Expert: Short-term health care plans give consumers choice
Wake Forest University reports: “With early-voting underway, recent polls show healthcare has become a top issue in the November midterm elections. One politically charged issue on the table is the...
View ArticleBCBSIL Introduces Renewal Rate Cap for New 51-100 Segment Groups!
News from the Blues reports: “News Alert: Oct. 27, 2011 BCBSIL Introduces Renewal Rate Cap for New 51-100 Segment Groups! Dear Valued Producer, In an effort to deliver cost-effective solutions to help...
View ArticleFraud timed to reform
Chicago Tribune reports: “Experts who study scams and frauds know these illicit schemes are often built around big news stories, such as health care reform’s passage. That’s why it shouldn’t be a shock...
View ArticleIllinois Issues Cease and Desist Against Unlicensed Insurer Selling Bogus...
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...
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Ringwood, Illinois: Health Insurance
Image via Wikipedia We specialize in helping Ringwood individuals, families, and businesses sign up and manage their Health Insurance. With the many changes to health insurance, you may be wondering...
View ArticleIncome-Relating Medicare Part B and Part D Premiums Under Current Law and...
Kaiser Family Foundation reports: “Proposals to raise premiums for higher-income Medicare beneficiaries are currently being discussed along with other options to reduce federal spending on Medicare....
View ArticleInsurance industry could take hit from birth control mandate
The Hill reports: “The insurance industry is concerned it will take a hit from the Obama administration’s mandate that they provide birth control in health plans for employees of religious...
View ArticleHigh 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...
View ArticleHealth Care Reform Could Get You A Raise, But There’s A Catch
Huff Post Politics reports: “The good news is that health care reform could lead your employer to put a little more money in your paycheck. The bad news is that if they do, it’s probably because they...
View ArticleEmployers Responsible for W-2 Reporting
News from the Blues reports: “As part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers are required to report the cost of health benefits coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan. This applies...
View ArticleWith high court set to rule on health reform, Illinois’ insurance exchange...
Crain’s reports: “If the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down President Barack Obama’s overhaul of health care, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will face a stiff challenge holding on to the state’s health insurance...
View ArticleSmall-Picture Approach Flips Medical Economics
CHICAGO — Even as she struggled to manage her Type 2 diabetes, Fannie Cline’s condition spiraled downward. It was not uncommon for Mrs. Cline, a 69-year-old retiree, to have dizzy spells, some so bad...
View ArticleUndoing health law could have messy ripple effects
The AP reports: “It sounds like a silver lining. Even if the Supreme Court overturns President Barack Obama’s health care law, employers can keep offering popular coverage for the young adult children...
View ArticleHealth care reform and taxes: A refresher course
Birmingham Business Journal reports: “Take it from the U.S. Supreme Court: Health care reform wasn’t just an overhaul of the insurance market, it also was a major piece of tax legislation. That’s why...
View ArticleBenefit cuts are workers’ top worry, Gallup reports
Employee Benefit Adviser reports: “American workers are more concerned about cuts in their benefits than losing their jobs, according to a Gallup poll released today. Forty percent of workers surveyed...
View ArticleReport: Premium hikes for top Medicare drug plans
Xfinity News reports: “Millions of seniors enrolled in some of the most popular Medicare prescription drug plans face double-digit premium hikes next year if they don’t shop for a better deal, says a...
View ArticleReform isn’t impacting employer-sponsored coverage
Benefitspro reports: “A new study finds employer-sponsored health plans aren’t going anywhere—at least for another few years. Amid the debate over what impact the Patient Protection and Affordable Care...
View ArticleState eyeing five health insurance exchange bids
PJ Star reports: “Illinois officials are reviewing five bids to build the state’s health insurance exchange – a required component of the federal health care overhaul that Gov. Pat Quinn intends to...
View ArticleAfter The Election: A Consumer’s Guide To The Health Law
Kaiser Health News reports: “Now that President Barack Obama has won a second term, the Affordable Care Act is back on a fast track. Some analysts argue that there could be modifications to reduce...
View Article5 Major Health Care Reform Changes Coming In 2013
Business Insider reports: “Health care reform in the coming year will go on a kind of shakedown cruise to test the seaworthiness of America’s evolving health care system as it becomes more...
View ArticleThe federal government granted the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council...
ILLINOIS: The federal government granted the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) $160 million in federal CO-OP funding less than two weeks before program funding was eliminated by Congress....
View ArticleHow The New Health Insurance Laws Will Affect You
Illinois Insurance News reports: “The Healthcare Reform Act was passed with quite a bit of controversy surrounding it. Polls consistently showed that the majority of Americans were not satisfied with...
View ArticleFederal Rule Limits Aid to Families Who Can’t Afford Employers’ Health Coverage
The New York Times reports: “The Obama administration adopted a strict definition of affordable health insurance on Wednesday that will deny federal financial assistance to millions of Americans with...
View ArticleTop Three Things Small Businesses Should Know About the Affordable Care Act
The White House Blog reports: “The Affordable Care Act will help small businesses by lowering premium cost growth and increasing access to quality, affordable health insurance. Depending on whether...
