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Posts Tagged ‘employer health insurance’
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016
The Wall Street Journal reports:
“I was wrong. Wrong about an important part of ObamaCare.
When I joined the Obama White House to advise the president on health-care policy as the only physician on the National Economic Council, I was deeply committed to developing the best health-care reform we could to expand coverage, improve quality and bring down costs. We worked for months to pass this landmark legislation, and I still count celebrating the passage of the Affordable Care Act with the president one balmy spring night in 2010 as one of my greatest Washington memories.
(more…)
Tags: Affordable Care Act, DuPage County, East Dundee, ebola, Elburn, employer health insurance, Employers, federal medicaid, Fox River Grove, Government, health plan, Medicaid, Medicare, small businesses, the affordable care act
Posted in Obamacare | Comments Off on How I Was Wrong About ObamaCare
Thursday, April 28th, 2016
According to News Max Finance:
” Well, the hammer has fallen: The largest health insurer in the U.S. has started pulling out of select Obamacare exchanges.
Five months ago UnitedHealth, which had been singing sunny songs to investors about its bright future on the exchanges, abruptly began crooning the blues. In an earnings call barely a month after executives assured investors that all was going swimmingly, they confessed that they were losing a ton of money on their Obamacare policies and described a pattern that sounded as if consumers were gaming the system — signing up for a few months, using a ton of services, and then canceling their policies. If this continued, they said, they would have no choice but to pull out of the exchange business. (more…)
Tags: ACA, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, Albany Park, Andersonville, aurora, Bartlett, Batavia, Bucktown, budget cuts, buying insurance, Carpentersville, Cary, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cook, Cook County, Costs, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, DeKalb County, Downers Grove, East Dundee, Elgin, Elmwood Park, employer health insurance, enroll, enrollment, Fox River Grove, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, Health insurance exchange, health insurance marketplace, health insurance reform, health plan, health reform, healthcare reform, Huntley, insurance industry, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, Kane, Kane County, Kaneville, Lake County, Lake View, Lisle, Long Grove, Marketplace, McHenery, McHenry, McHenry County, Mr. Obama, Naperville, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North Aurora, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northwest Suburbs, Oakbrook Terrace, Oswego, Park Ridge, Ringwood, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Schaumburg, state health insurance, the affordable care act, UHC, United Health Care, United Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare, Villa Park, Wasco, West Chicago, Wicker Park, Will, Will County, Woodstock
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Exchange, Health Insurance News, Insurance Reform | Comments Off on Obamacare Encounters Another Bump in the Road
Tuesday, January 26th, 2016
According to The Advocate:
“The Affordable Care Act is confusing and complicated, which means that health insurance agents and brokers are needed to help consumers pick the best plans for them, Kevin Counihan, chief executive officer of Healthcare.gov, said Monday.
“It’s got plenty of opportunity to be made a little bit better,” Counihan said. “And I’m very hopeful and confident that as we get more adults in Congress that they’re all going to sit down, the two sides together, and they’re going to address some of these issues.”
Counihan spoke to about 20 brokers and agents at an event hosted in Baton Rouge by the Louisiana Association of Health Underwriters.
(more…)
Tags: ACA, ACA requirements, advice, Advocate Heath Care, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Algonquin, Andersonville, Arlington Heights, Atena, aurora, barack obama, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, Broker, Bucktown, buffalo grove, buying insurance, care reform legislation, Carpentersville, Cary, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cook, Cook County, Costs, coverage plan, deductibles, Deer Park, DeKalb, DeKalb County, Downers Grove, DuPage, DuPage County, employer health insurance, enroll, enrollment, family plan, Fox Valley, Hampshire, Harvard, health, health care benefits, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health exemption, health insurance, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, Health insurance exchange, health insurance marketplace, health insurance premiums, health insurance reform, Health Marketplace, health plan, health programs, health reform, health savings account, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, Humana, Huntley, IL, Illinois, Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois health insurance exchange, individual, Insurance benefit consultant, insurance broker, insurance industry, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, Kane, Kane County, Kendall, Kendall County, Lake, Lake County, Lake View, Logan Square, Marketplace, McHenery, McHenry, McHenry County, Navigator, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North Aurora, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northwest Suburbs, notices, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, PPO, Producer, Schaumburg, sign up, Skokie, South Barrington, state health insurance, state legislatures, the affordable care act, UnitedHealthcare, Villa Park, West Chicago, Wicker Park, Will, Will County, workplace
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance News | Comments Off on Healthcare.gov CEO says insurance marketplace’s complexity argues for agents
Tuesday, January 26th, 2016
According to The CT Mirror:
“Even if you don’t get your health insurance through Obamacare, you’re likely to get something related to the health law in the mail in the coming weeks: A new tax form.
