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Posted
Aug 05 2009, 01:12 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from James Limbach at partner site ConsumerAffairs.com.
With the battle over health care reform likely to last well into the fall, a new survey suggests that a lot of consumers are ready for some changes.
People who took part in the latest Consumer Reports survey say median annual out-of-pocket costs for premiums increased by 38% in the past two years, and only 64% of those surveyed were "very" or "completely" satisfied with their current health insurance plan.
"That's a lukewarm response and a slight drop from the 67% in our 2007 report," said Mandy Walker, senior project editor for CR. "In terms of services we rate, that puts satisfaction with health insurance above satisfaction with cable TV, a perennial whipping post, but below pharmacies and real estate agents."
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Posted
Jul 22 2009, 02:33 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from partner site ConsumerAffairs.com.
One objective of health care legislation pushed by President Obama is universal coverage -- providing health insurance options for all Americans. The question, of course, is how to do it.
Backers of the so-called government option, in which a Medicare-like policy competes with private insurers, can point to a new study by The Commonwealth Fund. The study found that 73% of people who tried to buy insurance on their own in the last three years did not purchase a policy, primarily because premiums were too high.
In addition, among adults with individual coverage or those who tried to buy coverage in the past three years:
- 57% said it was very difficult or impossible to find coverage they could afford.
- 47% said it was very difficult or impossible to find a plan with the coverage they needed.
- 36% were denied coverage or charged more because of a pre-existing condition, or the condition was excluded from their coverage.
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Posted
Apr 16 2009, 06:16 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from Fred Lee at partner blog Wise Bread.
Even though many of us may take our health for granted, one thing that strikes a chord in everyone is the high price of medical care. Between the rising cost of routine doctor visits and medication to the regular increases in our insurance premiums, health care is on most people's minds.
And yet, how many of us really take the time to understand all that we're being charged for?
Granted, medical bills can read as if they were written in another language, and for all intents and purposes, they are. That is because medicine, not unlike law, is filled with the esoteric language of the profession. Sprinkle in a generous amount of Latin, and it can leave you feeling pretty helpless and lost. Furthermore, many of us don't go to see a doctor or a lawyer until we need one, and at that point we are not necessarily in the best position to argue every nickel and dime.
On the other hand, is complete ignorance the answer? Or is it better to take the time to understand all that we are being charged for, even if it's a hassle and may intimidate us?
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Posted
Mar 17 2009, 05:28 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Standard topics like tax deductions, emergency funds and frugal living have taken a back seat at some personal-finance blogs to a hot topic -- the bonuses at AIG.
Kay Bell's headline on a post about the insurance giant at Don't Mess With Taxes is so, shall we say, forceful that we can't repeat it here. (However, it's as if she had read our mind.) In fact, some usually mild-mannered bloggers (like "LAL" at Living Almost Large) went so ballistic that we can't link to their posts because of our anti-potty-mouth rule.)
Kay explains in another post why we should be outraged about the $165 million in bonuses paid to executives in the division of AIG considered largely responsible for its near collapse and subsequent huge government bailout. (For more details and developments, read this Associated Press story.)
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Posted
Nov 11 2008, 02:13 PM
by
Karen Datko
Filed under: insurance, Consumer Affairs, home insurance, auto insurance, car insurance, insurance companies, insurance rates, homeowners insurance, life insurance, insurance claims, save money
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from Mark Huffman at partner blog ConsumerAffairs.com.
When it comes to selecting the right insurance policy, consumers need as much clear, concise information as possible. A study released by the Consumer Federation of America suggests they aren't getting it from their states.
The study also found that state insurance department Web sites in six states were "excellent," while those in 18 states were deemed to be "inadequate."
CFA is sending the report to all state insurance departments with a personal letter urging the states whose Web sites are not yet excellent to make improvements.
"At a time when consumers are under increasing financial pressure, state insurance departments can do their part by making available current information about the rates, solvency, and complaints of individual insurers as well as tips for consumers to use to secure fairer and faster claims settlements," said J. Robert Hunter, CFA's director of insurance and a former Texas insurance commissioner. "And it's essential that insurance departments widely publicize the availability of their Web sites and related information."
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