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Warning: curl_setopt() [function.curl-setopt]: CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION cannot be activated when in safe_mode or an open_basedir is set in /home/perotto/public_html/includes/simplepie.inc on line 1801 Health Reform Politics: Florida Court On Ballot Question; Repeal Campaign Touted By Conservatives; Nebraska Flap 2 Sep 2010Health News Florida: "The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that targeted the new federal-health reform law, ruling that state lawmakers included misleading wording that could not be fixed. Justices, in a 5-2 ruling, upheld a circuit judge's decision to strip 'Amendment 9' from the November ballot. ...Today's Opinions: Pawlenty's Order Against The Health Overhaul, Repealing The Health Law And More About Health Care Costs 2 Sep 2010Pawlenty's Order Pure Politicking The Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer The move can be explained in no other way than in being a totally partisan decision, intended to shore up his conservatism in what will be a 2012 battle of who is more conservative to wear the Republican mantle for president (9/1)...Calif. Allows Safety-Net Coverage Cost Increases; Georgia Illegal Immigrant Dialysis Agreement Reached 2 Sep 2010The Los Angeles Times: "As state leaders blast giant health insurers for raising rates, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration has quietly allowed hefty increases for thousands of sick or jobless Californians who must rely on expensive safety-net coverage -- if they want insurance at all...Employers From Nearly Every Sector Of Economy Applying For Health Overhaul's Early Retiree Subsidies 2 Sep 2010Seven states that are suing the federal government to throw out the health overhaul are also preparing to take subsidies that will help them afford medical costs for retirees, The Associated Press reports. "An administration official said Tuesday seven states suing the federal government are among 16 already approved for subsidies to help with the health care costs of early retirees...Pawlenty Instructs Minnesota Agencies To Snub Health Law's Discretionary Funds 2 Sep 2010Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, issued an executive order Tuesday instructing state agencies to reject discretionary federal funds that stem from the health overhaul, The Wall Street Journal reports. That makes "Minnesota the first state to formally restrict itself from taking some federal dollars under the law" and carries "political overtones for a possible presidential candidate...PruHealth Set To Grow Following Approval Of Standard Life Healthcare Acquisition 2 Sep 2010PruHealth has become a competitor of scale in the UK Private Medical Insurance (PMI) market following the completion of the acquisition of Standard Life Healthcare by Discovery Holdings* of South Africa...Nearly 2,000 Employers And Unions Approved Into New Program 1 Sep 2010The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first round of applicants accepted into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. Nearly 2,000 employers, representing large and small businesses, State and local governments, educational institutions, non-profits, and unions have been accepted into the program and will begin to receive reimbursements for employee claims this fall...Michigan, New York Roll Out High-Risk Pools 1 Sep 2010States are rolling out their new high-risk pools, including Michigan and New York. In Michigan, enrollment begins today and is open to adults 19 to 64, the Detroit Free Press reports...Today's Opinions: Health Law's Benefits For Workers; Dropping Repeal Efforts; The End Of Health Brokers 1 Sep 2010Will Health Overhaul Provide Better Care For U.S. Workers? The Atlanta Journal-Constitution This legislation will undoubtedly help our workers and our businesses, both large and small, afford health coverage. Politicians of all stripes should recognize the opportunity the health reform law presents to propel our country forward (Rep. Jim McDermott, 8/30)...More Health Overhaul Policies Settle In 1 Sep 2010The tangible effects of some early-arriving health overhaul policies are beginning to surface. The Wall Street Journal: "Almost 2,000 employers and unions will be eligible to submit retirees' medical bills for reimbursement by a $5 billion federal fund, the Obama administration will disclose Tuesday, suggesting the fund will be spread widely but thinly...Public Backing For Health Overhaul Wanes As Obama Administration Prepares For Midterms 1 Sep 2010Kaiser Health News: Public support for the new health law slipped in August, "a development sure to stir concerns among the Obama administration and congressional Democrats seeking to shore up support for the law in the months leading up to the mid-term elections...Poor People Can Be Pushed Further Into Poverty By The Need To Buy Common Medicines 1 Sep 2010A substantial proportion (up to 86%) of the population living in low and middle income countries would be pushed into poverty as a result of purchasing common life-saving medicines. These are the findings of a study by Laurens Niens from Erasmus University Rotterdam and colleagues and published in this week's PLoS Medicine...Today's Opinions And Editorials: The Costs Of Public Employees' Health Benefits, More On Medicare Advantage, Will Reform Undermine Medical Innovation? 31 Aug 2010As Reform Improves The Overall Market, Inefficient Insurers Could Take Hits Kaiser Health News We want to spend just a little less, so that we have more money for other purposes. And we want to spend just a little differently, so that we're getting a higher quality, more humane health care system (Jonathan Cohn, 8/30)...AMA Supports Recommended Medical Loss Ratio Rules 31 Aug 2010The American Medical Association and state medical societies are supporting a proposal by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on what expenditures insurers can consider medical spending under the new health law...Uninsured Maine Adults With Mental Illness Struggle To Get Care; Florida Continues To Push To Repeal Reform 31 Aug 2010Kennebec (Maine) Journal: "A growing number of uninsured Mainers with mental illness are falling through the cracks of the health care system because of state budget cuts and financial strains on nonprofits, according to state officials and private agencies...Record