Recent Articles
State of Illinois Changes Illinois Health Insurance Continuation Rule
Illinois law states continuation of health insurance coverage is only available to an employee or member who has been continuously insured under the group policy (and for similar benefits under any group policy which it replaced) during the entire 3 months period...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Expands BlueCare Dental Network
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) has acquired DenteMax by Dental Network of America (DNoA), a wholly owned dental subsidiary of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), which operates Blue Cross Plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. As a...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Individual Plans – Open Enrollment for Young Adult Dependent Coverage
For existing Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois individual plan members who were members prior to June 1, 2009, the open enrollment window to enroll dependents under age 26 (and eligible military veterans under age 30) will take place from January 1, 2010 through...
Payroll Tax Reporting for COBRA Subsidy Offset
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allows a credit against employment taxes for providing COBRA premium assistance to assistance-eligible individuals. As deadlines approach for employers to file their quarterly payroll taxes, groups may be asking about...
St. John’s Hospital Remaining in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Medicare Select Network
In May 2009, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois informed their Springfield Medicare Select members that St. John's Hospital had elected to discontinue its status as a Medicare Select contracting network hospital effective June 17, 2009. BCBSIL has announced that...
House Committees Release Draft Tri-Committee Health Reform Bill
As we head into July, the federal debate has become more defined as four of the five Congressional committees with jurisdiction over health reform have released draft health reform bills. On June 19th , the Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) has removed the following Illinois residential requirement: “50% or more of the enrolled employees must reside in IL or the bordering states
Blue Cross® and Blue Shield®of Illinois (BCBSIL) has removed the following Illinois residential requirement: "50% or more of the enrolled employees must reside in IL or the bordering states. The restriction still applies to group with 2-50 employees. BCBSIL is very...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois offers New Flexible Cancellation Option for Short Term Medical Plans
Effective June 1, 2009 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois gives existing and new members the option to cancel their SelecTEMP (short term medical plan) policy prior to the expiration period. Please note: The cancellation date will be effective on the next monthly...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois New HSA Plan Options vailable for Group 2-150 available July 1, 2009
New BlueEdgeSM HSA plan options for 2-150 groups are being introduced July 1, 2009. These additional plan designs offer $3,500 aggregate and embedded deductible options with either 100%/80% or 80%/60% coinsurance options, or a $5,000 aggregate or embedded deductible...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Member Campaign Promotes Personal Health Manager and Blue Points
In May Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois launched a campaign on Blue Access® for Members to promote the Personal Health Manager and encourage members to earn Blue Points by using these online wellness and condition management resources. Blue Points can be...