Dan Howe Licensed Insurance Planner
Insurance Planner. 28 years of experience.
28/11/2022
Hospital Capacity 11-28
08/22/2022 article RE; Medical Tourism
Tens of thousands of patients travel to the U.S. every year for medical care, often paying for expensive procedures out of their own pockets.
Revenue from international patients seeking heart transplants, oncology treatment and other services grew more than 4% a year from 2015 to 2019, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. In 2019 alone, the U.S. health system generated more than $1.2 billion from medical tourism.
But new research shows the COVID-19 pandemic’s travel restrictions eliminated more than $1.9 billion of medical tourism revenue in 2020 and 2021, denting providers’ bottom lines. The pandemic reinforced the vulnerability of hospital systems relying heavily on fee-for-service medicine and international travel, and may prompt healthcare providers to adjust their medical tourism strategy, researchers said.
In a normal year, medical tourism can account for more than 10% of overall net patient revenue for the most renowned systems, said David Vequist, the author of the research, founder of the Center for Medical Tourism Research and a management professor at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. And now, international patient volumes at U.S. health systems are near or at pre-pandemic levels, health system executives said.
07/08/2022
https://apple.news/AWx95moRnRJuhFRyPruY4vg
How the Schumer-Manchin climate bill might impact you and change U.S. — The Washington Post The package, if smaller than Democrats’ initial ambitions, would transform huge sectors of the U.S. economy and affect millions of Americans.
From Modern Healthcare 7-26-22
Centene expects a significant number of its Medicare Advantage plans' star ratings to drop this year, executives said during an earnings call Tuesday.
Regulatory allowances CMS offered during the COVID-19 public health emergency caused a record number of Medicare Advantage insurers to receive top ratings on the program's one to five scale, but that policy wasn't intended to be permanent. CMS is reevaluating how it will calculate star ratings for this year, according to a regulation published in April.
Centene anticipates that its scores will decline when CMS resumes stricter assessments of Medicare Advantage plans' quality.
The company benefited from the pandemic-related regulatory flexibility more than its competitors and thus will be relatively more exposed when CMS elevates its standards, Drew Asher, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said during the call. "We believe we're going to underperform," he said.
More than half of Centene's 23.5 million Medicare Advantage members are enrolled in plans rated at least four stars for the 2023 bonus year, compared with approximately 30% for the previous bonus year, according to the company.
Medicare Advantage star ratings are designed to measure quality and help beneficiaries choose plans based on that information. In practice, however, Medicare Advantage customers are more swayed by plans' extra benefits than by CMS quality ratings, research has shown.
Health insurers rely on the the Medicare Advantage star ratings to increase benchmark payments from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS uses three years of quality and safety data to calculate the ratings.
The bonuses associated with Medicare Advantage star ratings can be critical to financing the extra benefits that attract policyholders. Plans that score four or five stars receive 5% increases to their benchmark payments, which is the maximum amount the federal government will pay. Companies with fewer than four star receive no bonuses. CMS calculates star ratings a year in advance. For example, bonuses for 2022 were calculated in 2021.
Centene anticipates that a meaningful decrease in its star ratings for the 2023 rating year will impact revenue for the 2024 bonus year. In addition to the expected change in CMS policy, Centene's star ratings are expected to decline because of the company's integration of WellCare and its abrupt transition to remote work, CEO Sarah London said during the call.
Scores will rebound by 2025, London said. "This management team, which is different from the past, is committed to quality performance for the whole company," she said.
Improving star ratings is a critical part of Centene's value-creation plan, London said. Under pressure from hedge fund Politan Capital Management, which owns a $900 million stake in the insurer, Centene has focused on shedding non-health insurance businesses and is reviewing other areas in which to cut costs, such as real estate. Centene plans to unload more than half of its domestic real estate assets, leading to a $1.45 billion charge in the second quarter, and expects to incur another $200 million in related costs.
Other elements of Centene's business are up for sale, London said. "There is still a lot of work going on and you should expect to hear additional announcements about that," she said.
During the second quarter, Centene generated $35.9 billion in revenue, up 15.8%. The insurer's net loss narrowed 67.8% to $172 million. Membership grew 15.8% to 26.4 million.
01/06/2022
Oregon COVID-19 Hospital Capacity Oregon Health Authority's dashboard on COVID-19 hospital capacity.
21/03/2022
It's no BS. The numbers are going down https://www.oregon.gov/oha/erd/pages/covid-19-news.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Oregon Health Authority : OHA COVID-19 News and Reports : External Relations Division : State of Oregon To learn more about your new benefits, your welcome packet, and what to do if you have an urgent health care issue please visit the New to Oregon Health Care web page.
18/03/2022
If you're rejoining the workforce after retiring, here's how to handle your Medicare coverage It might make sense to drop your Medicare coverage and pick it up again later, depending on the options at your new job.
20/10/2021
Bipartisan senators fire warning shot against any cuts to Medicare Advantage A bipartisan group of senators warned the Biden administration against any cuts in payments to the Medicare Advantage program.
https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/businesses/Pages/Statewide-To***co-Retail-License.aspx
State of Oregon: Businesses - Statewide To***co Retail License Other To***co products including: cigars, smokeless to***co (s***f, chewing to***co, SNUS, dissolvables containing to***co, etc.), blunt wraps, pipe to***co, sh**ha, roll-your-own, and any other kinds and forms of to***co that can be chewed or smoked.
