IRS Issues More “Play or Pay” Guidance
Benefits in Brief reports: “Shortly before 2012 came to an end, the IRS issued proposed regulations and Frequently Asked Questions concerning the employer “play or pay” provisions of the Affordable...
View ArticleHealth insurance reform closer to reality in Illinois
Illinois Times reports: “The Illinois Senate could vote next week on implementing a crucial piece of the federal health insurance reforms passed in 2010, but two competing bills could lead the state in...
View ArticleObamacare Faces Doubts Among The Young And The Restless
Insurance News Net reports: “Heading into the final stages before implementation of his health care overhaul, President Obama is facing growing concerns among young Americans who will absorb the...
View ArticleCan mass marketing heal the splits on ‘Obamacare’?
Bloomberg Business Week reports: “How do you convince millions of average Americans that one of the most complex and controversial programs devised by government may actually be a good deal for them?...
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Will Consumers Be Able to Understand Health Exchanges?
Forbes reports: “Now that states have decided what they are going to do about health insurance exchanges—those new shopping carts created by Obamacare to help consumers find health insurance who do not...
View ArticleWill health care reform raise insurance premiums?
MSNBC reports: “A big part of the pitch for President Obama’s health care reform was that it would make health care insurance more affordable–heck, it was even in the name of the bill. But more than...
View ArticleACA Will Test Consumer Loyalty To Doctors
Insurance News Net reports: “A new HealthPocket consumer survey found that 34 percent of respondents are motivated to reduce their health plan costs versus keep their doctor. When survey takers were...
View ArticleEmployer Based Coverage Or Obamacare Plan? Which Is Better?
Forbes reports: “A common theme of the email I receive concerns the cost of employer based coverage versus buying health insurance on the new exchanges. Employer based coverage is considered too...
View ArticleImplementing Health Reform: Contraceptive Coverage Final Regulations
Heath Affairs Blog reports: “The most controversial single issue presented by the Affordable Care Act is arguably the regulatory requirement that group health plans and insurers cover contraceptive...
View ArticleConsumers With Serious Medical Problems Need To Carefully Assess Total Plan...
Kaiser Health News reports: “One of the health care overhaul’s most far-reaching provisions prohibits health plans from refusing to cover people who are sick or charging them higher premiums. Still,...
View ArticleU.S. workers can carry over $500 of health spending accounts: Treasury
Yahoo News reports: “Americans who use flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for healthcare costs may now be able to carry up to $500 of expiring money into the next year, the U.S. Treasury said on...
View ArticleBlue Cross parent expecting losses in 2014 due to Obamacare
Healthcare Daily reports: “Annual net income for the parent company of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois fell well below the $1 billion mark for the first time since 2009, in part because the...
View ArticleObamacare insurers need to step it up to compete with Blue Cross
Crains Chicago Health Care Daily reports: “Five of the six insurers on the Illinois Health Insurance Exchange face a moment of truth as they decide whether to continue offering plans on the online...
View ArticleObamacare co-op Land of Lincoln loses money in first quarter
Crains Chicago Health Care Daily reports: “Illinois’ only co-op health insurance program lost more than $4 million and enrolled fewer than 2,500 people in its first quarter of operation as it struggled...
View ArticleHealth Care For $4: Are You Ready For Walmart To Be Your Doctor?
Forbes reports: “Goodbye, doctor’s office. Hello, Walmart? Based on Walmart’s latest moves, it’s not as unlikely as it sounds. After years of “Will they or won’t they?” discussion, Walmart is making...
View ArticleWal-Mart cuts health benefits for some part-timers
Yahoo Finance reports: “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to eliminate health insurance coverage for some of its part-time U.S. employees in a move aimed at controlling rising health care costs of the...
View ArticleEmployers reducing spousal, family coverage
Benefits Pro reports: “The evidence continues to mount that mid-to-large corporations will fine-tune, but won’t abandon, employee health plans. A Towers Watson survey of 379 companies in that size...
View ArticleAiling Obamacare co-op has an improved diagnosis
Crains Chicago Business reports: “The first year for Illinois’ only co-op health insurance program could be charitably termed as troubled. Established as part of Obamacare, Land of Lincoln Healthaimed...
View ArticleEmployer Shared Responsibility
Generally, under Employer Shared Responsibility (ESR), applicable large employers (generally, employers with 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time equivalents) face a potential penalty if...
View ArticleWhat you need to know about Obamacare tax forms
CBS Rports: Tax filing is getting even more complicated. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers and health insurance companies to give the IRS information about your income and health...
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