Some 47 million U.S. citizens do not have health insurance, and the numbers keep growing. Because employers increasingly are moving in the direction of providing Wal-Mart-style health coverage by shifting health care costs to employees, America’s workers struggle to pay higher premiums, deductibles and co-payments—if they can afford such coverage at all.
Working families are experiencing double-digit increases in the costs of health insurance, more out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits and skyrocketing prices for prescriptions, forcing many to delay getting needed medical care or worse—to decline coverage for themselves or their families because of cost. Health care costs are rising at five times the rate of inflation. According to the Center for Studying Health System Change, health care spending rose 10 percent in 2002 and that followed a slightly more than 10 percent increase in 2001—the largest jump in more than a decade. In the first six months of 2003, health spending rose another 8.5 percent. Premiums for employer-sponsored coverage increased nearly 13 percent in 2002. As employers refuse to pay their fair share, this trend may result in millions of workers losing their employer-based coverage.
For more on this article, visit http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/whatswrong/
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Lacking health insurance connects us all! medical billing news!
The health-care story is everyone's story; the health and financial ruin of one eventually shakes the web that connects us all. And health-care disasters are not limited to the elderly, ethnic minorities or families living in poverty. Young people can find themselves without insurance for a variety of reasons, from lifelong disease to hubris to pure bad luck. When they do, they're at the mercy of a system that all but builds walls to keep them from adequate care.
Why aren't these people revolting in the streets?
Why aren't these people revolting in the streets?
Friday, April 10, 2009
SICKO - over 48 MILLION without health insurance! - medical billing news.
There are over 48 MILLION Americans with NO health insurance.
There are approx. 32 million others who are underinsured. In the past four years the number of uninsured rose by 6 million people and more American's are forced each year to file for bankrupcy due to medical bills.
There are a handful of self-serving, powerful special interest groups who are unraveling our economy and holding us hostage. They are the American Medical Association (AMA) America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the pharmaceutical industry. These groups are the gatekeepers of our health and spend HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars in advertising, lobbying and political contributions to keep their beds feathered and to keep the status quo.
Historically, the AMA has been the worst and most self-serving group who has, since 1912 opposed health care reform and national health insurance at least six times when reform has been seriously discussed in America. The AMA has opposed national health insurance even before there was a health insurance industry, scaring Americans into thinking national health insurance was communism and a big government takeover.
Almost 100 years has passed since the first discussion of national health insurance and we, as a nation, are more held hostage by the whims and desires of the health care/health insurance giants than ever before.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP PANDERING TO THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY LOBBY and make them work on our behalf, for our best interest, and make them stop holding America hostage? 18,000 people per year die because they don't have health insurance and the health industry enjoys being able to charge whatever they please and decide which services they will provide us, if, indeed, they will provide services at all.
There are approx. 32 million others who are underinsured. In the past four years the number of uninsured rose by 6 million people and more American's are forced each year to file for bankrupcy due to medical bills.
There are a handful of self-serving, powerful special interest groups who are unraveling our economy and holding us hostage. They are the American Medical Association (AMA) America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the pharmaceutical industry. These groups are the gatekeepers of our health and spend HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars in advertising, lobbying and political contributions to keep their beds feathered and to keep the status quo.
Historically, the AMA has been the worst and most self-serving group who has, since 1912 opposed health care reform and national health insurance at least six times when reform has been seriously discussed in America. The AMA has opposed national health insurance even before there was a health insurance industry, scaring Americans into thinking national health insurance was communism and a big government takeover.
Almost 100 years has passed since the first discussion of national health insurance and we, as a nation, are more held hostage by the whims and desires of the health care/health insurance giants than ever before.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP PANDERING TO THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY LOBBY and make them work on our behalf, for our best interest, and make them stop holding America hostage? 18,000 people per year die because they don't have health insurance and the health industry enjoys being able to charge whatever they please and decide which services they will provide us, if, indeed, they will provide services at all.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Health Care Reform - medical billing news
On health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes -- government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. President Obama and Vice President Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong, and that’s why they’ve proposed a plan that strengthens employer coverage, makes insurance companies accountable and ensures patient choice of doctor and care without government interference.
The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors, and plans. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats.
Under the plan, if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes, except your costs will go down by as much as $2,500 per year. If you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.
