Students advised to be more careful picking health insurance
According to Roberta Riportella, professor of community health, students do not spend as much time as they should when picking out health insurance.
“According to a recent consumer report, people spend about 15 minutes choosing a health insurance plan, which is significantly less than the two hours spent on average choosing a television,” Riportella said in a K-State news release Thursday. “Health insurance is one of the most expensive items we purchase in a given year. Since policies often change from year to year, it’s important to spend time considering your options.”
In the article, Riportella explains how from year-to-year, insurance networks change, meaning a doctor who took a certain type of insurance one year may not. According to Riportella, this has been that way since before the current health care laws to effect. Those shopping for insurance should mainly be concerned with three things: the deductible, the network of providers and the cost-sharing amount.
Two patients removed from isolation at Topeka Hospital
Two patients are out of isolation at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka, according to the Topeka Capital Journal.
The two had been isolated after telling medical personnel that they had been to countries currently fighting Ebola. According to the Capital Journal, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment was contacted due to hospital policy.
Neither patient was tested for the disease, either because they were not showing symptoms consistent with the disease or because they had not actually travelled to a country that is fighting the outbreak.
Fired Kansas Police officer awarded $1 million by jury verdict
Jurors found the city of McPherson, Kansas had discriminated against a former police officer when the city fired him for being found asleep while on duty because of sleep apnea, according to an Associated Press article.
The city was ordered to pay Matthew Michaels $921,637, in addition to interest, court costs and attorney fees. The sum amounts to back wages, pain and suffering damages and future wages.
According to the article, the city is asking the judge to overturn the ruling. The city also plans to appeal the ruling if it is not overturned.
