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It’s Not Just You: Many People Confront Health Insurance Obstacles on Care and Bills

TheNews A majority of Americans with health insurance said they had encountered obstacles to coverage, including denied medical care, higher bills and a dearth of doctors in their plans, according to a new survey from KFF, a nonprofit health research group. As a result, some people are delayed or skipped treatment. Those who were most likely to need medical care — people who described themselves as in fair or poor health — reported more trouble; three-fourths of those receiving mental health treatment experienced problems. “The consequences of care are delayed and missed altogether because of the sheer complexity of the…
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Opinions | I’m a doctor. My decisions are overruled by health insurance denials

Elisabeth Rosenthal’s May 18 Thursday Opinion essay, “Denials of health-insurance claims are rising — and getting weirder,” hit the nail on the head. As a rheumatologist, I see many patients who struggle to keep up with their daily activities and depend on access to necessary treatments to manage their chronic pain. Insurers’ prior-authorization policies amplify my patients’ struggle by building ineffective hurdles and delaying access to medications I know are best for my patients. More than 54 million Americans live with a rheumatic disease, and delays in their care can mean irreversible disease progression and permanent loss of bodily functions.…
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How do Americans in France register for public health insurance?

Reader question: How does an American apply for health insurance when moving to France? As a resident of France, having health insurance, either private or public, is mandatory. If you are employed by a French company and pay social contributions, you will automatically be eligible for (public) health insurance even if your social security contributions are on the job, and your employer should deal with this. The same applies in the case of doing self-employed work. However, if you are moving as a retiree or early-retiree, then part of your visa requirements will show you have a private health insurance…
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Canada’s health insurance industry has a fossil fuel contradiction

Canada is home to two of the largest life and health insurance companies in the world – Sun Life and Manulife. Now expanding into Asia, these are Canadian success stories. Yet both have a contradiction at the heart of their business model. They are also two of Canada’s largest investors in fossil fuels, including dirty coal, investments that adversely affect the health of the clients they’re insuring. The German NGO Urgewald just published a global database of fossil fuel investors, companies that own the most stocks and bonds in oil and gas and coal companies. The top five for Canada…
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Attorney general, DOH commissioner issue alert on health insurance renewal scams

Fri, May 12th 2023 04:50 pm Submitted by the New York State Attorney General’s Office New York Attorney General Letitia James and Acting Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald warned New Yorkers about a new scam targeting New Yorkers enrolled in public health insurance programs and provided important tips to protect consumers. For the first time since March 2020, people enrolled in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan will have to renew their health insurance coverage. James and McDonald are urging New Yorkers to be vigilantes in light of reports of scammers deceptively calling people and asking…
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NC Senate budget revives Medicaid expansion debate, putting law in ‘conflict’ with House

The Senate budget unveiled Monday cuts state laws that regulate hospital competition, placing Medicaid expansion, and health coverage for thousands of low-income North Carolinaians, in conflict. During last year’s Medicaid expansion negotiations, a key agreement between the House and the Senate was Certificate of Need laws, which limit where hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities can be built. The Senate wanted to pass expansion with Certificate of Need changes but the House did not. But this year, there was a breakthrough, and in early March, the Senate and House announced that they had reached a compromise deal: Medicaid expansion…
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CLHIA says health insurers will support Albertans displaced by wildfires

CLHIA says health insurers will support Albertans displaced by wildfires | Insurance Business Canada Catastrophe & Flood CLHIA says health insurers will support Albertans displaced by wildfires Over 19,000 residents have evacuated their homes Catastrophe & Flood By Mika Pangilinan Health insurers have taken special measures to support those who have been displaced by the recent wildfires in Alberta. The wildfire situation in the province has continued to escalate as fire officials declared more fire evacuation orders over the weekend. More than 19,000 residents have been ordered to flee their homes as of Sunday afternoon, according to a report by…
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Op-Ed: PurpleCARE mental health coverage must be increased to meet the urgent needs of students | opinion

A group of students walk by the Weldon Library, Sept. 18, 2017. Max Mao / GAZETTE Access to mental health resources is key to ensuring students receive a quality experience, achieve academic success and improve their overall well-being. The USC’s PurpleCARE health benefits plan strives to provide these necessary resources for undergraduate students. Every Western University undergraduate student is automatically enrolled in PurpleCARE, which offers insurance coverage for various health-related needs. This includes $750 insured for mental health-related expenses such as seeing a therapist or social worker. However, as elected University Students’ Council Councilors, we have heard from students repeatedly…