 The 1095-A form exchange customers will receive. Others will get different versions, depending on the source of their health care coverage. Known as Form 1095, it’s part of the way the federal government verifies whether people are complying with the mandate that requires nearly all U.S. residents to have health care coverage. This year is the first time most people will be getting those forms, and officials are anticipating a fair amount of confusion. In part, that’s because what you need to do with that form depends on the type of coverage you had.
Here’s what you need to know. (more…)
Tags: 2015, 2016, ACA, ACA requirements, advice, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Alden, Algonquin, Andersonville, Bannockburn, barack obama, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, Boulder Hill, Bucktown, budget cuts, buffalo grove, Bull Valley, buy health insurance, buying insurance, care reform legislation, Carpentersville, Cary, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cook, Cook County, Costs, coverage plan, Crystal Lake, Darien, Deer Park, Deerfield, DeKalb, DeKalb County, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, DuPage, DuPage County, East Dundee, Elburn, Elmhurst, employer health insurance, enroll, enrollment, exchange, federal medicaid, Fox River Grove, Fox Valley, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Government, government regulations, Hampshire, Harvard, health, health care benefits, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health exemption, health insurance, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, Health insurance exchange, health insurance marketplace, health insurance premiums, health insurance reform, Health Marketplace, health plan, health programs, health reform, health savings account, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, Highland Park, Huntley, IL, Illinois, Illinois health insurance exchange, individual, individual health insurance, individual insurance, Individual Mandate, insurance, Insurance benefit consultant, insurance industry, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, IRS, Kane, Kane County, Kendall, Kendall County, Lake County, Lakewood, Lincolnwood, Lombard, Maywood, McCullen Lake, McHenery, McHenry, McHenry County, Medicaid, Medicare, Montgomery, Naperville, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North Aurora, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northlake, Northwest Suburbs, Oak Park, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, Palatine, Park Ridge, Penalty, Pingree Grove, Prairie Grove, premiums, public exchange, Ringwood, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Saint Charles, Schaumburg, sign up, Skokie, South Barrington, special enrollment, St. Charles, state health insurance, state legislatures, Stone Park, Supreme Court, supreme court decisions, Tax, taxpayer dollars, Tower Lakes, Villa Park, Wasco, West Chicago, West Dundee, Westchester, Wheaton, Wicker Park, Will, Will County, Wood Dale, Woodstock
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance News, Heath Care Costs | Comments Off on Coming soon to your mailbox: An Obamacare tax form
Monday, January 11th, 2016
California Healthline Reports:
“On Friday, CMS released a proposed rule that would require minimum network standards for health plans sold through the federal exchange in 2017, Modern Healthcare reports.
Proposed Rule’s Network Standards
Under the rule, states would be required to implement CMS-approved quantitative measures to ensure that individuals with exchange plans have adequate access to health care providers. States could either:
- Adopt default network adequacy standards set by CMS; or
- Draft their own network adequacy standards and submit them for HHS approval.
