today to discuss the trends of how Medicare Advantage plans may affect patient care is Michelle Millerick, AHA's Senior Associate Director of Health Insurance Coverage. (Recorded at AHA's Annual Meeting in Washington D.C.)

This is episode 72, "Well-Known and Lesser-Known Problems With Our Healthcare System." In this episode, I discuss some of the well-known and lesser-known problems with the United States healthcare system.  I start by discussing that federal law requires the states to seek reimbursement from Medicaid beneficiaries' estates upon their deaths. While this usually applied to Medicaid beneficiaries who were 55 or older when they received benefits, it can also apply to beneficiaries of any age under certain circumstances.  I also discuss the unnecessary deaths caused by our healthcare system, the high costs of our healthcare system, other economic effects of our healthcare system, how insurance companies deny care, and how doctors often need to fight the insurance companies to get patients the treatments and medications they need.  I end with a discussion of a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report that documents some of the benefits that Medicare for All would provide.  Do not miss this episode as I discuss information you need to know about the United States healthcare system and Medicare for All. More information on the topics discussed in this episode can be found at these links: Information about Medicaid recovering costs can be at these two links: Medicaid Estate Recovery: Long-Term Care Benefits Aren't Necessarily ‘Free' and How Medicaid Recovers the Cost of Long-Term Care From Your Estate After You Die. The referenced Families USA report can be found here: Catastrophic Cost of Uninsurance: COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Closely Tied to America's Health Coverage Gaps. The referenced Commonwealth Fund report can be found here: U.S. Health Insurance Coverage in 2020: A Looming Crisis in Affordability. The referenced CBO report can be found here: Economic Effects of Five Illustrative Single-Payer Health Care Systems.

There are about 105,000 other South Carolinians who fall into a health insurance coverage gap created by factors that were set into motion about a decade ago. In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act for the first time. But, there was a caveat. The court said it was up to states to decide if they would expand Medicaid, the state and federal program that provides health coverage to people with low incomes. Most states signed on. South Carolina did not. Ten years in, South Carolina remains one of only 12 states that has not expanded its Medicaid program under the ACA. Republican leaders in Columbia have long contended that South Carolina can't afford it. Today, health editor Lauren Sausser will break down that almost 10-year-old decision and why it was one of the most significant health care policy choices state leaders have made this century. We also spoke with Christian Soura, a former Medicaid director for South Carolina who's now  the executive vice president at the S.C. Hospital Association, about the cost that comes with not expanding Medicaid coverage in the state. READ MORE: 10 years after Affordable Care Act decision, 105,000 in SC still in insurance coverage gapAre there any stories you'd like to hear on the show. Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com .

Once again, lawmakers will be talking about health insurance during the upcoming session. One bill would help Realtors get coverage. Michael Pope reports.

