New Jersey Auto Insurance Rates

New Jersey drivers pay more for auto insurance than drivers in any other state.

NJ drivers paid an average of $1,184 in premiums and expenditures to insure each vehicle in 2005, down only about $10 since reforms aimed at increasing competition in the state's auto insurance market were implemented in 2003.

In Pennsylvania, the average auto insurance cost climbed from $726 in 2001 to $850 in 2005. In Delaware, auto insurance premiums increased from an average of $851 in 2001 to $1,028 in 2005. The nationwide average was $829, up from $726 in 200.

Underwriting costs, driving locations, accident rates, traffic density, auto theft statistics, repair costs and state laws can all affect a state's expenditures premiums, which make direct state-to-state comparisons difficult.

Health Plan for Low Income Adults

The federal government has given Indiana the go-ahead on its plan to launch a state subsidized health insurance plan for low income adults that will be funded in part by an increase in the cigarette tax.

The deal will allow Indiana to provide health insurance coverage to about 130,000 uninsured Indiana residents.

The state will use about $140 million a year in cigarette tax money and matching federal dollars to fund the plan. The new program should be up and running by January.

The federal government will provide more than $1 billion over a five year period to help pay for the low income healthcare program.

Hilary on Healthcare

The Clinton camp posted on their website that Hillary's plan will simplify and ensure choice in health insurance coverage for all Americans.

Hillary's health plan from differs in many ways from current health insurance plans. The new proposal provides tax credits for working families to help them cover their costs. Some of the innovative ideas in this plan will put an end to discrimination for pre-existing conditions.

Florida Insurance Companies Increase Profits

Florida Insurance Regulators are sifting through thousands of subpoenaed documents, trying to see if there was collusion between insurance companies to keep hurricane insurance rates high, even after changes in the law.

Within the State Office of Insurance Regulation, investigators are pouring over insurance company records, they are looking for evidence of collusion in the sale of reinsurance, or anything that might explain why insurance rates dropped only half as much as predicted after the state of Florida changed the law.

Insurance rates were predicted to drop 24%, but only fell by 12% on avg.

The investigation is likely to take months before any answers on why rates are still high emerge.

Anthem of CT to raise rates for Seniors

Senior citizens in Connecticut who buy health insurance from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut may face premium increases next year averaging 5.7% on standardized medicare supplement policies and 1.4% on older policies under the company's proposals.

Anthem filed proposed rates Monday with the Connecticut Insurance Department for Medicare supplements, which seniors often buy to pay for portions of their medical bills that Medicare doesn't cover, such as hospital deductibles.

The proposed increases, which would take effect Jan. 1, are subject to regulators' approval and a public hearing will be scheduled.

UnitedHealth Group also recently proposed rate increases for Medicare supplements it sells through AARP. Its increases would average 6% on standardized Medicare supplement plans.

The Candidates on Health Coverage

A look at positions of the 2008 presidential candidates and their healthcare plans:

DEMOCRATS:

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: Expand health insurance to cover all children and to make catastrophic care available for all; look to states for ideas on universal coverage.

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: Mandatory universal coverage in first term. Tax credits for working families to make insurance more affordable. Business would be required to offer insurance to employees or pay into a pool for people without it. Expand Medicare and federal employees' health insurance plan to cover those without adequate workplace insurance. Raise taxes on wealthier families to help pay estimated cost of $110 billion a year. Also, raise taxes on a portion of "very generous" plans covering people making more than $250,000.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: Expand health insurance coverage by offering insurance that could be taken from job to job, with premiums based on ability to pay.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Mandatory universal coverage in first term, by expanding system of federal health insurance and family tax credits, and by imposing requirements on employers, health insurance companies and individuals. Increase taxes on wealthier families to pay for program's cost of up to $120 billion a year.

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Favors national health insurance program covering medical, dental, mental health and long-term care for all, as well as prescription drugs.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Require employers to share costs of insuring workers and ensure all children have health coverage. No mandate that everyone must have insurance. Raise taxes on wealthier families to pay the cost.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Tax breaks for businesses and for people who pay for their own health coverage. Lower the eligibility age for Medicare to 55 and expand programs for poor and children.

REPUBLICANS:

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback: "Market-based solutions, not government-run health care."

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: Income tax deduction of $7,500 per taxpayer to defray insurance costs. Tax credit for poorer workers to supplement Medicaid and employer contributions, as part of "market-driven" expansion of affordable coverage. Expanded use of health savings accounts.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Favors market solutions, state innovation.

California Rep. Duncan Hunter: Supported expansion of health insurance through tax breaks, not government-sponsored universal coverage.

Arizona Sen. John McCain: Has a record of promoting prescription drug coverage for older people and expanded insurance for children, but not universal coverage.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Incentives for states to expand affordable health insurance coverage.

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: Market reforms instead of more federal spending to expand health coverage.

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: "Market-driven" expansion of affordable health coverage.

Allstate changes policy

Allstate Insurance Company has agreed to stop considering whether a customer has auto insurance with them when deciding whether to renew a members homeowners insurance.

The Insurance Department announced that Allstate, and Liberty Mutual, had broken state law when they used auto insurance as a criteria for renewing homeowner policies. Liberty Mutual announced an immediate end to the practice, and a month later Allstate will do the same.

Rural America Hurt by Health Insurance Pinch

Even if a farmer or rancher has a thriving business and has health insurance coverage, he or she may have a tough time paying for doctor visits or hospital stays.

This was documented in a report issued by the Access Project, an affiliate of the Schneider Institute for Health Policy at Brandeis University.

The good news from the survey was that the vast majority of the farm and ranch families had health insurance coverage.

Nevertheless, 20% of respondents said they had taken on debt to pay for healthcare expenses.

The reports points a finger at high out-of-pocket health-care expenses, even for those with health insurance. The surveyors noted that about 33% of respondents had purchased individual health insurance, By comparison, only 8 percent of Americans as a whole are covered by individual health insurance policies, which usually offer less comprehensive coverage.

Allstate Raises Auto Insurance Rates in Illinois

While many auto insurance companies have been lowering their insurance rates recently, one major auto insurer just raised its premiums.

If you buy your car insurance through Allstate, you'll see a bigger bill soon.

Allstate raised its Illinois auto insurance rates an average of ~ 10%. Allstate saw collission claims rising and its business deteriorating so it had no choice but to pass along higher costs to its customers in Illinois

Allstate's higher prices comes at the same time that some of its competitors including State Farm, Progressive and GEICO all lowered auto rates in Illinois by ~ 6%.

Medical Bills? Protect Yourself

Health insurance horror stories like those in documentary "Sicko" happen everyday. No one wants to learn that their health insurance company won't pay a major doctor's bill.

Here are 3 tips to help protect against unexpected medical bills and get the most our of your health insurance coverage:

1) Check for benefit limitations. Read through coverage details, especially the "exclusions and limitations."

Some health plans include a "lifetime maximum," which represents the maximum amount of medical expense the health insurance company will pay for all medical claims in a lifetime (typically $2-$5million)

2) Make sure the doctor prescribes only drugs that are covered (if at all possible). Some health insurance companies maintain lists of all the prescription drugs that they are willing to cover (called a formulary). A doctor may or may not be aware of the health insurance company's formulary. Get a copy of the drug formulary from the health insurance company and consult it when your doctor writes a prescription.

3) Preauthorization. Health insurance companies will typically only cover services they consider medically necessary. When considering an expensive procedure , even one ordered by a doctor, make sure to apply for preauthorization.