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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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Responding to requests for clarification of employer contribution issues, the Internal Revenue Service has issued its final regulations on this important Health Savings Accounts.
1:25:23 PM 
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Thursday, May 15, 2008
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In the final year of President Bush's term, the Administration continues to raise the HSA limits and contributions.The maximum contributions that can be made to health savings accounts will increase next year, the Internal Revenue Service said.
1:10:23 PM
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Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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Responding to requests for clarification of employer contribution issues, the Internal Revenue Service has issued its final regulations on this important Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) issue.
11:11:08 AM
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Friday, May 09, 2008
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Georgia has adopted a new tax policy in a further sign of the growing use of HSAs as a means of helping small employers provide healthcare insurance benefits.
5:46:59 PM
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In reviewing the just released GAO study of HSAs, there is much to be pleased about and some caveats.
5:42:25 PM
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Thursday, May 01, 2008
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Firms with a consumer orientation in health benefits appear to be benefiting from reduced utilization, according to a new survey. The results mirror past studies done by Information Strategies, Inc. (ISI), this newsletter's parent.
2:43:49 PM
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Another sign of the continuing need for communications, particularly amongst providers of Consumer Directed Healthcare and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) is shown in the latest J.D. Powers surveys. The report says that health plan performance varies widely among some insurers across the U.S.
2:40:17 PM
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As the number of Health Savings Account (HSAs) increases, the role of smaller businesses in its expansion continue. While numbers shown in a major study indicate larger corporations are embracing HSAs, smaller firms are still leading the charge.
2:38:52 PM
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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When thinking about starting or using a Health Savings Account (HSA), there are several important things to remember and consider. The following advice will help you stay organized and gain the best use from your HSA. |
3:19:28 PM
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Thursday, April 17, 2008
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When it comes to getting health information, a growing number of consumers are turning to the Internet to connect with others.
12:18:46 PM
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One of the biggest concerns people often have about switching to a health savings account (HSA) is being able to cover the high deductible before the insurance plan starts paying for expenses. However, there are ways that people can fund their savings in order to handle that deductible.
12:17:30 PM
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Many individuals are now using health savings accounts (HSAs) as a way to supplement their traditional retirement accounts, such as 401ks. An HSA allows users to pay for health related expenses, such as office visit copays, deductibles, and medication. Users can also use the accounts to save for future medical expenses, premiums for health insurance, or even Medicare premiums.
9:40:30 AM
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While the House of Representatives was passing a bill that could slow down adoption of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), a man blamed by one Republican congressman for providing House Democrats with the justification defended himself and his company to his peers. On Tax Day, April 15th, the House Ways & Means Committee Democrats used data from Evolution Health to justify an onerous provision that would require verification by individuals for all expenditures made using HSA dollars.
8:51:58 AM
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Tuesday, April 15, 2008
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Many individuals are now using health savings accounts (HSAs) as a way to supplement their traditional retirement accounts, such as 401ks. An HSA allows users to pay for health related expenses, such as office visit copays, deductibles, and medication.
11:47:29 AM
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Sunday, February 24, 2008
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Whether the glass is half full or half empty is the question facing stakeholders in the Health Savings Accounts (HSA) sector. What is evident are trends showing that business managers are leaning towards HSAs as a way of reducing healthcare benefit cost while providing support for staff members.
1:57:11 PM
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Individuals and families can make better decisions about their health care spending if they compare re prices for routine health care services.
1:31:44 PM
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Wise executives recognize that while employees are most definitely human beings, they also are machines of production that require maintenance. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, preventable illnesses and medical conditions comprise approximately 90% of United States $1.4 trillion medical care costs. |
1:31:07 PM
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As millions of Americans resolve to be healthier in the new year, a new survey suggests consumers should add "understand my insurance" to the list of health-oriented goals for 2008.
1:30:07 PM
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With the new year, healthcare stakeholders face a plethora of challenges. Predictions of what will happen are beginning to come in and are worth noting for planning purposes.
1:28:56 PM
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Millions of Americans will start using their Health Savings Accounts begining this January.
1:27:54 PM
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In surpassing $500 million in HSA deposits, HSA Bank®, also indicated that average balances past the $2,500 mark.
1:27:18 PM
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The latest survey published by a leading information group reports client demand are pushing bankers to offer custodial accounts as insurers adopt better HSA offerings.
1:26:42 PM
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Tuesday, November 13, 2007
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Healthline Networks, a provider of intelligent health information services, announced new content and search capabilities to help Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers research and apply for a new Medicare prescription drug plan. The search tool, called the Medicare Part D Plan Finder, and accompanying Medicare-related content will be available on Healthline.com during Medicare Part D's open enrollment period, November 15th - December 31st 2007.
2:42:47 PM
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Tuesday, October 23, 2007
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In a bow to the growing importance of Hispanic business professionals, HSA Bank has launched a Spanish language website for individuals and firms. Recognizing the appeal of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to Hispanic audiences and as a top provider of these "Medical Ira" custodial accounts, the bank is leading the rush towards multi-ethic marketing long urged by Information Strategies, Inc., parent of this newsletter.
