Health Insurance
Health Insurance News and Health Insurance Information.

Debate over health insurance bills continues - Chicago Tribune
LANSING, Mich. - The legislative battle over how to change the laws governing Michigan ’s health insurance market for individuals might continue into late this year. The state House on Friday took a procedural vote that signals there won’t be an

Private insurance in Medicare costs the government more - Food Consumer
MONDAY June 30, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) — Health officials announced Friday that the Department of Health and Human Services will lock the current pricing system to prevent the planned 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians who treat

NCQA Updates Physician and Hospital Quality Program - Insurance News Net
Copyright 2008 Business Wire, Inc. Business Wire June 30, 2008 Monday 2:02 PM GMT DISTRIBUTION: Business Editors; Health/Medical Writers LENGTH: 827 words HEADLINE: NCQA Updates Physician and Hospital Quality Program; First national set of standards

UnitedHealth, Pfizer lead S&P health index lower - Forbes
Health care stocks ranging from drug developers to insurers mostly fell along with the broader market during the second quarter, according to Standard & Poor’s, with Pfizer Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Inc. among the worst performers. S&P’s health

Wealth or health? - Amarillo Globe News
Ericia Spencer has visited her newborn son, Charlie Tucker, every day for the last 28 days he has been in the BSA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Charlie was born premature. Spencer had no health insurance when both children were born. Michael

Aetna Takes First Step Toward Entering Insurance Market In China - Medical News Today
Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced that it has established a representative office in Shanghai, China, as the first step in a two-year process required before an insurer can apply for a license in China. Aetna, through its international division, Aetna

Mind-altering drugs and the problem child - Boston Globe
YOU’RE A young mother at the playground with your 3-year-old son. The other mothers are engaged in relaxed conversation, but you’re on edge. You know your son is “inflexible,” and at any moment could go from happily playing to a tantrum. Sure enough

Debate over health insurance bills continues - Chicago Tribune
LANSING, Mich. - The legislative battle over how to change the laws governing Michigan ’s health insurance market for individuals might continue into late this year. The state House on Friday took a procedural vote that signals there won’t be an

The graduation gap - Minneapolis Star Tribune
I’ve read studies which suggest that our insurance mess adds at least 10% operating costs onto your bill (I bet it’s double or triple read more that). Think of all the paper-pushers, actuaries, accountants, legal teams, managers, IT staff

A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Principal Financial Group’s Shelf - Forbes
A.M. Best Co. has assigned indicative debt ratings of “a” to senior unsecured debt, “a-” to subordinated debt, “a-” to trust preferred securities and “bbb+” to preferred stock that can be issued under Principal Financial Group, Inc.’s (PFG) (Des

Health enrollment has its cost - Boston Globe
NO ONE ever said that keeping tabs on the 175,000 people getting subsidized coverage under the new state healthcare law would be easy. Not only do administrators have to collect premiums, but they also have to make sure the coverage is not going to

Amacore Group signs advisory agreement with JH Darbie - Insurance Business Review
The one-year advisory agreement calls for JH Darbie to render various consulting and advisory services to Amacore focusing on having Amacore’s public market valuation reflect its growth and long-term growth potential. Included in the range of

Access Plans USA, Inc. Announces Expansion of Sales Resources and - MSN MoneyCentral
IRVING, Texas, June 27, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — Access Plans USA, Inc. (Nasdaq:AUSA), a nationwide distributor of health insurance and non-insurance healthcare programs that provide access to affordable healthcare for families and individuals in the

Access Plans USA, Inc. and DenteMax Announce Partnership Agreement - MSN MoneyCentral
IRVING, Texas, June 27, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — Access Plans USA, Inc. (Nasdaq:AUSA) and DenteMax have announced a partnership agreement in which Access Plans can utilize the DenteMax national dental network to enhance its own Access Dental network

N.J. moves closer to universal health care - Philadelphia Inquirer
New Jersey took an important step this week toward becoming one of the first states with universal health care when lawmakers approved a bill expanding a health insurance program for low-income families. Legislators trimmed funding in many areas of

