Information Strategies, Inc.: Healthcare & You
Healthcare & You at www.hsafinder.com provides the most complete, independent information on health savings accounts (HSAs) for individuals, their families and companies.
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RSS FEED IDEMS: Information Strategies, Inc.: Healthcare & You
- Initial Reaction to Bush Health Plan Proposals
At first blush, Americans like President Bush’s proposal to radically change the healthcare insurance landscape. In advance of his State-of-The-Union address, the President’s staff released details of the proposal.
Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:28:57 GMT - Tectonic Shift In Healthcare Payment Landscape Being Proposed By President Bush
President Bush will propose a tax deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families regardless of whether they buy their own health insurance or receive medical coverage at work, according to published sources.
The proposal, to be announced Tuesday in his State of the Union address, has a two-fold purpose: reducing the cost of healthcare insurance for most Americans and providing an incentive for the uninsured to buy a policy.
While administration officials say the changes will not affect total tax dollar collections, the publish reports are unclear as to whether the traditional exemption for employers who pay for healthcare will continue. At present, employers can deduct the cost of healthcare insurance for employees dollar-for-dollar.
Employees with policies costing above the $7,500 and $15,000 limits would pay taxes on the excess. Individuals and families, who purchase healthcare insurance directly would, for the first time, have some tax relief.
In his radio address, the President said the measure is also aimed at giving the uninsured an incentive to purchase a medical plan.
Make your thoughts known by answering our special survey on these proposals - click here.
What is clear is that this new initiative changes the face of healthcare discussions for the next two years.
Mon, 22 Jan 2007 02:23:49 GMT - California’s Small Businesses Get a Little Known Tax Break
The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 extended a little known tax break through 2007 for California ’s small businesses, their employees and the self-employed that participate in consumer directed healthcare through a Medical Savings Account (MSA).
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:31:19 GMT - Possible Tax-Code Change to Promote Consumer Driven Healthcare
With health-care costs emerging as one of voters' biggest domestic concerns, President Bush is considering promoting a tax-code change making it easier for people to buy health insurance for themselves in the open market, rather than relying on employers.
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:21:49 GMT - Five Reasons Why the Self-Employed Should Look at HSAs in 2007
HSA Qualified Health Plans work by coupling a Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (Q-HDHP) with a Tax Advantaged Health Savings Account. The funds deposited to the HSA can be utilized to pay for Qualified Medical Expenses on a tax-free basis and balances roll over from year to year. The minimum Q-HDHP deductibles are $1,100 for single and $2,200 for family coverage. When coupled with 100% co-insurance plans they can significantly reduce the annual maximum out of pocket cash when compared with traditional Co-pay plans. This is especially true when discussing family plans where there may be deductibles for each family member. The Q-HDHP plans utilize family deductibles where one or multiple family members' medical costs go toward a single deductible.
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:21:03 GMT - New Company Offers Prevention-Based Healthcare Programs For Hospitals, Employers and Consumers
Launched today, U.S. Preventive Medicine® is creating preventive programs and services designed to give Americans more good years, by detecting health risks early and then preventing them from becoming life-threatening diseases or mitigating their severity. These programs include preventive diagnostics, health risk assessments, counseling and intervention.
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:20:28 GMT - Report On HSAs Growth, Characteristics Published By Nationally-Known Healthcare Data Firm
President Bush is expected to talk about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in his upcoming State of the Union address and they enter 2007 on an upswing.
HSAs are becoming a mainstream healthcare and financial services products with clear trends emerging. For insurance providers, financial institutions and industry suppliers, anticipating the market and knowing what will happen is becoming even more crucial to long-term success.
“Our staff has put together the most definitive report yet on why individuals and companies purchase HSAs, how they use them and who provides the products and services to make them more efficient,” said JoAnn Laing, President ^ CEO of Information Strategies, Inc. (ISI).
The 2007 HSA Market And Outlook Study is crammed with the latest charts and data on Health Savings Accounts based on interviews with more than 17,000 users and 200 financial institutions. This second edition is a “must-read” for industry leaders. (for more details click here)
Since their inception, the Ridgefield, NJ-based firm has been in the forefront of providing the kind of actionable knowledge industry leaders need to be profitable in the rapidly changing HSA environment.
The 2007 HSA Market and Outlook Study is particularly valuable for executives in the financial services, healthcare insurance, and provider sectors. It will also be of value to investment professionals, new sector entrants and providers of ancillary services.
For additional information and purchasing options, contact: Donald Mazzella, Publisher at 201-242-0600 or editor@hsafinder.com.
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:14:59 GMT - Gov. Schwarzenegger Proposes Comprehensive Plan to Help All Californians
With 6.5 million Californians uninsured for all or part of the year - more than any other state in the nation - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today shared his comprehensive plans to reform California's broken health care system by addressing the hidden costs that result in billions of dollars in higher premiums and taxes. [Macro error: Can't find a sub-table named "radioResponder".]
Tue, 09 Jan 2007 22:21:12 GMT - Senator Clinton Calls For Universal Healthcare As Spending Increases Slowed
As the new provisions to Health Savings Accounts kicked in at the beginning of the year, Senator Hillary Clinton, (D, NY) was reported to have said she favors moving to a national, single payer healthcare plan. The New York Sun reported that the New York Senator, a leading Democratic Presidential candidate, spoke a meeting sponsored by the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
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Tue, 09 Jan 2007 22:20:31 GMT - Cigna Unveils HSA for Small Firms
U.S. insurer Cigna HealthCare said Friday it has expanded its health savings account product to employers with fewer than 50 workers. The insurer said the expansion of its HSA, which is offered through investment bank JPMorgan Chase, includes HSA plans that took effect on or after Jan. 1 in Arizona, North Carolina and South Carolina.
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Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:05:36 GMT - Flash Report: HSA Custodial Accounts Reach 3.6 Million, $5.1 Billion Deposits
Early returns from the nation’s account custodians put the number of accounts at 3.6 million as of January 4, according to Information Strategies, Inc. (ISI). “Preliminary estimates put the monies under management at $5.1 Billion,” said JoAnn Laing, ISI’s President & CEO.
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Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:11:09 GMT - 'Consumer Control' and the Electronic Medical Record
"Consumer control" is a prominent theme in current discussion of strategies to control inflation in the cost of health care. Can providers support consumers empowered to influence decisions about their care? Can providers work with patients who want to manage their health and health care far more than they do now? Surely they can, if that is what the policies and technologies actually do. [Macro error: Can't find a sub-table named "radioResponder".]
Thu, 04 Jan 2007 15:45:25 GMT - Employers Turn To Mini-Med Plans As Stopgaps For Employee Healthcare Insurance
A growing number of employers are offering limited medical, or "mini-med," plans so that employees can have access to basic medical benefits while waiting to become eligible for a major medical program. More employers are turning to mini-meds plans as a way to entice good workers to stay with or join their company while controlling the administrative overhead associated with group plans. [Macro error: Can't find a sub-table named "radioResponder".]
Thu, 04 Jan 2007 15:42:34 GMT - President Bush Signs New HSA Regulations; Insured, Accounts, Savings To Rise Significantly
President Bush has signed into law new changes in Health Savings Account offerings that will significantly increase their popularity.
Wed, 20 Dec 2006 20:39:41 GMT - Wal-Mart to Double HSA Contribution to Employees
Confirming a trend first surfaced by Information Strategies, Inc. in the summer, many employers are increasing their contributions to HSAs. One major employer, Wal-Mart, has gone a step further and doubled its contribution in 2007.
Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:49:08 GMT
