Latest News + Info
The latest information relating to the health insurance industry.
Health care reform key to debt crisis
Politico reports: "The debate over raising the statutory debt ceiling has accomplished little but revealed much about the unwillingness of many in Washington to face up to our generation’s most pressing challenges. At the heart of the gridlock is a deep disagreement...
Review board rejects McHenry County hospital plans
The Northwest Herald reports: A state board made it clear Tuesday that its members don’t think McHenry County needs another hospital. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board turned down separate requests from Centegra Health System and Mercy Health...
Medicare Anniversary 45 Years With Changes
USA Today reports: "Controversy over Medicare and Medicaid is back in the headlines. That's not new. Friday is the 45th anniversary since Medicare went into effect in 1966. Since then, they have been changed many times. Now, politicians are divided over changes called...
A Guide To Health Insurance Exchanges
Kaiser Health News reports: "It seems like a simple idea: create new marketplaces, called "exchanges," where consumers can comparison shop for health insurance, sort of like shopping online for a hotel room or airline ticket. But, like almost everything else connected...
Health Care Reform Inches Closer to Supreme Court
PBS Newshour reports: "The Thomas More Law Center formally asked the Supreme Court Tuesday to reverse an appeals court decision upholding the health care reform law. Marking the first appeal of its kind to reach the nation's highest court, the conservative legal group...
Health care use may temper premium hikes
Benefitpro reports: "INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Consumers may catch a little break when their health insurance policies renew. Lower-than-expected use of health care has helped push insurer earnings higher and that may temper how much they increase premiums. Analysts and...
Gov’t: Health tab to hit $4.6 trillion in 2020
Bradenton.com reports: "The nation's health care tab is on track to hit $4.6 trillion in 2020, accounting for about $1 of every $5 in the economy, government number crunchers estimate in a report released Thursday. How much is that? Including government and private...
Your family’s health care costs: $19,393
CNN Money reports: "Health care costs for a family of four rose again in 2011, with employees paying a much larger share of the rising expenses, according to a new industry report Wednesday. American families who are insured through their jobs average health care...
U.S. will pay for half of all health care costs by 2020
CNN Money reports: "The U.S. government will foot the bill for half of all health care costs in the United States by 2020, according to a government report released Thursday. That's up from 44% just two years ago, and reflects both the rising cost of health care and...
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois launches new child only health plans
Illinois Health Agents reports: "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) announced the launch of 2 new child-only health insurance policies: Blue PathwaySM and BlueChoice PathwaySM. These new products provide coverage for children ages 1 through 18, who do not...