Winning at the Health Insurance Game - Index-Journal
(ARA) - Are Americans paying too much for health insurance? While health care costs continue to skyrocket, more and more consumers are finding affordable health insurance solutions online. According to a Boston Globe study, worker’s health insurance

The graduation GAP - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Featured comment “For thousands of Minnesotans graduating from college this year, the end of school also means the end of piggybacking on their parents’ health insurance”

Markell, Carney differ on health care timing - Delaware Online
Voters looking for a clear distinction between the Democratic Party s gubernatorial candidates will find one in their health care plans, state Treasurer Jack Markell said during a brief press conference held in the waiting room of the Glasgow

County Must Help Improve Latino Health, Report Says - Washington Post
Latinos have emerged as the fastest-growing population group in Montgomery County , and more needs to be done to boost their health and well-being, including improving access to medical care and expanding transportation and bilingual services, a new

Status of key issues in the Michigan Legislature - Chicago Tribune
The Democratic-led state House and Republican-led Senate adjourned early Saturday for summer break after a busy week. The status of major legislative issues: BUDGET: The House and Senate passed most of a spending plan for the state budget that starts

Hartford Financial spent $660,000 lobbying in 1Q - MSN MoneyCentral
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., an insurer and investment manager, spent $660,000 in the first quarter lobbying on life and health insurance rules, according to a recent disclosure report. The Hartford, Conn.-based

COBRA Can Get You Over Hump To Medicare - The Ledger
I often hear from readers who’ve lost their jobs in their 50s or early 60s to layoffs or involuntary “early retirement.” It’s a very stressful time all around, but finding health insurance is one of the biggest challenges. Coverage from former

Fidelity: $85k needed for long-term care costs - Boston Globe
A 65-year-old couple needs $85,000 on average to cover insurance costs for long-term care such as nursing home stays in retirement, according to a study to be released today by Fidelity Investments , the Boston mutual funds giant. The finding

Tripura to introduce health insurance scheme for workers - Thaindian.com
Agartala, June 28 (IANS) The Tripura government will introduce a health insurance scheme for daily wage earners and those in the unorganised sector, a minister said Saturday. About 742,200 unorganised labourers would be covered under the proposed

Eliminate health insurance system - Democrat and Chronicle
I didn’t need to read the whole June 17 article about the American Medical Association report on health insurance to become upset. I stopped at the third paragraph, which read that doctors are spending 14 percent of their revenue just in the process

Performance Ratio Benchmarking in UK Accident and Health Insurance - PR Inside
The report provides a detailed analysis of the performance ratios of the top 10 UK accident and health insurers. It analyzes the loss, expense and combined ratios of these players and compares these ratios to their premium income movement. The top 10

Medicare private plans underestimate profits - GAO - Reuters
WASHINGTON, June 25 (Reuters) - Private health plans contracting in the federal Medicare program have underestimated profits, which could inflate government reimbursement, a congressional watchdog group said on Wednesday. The Government

Q&A: Saving with a High-Deductible Plan While Still Covering Employees - Wall Street Journal
Three years ago, entrepreneur Mark Galvin called an insurance company to find out what it would cost to cover employees at his new high-tech communications company. The answer — an $1,800 monthly premium per employee for family coverage sent him

UPDATE 1-CIGNA names president and COO - Reuters
NEW YORK, June 25 (Reuters) - CIGNA Corporation Inc (CI.N: Quote , Profile , Research , Stock Buzz ) on Wednesday named David M. Cordani as president and chief operating officer of the health insurance company. Cordani will be responsible for the

Home loan aid programs could be cut in housing bill - MSN MoneyCentral
Centex Corp ( CTX ) Stock Quote , Chart , News , Add to Watchlist WASHINGTON (AP) - Nonprofit groups are battling with the Bush administration over whether to kill programs that allow homebuyers without the money for a down payment to get funds from

