Is Blue Cross’ parent company too big, or not big enough?

by Eriksen Insurance | Jul 13, 2015 | Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Health Insurance Cost

Crain’s Chicago Business reports: “In health insurance, as in so many businesses, it helps to be big. Larger insurers enjoy many advantages over smaller rivals. They have more clout in pricing negotiations with doctors and hospitals, greater economies of...

PPACA dropouts cut enrollment by 1.5 million

by Eriksen Insurance | Jul 13, 2015 | Health Care .gov, Health Insurance News, Insurance Reform

Benefits Pro reports: ” About 1.5 million people dropped off health insurance coverage rolls this year after failing to pay for policies they picked on the Obamacare marketplaces. That left 10.2 million covered by Affordable Care Act policies as of March 31, up...

Many HSAs could trigger Cadillac tax

by Eriksen Insurance | Jul 13, 2015 | Health Insurance Cost

Benefits Pro reports: “As more organizations study the Cadillac tax’s implications, it’s becoming clearer that even plans more along the lines of a Ford Focus could trigger the payment. And while there’s growing opposition to the tax, with pressure on the Obama...

Judge’s comments signal another legal nightmare for health reform law

by Eriksen Insurance | Jul 13, 2015 | Health Laws, Insurance Reform

Business Insurance reports: “It looks like the Obama administration may have another big legal headache in defending the Affordable Care Act. A Republican-appointed judge’s comments Thursday suggest that it’s very possible the administration will...

Employer Paid Individual Health Insurance Policies Create the Potential for Significant Penalties, but Limited Relief is Available

by Eriksen Insurance | Jun 25, 2015 | Health Insurance Cost, Insurance Reform

National Law Review reports: “Despite guidance from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), the Department of Labor (“DOL”) and the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) indicating the prohibition of the practice under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”),...