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Posts Tagged ‘insurance industry’
Wednesday, March 8th, 2017
Modern Helthcare.com reports:
“Employer and business groups are shifting their lobbying efforts from repealing the Affordable Care Act’s unpopular “Cadillac” tax to fighting GOP proposals to chip away at the tax break on employer-provided health insurance.
Capping the tax break, they say, would cause employers to offer skimpier benefits, and some would stop offering coverage altogether. That would erode the employer-sponsored health insurance market.
(more…)
Tags: Affordable Care Act, Blue Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Broker, health benefits, insurance industry, insurance plan, the affordable care act
Posted in Health Laws, Health Reform | Comments Off on Employers gear up for next fight after Cadillac tax
Thursday, April 28th, 2016
According to The Beacon:
” The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, which represents 36 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans covering 105 million Americans, has just released a study of its members’ claims data in Obamacare exchanges 2014 and 2015. It confirms that Obamacare exchange enrollees are sicker and more expensive than enrollees in pre-Obamacare individual plans or employer-based plans.
 Here I quote four of the study’s findings:
- Members who newly enrolled in BCBS individual health plans in 2014 and 2015 have higher rates of certain diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, coronary artery disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C than individuals who had BCBS individual coverage prior to health-care reform.
- Consumers who newly enrolled in BCBS individual health plans in 2014 and 2015 received significantly more medical care, on average, than those with BCBS individual plans prior to 2014 who maintained BCBS individual health coverage into 2015, as well as those with BCBS employer-based group health insurance.
(more…)
Tags: 60006, 60018, 60024, 60039, 60067, 60072, 60116, 60131, 60134, 60162, 60165, 60183, 60204, 60304, 60522, 60599, ACA, ACA requirements, Advocate Heath Care, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Andersonville, Barrington Hills, BCBS, BCBSIL, Blue Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Bucktown, buy health insurance, buying insurance, Campton Hills, Changeing Health Care, Cicero, Cook, Cook County, Costs, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, DeKalb County, Downers Grove, DuPage, DuPage County, Elgin, Evanston, Fox River Grove, Glenview, government regulations, Harvard, 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, Huntley, individual health insurance, individual insurance, insurance industry, insurance news, Insurance Reform, Kane, Kane County, Kendall, Kendall County, Key Findings ACA, Lake County, McHenery, McHenry, McHenry County, Mr. Obama, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northwest Suburbs, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, pre existing conditions, Rolling Meadows, Sleepy Hollow, South Elgin, Sugar Grove, the affordable care act, West Chicago, Will, Will County, Woodstock
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Blue Cross and Blue Shield | Comments Off on Blue Cross Blue Shield Confirms Obamacare Death Spiral
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
Thursday, April 21st, 2016
According to Time Inc.
“Many Americans will get new tax forms for the first time. Here’s what to do with them.
This year, you may be receiving tax forms you’ve never seen before, all thanks to the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. For the most part, these documents won’t make tax filing too much harder—with one big exception. Here’s what you need to know about this paperwork, depending on what kind of health insurance you had in 2015.
If you had health insurance from your employer all year…
(more…)
Tags: ACA, ACA requirements, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Andersonville, Barrington, Blue Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Bucktown, budget cuts, Burlington, Cary, Chicago, Chicagoland, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, DeKalb County, Downers Grove, Forest Park, Fox Valley, Geneva, Hampshire, Harvard, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health insurance costs, health insurance coverage, health insurance marketplace, health reform, healthcare reform, IL, Illinois, insurance industry, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, Kane, Kane County, Kendall, Kendall County, Lake County, Lake View, McHenery, McHenry, Morton Grove, Mr. Obama, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northwest Suburbs, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, Palatine, Saint Charles, Schaumburg, South Barrington, Streamwood, Tax, taxpayer dollars, the affordable care act, United Health Care, West Chicago, Wicker Park, Will, Will County, young adults, young people
Posted in Affordable Care Act | Comments Off on How Obamacare Makes Tax Filing Trickier
Tuesday, January 26th, 2016
According to United Healthcare, Broker Connection Special Edition:
“On Dec. 28, 2015, the IRS announced that it is granting an automatic extension for the 2015 information returns required of insurers, employers and certain other providers of Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) under Section 6055 and 6056 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
