Live Insurance News

Nevada residents are slow to embrace state’s health insurance exchange

December 9, 2015December 8, 2015 S.Vagus

HHS data shows that enrollment in insurance exchange is sluggish this year Those living in Nevada have been slow to sign up for coverage through the state’s health insurance exchange. A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services has found that relatively few people have purchased coverage through the state’s exchange, called Nevada Health Link. Enrollment numbers were quite low during the first month of the open enrollment period, which began on November 1. Overall, enrollment throughout the country has been sluggish. Approximately 23,000 consumers have enrolled…

Montana residents save $1.5 million by shopping around for health insurance policies

November 12, 2015November 11, 2015 Logan B.

health insurance plans healthcare reform affordable care act

HHS report shows that consumers are saving money by shopping around for coverage Many residents of Montana have saved money by shopping around for health insurance coverage, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services. The federal agency recently urged consumers throughout the country to shop around for coverage. The agency suggested that many consumers may be paying too much for their insurance coverage, largely because they are unwilling to shop around and consider new options. In Montana, many consumers took this urging to heart,…

Health insurance premiums are on the rise for policies sold through federal exchanges

October 30, 2015October 28, 2015 S.Vagus

HHS releases information showing premiums are growing throughout the country Premiums for several popular health insurance plans sold through HealthCare.gov will be going up in 2016. The Department of Health and Human Services has released a “snapshot” of the plans that will be available through the federal exchange gateway, showing that rates are on the rise. On average, rates for the exchange’s most popular plans will be going up by 7.5%, though premiums for some plans will be going up by a larger margin. Some states will see more modest…

Estimated 10 million people expected to enroll in health insurance exchanges by the end of the year

October 22, 2015October 21, 2015 Nordstrom

HHS predicts that many more people will enroll in state-based insurance exchanges by the end of this year The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expects that some 10 million people will enroll for health insurance coverage through state-based exchanges by the end of this year. More than one-quarter of those without insurance in the country are expected to sign up for policies that suit their needs during the upcoming open enrollment period. The enrollment period is scheduled to begin on November 1, running through January 31, 2016. 8.8…

US health insurance co-ops are struggling

August 21, 2015August 20, 2015 Nordstrom

HHS audit finds that insurance co-ops are failing to generate profit The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently conducted an audit of 23 health insurance co-ops in the United States and found that the majority are struggling financially. These insurance co-ops were established by the Affordable Care Act to serve as non-profit alternatives to exchanges. The co-ops are operated by the federal government and provide consumers with a way to find relatively inexpensive insurance policies that may not be available through other markets. All but one co-op has…

Missouri falls behind in mitigate increase in health insurance rates

August 7, 2015August 6, 2015 Marc

State has been unable to halt the growth of health insurance premiums Missouri may be falling behind in protecting its residents from significant health insurance rate increases. In 2016, insurance policies are set to become more expensive nationwide due proposals from insurers. Typically, state regulators investigate rate increase proposals in order to determine whether or not they are needed. In Missouri, however, regulators are not tasked to investigate rate proposals. Instead, this burden falls to the federal government, which may be leaving consumers open to significant rate increases that could…

Program to protect health insurance companies to be expanded

June 19, 2015June 19, 2015 Logan B.

Government plans to expand reinsurance program to protect insurers The Obama Administration has announced that it will be expanding a program that is designed to protect health insurance companies from high claims. The system serve as a reinsurance program, which provides insurers with the protection they need from the risks that they face. Insurers throughout the country will have the chance to pay into the program, which will partially reimburse them for insurance claims that go beyond a certain level. HHS will have the program cover the cost of claims…