Latest News + Info
The latest information relating to the health insurance industry.
Health Care Reform – 2013 & 2014 Planning
Employers should review the fast-approaching 2013 and 2014 health care reform requirements. State Exchanges will be opening enrollment as soon as October 1, 2013 with benefits effective January 1, 2014. Along with many questions from employees, employers face a...
Plans at risk for ‘Cadillac’ tax
Benefits Pro reports: "Employers offering high-priced benefit plans to their workers may soon find themselves on a bumpy ride, thanks to the “Cadillac” tax. According to the Medical Plan Trends Report, produced by benefit-management firm HighRoads and the...
A walk-through on full-time vs. part-time for PPACA
Employee Benefit Adviser reports: "With a substantial portion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act set to go into effect in 2014, employers are working to determine how the law will impact them, their business and their employees. Because the law will...
HHS Seeking $1.5B In Funding To Run Federal Health Insurance Exchanges
Gantdaily.com reports: "Washington, DC, United States (KaiserHealth) – The Obama administration is trying once again to convince Congress to provide more funding for the health law’s insurance exchanges, which are set to begin enrollment this fall. According to...
CMS official: ‘We really do see the role of the Navigator and agent and broker as different’
Employee Benefit Adviser reports: "The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is taking a firm stand on the discussion about how the Navigators’ role varies from brokers and agents — they’re different. After testifying before a hearing Thursday of the U.S. Senate...
New health insurance director on tight deadline
Crain's Chicago Business reports: "Job: Director of the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace, an online shopping site for individual and small-group health insurance plans, full-time since January. Vitals: 42 years old; bachelor's degree, Loyola University Chicago,...
Study: States Lag On Tracking Potential Obamacare Loophole
Kaiser Health News reports: "What if there were a way for even small employers to escape some Affordable Care Act rules blamed for driving up costs? Some see self-insurance for medical care, which is exempt from the law’s taxes, benefit rules and price restrictions...
Obama budget adds domestic same-sex partners to Obamacare
CNN Politics reports: "Buried deep inside President Obama's 2014 budget released on Wednesday is a new proposal to expand federal health insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners. Framed as a measure to reduce the deficit, the proposal would amend the Federal...
Obama Trims Details on Health Law as Exchange Cost Rises
Bloomberg reports: "The $1.3 trillion U.S. health-care system overhaul is getting more expensive and will initially accomplish less than intended. Costs for a network of health-insurance exchanges, a core part of the Affordable Care Act, have swelled to $4.4 billion...
Health insurance exchange concerns, optimism voiced
SJ-R.com reports: "The health insurance exchange expected to begin operating Jan. 1 and eventually serve up to 1 million Illinoisans — many of them previously uninsured — could create tax-related headaches for them if they aren’t prepared, speakers at a panel...