Millions of workers will choose their 2022 company-provided health benefits this month. WSJ personal-finance reporter J.J. McCorvey joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what people should consider before making benefits selections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is causing the shortage of goods and workers? What should we do about it?Topics covered include:How a tree pandemic killed billions of American Chestnut treesHow a massive increase in demand has crippled the global supply, leading to an eight-fold increase in shipping costsWhy there are so many job openings and people quitting their jobsWhy the free market doesn't work as well for child daycareHow stimulus payments during the pandemic reduced poverty ratesWhat is the lying flat movementHow everything is in place for an extended period of high inflation even though the bond market still anticipates inflation will be transitoryWhy we should own real things and plan more downtimeThanks to Policygenius and Masterworks for sponsoring the episode.Show NotesThe Demise and Potential Revival of the American Chestnut by Kate Morgan—Sierra ClubU.S. Imports to Increase by 20% by End of 2021—Material Handling & LogisticsThe largest port in the US hit a new ship-backlog record every day last week, as 65 massive container boats float off the California coast by Grace Kay—Business InsiderThe World Is Still Short of Everything. Get Used to It. by Peter S. Goodman and Keith Bradsher—The New York Times‘Just Get Me a Box': Inside the Brutal Realities of Supply Chain Hell by Brendan Murray—Bloomberg BusinessweekRising Shipping Costs Are Companies' Latest Inflation Riddle by Thomas Gryta—The Wall Street JournalIncome, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2020—United States Census BureauEmployers Are Baffled as U.S. Benefits End and Jobs Go Begging by Katia Dmitrieva and Olivia Rockeman—BloombergJob Openings and Labor Turnover - July 2021—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics‘Lie Flat' If You Want, But Be Ready to Pay the Price by Allison Schrager—Bloomberg‘Can't Compete': Why Hiring for Child Care Is a Huge Struggle by Claire Cain Miller—The New York TimesTreasury Releases Report Showing U.S. Childcare System Overburdens Families and Causes Shortages Due to Inadequate Supply—U.S. Department of the TreasurySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We know that the pandemic caused millions of people to lose their jobs, and potentially their job-based insurance, and yet new survey data showed surprisingly small changes in uninsurance rates at the end of 2020. Kate Bundorf, PhD, from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and Jessica Banthin, PhD, of the Urban Institute talk to JAMA Health Forum Deputy Editor Melinda Buntin about these trends and the role played by Medicaid and exchange coverage. JAMA Health Forum Editor John Ayanian and Melinda Buntin also discuss other recent work about health insurance coverage and the ACA that has appeared in JAMA Health Forum. Related Content: Trends in US Health Insurance Coverage During the COVID-19 Pandemic Fewer People May Have Become Uninsured in 2020 Than Feared Outcomes After Changes to US Health Insurance Marketplace Automatic Renewal Rules Income Eligibility for Medicaid vs Marketplace Coverage for Insurance Enrollment Among Low-Income Adults Making the Affordable Care Act Marketplace More Affordable

We know that the pandemic caused millions of people to lose their jobs, and potentially their job-based insurance, and yet new survey data showed surprisingly small changes in uninsurance rates at the end of 2020. Kate Bundorf, PhD, from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and Jessica Banthin, PhD, of the Urban Institute talk to JAMA Health Forum Deputy Editor Melinda Buntin about these trends and the role played by Medicaid and exchange coverage. JAMA Health Forum Editor John Ayanian and Melinda Buntin also discuss other recent work about health insurance coverage and the ACA that has appeared in JAMA Health Forum. Related Content: Trends in US Health Insurance Coverage During the COVID-19 Pandemic Fewer People May Have Become Uninsured in 2020 Than Feared Outcomes After Changes to US Health Insurance Marketplace Automatic Renewal Rules Income Eligibility for Medicaid vs Marketplace Coverage for Insurance Enrollment Among Low-Income Adults Making the Affordable Care Act Marketplace More Affordable

Today's podcast episode discusses state laws that address health insurance coverage issues associate with Lyme disease.

Rick Thornton, a Fort Worth health insurance agent, says the positives of the Affordable Care Act clearly outweigh the negatives, and anyone who is uninsured or underinsured should sign up before the August 15 deadline.

Patrick Kennedy (Former U.S. Representative (D-RI) and Founder of The Kennedy Forum) stops by to advocate for better treatment of mental health in the US.Mental Health Parity: Ending Discrimination in Health Insurance Coverage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCEATUtBcUYWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nHc9geAvacYAbout Patrick Kennedy: During his time in Congress, Patrick J. Kennedy was the lead author of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer. In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit that unites advocates, business leaders, and government agencies to advance evidence-based practices, policies, and programming in mental health and addiction. In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction,” which details a bold plan for the future of mental health care in America. In 2017, he was appointed to the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.#MentalHealth #Healthcare #HealthcarePolicy #HealthcareIndustry #Health

