Kaiser Health Insurance Official Siet

New site lets consumers monitor health insurance rate hikes

This information was mostly available before, said Steve Larsen, the Ministry of Health and Deputy Director of Social Services for monitoring. Only a few states include the rate of laying on their websites. Now, however, all insurance companies must file this information with the HHS because of the law last year to health care.

The website address is http://companyprofiles.healthcare.gov/.

"We take a good hard look to see why insurance companies try to increase your rate, why your premiums could be increasing, and by ensuring that these decisions are public and justified," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. "This is just the beginning, and over time we will report more of these requests."

The announcement follows a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation released last week showed that premiums for a plan of the employer for a family of four up 9% this year.

Meanwhile, a report by Barclays Equity Capital Research has shown that in the first three months of the year, 13 of the first 14 health insurers have exceeded their estimates of earnings per share and average earnings were 46% compared estimates.

Beginning September 1, insurers who wanted to increase the rate of 10% or more for plans or a small group had to say why. If a company has not increased its rates, it will not be listed on the Web application Healthcare.gov.

Insurers must now also pay rebates to consumers if 85% of the money spent on a plan does not go directly to health care costs and the way to something else, such as salary increases or administrative costs. These rebates will begin next year, Larsen said, and that information would be included on the website as they become available.

The new site will also include a section where consumers can comment about rate hikes.

If HHS provides "consumers a better idea of ​​rising interest rates in a very fresh, it's good," said Susan Voss, president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The consumer has she said, must recognize that some increases are justified, and an increase is a factor to consider when deciding to buy or maintain a policy.

Joe's Health Calendar 10/9/11

COMMUNITY EVENTS flu shots in San Joaquin, Calaveras County

Vaccine against influenza is available through many doctors and clinics. For those without a medical provider, the vaccine is also available without appointment at many pharmacies and health clinics. The sites offering vaccines against influenza can be found online by location www.flu.gov / WhereYouLive.San Joaquin County Public Health Services (800-839-4949) clinics in Lodi, Manteca and Stockton (see end of column) against influenza vaccine were available during regular hours of vaccination for a small fee, but no one turned services for inability to pay. Calaveras County Public Health Department (209-754-6460) has scheduled immunization clinics as follows:

The vaccine against pneumonia will also be available in clinics Calaveras while supply lasts. The vaccine against influenza and vaccination against pneumonia are $ 16 each.Medicare Part B will be accepted for both vaccines, and no one will be denied service due to inability to pay.

October 12 (Wednesday) 6:30 p.m.: the new book by cardiologist Dr. Ramin Manshadi Stockton, "The Wisdom of the Heart Health: Achieving a healthy heart and strong in today's world", is available at www.bn.com and Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Weberstown Mall, 4950 Pacific Ave.

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