SC Officials Worry About Growing Doctor Shortage

Lauren Eleazer 8/29/2010

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina already has a shortage of primary care and experts say the loss of a state-funded grant program to encourage young doctors to practice in rural areas is only going to make the problem worse.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported Sunday that as more people get access to insurance and seek regular medical care, there are fewer doctors are practicing general medicine.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says only one in five medical school graduates go into primary care.

Hampton County, for example, has seven primary care physicians for a population of more than 22,000. Pete Tucker recruits doctors to the county and says he needs at least five more primary care doctors there. He has been unable to hire a single doctor in more than a year.

Source
Get a a free Anderson SC health insurance quote online or call us today at (888) 269-6860

Health pool widens

Jul. 15, 2010

Affordable Health Care Act prohibits discrimination to those denied coverage because of medical problems

By ALLYSON BIRD - postandcourier.com



South Carolina residents denied health insurance because of medical problems they had before enrolling could get the coverage they need in coming days.

The Affordable Health Care Act, which prohibits insurers from such discrimination, set up the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan as a nationwide transitional program to run until 2014. The idea: residents unable to get health insurance because of an illness or disability can receive the same coverage as healthy people.

The plan does not base eligibility on income, and participants can expect to pay a premium on par with the standard individual health insurance programs in their states. While 29 states and Washington opted to run their own plans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will administer the program for 21 states, including South Carolina.

Learn more about how it works.

Get a free insurance quote by calling 888-269-6860.

South Carolina Gov. Sanford signs unemployment insurance reform

Updated: Jun 03, 2010
COLUMBIA, SC (WMBF) - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has inked a bill Thursday aimed at addressing the near billion-dollar deficit of the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

A spiraling shortfall of the fund has recently led state leaders to ask for nearly $1 billion in borrowed funds from the federal government to cover the deficit.

The language of the bill will now allow the state to begin repaying its debts and making abuses of the Unemployment Insurance Fund more difficult of an act.

"For too long, the Employment Security Commission was a separate island of the government with little accountability, and that lack had real-world consequences," Sanford said in a prepared statement. "Although we addressed those structural problems earlier this year, we're still faced with the reality that South Carolina has had to borrow $1 billion."

In 2000, Sanford said the Trust Fund had a year-end positive balance of $800 million. In 2010, records reveal the state has had to borrow $890 million from Washington, representing a $1.7 billion negative swing under the Employment Security Commission.

The bill was moved through the General Assembly by Sen. Greg Ryberg and Rep. Kenny Bingham.

Source

South Carolina 3rd-most-affordable State to Own a Car

Charleston Regional Business Journal May 5, 2010

South Carolina is the third-most-affordable state in which to own a car, according to a study by Edmunds.com.

The survey shows that it costs an average of $40,763 over a five-year period to own a car in the Palmetto State. Only New Hampshire and South Dakota are more affordable.
Owning a vehicle in Alaska, California or Hawaii costs about $10,000 more per year than it does in South Carolina.

The Edmunds study examines regional five-year ownership costs, consisting of depreciation, financing, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance and repairs for new and used vehicles.

States with the lowest average vehicle ownership costs in the country (click to enlarge):

The True Cost to Own calculations use the following assumptions:

• Ownership expenses are for a five-year time span.
• Vehicles are driven an average of 15,000 miles per year.
• Vehicles are financed using traditional financing and not leased.
• Buyers are paying 10% down on the vehicle.
• Buyers are in the “gold” credit tier for the purpose of determining the finance rate.
• The loan term is 60 months.
• Buyers represent the average demographic for insurance rates.

Greenville Auto Insurance

Heritage Insurance Agency specializing in Greenville Auto Insurance as well as home insurance and workers comp in Greenville, Easley and Anderson and surrounding areas in South Carolina.

We can provide you with more choices and better rates for your business, auto, home, recreational vehicles, life or health insurance with financially secure companies.

Some enhanced features that we can offer to you: An insurance program designed around your values.

Services we offer:
Identity Theft
Accident & Minor Violation Forgiveness
Financial factor
Original Manufacturer
Loan Gap Coverage
Replacement Cost
Single deductible
Accidental Death
Multi-Policy Discounts
Various payment options