Latest News + Info
The latest information relating to the health insurance industry.
IRS Told to Beef Up Obamacare Scrutiny
Gov Info Security reports: "A watchdog agency says the Internal Revenue Service needs to put into place additional procedures to ensure that Obamacare health insurance exchanges properly safeguard consumer tax information. Under the Affordable Care Act - also known as...
Section 6055 Reporting of Health Plan “Minimum Essential Coverage” for Small and Large Employers
JD Supra reports: "Starting in 2016, Section 6055 of the Internal Revenue Code, which was added by the Health Care Reform Act, requires all entities providing “minimum essential coverage” (MEC) to submit information to the IRS concerning each covered individual, with...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Offers Assistance to Consumers for Upcoming Open Enrollment
Insurance News Net reports: "With as many as 1.8 million uninsured in Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is mobilizing its resources across the state to help people better understand insurance coverage options and the financial benefits...
Modified Adjusted Gross Income under the Affordable Care Act
For individual/family plans, what is included in household income for subsidy determination? How do I know what to state for my income to determine subsidies? Household income includes incomes of the taxpayer, spouse, and dependents. In determining eligibility for...
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...