Recent Articles
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...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Adds Life Time Fitness to BlueExtras Discount Program
Starting July 1, 2009, Life Time Fitness is introducing the following exclusive health club membership offer to BCBSIL members who are new to Life Time Fitness (this offer is not available to current Life Time Fitness members). Life Time Fitness centers are located in...
IRS Issues 2010 Health Savings Accounts Limits
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on May 14 issued Revenue Procedure 2009-29 providing inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) for use in 2010. The annual contribution limits have been increased to: $3,050 for those with self-only coverage (up...
House and Senate Pass Budget Resolution Agreement that May Speed Passage of Health Reform
The House and Senate have approved a compromise budget resolution that sets parameters for spending and revenue legislation. As requested by the President, the budget resolution includes a reserve fund for health care reform initiatives that must be deficit-neutral...
FAQ: Illinois Dependent Age Limit Change
1) What is the effective date of changes mandated by Public Act 95-0958? The changes need to be reflected in individual and group health insurance policies and HMO contracts as they are delivered, issued, or renewed on and after June 1, 2009. Policies in force prior...
Guaranteed Issue Health Insurance: Bridging the Gap between the Insurable and Uninsurable
Every day, thousands of individuals are rejected by insurance companies because of pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and heart problems. Now with the Guaranteed Issue Health Insurance offered by Homeland HealthCare Plans, people who are...
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 – Frequently Asked Questions
The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 requires that group health plans and group health insurers apply the same treatment and financial limits to mental health and substance use disorder benefits as they do to...
Employer FAQs – COBRA Premium Reduction Under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Q1: What is the new COBRA subsidy provision contained in the stimulus package signed by the President? The stimulus package, which was enacted as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) temporarily reduces the premium for COBRA coverage for eligible...
How Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) Group Health Plans
On February 4, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) was signed into law. CHIPRA allows states to subsidize premiums for employer-provided group health coverage for eligible children, but it also imposes certain requirements on...
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois increases dependent age to 26
Effective for new groups issued on or after June 1, 2009, or upon renewal dates on or after June 1, 2009, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) group plan members – will have the option to cover non-military dependents to age 26 and returning military...