Maine schools implement innovative health program

Alison McKellar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:09:00 GMT

As part of an initiative to improve the health of Maine school teachers and staff, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is teaming up with the Maine Education Association Benefits Trust to provide personal health coaching to teachers and staff taking advantage of the health insurance plan offered through the school.

Teachers and staff in Gardiner, Topsham, Hampden, and Readfield will have the opportunity to take part in this two year pilot project which takes a more personalized approach to health care. Participants will first begin an overall appraisal of their health and specific health risks, and after, with the help of the health coach, will work to decide which of these risks most need to change.

Dan Corcoran, President of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, says "this school wellness pilot project will be a valuable demonstration of an approach to improve health and lower health risk factors that makes the connection between lifestyle choices and overall health."

The project will contract with Occupational Medical Consulting of Leeds, ME, a leading health and wellness company that provides services to Maine businesses, and is scheduled to start this month. It is the first comprehensive health project of its kind in Maine schools.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Alison McKellar

Mainers should be mad: Insurance company, Anthem Health Plans raises rates and rakes in $75 million in profits

Alison McKellar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:16:16 GMT

The looming economic recession has hit Mainers hard. Whether you’re an single and living on your own, married with a family, or trying to keep your small business afloat, for the majority of Mainers, it’s simply more difficult to afford things than it was a few years ago. The Portland Press Herald reports that Maine is one of 11 states to report a drop in median income from 2006 to 2007, leaving Mainers having to make hard choices between things like medical care, groceries, and school supplies for their kids.

However, while most Mainers are tightening their belts and cutting corners to make it through economic hard times, Anthem Health Plans of Maine is reporting record profits. Last year, the company made more than 75 million dollars in profits from Maine costumers alone, and according to the Maine Bureau of Insurance, Anthem’s treasurer earns more than $1.4 million, the president makes more than $643,000, and the assistant secretary earns more than $400,000.

Rick Burns, a Democratic state representative from Berwick, writes that, “the bottom line is that Anthem is a for-profit company. The right to earn a profit is derived from the taking of risk. Rather than take risk and earn a profit, Anthem lobbies legislators to create high-risk pools that shift the risk away from them and onto us, the Maine people.”

Insurance companies are remarkably profitable because they have learned to minimize the amount of money they pay out for medical care and maximize the amount they generate in rates. Mainers may need to start playing tough with the insurance companies to get the services they deserve.

So, the next time your insurance company tells you they’re not required to pay for something, don’t give in right away. They can afford it.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Alison McKellar

Maine Personal Injury Lawyer - Insurance

Maine schools implement innovative health program

Mainers should be mad: Insurance company, Anthem Health Plans raises rates and rakes in $75 million in profits