Friday, August 14 Although dental insurance can be inexpensive, those who provide care under these types of plans are finding that customers aren't taking the time for either routine cleanings or more expensive treatments that could prevent future health problems.Dentist Ken Peters in suburban Denver has found that roughly double the number of his patients have decided to forego more costly procedures since the middle of last year than the same period in 2007, a trend that is similar to the experience of more than half the dentists survyed by the American Dental Association in July, according to the Wall Street Journal."They figure they can't afford it so they wait," Dr. Peters told the newspaper. "They'd rather feed their family than spend the money on a crown."He and others have considered marketing to this group, using the fact that dental insurance is more inexpensive than other health care costs, and can provide testing that could provide patients with the ability to foresee long-term chronic conditions.Customers looking to reduce rates on dental insurance and other coverage aren't convinced that government efforts like Democrat bills will do much to limit their out-of-pocket expenses, looking at other policy changes to drive down costs.Medical and dental malpractice insurance reforms would be the option chosen by roughly half of Americans to reduce expenses and improve health care, according to a telephone survey conducted by M4 Strategies.

Wayne Root: 'How to Solve the Healthcare Crisis Tomorrow!'

Repeal all government laws, rules and mandates that prevent American consumers from buying any health insurance policy they want, anywhere in the country. It is government rules, regulations, laws and mandates that make healthcare expensive in the first place. Now Obama wants to solve the problem that government created by adding more government? By adding more government rules, regulations and mandates? Obama suggests that government cure the problems and high costs of government-run healthcare (Medicare, Medicaid) by forcing government to take over all healthcare? He wants to spend an additional trillion dollars to save money? The answer is to allow the American consumer to buy any policy, in any state, that best fits their family's needs, without government mandating what should be included in that policy.

Marketplace Series: What Do 'Insurance Verifiers' Do?

The report introduces Sharissa Dyke, an insurance verifier who "basically spends every day checking whether patients have insurance and what their plans cover." To determine whether an MRI is covered for a patient who may need knee surgery, Dyke contacts Aetna, the insurer. Depending on the patient and their plan, it can take days or just minutes to get a response. In this case, it's minutes. The insurer tells Dyke the patients does not require pre-authorization. Doctors wonder why they must cut through the red tape, since they've never had an insurer actually deny and MRI. A spokeswoman for America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry group, said the imaging is being overused by doctors, inflating costs. The pre-authorization requirement helps limit use. The insurers agree that all the different systems are extraneous (Keith, 8/10).

Zurich Makes Two Executive Appointments

He will also retain his role as chief underwriting officer for Zurich Insurance plc.

Juan Beer (39, Swiss citizen), currently CEO Zurich Global Corporate Switzerland, has been appointed to the position of chief underwriting officer for Global Corporate, effective Sept.

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company Launches Green Auto Insurance

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company has introduced hybrid upgrade auto insurance and the move is expected to enable car owners to go green.

Fireman's Fund would offer full replacement coverage, including cost to replace, with a new vehicle. Vehicles would be replaced with the current make and model available, including similar equipment and options. There is no depreciation reduction, but rather the increased cost to replace with a new vehicle is covered.