Coverage providers that need more time now have until March 31 to get Form 1095 to individuals and until June 30 to electronically file with the IRS. For providers not filing electronically, the deadline is May 31, 2016. (more…)
Tags: 2015, 2016, ACA, ACA requirements, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Andersonville, barack obama, Barrington, Bartlett, Broker, Bucktown, buffalo grove, buy health insurance, buying insurance, care reform legislation, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, Cary, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Contact Us, Cook, Cook County, Costs, Deerfield, DeKalb, DeKalb County, Dundee, DuPage, DuPage County, East Dundee, Elgin, Employers, enroll, enrollment, Fox Valley, Geneva, Glendale Heights, Government, government regulations, health, health care benefits, health care costs, health care law, health care reform, health care system, health exemption, 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, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, Hinsdale, Huntley, IL, Illinois, Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois health insurance exchange, individual, individual health insurance, individual insurance, Individual Mandate, Individual Shared Responsibility, Individuals, insurance, Insurance benefit consultant, insurance broker, insurance industry, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, IRS, Johnsburg, Kane, Kane County, Kendall, Kendall County, Key Findings ACA, Lake, Lake County, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood, Logan Square, Long Grove, McHenery, McHenry, McHenry County, Minimum Essential Coverage, Mount Prospect, Naperville, Navigator, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North Aurora, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northwest Suburbs, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, Palatine, Penalty, PPO, pre existing conditions, Richmond, Riverwoods, Rolling Meadows, Saint Charles, Schaumburg, self-insurance, single payer health care system, South Barrington, special enrollment, Streamwood, Sugar Grove, Tax, taxpayer dollars, the affordable care act, timeline, UHC, United Health Care, United Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare, Villa Park, Warrenville, Wasco, Wayne, West Chicago, Wheaton, Wicker Park, Will, Will County, Wood Dale, Woodstock
Posted in Individual Health Insurance, Open Enrollment | Comments Off on IRS Grants Extension for 6055 and 6056 Reporting
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
Tuesday, January 26th, 2016
According to Bloomberg Business:
“Humana Inc. is the latest insurer to run into trouble in Obamacare’s individual health-insurance markets.
The health insurer said that it probably won’t collect enough money to cover costs for some customers who bought individual plans, and will set aside what’s known as a premium deficiency reserve. The shortfall is for 2016 plans that comply with new rules under the Affordable Care Act, Louisville, Kentucky-based Humana said Friday.
UnitedHealth Group Inc., the biggest U.S. health insurer, said in November that it might stop participating in the Obamacare next year after taking losses. One analyst predicted that Humana would follow suit.
(more…)
Tags: 2015, 2016, ACA, ACA requirements, Advocate Heath Care, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Algonquin, Andersonville, Arlington Heights, Atena, aurora, barack obama, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, Batavia, BCBS, BCBSIL, Bucktown, budget cuts, buffalo grove, Bull Valley, buy health insurance, buying insurance, California healthline, cancer coverage, care reform legislation, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cicero, College Grads, commerce clause of the constitution, Commonwealth Care Health Insurance, Cook, Cook County, Costs, coverage plan, Crystal Lake, Deerfield, DeKalb, DeKalb County, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Dundee, DuPage, DuPage County, Elburn, enroll, enrollment, Fox River Grove, Fox Valley, Geneva, Gilberts, Glen Ellyn, government regulations, Hampshire, Harwood Heights, 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, Herbron, Highland Park, Humana, Huntley, IL, Illinois, Illinois health insurance exchange, individual, individual health insurance, individual insurance, Individual Mandate, Individual Shared Responsibility, Individuals, Insurance benefit consultant, insurance broker, insurance industry, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, Itasca, Kane, Kane County, Kendall, Kendall County, Lake County, Lake in the Hills, Lake View, Lakewood, Lincoln Park, Maple Park, Marengo, Marketplace, McCullen Lake, McHenery, McHenry, McHenry County, Naperville, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, Niles, North Aurora, North Barrington, North West Suburbs, Northwest Suburbs, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, Palatine, Park Ridge, Producer, Riverwoods, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, self-insurance, single payer health care system, South Barrington, special enrollment, state health insurance, Streamwood, Sugar Grove, the affordable care act, Tower Lakes, Village of Lakewood, Warrenville, Wasco, West Chicago, Wicker Park, Wood Dale, young adults
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance News, Individual Health Insurance | Comments Off on Humana to Record 2016 Obamacare Shortfall, Membership Drops
Tuesday, January 26th, 2016
According to USA Today:
“Bowing to pressure from insurers, federal officials on Tuesday tightened the conditions under which people can sign up for plans on the HealthCare.govexchange outside open enrollment.