Such standards could measure a plan’s network adequacy based on policyholders’ maximum travel distances and times to access providers. According to CMS, minimum adequacy standards for the plans will be determined at a later date. HHS would then notify insurers of the standards in each state (Herman/Dickson, Modern Healthcare, 11/20). (more…)
Tags: ACA, ACA requirements, Advisor, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Algonquin, Andersonville, Arlington Heights, aurora, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, BCBS, BCBSIL, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, bronze plan, Bucktown, buy health insurance, buying insurance, California healthline, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cicero, Cook, Cook County, Costs, coverage plan, Crystal Lake, Darien, DeKalb, DeKalb County, departments of health and human services, Des Plaines, Desplaines, Downers Grove, DuPage County, East Dundee, employer health insurance, enroll, enrollment, exchange, Forest Park, Fox River Grove, Franklin Park, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, government regulations, Hampshire, health, health care benefits, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health exemption, health insurance, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, Health insurance exchange, health insurance premiums, health insurance reform, health plan, health programs, health savings account, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, IL, individual, Individuals, insurance broker, insurance industry, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, Kane, Kane County, Kendall County, Lake County, Lake View, Lakewood, Lincoln Park, Long Grove, Marengo, McHenery, McHenry, McHenry County, Medicare, Montgomery, Naperville, Navigator, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, Niles, North Barrington, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northlake, Northwest Suburbs, notices, Oakwood Hills, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, Palatine, Park Ridge, Prairie Grove, Roselle, Schaumburg, Schiller Park, Self Employed, self-insurance, SHOP, Skokie, small businesses, Spring Grove, St. Charles, state health insurance, state legislatures, Streamwood, the affordable care act, Tower Lakes, Village of Lakewood, Wasco, West Chicago, Wheeling, Wicker Park, Winfield, Woodstock
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance News, Open Enrollment | Comments Off on CMS Proposes Health Insurance Exchange Changes for 2017
Monday, January 11th, 2016
Crain’s Chicago Business Reports:
 “Aetna is returning to sell plans on the Illinois health insurance exchange after taking a year off.
Also returning are giants Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois, the dominant insurer in the state; UnitedHealthcare, which is affiliated with Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group, and Chicago-based Land of Lincoln Health.
Mostly familiar faces are returning to the exchange for enrollment that begins Nov. 1, according to the Illinois Department of Insurance. Other companies that received federal approval to sell plans include:
—Health Alliance, based in downstate Urbana.
—Celtic Insurance, which is part of St. Louis-based Centene Corp.
—Coventry Health, part of Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna.
—Harken Health, of which UnitedHealth Group is an investor.
—Humana, based in Louisville, Ky.
(more…)
Tags: 2015, 2016, ACA, ACA requirements, Advocate Heath Care, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Algonquin, Andersonville, Atena, aurora, Barrington, Bartlett, BCBS, BCBSIL, Blue Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Bucktown, buffalo grove, Burlington, buy health insurance, buying insurance, care reform legislation, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cook, Cook County, coverage plan, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, DeKalb County, departments of health and human services, Dundee, DuPage County, Elgin, employer health insurance, enrollment, exchange, Forest Park, Fox River Grove, Fox Valley, Glenview, government regulations, group health plan, Harwood Heights, Health and Human Services, health care benefits, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health exemption, health insurance, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, Health insurance exchange, health insurance marketplace, health insurance premiums, health insurance reform, health plan, health savings account, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, Humana, Huntley, IL, Illinois, Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois health insurance exchange, Insurance benefit consultant, insurance broker, insurance industry, IRS, Kane, Kane County, Kendall, Lake County, Lake in the Hills, Lake View, Long Grove, Marengo, Marketplace, McCullen Lake, McHenry, McHenry County, Naperville, North Barrington, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northwest Suburbs, Oakwood Hills, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, Palatine, Park Ridge, Pingree Grove, Prairie Grove, Ringwood, Rolling Meadows, Saint Charles, Schaumburg, Skokie, small businesses, South Barrington, South Elgin, the affordable care act, United Health Care, United Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare, Village of Lakewood, Wasco, West Chicago, West Dundee, Wicker Park, Will, Will County, Wood Dale, Woodridge, Woodstock
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance News, Small Business | Comments Off on Blue Cross, UnitedHealthcare return to Illinois Obamacare exchange
Monday, January 11th, 2016
Crains Chicago Business Reports:
“Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois and Advocate Health Care are teaming up to offer a health plan that will be one of the cheapest options the insurer offers on and off the Obamacare exchange.
