Health and Safety

Health Net Inc. has reshuffled responsibilities of two executives in light of UnitedHealthcare’s recent acquisition of the company’s Northeast U.S. licenses.

Health Net said it named Linda Tiano as president of regional health plans for Health Net of the Northeast. She has served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary since January 2007.

To replace Tiano, the company named Angelee Bouchard as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective immediately.

In the newly created position, Tiano will relocate to Health Net’s Shelton, Conn. office and will lead the Northeast operations under an agreement with UnitedHealthcare. She will report to Jim Woys, Health Net Inc.’s chief operating officer.

Attempts to get comment from Health Net weren’t immediately successful.

“Linda will work with the local management team to continue to provide excellent customer service for our Read More

It’s graduation time. Do you know where your health insurance is? Depending on your health plan, it might be gone. For many American students still covered under a parent’s insurance, health coverage ends upon graduation; they will be left to navigate the increasingly expensive and complicated world of health insurance as they struggle to find jobs.
Luckily for some, since 1994, 30 states have passed laws extending the age at which young adults are allowed to be dropped from their parent’s plan. In Massachusetts, insurance companies must cover children for two years after they lose dependent status or until age 26, whichever comes first. In New Jersey, a dependent may stay on his parent’s plan until 31 as long as he is unmarried. Connecticut, New York and Maryland, among others, all have similar laws that extend coverage, while California and Washington, D.C. have no such laws. Obama’s health care plan would guarantee that children remain eligible Read More

Deciding which individual and family health insurance plan is just right for you and your family can seem as challenging as judging which apple is the very best out of an entire barrel at the supermarket. The apples are all different sizes, shapes and colors, and the health insurance plans all offer different fees, types of benefits, and levels of coverage.

For many people, the group health insurance plan sponsored by their employer offers them the most affordable coverage. Group health insurance is exactly what it sounds like: a health insurance plan or plans offered to groups of people through their employers. Individual and family health insurance, on the other hand, is offered to individuals and families instead of employer groups, and it can be a much more attractive and affordable option than many people believe.

Because individual and family health insurance is not offered through an employer, those who choose this type of insurance Read More

In a very real sense, the world right now is highly technological and progressive, both socially and physically. Socially, we now have cellular phones and Internet connections, which we can use to communicate with any part of the entire world.  Physically however, the world is quite polluted.  As the pace of our lives progresses, we need to be ready for what the future might bring.

Along with the technological developments which most people are cashing on in these days, we see a rapid growth in health insurance companies. This growth displays a real effect in the lives of people. Is the world really in such a bad state that these health insurance companies are taking the leap in aiding the health insurance plans of their competitions today?

If we examine the world in the real sense, there are many diseases that only became prevalent in the fairly recent past. Most of these diseases Read More

Many employers in California do not realize that paying for employee’s individual health insurance policies presents many problems. There can be liability for the employer in doing so. Let’s look at the implications and understand why providing Small Group health insurance to your California employees is important.

First, we need to understand the differences between Small Group health or employer sponsored health insurance and individual/family or private insurance. Small Group is quite different in a few key ways. First, it is governed by California law AB 1672. Among many provisions set forth in AB 1672, Small Group coverage is guaranteed issue to qualified small companies with 2-50 employees. This means that a person with a legitimate employer-employee relationship (can be full or part-time depending on group preference) cannot be declined due to health.

Individual/Family health insurance is quite different in this respect. Read More

Over the last 10 years, as California health insurance costs have increased significantly, there has been an explosion in both the availability and marketing of so-called discount health plans as we term them in the industry. It’s important to understand how they work and more importantly, how they do NOT work.

First a quick refresher on the whole point of health insurance protection to begin with. Health insurance is coming full circle back to its original design and intent. Originally, health insurance was structured to actually protect from the really big bill. Typically, you had a choice of high deductible and a very simple plan design. As the market matured, copays, co-insurance, and other bells and whistles began to appear. This trend started in the group health insurance market. Group health plans became a tool to for attracting and keeping valued employees. This benefits “arms race” came with a price tag. In the early 90’s, medical claims Read More

Employers offer group health plans as a part of the benefits package for their employees. Other groups that may offer these plans as well, such as churches, professional associations and similar groups. If you’re in a group that has health care insurance in Texas, then more than likely you can be covered in a group plan that is sponsored by your employer or organization. For small businesses in the state of Texas, they have special stipulations. There are some benefits that are authorized by the state that small businesses don’t need, but larger employers have to include in their health benefits package.

It is not mandatory that employers and other groups have to offer health care insurance in Texas. They don’t have to put money aside to pay for premiums. However, there are some health care insurance companies that mandate some employers to pay at least half of the premiums for their employees.

Here are a few descriptions of some Texas Read More

It is a generally believed notion that insuring an individual’s health care is perhaps more expensive than buying a Rolls Royce. However there are options as well criteria which can lead to an appropriate choice of a health insurance plan. The majority of the populations however choose either of the traditional, HMO, or the PPO health insurance plan. 

A brief overview of the traditional health insurance plan reveals that though this plan covers maximum amount of choice to the individual employees. As it allows one to choose a doctor of his or her choice, a hospital of choice, as well as receive any treatment duly covered under the respective health insurance plan. 

The second type of health insurance plan, that of HMOs is somewhat different as it works within the parameters of a network of health care professionals in due collaboration with the employers of the respective individuals. The role of the employers in turn is to reimburse the health care Read More

For those residents of Texas who are self-employed, they can usually get health insurance in Texas through individual health insurance companies or HMOs. They will sell health insurance plans to those who are not part of a company or a group. These health insurance plans are limited because they only cover the individual along with their spouse and dependents.

When getting individual health insurance in Texas, look to pay more out of your pocket. Also, you may not get as many benefits from this health insurance as you would if you were working for a company. Larger companies are able to provide their employees with health insurance that does not cost as much as individual health plans. Group health plans are also able to pay less because their coverage involves more people.

Some of the individual health care insurance plans in Texas that you can get for yourself and your family includes: HMO managed care plans-these individual plans pay for health services Read More

Because periods of crisis loom every now and then, people are constantly looking for ways to save and get higher value for their money. Health insurance plans are now being viewed more meticulously by contentious buyers than before. You should always get the right plan that adequately provides for your primary concerns at a very reasonable price.

About Discount Health Plans

A number of plans give anywhere between 10% to 50% discount on dental and medical services. The health care provider that renders the service has already agreed to be listed and signed a contract with the discount company. The discount company will then provide the benefit of added publicity and presenting a constant flow of traffic to the professional so he or she always has a source of income. The lower percentage agreed upon will be passed on to subscribers of the health insurance plan.

Choosing the Right Discount Health Plan

Getting a discount health plan will Read More