Articles tagged with Health Insurance
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that health insurance expansion through the Affordable Care Act significantly reduced the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest among middle-aged adults who were previously uninsured. The study analyzed emergency medical services data from an urban Oregon coun...
Research found that middle-aged adults with ACA health insurance had a 17% lower incidence of cardiac arrest compared to those without coverage. Regular medical care facilitated by health insurance enabled prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular conditions that cause cardiac arrest.
A survey of newly covered Michigan residents reveals that expanded Medicaid improved their job performance, allowing them to better do their jobs or seek new opportunities. The coverage also had a positive impact on physical and mental health, with nearly half of participants reporting an improvement in health.
A review of published evidence shows that having health insurance significantly reduces the risk for death. The study also found that health insurance improves self-rated health and financial protection, and reduces the likelihood of depression.
Expanding health insurance increases access to preventive services, primary care, and chronic illness treatment, leading to improved overall health and reduced mortality rates. Insurance also has major benefits for people with depression, including improved diagnosis and treatment rates.
A new study found that health insurance reimbursement for complementary healthcare services is significantly lower than for primary care physicians. The likelihood of reimbursement was 69% lower for acupuncturists, 71% lower for chiropractors, and 62% lower for doctors of naturopathic medicine.
A new study by MIT researchers found that Medicaid patients wait 4.6 minutes on average to start an appointment, compared to 4.1 minutes for privately insured patients. The disparity in wait times is largely due to the type of provider seen, with Medicaid recipients more likely to visit practices with longer wait times.
A new survey reveals that many patients in Connecticut struggle to understand their private health insurance plans, leading to delays in care and unexpected medical bills. The study highlights the need for simplified language and increased education to address health disparities among minority groups.
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that 65% of women covered by Medicaid or CHIP at delivery were uninsured for at least one month during their pregnancies. The study highlights the need to improve continuity of coverage during the prenatal and postpartum periods, especially for lower-income women.
A Yale study warns that if federal funding for CHIP is not extended, over 8 million children could face substantial cost increases in health insurance. Children with chronic conditions are most vulnerable to these cost increases.
Women pursuing IVF are more likely to give birth if they have health insurance that covers the procedure, according to research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. Without coverage, financial constraints often prohibit women from seeking additional treatments after an initial failure.
Repeal of key ACA provisions and failure to renew critical funding streams would result in significant funding losses for community health centers. Nearly 80% of centers estimate financial losses exceeding 20%, with many at risk of laying off staff, cutting services, or shutting down clinical sites.
Research found that nearly three-fourths of US remaining smokers have low socioeconomic status, including no college education, health insurance, or disability. These individuals face higher challenges in quitting smoking due to limited access to cessation-supporting services.
A new study at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that Americans prioritize affordability based on household income. Respondents favored a health insurance policy with a 5% household income cap, rather than the current Ryancare plan which transfers benefits from poorer households to wealthier ones.
The Hyde Amendment has expanded its policy reach over the past 40 years, affecting various government programs including Medicaid, Medicare, and federal prisons. A new bill, H.R. 7, could codify this restriction into law, making abortion more difficult for low-income women to access.
A new study found that Medicare Part D reduced elderly mortality by 2.2 percent annually since 2006, primarily driven by a 4.4 percent reduction in cardiovascular mortality. The program's social value is estimated at $5 billion per year, accounting for a significant fraction of its total expenditures.
A new research letter analyzed changes in appointment availability and wait times for Medicaid and private insurance callers in 10 states. Medicaid callers saw significant increases in appointment availability and short waits, while private insurance callers experienced decreases in short waits and increases in long waits.
A study analyzing over 100,000 shoulder replacement surgery cases found that patients with Medicaid or no insurance had significantly higher complication rates compared to privately insured patients. Disparities in postoperative outcomes were attributed to lack of access to preoperative and postoperative care due to socioeconomic factors.
A Dartmouth study found that health insurance reduces cancer disparities, but does not eliminate them. Patients from disadvantaged communities showed a larger benefit from health insurance, highlighting the need for improved access to care.
Researchers found improved preventive care and health behaviors among low-income childless adults due to Obamacare Medicaid expansion, with increased access to healthcare services and reduced barriers to care. They also reported better self-assessed health and fewer days of poor health or restricted activities.
