Health insurance literacy is just a fancy way of saying that you have a thorough understanding of your health insurance coverage and benefits. Why is health insurance literacy so important? Your family’s health and finances depend on it. Health Insurance Literacy Definition: An individual’s ability to seek, understand, select, and use their health insurance services….
If you subscribe to our newsletter, you may recall earlier this month reading about open enrollment for individual health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. We encouraged you to start doing your research now so that you’re ready to choose your 2023 plan as soon as open enrollment starts on November 1. In this Health…
Vaccine Preventable Diseases. About a century ago, some of the most common diseases to cause severe illness were polio, measles, and mumps. In fact, before vaccines were developed, these contagious illnesses were responsible for thousands of deaths each year, including in children. After vaccines came along, many common illnesses were preventable, curable, and some were even eradicated.
West Virginia has a low number of residents without health insurance, so DHI wanted to find out why. We interviewed Joylynn Fix, Director of Health Policy at the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner for the State of West Virginia. She gave the inside scoop on health insurance in West Virginia and what her agency does….
Tracking down vaccination and immunization records is easier now than ever. In the past, if parents didn’t keep a hard copy of a child’s vaccines, there was very little an adult could do to recover those records. Now, many states have secure and confidential immunization registries. They even store records from multiple sources — schools,…
Community health centers (CHCs) are the largest and most successful primary care system in the country. Serving 1 in 11 people in America, CHCs play a vital role in the healthcare safety net. They provide medical, dental, behavioral health services, and more, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. CHCs are also called Federally…
Last month we launched the two-part series, At Home Testing Kits. Just to quickly recap, home testing kits are like mini laboratories that consumers can purchase online or at their local pharmacy. They’re designed to diagnose various medical conditions. And when we say “various,” we’re not kidding. You can buy an at home testing kit…
Americans are feeling more blue and uncertain now than at any time in the past 20 years. And no matter who or what is to blame — whether it’s personal finances or the country’s political divide — what’s important to understand is that when people feel depressed and anxious, everything from work to family life…
DHI staff interviewed Jim Rodriguez, President and CEO of TexHealth Central Texas. We learned how his nonprofit helps employees afford small business health insurance, how its Premium Assistance Program evolved, and what the future holds. (Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and length.) Q1: When was TexHealth Central Texas established? A: TexHealth Central…
This is part I of a two-part series. Come back next week for part II. What do pregnancy tests, STD tests, and blood tests have in common? Each one is available as an at home testing kit—meaning you can get a diagnosis for a disease or condition without stepping foot into a doctor’s office. For…