Some thoughts on my Answers.com experience
As I mentioned the other day, my final long-form Answers.com article went up last Thursday (February 27th). Although I'll continue in my role as the Insurance Content Expert Writer (CEW) at Answers, that role has significantly changed.I think that's a good thing.When I was first approached to apply for the position, the folks at Answers were very clear as to what they expected from me (10-20 articles per month, each article had to clock in at between 400 and 600 words, specific format choices), and that they could modify that agreement at any time going forward. That seemed (and seems) fair, and I applied for the position ...
Source: InsureBlog - March 2, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
My (last) new article is up....
At Answers.com:"A professional insurance agent can provide timely, expert advice on both the types and amounts of coverage you may need, and you don't have to pay extra to access or benefit from it."This is actually my last long-form article: they've changed the role of CEWs. I'm actually grateful for that, as well as the opportunity to "stretch" my writer's muscles.BTW: The "Expert Badge" widget in the sidebar is malfunctioning (I actually have over 40 articles at Answers.com); I've been advised that this is on their end and that they're hoping to have it fixed ASAP. Meantime, you can still click "See My latest Article" f...
Source: InsureBlog - February 28, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
Cavalcade of Risk #203: Call for submissions
Bob Wilson hosts next week's Cav. Entries are due by Monday (the 3rd).To submit your risk-related post, just click here to email it.You'll need to provide:■ Your post's url and title■ Your blog's url and name■ Your name and email■ A (brief) summary of the postPLEASE remember: ONLY posts that relate to risk (not personal finance tips and the like). And please only submit if you are willing to link back to the carnival if your submission is accepted.Original content copyright © InsureBlog (Source: InsureBlog)
Source: InsureBlog - February 28, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
'Huis Clos' Updated
Jean-Paul Sartre's 1944 classic "No Exit" described a group of (dead) people, forever locked in a room, trying to ascertain the nature of and reason for their punishment.Fast forward 7 decades, and FoIB Jeff M alerts us to the story of 64 year old David Carpenter and his 62 year old wife, Sandra, locked in an even scarier scenario: the ObamaTax.Seems that Mr C made a fateful and (as it turned out) costly mistake: he signed up for an ACA plan at the 404Care.gov site. This would prove to be a disaster, since it turned out that he also began to receive his well-earned VA benefits this year. Since there's not supposed to be an...
Source: InsureBlog - February 27, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
Health Wonk Review: Marchin' like a lion edition
David Harlow hosts this week's round-up of wonky blog posts, with a little trip to the wild side.What's so great about this edition is how seamlessly David weaves so many different posts together into a very compelling narrative.Do check it out.Original content copyright © InsureBlog (Source: InsureBlog)
Source: InsureBlog - February 27, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
My new article is up...
At Answers.com:"A Business Owners Policy offers a reasonably priced alternative to buying insurance coverage ala carte. By pre-packaging common benefits, and offering appropriate customization options, BOP's can save companies money and administrative headaches."Original content copyright © InsureBlog (Source: InsureBlog)
Source: InsureBlog - February 26, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
Oh, sure - NOW they tell us!
As we've long noted, the ObamaTax Exchange sites are a veritable treasure trove of ID-theft opportunities. Turns out, though, we may have under-estimated the breadth and scope:"Security experts worried that 35 state health exchange websites were vulnerable to hackers and were rated as "high risk" for security problems before ObamaCare's launch"Really? That's a tad over 60% of the Exchanges, and they were known to be high-risk? Thanks, Ms Shecantbeserious, for the heads' up.Original content copyright © InsureBlog (Source: InsureBlog)
Source: InsureBlog - February 26, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
Dabney Coleman gets...
The last laugh:Original content copyright © InsureBlog (Source: InsureBlog)
Source: InsureBlog - February 25, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
TRAGIC Wins Shallow Victory in SHBP Battle
T.R.A.G.I.C, the teacher group we blogged about in January formed to protest #Obamacare changes to the Georgia SHBP (State Health Benefit Plan) won a shallow victory. State and local government groups and school systems that use SHBP as their health plan received an email today, announcing retroactive changes in the health plan. Readers may recall the uproar over the loss of copay plans and the announcement that BCBSGA was awarded the contract as the sole claims administrator for the health plan that covers 650,000 Georgia residents.But Blue Cross was awarded the business in August of 2013 and there were no prot...
Source: InsureBlog - February 25, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
Coming soon to a hospital near you
In case you were (still) wondering about how the ObamaTax would affect your health care, well:"The Royal College of Surgeons wrote to healthcare inspectors last year warning of “grave concerns” that too many people were dying in the south of the country because of long waits for heart surgery."No, not Mississippi or Alabama (yet), but the quaint subset of Great Britain called Wales (soon to be Wails?). Turns out that there are (at least) "150 cases in which patients died waiting for life-saving treatment." All part of the grand scheme we call the Much Vaunted National Health System©.But hey, at least it's "free," righ...
Source: InsureBlog - February 24, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
Helping Sarah Kliff Solve Her Medical Bill Issue
Former WaPo Wonkblog health policy writer Sarah Kliff is a huge proponent of Obamacare and the expansion of health insurance. She's also been a recipient of excellent employer sponsored insurance benefits. Sarah has a problem. Here is what she tweeted:2/20 at 11:27amSarah Kliff @sarahkliffReceived today an $820 medical bill that I was not expecting nor can I decipher because American health care. 2/20 at 11:35amSarah Kliff @sarahkliffI've never tried to negotiate down a medical bill before, but excited for this new personal and professional adventure! Sarah, please allow me to he...
Source: InsureBlog - February 24, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
My new article is up...
At Answers.com:"While viatical settlements are less common now, Accelerated Benefit Riders on new policies serve the same purpose without requiring the insured to give up ownership of the plan."Original content copyright © InsureBlog (Source: InsureBlog)
Source: InsureBlog - February 23, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
Taxpayer Give Away
If you want free money, where do you go? Not the lottery. Not lost and found. Jackson Hewitt and H & R Block.The store-front firm Jackson Hewitt is probably the most enthusiastic about the model. Its staffers will complete and even mail the Medicaid paperwork for clients who are eligible for expanded coverage. They are not licensed brokers so can’t sell insurance directly, but the firm has created a partnership with the commercial online insurance marketplace Getinsured which will help Jackson Hewitt customers buy coverage.For no extra fee, Jackson Hewitt will figure your subsidy (and your penal...
Source: InsureBlog - February 21, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
My new article is up...
At Answers.com:"Long Term care annuities offer a simple an effective way to avoid paying out-of-pocket for Long Term Care insurance, and protect one from the possibility of future rate increases. They may also multiply the amount available to cover long term care expenses."Original content copyright © InsureBlog (Source: InsureBlog)
Source: InsureBlog - February 20, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
The California Push - A Potential Net Negative
Thanks to the "Lie of the Year" Covered California is able to claim victory. According to data released yesterday Covered CA has now enrolled over 825,000 people which is greater than the goal of 700,000 they had set back in September.But as Lee Corso would say: "Not so fast my friend."That little blatant lie President Obama told everyone about if you like your plan you can keep it will be the reason why Covered California can celebrate. The Covered California Board voted unanimously in November to not allow policy renewals for the 1,000,000 insured people to be able to keep the plan that they liked regardless of the ...
Source: InsureBlog - February 20, 2014 Category: Medical Lawyers and Insurers Source Type: blogs
