Recent Articles
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
IRS Releases Small Group Tax Credit Examples
The Internal Revenue Service has come out with guidelines for small commercial and nonprofit employers that want to take advantage of a new health insurance tax break. The small employer health insurance tax credit guidelines, given in IRS Notice 2010-44, include...
U.S. Government Posts Dependent Care Regulations
Federal agencies are rushing young adult dependent coverage interim final rules into effect without going through the usual comment period. The Employee Benefits Security Administration, an arm of the U.S. Department of Labor, has posted a preliminary version of the...
Tax-Free Employer-Provided Health Coverage Now Available for Children under Age 27
As a result of changes made by the recently enacted Affordable Care Act, health coverage provided for an employee's children under 27 years of age is now generally tax-free to the employee, effective March 30, 2010. The Internal Revenue Service announced today that...
2010 Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credits
The IRS recently released materials for those wishing to claim the small business health care tax credit for 2010. A provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), this tax credit is designed to encourage small groups to offer health care...
Health Care Reform – Frequently Asked Questions
The new health reform law is the most far-reaching health legislation since the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The following is a look at the impact of the law, which will extend insurance coverage to 32 million additional Americans by 2019, but which...
BCBSIL BlueCare Dental Offers Largest Network of Access Points
BlueCare Dental provides members with access to the nation’s largest dental care network of access points, with more than 152,000 nationwide.* With so many access points, BlueCare Dental members have great flexibility to see a dentist and use their BlueCare Dental...
Senate OKs The Reconciliation Act – H.R. 4872
Members of the Senate have just voted 56-43 to pass H.R. 4872, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act “fixer bill,” and the House is getting ready to re-vote on the bill. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., did not vote. All other Republicans voted against the bill....