Tag Archives: health insurance

Health Insurance Makes You Sexier

Ami AngelowiczJuly 20, 2011 //

According to an incredibly biased study done by eHealthInsurance.com, 90 percent of college students said that they would automatically find someone more attractive if he or she had one important quality … health insurance. A rare commodity indeed. Heed the call, co-eds. This may be only thing within your control when it comes to getting ahead in love. Make yourself more desirable dating material by continuing your coverage on your parents’ plan if they can afford it or, perhaps, taking out additional student loans so that you can join your university’s health insurance. Go to parties and flash your insurance card. Brag about how cheap your co-pay is for the Pill or invite your crush to accompany you to your physical next week. Then just sit back and watch them fall madly in love with you. [Consumerist] Keep reading »

Dear Wendy: “Should I Marry For Health Insurance?”

Wendy AtterberryNovember 17, 2010 //

I was laid off about a year and a half ago and have been without health care since that time. For the most part, that’s OK because I am not sick often. I do, however, have adult ADHD and it is incredibly difficult to function or keep myself organized without my medication. I also have continuous problems with UTIs and am now having pain in my kidneys. I’ve done mass quantities of research and every option is either out of my price range or literally will take days of waiting in different lines and being screened by social workers before I am even able to see a doctor (for the UTI). The ADHD actually requires going to another city where my college doctor is, convincing him to see me for free and then write me a prescription which I then send to a specific pharmaceutical company who will decide if I am deserving of free medication. There is one other option that could possibly work, but it is one that makes me very sad. I could secretly wed my fiancé and then get on his health insurance. We are supposed to be married in about a year, but if we went to a court we could be married as soon as this weekend. The whole idea of that breaks my heart; I love him so much that I don’t want to hide being married to him. I also don’t want to get married without our families there. I am so conflicted. Should I just suck it up and spend the days and the miles running around trying to get the help I need or secretly wed my husband-to-be and make it easy to see a doctor? — In Sickness and In Health

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Poll: Do You Have Health Insurance?

Amelia McDonell-ParryAugust 6, 2010 //

Do You Have Health Insurance?

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Today’s Lady News: Domestic Violence Victims Have More Health Care Costs, Says Study

Jessica WakemanMay 3, 2010 //
  • A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that women who suffered from domestic violence have higher health care costs, even after the abuse ends. Female victims of intimate partner violence average over $1,200 more in health care costs during the first two years after the abuse ends, compared with women who have not been abused. The study examined the health care costs of 2,026 women — which included 859 victims of domestic violence— between 1992 and 2002. Said the study’s co-author, Amy Bonomi, in a statement, “If we can prevent domestic violence, we are not only helping the women involved, we are also saving money in our healthcare system.” [UPI]
  • A study from the University of Manitoba found fifty percent of women who’ve had an abortion struggle with depression or substance abuse. The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Psychology, examined data collected from 3,210 American women interviewed by the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Drug Abuse between 2001 and 2003. Researchers say the findings should not suggest abortion causes drug/alcohol abuse or depression, as women may have had depression or substance abuse problems before terminating a pregnancy. [Montreal Gazette]

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Today’s Lady News: Report Says WellPoint Insurance Targeted Breast Cancer Patients

Jessica WakemanApril 22, 2010 //
  • An exclusive investigation by Reuters alleges that health insurance company WellPoint used a computer algorithm to find breast cancer patients and drop their health benefits. This software tipped federal investigators off to a fraud investigation. Although many insurance companies have been known to drop clients who become ill — which is called “rescission” — investigators say WellPoint may be one of the worst offenders. In a statement to Reuters, WellPoint said there are various types of criteria that may prompt “rescission” of a policyholder. [Reuters]
  • A 12-year-old Saudi Arabian girl has been granted a divorce from her 80-year-old “husband.” Forced into a marriage at age 11 for a $22,000 dowry to her father’s cousin, the “child bride” protested so vehemently that she attracted international attention and support. The girl was represented by the state-run Human Rights Commission in court, which helped to privately settle the divorce. The HRC in Saudi Arabia also announced it would seek to set 16 years old as the minimum age for marriage. [AOL News]
  • Republican Review, a newsletter from the Medina County Republican Executive Committee in Ohio, thought the cleverest way to defeat Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13) would be to say, “Let’s take Betty Sutton out of the House and put her back in the kitchen!” Face meet palm. Can I get a big ol’ WTF?! from my conservative lady-pals? [Emily's List]

