How can tiny, self-insuring companies, with say only 30 or 80 workers, bear the risk of unexpectedly large claims? They buy reinsurance, also known as stop-loss coverage. Stop-loss kicks in when somebody’s bills top, say, $20,000 or $50,000. Say you’re a self-covered small business with 70 employees. Your normal annual medical bill is $400,000 (no family… [Read More…]
The number of households using video consultations with physicians will grow, from 900,000 in 2013 to 22.6 million in 2018, according to a report from Parks Associates. Parks Associates added that video consultation revenues will grow from under $100 million in 2013 to $13.7 billion in 2018. By the third quarter of 2013, 28 percent of broadband households in… [Read More…]
Global professional services firm Towers Watson says telemedicine could potentially save US employers $6 billion a year. “While this analysis highlights a maximum potential savings, even a significantly lower level of use could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in savings,” Dr. Allan Khoury, a senior consultant at Towers Watson, said in a statement. “Achieving… [Read More…]
When the weather gets cooler, cold and flu season heats up resulting in more illnesses throughout the country. The U.S. economy spends an estimated $84 billion on sick days annually, yet nearly 90 percent of employees still go to work when they’re sick. While a doctor visit can be inconvenient and costly, the decision to go… [Read More…]
You have probably heard by now about the increasing popularity of telemedicine, or telehealth, an employee health benefit (not insurance!) that can be added to your current benefits plan structure which gives your employees the ability to call a real doctor in their state anytime, anywhere if they are sick. The buzz on telemedicine is picking… [Read More…]
Under a proposed rule setting the Part B physician fee schedule for calendar year 2015, Medicare would expand payment for certain medical and mental health services furnished via telemedicine technologies. “We are proposing to add the following services to the list of services that can be furnished to Medicare beneficiaries under the telehealth benefit: annual… [Read More…]
Telemedicine is proving its value in extending health services access across the Big Bend, even if Florida lags behind other states in taking advantage of the technology. Telemedicine is helping make healthcare more accessible in rural communities across the United States. Providing services to outlying areas was one of the topics Wednesday at the Health Sciences… [Read More…]
Things are changing dramatically in the way you and your business purchase health insurance. Open enrollment for federal subsidies started on October 1 and the first plans of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act became effective January 1, 2014. There are many elements to the law that small business owners should know and understand,… [Read More…]
Thanks to a new partnership, people seeking help for health care issues now can have an easier time making treatment decisions—and can reach medical professionals immediately as a result of a new AllyHealth and MDLIVE telecare partnership. AllyHealth, a leader in supplement health benefit plans for employers and other groups, is partnering with MDLIVE, Inc., which… [Read More…]
One of the primary goals of the Affordable Care Act is to achieve the greatest value from the health care resources invested into the system while making lasting improvements in patient outcomes, wellness, and overall health. Telecare can potentially make a valuable difference in achieving this goal, yet widespread adoption is greatly hindered by both… [Read More…]