This week's retirement reading is from Advisor Perspectives, titled Client Opportunities for Health Insurance Coverage Under the American Rescue Plan. Listen in as Casey Weade breaks down the article and shares what he thinks! Today's episode can also be accessed by visiting RetireWithPurpose.com/202.  Show Notes: RetireWithPurpose.com/202 Rate & Review the Podcast: RetireWithPurpose.com/review Sign Up to Casey's Weekend Reading Email! Sifting through the copious amount of conflicting financial advice and retirement information can be daunting - but it doesn't have to be! Each week, Casey makes it super easy. He hand-picks 4 of the most important articles you need to read, that are beneficial to you whether you're at, near or in retirement! If you want them sent straight to your inbox, sign up by visiting RetireWithPurpose.com/weekend-reading

A bill that expands insurance coverage of abortion services is moving forward in Richmond. Michael Pope reports.

For those that need health insurance in 2021 or already buy from the state's marketplace for health and dental insurance, the open enrollment period is ending shortly.A recent guest on WHAV's morning program was Audrey Morse-Gasteier, who serves as chief of policy and strategy for the Massachusetts Health Connector. She reports many people are looking to pick up, expand or replace coverage due to a job loss, life-changing event or rate increase.“And this is the time of year when any resident of Massachusetts can enroll in health coverage through the Health Connector and find their way to affordable coverage. This is the message we try to make sure people are hearing about every year during open enrollment. Health insurance and health coverage is always so vital, but that's particularly true right now given the COVID pandemic and wanting to make sure people have all their health needs taken care of,” she says.Morse-Gasteier says the Health Connector serves as a place for anyone in Massachusetts who doesn't already have health coverage, whether it's through their job, Medicare or Medicaid, to be able to get enrolled in a health plan. Moreover, there are low-cost plans for those households and individuals that qualify.“We have special subsidies available for people who are low- and moderate-income to help make sure that coverage is either free, or very low cost. We have a special program called Connector Care that we run that most of our membership can qualify for. But even people who don't qualify for those subsidies can get into an individual or family plan from any of the leading health insurance companies in Massachusetts. We have nine insurance companies and lots of different price points and types of networks available. So, it's really where anybody who doesn't get coverage some other way can come and make sure they are getting covered,” Morse-Gasteier explains.And the Health Connector is popular among people who own their own business, or are working without health benefits.“A lot of the people that we cover—maybe you're employed but you don't get offered coverage through their employment, maybe they're a sole proprietor, they own their own business, so there are all types of people who get coverage through the Health Connector all across the income scale. People who qualify for subsidies, people who don't, and people are often very surprised at how affordable the coverage they can qualify for is. Sometimes when we talk with people who are in gaps between health insurance, between jobs, they think it's probably too expensive. I can't afford it, but if you come to our website which is MAHealthConnector.org you can fill out an application, find out what you qualify for, check out the options available to you and get enrolled. We want to make sure people know to start coverage for the new year that starts Jan. 1, they need to select a plan and make a payment by Dec. 23,” she says.For people needing assistance, Morse-Gasteier says they can go to MAHealthConnector.org, click on “Get Assistance” and connect with a trained, certified, navigator to help with the enrollment process.Support the show (https://whav.net/become-a-whav-member/)

