Providing Certainty in an Uncertain Health Market
Blog by Deb Wilkinson
There have been many times in my health insurance career that I had to dig deep to find the positive in the rapid-fire changes that came with the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Read more.
CMS to Propose Major Changes to Federal SHOP Marketplaces
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced its intention to propose major changes to how small employers in Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplaces using HealthCare.gov would enroll in SHOP plans taking effect on or after January 1, 2018. Learn more.
Wolf taps insurance chief to lead unified Department of Health and Human Services
Gov. Tom Wolf today nominated state Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller to head up a unified Department of Health and Human Services, proposed as a consolidation of four existing state agencies starting this summer. Read more.
Highmark Producer Elite Rewards Program
Exclusive incentive program for agents that work through an Elite Highmark Agency. Read more.
Highmark Channel Insights: News for the Producer Community
Welcome to the spring edition of Channel Insights: News for the Producer Community. This edition’s Channel Perspective column spotlights Dr. Charles DeShazer, M.D., Highmark’s Chief Medical Officer, his new role and its impact on the producer community. Read more.
Aetna | Important AFA Underwriting Update
Effective immediately, groups with 15 or more enrolled subscribers can get GRX medical underwriting for AFA new business. Read more.
UPMC Health Plan Double Play Incentive
What Employer Groups Qualify: Groups in 51-100 market segment with 51 employees or more enrolled, 100 + market segment with 100 or more employees enrolled. Read more.
Trump Seeks Delay of Ruling on Health Law Subsidies, Prolonging Uncertainty
The Trump administration asked a federal appeals court on Monday to delay ruling on a lawsuit that could determine whether the government will continue paying subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to health insurance companies for the benefit of low-income people — effectively prolonging uncertainty that is already rattling the health law. Read more.
PBM’s specialty Rx costs soar despite lower trend
A leading pharmacy benefit manager has shaved its drug trend — the combination of a drug's cost and its usage — to its lowest point in four years, but specialty drug costs are still hard to swallow for employers and their advisers. Read more.
Voluntary benefits remain a priority during healthcare uncertainty
As employers wait to see what will happen with the next phase of healthcare reform, one constant remains: employers are still gravitating toward high deductible health plans, which continue to make voluntary coverage an important priority this year. Read more.
States get involved in lawsuit to shield Obamacare, saying Trump can’t be trusted
Attorneys general from 15 states and the District of Columbia filed a motion Thursday to intervene in a long-running lawsuit over a core part of the Affordable Care Act. Read more.
Democrats accuse White House of causing ACA tremors, then shifting blame
The on-again, off-again threat from the White House to shatter the Affordable Care Act appeared to be on again Friday, as Politico reported that President Trump “told aides in a Tuesday Oval Office meeting that he wants to end” subsidies for people who buy health insurance on the state and federal exchanges. Read more.
U.S. House speaker says will send health bill to Senate in weeks
The U.S. House of Representatives will send its healthcare overhaul plan passed earlier this month to the Senate in a couple of weeks after it receives a final analysis by congressional reviewers, House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Friday. Read more.
AETNA WANTS OUT OF NJ’S INDIVIDUAL, SMALL-GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETS
Tens of thousands of Aetna members will likely be forced to find new health insurance next year if the company withdraws from New Jersey’s individual and small-group health insurance markets as planned, triggering what could be the largest single disruption in years. Read more.
ERISA Implications with State Retirement Plans
According to CNN Money, about 55 million Americans don't currently have a retirement plan through their employer. Read more.
Why this year’s open enrollment season needs to be different
Summer hasn’t officially started, and the fall seems a lifetime away, which is why open enrollment may be low on employers’ to-do list. Read more.
AHCA Update Webinar
Since the passage of the ACA in 2010 and the recent passage of the AHCA through the House it's important to stay informed so you can better serve your clients in the group health and under 65 individual markets. The weekly AHCA webinars are your resource to stay close to the proposed law and to ask questions that may be important to your livelihood and to your clients. Register now.
ACA Update Webinar Archives
Click here to view the archived videos of the ACA Update Webinar.