All Stories Tagged With: "economy"
Health Insurers Making Record Profits as Many Postpone Care
The nation’s major health insurers are barreling into a third year of record profits, enriched in recent months by a lingering recessionary mind-set among Americans who are postponing or forgoing medical care. The UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest commercial insurers, told analysts that so far this year, insured hospital stays actually decreased in some instances. In reporting its earnings last week, Cigna, another insurer, talked about the “low level” of medical use.
About 1 in 7 in U.S. Receive Food Stamps
Growth in the food stamp program appeared to reach a plateau in February — with 14.3% of the population relying on the safety net program. The number of food stamp recipients was essentially flat in February, the most recent month available, with 44.2 million Americans receiving benefits, according a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The food stamp program ballooned during the recession as workers lost their jobs or saw their hours and income reduced.
Asthma Costs Economy 56 Billion Per Year
A 12 per cent rise in the number of asthma sufferers has left the government baffled. Almost 25 million Americans now suffer from the chronic respiratory disease – a figure which is up from 20 million in 2001, despite a cutback in triggers such as smoking. Asthma now costs the economy $56billion, an extra $3billion a year, in lost productivity and medical expenses on 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
