About Us Portfolio Press Careers Sitemap Advertise Contact Us Make this your Homepage

Custom Search

Register

Sign In

Sign In Using Facebook

Home » Health Insurance News

Health Insurance: How Much More Should Older People Pay?

by Sreeraman on August 31, 2009 at 4:20 PM Health Insurance News

Chris Denny, who runs a small marketing firm in Santa Rosa, Calif., buys his own health insurance for $117 a month. An avid gardener, Denny, 27, describes himself as healthy and fit.

Related Links

The same policy, from the same insurer, would cost a 60-year-old man $735 a month, according to an estimate on eHealthInsurance.com, an online marketplace that lists quotes and coverage from a variety of insurers.

Such a difference in cost — common around the country — doesn’t surprise Denny, who says older people use more medical care: “So is it unfair to charge them five times more? I don’t think so.”

For years, insurers have charged older customers far more than younger ones, in part because of older residents’ higher use of medical services. Now, as Congress wrestles with a health care overhaul aimed at covering the majority of the 46 million uninsured, that discrepancy is one area targeted for change. The outcome could affect tens of millions of people — young and old — who don’t get insurance through their jobs and buy it on their own, as well as some small businesses. It would not affect people 65 and older, who are covered by Medicare, or people who work for large companies, which usually get group rates for health coverage.

Lawmakers face a delicate balancing act involving fundamental issues of fairness and cost. Limit insurers to charging only a small difference in monthly premiums between older and younger people, and the younger ones would likely pay far more than they do now. Allow a larger spread, and older residents may be priced out of coverage.

Page 1

Page 1 | 2

Next

Whole Grains Reduce Heart Disease, Diabetes and Cancer Risk: Study

Junior Doctors' Strike in Bihar, Claims 38 Lives

More News on: Geriatry-Related Diseases, Awareness about Healthcare Insurance in India

Comment & Contribute

Be the first to comment!
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
	Notify me when reply is posted I agree to the terms and conditions
Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished. Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

Medwonders Health Network

Support Groups Members Discussions

Total Members - 54905
Support Groups - 445

Health News Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Latest News Most Popular Most Commented

Research Suggests Red Wine Alone may Not be the Elixir of Life

Babies' Health may be Compromised by the 'Too Posh to Push' Attitude

Research Sheds Light on Usefulness of Bubble-Propelled Microrockets

Broken Bones may be Fixed in Less Than 4 Weeks by 'Fracture Putty'

AIDS Drug Venture in South Africa Worth $208 Million

News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :

News Quick Links

	News Central			Health Watch
	Latest Health News			Health In Focus
	News Category (500+)			Breaking Health News
	Popular News			Celebrating Life
	Health News and Press Release			Medindia - Exclusive
	News Photo Gallery			India Special
	News Video Gallery			Lifestyle and Wellness
	News From Other Resources

News Categories:


»	Research Says Financial Burden of Prescription Drugs is Dropping

»	New Guidelines to Avoid Heparin Contamination

»	Weight Loss Drug Has Killed At Least 1,300 in France

»	FDA Approves Sanofi’s Treatment for Head Lice

»	New Scoring Method may Help Decide Who Will Benefit From Stroke Drug
More Drug News

Health Insurance Related News
»	Bill on Insurance Premium for Farmers Approved by Poland Cabinet	»	Co-contribution On The Rise For Group Insurance
»	Obama Takes Mid-way Out of Contraception Health Insurance Row	»	New Health Insurance Scheme for Underprivileged Sikhs in Delhi
»	Mobile Apps Will Help Patients Stay Healthy, Lower Insurance Costs	»	Companies in U.S Cut Health Care Benefits of Retirees
»	DHA Launches a Breakthrough Initiative to Improve the Private Health Sector in UAE	»	‘Non-profit’ Health Insurers in US Make Billions, Increase Premiums

Read More >>

Accident and Trauma Care Support Group	Acupuncture Support Group	Albinism / Hypopigmentation / Albinos Support Group
Alcohol abuse / Alcohol dependence / Alcoholism Support Group	Aromatherapy Support Group	Avian Influenza / Bird Flu Support Group
Ayurveda Support Group	Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Support Group	Birth Defects - Metabolic Defects Support Group

Health Insurance: How Much More Should Older People Pay?

Medwonders Health Network

Health Insurance Related News

Consumers

Medical Professionals

Medical Students

Directories