Live Insurance News

Department of Health and Human Services may need to refine approach on state exchanges

November 20, 2012November 19, 2012 Dan

Department of Health and Human Services State Exchanges

Department of Health and Human Services sees problems with exchange provision President Obama has won a second term as president and that has major implications for the Affordable Care Act. The health care reform law have been shrouded in controversy since its passage in 2010, but has remained intact for the past two years. One of the provisions of the law calls for the establishment of health insurance exchanges. This provision has been well received by some states, but completely opposed by others. Now, the federal government, through the Department…

Louisiana will not build a health insurance exchange

November 19, 2012November 15, 2012 Marc

Health insurance industry news federal government

Louisiana rejects plans to build an exchange program Louisiana has become the latest state to inform the Department of Health and Human Services that it will not run its own health insurance exchange. The state has been examining the viability of an exchange program for some time, but has been fundamentally opposed to the overarching Affordable Care Act. The state’s stance on the health care reform law has put it at odds with the federal government’s insistence that states build a working health insurance exchange. Governor Jindal notifies federal agency…

Health care survey shows workers often make poor coverage decisions

August 28, 2012April 30, 2013

The open enrollment window is approaching, but many employees won’t make the right choices. According to a health care survey conducted by Aflac, many people either don’t understand the benefits that they have, or they’re not putting in the necessary effort to learn about their coverage in the first place, and this could lead them to make poor decisions when the open enrollment season begins. A significant amount of money is wasted every year due to this lack of attention. According to the Aflac vice president of corporate services, Audrey…

International Insurance Review released by Globalsurance

August 24, 2012August 24, 2012 S.Vagus

First annual International Insurance Review report released Globalsurance, an international insurance information organization, has announced the results of its first International Insurance Review. The report, which is to be released annually, aims to study the rate of premium inflation within the international private medical insurance (iPMI) industry. The first edition of the International Insurance Review makes use of 7,916 data points provided by eight leading companies in the international medical insurance industry over the past 5 years. Using this data, Globalsurance has determined that insurance premiums around the world are…

Affordable Care Act making progress in getting insurance coverage to people with pre-existing conditions

February 27, 2012January 24, 2014 Nordstrom

The Obama administration is claiming that the Affordable Care Act had reached a milestone last week. According to Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, that nearly 50,000 people with pre-existing medical conditions have received health insurance through programs that were set up by the federal law. While this may be a significant accomplishment, many of the law’s critics claim that 50,000 is just a drop in the bucket, considering more than 25 million people with pre-existing conditions still do not have insurance of any kind.…

NYC health insurer to disclose information concerning rate increases

October 27, 2011October 27, 2011 H. Cutner

When it comes to insurance, information is a very powerful commodity. For insurers, it is not only important to ensure that all possible information is gathered when pricing policies, it is also imperative to control the flow of information to the public. Demand for transparency is on the rise in New York, where insurance prices have been soaring recently. The state’s insurance companies have been tight lipped on why rates are growing so quickly, but these companies may soon divulge this knowledge to the general public, thanks to pressure from…

South Africa advances with national health insurance plan, will begin testing next year

August 12, 2011August 12, 2011 H. Cutner

South Africa is inching forward with a new national health insurance plan that seeks to provide coverage to all the nation’s citizens. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says that the project is well on its way to being the largest health care revolution the country has ever seen. The national health insurance plan has been in the works for several years now. Government officials believe that the plan will usher in a new era of health care and improve the nation’s health systems. Minister Motsoaledi told reporters Thursday that the government…