Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act

Recently Wellpoint took some really bad press on the treatment of Breast Cancer. Some of that bad press was wrong. Anthem was accused of purposely rescinding policies of women diagnosed with breast cancer. This accusation was really way out of bounds. Wellpoint has paid for the treatment 10 of  thousands of women who have suffered from […]

Possible Extension of COBRA Subsidy

Congress is poised yet again to consider another extension of the current May 31, 2010, eligibility deadline for the COBRA subsidy program provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Eligibility for the Federal COBRA premium subsidies would be extended through year-end and employers would have more time to fund their pension liabilities under […]

Medicare Reimbursement Reduced as of June 1st 2010

As it stands as of June 1st  the Medicare Reimbursement rate for Medicare is going to be reduced 21%. This means the Doctors and Hospitals are going to be paid 21% less for treating Medicare patients. This is going to have a huge impact on physicians practices. What could happen is Doctors will not be […]

Implementation Of Healthcare Law Slowing

The House prepares for action on a physician payment fix while the administration trudges through early implementation steps for a new health coverage law.” Notably, “this week marks the two-month anniversary of its enactment on March 23.” The law’s “implementation gets slower as the wheels of regulatory agencies churn through new rule making…prior to a […]

Simple Cafeteria Plans Changes

A cafeteria plan is an employer-sponsored plan that allows employees to choose certain pre-tax benefits or cash. For example, an employee may choose to pay his or her share of premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance before taxes through the plan. A cafeteria plan must have a written plan document governing the plan and may not […]

What is Driving Health Insurance Premiums

This is the question that’s at the heart of the matter. And it’s what we need to understand before we can try to control costs. It’s important to look at the real drivers behind high and rising health care costs and health care premiums. More expensive technology, used more often — No doubt, modern medicine […]

Where does the Health Premium Go?

On average, 87 cents of every dollar you pay us is spent covering medical care and services that members receive like doctor visits, hospital costs, prescription drugs and more. So when the costs for these services go up, so must our premiums. Another 10 cents of every premium dollar funds the services we provide like […]

Personal Web Tools for Health-Care Data

It happens whenever you visit a new physician, or one you haven’t seen in a while: You have to fill out an intimidating, mile-long form with dozens of questions about every illness and chronic medical condition that you and close relatives have had, every time you’ve been hospitalized, every prescription drug you’re taking, and so […]

Small Group Tax Credit Extends To Dental And Vision Benefits

The small group tax credit, which will benefit millions of small businesses, has just become more attractive. That’s because the IRS has just released new details clarifying that the tax credit also applies to premiums for dental and vision benefits – not just health benefits. And there’s more good news:  Eligible companies that already get […]