07 Jan
Posted by David Cambridge as Insurance News
Public employee unions are suing over the states decision to increase the health care contributions for current retirees, claiming the 2 percent increases that took effect in October are unconstitutional.
The Retired Public Employees Association filed a similar lawsuit in state court earlier this month. Late Wednesday, the Public Employees Federation, Civil Service Employees Association, United University Professions and other unions representing law enforcement and correction officers filed parallel suits in federal court in Albany, claiming health care for retirees is a form of deferred compensation guaranteed by the contract under which the employees retired.
Consumers may catch a little break when their health insurance policies renew. Lower-than-expected use of health care has helped push insurer earnings higher and that may temper how much they increase premiums.
Analysts and industry observers say people tend to hold off on elective surgeries or skip doctor visits after a deep recession, and that makes utilization grow more slowly. Insurers consider this trend when they determine what they will need to collect in premiums to cover future claims, and employers likely will use it as a bargaining chip when they negotiate prices of the plans that cover their workers.
This doesn’t mean consumers on a steady diet of rising premiums in recent years can expect a price drop.
“I think what it promises is some level of stability in rates,” said Dan Mendelson, CEO of the research firm Avalere Health. Full Article…
30 Jun
Posted by Lucas Falkiner as Insurance Tips
Congress has the authority to make people take action to buy health coverage because the health care market is different from most other markets, according to a 3-member panel at the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The 3-member panel has decided in Thomas More Law Center vs. Barack Obama (Case Number 10-2388) to uphold a determination by the U.S. District Court in District that the minimum coverage provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) is constitutionally sound. O
The long awaited NFL lock-out is upon up and players are toughing it out without health insurance. Many players chose to get coverage through COBRA while negotiations are under way, but there are players taking a risk with no insurance at this time. This is unfortunately considering one of the main factors the players are fighting for is a significant improvement in health care post-football and a health care reimbursement account.
According to the article “The NFL Labor Situation is Bad, but Resolution Closer Than it Appears” by Peter King on SportsIllustrated.cnn.com, the NFL situation is in the hands of the lawyers and there’s even a possibility games are lost this year while they battle out NFL benefits and contracts. This c
22 Jan
Posted by Holly Cadman as Insurance News
Health care reform has resulted in a reimbursed of $250 to Medicare recipients falling into the stage 2 Medicare coverage gap, or donut hole. In a press release, Secretary Sebelius says, “The Affordable Care Act offers long overdue relief by lowering prescription drug costs each year until the donut hole is closed.”
Though the rebates will help, for many Medicare beneficiaries, it’s a drop in the bucket, for those hemmed in by brand name medications for which there are no generic substitutes.
However, Secretary Sebelius says the rebate for falling into the donut hole is just the first step. T