Latest News + Info
The latest information relating to the health insurance industry.
How much will Apple bite into consumer health?
Benefits Pro reports: "Apple’s recent moves in the health and wellness technology segment are not yet on the level of game-changers such as the iPod and the iPhone. But the coming release of the Apple Watch and the company’s HealthKit app has people talking — and...
There Are 30 Ways to Avoid the Penalty for Not Buying Health Insurance
Yahoo Finance reports: "Tens of millions of Americans without health insurance risk being fined by the IRS as part of the Affordable Care Act, which imposes a tax penalty on those who didn’t purchase medical insurance. But tax experts say up to 20 million people are...
Most employers to reject private exchanges
Benefits Pro reports: "Oops. The private exchange juggernaut may have just hit a bump in the road to success. Myriad studies have tried to fathom whether major employers will decide to shift their employees to the growing number of private health exchanges. Some...
Wal-Mart cuts health benefits for some part-timers
Yahoo Finance reports: "Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to eliminate health insurance coverage for some of its part-time U.S. employees in a move aimed at controlling rising health care costs of the nation's largest private employer. Wal-Mart told The Associated Press that...
Small businesses helping workers buy health plans
San Jose Mercury News reports: "When Monty Hagler learned his employee insurance premiums could rise as much as 38 percent, the small business owner decided he couldn't afford coverage that complies with the health care overhaul. He considered a variety of plans from...
BCBSIL Monitoring Confirmed Case of Ebola Virus in Dallas
News from the Blues reports: "With the first case of Ebola virus being confirmed in Dallas, we will be monitoring the situation and providing you with further updates and resources as needed. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognizes that even a single case of...
U.S. Cannot Subsidize Health Plans in States With No Marketplace, a Judge Rules
The New York Times reports: "A federal district judge in Oklahoma dealt a blow to the Affordable Care Act on Tuesday, ruling that the federal government could not subsidize health insurance in three dozen states that refused to establish their own marketplaces. This...
Employers not interested in PPACA exchanges
Benefits Pro reports: "Nearly one in four employers say they may move their employees toprivate exchanges within the next few years, but virtually none of them are considering public exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, new analysis from...
Bill Regulates Specialty Drug Co-pay Maximum
From Aetna health plans: ILLINOIS: Legislators introduced a bill last week that would require health plans providing prescription drug coverage to ensure that any required copayment or coinsurance for drugs on a specialty tier not exceed $100 per month for up to a...
IRS Issues New Instructions for Obamacare
Health Insurance Exchange reports: "The Internal Revenue Service has issued new draft instructions, notices and a publication to help taxpayers and tax practitioners deal with the Affordable Care Act. The draft instructions were released last week for Form 8962,...