November 8, 2023 OLYMPIA, Washington. Thirteen health insurers were approved to sell group health plans to small employers in 2024. Insurers requested an average premium increase of 8.30%, but only 8.02% were approved. The new rates will come into effect after January 1, 2024, upon renewal of the employer plan. Nationally, 50% of small employers …
As the teachers’ strike closes Portland Public Schools for a second week, all indications are that students will be out of school until Thanksgiving. But there may still be one force strong enough to carry out the contract: health insurance. All eyes are on Nov. 16: If teachers aren’t back in the classroom by that …
With the onset of festive celebrations across the country, electronics retailers, lifestyle retailers and consumer brands have started offering attractive discounts and salivating offers, making it extremely difficult to control the urge to go shopping. While gold, smartphones, home decor and travel packages dominate consumer demands, it is safe to say that the idea of …
Long-term care insurance isn’t just for assisted living facilities. It can also help you age in place. Mask Most people want to stay in their home for the rest of their lives, and you may be one of them. After all, you worked hard to pay off your house and created irreplaceable memories there. So …
Frequent foreign travelers or those planning to undergo certain medical procedures abroad should opt for an India health insurance policy that offers international coverage, including for destinations like the United States and Canada. These policies, offered by a few insurers, differ from regular travel insurance which includes medical coverage but may have limits. Health insurance …
Adopting a rescue or shelter dog not only gives a home to an animal in need. It can be a playmate for your kids, a jogging buddy for you, and a loyal companion for everyone to snuggle up with on the couch. But a new pet can also come with unexpected vet bills, which is …
I’m old enough to remember the 1984 Summer Olympics and how gymnast Mary Lou Retton showed the world what a West Virginia girl trained in Houston could do. His incredible talent and million dollar smile were on full display. After Retton retired from gymnastics, I saw her on television from time to time. I hadn’t …
Prescriptions for semaglutide jumped 150% in the past year, with an 80% increase in prescriptions written per provider, new data suggests. Among more than 350,000 prescribers in the national DrFirst network between December 2022 and June 2023, prescriptions for the Wegovy weight loss formulation increased sixfold while those for Ozempic, the lower dose version to …
As thousands of Oklahomans have been locked out of SoonerCare, the state’s Medicaid program, many are turning to the federal insurance market for a new plan. But in Oklahoma City, many have turned to direct primary care programs, which connect them directly to providers through monthly subscriptions, forgoing insurance companies altogether. This works for many …
Tampa businessman and philanthropist Kiran Patel is returning to the health insurance industry through a new venture with Boston-based eternalHealth. Patel is a major investor and shareholder in the company, which manages Medicare Advantage health plans in six Massachusetts counties, according to an announcement this week. It recently expanded to the Phoenix area and now …