Showing posts with label commonwealth fund. Show all posts
Showing posts with label commonwealth fund. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Overheard @: I regret enrolling in an HSA
Detailing findings from Employee Benefit Research Institute/Commonwealth Fund research, I confront my misgivings about enrolling in a high-deductible health plan with an HSA. Download my podcast here.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
News You Can Use: Retail clinics appeal to younger families
A latte, the new Fall Out Boy CD, something for lunch and oh -- I'll get that cough checked out.
Such "while I'm out" shopping lists could be what's leading more young people to retail clinics than older individuals and families. Also, younger individuals may be less likely to have a primary doctor. Either way, overall, younger families, participants aged 18-34, were more than twice as likely as older families, participants aged 50-64, to have used a retail clinic, according to research by the Commonwealth Fund and the Center for Studying Health System Change. The report also explains that 48% of Americans using retail clinics indicate they had done so for diagnosis and treatment of a new illness or symptom.
"While overall use of retail clinics remains modest, families with unmet medical needs tend to use the clinics more than the rest of the population," says Ha T. Tu, an HSC senior researcher.
About 47% of patients explained that their clinic visit involved a prescription renewal, while less common medical needs included vaccinations, care for an ongoing chronic condition and physical examinations.
"These findings suggest that retail health clinics have the potential to play a role in improving health care delivery, especially primary care," says Dr. Anne-Marie Audet, vice president at the Commonwealth Fund. The research, detailed in the report "Checking Up on Retail-Based Health Clinics: Is the Boom Ending?," represents a national survey of 18,000 people in 9,400 families.
Related EBN coverage:
Retail clinics multiply, regulators step in
Don't mix business and blood pressure
Such "while I'm out" shopping lists could be what's leading more young people to retail clinics than older individuals and families. Also, younger individuals may be less likely to have a primary doctor. Either way, overall, younger families, participants aged 18-34, were more than twice as likely as older families, participants aged 50-64, to have used a retail clinic, according to research by the Commonwealth Fund and the Center for Studying Health System Change. The report also explains that 48% of Americans using retail clinics indicate they had done so for diagnosis and treatment of a new illness or symptom.
"While overall use of retail clinics remains modest, families with unmet medical needs tend to use the clinics more than the rest of the population," says Ha T. Tu, an HSC senior researcher.
About 47% of patients explained that their clinic visit involved a prescription renewal, while less common medical needs included vaccinations, care for an ongoing chronic condition and physical examinations.
"These findings suggest that retail health clinics have the potential to play a role in improving health care delivery, especially primary care," says Dr. Anne-Marie Audet, vice president at the Commonwealth Fund. The research, detailed in the report "Checking Up on Retail-Based Health Clinics: Is the Boom Ending?," represents a national survey of 18,000 people in 9,400 families.
Related EBN coverage:
Retail clinics multiply, regulators step in
Don't mix business and blood pressure
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
News You Can Use: Wanted - snake charmers; less than 1 in 10 opt for COBRA
Granted, this is more like "News You Likely Already Knew," but new research from The Commonwealth Fund reveals that COBRA is so expensive that just 9% of eligible workers opts for COBRA coverage after losing insurance due to a layoff or other termination.
Unemployed workers who also lose their health insurance would need substantial financial assistance, covering 75% to 85% of their health insurance premiums, for their premium contributions to remain at the levels they paid while they were working, according to the report. That figure comes on the heels of a proposal from President Obama that would subsidize COBRA premiums up to 60% for 18 months, and House passage of a similar proposal.
Even worse off are the 62% of workers ineligble for COBRA coverage because they don't receive health insurance through their jobs, work for small firms that aren't required to offer COBRA, or are uninsured to begin with, Commonwealth finds.
With more layoffs coming, and so many of you against subsidies (see comments on previous post here), what's the answer? Perhaps FSA or HSA funds could be tapped to pay COBRA premiums? Comment below and share your views.
Unemployed workers who also lose their health insurance would need substantial financial assistance, covering 75% to 85% of their health insurance premiums, for their premium contributions to remain at the levels they paid while they were working, according to the report. That figure comes on the heels of a proposal from President Obama that would subsidize COBRA premiums up to 60% for 18 months, and House passage of a similar proposal.
Even worse off are the 62% of workers ineligble for COBRA coverage because they don't receive health insurance through their jobs, work for small firms that aren't required to offer COBRA, or are uninsured to begin with, Commonwealth finds.
With more layoffs coming, and so many of you against subsidies (see comments on previous post here), what's the answer? Perhaps FSA or HSA funds could be tapped to pay COBRA premiums? Comment below and share your views.
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