What puts the quasi in quasi-experimental designs? What makes a quasi-experimental study different than a “real” experiment? Ever wondered about the difference between regression discontinuity, difference-in-differences, and synthetic control methods? Dr. Tarik Benmarnhia joins us on this episode of SERious Epidemiology to talk us through a range of quasi-experimental designs. He makes a strong case for why we should integrate these designs in a variety of settings in epidemiology ranging from public health policy to clinical epidemiology After listening to this podcast, if you are interested in learning more about quasi-experimental designs, you can check out some of the resources below: Abadie A, Diamond A, Hainmueller J. (2010) Synthetic Control Methods for Comparative Case Studies: Estimating the Effect of California’s Tobacco Control Program, Journal of the American Statistical Association, 105:490, 493-505, DOI: 10.1198/jasa.2009.ap08746 Chen H, Li Q, Kaufman JS, Wang J, Copes R, Su Y, Benmarhnia T. Effect of air quality alerts on human health: a regression discontinuity analysis in Toronto, Canada. Lancet Planet Health. 2018 Jan;2(1):e19-e26. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(17)30185-7. Epub 2018 Jan 9. PMID: 29615204. Auger N, Kuehne E, Goneau M, Daniel M. Preterm birth during an extreme weather event in Québec, Canada: a "natural experiment". Matern Child Health J. 2011 Oct;15(7):1088-96. doi: 10.1007/s10995-010-0645-0. PMID: 20640493. Hernán MA, Robins JM. Instruments for causal inference: an epidemiologist's dream? Epidemiology. 2006 Jul;17(4):360-72. doi: 10.1097/01.ede.0000222409.00878.37. Erratum in: Epidemiology. 2014 Jan;25(1):164. PMID: 16755261. Courtemanche, C., Marton, J., Ukert, B., Yelowitz, A. and Zapata, D. (2017), Early Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on Health Insurance Coverage in Medicaid Expansion and Non‐Expansion States. J. Pol. Anal. Manage., 36: 178-210. https://doi.org/10.1002/pam.21961 Bor J, Fox MP, Rosen S, Venkataramani A, Tanser F, Pillay D, Bärnighausen T. Treatment eligibility and retention in clinical HIV care: A regression discontinuity study in South Africa. PLoS Med. 2017 Nov 28;14(11):e1002463. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002463. PMID: 29182641; PMCID: PMC5705070. Bor J, Moscoe E, Mutevedzi P, Newell ML, Bärnighausen T. Regression discontinuity designs in epidemiology: causal inference without randomized trials. Epidemiology. 2014 Sep;25(5):729-37. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000138. PMID: 25061922; PMCID: PMC4162343. Elder TE. The importance of relative standards in ADHD diagnoses: evidence based on exact birth dates. J Health Econ. 2010;29(5):641-656. doi:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2010.06.003 Smith LM, Kaufman JS, Strumpf EC, Lévesque LE. Effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on clinical indicators of sexual behaviour among adolescent girls: the Ontario Grade 8 HPV Vaccine Cohort Study. CMAJ. 2015;187(2):E74-E81. doi:10.1503/cmaj.140900

What would you do if you lost your employer-provided health insurance? Would you sign up for the Affordable Care options, would you try a state program, or something different? If you haven’t investigated your options or considered what would happen if you needed to make a change with your health insurance coverage, this is the episode for you!  A while back I posted a blog article about health care coverage before the age of 65 but I wanted to make sure I updated it to include some critical changes that will impact people like you. I’ve also included some links that I know you will find helpful, they are located in the resources section at the end of this post.    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Getting healthcare coverage before the age of 65. [1:30] Investigate individual health insurance plans. [5:30] Utilizing the Affordable Care Act. [7:30] Breaking down the insurance exchanges and how the process works [12:00] Using the open enrolment period and planning ahead [15:30]  Closing thoughts [17:15] Why 65?  When you consider your long-term health insurance coverage, are you basing your decisions on what your employer provides, or are you planning on something different? As you look ahead, remember to factor in the age of 65 - that is the age when you are eligible for Medicare.  Medicare is a national health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it primarily provides health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older, but also for some younger people with disability status.  Know your options  When it comes to assessing your options, it’s good to start by laying it all out on the table. Looking at all of your reasonable options and weighing the pros and cons can be an effective way of helping you make the right decision for you and your family. As I see it, here are the main options that most people have when it comes to considering health care coverage before the age of 65. Chose to have no health insurance.  You could qualify for your state’s version of Medicare.  Continue your existing health insurance from your employer using COBRA.  Investigate the individual plans that are available.  Purchase a plan through the Affordable Care Act.  Those are the five options as I see them when it comes to health care coverage before the age of 65. Have you had to rely on any of these options? What has been your experience when it comes to planning ahead for health care coverage? Make sure to tune in and let me know what you think, I love hearing from passionate followers! Resources and People Mentioned portal.ct.gov/HUSKY/How-to-Qualify portal.ct.gov/-/media/HH/PDF/HUSKYAnnualIncomeChart.pdf portal.ct.gov/CID/Life-And-Health/Companies-with-Approved-Individual-Health-Insurance-Policies www.healthcare.gov/ www.accesshealthct.com/AHCT/cthix/#/home https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/federal-poverty-level-fpl/ Episode 1 Episode 16 Connect With Morrissey Wealth Management  www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact

