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“High performance network” health care insurance plans to leave patients with unexpected medical debt

A Tennessee family faced a potentially catastrophic situation when Joe Smith — a husband and father of four — was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. Smith, of Chattanooga, had health insurance through his job with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, but the insurance company refused to pay for the surgery necessary to prevent a life-threatening rupture. “We knew that he kind of had this ticking time bomb in his head,” Stacie Smith, Joe’s wife, said. The insurer claimed that the neurosurgeon that Smith’s family had chosen was out of the network, and the plan had no coverage for out-of-network…
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UC San Diego Health Spotlights SMART Health Insurance Cards

highlights – First demonstration of the new QR code standard for health insurance cards. – New model will allow providers to scan QR code, verify its authenticity and ingest the data into their systems automatically. – Collaborating partners include UC San Diego Health, UC Irvine Health, UCLA Health, UCSF Health, UC Davis Health, UCR Health, Evernorth Health Services, Healthcare Financial Management Association, The Commons Project, VCI Coalition and CARIN Alliance. SMART Health Insurance Card Initiative During a digital health symposium this week, Christopher Longhurst, MD, with UC San Diego Health, pulled up a QR code from his phone’s digital wallet,…
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Federal dental plan could lead employers to drop coverage: assoc

OTTAWA – An association of health insurance providers warns it might not be useful for small businesses to provide dental benefits to some employees once the government launches a national dental-care plan. The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association has pitched the idea of ​​a federal tax credit for small businesses to convince them not to drop their coverage. “When governments provide free coverage for any type of benefit, employers will naturally ask if they should continue to pay for those or whether their employees would be as well-served ΓǪ moving to the public plan,” said association president Stephen Frank.…
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US health insurance problems affect well-being of HAE patients: Survey | US insurance coverage delays, denials ’cause huge disruptions’ for HAE patients

Insurance issues significantly affected the physical, psychological, and financial health of people with hereditary angioedema (HAE) in the US, according to a recent patient survey. Patients reported that health insurance delays and coverage denials led to more frequent HAE attacks, urgent care visits, missed work or school, and greater anxiety. “Barriers to care due to insurance delays are well documented, but data is lacking for HAE patients,” Nonie S. Arora, MD, of the University of Michigan and the study’s corresponding author, said in a press release. “We set out to examine not only the impact those denials and delays had…
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Does My Health Insurance Cover International Travel?

Planning an international trip can be downright exhilarating, and that’s especially true if you’re traveling to far-flung locations you’ve never visited before. Whether you plan to relax the day away on a tropical beach, visit archeological sites and ruins you’ve read about in school, or splurge on a culinary-themed getaway for foodies, there’s so much to look forward to – and to prepare for. But there’s more to trip planning than putting together a packing list and an itinerary. You should also make sure you’re adequately covered for a range of emergencies and health issues that could occur, as well…
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What is Probate?

Probate is a court process that your estate will go through after you pass away. The probate court will distribute your estate and make decisions regarding your estate. We can help you stay on top of the latest news that affects your everyday life. Subscribe to stay up to date. (To subscribe to our blog click here). Many of our clients come to us without an understanding of probate or having had a bad experience with the probate court and wanting to keep their estate out of probate. If you die without a written estate plan, your estate must go…
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Should employers offering health benefits get tax credits?

Québec (65 per cent) Ontario (63 per cent) British Columbia (60 per cent) Atlantic Canada (59 per cent) Saskatchewan/Manitoba (58 per cent) Alberta (55 per cent) The same is true among different age groups: 60+ (66 per cent) 45 to 59 (59 per cent) 30 to 44 (61 per cent) 18 to 29 (59 per cent) A health spending account is among the top three features Canadians desire in a benefits plan, according to a previous RBC Insurance report. Employer-provided plan Currently, 64 per cent of Canadians have…
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Is Your Compliance Plan Protecting You?

Healthcare compliance plans are essential to ensure your practice is following the law. Your compliance plan can keep your practice out of trouble. We can help you stay on top of the latest news that affects your everyday life. Subscribe to stay up to date. (To subscribe to our blog click here). A recent enforcement action highlights the need for an effective and updated compliance plan. A physician in Arkansas has been sentenced to 102 months of prison time and to pay over $4.63 million in restitution. Following release from prison, he will have three (3) years of supervised release.…