Health Insurance
Family Health Premiums Rise 3 Percent To $13,770 In 2010, But Workers’ Share Jumps 14 Percent As Firms Shift Cost Burden
Workers on average are paying nearly $4,000 this year toward the cost of family health coverage an increase of 14 percent, or $482, above what they paid last year, according to the benchmark 2010 Employer Health Benefits Survey released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET)…
Americans Saving More For Health Care In Retirement, First Command Reports
Concerned about rising medical expenses, middle-class Americans are bumping up their monthly retirement savings to cover future health care costs. The First Command Financial Behaviors Index® reveals that average monthly savings solely for health care costs during retirement climbed to $245 in July, up 42 percent from $173 a year ago…
ACA Provisions Could Benefit 16.6 Million Small Business Employees, Starting This Year
16.6 million small business employees work in firms that will be eligible for tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. The credits, designed to offset health insurance premium costs and help small businesses afford and maintain health insurance, are available in taxable years beginning in 2010. Researchers […]
Today’s Opinions: Pawlenty’s Order Against The Health Overhaul, Repealing The Health Law And More About Health Care Costs
Pawlenty’s Order Pure Politicking The Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer The move can be explained in no other way than in being a totally partisan decision, intended to shore up his conservatism in what will be a 2012 battle of who is more conservative to wear the Republican mantle for president (9/1)…
Calif. Allows Safety-Net Coverage Cost Increases; Georgia Illegal Immigrant Dialysis Agreement Reached
The Los Angeles Times: “As state leaders blast giant health insurers for raising rates, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration has quietly allowed hefty increases for thousands of sick or jobless Californians who must rely on expensive safety-net coverage — if they want insurance at all…
Health Reform Politics: Florida Court On Ballot Question; Repeal Campaign Touted By Conservatives; Nebraska Flap
Health News Florida: “The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that targeted the new federal-health reform law, ruling that state lawmakers included misleading wording that could not be fixed. Justices, in a 5-2 ruling, upheld a circuit judge’s decision to strip ‘Amendment 9′ from the November ballot. …
Employers From Nearly Every Sector Of Economy Applying For Health Overhaul’s Early Retiree Subsidies
Seven states that are suing the federal government to throw out the health overhaul are also preparing to take subsidies that will help them afford medical costs for retirees, The Associated Press reports. “An administration official said Tuesday seven states suing the federal government are among 16 already approved for subsidies to help with the […]
Pawlenty Instructs Minnesota Agencies To Snub Health Law’s Discretionary Funds
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, issued an executive order Tuesday instructing state agencies to reject discretionary federal funds that stem from the health overhaul, The Wall Street Journal reports. That makes “Minnesota the first state to formally restrict itself from taking some federal dollars under the law” and carries “political overtones for a possible […]
PruHealth Set To Grow Following Approval Of Standard Life Healthcare Acquisition
PruHealth has become a competitor of scale in the UK Private Medical Insurance (PMI) market following the completion of the acquisition of Standard Life Healthcare by Discovery Holdings* of South Africa…
Nearly 2,000 Employers And Unions Approved Into New Program
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first round of applicants accepted into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. Nearly 2,000 employers, representing large and small businesses, State and local governments, educational institutions, non-profits, and unions have been accepted into the program and will begin to receive reimbursements for employee claims this […]