In an attempt to reign in soaring health care costs, some companies are putting a microscope on the health of their employees, rewarding those who meet health and wellness goals of losing weight and quitting smoking and penalizing those who fail. Benefits experts say these tactics are new and symbolize a shift in philosophy when employees were once rewarded for joining work-sponsored wellness initiatives. Since 2001, the average annual cost of a family health insurance premium has jumped 113%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In the past, tobacco users have been issued health insurance surcharges for smoking, but some businesses are rewarding workers who receive good scores on biometric screenings or meet exercise goals, but now employees who receive bad scores or fail to achieve goals are penalized. RDG Engineering and Design in Iowa uses a system where employees can earn points for activities like running in races, going to the dentist or attending wellness education programs. Once an employee earns enough points, they can be used to waive the $50 monthly employee health insurance premium contribution. The program has had great success with a 90% employee participation rate and the group’s health scores are improving. Davis Sanders, principal at RDG said, “If you choose not to participate, it’s no different than before; you pay $50 for your insurance. ” These types of programs are great for employees who meet their goals, but it’s conceivable that employees who fail to meet goals could grow anxious over health factors at work. First Preferred offers affordable health insurance plans like family health insurance, sleep apnea insurance, medical insurance for kids and insurance the covers pre existing conditions. With 300+ plans from 15 carriers, we specialize in matching people with coverage that meets their needs. Contact us today to learn more and select a plan that’s right for you. For more information on best health insurance for preexisting conditions and cancer insurance for men, please visit: FirstPreferredHealthInsurance.com Contact: 485 S Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL 33004 Phone: 954-362-9974 Fax: 954-926-8073
As the country waits to see how the Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the cost of health care is predicted to increase between 7% – 8% for the fifth year in a row, according to health care consulting company, Millman Inc.
Specifically, Millman is projecting that the average cost of health care to cover a family of four will exceed $20,000 this year. That’s more than double the average annual cost of the same coverage from 2002, of $9,235.
What is troublesome about these increases is that many employers bear the burden of paying for the majority of their employees’ health care costs. The additional amount due from employees each year is becoming more difficult to maintain, especially for workers who receive little or no increase in pay from year-to-year.
Additionally, many employers are cutting back on health care coverage packages due to rising costs, meaning employees are stuck with less comprehensive coverage. If that isn’t enough, there are 50 million Americans living without health insurance today.
The rate at which costs are increasing could very well end up becoming unsustainable for employers and employees. The pressure to fix the affordability of the nation’s health care system has never been greater.
If you’re looking for family health insurance, preexisting conditions insurance plans, sleep apnea insurance, obese insurance or another type of coverage, contact First Preferred today. We offer affordable health insurance with 300+ plans from 15 carriers and we specialize in matching people with the best coverage for their needs.
For more information on fibromyalgia insurance plans and Arthritis Health Plans, please visit: FirstPreferredHealthInsurance.com
Contact: 485 S Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Phone: 954-362-9974
Fax: 954-926-8073
This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.  Today the Supreme Court will hear the first in three days of arguments from representatives of 26 states, a business group and individual parties who claim that the health care reform legislation signed into law 2 years ago by President Obama is unconstitutional. A major point of dispute in the legislation is an individual health insurance mandate, that will require everyone to obtain individual health insurance or face a tax penalty for failing to do so, starting in 2014. However, the Anti-Injunction Act, written in the 19th century, disallows challenging a tax until the fee for it is actually due. If the Supreme Court cites the Anti-Injunction Act as a precedent, the challenge to this particular piece of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may not be heard until April 15, 2015, when the first penalties would be due. Although, the root issue around this case is whether an individual health insurance mandate is even constitutional. Opponents of the law are saying there has never been a requirement to purchase a product or service before and that allowing it would lead to increased government intrusion in people’s lives. If the Supreme Court decides that the individual health insurance mandate is unconstitutional, the next issue is if any other pieces of the health reform laws can stand on their own, since they were created on the principle that individual mandate was legal. The health care industry is set to change soon, but any decisions might not take effect for months or years while millions of Americans are looking for affordable health insurance now. First Preferred offers preexisting conditions insurance plans, medical insurance for kids, coverage for diabetes, high blood pressure health insurance and many other forms of reliable coverage. Contact us today to learn more about our plans and choose the best one for your needs. For more information about pre existing condition insurance and overweight health insurance, please visit: http://firstpreferredhealthinsurance.com
 A recent study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality concluded that obese adults, defined as being 30+ pounds overweight, are more likely to report health issues relating to joint pain, heart ailments, elevated cholesterol levels and diabetes than people at healthy weights. Specifically, 58% of obese adults reported having joint pain versus 40% of adults at healthy weights reporting the same problem. The data for the survey was gathered from the 2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, which tracked 24,000 adults for a period of 2 years. Participants were asked a variety of questions about their medical conditions, consumption of health care services, medical bills and insurance coverage. Obesity increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and other complications. The study found that 42% of obese participants had a heart complication, such as high blood pressure or strokes, compared to 18% of adults at normal weights. According to Bill Carroll, an author involved in the study, “I would think that all doctors would be advising their obese patients to exercise more and avoid high-fat foods, but doctors may be reluctant to bring this up.” Government data from 2010 found that 35.7% of adults were obese in a study where heights and weights were measured, rather than being self-reported, as they were in the study featured in this article. Contact First Preferred for obese insurance, high blood pressure insurance, family health insurance, coverage for diabetes and other reliable plans. We specialize in matching people with the best plans for their needs and the needs of their loved ones, even for those who have been denied health insurance before. For more information about insurance for preexisting conditions and heart attack insurance, please visit: http://firstpreferredhealthinsurance.com
Life has become complex in today’s world. Anything could cause problem to your health. Diabetes is such an illness. Though it is very common, when it is not treated, this illness can result in worse outcomes. It is actually a chronic disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. As it is a lifelong disease, treatment requiresa lot of money. Hence, it is not possible for many to afford the cost of this treatment. The best way to get rid of the worries about the treatment is to have diabetes health insurance. A sad fact about health insurance schemes for diabetic patients is that a lot of companies deny insurance for this illness. So it is necessary to understand the options you have to access insurance schemes when you are diabetic. There are mainly two types of diabetes. Type 1 is caused by genetics, viruses or by autoimmune problems, while type two happens because of lack of exercise or obesity. Diabetes found at stage 1 may be subjected for denied life insurance. If you have type2 diabetes, you don’t have to worry at all. Compared to type 1, type 2 does not have as many complications for health insurance for diabetics. Even if you are suffering from type 1 diabetes, it doesn’t mean you are completely deprived of being insured. Some companies like First Preferred Healthcare offer many plans for health insurance for the uninsured. The company helps you get insurance for diabetic patients of both types. The HIPAA compliant creditable coverage plans of First Preferred can truly help you at times of sickness or injury. Get insured to make your life happy and healthy. First Preferred is the best option you can choose to have wonderful years ahead without the worries of diabetes. For more information,visit http://firstpreferredhealthinsurance.com
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