Healthcare prices to increase for Michigan

As we await the outcome of the Michigan “Exchange” (Marketplace) to be launched October 1, some other states are getting out front, showing the significant cost impact of health reform. We believe Ohio, while lower priced than Michigan, is a good indicator of what we might expect here in Michigan: Ohio officials said late Thursday that health insurance costs will increase “significantly” under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The state’s department of insurance estimated the … [Read more...]

Health Care Reform and Over-the-Counter Medications

Beginning January 1, 2011, the Patient Protection and Care Act (PPCA), aka Health Care Reform law, requires that over-the-counter medications (other than insulin) must be prescribed in order to qualify for reimbursement under your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). This change will have dramatic impact on the way we purchase and use over-the-counter items. Some are suggesting that health care costs will increase as individuals schedule physician office visits to get … [Read more...]