‘In The News’ Archives
Buying More Time With Doctors, Concierge Medicine
Frustrated with a changing health care system that has resulted in longer workdays and less time with patients, a growing number of doctors in California and across the nation are turning to a new type of practice - concierge medicine. The model is simple: Doctors charge their patients an annual fee and in turn give them more time and attention. [...]
Outsourcing May Grow as Health System Evolves
The health care industry is no stranger to outsourcing. Administrative work – billing, collections, enrollment, eligibility – as well as clinical work – radiology, laboratory tests, physical therapy – are often done by contractors outside the health system providing coverage and care. In some systems, insurers and hospitals routinely [...]
Variable Annuity Up-and-Cover Snags Hartford, Sun Life VA Veterans
Symetra Life Insurance Co. is taking another step toward raising its presence in the variable annuity world by hiring a wholesaling team from two rivals that have left the business. Th company has hired Jeffrey Jennings, James Maertz and Dinah Bird as Symetra’s wholesaling team to help promote the insurer’s True Variable Annuity, which [...]
Few Understand Longevity when Planning Retirement
Despite increasing life expectancy in the U.S., more than half of retirees and pre-retirees underestimate how long they may live, according to a survey from the Society of Actuaries (SOA). A separate report released by the Insured Retirement Industry on Tuesday noted that women are particularly at risk for outliving their savings. The implications [...]
Brokers Face Uncertainty Over Health Care Reform
Health insurance agents spend most of their time gathering quotes, explaining coverage and helping clients choose from different options. These tasks are often handled by the human resources department at large companies. Nearly seven out of 10 small businesses and more than one out of three individuals purchasing health insurance, on their own, [...]
California Health Care Industry Booming
President Barack Obama's overhaul of national health care, having survived a challenge in the US Supreme Court, is expected to usher in a fresh demand for health care workers in California. Joanne Spetz, a health care economist at the University of California, San Francisco foresees booming demand for a whole host of occupations: primary care [...]
Doctor Shortage Likely to Worsen With Health Law
In the Inland Empire, President Obama’s health care law is expected to extend insurance coverage to more than 300,000 people by 2014. But coverage will not necessarily translate into care: Local health experts doubt there will be enough doctors to meet the area’s needs. There are not enough now. Other places around the country, including [...]
WellPoint Disappoints; Sector Gets Pummeled
Lower-than-expected earnings and a reduced outlook for WellPoint Inc. took a big bite out of the health insurance giant’s shares Wednesday and the company’s forecast sent a shiver up the spine of the managed-care sector. WellPoint said net income was $643.6 million, or $1.94 a share, and 8.3% drop from the $701.6 million, or $1.89 reported a [...]
Making Health Care Reform Work: A Perspective from California Doctors
As the sweeping health care reform law is set to take effect, doctors and health care experts discussed labor-related aspects of health care at the University of Southern California this week. They provided a window into the workplace stresses and challenges that doctors face as well as the health care needs and challenges of low-income [...]
Our Ridiculous Approach to Retirement
Seventy-five percent of Americans nearing retirement age in 2010 had less than $30,000 in their retirement accounts. The specter of downward mobility in retirement is a looming reality for both middle- and higher-income workers. Almost half of middle-class workers, 49 percent, will be poor or near poor in retirement, living on a food budget of [...]
