Latest News + Info
The latest information relating to the health insurance industry.
2016 Healthcare.gov Help
Open enrollment period for 2016 is November 1st, 2015 to January 31, 2016. You must sign up before December 15, 2015 to get a January 1, 2016 start date. Enrolling though Healthcare.gov can be very difficult and confusing to do by yourself. When you call them...
Blue Cross, Advocate team up on new health insurance plan
Crain's Chicago Business reports: "Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois and Advocate Health Care are teaming up to offer a health plan that will be one of the cheapest options the insurer offers on and off the Obamacare exchange. The plan, called BlueCare Direct,...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Advocate Health Care launch high performing network
PR Newswire reports: "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) and Downers Grove-based, Advocate Health Care, announced today the creation of a unique health plan that promotes high quality care at a low cost for patients. The plan, BlueCare Direct, is the...
Kraft Heinz pushes retirees to health exchanges
Crain's Chicago Business reports: "Kraft Heinz Co., which counts Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. as its largest shareholder, is pushing some of its retirees to health exchanges as the company cuts expenses. The foodmaker is eliminating some benefits as it...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois: 2016 Rate Filings
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois reports: "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) recently filed its 2016 rates with Illinois. Below are FAQs that may help you understand what this means. Who does this affect? The 2016 rates will affect individuals and...
Millions facing a hefty increase in Medicare premiums in 2016
Yahoo Finance reports: "Nearly a third of the roughly 50 million elderly Americans who depend on Medicare for their physician care and other health services could see their premiums jump by 52 percent or more next year. That’s because of a quirk in the law that...
IRS may never recoup $350 million in Obamacare tax credit overpayments
The Washington Times reports: "A quirk in the law means the IRS will never be able to recoup nearly $350 million in overpayments on Obamacare tax credits last year, and one top senator says he is worried that fraudsters will exploit the loophole to wring more cash out...
Untangling The Many Deductibles Of Health Insurance
NPR reports: "Sure, there's a deductible with your health insurance. But then what's the hospital deductible? Your insurer may have multiple deductibles, and it pays to know which apply when. These questions and answers tackle deductibles, whether an ex-spouse has to...
Illinois Medicaid enrollment jumps under Obamacare
Crain's Chicago Business reports: " Illinois is among a dozen states where the number of new enrollees surpassed projections for the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare. While the surge in signups lifts the number of insured people, it has also stoked worries about...
Is Blue Cross’ parent company too big, or not big enough?
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 scale in...