Recent Articles
Payroll Tax Reporting for COBRA Subsidy Offset
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allows a credit against employment taxes for providing COBRA premium assistance to assistance-eligible individuals. As deadlines approach for employers to file their quarterly payroll taxes, groups may be asking about...
St. John’s Hospital Remaining in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Medicare Select Network
In May 2009, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois informed their Springfield Medicare Select members that St. John's Hospital had elected to discontinue its status as a Medicare Select contracting network hospital effective June 17, 2009. BCBSIL has announced that...
House Committees Release Draft Tri-Committee Health Reform Bill
As we head into July, the federal debate has become more defined as four of the five Congressional committees with jurisdiction over health reform have released draft health reform bills. On June 19th , the Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) has removed the following Illinois residential requirement: “50% or more of the enrolled employees must reside in IL or the bordering states
Blue Cross® and Blue Shield®of Illinois (BCBSIL) has removed the following Illinois residential requirement: "50% or more of the enrolled employees must reside in IL or the bordering states. The restriction still applies to group with 2-50 employees. BCBSIL is very...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois offers New Flexible Cancellation Option for Short Term Medical Plans
Effective June 1, 2009 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois gives existing and new members the option to cancel their SelecTEMP (short term medical plan) policy prior to the expiration period. Please note: The cancellation date will be effective on the next monthly...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois New HSA Plan Options vailable for Group 2-150 available July 1, 2009
New BlueEdgeSM HSA plan options for 2-150 groups are being introduced July 1, 2009. These additional plan designs offer $3,500 aggregate and embedded deductible options with either 100%/80% or 80%/60% coinsurance options, or a $5,000 aggregate or embedded deductible...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Member Campaign Promotes Personal Health Manager and Blue Points
In May Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois launched a campaign on Blue Access® for Members to promote the Personal Health Manager and encourage members to earn Blue Points by using these online wellness and condition management resources. Blue Points can be...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Adds Life Time Fitness to BlueExtras Discount Program
Starting July 1, 2009, Life Time Fitness is introducing the following exclusive health club membership offer to BCBSIL members who are new to Life Time Fitness (this offer is not available to current Life Time Fitness members). Life Time Fitness centers are located in...
IRS Issues 2010 Health Savings Accounts Limits
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on May 14 issued Revenue Procedure 2009-29 providing inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) for use in 2010. The annual contribution limits have been increased to: $3,050 for those with self-only coverage (up...
House and Senate Pass Budget Resolution Agreement that May Speed Passage of Health Reform
The House and Senate have approved a compromise budget resolution that sets parameters for spending and revenue legislation. As requested by the President, the budget resolution includes a reserve fund for health care reform initiatives that must be deficit-neutral...