ACA Section 1557 Notice Requirement Effective October 16, 2016
On May 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a final rule implementing section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in any health program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. Learn more.
Reminder: Employer Responsibilities Regarding MLR Rebates
The Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rules under Health Care Reform require an issuer to provide rebates if its medical loss ratio (the amount of health insurance premiums spent on health care and activities to improve health care quality) falls short of the applicable standard during a reporting year. Learn more.
Highmark 2017 Product Training & Reminders
The individual product training for the upcoming 2017 Open Enrollment Period is now available on the producer portal. Read more.
Capital BlueCross 2017 Individual PPACA Products and Member Communications
The Capital BlueCross family of companies Individual Affordable Care Act (ACA) product portfolio has been updated for 2017. Read more.
Banet's Bullet - 2017 Individual OEP Electronic Materials - Brochures, Rates, Application
Independence Blue Cross has released the electronic material for the 2017 Individual Open Enrollment period. Read more.
UPMC Health Plan Individual and Family Plans for 2017
Resources to learn about UPMC’s 2017 Plan details for Individuals and Families. Read more.
Banet's Bullet - 2017 Independence Blue Cross Agent Registration
Independence Blue Cross has released the new agent registration program. Read more.
Colonial Life 4th Quarter Incentive
During fourth quarter, we’re providing a cash incentive for new brokers who’ve never done business with Colonial Life. Read more.
Filed Rates by Rating Area from PID Site
In May, the Insurance Department received rate filings for plans to be sold in 2017 on the federal marketplace at Healthcare.gov. Read more.
Highmark Small Group Update - 2017 Creditable Coverage Results Available
Highmark has determined that all of our Small Group plans qualify as creditable coverage for 2017 Small Group prescription drug designs. Read more.
Highmark Lehigh Valley Flex Blue
Highmark and Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) are launching a new health insurance benefit design - Lehigh Valley Flex Blue - that will allow these two organizations to better manage the care members and patients receive to improve outcomes and lower future health care costs. Read more.
Aetna | No 2017 commissions for individual plans in some states
We will not offer commissions for 2017 individual plans in the following states: Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Read more.
Banet's Bullet - Independence Blue Cross Consumer Broker Commissions for 2017 - Update
Independence Blue Cross has amended the initial announcement regarding individual commission. Read more.
Important Notice: Capital BlueCross 2017 Individual Health Programs
Since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) took effect in 2014, it has brought significant changes to the health care industry, placing difficult financial burdens on consumers and creating challenges for long-term financial sustainability of many consumer products. Read more.
Cigna hit with racketeering case over prescription drug costs
A Massachusetts woman is suing a Fortune 500 insurance company, claiming that it requires the network of pharmacies with which it contracts to overcharge insured patients "unauthorized and excessive amounts" for prescription drugs. Read more.
Renew, change, or update your health plan for 2017
If you had Marketplace health insurance in 2016, you can renew, change, or update your plan for 2017 during the Open Enrollment Period, November 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017. Read more.
Latest blow for Obamacare: Health insurance brokers add fees
Rob Arvin has spent the past few weeks making frustrated calls to health insurance companies. Read more.
Hershey-Pinnacle abandon merger fight
After an almost year-long battle with state and federal regulators, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and PinnacleHealth System announced today that they have decided to abandon efforts to merge. Read more.
Agents mobilize for ACA exchange plan scrambler week
HealthCare.gov managers are gearing up to shuffle stranded exchange plan enrollees into new plans next week. Read more.
3 ways to motivate employees during enrollment
More in Healthcare plans Healthcare benefits Healthcare issues Healthcare costs Enrollment systems Enrollment Print Email Reprints Share Fall is the time of year when millions of Americans can decide to change their insurance — if they even have a choice. Read more.
Affordable Care Act rates going up in 2017
Rates are going up on health insurance plans offered in Pennsylvania under the Affordable Care Act. Read more.
Phila. area faces hefty increases in Affordable Care Act rates
Because of market turmoil and decisions by United Healthcare and Aetna to withdraw from Affordable Care Act exchanges in Pennsylvania for 2017, the remaining insurer in the Philadelphia area, Independence Blue Cross, has been granted a bigger rate increase -- 28 percent -- than it requested in the spring, the state Insurance Department said Monday. Read more.
Live Demo - UPMC Marketplace Individual Quoting System
UPMC Health Plan will be offering four live demos of our Marketplace Individual Quoting System. Register now.
11/3 Introduction to HealthiestYou & Teledoc
Join us for a webinar on November 3rd at 2pm to learn about the telehealth program from HealthiestYou & Teledoc. Register now.
11/4 UPMC Producer Update - You're Invited to the Fall Producer Kickoff!
In order to find out new information about our products and services, please attend our Fall Producer Kickoff. Read more.
Weekly PPACA Update Conference Call
*There will be no PPACA Conference Call on October 27th.
In a continuing effort to assist our agent-partners in getting the information needed to flourish within the under 65 group and individual markets in Pennsylvania, we are holding weekly live webinars. They will serve as a place to get your questions answered and discuss topics and strategies that will lead to your continued success in the health insurance market. Register once and you'll be signed up for all of the 2016 Weekly PPACA Conference Calls. Register now.
Weekly PPACA Conference Call Archives
Click here to view the archived recordings of the PPACA Conference Calls.
