Latest News + Info
The latest information relating to the health insurance industry.
Health insurance reform closer to reality in Illinois
Illinois Times reports: "The Illinois Senate could vote next week on implementing a crucial piece of the federal health insurance reforms passed in 2010, but two competing bills could lead the state in opposite directions. The federal Patient Protection and Affordable...
ACA: Come Out And Play
Insurance News Net reports: "One percent." "I would be surprised if we see many, if any." According to most experts, the number is small. Not only is it small, it keeps getting smaller. We speak, of course, of the number of companies with 50 or more employees that...
Where each state stands on ACA’s Medicaid expansion
A roundup of what each state's leadership has said about their Medicaid plans: Via: The Advisory Board Company The Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed states to opt out of the law's Medicaid expansion, leaving each state's decision to...
Health Benefit Costs Listed On Tax Forms
Insurance News Net reports: "Few people know the total cost of their health benefits or realize that family coverage can account for a fourth or more of their total compensation. For the first time, that cost is listed on their W-2 tax forms this year -- provided you...
Calculation of modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
How is modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) calculated? Generally, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is the total of your adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income you may have. These are the amounts on lines 37 and 8b of IRS from 1040. Some...
Humana CEO: Health care reform will push cost of insurance up next year
Courier-Journal reports: "If you are young and healthy, get ready to pay more for health insurance when the Affordable Care Act goes into effect next year, Humana CEO Bruce Broussard said Thursday. In a speech before the Rotary Club of Louisville, Broussard blamed a...
New Rates and Extended Policy Benefit Periods for Temporary Policies Are Available Now
The Aug. 1, 2012, rates for new and renewing SelecTEMP® PPO policies for one-to-six month benefit period options are continued for effective dates Feb 1, 2013, and later. Now, for effective dates Feb. 1, 2013, or later, a new benefit period option of up to 11 months...
The individual tax penalty
By now it is not news that starting 2014 every American is expected to have Health Insurance or pay a penalty, called the individual shared responsibility penalty. Lets go through the What? Who? Where? When? How? And Why? What is the penalty? The penalty...
HHS partners with Illinois on health insurance marketplace
HHS.gov reports: "Affordable health coverage to be available to Illinoisans in 2014 During a visit with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to the Erie Health Center in Chicago today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that Illinois has been...
Sebelius in Chicago to push health insurance ‘marketplace’
Chicago Health Care Daily reports: "U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will appear in Chicago today to kick off the rebranding of health insurance exchanges as “marketplaces” for health coverage. A key part of President Barack Obama's health...