A recent survey of primary care physicians found that 15% support the complete repeal of Obamacare, lower than the general public's percentage. The majority, 74%, favor changes to the law, such as creating a public option or increasing health savings accounts.
A new study by the RAND Corporation finds that Oregon's efforts to expand health insurance coverage may face obstacles, including federal waivers and potential provider shortages. The analysis of three proposals suggests that universal coverage models may be more feasible than initially thought, but come with tradeoffs and unknown effe...
Research suggests that the Affordable Care Act has effectively reduced the uninsured rate among people with mental illness and substance use disorders, but significant barriers to treatment persist. Despite increased insurance coverage, access to services such as counseling and medication remains limited.
Researchers found that publicly insured children are less likely to be admitted to hospital when beds are scarce, but this disparity does not affect health outcomes. The study suggests that privately insured children may be over-treated and highlights the need for better allocation of healthcare resources.
A new study finds that even low-deductible plans can result in high out-of-pocket costs for individuals with chronic health conditions. The researchers analyzed data from over 17,000 people and found that those with high-deductible plans spent more than 10% of their total income on healthcare costs.
Researchers propose a high-value health plan that combines consumer-driven HDHPs with exemptions for clinical services proven to benefit patients. The concept has already gained bipartisan appeal in the US House bill.
A new RAND Corporation study finds that individuals with high health insurance literacy are more likely to gain coverage after the Affordable Care Act exchanges opened. The study, which surveyed over 2,700 adults, found a significant association between financial literacy and health insurance status.
According to a new study by Rice University experts, roughly 6 percentage points of Texas residents have gained health insurance coverage due to the Affordable Care Act, resulting in approximately 1 million Texans gaining coverage. However, despite these gains, 3 million Texans between ages 19 and 64 remain uninsured.
A recent study found that the uninsured rate in Metro Louisville decreased from almost 17% to under 8% in one year. The remaining uninsured population is disproportionately Hispanic, African American, male, and younger, with key reasons including expense and confusion about the enrollment process.
A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analysis found that Republican and Democratic voters have vastly different views on future health policy issues, influencing potential policy changes. The study suggests that party control will heavily impact future policies, including the Affordable Care Act.
A study found that patients with public health insurance were more likely to experience high pain levels in the post anesthesia care unit, regardless of their overall health, age, gender, or neighborhood income. This disparity highlights the importance of considering insurance type as a factor in patient care.
New research finds children without health insurance are significantly more likely to be transferred to another facility after an ER visit compared to those with private insurance. The study challenges the effectiveness of EMTALA, a three-decade-old law requiring hospitals to make decisions on patient transfers independent of insurance...
A new study found that Medicaid expansion in Oregon increased hospital emergency department visits by 40% after the initial spike, with a significant increase in both doctor's office visits and combined care, contradicting expectations of a temporary rise.
Underpriced policies and the absence of young, healthy individuals in insurance risk pools are driving up premiums. Insurers like Aetna face significant losses, prompting rate hikes and withdrawals from the marketplaces. The long-term consequences threaten the sustainability of the Affordable Care Act.
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that nearly 25% of low-income adults in three US states switched their health coverage within the previous 12 months, resulting in significant negative effects on healthcare, including frequent gaps in insurance, skipped medications, and low-quality care.
The Affordable Care Act has significantly reduced the number of uninsured individuals through expanded Medicaid and health insurance exchanges. Early evidence also suggests improvements in access to and affordability of healthcare, despite ongoing disparities by geography, race/ethnicity, and income.
A national study on low-value health services found that $32.8 million was spent on 28 procedures in 2013, accounting for 0.5% of total spending. The most expensive procedures were spinal injections and imaging tests for low-back pain.
Researchers suggest that standardizing health insurance plans could alleviate the psychological and financial stress of choosing a plan, making it easier for consumers to understand their options. The proposal aims to create simple products that are easy to comprehend, reducing costly mistakes.
Researchers found no increase in emergency department visits in states that expanded Medicaid compared to those that didn't. However, Medicaid expansion led to a 27% increase in Medicaid-paid emergency department visits and a 31% decrease in uninsured visits.
Two insurance expansion approaches under ACA associated with increased outpatient and preventive care, reduced emergency department use, and improved self-reported health. The Medicaid expansion and alternative private option were linked to gains in coverage, primary care access, and reduced out-of-pocket spending.
