Employers May Avoid Hiring Smokers as Health Care Reform Kicks In
Law.com reports: “As Democrats rally in Charlotte this week, it comes as no surprise that President Barack Obama’s landmark health care law is taking center stage. For many voters, the Affordable Care...
View ArticleRetell Politics: Story About Obama’s Mother Gets Another Look
npr reports: “Were last night’s convention references to Barack Obama’s mother and her struggles with an insurance company before her death a powerful argument for health care reform? Or were they a...
View ArticleThe IPAB: The Center Of A Political Clash Over How To Change Medicare
Kaiser Health News reports: “It sounds like a new Apple product, but IPAB is actually a controversial board that is at the heart of House Republicans’ efforts to upend the 2010 federal health law–or at...
View ArticleSeven Factors Driving Up Your Health Care Costs
Kaiser Health News reports: “There is no one villain in the battle against rising health care costs. Currently, the United States spends more on health care services than any other country, exceeding...
View ArticleObama Re-Election to Accelerate Release of Health Care Reform Law Guidance
Workforce reports: “President Barack Obama’s re-election last week is certain to accelerate the release of long-awaited guidance and regulations employers need to comply with the health care reform...
View ArticleEBRI: A couple in retirement could need $400,000 just for health care
Employee Benefit Adviser reports: “Medicare covers only 59% of the cost of health care for seniors — and retirees can expect to pay an even larger share in the future. In fact, a couple aged 65 might...
View ArticleIllinois Health Benefit Exchange
The following link is an article which explains how Brokers can help save you money. https://www.erikseninsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HealthReformWhitePaper_Oct11Revision.pdf
View ArticleHumana CEO: Health care reform will push cost of insurance up next year
Courier-Journal reports: “If you are young and healthy, get ready to pay more for health insurance when the Affordable Care Act goes into effect next year, Humana CEO Bruce Broussard said Thursday. In...
View ArticleHealth Benefit Costs Listed On Tax Forms
Insurance News Net reports: “Few people know the total cost of their health benefits or realize that family coverage can account for a fourth or more of their total compensation. For the first time,...
View ArticleACA: Come Out And Play
Insurance News Net reports: “One percent.” “I would be surprised if we see many, if any.” According to most experts, the number is small. Not only is it small, it keeps getting smaller. We speak, of...
View ArticleHealth Insurance Brokers, Small Employers Fear Higher Prices
Insurance News Net reports: “President Barack Obama’s ambitious goal that all Americans have access to health care will take a huge step forward this fall with the opening of federal and state...
View ArticleLatest Fed Report Acknowledges ACA Slows Hiring, Consumer Spending
Insurance News Net reports: The Federal Reserve yesterday released a report confirming that uncertainty and increased costs caused by the health care law are leading employers to lay off workers and...
View ArticleSmall Firms’ Offer of Plan Choices Under Health Law Delayed
The New York Times reports: “Unable to meet tight deadlines in the new health care law, the Obama administration is delaying parts of a program intended to provide affordable health insurance to small...
View ArticleWill 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...
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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 ArticleUnhealthy Habits Have Growing Effect On Insurance Premiums
Insurance News Net reports: “If you’re overweight, have high blood pressure, smoke or are diabetic, your employer may soon require you to improve your health, get counseling on the issue or pay a fine,...
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Quick Facts about Health Care Reform and Premiums
AHIP Coverage reports: “Given recent attention on the impact of health care reform on health care costs and premiums, we wanted to share the following facts: The impact the ACA will have on premiums...
View ArticleUPS blames PPACA, to slash 15,000 spouses from coverage
Benefits Pro reports: “The number of employers whose company health benefits plan cover the working (elsewhere) spouses of their employees has just been reduced by one — and it’s a big one, too. UPS...
View ArticleDivorce could be side effect of Obamacare’s healthcare reform
The Washington Times reports: “Many couples that would like to get divorced stay together because they simply cannot afford to live on their own. Frequently this decision is driven by the cost of...
View ArticleSmart Apps vs. Obamacare
Insurance News Net reports: “The Affordable Care Act locks in the status quo, but new technology is making health care cheaper and more individualized. Health care costs in the U.S. have been rising so...
View ArticleHigh Health Plan Deductibles Weigh Down More Employees
The New York Times reports: “Anita Maina was working on an arts and crafts project she found on Pinterest — creating a table out of wood and cork — when she ripped off a fingernail while removing...
View ArticleWal-Mart cuts health benefits for some part-timers
Yahoo Finance reports: “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to eliminate health insurance coverage for some of its part-time U.S. employees in a move aimed at controlling rising health care costs of the...
View ArticleMost employers to reject private exchanges
Benefits Pro reports: “Oops. The private exchange juggernaut may have just hit a bump in the road to success. Myriad studies have tried to fathom whether major employers will decide to shift their...
View ArticleHigh deductible plans have more people delaying treatment
Yahoo Finance reports: “As the cost of health care rises, more and more Americans in nearly every economic class are choosing to delay medical treatment because they can’t afford it. A new Gallup poll...
View ArticleShould I Choose A High Or Low Deductible Health Insurance Plan?