1:06:46 PM
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Participants enrolled in consumer directed health plan (CDHP) offerings are more engaged in wellness programs and are more likely to plan and save for healthcare expenses than those in traditional healthcare coverage, according to new survey findings released by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA).
1:06:01 PM
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Her eyes are tired, irritated. She rubs them. The rubbing irritates her eyes even more. She gets herself some drops from the drugstore and forgets all about it. Then one day, she looks at herself in the mirror and sees lines, wrinkles, bags, redness that was never there before. She may suffer from dry eye disorder - along with 77 million other Americans.
1:05:27 PM
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Some recent data on Consumer Directed Healthcare Plans (CDHPs) offers further ammunition that they are both popular and useful with little downside to consumers.
1:04:58 PM
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Employees are better managing their usage of healthcare benefits when involved in the decision making process and spending their own funds, a new two-year study of 430,000 CIGNA accounts indicates. At the same time, the study indicated that participants did not cut back on drug usage or preventative care when they swithced to plans that required them better manage how they spent their healthcare benefits.
12:59:30 PM
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Tuesday, September 18, 2007
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There are significant state and regional differences in what Americans spend for healthcare according to a recent study by The Centers For Medicare and Medicaid examined the trends in healthcare spending by state.
5:32:33 PM
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Friday, September 14, 2007
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Two separate HSAs from different banks instead of one single all-purpose HSA account with the same bank is a convenient way to be both a saver and spender, Consumer Driven Market Report discovered in our new ongoing study of online HSA enrollment.
9:56:12 PM
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Most health insurance will suit people just fine--until they get sick and really need it. Then health plans are put under the microscope and complaints from consumers begin to pile up.
9:55:31 PM
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By dipping into cash reserves and raising some co-payment features, the Federal Government has limited premium increases for the second straight year.
9:54:52 PM
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007
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Despite the relief offered by Consumer Directed Healthcare plans, employers and their workers are about double their 2000 healthcare cost.
10:32:04 AM
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Exceptional healthcare coverage is the most desired benefit currently not offered by employers, according to the "Working in America: The Key to Employee Satisfaction" survey, conducted by Harris Interactive and sponsored by workforce management software provider Kronos here.
10:31:32 AM
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The poll, conducted in July 2007, asked a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults 18 years or older this question: What in your opinion are solutions to America's healthcare challenges?
10:31:03 AM
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Thursday, August 30, 2007
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Mayo Clinic is launching a series of new free audio podcasts so that people can learn more about diseases or conditions that interest them through in-depth discussions with Mayo Clinic experts. The first six categories for these extended discussions include Heart Disease, Cancer, Bones and Muscles, Women's Health, Men's Health and Children's Health.
2:16:53 PM
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Tuesday, August 28, 2007
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The share of Americans without health insurance coverage once again increased, from 15.3% in 2005 to 15.8% last year, according to the latest figures just released by the Census Bureau.
5:59:21 PM
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Consumer Reports (CR) tested 13 sugar substitutes to see if these calorie savers measured up. Most of the sweeteners tasted fine in lemonade, but of those used for baking, results were mixed.
5:58:52 PM
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Increasing the use of just five preventive services would save more than 100,000 lives every year in the U.S., according to a new study released by Partnership for Prevention.
5:58:13 PM
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PatientsLikeMe.com, a treatment and outcome sharing community for people with life-changing conditions, has released real-world treatment and symptom dataset on ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
8:49:34 AM
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Monday, August 13, 2007
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In what is one of the most significant offerings in support of consumers using HSAs, drugstore.com, inc. has created an online store designed for Health Savings Account (HSA) holders. An estimated 8 million lives are covered by consumer-driven HSA plans, which require consumers to maintain records of eligible expenses.
9:07:48 PM
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Pharmacy benefit management organizations (PBMs) now can seek URAC’s quality seal of approval with the introduction of the first-ever voluntary accreditation standards for the industry. For employers and employees, this approach represents another step in providing guidance on choosing a plan that can be effective for specific organizations.
8:49:23 PM
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Second quarter account growth (16%) for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) was lower than in the first quarter (22%) but still on target to reach 8 million by the end of the year, according to Information Strategies, Inc. (ISI). During the same period, deposits grew at a 26% rate versus the first quarter increase of 22%, to $7.8 billion, according to the parent of www.HSAfinder.com.
The company has been tracking HSA insurance coverage and custodial accounts since their inception, utilizes reports from custodial institutions across the country, and is the most detailed in the industry.
9:43:34 AM
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Wednesday, July 11, 2007
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Hospital stays are wearing and frightening for both patients and families. If a hospital stay is in the offing, it pays to do some preparation beforehand to make it easier on the patient as well as the family.