A study found that Medicaid expansion led to a significant increase in Medicaid enrollment among patients who received liver transplants funded by commercial insurance. The expansion resulted in a 50% increase in enrolling in Medicaid after 2014, while there was no impact on uninsured care usage.
A study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that pregnant women with health insurance coverage had lower odds of alcohol use, while non-pregnant women with insurance had higher odds. The study also found that prenatal substance use poses significant threats to maternal and child health.
A Georgia State University study found that losing private health insurance from an employer can lead to increased symptoms of depression and limitations in daily activities among older adults in early retirement. The loss of employment-based insurance was associated with poorer health outcomes, even when retirees sought non-group insu...
A Harvard study reveals that wealthier Americans are getting significantly more healthcare than middle-class and poor individuals, reversing a long-term trend of increased equality. The wealthiest fifth of Americans now consume 43% more healthcare than the poorest fifth, while middle-income people receive 23% less care.
Out-of-pocket spending per hospitalization rose by 37%, driven by deductible and coinsurance increases, affecting treatment choices and access to care. Adults in individual-market plans faced the highest cost sharing.
A recent study analyzed data from over 50 million privately insured patients, finding a 37% rise in out-of-pocket spending for hospital stays. Deductibles and co-insurance costs increased by 86% and 33%, respectively, with average total bills ranging from $1,200 to $1,800.
After health insurance reform, minority-serving hospitals in Massachusetts saw a significant increase in minority discharges, with 62% of 'safety-net hospital users' continuing to receive care at these facilities. The study suggests that interventions like raising Medicaid reimbursement rates could benefit these vital resources.
A comprehensive hand hygiene program using alcohol-based hand sanitizers and wipes resulted in a 24.3% lower incidence of hand hygiene preventable insurance claims compared to the control group. The study also found 13.4% fewer sick episodes or unscheduled PTO, with 8 in 10 employees positively impacted by the program.
A study by Heather Kugelmass found that psychotherapists discriminate against black and working-class patients, with appointment offer rates being significantly lower than for middle-class counterparts. The research highlights the need to address biases in mental health care access.
A new simulator is being developed to help individuals and families select the most suitable health insurance plans based on realistic cost estimates and potential healthcare outcomes. The simulator combines buyer-specific information with bespoke databases, producing transparent output that enables informed decision-making.
Researchers found significant increases in health insurance coverage, quality of coverage, and diagnoses for chronic health conditions among low-income adults in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The study's findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and residents in states with ACA Medicaid expansions.
Millennials with higher deductible spending are the most frequent comparison shoppers for healthcare services. The study found that women and younger adults use price transparency tools more than others.
A new study finds that the Cadillac tax will hit middle-income families hardest, while sparing the wealthy. The tax will reduce the financial burden of health benefits on lower-income workers and exacerbate inequalities in healthcare.
A University of Louisville study found that low-income Kentuckians without health insurance declined by 68% from 35% to 11% between 2013 and 2014. The study also revealed declines in people lacking a regular source of healthcare and those with unmet medical needs.
A new study published in the International Journal of Obesity suggests that 34.4 million Americans considered overweight by BMI are actually healthy, and 19.8 million who are considered obese are also healthy. The research reveals that BMI mislabels millions of individuals as unhealthy, while overlooking those with 'healthy' BMIs who a...
Carnegie Mellon University researchers analyze 20,000 employee plan choices and find most employees select inferior plans leading to over-spending. They argue simplifying health insurance plans can improve consumer choices and reduce anxiety.
A new University of Illinois at Chicago study examines the impact of cutting teacher benefits on taxpayer savings. The researchers found that most of the cost of health insurance is passed onto teachers themselves through deductions from their salaries.
A new analysis suggests that paying for sex reassignment surgery and hormones is actually cost-effective, with costs comparable to treatment for depression and substance abuse. Providing health care benefits to transgender people makes economic sense, improving quality of life without a huge financial impact on society.
According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, children with Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) were more likely to receive preventive medical and dental care compared to those with private insurance. The study analyzed data from over 80,000 children and found that 88% of Medicaid- and CHIP-covered kids had...
A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that Medicaid insurance is associated with better awareness and treatment of chronic diseases among low-income Americans. People with Medicaid are five times more likely to see a doctor than those with no health insurance.