16/09/2021
Covid: Not much of a downturn in cases and deaths. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDHS/bulletins/2f1da37
Oregon reports 2,069 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 46 new deaths Oregon reports 2,069 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 46 new deaths The Oregon Health Authority and Department of Human Services sent this bulletin at 09/16/2021 12:04 PM PDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Sept. 15, 2021 This news release is an updated version...
Medicare can be complex. Please don't hesitate to call me for help. Then you can skip all those numerous sales calls. I'm at 503-753-8505. I understand that people get many calls. Actually cold calling to sell Medicare Advantage plans is illegal and the agent will probably lose their license.
01/06/2021
17/03/2021
Why post this? It's better to know that many people aren't alone.
Gartner: 29% of employees describe themselves as depressed due to the pandemic More than 5,000 workers contributed to a Gartner survey and 49% of employees who worked for companies with a mental health program reported that they availed themselves of the service.
05/03/2021
Congress: Prioritize Americans 50+ in the COVID relief package Tell your senators: Make this COVID relief bill fair for those most vulnerable and most impacted by the pandemic — Americans 50 and over.
13/02/2021
How Much Does a C-Section Cost? At One Hospital, Anywhere From $6,241 to $60,584. New federally mandated disclosures by California’s Sutter Health illustrate the wide disparity in healthcare rates negotiated by insurers.
Thankfully Regence has spelled out the requirements for the new Special Enrollment period. "I have two notes about effective dates for you to keep in mind.
• If your client is looking for a 3/1 effective date, your client must Submit their enrollment ON 2/15. Once the clock rolls over to 2/16, the effective date will move to 4/1. If your enrollment for 3/1 is done through your custom link, you must “e-sign” the enrollment by the end of 2/17.
• Each subsequent month, the application deadline will remain the 15th of each month. (i.e., Applications submitted between 2/16 – 3/15 will receive a 4/1 effective date.)
Washington note: Open only to the uninsured in WA; those currently enrolled may not change carriers or metal level (NOTE: This differs from the FFM approach) The OIC is requiring carriers to extend the SEP date to 5/18. The Pay Now function will be DISABLED.
Oregon note: Open to both the uninsured and those currently enrolled who wish to change carrier, metal level, network or plan. This SEP will function as a true Open Enrollment (with a few possible exceptions). Off-exchange enrollments may be done via our pdf or by calling our Customer Service number. We anticipate the Pay Now function to be disabled.
• NOTE: If consumers switch carriers, they will lose any credit toward deductible and other accumulators they had with their prior carrier. "
26/01/2021
Call me at 503-753-8505. Consumers who lost qualifying health coverage in the past 60 days OR who expect to lose coverage in the next 60 days qualify for an SEP. In addition, consumers who lost coverage more than 60 days ago, but since January 1, 2020, and didn’t enroll sooner because they were impacted by the COVID-19 national emergency, may still qualify for an SEP. https://www.healthcare.gov/coronavirus/?utm_campaign=hcgov_ab&utm_content=english&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Marketplace Coverage & Coronavirus See how your Health Insurance Marketplace® coverage is affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). Health plan treatment same as other viral infections. Official HC.gov site.
05/01/2021
https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/
COVID-19 Vaccine in Oregon : Oregon Health Authority We all want to return to normal life as soon as possible. Safe and effective vaccines are the key to how we will slowly but surely achieve community immunity from COVID-19.
28/12/2020
COVID-19 Updates : Oregon Health Authority Oregon Health Authority | COVID-19 Updates
09/12/2020
My links aren't fraud nor Malware, however you do need to watch out while googling health insurance. For example I found this today
08/12/2020
Premium Tax Credit: Claiming the Credit and Reconciling Advance Credit Payments | Internal Revenue Service Claiming the Credit and Reconciling Advance Credit Payments
20/11/2020
Headed indoors? Here’s how to stay safe and healthy Stay active, fit and engaged this fall and winter and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 with these healthy tips.
11/11/2020
U.S. Supreme Court justices appear unlikely to throw out Obamacare U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday signaled they are unlikely to strike down the Obamacare healthcare law in a legal challenge brought by Texas and 17 other Republican-governed states and joined by President Donald Trump's administration.
Providence Health Plan supports everyone in our communities who is affected by COVID-19. To assist our Individual & Family members, we are making a one-time Premium Relief Adjustment of 15% to their December invoices.
Members will be notified of this 15% adjustment in the following ways:
• A message printed on the December invoices, which will mail on Nov. 9, 2020
• An insert in the December invoice envelope
• A message on myProvidence.com
• A message will be included in the premium payment automated email from Bank of America for all members who use auto-pay
21/10/2020
Interesting. GoodRx gets great reviews on trustpilot
HeyDoctor by GoodRx Get advice, prescriptions, and labs from expert doctors and nurses today. You can use your local pharmacy or get prescriptions by mail. Visits are affordable and no insurance is necessary.
15/10/2020
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/Flu-shots-more-important-than-ever-dont-wait-to-vaccinate.aspx
Oregon Health Authority : Flu shots more important than ever – don't wait to vaccinate! : External Relations Division : State of Oregon COVID-19 Oregon
Connexioninsurance is my General Agency, one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest
18/09/2020
Call me for your health insurance quotes, but you can get started here.
INDIVIDUAL
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GROUP
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MEDICARE (please call)
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Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans | DanielHowe Federal insurance premium tax credit plans are only offered during open enrollment. Open Enrollment can vary from State to State, please check with your State. You may enroll outside of the open enrollment period if you have a qualifying life event. This may include losing a job based coverage, turn...