Latest News + Info
The latest information relating to the health insurance industry.
Blue Cross opens door to insurance rebates in Illinois
Chicago Business reports: "The parent of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois is opening the door to rebates, which could provide badly needed relief to customers and trim the insurance giant's massive cash hoard. Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp. has sent...
Health Care Service Corp. tops $1 billion in net profit for second straight year
Crains reports By: Andrew Wang March 06, 2012: "The parent of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois booked more than $1 billion in net income in 2011, the second straight year that the Chicago-based company has crossed that milestone. Health Care Service Corp.,...
Health Reform Law Ends Lifetime Limits For 105M Americans
Insurance News Net reports: "State-by-state data available Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a new report today on how the health reform law has eliminated lifetime limits on coverage for more than 105 million Americans. Before health...
Study Finds Alarming Number of Boomers Lack Basic Understanding of Medicare Program
Insurance News Net reports: "CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --More than half (56 percent) of America's middle-income Boomers admit to knowing little or almost nothing about the Medicare program and one in seven (13 percent) falsely believe Medicare is free, the...
Focus on Health Reform
Here is a great resource to learn more about Health-care Reform and The Affordable Care Act. Click Here (.pdf)
From healthcare reform updates from Aetna
ILLINOIS: Governor Pat Quinn presented a fiscal year 2013 budget proposal last week that seeks to strengthen the pension systems, restructure the state’s Medicaid system, rebalance institutional living/community care, increase efficiencies across state agencies and...
Most Americans say individual mandate is unconstitutional
Benefits Pro Reports: "Though Americans remain split on how health reform is going, a new poll reveals most are sure on one thing—the law’s requirement for all Americans to purchase health insurance or pay a fine is unconstitutional. A USA Today/ Gallup poll released...
More Americans seek dental treatment at the ER; costs can be 10 times more than checkups
Washington Post reports: "New research shows that more Americans are turning to the emergency room for routine dental problems. A study released Tuesday by the Pew Center on the States found that going to the ER often costs 10 times more than preventive care and...
The Affordable Care Act: Immediate Benefits for Illinois
Health Reform .GOV reports: "Small business tax credits. 194,000 small businesses in Illinois could be helped by a new small business tax credit that makes it easier for businesses to provide coverage to their workers and makes premiums more affordable.1 Small...
High readmission rates put Medicare revenue at risk
Crains Chicago Business reports: "More than two dozen Illinois hospitals face Medicare cuts totaling as much as $19 million next year under the new federal health care law because too many of their patients are being readmitted for heart attacks and other ailments....