According to information released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), even if rates were to increase in 2017 by double digits, over 70% of consumers on HealthCare.gov will still be able to purchase a plan for less than $80 per month. Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law, prices for plans have risen. In a hypothetical scenario, one in where all rates increase by 25%, the HHS found the vast majority of consumers (73%) would be able to purchase coverage for less than $75 per month. All Marketplace premiums will be finalized and made public this coming October. “[Rate increases reported in the headlines] do not reflect what consumers actually pay,” said Kathryn Martin, Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. “Our study shows that, even ...
Salud America! Guest Blogger
Jefferson Dental Clinics Fewer than 1 in 3 people floss daily. On top of that, the U.S. federal government recently made a controversial ruling to quietly remove flossing from its list of dietary guidelines, after having supported floss since 1979, due to mixed research results on the benefits of flossing. We can all toss the floss, right? Wrong. Flossing remains an effective method to remove food particles and buildup from between the teeth, and help people reach the plaque where it does form between the teeth, said Dr. Leslie Renee Townsend, regional dental director for Jefferson Dental. "Leaving particles and buildup trapped between the teeth is a quick route to developing decay and disease around the teeth and gums," Townsend ...
The United States spends far more on health care than any other developed nation; a record 17.5% of the country’s gross domestic product in 2014 was spent on health care. However, life expectancy in the U.S. is lower, maternal and infant mortality is higher. Also, the prevalence of chronic illness is far more common in the U.S. than in European countries. These poor health outcomes are also connected to another type of spending where the country falls far below multiple European countries. In terms of social services that target education, housing, nutrition and poverty, the U.S. is spending significantly less. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) analyzed this spending in 2011 and found the ratio of social service to medical care spending was associated with “better health ...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded more than $100 million to over 1,300 health centers across the United States to invest in health center quality improvement. The centers will use these funds to “expand current quality improvement systems and infrastructure.” The centers will use the funds to improve systems and infrastructure as well improve some of the primary care services they deliver in their communities. “Millions of Americans rely on health centers to provide them with quality health care,” said Dr. Mary Wakefield, HHS Acting Deputy Secretary. “These quality improvement awards will support health centers to continue to deliver superior health care that engages patients, improves care coordination and bridges overall access to ...
Being the new kid in school is always tough, from finding friends to adapting to new teachers and homes. More than 6.5 million students nationwide are frequently the “new kid,” and studies have shown that Latino, black, and lower-income students have the highest rates of student mobility, which refers to students changing schools during the middle of any given school year for any other reason besides matriculation. Frequently, student mobility is detrimental to children's social and academic development, according to data collected by the University of California, Santa Barbara. Understanding this data can also help put them on a path toward academic achievement. “To be sure, multiple moves are a dangerous signal, but even one move increases the [student’s] risk of not ...
Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, the number of uninsured people in the United States has declined by an estimated 20 million. The percentage of people without health insurance has also fallen to an historic low. Despite these monumental gains, there are still 24 million people lacking health insurance. The largest number of these individuals are still Latinos. Using data from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Art Tracking Survey to examine the characteristics of the remaining uninsured adults to determine the reasons they for not enrolling in the marketplace plans or Medicaid. Prior to the ACA, people most at risk of being uninsured were those that didn’t have coverage through their place of employment. Latinos and other racial and ethnic ...
Más latinos tienen acceso a internet que hace unos años y la brecha digital entre los latinos y los blancos "se encuentra ahora en su punto más estrecho desde el año 2009", según los resultados de un estudio realizado por Pew Research Center. El estudio muestra que el acceso a Internet entre los latinos aumentó de 64% a 84% entre 2009 y 2015. Otros hallazgos claves incluyen: • El 80% de los adultos latinos acceden a Internet desde un dispositivo móvil
• El 46% de los latinos accede a Internet desde una conexión de banda ancha en casa Según los autores, la mayoría del 16% de los latinos que aún no tienen acceso a internet son nacidos en el ...
The Affordable Care Act has provided health insurance to over 20 million people (including an estimated 4.2 million Latinos) since its inception four years ago. During that time, one of the main questions has been are the people who now have reliable health care coverage better off than before. Several new studies have been released recently emphasizing the ACA’s successes. Due to the ACA, participants are now less likely to have medical debt or postpone care because of the associated costs. They are more likely to now have a regular primary care doctor and to take advantage of preventive medical services, such as vaccines and screenings. One study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, noted how low-income individuals in Arkansas (6.7% Latino population) and Kentucky (3% Latino ...
Volunteering is good for mental health, especially among older adults according to a new study from the U.K., PsychCentral reports. For their research investigators surveyed over 60,000 adults between 1991-2008 and found that those that volunteered on a regular basis had signs of positive mental health. “Voluntary action might provide those groups with greater opportunities for beneficial activities and social contacts, which in turn may have protective effects on health status,” Dr. Faiza Tabassum told PsychCentral. “Particularly, with the aging of the population, it is imperative to develop effective health promotion for this last third of life, so that those living longer are ...
