Latest News + Info
The latest information relating to the health insurance industry.
Five health reform dates to watch in 2012
The Washington Post reports: "Health reform had a big year in 2010, when it passed Congress and a slew of consumer-friendly provisions came online. And it’ll have another big year in 2014. That’s when the individual mandate kicks in, pre-existing conditions end and...
Cook County Health seeks early expansion of Medicaid
Crain's reports: "The Cook County Health and Hospitals System is seeking approval to add thousands of uninsured patients to the Medicaid rolls nearly two years early, a move that could generate millions of dollars in new revenue for the cash-strapped network. Approval...
Uninsured turn to deal sites for health care
Benefitspro reports: "NEW YORK (AP) — The last time Mark Stella went to the dentist he didn't need an insurance card. Instead, he pulled out a Groupon. Stella, a small business owner, canceled his health insurance plan more than three years ago when his premium rose...
Preventive care: It’s free, except when it’s not
Benifits Pro reports: "CHICAGO (AP) — Bill Dunphy thought his colonoscopy would be free. His insurance company told him it would be covered 100 percent, with no copayment from him and no charge against his deductible. The nation's 1-year-old health law requires most...
Gridlock in Washington, change everywhere else: 2011 in health policy
The Washington Post, Wonkblog reports: "It was the most gridlocked of times, it was the least gridlocked of times. In one sense, nothing much happened in health care this year: Congress and the White House proposed ambitious Medicare reform packages, only to take...
IRS announces new HSA limits for 2012
Benefitspro reports: "The IRS has released the 2012 cost-of-living adjustments affecting health savings accounts. The HSA contribution limits and HDHP out-of-pocket maximums will increase slightly, while the HDHP minimum required deductibles remain unchanged for the...
Drug prices to plummet
Benefitspro reports: "The cost of prescription medicines used by millions of people every day is about to plummet. The next 14 months will bring generic versions of seven of the world's 20 best-selling drugs, including the top two: cholesterol fighter Lipitor and...
Court Schedules Week Of Health Care Arguments
Insurance News Net reports: "The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will use an unprecedented week's worth of argument time in late March to decide the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's historic health care overhaul. The high court scheduled arguments...
HHS Posts Essential Health Benefits “Prerule” Bulletin
News from the Blues reports: "On Friday, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued a "prerule" bulletin outlining how HHS intends to pursue rulemaking to define essential health benefits as required by the Affordable Care Act. In the bulletin, HHS...
Illinois Issues Cease and Desist Against Unlicensed Insurer Selling Bogus Health Plans
Insurancenewsnet.com reports: "The Illinois Department of Insurance has issued a cease and desist order banning an unlicensed insurer from issuing any more fraudulent health insurance policies. The unauthorized insurer operates under the name ReAssurance Health Inc.,...