Health Insurance Videos

Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Arthur Henderson, an analyst at Jefferies & Co., talks with Bloomberg's Lori Rothman about his investment strategy for U.S. health-care stocks. Henderson also discussses health-care legislation now moving through Congress. (Source: Bloomberg)

This is our first crack at an introduction to a longer multimedia piece about Andrea's experience with Growth Hormone Deficiency.

San Francisco is a popular tourist destination, but an expensive city in which to live. Hotel workers at the Grand Hyatt, many of them Chinese immigrants, were recently told that their new contract would require them to pay for their own health insurance, despite their full-time jobs doing physical labor. A couple of hundred dollars a month make a huge difference for the hotel workers, so they went on strike to protest the unfair labor practices. Thanks to New America Media for the video.

I hate going to the doctor. My body doesn't seem to respond as most doctors' think it should. I'm also currently having to pay for my own insurance, which causes it to really be too expensive to see the doctor as I have to pay both the co-pay and anything extra that's done to me (I've found out the hard way that most physicians claim lab work when nothing is sent to the lab in order to get their expenses covered by insurance policies). This morning I went for my annual visit to the doctor and had to put off a preventative test because I just couldn't afford it at the moment. It was for something that I have no family history in and have had no problems with, so I felt relatively safe in deferring this test, but did have to deal with the doctor's displeasure and attempts to convince me it needed to be done. I voted for Obama, hoping he would change things for the better, but I'm not surprised that he and the rest of the spineless politicians not only haven't changed healthcare for the American people for the better, they re about to make it far more costly for people who already can't afford it. The short film is an exaggeration of the events, but not by much. I hope for a time when I can focus on my health instead of the cost. http://dania-amovieaday.blogspot.com/

Are you buying health insurance or medical discount plan? Some medical discount plans claim to provide big discounts  for a wide range of services from doctor visits and dental exams to hospital stays and prescription drugs. Affordable Health Care Plan Pre-existing conditions? No problem! No Deductible or Co-pays Thousands of providers in our PPO network Discounts up to 60% Claims like these in magazines, on television, or on the Internet may sound like they’re selling health insurance. Probably not. Most of the time, they’re pitching a medical discount plan, card, or program, and chances are, they’re aimed at people who are in the market for ways to reduce the cost of health care. Medical discount plans can be useful for some consumers looking to save money on health care. But they’re not the same as health insurance. Medical discount plans don’t pay any of your health care costs; instead, they require you to pay a fee for a list of health care providers and sellers of health-related products who are willing to offer discounts to members of the plan. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, some medical discount plans claim to provide big discounts from hundreds of providers for a wide range of services, from doctor visits and dental exams to hospital stays and prescription drugs. But many plans fail to make good on those claims. The FTC and many states have found that although some medical discount plans provide legitimate discounts that benefit their members, many take consumers’ money and offer very little in return. Check it Out When considering your options, know what you’re getting — medical insurance or a medical discount plan. If you’re not sure, check with your state insurance commissioner to see if the company offering the plan is registered to sell insurance in your state. If the company is not registered to sell health insurance and you want to buy health insurance, consider shopping elsewhere. Remember that if you buy a health insurance plan, it generally covers a broad array of services, and pays you or your health care provider for your medical bills. If you buy a medical discount plan, you generally are paying for a list of providers and sellers who may be willing to offer “discounts” on some of their services, products or procedures. If you’re interested in buying a medical discount plan, you should investigate the details before you pay any money. For example, *  Look for a telephone number or website of the company you’re considering doing business with so you can get more information. * Before you pay any money, ask the company for a list of providers who participate in its plan. Call the providers and ask about the services and discounts they’re offering. * If the plan doesn’t provide a list of providers promptly, consider taking your business elsewhere. * Investigate the details of any plan carefully. Read the fine print, paying special attention to the refund policy. If a plan doesn’t readily provide information and answers before you buy, it isn’t likely to be responsive once they have your money. * If your usual medical or dental providers don’t participate, see whether other doctors in your area accept the plan and will give you the discount the plan promoters promise. Some legitimate plans offer a “get acquainted” or “initial consultation” visit so you can meet a practitioner who participates in the plan before you commit to becoming a member. * Do the math. Try to calculate what your total payment for a discount plan will be for a given amount of time. You could be responsible for paying a substantial amount up front, in addition to monthly fees and other costs. The costs of the program may total more than the savings you anticipate. Indeed, you may be able to negotiate a similar discount directly with your provider, without having to join a medical discount program. * Call your local consumer protection office, state Attorney General, or Better Business Bureau to find out whether there are complaints about the business offering the discount plan. For more information visit the Federal Trade Commision Photo: esstat17

On the eve of the historic vote on the Affordable Health Care For America Act H.R. 3962, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz took to the floor of the House of Representatives to talk about why she's voting for health insurance reform.