Researchers arrived at that figure by analyzing Bureau of Labor Statistics data and found that 6.2 million workers who previously received their health insurance coverage by way of their employment have now been laid off, and as a result, find themselves without coverage.Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to hear more from Jeff.

Executive Vice President of the Health Insurance Shop, Michelle Walters joins FWMN to give options to those who have lost Health Care coverage due to the pandemic. Subscribe to the

Jonathan & Paco give an update on Coronavirus and then discuss the ever-increasing military spending and what should be done.CDC on Coronavirus:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlItaly Lockdown:https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2020/03/09/italy-imposes-nationwide-restrictions-contain-coronavirus/5004545002/Health Insurance Coverage:https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/watch/pence-says-insurance-companies-will-cover-coronavirus-expenses/vp-BB10ZJhVUS Military Budget:https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/USA/united-states/military-spending-defense-budgetAfghanistan Papers:https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/afghanistan-papers/documents-database/Israel Lobbying:https://ifamericansknew.org/us_ints/introlobby.html

Big apologies for the audio quality, we really wanted to get this episode out and didn't get to test audio too much + we are testing new equipment. The issues will be resolved for Friday's episode on "defeating Trump."Jonathan and Paco provide their take on the Coronavirus outbreak along with some advice on what to do. Definitely don't go buy all the toilet paper.Sources:CDC on Coronavirus:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlItaly Lockdown:https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2020/03/09/italy-imposes-nationwide-restrictions-contain-coronavirus/5004545002/Health Insurance Coverage:https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/watch/pence-says-insurance-companies-will-cover-coronavirus-expenses/vp-BB10ZJhVTreating symptoms is more profitable (OPINION):https://healthimpactnews.com/2014/the-cancer-industry-is-too-prosperous-to-allow-a-cure/

We all need Health Insurance Coverage

Hosted by Creative Planning President Peter Mallouk, A Thousand Miles from Wall Street is a thoughtful, informed discussion about ideas, trends and developments in wealth management, financial planning, investments, tax and estate planning.Our mission is to educate and inspire people to make better financial choices through knowledge, tools and strategies that ensure a more prosperous future. We believe that education and planning are key components to financial success. Come explore relevant financial topics with our team!Important Creative Planning legal disclosure: http://bit.ly/2DC250b

The former Executive Director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector — a model for the Affordable Care Act and other state marketplaces — reflects on what worked, what didn't, and what could be done differently in both Massachusetts and at the federal level.