 The plan, called BlueCare Direct, is a marriage of two giants. Blue Cross is the largest health insurer in the state, and Downers Grove-based Advocate is the largest health care system, with 12 hospitals and more than 4,000 doctors.
The BlueCare Direct network will include 250 of Advocate’s sites of care in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane and Will counties, including nine of its hospitals and a children’s hospital with two campuses. Enrollees can stick with their primary care doctor outside of Advocate’s system, but the plan will not cover it, said Dr. Lee Sacks, chief medical officer for Advocate.
(more…)
Tags: 2015, 2016, ACA, ACA requirements, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Andersonville, barack obama, Barrington Hills, BCBS, BCBSIL, Blue Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, buffalo grove, buy health insurance, buying insurance, Carpentersville, Cary, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cook, Cook County, coverage plan, Crystal Lake, Deerfield, DeKalb County, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Dundee, DuPage, DuPage County, employer health insurance, enroll, enrollment, exchange, Forest Park, Glenview, Government, health, Health and Human Services, health care benefits, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health insurance, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, Health insurance exchange, health insurance marketplace, health insurance premiums, health insurance reform, health plan, health programs, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, Hebron, Highland Park, Hospital, IL, Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois health insurance exchange, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, Kane, Kane County, Kaneville, Lake, Lake County, Lake in the Hills, Lake View, Lakewood, Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Long Grove, McHenry County, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northlake, Northwest Suburbs, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, PPO, premiums, Prospect Heights, Riverwoods, Rolling Meadows, Saint Charles, Schiller Park, Skokie, Stone Park, Streamwood, Sugar Grove, the affordable care act, Village of Lakewood, West Chicago, Wicker Park, Will, Will County, Woodstock
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Health Insurance News | Comments Off on Blue Cross, Advocate team up on new health insurance plan
Monday, January 11th, 2016
The Advocate Reports:
“The Affordable Care Act is confusing and complicated, which means that health insurance agents and brokers are needed to help consumers pick the best plans for them, Kevin Counihan, chief executive officer of Healthcare.gov, said Monday.
“It’s got plenty of opportunity to be made a little bit better,” Counihan said. “And I’m very hopeful and confident that as we get more adults in Congress that they’re all going to sit down, the two sides together, and they’re going to address some of these issues.”
Counihan spoke to about 20 brokers and agents at an event hosted in Baton Rouge by the Louisiana Association of Health Underwriters. (more…)
Tags: ACA, ACA requirements, Advocate Heath Care, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Algonquin, Andersonville, barack obama, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, BCBS, BCBSIL, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, budget cuts, buffalo grove, buy health insurance, buying insurance, care reform legislation, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, Cary, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cicero, COBRA, Consultant, Cook, Cook County, Costs, Crystal Lake, deductibles, DeKalb, DeKalb County, departments of health and human services, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Dundee, DuPage County, East Dundee, Elgin, employer health insurance, enroll, enrollment, exchange, family plan, Fox River Grove, Fox Valley, Geneva, Gilberts, Glendale Heights, Government, government regulations, group health plan, group health plans, Hampshire, Health and Human Services, health care benefits, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health insurance, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, Health insurance exchange, health insurance marketplace, health insurance reform, health plan, health programs, health reform, health savings account, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, High deductible health plan, human resources, Humana, Huntley, IL, Illinois health insurance exchange, individual, Insurance benefit consultant, insurance broker, Kane, Kane County, Kendall County, Key Findings ACA, Lake County, Lake in the Hills, Lake View, Lakewood, Long Grove, Marengo, Marketplace, McHenery, McHenry, McHenry County, Morton Grove, Naperville, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, Northlake, Oak Park, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, Palatine, Prairie Grove, Riverwoods, Saint Charles, Schaumburg, South Barrington, Streamwood, taxpayer dollars, the affordable care act, U.S. Senate, unemployment, United Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare, Wasco, West Chicago, Wheaton, Will County
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Care .gov, Health Insurance News | Comments Off on Healthcare.gov CEO says insurance marketplace’s complexity argues for agents
Monday, January 11th, 2016
The Hill Reports:
“‘Tis the season for giving—and for the Affordable Care Act, it’s become the season for giving bad news. For the third year in a row, open enrollment has given millions of hardworking Americans news that their health insurance will have higher premiums, fewer choices, and more out-of-pocket costs—if their insurance will even exist after the holidays are over.
