Jerry Lynott in the Times-Leader reports that Geisinger Health Plan has filed requests to increase its rates with the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance. Geisinger wants to raise its rates by 5.5% for employers with less than 51 health care subscribers, and 7.1% for groups with more than 51 members. The rate increases will impact about [...]
Archive for January, 2009
New York Gov. Proposes Expanded Health Insurance for Dependents
Keith L. Martin of the Insurance and Financial Advisor just reported on a new proposal by Governor David Paterson regarding New York health insurance. He wants to expand health care coverage by mandating that health insurance companies cover policy dependents up to age 29, at the policyholder’s own expense. Currently, parents’ health insurance plans in [...]
Maryland Health Insurance Plan
According to the Baltimore Business Journal, the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP) will offer health coverage for reduced premiums for individuals and families with limited household income. MHIP offers health insurance to Maryland residents who aren’t eligible for Medicaid, can’t afford health insurance from a private health insurance carrier or simply can’t qualify for individual [...]
5 Tips For Baby Boomers Losing Health Insurance
The baby boomer generation (ages 45 to 64) is worried about losing their health insurance, and the current economy is even more cause for concern. Many baby boomers have been either laid off or forced to retire early, and with that comes the loss of their employer sponsored health insurance plan. Meanwhile, they’re not yet [...]
Blue Shield Reinstates Health Coverage
The LA Times reports that Blue Shield of California has agreed to reinstate the health insurance policies of roughly 700 California residents whose health plans were canceled after they got sick. Blue Shield also agreed to the way they handle their individual health insurance plans. In exchange for the agreement, the state of California dropped [...]
Affordable Medical Tourism Solutions
Reuters is reporting that Healthbase Online, a medical tourism facilitator, is engaged in a pilot program with Wellpoint to provide global health care coverage to Wellpoints members in Wisconsin. Healthbase’s involvement in the pilot involves setting up all the medical & travel logistics. Under the Wellpoint program, members who choose to have non-emergency elective procedures [...]
Aetna Improves NYC Community Plan for Small Business Health Insurance
TradingMarkets.com reports that Aetna health insurance has made improvements to NYC Community Plan, its slate of health care offerings for small business owners and their employees. The plan, launched one year ago, is intended to make New York health insurance more accessible for groups that are traditionally underserved. It’s currently available in the New York City [...]
Expanding Government Assisted Health Insurance
Barack Obama and the Dems are considering major expansions to the existing government assisted health care programs. One of the changes being discussed would subsidize employers’ expenses for temporary continuing health insurance coverage to laid-off and retired workers and their dependents, as mandated by COBRA, and allow workers who lose jobs that did not come [...]
Missouri Representative Wants Insurers To Cover Infertility Treatment
According to Emily Coleman of The Missourian, a state legislator is planning to introduce a bill that would require Missouri health insurance companies to cover diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Steve Hodges (D) is trying again, after failing to get a hearing for a similar bill last year. It is unclear whether the bill would [...]
Georgia Health Plans Get Tax Breaks
Several new Georgia state laws become law as we ring in the new year today. Among these new laws is one which will eliminate both state and local taxes for Georgia health insurers who offer high-deductible health insurance plans. The tax break will save insurance companies an estimated $146 Million over 5 years. The idea [...]
