I found this article and thought it should be passed along, health insurance is a big issue, we all need it but we all can’t afford it on our own, maybe instead of our employers footing the bill, we could do a share and share with them. Lighten the burden both ways and maybe an employer like Starbucks would not have to cut back so much.

Part of the article is below and the link to the full article is further down the page.

Today, Starbucks is hurting. Caught in this economic downturn, it has been forced to cut thousands of jobs. About 600 Starbucks stores in this country will be closed over the coming year, as well as most of those in Australia. This week, the company reported its first-ever quarterly loss, a net loss of $6.7 million. The company attributes its problems to the economy, increasing competition from fast-food companies such as McDonalds (not known for its health care coverage), and perhaps to its rapid expansion.

All of this is predictable. U. S. employers need a healthy work force, but can no longer afford to provide comprehensive employer-sponsored coverage (ESI). The average cost of ESI is now over $15,000 a year for a family of four, with the employer paying for about 60 percent of that and the employee picking up the rest. All of these numbers keep going up each year by three or four times the cost of living and median wages. As a result, more employers are cutting back on coverage (if provided at all), passing along more costs to their employees, and eliminating retiree coverage altogether (eg., General Motors). It is an open question how much longer employers with a social conscience, such as Starbucks and Costco, can continue to offer coverage.

Read the full article here–>

Technorati Tags: health insurance, health insurance coverage, health, insurance, Starbucks, Starbucks story

Health Insurance For Small Business Owners

Author: Dustin Heath Cannon

If you are a small business owner and you need to purchase health insurance, you may be surprised by how much a policy covering just you can cost. If you need to find a plan that also covers your family, the cost may be even higher. Because of rising health insurance premiums, restrictions about how much coverage you can receive due to pre-existing conditions, and other rules, many small business owners are unable to afford basic health insurance. If you have a small business that employs a few people, you may not be able to offer health insurance coverage because the premiums are too high.

You have a few options, however, when it comes to health insurance coverage. There are smaller companies that offer plans with higher deductibles or those that cover hospital stay and other emergency care, but do not cover routine check-ups and other appointments. Some plans cover these doctor visits, but require you to pay a higher copay. Even though these plans are not the best, they may be enough to provide you with adequate coverage until you begin earning more money or if your business grows.

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Technorati Tags: health insurance, small business health insurance, health, insurance, small business

International Health & Travel Insurance For Travelers

People traveling abroad take care of all the details beforehand in order to ensure a memorable journey. Most people have medical insurance but it does not take care of expenses when you move out of the country. Many students travel to other countries in search of better educational opportunities and they require international health and travel insurance. All of us wish for a smooth and peaceful journey. Visitors health insurance takes care of medical costs and provides other advantages. It also takes care of evacuation and other urgent situations.

The visitors insurance provides the necessary global coverage, which comes in aid at the time of an accident or an unexpected medical emergency. So whether you are a corporate traveler or an international student , a family on a reunion or a vacation, or an individual traveling overseas for education, work, pleasure, exploration, you do not need to worry as long as you are insured by choosing any international insurance plan from the various plans that are available.

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Technorati Tags: health insurance, travel insurance, health, travel, insurance