Genome Medical, a leading genomics technology, services and strategy company, announced today that its virtual genetic services are now available in-network to nearly 90 million people through payer contracts across the country. This accelerated availability of on-demand genetic expertise will expand the application of genome-enabled health care and precision medicine to benefit more patients. [Read more…]
Liz Ross Joins Bright Health Inc.
Today, Bright Health Inc. announced that former Periscope CEO Elizabeth Ross will be joining the Company as its new Chief Marketing Officer on Monday, November 30. With nearly 30 years of experience driving growth through consumer and brand-to-brand campaigns, Ross will oversee all of Bright Health’s marketing and external communications efforts. [Read more…]
Nonprofits Receive $900,000 in Funding from Tufts Health Plan Foundation to Address COVID-19
Tufts Health Plan Foundation today announced 64 community organizations will share $900,000 in funding to help in on-going COVID-19 response efforts. The nonprofit organizations focus on urgent needs in communities, especially those disproportionately affected by the virus. The funding, first announced in June, is in addition to the $1 million in COVID-19-related grants awarded earlier this year. [Read more…]
Americans Will Spend An Average of $5,952/Year for Health Insurance in 2021
NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — With Open Enrollment underway, a new ValuePenguin.com analysis has found that in 2021, Americans will spend an average of $496 per month, or $5,952 per year on health insurance, if they purchase a Health Insurance Marketplace plan. There was a slight 1.59% decrease in premiums from the 2020 plan year, but analysts found significant variations across states, and health insurance plan type:
— West Virginia, New York, Wyoming, Vermont and Louisiana residents pay the highest health insurance premiums in the country — premiums here are 43.14%, 41%, 34.73%, 30.50% and 26.45% above the national average.
— New Hampshire, Maryland, New Mexico, Minnesota and Washington residents pay the lowest health insurance premiums in the country — premiums here are 32.55%, 30.19%, 29.68%, 27.26% and 20.66% below the national average.
— Indiana, New Jersey and Delaware had the largest increase in health insurance costs year over year — 10%, 9% and 8% respectively ($42, $43 and $37).
— Iowa, Maryland and Maine had the largest decrease in health insurance costs year over year — 20%, 17%, and 15% respectively ($110, $69 and $78).
— Notably, New Jersey saw rates increase 9% from 2020, after the introduction of their new state run health insurance marketplace. Pennsylvania, which also introduced a state run health insurance marketplace, saw health insurance costs decrease 8% from 2020.
— The most restrictive health insurance policies – namely HMO (health maintenance organization) and POS (point of service) saw the biggest drop in premiums, compared to other types of plans, falling close to 10.67% and 9.04% compared to 2020. By metal tier, Bronze tier health plans saw the sharpest decrease in premiums, falling 6.86% compared to the 2020 plan year.
According to ValuePenguin.com Health Insurance expert Sterling Price, “Despite decreases in average premiums nationally, most Americans will see their premiums increase slightly for the 2021 plan year, due to COVID-19.” He adds, “Insurers are anticipating a surge in medical claims from the many Americans who delayed surgeries or medical procedures in 2020 due to the pandemic, and the COVID-19 Vaccination. These factors have led to some insurers adding a slight bump to premiums for the 2021 plan year.”
ValuePenguin.com analysts looked at the thousands of Health Insurance plans available from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Using the rates and premiums for each plan, averages were calculated for a variety of variables such as metal tier, family size, county and state. To view the full report, visit: https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-cost-of-health-insurance
About ValuePenguin.com: ValuePenguin.com, part of LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE), is a personal finance website that conducts in-depth research and provides objective analysis to help guide consumers to the best financial decisions. ValuePenguin focuses on value, assessing whether the return of a particular decision is worth the cost or risk of that option, and how this stacks up with the other possible choices they may have. For more information, please visit www.valuepenguin.com, like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @ValuePenguin.
Additional Information: https://www.valuepenguin.com/health-insurance
SOURCE ValuePenguin.com
Inland Empire Health Plan Receives Health Equity Award
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) received the 2020 Health Equity Award for their ability to engage and connect with members via text message during Governor Newsom’s social isolation order this year. The award was given by mPulse Mobile, a leader in conversational AI solutions for healthcare, during their annual Activate Awards.
mPulse Mobile awarded IEHP the 2020 Health Equity Award for their ability to engage and connect with members via text message during Governor Newsom’s social isolation order this year. [Read more…]
Healthfirst Offers New Shopping and Enrollment Experience for 2020
NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Healthfirst, New York’s largest not-for-profit health insurer* serving nearly 1.6 million members, is offering new ways for people to connect with Healthfirst during the 2020 Annual and Open Enrollment Periods, with options—including online, via video, by SMS text, or by phone—that are convenient and can be accessed from the safety and comfort of home. [Read more…]
Delta Dental Of California Partnership With Lendeavor
SAN FRANCISCO, April 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Delta Dental of California, which offers comprehensive oral health care coverage to more than 36 million members, today announced details of a $200 million loan program through a partnership with Lendeavor that will provide economic assistance and post-COVID-19 pandemic relief for its independent provider network across 15 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Lendeavor, a leading digital lender that provides financial solutions to healthcare practices, will manage the program. [Read more…]
100% Digital Health EMI Network Card from Bajaj Finserv Makes Medical Financing Stress-free
PUNE, India, April 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The funds allocated towards healthcare by the 2020 Union Budget were 5.7% lower than the amount apportioned last year. This combined with the fact that healthcare inflation in India is believed to be increasing at double the rate of retail inflation and that about 56% of Indians don’t have any health insurance reveals the stark nature of healthcare finance in the country. To address this deficiency and make medical care more accessible and hassle-free, Bajaj Finance Limited, the lending and investing arm of Bajaj Finserv, offers a Digital Health EMI Network Card. [Read more…]
HealthWell Opens Insurance Premium Payment Fund for Workers Who Have Been Furloughed or Laid Off
GERMANTOWN, Md., April 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The HealthWell Foundation®, an independent non-profit that provides a financial lifeline for inadequately insured Americans, has opened a new fund to assist individuals who have been laid off or furloughed as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Through this unique fund, HealthWell will provide up to $6,000 in financial assistance for 3 months following grant approval to eligible households which had annual incomes up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level prior to being laid off or furloughed. [Read more…]
Health Partners Plans Relies on Zenoss to Reduce Critical IT Response Times
AUSTIN, Texas, April 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Zenoss Inc., the leader in intelligent application and service monitoring, today announced that Health Partners Plans (HPP), a large not-for-profit managed health care organization serving more than 259,000 members, trusts Zenoss to monitor its large and complex IT infrastructure, helping predict and prevent issues before they impact operations. [Read more…]