But this sad reality won’t be found in the flowery rhetoric of the law’s supporters. From President Obama to Hillary Clinton to many candidates for both the U.S. Senate and House, politicians are claiming the law is a smashing success. This might make for a good stump speech for the base, but these claims carry huge political risks: They sound woefully disconnected from the struggles millions of Americans are suffering under this law.
(more…)
Tags: ACA, ACA requirements, Advocate Heath Care, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Algonquin, barack obama, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, BCBS, BCBSIL, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Bucktown, budget cuts, buffalo grove, buy health insurance, buying insurance, care reform legislation, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cook, Cook County, Costs, coverage plan, Crystal Lake, deductibles, DeKalb, DeKalb County, departments of health and human services, East Dundee, Elgin, employer health insurance, enroll, enrollment, exchange, family plan, Forest Park, Fox River Grove, Geneva, Government, government regulations, health, health care benefits, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health exemption, health insurance, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, Health insurance exchange, health insurance marketplace, health insurance premiums, health insurance reform, Health Marketplace, health programs, health reform, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, Huntley, IL, Illinois, Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois health insurance exchange, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, IRS, Kane, Kane County, Kendall County, Lake County, McHenry, McHenry County, Midterm Election 2010, Mr. Obama, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North West Suburbs, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, premiums, Schaumburg, state health insurance, Streamwood, taxpayer dollars, the affordable care act, U.S. Senate, West Chicago, West Dundee, Wicker Park, Will County, Woodstock
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance News, Health Reform | Comments Off on The ‘Affordable’ Care Act, another Christmas bah-humbug
Monday, January 11th, 2016
Investors Business Daily Reports:
“Socialist Medicine: Canadians love their hockey and have historically been happy with their government-run health care system. Hockey is thriving. The country’s health care system, though, is a wreck and getting worse.
It could be said the words “Canada” and “health care” really don’t go together because some Canadians never make it to the doctor.
Too many die untreated due to extended wait times to see a doctor, and those wait times have increased again this year. They are now almost twice as long as they were in 1993, the year Hillary Clinton tried to force government health care on Americans. (more…)
Tags: 2015, ACA, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Algonquin, Arlington Heights, aurora, Barrington, Bartlett, Bucktown, buy health insurance, buying insurance, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cicero, Cook, Cook County, Crystal Lake, Deer Park, DeKalb, DeKalb County, departments of health and human services, doctors, Downers Grove, Dundee, East Dundee, Elgin, employer health insurance, enrollment, Fox Valley, Franklin Park, Government, government regulations, group health plans, health care benefits, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, Health insurance exchange, health insurance marketplace, health insurance reform, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, Hoffman Estates, Hospital, Huntley, Illinois, Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois health insurance exchange, individual health insurance, individual insurance, Kane, Kane County, Kendall County, Lake County, Lake in the Hills, Lake View, Lincoln Park, Long Grove, McHenry, McHenry County, medicaid programs, Morton Grove, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, Palatine, Park Ridge, pre existing conditions, premiums, Prospect Heights, River Grove, Riverwoods, Rolling Meadows, Saint Charles, Schaumburg, Sleepy Hollow, social security and medicare, South Barrington, special enrollment, Streamwood, taxpayer dollars, the affordable care act, United Healthcare, Village of Lakewood, West Chicago, West Dundee, Will County, Woodridge, Woodstock
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Family Health Insurance, Health Insurance News, Heath Care Costs | Comments Off on Canadian Health Care: Patients Waiting Longer Than Ever For Treatment
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