Bad news for 27-year-old virgins - Salon
Here’s some unfortunate news for any American woman between 27 and 45 years old who was hoping to get an insurance-covered dose of Gardasil, most commonly known as the cervical cancer vaccine. (It’s actually a vaccine against the four strains of the

The Amacore Group, Inc. Announces Advisory Agreement with JH Darbie - MSN MoneyCentral
The Amacore Group, Inc., ACGI , a leader in providing health-related membership benefit programs, insurance programs, and other innovative and high-quality solutions to individuals, families and employer groups nationwide, today announced that it has

Small players diversify into insurance services business - Business Standard
After the rush of Indian conglomerates and foreign insurers in all segments of the underwriting business, domestic companies, which service these firms in the life and non-life categories, are charting growth strategies in new areas. A host of family

Poll: Obama leads McCain in swing states - Miami Herald
Obama has a solid 12 percentage point edge among Colorado’s independent voters. McCain has a small lead among men, but women lean solidly toward Obama. Whites are closely divided between the two while six in 10 Hispanics prefer Obama. Voters over age

Bill seeks expansion of health benefits - Boston Globe
Consumers would have greater access to mental health care and substance abuse treatment under a proposed law that is drawing heat from business and insurance groups that say the measure is too costly and violates the state’s landmark healthcare law

CORRECTING and REPLACING Melanie Toniazzo Named Director of Small - MSN MoneyCentral
Melanie Toniazzo has been named director of Small Group Sales for Humana s HUM San Antonio and Laredo Markets, in an announcement made by Linda T. Hummel-McAlpin, market chief executive officer of Humana of South Texas. Toniazzo will be

AFSCME mediator search may take time - State Journal-Register
The largest state government employee union is heading into uncharted territory, calling in a mediator to help achieve a new contract. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 has never sought mediation in state

Fidelity: $85k needed for long-term care costs - Boston Globe
BOSTON A 65-year-old couple needs $85,000 on average to cover insurance costs for long-term care such as nursing home stays in retirement, according to a study to be released Thursday by Fidelity Investments. The finding underscores the need to

Advocates focus on ‘junk’ medical insurance - Santa Rosa Press Democrat
SACRAMENTO — More than 2 million Californians purchase their own medical coverage — a number that’s growing as fewer employers offer group coverage. Thwarted in their efforts to overhaul the state’s health care system, consumer advocates are now

Women’s-interest groups led effort for health initiative - Billings Gazette
HELENA - An initiative to expand children’s health insurance in Montana may be the only measure to make the November ballot by petition this year - and it did so with the help of a unique volunteer and political force, supporters say. Montana Women

Using a Cafeteria Plan - AOL
Cafeteria plans are another employee benefit that offer tax breaks. Cafeteria plans are also called flexible spending accounts or Section 125 plans after the section of tax code that governs their use. Cafeteria plans earn their nickname from the

Anorexia, bulimia may soon become part of mandatory health insurance - Chicago Tribune
Melissa Traub has struggled for a decade with an eating disorder, her weight sometimes dipping below 100 pounds, her hair falling out by the handful. Today, the 24-year-old Naperville woman appears to be healthy a tribute to treatment, tenacity and

Fitch Rates Idaho Housing & Finance Association’s $60MM 2008B Bonds - Forbes
Fitch Ratings has assigned the following ratings to Idaho Housing and Finance Association’s (the association) single-family mortgage bonds, 2008 series B: –$30 million class I variable-rate ‘AAA/F1+’; –$19.2 million class I fixed-rate ‘AAA’; –$3

Rural deputy pay low despite big duties, dangers - Boston Globe
MONTEAGLE, Tenn. Grundy County sheriff’s deputy Shane Tate, a father of five, was making $10.50 an hour when he was gunned down in the line of duty. Deputies are the law in most unincorporated areas across the country, escorting prisoners, acting

Open Up and Say Online - Baltimore Sun
T wenty-five years ago, ATMs were novelties. Ten years ago, online banking was only for the brave. Today, both technologies are as mundane as the phone or refrigerator. Next up on the road from cutting-edge to routine: the PHR, or personal health