Forbes reports: “Question: I am shopping the federal Marketplace for a new health insurance plan. Though I understand the basics of health insurance, deductibles have me confused. I am the sole...
View ArticleMedical Debt Still a Problem Under Health Law — Despite Protections
Kaiser Health News reports: “Elizabeth and Britt Harmon struggled for years to have a child, and were thrilled when their son Orin was born in February 2013. But they were unprepared for the medical...
View ArticlePPACA HIT repeal bill gaining steam
Benefits Pro reports: “A funding mechanism included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Actis gaining steam in the House of Representatives, leading to a round of huzzahs from the small...
View ArticleA $394 million Obamacare tax for Illinois
Crain’s Chicago Business reports: “There’s more than a touch of absurdity in the way an industry fee in President Barack Obama’s health care law is being passed along to state taxpayers. As Alice in...
View ArticleMillions choose IRS fines as more affordable than health coverage
The New York Times Reports: “Despite a 29 percent increase in the number of people enrolled in Obamacare, plenty of healthy holdouts remain, and their resistance helps explain why insurers are worried...
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Canadian Health Care: Patients Waiting Longer Than Ever For Treatment
Investors Business Daily Reports: “Socialist Medicine: Canadians love their hockey and have historically been happy with their government-run health care system. Hockey is thriving. The country’s...
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The ‘Affordable’ Care Act, another Christmas bah-humbug
The Hill Reports: “‘Tis the season for giving—and for the Affordable Care Act, it’s become the season for giving bad news. For the third year in a row, open enrollment has given millions of...
View ArticleHealthcare.gov CEO says insurance marketplace’s complexity argues for agents
The Advocate Reports: “The Affordable Care Act is confusing and complicated, which means that health insurance agents and brokers are needed to help consumers pick the best plans for them, Kevin...
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Blue Cross, Advocate team up on new health insurance plan
Crains Chicago Business Reports: “Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois and Advocate Health Care are teaming up to offer a health plan that will be one of the cheapest options the insurer offers on...
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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 ArticleWith Michigan Closure, More Than Half of Obamacare CO-OPs Have Now Failed
Energy & Commerce Reports: “WASHINGTON, DC – The number of failed Obamacare CO-OPs grew to one dozen today as Michigan became the latest to announce it was closing. To date, 12 of the original 23...
View ArticleCMS Proposes Health Insurance Exchange Changes for 2017
California Healthline Reports: “On Friday, CMS released a proposed rule that would require minimum network standards for health plans sold through the federal exchange in 2017, Modern Healthcare...
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Here’s What Medicare Part B Costs and Covers in 2016
According to The Motley Fool: “Learn how this part of the Medicare program works. Retirees rely on Medicare to help them with their healthcare expenses, but getting a better understanding of how the...
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...
View ArticleHumana to Record 2016 Obamacare Shortfall, Membership Drops
According to Bloomberg Business: “Humana Inc. is the latest insurer to run into trouble in Obamacare’s individual health-insurance markets. The health insurer said that it probably won’t collect enough...
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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...
View ArticleHealthcare.gov CEO says insurance marketplace’s complexity argues for agents
According to The Advocate: “The Affordable Care Act is confusing and complicated, which means that health insurance agents and brokers are needed to help consumers pick the best plans for them, Kevin...
View ArticleIRS Grants Extension for 6055 and 6056 Reporting
According to United Healthcare, Broker Connection Special Edition: “On Dec. 28, 2015, the IRS announced that it is granting an automatic extension for the 2015 information returns required of insurers,...
View ArticleIllinois Obamacare plan crippled by losses
According to Crain’s Chicago Business ” The operating losses continue to mount at struggling Land of Lincoln Health, totaling $90.8 million for the Obamacare health plan in 2015. That net loss is...
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How Obamacare Makes Tax Filing Trickier
According to Time Inc. “Many Americans will get new tax forms for the first time. Here’s what to do with them. This year, you may be receiving tax forms you’ve never seen before, all thanks to 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...
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Blue Cross Blue Shield Confirms Obamacare Death Spiral
According to The Beacon: ” The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, which represents 36 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans covering 105 million Americans, has just released a study of its members’...
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Health insurance plans to be rated based on size of network
Live Insurance News reports: ” The Obama administration will now use the number of included doctors and hospitals in the ratings. In response to complaints from consumers with respect to the way health...
View ArticleMedicare Out-of-Pocket Costs You Should Expect to Pay
Yahoo Finance reports: “Medicare provides valuable health insurance for individuals 65 or older and certain people with disabilities who are under age 65. But it also comes with complex rules and...
View ArticleTrump Is Being Vague About What He Wants to Replace Obamacare. But There Are...
The New York Times reports: “We don’t know what will emerge as President Trump’s plan to replace Obamacare, which he has promised to unveil immediately after the 2020 elections. But he has recently...
View ArticleMost Americans want lower health care costs, not ‘Medicare for All’ or...
CNN Politics reports: “Washington may be obsessed with enacting “Medicare for All” or repealing Obamacare, but Americans have other priorities. They want Congress to prioritize reducing health care...
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