9:54:56 AM
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Wednesday, June 27, 2007
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By merging ordinary technology such as cell phones and personal computers with sophisticated web-based applications, Mosaic Health Solutions has created a new online health tracking system that allows users to more effectively and efficiently manage their personal health.
1:18:21 PM
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There is industry-wide concern regarding the collective impact of waste, fraud and abuse upon the overall cost of care, as well as patient exposure to radiation, after sobering reports found that almost half a billion radiological procedures will be performed annually by 2008.
1:00:47 PM
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In the clamor on healthcare from the nation’s lawmakers, elites and media “gurus,” one fact is being ignored—Health Savings Accounts are a grass roots phenomenon.
1:00:13 PM
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Some long-awaited Health Savings Account guidance for employers is expected from the IRS. They will make it easier to offer the plans and make voluntary contributions to encourage participation.
12:59:30 PM
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Tuesday, June 12, 2007
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Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have had varying levels of adoption when taken on a state-by-state but are approaching 5% of all healthcare insurance users on a nation-wide basis, according to an analysis by Information Strategies, Inc. (ISI).
12:57:57 PM
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Tuesday, May 15, 2007
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In another step towards electronic management of patient records and interchange between healthcare providers, the IRS has ruled that hospitals can subsidize physicians who want to create an electronic patient record management system.
8:32:57 AM
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Saturday, May 12, 2007
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The Privacy Rule requires health plans, most health care providers and health care clearinghouses to comply with its standards. This rule is enforced by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS began enforcing the Privacy Rule as of April 14, 2003.
11:13:40 AM
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Wednesday, May 02, 2007
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As a company makes the decision to add or switch entirely to a health savings account (HSA) combined with a high deductible health plan (HDHP) from a more traditional plan (HMO/PPO), there are several steps that they can take to ease the transition and help their employees become excited, rather than fearful.
5:40:34 PM
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Tuesday, May 01, 2007
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Exante Financial Services has launched three new Health Savings Account (HSA) designs tailored to meet consumers’ individual health care financial needs.
10:19:29 AM
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Friday, April 27, 2007
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For those considering retirement, before or after age 65, there are a number of important healthcare considerations. What happens with your employer health benefits when you retire? If you retire early, will you have health insurance to cover you until age 65 when Medicare takes over? Will you need Medicare supplement insurance to cover any gaps in Medicare coverage after age 65? What healthcare needs might not be covered by Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance or your retiree health insurance?
11:56:16 AM
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Looking for another way to benefit from tax breaks on saving for retirement? Recent changes to HSAs are now making them an even better way to save for later in life.
10:43:51 AM
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Proponents of health savings accounts and their mandatory high-deductible health insurance plans have come out swinging against a study concluding that the plans cost women about $1,000 more per year than men.
10:36:07 AM
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Thursday, April 26, 2007
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In a clear challenge to Health Savings Accounts and private insurance measures, a bill has been introduced in the Senate and House to extend healthcare coverage to all Americans from birth to death.
5:04:57 PM
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Tuesday, April 10, 2007
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WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) today unveiled its Member Health Index (MHI), a comprehensive initiative designed to measure the improvement in the health of its 34 million members. The company is the working to directly link success in improving the health of its members with the compensation of every associate in the company.
7:11:33 PM
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Monday, April 02, 2007
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More than a quarter of Americans say they have left a drug prescription unfilled because they felt it was unneeded and a fifth have obtained a second opinion because they felt their doctors' recommendations were too aggressive.
11:58:37 AM
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Calls made on cell phones do not affect hospital medical devices, U.S. researchers said last week, but store anti-theft alarms might make implanted heart devices misfire. Tests at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., showed normal use of cell phones caused no noticeable interference with patient care equipment, they said.
11:58:11 AM
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Thursday, March 29, 2007
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Democrats have vowed to repeal laws enacted to make health savings accounts better investment vehicles for consumers, but in lieu of a unified front, the Bush administration is moving ahead with plans to expand the role of HSAs to benefit consumers.
12:31:24 PM
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Despite tax benefits, many employees don't use spending accounts to stash cash for medical costs. Because some consumers just don't know about the relatively new health savings accounts, they are passing up what could be hundreds of millions of dollars in tax benefits at a time when rising health care costs are eating into the budgets of many families, experts say.
12:30:57 PM
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When receiving a life-threatening diagnosis, patients and their families often have many questions and need different types of support throughout the journey to battle the illness. Now, those with cancer will have a new comprehensive information resource available to guide treatment options and survival.
11:25:16 AM
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Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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Amid growing Congressional pressure to make some changes in the Health Savings Account (HSAs) regulations, a new forecast on their expanding usage and popularity may give some political leaders pause. Information Strategies, Inc. (ISI) has issued a new estimate on year-end and future growth based on interviews with HSA, CDH and more traditional plan users as well as corporate and custodial managers.
12:01:24 PM
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© Copyright 2008 Information Strategies, Inc..
Last update: 5/27/2008; 1:28:00 PM.
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