View ArticleMost employers still plan to offer health coverage after reforms take effect
Business Insurance reports: “Despite increased costs and opposition to the health care reform law, the overwhelming majority of employers intend to keep providing health care coverage for their...
View ArticleHealth Incentive Plans Pay Off
Insurance News Net reports: “Tina Nanos’ life was bogged down by her weight for years. “I thought about it. I was overweight for a very large portion of my life,” said Nanos, who lives in Wallingford...
View ArticleImplementing Health Reform: Waiting Periods And Enforcement Of Market Reforms
Health Affairs Blog reports: “On March 18, 2013, Gary Cohen, the Director of the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, stated on a national stakeholder call that most of the final...
View ArticleRicher health benefits cost 47 percent more
Benefits Pro reports: “Average monthly premiums for individual health insurance plans are 47 percent higher than average when they cover a comprehensive list of eight health benefits, but they also...
View ArticleCan mass marketing heal the splits on ‘Obamacare’?
Bloomberg Business Week reports: “How do you convince millions of average Americans that one of the most complex and controversial programs devised by government may actually be a good deal for them?...
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Will health care reform raise insurance premiums?
MSNBC reports: “A big part of the pitch for President Obama’s health care reform was that it would make health care insurance more affordable–heck, it was even in the name of the bill. But more than...
View ArticlePreview: 2-50 Small Group Sales and Retention Strategy
Blue Cross and Blue Shield reports: “As a valued producer and partner with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), you play a major role in educating your group clients on how the Affordable...
View ArticleFallout for states rejecting Medicaid expansion
Benefits Pro reports: “Rejecting the Medicaid expansion in the federal health care law could have unexpected consequences for states where Republican lawmakers remain steadfastly opposed to what they...
View ArticleAflac 1Q Profit $892M, To Pay 35 Cents Per Share Dividend
Insurance News Net reports: “Steady as she goes. That was the case Wednesday with Aflac Inc. reporting first-quarter net income, or profit, of $892 million, an increase of nearly 14 percent from $785...
View ArticleHealth insurance and families under the affordable care act
The Washington Post reports: “How does the Affordable Care Act affect children in low-income families and people who want to buy coverage on the new state insurance exchanges? Below find some answers...
View ArticleThe Middle Class Tax Break Hardly Anyone Is Talking About
News @ JAMA reports: “There has been no shortage of attention focused on the scheduled expiration of tax cuts for middle class and wealthy Americans at the end of this year. That’s likely to continue...
View ArticleTaxpayers File Suit Over IRS Rule on Health Care Act Tax Credits
Forbs reports: “Just one day after the Internal Revenue Service additional Proposed Regulations to clarify governance issues related to the HealthCare Act, a group of taxpayers filed a lawsuit in...
View ArticleOut-Of-Pocket Costs For Drugs Will Increase Under ACA
Insurance News Net reports: “A new analysis from HealthPocket of early health insurance rate filings finds that consumers who choose the lower cost Bronze Plans and Silver Plans under the Affordable...
View ArticleQuestions and Answers on the Individual Shared Responsibility Provision
The IRS reports: “Basic Information 1. What is the individual shared responsibility provision? Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government, state governments, insurers, employers and...
View ArticleIRS Issues New Instructions for Obamacare
Health Insurance Exchange reports: “The Internal Revenue Service has issued new draft instructions, notices and a publication to help taxpayers and tax practitioners deal with the Affordable Care Act....
View ArticleHow the Obamacare Penalty Will Affect Your 2014 Taxes
The Motley Fool reports: “Ever since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, critics have cited the penalties that the law imposes on those who don’t...
View ArticleWill Jonathan Gruber Topple Obamacare?
Politico Magazine reports: “Why the hell did Jonathan Gruber say that? And that? And that? And (sigh) the other thing? Those are the questions on the minds of virtually everyone in the health care...
View ArticleMillions facing a hefty increase in Medicare premiums in 2016
Yahoo Finance reports: “Nearly a third of the roughly 50 million elderly Americans who depend on Medicare for their physician care and other health services could see their premiums jump by 52 percent...
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois: 2016 Rate Filings
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois reports: “Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) recently filed its 2016 rates with Illinois. Below are FAQs that may help you understand what this...
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Blue Cross, UnitedHealthcare return to Illinois Obamacare exchange
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...
View ArticleFeds tighten when people can enroll in Obamacare plans
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...
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Coming soon to your mailbox: An Obamacare tax form
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...
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Obamacare Encounters Another Bump in the Road
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...
View ArticleWatch Obamacare’s Architect Reveal His Master Plan To Fix The Law: Bigger...
The Federalist reports: “Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber joined CNN on Wednesday morning to say the best way to fix the failing health-care law he engineered would be to increase the “penalty.” A...
View ArticleIllinois submits big Obamacare rate increases to the feds
The Chicago Tribune reports: “Hundreds of thousands of Illinois consumers who buy health insurance on the state’s Obamacare exchange will likely see average rates increase by 16 to 37 percent next year...
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