In US News & World Reports Ranking of the nations top health insurance plans, they ranked the Georgia health plans in the following order. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia (HMO) – Kaiser’s HMO ranked very well, receiving 5 stars in both treatment and Prevention measures. The plan only received 2 stars on the customer [...]
Archive for January, 2009
Top North Carolina Health Insurance Plans
The top North Carolina health insurance plans as ranked by US News and World report’s annual health plan ranking report are displayed below. Of particular note is that a number of health insurers including the states oldest and largest health insurance company, BCBSNC, have chosen to not supply internal data that is required to provide [...]
COBRA Subsidy Proposed
A.M. Best reports that under an $825 Billion stimulus package proposed by house democrats, many Americans who have been laid off from their jobs since 9/1/2008 could have up to 65% of their COBRA insurance payments subsidized by the federal government. The house bill that has been named The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, allocates [...]
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Michigan-Layoffs and Rate Hikes
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) recently announced they may lay off as many as 1,000 employees. In addition, BCBSM will be seeking double digit rate increases on many of their individual health insurance plans when they file their new rates with the office of financial and insurance regulation. Rate increases sought will on [...]
WellPoint Suspended from Selling Medicare Advantage & Part D Plans
Kevin Kingsbury from the Dow Jones Newswires reports that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have forbidden WellPoint from adding new members to its Medicare plans. Compliance problems were discovered in separate audits. As of January 13th, WellPoint is suspended from selling Medicare Advantage (hospital and physician coverage under a private plan) and Medicare [...]
Health Insurance Carrier Settles Dispute
Following up on a story reported a couple of days ago, UnitedHealth Group has agreed to pay $350 Million to settle a billing dispute related to out of network claims. In addition, UnitedHealth pledged $50 Million and Aetna $20 Million to create a new database to determine our of network claims payment. The previous database [...]
Children’s Health Insurance Funding Increase
President elect Barack Obama is expected to sign into law a bill presented by the U.S. house soon after he takes office that will increase spending on government funded children’s health insurance plans. The bill would essentially add 4 million children to the existing roll of 7 million who are already receiving government subsidized health [...]
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii Offers Online Doctor Visits
The Hawaii Medical Service Association (which is part of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii), has launched a new virtual doctor’s visit service, according to the Arizona Republic’s Ginger Rough. Patients in Hawaii can now have a short consultation with one of 140 physicians whenever they need to, available 24/7! Online doctor visits take place [...]
UnitedHealth Settlement Will End Patients’ Overpayment of Out-Of-Network Doctors
Julie Appleby of USA Today reports that New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has reached an agreement with UnitedHealth Group that will protect policyholders against paying more than they should to see out-of-network doctors. While this immediately affects New York health insurance, the settlement could have far-reaching impact across the country. UnitedHealth insurance used a subsidiary’s [...]