EPISODE 34:  HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR AUTISM With guest State Lobbyist Bart Baldwin   INTRODUCTION: Hi, everyone! Thanks for joining me today. Bart Baldwin is joining us today. He has over two decades of experience in public policy, lobbying and executive level management in the health care and human services fields, and he’s going to provide some insight for us on public policy decisions, state funding, and how he is providing support to those in the autism community. It’s not the most fun topic, I know, but his experience, I believe, will open your eyes. And as always, if you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts, and share with a friend. That’s how we make our voice stronger. Thanks for listening!   SEGMENT: As we all know far too well, at least for our listeners in the United States, health insurance can be really complicated. Many of us have spent so many hours trying to connect the dots with insurance coverage; it is absolutely so stressful, and I personally have cried so many times to strangers on the other end of the phone just trying to make sense of it all. The insurance landscape has changed drastically over the years, and the good news is (as hard as it may seem some days), we have made some progress. As an example, at least 200 million people now have health insurance coverage for ABA because of the tireless efforts and dedication of advocates across the country. One of these advocates is Bart Baldwin. He is a long-time state lobbyist in the state of Kentucky, and his efforts and advocacy have protected the rights, services, and supports of our autism community. Previously, Bart served as the President of the Children’s Alliance, representing child welfare agencies in Kentucky, and was also the National Director of Regional Public Policy for the Washington D.C. based Child Welfare League of America. Again, I understand this is not the most interesting or fun topic (Bart’s gonna love this lead-in), but I can assure you, in my conversations with Bart, he has opened my eyes to just how much hard work is being done behind the scenes that most of us are completely unaware of. Let’s welcome Bart Baldwin.   CONCLUSION: I’ve had many people reach out to me to ask “which health insurance provides the best coverage”? Whew! There are so many things that can affect coverage based on the specific type of insurance your employer carries, to what state you live in, and the list literally goes on and on. Just know there are people there that can assist you in the navigation of it all, AND they are fighting to protect your family. I always say, “Keep the hustle”, and don’t take “no” for an answer. Progress has been made because of the people that didn’t stop, that didn’t accept no as an answer. We’re all in it together! Thanks for being a part of My Autism Tribe, I’ll see ya next week!   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ABA ADVOCATES GROUP:   Purpose: to impact public policy decisions, state regulations, state law, state funding and MCO policy decisions to benefit the partners of ABA Advocates and the children and families they serve. Also, to promote the ABA profession to government and community stakeholders. ABA Advocates is:  A group of provider organizations, individual providers and other advocates who have decided to partner (not in a legal sense) together and pool their funds together to hire Bart Baldwin Consulting to lobby on their behalf and manage ABA Advocates. ABA Advocates is not: a formalized or legal association or coalition. a 501(C)3 organization or a 501(C)6 organization or any other IRS defined entity. a coalition/association to assist members with business strategy and development. What ABA Advocates can expect from Bart Baldwin Consulting: Direct Lobbying to Key Decision Makers in the: General Assembly Governor’s Office Cabinet for Health and Family Services Department for Medicaid Services Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities Department of Education Medicaid Managed Care Organizations Provide Government Affairs Consultation to include: Public Policy Priority Development Political Strategy Grassroots Advocacy Development Training on effective advocacy and lobbying Management of ABA Advocates to include: Billing and collecting of fees Planning, organizing and staffing routine meetings of ABA Advocates Maintaining routine communications with all partners of ABA Advocates For more information or to become a part of ABA Advocates please contact Bart Baldwin at (502) 320-1143.

My SEVENTH podcast show for my Ethnic Health Disparities Podcast program focuses on CDC's "Health Disparities and Inequalities Report - US 2011." In particular, I highlight the findings on HEALTH-CARE ACCESS AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES. I talk about our the U.S. - Health Insurance Coverage better known as "Obama Care" or "Affordable Care Act," as well as Influenza Vaccination Coverage, and Colorectal Cancer Screening rates. The numbers are startling yet I try to bring some practicality to the numbers and why all three are so important to investigate! Check it out - ANOTHER lively SHOW!

For more details on this show, and to download our free ebook, visit our website atwww.hohmanhomes.com/podcast.To learn more about Steve Cohn, visit this link:https://www.ushagent.com/stevencohn

Show credit from WERA-FM 96.7|Show Title: Pay Me What You Owe Me| https://enlightenmeonwera.com/2016/09/14/09-14-16-pay-me-what-you-owe-me/ The report from the Census bureau on Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States showed wages between men and women have stayed the same since pre-recession times (2007). That’s almost 10 years! (White)Women’s wages currently stand at 80% of what a man makes…the statistics are worse for Black, Latino and Asian women. I talked to Lilly Ledbetter, the namesake of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act President Obama signed into office as the first piece of legislation of his administration. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/enlighten-me/support

