Employers to Pass on the Higher Cost of Care

A recent survey shows that employers are beginning to pass on the rising costs of healthcare to their employees to avoid letting it affect their bottom line. "About 63 percent of businesses plan to make employees pay a higher percentage of their premium costs in 2011, said the Washington-based National Business Group on Health, which surveyed 72 companies that employ more than 3.7 million people."

Previously, several big-name companies announced that they were considering dropping their health benefits as a result of the new healthcare reform legislation. Their reasons are fairly straightforward: the cost of providing medical benefits to their employees will be much greater than the cost of paying the fees the new law will mandate if they do not provide benefits. Companies with thousands of employees stand to save millions, and in some cases, billions of dollars by dropping their current health benefits in favor of the healthcare bill's fines.

iCan's Telehealth Partner InteractiveMD Launches Video

Several months ago, we announced our partnership with InteractiveMD to offer a telehealth benefit to members who purchase our health insurance plans. Just recently, InteractiveMD launched their videoconferencing, allowing users to connect with a doctor face-to-face from remote locations. Check out their press statement below:

InteractiveMD Launching New Online Platform to Provide Remote Doctor Visits Through Videoconference

On-demand telehealth company performs live demonstration of videoconferencing and previews diagnostic tools and mobile functionality to promote August 18th launch in 19 states.

Boca Raton, FL August 17, 2010 -- InteractiveMD (http://www.interactivemd.com), a leading telehealth company that provides round-the-clock, remote access to licensed physicians, announced today the launch of their new videoconferencing technology. The new robust functionality is being rolled out to patients in 19 states across the nation, allowing them to see and consult with their physician in real-time. By creating a virtual patient experience that closely resembles an in-person consultation, InteractiveMD widens the range of health issues that can be diagnosed and treated remotely.

InteractiveMD executiveds performed a live demonstration of the platform earlier this month on WCIU Chicago’s morning news show, demonstrating how easy it is for patients to use. “Our goal is to enable people to take more effective control of their health and live better lives by harnessing the power of technology while respecting the traditions of medicine,” said Ghen Sugimoto, Vice President of InteractiveMD during the demo. “We’re thrilled to unveil our new and exciting healthcare delivery method to the first 19 states this week. The platform will launch in all other states over the remainder of 2010.” 

In addition to showcasing video capabilities, Mr. Sugimoto provided a glimpse into InteractiveMD’s future initiatives. “Today we treat common conditions that the physician can treat based on medical history, a series of questions, uploaded images, and now a live video stream.” Sugimoto then unveiled a selection of USB/BlueTooth enabled medical devices that will soon integrate into the platform, including a digital stethoscope and otoscope. “But in the not too distant future we’ll have tools that will allow you to actually transmit your vital signs into the platform. Our R&D team is also making significant progress on mobile technology that will allow the patients to video conference through the platform on their mobile phones.”

InteractiveMD will make live video consultations available on the new platform on August 18th, utilizing a national network of licensed physicians thoroughly trained on the system. Doctors will meet face-to-face with patients on-screen to answer medical questions, diagnose conditions, recommend treatment, and – if medically necessary – e-prescribe medication or order blood tests. Emphasizing how InteractiveMD now provides the perfect complement to traditional care, Dr. Friedman, Medical Director, stated, “You have your primary care doctor, but during after-hours, on weekends, on vacation, or anytime you can’t access that doctor, you can simply log on to our system 24/7 and connect with a physician licensed in your state at your convenience.” 

About InteractiveMD

InteractiveMD is a leading telehealth company that provides patients with the convenience of round-the-clock access to licensed physicians via live videoconference, telephone, and secure email. The revolutionary platform expands and improves the delivery of healthcare while simultaneously reducing costs and overcoming barriers to care. Regardless of location, a member can connect with a network of licensed physicians in real-time for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of common conditions. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the iCan Group and is based in Boca Raton, Florida and can be found on the web at: http://www.InteractiveMD.com or by calling

California's Healthcare Crisis

According to a recent article in the L.A. Times, 8.4 million Californians lack health coverage.  That amounts to about a quarter of the state's population.  The article goes on to note that "Areas with high rates and numbers of uninsured tended to be those that experienced sharp increases in local unemployment and corresponding drops in both household income and job-based coverage."


This is a clear example of how the economy and the health insurance market go hand in hand. When the economy is strong, and the job market is healthy, people get the coverage they need - either through their job or through private policies they can actually afford because they're employed. When the economy tanks, however, and unemployment nationwide hovers around 10 percent, the number of uninsured families and individuals will climb.

Can You Really Keep Your Plan?

During the consideration of health reform, we were assured repeatedly by President Obama and proponents of the behemoth euphemistically called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that if we liked our health insurance we could keep it.  Many opponents of the bill, including the National Association of Manufacturers, never bought that talking point and now we know for a fact the promise will not be kept.

Ostensibly, the intent of health reform was to insure the uninsured and protect the coverage of those who get health insurance from their employer.  Instead, what we got is a looming crisis for as many as 170 million Americans who could lose their coverage because their employer can’t afford to provide it anymore or inadvertently runs afoul of the government.  Now that’s reform.

(Source: http://shopfloor.org/2010/08/like-your-health-care-plan-you-cant-keep-it/13747)

Guide to Affordable Health Insurance for Small Business Owners/Employees

According to a recent article in Business Week, there are currently 16.8 million Americans who are uninsured because their employers cannot afford to provide them with coverage. This number is expected to increase considerably, as rising costs are forcing a growing number of small businesses to drop their group coverage each year. This would not be a crisis if individual coverage was more affordable, but the high cost of premiums and strict qualification requirements have left millions of people with the huge risk, both to their health and finances, of going through life uninsured.

If you fall into the massive category of individuals who either run their own business or work for a small company unable to afford coverage for its employees, you still have affordable options available to you. I recommend the following:

1. Educate yourself: There's no doubt about it: Health insurance is complicated. Don't make the mistake of jumping into a policy blindly. You need to research your available options thoroughly so that you fully understand your coverage and benefits. This process should start with the basics. Go to How Stuff Works and read their simple, straight-forward guide to health insurance so that you're familiar with the various types of plans, terminology, etc.
2. Research group options: Do some research on self-employed or uninsured employee grouping. Oftentimes, organizations offer reduced rates to self-employed or uninsured employees, so long as they enroll together rather than individually. There's typically an enrollment fee, but the discounted group rates should provide enough of an offset to make it worth it.
3. Look for an individual policy. So long as you can afford it, and you do not have a preexisting condition that puts you in a high-risk category, you may be able to obtain an individual policy with relative ease. There are a number of options to choose from, including fee-for-service plans, PPOs, HMOs and HSAs. I suggest reading up on each type of plan to see which fits your individual needs/budget. Once you're educated, look for quotes online or visit the NAHU to find an independent agent who can help you make a selection.
4. Consider opting for a mini-medical plan. These plans are limited benefit health insurance programs with very few restrictions, designed to reduce premium costs and qualification requirements. Typical barriers to getting coverage, such as preexisting conditions, age, and previous denials, have little-to-no bearing on policy issuance. They're a great solution for the unemployed, self-employed, or employees of small business unable to offer full coverage. To learn more about this type of plan, check out iCan Benefit.

These are challenging times economically, but when it comes to health insurance, you can't afford to take risks. Having insurance coverage gives you access to the care you need to make sure you're doing all you can to prevent future problems that may be life threatening, and it minimizes the potentially overwhelming financial burden of unexpected medical costs. Remember that in your search for coverage, the most important thing you can do is educate yourself about your options so that you thoroughly understand your policy before you enroll.