Recent Articles
BlueCross and BlueShield of Illinois makes Eligibility Decisions on Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act
As previously announced in the Feb. 9, 2011 issue of News from the Blues, Public Act 96-1513, the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, was signed into law on Jan. 31, 2011. Effective June 1, 2011, the law’s intent is to provide procedures for the...
Deadline to Make a Tax-Deductible Contribution to your 2010 Health Savings Account is April 18, 2010
If you were covered by a high deductible health insurance plan in 2010, you have until April 18, 2011, to make a tax-deductible contribution to an HSA. This account gives you a triple tax benefit: you deduct the contributions (whether or not you itemize other...
IRS Adjusts Rules on Health Insurance Debit Cards
The Internal Revenue Service issued new guidance allowing the continued use of flexible spending arrangement and health reimbursement arrangement debit cards for the purchase of prescribed over-the-counter medicines and drugs. A few weeks ago, the IRS announced tough...
2011 Health Savings Account Changes
Due to the enactment of the National Health Law (PPACA - Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act) beginning January 1, 2011 the following changes will affect Health Savings Accounts: The Excise Tax on ineligible HSA reimbursements increases from 10% to 20%. This...
Surveys: Health Costs to Rise more than 8%
Hewitt Associates Inc. Survey Large U.S. employers are expecting to pay an average of $9,821 in health insurance premiums per employee in 2011, up from an average of $9,028 this year. Hewitt Associates Inc., Lincolnshire, Ill. (NYSE:HEW), has published those figures...
Union/Collectively Bargained Plans – Health Care Reform Update
Whether fully insured or self-insured, unions must implement the same provisions as other grandfathered plans for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010. However, fully insured plans get some special treatment in the interim final grandfathering rules....
Aetna to Discontinue Child-only policies beginning October 1, 2010
For 10/1/10 and later effective dates, Aetna will discontinue new business sales of child-only policies to applicants (under the age of 19) for Aetna Advantage Plans for Individuals, Families and the Self Employed. No existing policyholders are affected by this...
Expired COBRA Subsidy Gets Mixed Reviews
The temporary health benefits continuation subsidy helped some involuntarily terminated workers but came nowhere close to providing “universal coverage.” Researchers at the Urban Institute, Washington, give that assessment in a review of the 65% federal COBRA group...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Now Offering 2 New Standardized Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
As of June 1, 2010 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is offering new Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans G and N. Members and those considering Plans G and N can enroll at anytime; there are no specific enrollment periods or deadlines. The changes to the...
IRS Issues 2011 HSA Limits; Same as 2010
Calendar year 2011, the limit on contributions for an individual with self-only coverage under a high-deductible health plan