Make Health Insurance Work for People and Businesses -- Not Just Insurance and Drug Companies.
Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums.
Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees.
Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees.
Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors.
Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees' health care.
Establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage.
Ensure everyone who needs it will receive a tax credit for their premiums.
Reduce Costs and Save a Typical American Family up to $2,500 as reforms phase in:
Lower drug costs by allowing the importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, increasing the use of generic drugs in public programs, and taking on drug companies that block cheaper generic medicines from the market.
Require hospitals to collect and report health care cost and quality data.
Reduce the costs of catastrophic illnesses for employers and their employees.
Reform the insurance market to increase competition by taking on anticompetitive activity that drives up prices without improving quality of care.
The Obama-Biden plan will promote public health. It will require coverage of preventive services, including cancer screenings, and increase state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
A Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility: Barack Obama will pay for his $50 - $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level.
The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors, and plans. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats.
Under the plan, if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes, except your costs will go down by as much as $2,500 per year. If you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.
Make Health Insurance Work for People and Businesses -- Not Just Insurance and Drug Companies.
Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums.
Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees.
Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees.
Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors.
Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees' health care.
Establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage.
Ensure everyone who needs it will receive a tax credit for their premiums.
Reduce Costs and Save a Typical American Family up to $2,500 as reforms phase in:
Lower drug costs by allowing the importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, increasing the use of generic drugs in public programs, and taking on drug companies that block cheaper generic medicines from the market.
Require hospitals to collect and report health care cost and quality data.
Reduce the costs of catastrophic illnesses for employers and their employees.
Reform the insurance market to increase competition by taking on anticompetitive activity that drives up prices without improving quality of care.
The Obama-Biden plan will promote public health. It will require coverage of preventive services, including cancer screenings, and increase state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
A Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility: Barack Obama will pay for his $50 - $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
SICKO BILLING - no budget??
Whenever I walk into a new client situation the first thing I look for is a business scorecard. Sometimes if I am lucky I find that the client has an accountant who has put together a Profit and Loss statement. Of course, in most small businesses P&L statements are usually done by an outside accounting firm and usually do not get to the client until a month or so after the fact. Rarely do I find that a business has put together a budget (a financial plan). To me this is incredible and a little bit insane.
It is incredible because if you go into any business without a financial plan (budget) you do not have a clue about how much it is going to cost you to operate the business. Without a budget you do not have any control over your cost and expenses which may leave you without a profit. Without a budget you do not have a standard to compare your Profit and Loss statement to see if you are on a track for success, failure, or just survival. Without a budget to compare to you do not have a clue where in your Profit and Loss statement you should be making adjustments to ensure a profit and your business future.
Operating a business without a budget is pretty much like flying in the dark. Ask yourself where would a pilot end up without a flight plan? This picture pretty much lends itself to a business owner operating a business without a budget. Pretty crazy, don't you think? Absolutely insane! Yet I see it everyday as I visit small business owners who are in trouble. And what is more incredible to me is that most accountants and CPA's who prepare these Profit and Loss statements for the business owner
It is incredible because if you go into any business without a financial plan (budget) you do not have a clue about how much it is going to cost you to operate the business. Without a budget you do not have any control over your cost and expenses which may leave you without a profit. Without a budget you do not have a standard to compare your Profit and Loss statement to see if you are on a track for success, failure, or just survival. Without a budget to compare to you do not have a clue where in your Profit and Loss statement you should be making adjustments to ensure a profit and your business future.
Operating a business without a budget is pretty much like flying in the dark. Ask yourself where would a pilot end up without a flight plan? This picture pretty much lends itself to a business owner operating a business without a budget. Pretty crazy, don't you think? Absolutely insane! Yet I see it everyday as I visit small business owners who are in trouble. And what is more incredible to me is that most accountants and CPA's who prepare these Profit and Loss statements for the business owner
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Insurance through employers - and medical billing
Most Americans have health insurance through their employers. But, employment is no longer a guarantee of health insurance coverage.
As America continues to move from a manufacturing-based economy to a service economy, and employee working patterns continue to evolve, health insurance coverage has become less stable. The service sector offers less access to health insurance than its manufacturing counterparts. Further, an increasing reliance on part-time and contract workers who are not eligible for coverage means fewer workers have access to employer-sponsored health insurance.
