Recent Articles
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...
Illinois Division of Insurance Publishes Revised Information for small groups subject to Illinois State Continuation regarding the Recovery and Reinvestment Act
On March 9th, the Illinois Division of Insurance published revised information regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and how it affects groups that are subject to Illinois state continuation, but not subject to federal COBRA continuation....
Poll: Three Quarters of Americans worry about Health Care Costs
More than three-quarters of adult Americans who have health insurance say they still worry about paying more for their medical care, and nearly 50 percent say they're "very" or "extremely" worried about the issue, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll shows. More...
Study Finds U.S. Health Care System has Competitive Disadvantage
Original Article from Businessweek U.S. workers and employers get 23% less value from their health-care spending than those in Britain, Canada, France, Germany, or Japan, and 46% less value than in Brazil, China, or India, according to a Business Roundtable study that...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois membership declining for 1st time in 25 years
In an ominous sign for the health industry, Illinois' largest insurer said its business may not grow for the first time in 25 years. The top executive at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois said the recession and rising number of unemployed consumers will lead to...
Rush Limbaugh rants on health care legistlation, slams Ted Kennedy
I used to respect Rush Limbaugh, but he's turned into a babbling shock jock that will say anything for ratings.
COBRA Subsidy Guidance, Labor Department says more coming
The Department of Labor says it is working on guidance regarding the newly created subsidy for COBRA premiums. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides for a 65 percent subsidy for COBRA continuation premiums for up to 9 months for workers...
What the COBRA Subsidy Means for Employers
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed into law February 17 expands COBRA in ways that will certainly impact employers. Most significantly, the act offers assistance-eligible individuals a 65 percent subsidy of their required COBRA premiums and an...
Consumer Driven Health Plans gaining wide appeal
Health care consumerism continues to grow through both consumer-directed health plans and tools that provide all health care consumers with more information about their health care choices and costs. Here are some examples of their growth: The number of employers with...