Blue Cross Health Insurance For Students

Direct Access to Physical Therapists Associated with Lower Costs and Fewer ...

(PRWEB) October 13, 2011

A new study suggesting that “the role of the physician gatekeeper in regard to physical therapy may be unnecessary in many cases” could have significant implications for the US health care system, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

The study, published ahead of print September 23 in the journal Health Services Research (HSR), reviewed 62,707 episodes of physical therapy using non-Medicare claims data from a Midwest insurer over a 5-year period. Patients who visited a physical therapist directly for outpatient care (27%) had fewer visits and lower overall costs on average than those who were referred by a physician, while maintaining continuity of care within the overall medical system and showing no difference in health care use in the 60 days after the physical therapy episode.

The study is noteworthy because services delivered by physical therapists account for “a significant portion” of outpatient care costs in the United States, according to the study, and some health insurance plans require a physician referral for reimbursement of these services. In addition, although 46 states and the District of Columbia now allow some form of direct access to physical therapists, some of them nonetheless impose restrictions if patients have not been referred by a physician.

“Physical therapists have long known that direct access to our services is safe and effective,” said APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD. “The elimination of referral requirements and other restrictions has been a priority of APTA for decades. This study provides further evidence that direct access to physical therapists could go a long way toward helping to make health care more affordable and accessible for all. We encourage researchers and insurers to continue to further investigate this important issue that could have a profound impact on patient care.”

“When patients choose direct access to a physical therapist, it does not mean the end of collaboration with their physician, nor does it diminish continuity of care,” added Thomas DiAngelis, PT, DPT, president of APTA’s Private Practice Section. “We believe the results of this study will support our efforts to work with legislators and physician groups to establish policies that reduce unnecessary regulations, improve access, and build models of delivery that best serve the patient and the health care system. Although this study focused on direct access, it is not about the provider. It is about the patient. It means better opportunities to provide the proper care to those who need it, when they need it.

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Every year millions of students graduate college and begin to start their own lives, one of the biggest worries that these students face is their health insurance coverage. Many students and parents believe that the parents health insurance will cover their children once they leave for college when in reality if a student is over the age of 18 and not a full time student they may not be covered by the parents health insurance. If a student is enrolled in college as a full-time student they are normally covered until they reach the age of 23 under their parents health insurance policy, regardless of their enrollment in college. This means that once a student graduates college, which is normally around age 22 or 23, they are no longer insured under their parents policy. This is a time in a students life when it is very important to be insured.

Right after a college student graduates they are looking for a job and a place to live, for many of these students their first job may not even offer health insurance which can be a huge problem. Without health insurance, it can be very expensive to even go to the doctor when you are sick. Usually most doctors offices have low, co-payments for insurance holders when they visit the doctor, normally between $20-$50, but without insurance doctors a patient has to pay the full cost that the doctor and office charges. Depending on what happens during the visit and if any tests or further evaluation is needed the costs can easily skyrocket up into the hundreds, which is much more than many people can afford. These costs can be very threatening to most people and can cause people to avoid visiting the doctor, which can become very dangerous for the persons health. Also, the longer a person avoids medical care when they are ill when they finally go to the doctor it will likely be much more expensive because they will have gotten more sick.

One of the best insurance companies that have a relatively low and affordable rate for post college students is Blue Cross Blue Shield; in many states across the country they offer low cost insurance for graduated college students. Blue Cross Blue Shield has provided inexpensive health care to more than 99 million people in the United States. Blue cross Blue Shield has over 39 independent, community based locations across the United States which means it is likely that you will have an operating branch in your area, and if there isn’t that is okay too because Blue Cross Blue Shield covers people in all 50 states. More than 80% of hospitals and doctors offices have contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, which makes them one of the top 20 insurance companies in the country.

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