Healthcare News

• Early Retirees Health Insurance Program Approved August 31, 2010
  Today, about 2,000 organizations, ranging from small and large companies, educational institutions, unions, nonprofit organizations and local governments have received acceptance into a program that reimburses employee claims beginning this fall. The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program was created by Healthcare Reform, and is meant to be a bridge between now a […]
• Medical Insurance Rate Increase Filing Clarified by Anthem Blue Cross August 31, 2010
  Last March, Anthem Blue Cross had filed rate increases with the CA Dept. of Insurance that was declined due to miscalculations on Anthem's part.  Originally, medical insurance rates were expected to be increased by as much as 39%.  Since then, Anthem Blue Cross has revised and resubmitted their rates for October 1, 2010.  These new medical insurance rat […]
• Number of People Without Medical Insurance Grows In California August 27, 2010
  According to the University of California at Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research, the number of people without medical insurance in California jumped in all counties due to the recession.  The state of California's uninsured rate averages about 24.3%.  However, 37 counties ranging from Shasta to Kern to Imperial had higher uninsured rates than […]
• Aetna Insurance Company Launches New Online Tool for Its Members August 26, 2010
  Aetna Insurance Company has introduced a cutting-edge service which gives their members access to online tools and resources that are simple, relevant and customized to their needs.  It's called SmartSource, and it is a free service that's based on each member's profile and Aetna medical insurance plan.  In a snapshot, it can give you informat […]
• A medical insurance Plan For The Uninsurable in California August 13, 2010
  Finally, it looks like a medical insurance plan may be put into place in California in September for people who have pre-existing medical conditions that have prohibited them from obtaining medical insurance. This plan is meant to be a bridge until 2014, when people with medical conditions will no longer be declined coverage or be rated up for it.  Applicati […]
• Anthem Blue Cross & Insurance Reform Relating to Preventative Care August 10, 2010
  The new health care reform law includes a provision that requires medical insurance companies to provide preventative services without any member cost sharing.    Non-grandfathered plans issued or renewed on or after September 23, 2010 will not include member cost sharing or copays for the following preventative care services provided in-network: Items […]
• Blue Shield's Grandfathered Medical Insurance Plans Update August 5, 2010
  All of Blue Shield's individual and family medical insurance plans, except Essential Plans and Access+ HMO plans, are considered grandfathered if the policy was in effect on or before March 23, 2010 and the plan meets all grandfathering qualifications.  In addition, all small group plans (2-50 employees) are considered grandfathered plans if the policy […]
• Health Care Reform Provisions that Apply to Grandfathered Plans July 27, 2010
  Here is a list of a few of the provisions that grandfathered medical insurance plans are mandated to comply with.  Please note that this is not a complete list. Ban on Annual Limits and Lifetime Limits: Beginning with plan years of September 23, 2010 and after, insurers are not allowed to place lifetime limits on essential health benefits.  G […]
• Anthem Blue Cross Health Care Reform Update July 26, 2010
  While most of Health Care Reform's provisions will go into effect in 2014, there have been some provisions of the Health Care Reform Act that will come into effect this year. For example, children up to the age of 19 will no longer be declined health insurance beginning with plan years (or a policy year) of September 23, 2010 and later.  However, grandf […]
• Medical Insurance Reform Laws Help Those With Denied Claims June 24, 2010
  As it stands now, your chances of fighting and winning against an medical insurance company to get a denied claim paid is slim.  There are very few options for disputing a medical insurer's decision.  The appeals process can be very time consuming.  Most people cannot sue the medical insurer for damages that resulted from the denials and treatments tha […]