Good thing I have health insurance… cause I’m not ready to be married!!! Seems in a recent article by the New York Times “Health Benefits Inspire Rush to the Alter” that 7% of adults say that someone in their household had married in the past year to gain access to health insurance (according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study).

Now at first glance that doesn’t seem like a large number, however I think it is important to not consider the actual amount of individuals who have married for insurance, but rather that they are willing to make a life changing decision in order to obtain health insurance coverage (the Foundation also cautions not to take the number literally).

I find this to be so interesting, and admittedly it could be due to my young age (23). But I simply cannot decide if it is better to be without health …

So with the high cost of energy and that subsequently driving the cost of many things including delivering goods and services, it is small wonder that healthcare is starting to see people cut back.

I’ve seen a good number of articles already on people allowing their insurance coverage to lapse. They are forgoing the premium cost in an effort to save money. That’s a big short-term gamble. It’s a HUGE long-term gamble. Chances are, if someone drops their coverage, they won’t see a need to pick it back up until, well, they really need it. And then it’s too late.

And people are starting to cut back in other ways, too. In the face of efforts by employers to implement wellness programs and disease management programs, people are starting to act counter to that arguably wise practice. A recent WSJ post documents how Americans have begun to forgo those screenings and …

So the Mass. attempt at “socialized” healthcare turned one year old today. CONGRATS!

Our resident Bostonians on staff @ change:healthcare, George and Vic, must be so proud. Oh wait, they’ve already fled the state to be here.

Nevertheless the plan seems to be working well according to Julie Appleby of USAToday - residents are getting better coverage…and premium rate increases of 5.1 to 9.4% unless you take the person profiled in the article who got a 45.7% increase in premium over the first year’s premium. Wow! Even the private insurance industry is hard pressed to pull that one off!

An excerpt from the article: “I almost fell on the floor,” says Pelletier, 55, of Newbury. “Costs are getting out of control.”

No kidding.

People will eventually make the connection. The decisions you make regarding their healthcare - when to go, whom to see, and what to pay - are what ultimately determines the …

So it turns out that I have been living under a rock the past week and did not hear about the Walmart vs. Shank story until yesterday when Walmart reversed its position. For those of you who have been living under a rock as well, here is a recap:

Ms. Shank signed up for Walmart’s health plan which contains a clause that states that Walmart may recoup money from an employee for medical expenses if said employee collects damages from an injury suit.

Ms. Shank was enrolled in Walmart’s health plan for about 3 months when she was in a car accident that put her in a wheelchair and caused brain damage which took most of her short term memory.

Walmart paid about $470,000 for her health care.

The Shank family sued the trucking company responsible for her accident and received a $1 million settlement.

Walmart then sued the Shank family to recover …