This week!!!! We dive deep into why exactly the president has so much to do. Deej gives you the breakdown of "The Hardest Job in The World" by John Dickerson. Maybe it would be better to just have a king AND/OR queen... Brandon breaks down "First Look at Health Insurance Coverage in 2018 Finds ACA Gains Beginning to Reverse" by the Commonweath Fund. (Sara R. Collins, Munira Z. Gunja, Michelle M. Doty and Herman K. Bhupal). --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/send-the-link/support

Dr. Taylor Kelley is a clinical lecturer in internal medicine and fellow in the National Clinician Scholars Program at the University of Michigan. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Managing Editor of the Journal. A.T. Kelley and R. Tipirneni. Care for Undocumented Immigrants - Rethinking State Flexibility in Medicaid Waivers. N Engl J Med 2018;378:1661-3.

Healthcare benefits for house cleaning employees - do they exist? Are we required by law to provide healthcare benefits and if so what and how much? We Ask a House Cleaner about Healthcare Benefits for your maid service.  Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru shares mandatory regulations for employee benefits.  Today's sponsors are Savvy Perks (employee perks for small business owners.) Savvy Cleaner (house cleaning training.) And My Cleaning Connection (A hub for all things cleaning.)   *** COMPLETE SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE *** http://askahousecleaner.com/healthcare-benefits       *** MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS *** Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for House Cleaning Supplies - https://youtu.be/koILrMkmdJI Maid Stole a Vacuum Attachment from A Client - https://youtu.be/fujAgklvF34 Employee Birthday - How Should We Celebrate? - https://youtu.be/Vj19tCj8SqE Customer's Trash - Can I Keep it? - https://youtu.be/ArycI1Om57k Cleaning Tests from a Rental Property Manager - https://youtu.be/YQYdtjmhTxw Driving Rules for House Cleaners and Maids - https://youtu.be/ElxlAhM3H8o   *** RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE *** Resources for Healthcare for Small Business http://plans.connectedbenefits.com/quote/   Shop BlueCross, Humana, United & More. Find Affordable Plans for Your Business. Types: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance   https://smallbusiness.uhc.com/ Health Insurance Coverage for Your Small Business. Company Health Plans · Mid-Sized Business Plans · Small Business Plans · Group Employee Benefits Types: Medical Plans, Life Plans, Vision Plans, Dental Plans   http://grouphealthinsurance.benepath.com/ Get a Blue Cross Small Business Healthcare Plan. The Nation's Top Carrier   https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/ Learn how to get health insurance for employees. Marketplace for Small Business, 50 employees or fewer. Small Business Health Options Program details.   *** OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY THIS SHOW *** ITUNES - http://apple.co/2xhxnoj STITCHER - http://bit.ly/2fcm5JM SOUNDCLOUD - http://bit.ly/2xpRgLH GOOGLE PLAY - http://bit.ly/2fdkQd7 YOUTUBE - https://goo.gl/UCs92v     *** GOT A QUESTION FOR A SHOW? *** Email it to Angela[at]AskaHouseCleaner.com Voice Mail: Click on the blue button at https://askahousecleaner.com     *** HOUSE CLEANING TIPS VAULT *** (DELIVERED VIA EMAIL) - https://savvycleaner.com/tips     *** FREE EBOOK – HOW TO START YOUR OWN HOUSE CLEANING COMPANY *** http://amzn.to/2xUAF3Z     *** PROFESSIONAL HOUSE CLEANERS PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP *** https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProfessionalHouseCleaners/     *** FOLLOW ANGELA BROWN ON SOCIAL MEDIA *** https://Facebook.com/SavvyCleaner https://Twitter.com/SavvyCleaner https://Instagram.com/SavvyCleaner https://Pinterest.com/SavvyCleaner https://Linkedin.com/in/SavvyCleaner     *** WHAT IS ASK A HOUSE CLEANER? *** Ask a House Cleaner is a daily show where you get to ask your house cleaning questions and we provide answers. Learn how to clean. How to start a cleaning business. Marketing and Advertising tips for your cleaning service. How to find top quality house cleaners, housekeepers, and maids. Employee motivation tactics. Strategies to boost your cleaning clientele. Cleaning company expansion help. Time-saving Hacks for DIY cleaners and more. Hosted by Angela Brown, 25-year house cleaning expert and founder of Savvy Cleaner Training for House Cleaners and Maids.   *** DISCLAIMER *** During the shows we recommend services, sites, and products to help you improve your cleaning and grow your cleaning business. We have partnerships or sponsorships with these companies to provide you with discounts, and savings. By clicking on and buying from these links we may receive a commission which helps pay for the production costs of the show. Support the show so we can continue to bring you free tips and strategies to improve your cleaning and help you grow your cleaning business.  THANK YOU!     *** SPONSORSHIPS & BRANDS *** We do work with sponsors and brands. If you are interested in working with us and you have a product or service that is cohesive to the cleaning industry reach out to our promotional department info[at]AskaHouseCleaner.com     *** THIS SHOW WAS SPONSORED BY *** SAVVY CLEANER - House Cleaner Training and Certification – https://savvycleaner.com MY CLEANING CONNECTION – Your hub for all things cleaning – https://mycleaningconnection.com HOUSECLEANING360.COM – Connecting House Cleaners with Homeowners – https://housecleaning360.com    