The move by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services comes after complaints by health insurers that it was too easy for people to wait until they were sick to sign up and to drop coverage after they got treatment. Earlier Tuesday, UnitedHealth announced a 19% drop in profit and downgraded its earnings forecast citing concerns about its Obamacare enrollment and the flexibility people had to change insurance plans. (more…)
Tags: 2016, ACA, ACA requirements, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, Andersonville, Arlington Heights, Barrington, Bartlett, BCBS, Berwyn, Blue Cross, Bucktown, budget cuts, buy health insurance, buying insurance, care reform legislation, Carpentersville, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cicero, Cook, Cook County, Costs, coverage plan, Crystal Lake, Deer Park, Deerfield, DeKalb, DeKalb County, Desplaines, Dundee, DuPage, DuPage County, ebola, Elgin, Elmwood Park, enroll, enrollment, exchange, Forest Park, Fox River Grove, Fox Valley, Franklin Park, Geneva, Gilberts, Glen Ellyn, Glencoe, Glendale Heights, Government, government regulations, group rates, health, 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 premiums, health insurance reform, Health Marketplace, health plan, health programs, health reform, health savings account, healthcare reform, healthcare.gov, High deductible health plan, Hinsdale, Holiday Hills, Huntley, IL, Illinois, Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois health insurance exchange, individual health insurance, individual insurance, insurance, Insurance benefit consultant, insurance industry, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, Kane, Kane County, Kendall, Kendall County, Lake County, Lake in the Hills, Lake View, Lakewood, Lincolnwood, Logan Square, Maple Park, Marengo, Massachusetts, McCullom Lake, McHenery, McHenry, McHenry County, Medicaid, medical expenses, Medicare, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North Aurora, North Barrington, North West Suburbs, Northern Illinois, Northlake, Northwest Suburbs, Oak Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Obama care, ObamaCare, Obamacare regulation, open enrollment, Palatine, Park Ridge, Penalty, Prairie Grove, Ringwood, Riverwoods, Roselle, Saint Charles, Schaumburg, sign up, Skokie, Sleepy Hollow, South Barrington, South Elgin, special enrollment, St. Charles, state health insurance, Streamwood, Sugar Grove, Tax, the affordable care act, timeline, Trout Valley, Villa Park, Village of Lakewood, Warrenville, Wasco, West Chicago, West Dundee, Wheaton, Will, Winfield, Wood Dale, Woodridge, Woodstock, young adults, young people
Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance News, Open Enrollment | Comments Off on Feds tighten when people can enroll in Obamacare plans
Tuesday, January 26th, 2016
According to The Motley Fool:
“Learn how this part of the Medicare program works.
 Retirees rely on Medicare to help them with their healthcare expenses, but getting a better understanding of how the program’s different components can be challenging. Medicare Part B plays a key role in the everyday aspects of healthcare, and below, you’ll learn more of the specifics of how much Part B costs and what it covers.
What Medicare Part B costs
Medicare participants pay a monthly premium to get Part B coverage, but one of the more confusing things about the program in 2016 is that different participants pay different amounts. The standard charge for most new participants this year is $121.80 per month. But because of a law that ties Medicare increases to cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security, the majority of existing participants will pay the $104.90 monthly premium they paid in 2015. (more…)
Tags: 2016, ACA, ACA requirements, Advocate Heath Care, affordable care, Affordable Care Act, affordable health insurance, Albany Park, barack obama, Barrington, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Bucktown, Bull Valley, buy health insurance, buying insurance, Changeing Health Care, Chicago, Chicagoland, Cook, Cook County, Costs, coverage plan, deductibles, DeKalb, DeKalb County, departments of health and human services, disability insurance program, Dundee, East Dundee, Fox Valley, Government, government regulations, health, Health and Human Services, 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, HMO, IL, Illinois, Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois health insurance exchange, insurance, Insurance benefit consultant, insurance industry, insurance news, insurance plan, Insurance Reform, Kane, Kane County, Lake, Lake County, Lake View, Lincolnwood, long term care, McHenery, McHenry County, Medicaid, medicaid coverage, medicaid programs, Medicare, Naperville, new health care, New health insurance law ACA, North West Suburbs, Northwest Suburbs, Park Ridge, premiums, preventive services, retirement, Rolling Meadows, Saint Charles, Schaumburg, Schiller Park, social security and medicare, state health insurance, state legislatures, West Chicago, West Dundee, Wheeling, Wicker Park, Will, Will County, Woodstock
Posted in Medicare | Comments Off on Here’s What Medicare Part B Costs and Covers in 2016
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