Recent Articles
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 Update
As part of the economic stabilization package (H.R. 1424), Congress passed mental health parity legislation which was signed into law on October 3, 2008, by President Bush as Public Law No: 110-343. This new law amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act...
Advocate Health Care acquiring Condell Medical Center
Advocate Health Care's is acquiring Condell Medical Center effective December 1, 2008. The new name of the hospital will be Advocate Condell Medical Center. As of the December 1 acquisition date, the Advocate Condell Medical Center will return to the Blue Cross Blue...
2009 Medicare Open Enrollment for Prescription Drug Coverage begins Novemeber 15th, 2008
The 2009 Medicare annual Open Enrollment Period for prescription drug plans runs from November 15th through December 31, 2008. Medicare beneficiaries will be able to begin making enrollment changes in their health and prescription drug coverage for 2009 if necessary...
HumanaOne discontinuing 2 individual plans
Effective September 27, 2008, the Autograph Share 80/HSA and the Autograph Share 70 + RX plans are no longer actively marketed by HumanaOne or available for quoting. These plans will only be available at renewal for active clients or pending applications where these...
Aetna to offer flu shots for all members at more than 25,000 locations
HARTFORD, Conn. - September 20, 2008. - Aetna announced that it has contracted with Maxim Health Systems for the fifth year in a row to administer influenza vaccinations (flu shots) to all members enrolled in its health benefit plans. In addition to receiving the...
Assurant Health removes waiting periods
Assurant Health has removed waiting periods for the treatment of tonsils, adenoids, hernias, bunions, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins have been removed from the contracts for new policies effective November 1, 2008 and later.
Assurant expands rate guarantees to OneDeductible and SaveRight Plans
Assurant Health is expanding the 24 month and 36 month rate guarantee buy-up option on OneDeductible and SaveRight plans. The rate guarantee option locks in the premium rate for up to 36 months. The following OneDeductible and SaveRight deductible levels have an...
U.S. Government announces 2009 Medicare drug plan premiums
Seniors enrolled in Medicare's drug benefit will pay average monthly premiums of $28 next year, government officials announced today. That’s about $3 higher than the 2008 average premium, or a 12 percent increase. "Average plan bids have increased at roughly the same...
Aetna Helps Medicare Members Organize Medical Information and Monitor Health with CareEngine-Powered Personal Health Record
HARTFORD, Conn. - September 3, 2008. - Aetna announced today that it has made its CareEngine-powered Personal Health Record (PHR) available to current Aetna Medicare members who purchased their Medicare plans individually. This unique, interactive tool is designed to...
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois loses contract with Wal-Mart
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the state's largest health insurer, soon will no longer administer claims and provide customer service to employees of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, losing the business to another Blue Cross plan in...