Recent Articles
Big Changes In Healthcare Could Return In 2013
(Reuters) - The breakdown of deficit talks in Congress will exact little pain on the U.S. healthcare industry, but it's a temporary reprieve from steeper cuts that could be put back on the table in 2013. The failure of the congressional "super committee" to reach a...
BCBSIL Introduces Renewal Rate Cap for New 51-100 Segment Groups
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) announced a first year renewal rate cap of 9%* for groups with 51-100 employees. New groups with 51-100 insured employees sold with Jan. 1, 2012 – July 1, 2012 effective dates can take advantage of this offer if they...
BlueCross BlueShield profits drop 23% in 2nd Quarter
(Crain's) — After surging earlier in the year, profits of the parent of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois dropped sharply during the second quarter, to a still hefty $270 million, as benefits rose and membership shrank. Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp's net...
Federal COBRA Premium Subsidy Expired August 31, 2011
On August 31, 2011, the COBRA continuation premium subsidy ended. Former employees who want to maintain their COBRA coverage during any remaining COBRA continuation coverage period will now be responsible for the full 100 percent of their premium payments. The...
Stand-alone HRAs exempted from annual minimum dollar limits
The Department of Health and Human Services has issued new guidance stating that plan sponsors of all stand-alone Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) with rollover of unused funds in effect prior to September 23, 2010 will no longer be required to seek waivers...
Large Employers Intend to Increase Employees’ Deductibles and Share of Premium in 2012
Many large U.S. employers intend to increase employees’ in-network deductibles and employees’ share of the premiums in 2012. The National Business Group on Health (NBGH), Washington, has reported those findings in a summary of results from a recent survey of 83 large...
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois launches new child only health plans
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 have other major coverage...
2012 Health Savings Account Changes
The maximum out-of-pocket employee expense, including deductibles, will rise next year to $6,050 for single coverage, up from $5,950 this year. For family coverage, it will increase to $12,100 next year from $11,900 this year
Blue Cross Blue Shield of California CEO earns $4.6 million, Fights Legislation to Limit Excessive Overhead
The CEO of the nonprofit health insurance company Blue Shield of California, Bruce Bodaken, earned $4.6 million in 2010, according to documents made public by the California Department of Insurance Wednesday. Blue Shield paid its top ten executives more than $14...
Most Uninsured Unable to Pay Hospital Bills According to New HHS Report
A new report released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that few families without health insurance have the financial assets to pay potential hospital bills. On average, uninsured families can only afford to pay in full for...