Health Insurance News and Research

RSS

State News Round-up: States trim budgets, experiment with reform ideas

News outlets report on a variety of state health stories including the Connector in Massachusetts, mental health care in Texas, hospital payments in Vermont, increased health insurance coverage in California and Republican efforts with employer insurance in Florida.

17 Sep 2009

Speaker Pelosi remarks on benefits for children in health insurance reform

Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks at an event for the Children's Health Fund this afternoon on the West Front Lawn of the Capitol to raise awareness for the more than 21 million children who will benefit from health insurance reform.

17 Sep 2009

Health plans will continue working with members of Congress to enact bipartisan legislation: AHIP

"Senator Max Baucus has led an unprecedented and rigorous bipartisan process to enact health care reform this year and challenged all stakeholders to contribute to this process. The introduction of legislation in the Finance Committee is a very important step in the health care reform process.

17 Sep 2009

Survey: Average cost of employer health plan up 5%

The average cost of an employer-provided family plan is now $13,375, up 5 percent from 2008, according to a new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust.

17 Sep 2009

Fully-insured members of Capital BlueCross to receive coverage for administration fee for H1N1 Flu vaccine

Capital BlueCross announced today that it will cover an administration fee for the H1N1 Flu vaccine for fully-insured members and those with individual coverage during the upcoming 2009-2010 flu season. Self-funded groups may opt to have their coverage customized to include this benefit.

17 Sep 2009

Insurers say seniors in Medicare Advantage spend less time in hospital

Insurers say seniors in Medicare Advantage spend less time in the hospital. CQ HealthBeat reports: "A new study issued Tuesday by the health insurance industry touts the benefits offered by Medicare Advantage, just as Congress contemplates slashing bonus payments to the managed-care program to help pay for the health care overhaul."

17 Sep 2009

Americans for Tax Reform assesses the Baucus healthcare plan

Employer Mandate Tax. $400 per employee if health coverage is not offered. Note: this is a huge incentive to drop coverage, as $400 is much less than the average plan cost of $11,000 for families or $5000 for singles (Source: AHIP)

17 Sep 2009

Poll finds concerns about health care reform's effect on the economy

A new poll finds President Barack Obama's job-approval rating and favorability remain high - 56 and 61 percent, respectively - despite deep divides over his health care proposal and handling of the economy, Bloomberg reports.

17 Sep 2009

How-to guides: Help an elderly parent, find your own insurance

News organizations offer advice on how to care for an elderly parent without going broke and how to find health insurance before becoming eligible for Medicare.

17 Sep 2009

Health reform plan will affect middle-class families adversely: Consumer Watchdog

The new health reform plan released today by U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) will charge middle-class families nearly 20% of their annual income for health coverage, while letting insurance companies charge what they please for policies, said Consumer Watchdog.

17 Sep 2009

Some Dems push back on Obama's proposed ban on illegal immigrants buying insurance

The Los Angeles Times reports: "Trying to quell a conservative uproar over his healthcare agenda, President Obama has proposed barring illegal immigrants from a possible government-arranged health insurance marketplace -- even if the immigrants pay with their own money.

17 Sep 2009

Agiliance announces a new application for privacy management

Agiliance, Inc., the leader in integrated Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), today announced the Agiliance Privacy Manager to the current suite of GRC applications.

17 Sep 2009

Baucus releases bill: No public option

Kaiser Health News reports that "Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus today unveiled a health care bill that would require most individuals to have health insurance.

17 Sep 2009

Baucus unveils much-anticipated Senate Finance version of health overhaul legislation

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus unveiled his version of a health overhaul bill, which has no public option and requires most people to have health insurance coverage.

16 Sep 2009

Baucus Bill garners no Republican support

Sen. Max Baucus is unveiling his health overhaul bill today at noon and news outlets noted it will not have any Republican support.

16 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 16, 2009

Today's biggest story -- Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, D-Mont., will unveil his health reform proposals. Who will support it? And won't?

16 Sep 2009

Speaker Pelosi's remarks at the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee forum on health insurance reform

Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered opening remarks this morning at a forum held by the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee that highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive health insurance reform.

16 Sep 2009

ANCIR poll: High immigration levels affect the cost of the health care system

The American Council for Immigration Reform (ANCIR) national poll on immigration and its impact on health care issues conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC, of 1,000 likely voters on August 26, 2009 found that 78% of Americans believe that high immigration levels have had an adverse impact on the quality and cost of our health care system. Republicans (89%) felt more strongly on the issue, but Democrats (69%) were not far behind.

16 Sep 2009

American consumers largely unsure of their health benefit plans

A survey released today from Plan for Your Health, the health benefits public education program launched in September 2004 by Aetna (NYSE: AET) and the Financial Planning Association (FPA), found that less than 20 percent of insured adults surveyed consider themselves very knowledgeable about their health benefits plan.

16 Sep 2009

Insurance and HMO interests fighting health care reform with huge money

A campaign finance watchdog's analysis of insurance and HMO political contributions and lobbying expenses found the industries spent $126,430,438 over the first half of 2009 and $585,725,712 over the past two and a half years to influence public policy and elected officials.

16 Sep 2009