Number Enrolled In Anti-Poverty Programs, COBRA Coverage Alternatives Examined 31 Aug 2010One in six Americans is now taking advantage of government anti-poverty programs, including more than 50 million on Medicaid, for which enrollment is up 17 percent since the recession began in December 2007, USA Today reports. "The program has grown even before the new health care law adds about 16 million people, beginning in 2014. That has strained doctors. ...Some Small Businesses Look Forward To Health Care Tax Credits 31 Aug 2010Word of new tax credits for some small businesses continued to make the rounds in news reports this weekend, as business owners seek to make sense of it details. The (Vancouver, Wash.) Columbian: "Clark County small businesses could get back up to 35 percent of the money they pay into health insurance premiums this year...Many Public Hospitals Face Increasing Pressures; Nonprofit Hospitals Face Uncertain Futures 31 Aug 2010The Wall Street Journal: "Faced with mounting debt and looming costs from the new federal health-care law, many local governments are leaving the hospital business, shedding public facilities that can be the caregiver of last resort. ...Today's Opinions: Medicare Illusions, Small Biz Perks, Abortion Regs And More 30 Aug 2010Truth Catches Up To Democrats On Health Care CNN Americans told lawmakers in Washington that they wanted reforms that would lower costs; Democrats in Congress increased them. They said they wanted Medicare protected; Democrat leaders used it as a piggy bank, cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicare to help pay for this massive new government expansion of health care (Sen...Health Care Spending Falls; Drug And Health Care Companies Slow To Advertise Online 30 Aug 2010Bloomberg Businessweek: "Investors traditionally have viewed shares of health-care companies as havens from economic concerns. Now, many parts of the sector have drawn concern from investors amid worries the U.S. economy will slow in the second half of the year. ... So far this year, U.S. patient visits to doctors' offices fell 7...Roughly One In Six Cancer Survivors Forgo Some Medical Care Due To Cost, Study Finds 30 Aug 2010AARP Bulletin: "Two years after undergoing a double mastectomy and chemotherapy so severe she was hospitalized in intensive care for several weeks, breast cancer survivor Denise Hicks should be following what her doctors call 'the plan,'" which includes additional medications and treatments. But she can't. "Hicks has health insurance but already reached her coverage limits...Insurers Embrace GOP With Campaign Cash; Palin Drives Abortion Wedge 30 Aug 2010After being labeled as "villains" and enemies of reform by Democrats, health insurers are shifting their cash to the coffers of Republican candidates, giving GOP campaigns eight times as much money, Bloomberg reports. "WellPoint, along with Coventry Health Care Inc. and Humana Inc., gave Republican candidates $315,000 from May through July, according to U.S. Federal Election Commission records...U-M Survey Of Americans' Values Finds That Core Values Unite Americans, Despite Divisions 30 Aug 2010Americans are united when it comes to many core values, according to a University of Michigan survey. But the nation is deeply divided about certain issues, including gay marriage, immigration, and universal healthcare...Higher Rates Of Depression Found Among Low-Income New Mothers, Study Says 30 Aug 2010More than 50% of infants in poverty are raised by mothers with mild to severe depression, which could contribute to problems in parenting and child development, according to a study by the Washington, D.C.-based Urban Institute, the Washington Post reports...Health Care Costs Weigh On Employers, Jobless Alike 30 Aug 2010News coverage reflects the ways in which employers, employees and unemployed people are confronting health care costs. Employees are resisting state and local government efforts to shift more health costs to workers, The Wall Street Journal reports...318 Plantation Street • Worcester, MA 01604 • 508-797-3417 |
Mike Perotto, Group Insurance Broker
Group InsuranceOne policy covering a group of individuals, usually employees of the same company, or members of the same association and their dependents. Coverage occurs under a master policy issued to the employer or association. Group HealthHealth insurance provides a broad range of benefits that cover medical bills incurred because of sickness or accidents. Coverage is based on a collection of people, whether assembled by an organization or a business. The cost is spread out among the members of the group. Under federal guidelines, a large employer has 51 or more employees, and a small employer averages 2 to 50 employees in a calendar year. Group DentalA group dental insurance plan will pay for costs of normal dental care as well as damage to teeth from an accident. Coverage is based on a collection of people, whether assembled by an organization or a business. The cost is spread out among the members of the group. Under federal guidelines, a large employer has 51 or more employees, and a small employer averages 2 to 50 employees in a calendar year. Group Life & Accidental DeathLife insurance usually without medical examination, on a group of people under a master policy. An Accidental Death benefit rider provides coverage in the event of death due to accidental injuries (but not illness). Payment is made to the person nominated by the insured. Coverage is based on a collection of people, whether assembled by an organization or a business. The cost is spread out among the members of the group. Under federal guidelines, a large employer has 51 or more employees, and a small employer averages 2 to 50 employees in a calendar year. Group Disability - Short & Long TermA disability insurance policy that covers a group of individuals under a master policy. Group disability coverage is generally less expensive than individual disability coverage; however, benefits are limited to a stated length of time and the maximum monthly income benefit is usually around 50 to 60 percent of earnings. Coverage is based on a collection of people, whether assembled by an organization or a business. The cost is spread out among the members of the group. Under federal guidelines, a large employer has 51 or more employees, and a small employer averages 2 to 50 employees in a calendar year. |
