Car Insurance Companies charge more depending on your Education or Work Status

Insurance companies consider a lot of factors to determine the amount of premium you need pay. A report said that some companies includes your education level and work status and may charge you more for it.

According to a report by the Consumer Federation of America, companies like GEICO, Progressive, Liberty Mutual and Farmers will charge you more if you only have a high school diploma or work a "blue collar" job.

Geico, for instance, often charges a Seattle-based factory worker with only a high school degree $870 a year for insurance. Which is 45 percent higher than the $599 it would likely charges a plant supervisor with a college degree.

Comparison from different states: 45% more in Seattle ($870 vs. $599), 40% more in Hartford ($1299 vs. $926), 33% more in Oakland ($922 vs. $693), 23% more in Louisville ($2200 vs. $1791), 21% more in Chicago ($1013 vs. $840), and 20% more in Baltimore ($1971 vs. $1647).

The cost of owning a car just keeps on increasing with skyrocketing gas prices and exorbitant repair fees, now you need to pay more on insurance premiums based on your education and work status.

Consumer Federation of America Report (PDF)

Diabetes linked to disability risk

A research shows that adults with diabetes have a higher risk of physical disability, it was reported on BBC News.

Older people with diabetes are 50% to 80% more likely to develop a physical disability than those without, according to a review of 26 studies.

There were no distinction made between type-1 and type-2 diabetes, but most of the data involved people over the age of 65, who are more likely to have type-2.

Ensuring all people with diabetes have access to the right care is hugely important.

The research is published in the journal the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Disability was defined as impaired mobility and the inability to perform normal activities such as bathing, eating, shopping or using transport.

The Australian researchers say the reasons behind the link are unclear, but high blood sugar levels may lead to muscle damage over time.

Pre-diabetics needs to visit optometrist to prevent Blindness

If you are diagnosed with pre-diabetes, which means that you have high levels of blood sugar but not enough to be considered diabetes. It is important to visit your optometrist as quickly as possible to avoid Diabetic retinopathy or blindness.

Patients with pre-diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and many already have diabetic symptoms.

Diabetic retinopathy, is retinopathy (damage to the retina) caused by complications of diabetes, which can eventually lead to blindness.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) stated on their website that more than 18.2 million people in the US have diabetes and Diabetic retinopathy now affects 5 million Americans and causes 24,000 new cases of blindness yearly.
VSP doctor, Anastasios Fokas, O.D said that it is important for people with pre-diabetes to visit their optometrist.

“I see patients all the time who aren’t managing their disease well, and that’s just tragic,” says Dr. Fokas. “Their vision could have been saved, if only they’d managed their illness better.”

There are three major treatments for people with diabetic retinopathy that are very effective in reducing vision loss from this disease. In fact, even people with advanced retinopathy have a 90 percent chance of keeping their vision when they get treatment before the retina is severely damaged. These three treatments are laser surgery, injection of corticosteroids or Anti-VEGF into the eye, and vitrectomy.

Obamacare: Smokers May Get A Break from penalties

Penalties against smokers may be limited due to a  glitch caused by conflicting rules. President Obama’s universal health care program includes penalties for smokers. However, a computer glitch may temporarily limit the penalty fees.

Obamacare will be implemented in 2014. As the start date nears, glitches and other issues have caused the delay of several provisions.

A provisions imposes fines on employers who fail to provide health coverage to employees. Last week it was announced that those fines will be delayed for one year, as officials review the complex provision.

Another provision of Obamacare, smokers will be charged higher premiums based on age. However, the computer program has failed to separate the categories. The glitch would charge smokers of all ages the same penalty.

This means that older smokers will get a break on the penalty amount. However, younger smokers may pay more than anticipated.

The current penalties are up to 50 percent more than the premiums paid by non-smokers. Additionally, smokers are exempt from tax credits that will offset health care costs for non-smokers.

As it stands, the standard insurance plan will cost a 64-year-old non-smoker $9,000 per year. In contrast, a smoker will pay over $13,000 for the same policy.

It could take up to one year to resolve the glitch. Officials have not announced postponement of the penalties for smokers.

As reported by ABQ Journal, Robert Laszewski, a consultant with the health care industry, is concerned that glitches and confusion will continue to cause delays:

“This was an administration that was telling us everything was under control … Everything was going to be fine. Suddenly this kind of stuff is cropping up every few days.”

As officials continue to organize the details for the anticipated 2014 launch, other glitches are sure to surface. However, with Obamacare, smokers may get a temporary break.

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/838474/obamacare-smokers-may-get-a-break/#J0so30dR6qemqiTc.99

Travel insurance

The purpose of Travel insurance is to cover medical expenses, financial default of travel suppliers, and other losses incurred while traveling, either within one's own country, or internationally. Temporary travel insurance can usually be arranged at the time of the booking of a trip to cover exactly the duration of that trip, or a "multi-trip" policy can cover an unlimited number of trips within a set time frame. Coverage varies, and can be purchased to include higher risk items such as "winter sports".

Terrorism is excluded except for the Emergency Medical and other expenses section, Personal Accident section and Hijack section (where cover is provided as part of the policy). If the terrorist act involves a nuclear device or a chemical or biological agent, there is no cover at all.

Illinois Bill would raise car insurance liability coverage to $25,000

In Illinois, State legislation would raise the minimum for first time since 1989 and is awaiting Gov. Pat Quinn's signature. The bill will raise the required liability coverage for auto insurance to $25,000 from $20,000. The legislation was passed by the Illinois General Assembly. In 1989, Illinois lawmakers voted to require all motorists to carry a minimum of auto liability insurance, which helps pay for injuries to others.

The raise will definitely help people who don't have health insurance. At first, they were suppose to raise it to $50,000 but they are worried that lower-income consumers would not be able to afford their car insurance and would rather drive without any insurance.

Based on Insurance Information Institute data, 15% of Illinois motorists drive without insurance.

Rep. Laura Fine said, "Ending up at $25,000 was a product of negotiation." "We tried to strike a balance between financially protecting the injured while keeping premium rates low for those who purchase the minimum coverage," she added.

The increase in minimum liability coverage will cost Illinois consumers who currently have basic car insurance coverage an additional $75 a year.

The Consumer Federation of America says raising the minimums will exacerbate problems for people who can barely afford insurance now.

Another downside is that additional $5,000 is a small amount in dealing with today's medical costs. Based on the consumer price index, $20,000 in 1989 dollars is equivalent to $37,000 today.

At the same time, consumers are becoming responsible for a bigger share of their medical costs.

A TransUnion Healthcare report released last month found that patients' average out-of-pocket costs on key medical procedures has grown nearly 22 percent in the last year, to $2,042.