Due to rising health insurance premiums, many small employers cannot afford to offer health benefits. Companies that do offer health insurance, often require employees to contribute a larger share toward their coverage. As a result, an increasing number of Americans have opted not to take advantage of job-based health insurance because they cannot afford it.
Who are Who are the uninsured?
Nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007, the latest government data available.1
The number of uninsured rose 2.2 million between 2005 and 2006 and has increased by almost 8 million people since 2000.1
The large majority of the uninsured (80 percent) are native or naturalized citizens.2
The increase in the number of uninsured in 2006 was focused among working age adults. The percentage of working adults (18 to 64) who had no health coverage climbed from 19.7 percent in 2005 to 20.2 percent in 2006.1 Nearly 1.3 million full-time workers lost their health insurance in 2006.
Nearly 90 million people – about one-third of the population below the age of 65 spent a portion of either 2006 or 2007 without health coverage.3
Over 8 in 10 uninsured people come from working families – almost 70 percent from families with one or more full-time workers and 11 percent from families with part-time workers.2
The percentage of people (workers and dependents) with employment-based health insurance has dropped from 70 percent in 1987 to 62 percent in 2007. This is the lowest level of employment-based insurance coverage in more than a decade.4, 5
In 2005, nearly 15 percent of employees had no employer-sponsored health coverage available to them, either through their own job or through a family member.6
In 2007, 37 million workers were uninsured because not all businesses offer health benefits, not all workers qualify for coverage and many employees cannot afford their share of the health insurance premium even when coverage is at their fingertips.1
The number of uninsured children in 2007 was 8.1 million – or 10.7 percent of all children in the U.S.1
Young adults (18-to-24 years old) remained the least likely of any age group to have health insurance in 2007 – 28.1 percent of this group did not have health insurance.1
The percentage and the number of uninsured Hispanics increased to 32.1 percent and 15 million in 2007.1
Nearly 40 percent of the uninsured population reside in households that earn $50,000 or more.1 A growing number of middle-income families cannot afford health insurance payments even when coverage is offered by their employers.
As America continues to move from a manufacturing-based economy to a service economy, and employee working patterns continue to evolve, health insurance coverage has become less stable. The service sector offers less access to health insurance than its manufacturing counterparts. Further, an increasing reliance on part-time and contract workers who are not eligible for coverage means fewer workers have access to employer-sponsored health insurance.
Due to rising health insurance premiums, many small employers cannot afford to offer health benefits. Companies that do offer health insurance, often require employees to contribute a larger share toward their coverage. As a result, an increasing number of Americans have opted not to take advantage of job-based health insurance because they cannot afford it.
Who are Who are the uninsured?
Nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007, the latest government data available.1
The number of uninsured rose 2.2 million between 2005 and 2006 and has increased by almost 8 million people since 2000.1
The large majority of the uninsured (80 percent) are native or naturalized citizens.2
The increase in the number of uninsured in 2006 was focused among working age adults. The percentage of working adults (18 to 64) who had no health coverage climbed from 19.7 percent in 2005 to 20.2 percent in 2006.1 Nearly 1.3 million full-time workers lost their health insurance in 2006.
Nearly 90 million people – about one-third of the population below the age of 65 spent a portion of either 2006 or 2007 without health coverage.3
Over 8 in 10 uninsured people come from working families – almost 70 percent from families with one or more full-time workers and 11 percent from families with part-time workers.2
The percentage of people (workers and dependents) with employment-based health insurance has dropped from 70 percent in 1987 to 62 percent in 2007. This is the lowest level of employment-based insurance coverage in more than a decade.4, 5
In 2005, nearly 15 percent of employees had no employer-sponsored health coverage available to them, either through their own job or through a family member.6
In 2007, 37 million workers were uninsured because not all businesses offer health benefits, not all workers qualify for coverage and many employees cannot afford their share of the health insurance premium even when coverage is at their fingertips.1
The number of uninsured children in 2007 was 8.1 million – or 10.7 percent of all children in the U.S.1
Young adults (18-to-24 years old) remained the least likely of any age group to have health insurance in 2007 – 28.1 percent of this group did not have health insurance.1
The percentage and the number of uninsured Hispanics increased to 32.1 percent and 15 million in 2007.1
Nearly 40 percent of the uninsured population reside in households that earn $50,000 or more.1 A growing number of middle-income families cannot afford health insurance payments even when coverage is offered by their employers.
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