There remains a large issue with health insurance coverage. FOX's Alex Hein reports in this "Housecall for Health": This is Housecall for Health. It seems like for every covered check up there's a horror insurance claim story involving a child's cancer treatment or amputee's limb. According to the Associated Press, despite efforts to expand and improve coverage, glaring disparities in coverage persist for amputees, children with autism and others in need of certain expensive treatments. Determining factors can stem from where the patient lives or who provides the coverage, two factors that the patient likely can do nothing about. The downside is that a gap in coverage can leave patients buried in debt, leading others to skip treatment altogether. The report warns that the gaps can become even wider as employers wrestle with how to combat skyrocketing healthcare costs. At least one researcher told the AP that it'll require federal action to help close the gap, but that it's not likely to happen anytime soon. For more on this story, check FOXNewsHealth.com. Housecall for Health, I'm Alex Hein, FOX News. Follow Alex Hein on Twitter: @Ahlex3889

Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population, Texas (2012) Employer - 45% Other private - 4% Medicaid - 15% Medicare - 10% Other public - 1% Uninsured - 24% Health Insurance Coverage of Nonelderly (0-64) Population, Texas (2012) Employer -50% Other private - 4% Medicaid - 16% Other public - 3% Uninsured - 27% Facts 30% of children live in poverty in Texas 20% of adults (19-64)live in poverty in Texas 16% of elderly live in poverty in Texas Texas Medical Assoication  

#138: Are you covered by Health Insurance? It's the law, at least it will be in 2014. Medi-Share is a faith-based option that complies with the Affordable Care Act. Tony Meggs is the President and CEO of Christian Care Ministries. One of the best things they do is help Christians pay each other's medical bills through a third-party system that is pretty amazing.   For more information, visit the resources in the show notes at

The 281st edition of America's Debate Radio with Mike and Jaime. During the first hour, we discussed government involvement in marriages, and President Obama's jobs bill. During the second hour, we spoke with 1 caller and discussed adulthood, health insurance coverage, and modern standards of living. During the final hour, we discussed odd and unusual news. Submit your own stories at AllegedlyNews.com. We welcome your feedback! Have your email read on the air-- click here to use the email form. Or, call 888.DEBATE.5 now and leave a message-- we'll play it on the next show. Thanks for listening!

Find out who qualifies for COBRA health insurance coverage, how to get it, and what premium subsidies may be available to make health insurance affordable.