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Girl Talk: I Got Married For Health Insurance

Nona Willis AronowitzNovember 20, 2009 //

I’d never been one of those girls who’d dreamt about her perfect wedding. The virgin-white dress, the exorbitant costs, the fuss over a big, shiny rock — none of it ever appealed to me. I wanted to find a lifelong partner, and a family sounded nice, too, but honestly? I never cared much about that piece of paper. So why did I just marry my boyfriend after pondering it for a mere two hours? One (evidently all-too-common) reason: health insurance. Keep reading »

Chubby Baby Denied Health Insurance

Jessica WakemanOctober 15, 2009 //

When it comes to babies, our throbbing ovaries tell us the chubbier, the better. We could just coo and squeeze 4-month-old Alex Lange, weighing in at 17 pounds, all day! (Before coming to our senses and handing him back to his mommy, that is.) But Rocky Mountain Health Plans denied health insurance for this cutie-patootie because he’s a “high-risk patient” with a “pre-existing condition of obesity.” WTF?!? Alex is in the 99th percentile for height and weight for a baby, but, apparently, Rocky Mountain Health Plans won’t provide health insurance to babies who rank any higher than the 95th percentile. “I could understand if we could control what he’s eating. But he’s 4 months old. He’s breastfeeding. We can’t put him on the Atkins diet or on a treadmill,” said his father, Bernie Lange. His parents also made a joke about putting Alex on SlimFast once he’s eating solid food. Hey, don’t give anyone any ideas! [Denver Post]

UPDATE: This Monday, Rocky Mountain Health Plans changed its policy to cover Alex and “other healthy babies.” It’s still not OK that only “healthy” babies get coverage, but at least this insurer has stopped with this obesity silliness. [Denver Post] Keep reading »

Why Doesn’t Tara Subkoff Have Health Insurance?

Amelia McDonell-ParryJuly 14, 2009 //

Last week it was announced that Tara Subkoff, designer for the edgy, high-end brand Imitation of Christ, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and would be undergoing brain surgery. If she doesn’t get the surgery — which will require a year of recovery, during which she won’t be able to work — within two years, the tumor will be fatal. As a result, her friends — who include big time stars like “The Royal Tenenbaums” director Wes Anderson and actress Chloe Sevigny — are throwing her a silent auction art benefit (they’re asking for donations) tomorrow night in New York City to raise money to pay for the costly procedure.

Because Subkoff, it seems, does not have health insurance. My second response — after the initial, “Oh man, that’s sad” — was, “Umm, why the f**k not?” Keep reading »

Recessionista Report: Destination Weddings, Health Costs, And Domestic Abuse

Annika HarrisMay 12, 2009 //
  • Destination Weddings: A growing number of couples are choosing to say “I do” under the Caribbean sun, rather than having a traditional wedding in their hometown, even though we’re in a recession. A survey by Destination Weddings predicts the destination wedding industry will grow to $16 billion this year, compared with $13 billion last year and $3 billion in 2001. A destination wedding at an all-inclusive resort can be cheaper than a traditional wedding. “Weddings at home tend to be larger,” said Cathy Preece, a tourism industry expert who represents the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. “Brides who are here have their mother who says you have to invite this person and this person.” But the couple having a destination wedding tends to only invite close family and friends — 48 guests, on average. Unfortunately, destinations that are farther away haven’t had the surge that the Caribbean, Mexico, and Florida have enjoyed. [Reuters]

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    I Now Pronounce You Fully Covered

    Annika HarrisApril 7, 2009 //

    Marrying for health insurance is nothing new. Even I proposed to two men when my health insurance was canceled recently (sadly, they both said no). But even when love isn’t the complete reason for getting married, most couples still have enough time to plan their dream wedding, whatever that may be. Things worked out differently, however, for writer Carrie Sloan, who wed her fiance Adam Lisberg in the 36 hours between being laid off and April 1, the deadline to be added to his health insurance. Keep reading »

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