Latest news with #America'sHealthRankings
Business Journals
27-05-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
4 tips to help Oregonians save more on health care costs
Better understanding health care costs is important since medical costs continue to rise year-over-year and can have an impact on your wallet. In 2024, 10.2% of adults in Oregon avoided health care due to costs in the previous year, according to new data from America's Health Rankings. Resources and benefits may be available to help support whole-person health and may help people save more money in 2025. Here are four tips to consider: 1. Consider health plans designed to help you shop for care. Price transparency and rising health care costs have long been an issue in health care. Prices can vary by hundreds or thousands of dollars for the same services within the same city. Until recently, many consumers did not have a simple and convenient way to compare their health care and cost options ahead of time. Fortunately, that is starting to change. Some employers now offer more modernized health plans to their workforces that offer upfront costs and care options to help people shop for health care like they shop for other products. Talk to your employer about what benefits may be available to you. The Surest health plan from UnitedHealthcare, for example, eliminates deductibles and shows members their care options (e.g., virtual visits, urgent care) and costs upfront through the Surest app or website, displaying lower copays for providers who historically offered more effective, cost-efficient care. People enrolled in Surest have saved 50% on average out-of-pocket compared to traditional plans. 2. Take advantage of financial incentives and wellness programs. You may be able to earn rewards through your health plan for activities like your annual wellness visit, getting certain preventive screenings or completing a health survey. Some employers offer wellness programs that aim to help individuals better manage costly chronic conditions. For example, for eligible individuals with Type 2 diabetes, UnitedHealthcare's Level2 program combines wearable technology with customized clinical support designed to help improve the health of people living with this condition. 3. Don't forget about other core benefits. Dental and vision plans may help you save money and access care, while supplemental health benefits like accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity insurance may help provide financial protection and greater peace of mind. Many dental plans include coverage for preventative care including dental cleanings and oral cancer screenings. Some plans offer extra benefits like additional cleanings and gum maintenance during pregnancy at no additional cost. You may also have access to teledentistry services that provide a clinical consult 24/7 in addition to your regular preventative care. 4. Access preventive care. Remember to schedule your annual wellness exam and preventive screenings. Health plans usually cover preventive care, which means you may pay $0 out of pocket for certain covered preventive services if you go to a network provider. Additionally, consider options like virtual visits for non-emergency care. Virtual visits may be both cost-effective and more convenient. These strategies may help you make more informed health decisions and may help you save more money. Talk to your employer and health plan about what benefits are available to you for 2025.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Licking County growth complicates housing for elderly residents, report shows
NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) — Licking County's rapid growth and adjacent housing concerns are complicating things for elderly residents, a new study revealed. The Licking County Aging Partners released the results of its age-friendly community needs assessment, offering insight into how older Licking County residents are interacting with rapid growth. There are 43,555 Licking County residents over age 60, representing 24% of the population. Most – 81.1% – of them own their residences, but the study found the growth coming to the region is making it more difficult for older residents to stay in their homes. The report found 5,110 older Licking County residents are currently in unaffordable housing situations. Further, almost one in five older adults told Licking County Aging Partners that they have had to spend less on food, medication or other necessities to afford housing. Intel affirms commitment to Ohio plant's division Licking County is already bracing for rapid growth, and residents worry they could be pushed out of their homes or be unable to keep up with housing costs. Licking County Aging Partners' focus group found many older residents in apartments are seeing steady increases in rent, making it more difficult for retired residents to stay in their homes. 'Most focus group participants said that they don't want to move, but that their houses are becoming too large to maintain,' the report said. 'There were few options mentioned within the county to move to, and instead individuals felt that they would need to leave the county if they needed to move to more accessible and affordable housing.' Respondents overwhelmingly said they wanted to stay in their homes as they aged, and many wanted to stay in Licking County. When asked about what they would change, participants said they want improved infrastructure, prevent against overdevelopment and voiced concerns about traffic, rising housing costs and homelessness. Federal agency cuts more than $88K in grants for OSU Rising rent costs aren't the only financial concerns; only 17% of respondents said they were able to access low-cost or free home repair services. With aging, residents often have to equip homes with accessible features like ramps or grab bars, adding costs. One participant said he has to budget more for home maintenance as he is no longer able to work around the house as he used to. Although growth exacerbates them in Licking County, these concerns exist state-wide. According to America's Health Rankings by the United Health Foundation, 28% of Ohioans aged 62 and older live with at least one of the following problems: uncomplete kitchen or plumbing facilities, overcrowding or cost-burdened occupants. Licking County Aging Partners said it will now use this information to create an action plan to address concerns among older populations. Community leaders, residents and stakeholders are collaborating to create the plan, which they hope to release in the next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oklahoma ranked among the worst for health and well-being
OKLAHOMA CITY — Health and well-being in Oklahoma remain the 47th worst in the nation, according to an annual study released Tuesday. The state ranked in the bottom five in nearly all of the 2024 America's Health Rankings main measures of health: social and economic factors, physical environment, clinical care, behaviors and health outcomes. Since the study's inception 35 years ago, Oklahoma's ranking has seen an overall decline since 1991 when the state achieved its highest placement at 32nd. In 2023, Oklahoma ranked 47th. The annual study is completed by the United Health Foundation, a private nonprofit established by the UnitedHealth group with a goal of improving health and health care. Rankings are based on nearly 90 measures of health and well-being. Keith Reed, Oklahoma commissioner of health, said in a House committee hearing Tuesday that despite the outcomes of the study, he sees a bright spot in the state's rank of 39th for health outcomes. He said it's an improvement on last year's ranking of 41st. This ranking includes behavioral health, mortality and physical health. The study found that Oklahomans had improved access to high-speed internet and less occupational fatalities, but more suicides and an increased burden of housing costs. The state ranked 45th in social and economic factors, including measures like education, economic resources and community and family safety. For measures of physical environment like air and water quality, climate and health, housing and transit, Oklahoma was 49th in the country with only California ranked lower. Oklahoma's clinical care was ranked at 46th. This factors in access to care, quality of care and preventive clinical services. Finally, Oklahoma's behavioral health such as nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, sleep, and smoking/tobacco use ranked at 47. The study found that as a whole, the U.S. experienced decreases in unemployment, smoking and uninsured individuals in 2024, but drug deaths, e-cigarettes and low birth weights increased. Oklahoma's neighbor, Colorado, ranked 10th best. Kansas ranked 28th; Missouri, 39th; Texas, 40th; New Mexico, 42nd; and Arkansas, 48th. Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions:info@ Follow Oklahoma Voice onFacebook andTwitter. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma ranks 47th worst for overall health, well-being
