Recent Articles
Resurrection Healthcare joins the Aetna Medicare network in Illinois
Aetna Medicare is happy to announce the addition of Resurrection Healthcare to our Aetna Golden Medicare (HMO) and Aetna Golden Choice (PPO) network! Resurrection Healthcare operates nine hospital facilities throughout the city of Chicago and suburban Cook County. The...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Announces Its Intent Not to Pay for Additional Costs Resulting From ‘Never Events’
CHICAGO, Aug. 11 -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) announced today its intent not to pay for costs resulting from hospital-based preventable medical errors known as "serious hospital acquired conditions" and "never events" (errors in patient care that...
IRS releases 2009 maximum health savings account contributions
The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service recently released 2009 guidelines for maximum contribution levels for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and out-of-pocket spending limits for high deductible health plans (HDHPs) that must be used in conjunction with...
Assurant Health Introducing TelaDoc: 24/7/365 Physician Access
The Assurant Health MaxPlan, CoreMed, and OneDeductible now include TelaDoc, a service that offers physician access—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. When members need non-emergency medical care, they can call TelaDoc from anywhere and let the doctor...
Evanston Northwestern, Rush North Shore finalize merger
North suburban hospital operator Evanston Northwestern Healthcare said it will acquire Rush North Shore Medical Center in Skokie, committing more than $160 million to the deal, according to a definitive agreement finalized today. As part of the deal, which still needs...
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois reducing EOB mailings
Effective July 13, 2008, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois will no longer print and mail Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) that relate to all patient share zero liability claims. Zero liability claims are those claims that are covered and paid for by Blue Cross and Blue...
Blue Cross Blue Shield Companies report Wellness Programs have Financial, Health Benefits
(BestWire Services Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) An increasing number of employers are participating in employee health and wellness programs in a bid to reduce health care costs due to chronic illnesses, officials from Blue Cross Blue Shield companies and the National...
Blagojevich alters insurance bill to cover autism therapy
By Monique Garcia | Chicago Tribune reporter
When Brianna Dicianni was diagnosed with autism two years ago, doctors said the girl would never learn to speak.
Undeterred, her family sought therapy, only to run into another roadblock: Because their insurance company didn’t cover treatment for autism, they would have to pay for the costly sessions out of pocket.
Brianna’s parents borrowed against their home, dipped into college savings for their three children and—$80,000
Democrats Gear Up New Push for Universal Health Care
A coalition of liberal groups that includes major labor unions such as the Service Employees International Union and the activist group MoveOn.org announced today it will spend $40 million to make health insurance a major issue in the campaign, with Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, as the one of the group’s main spokespersons. The group, which has dubbed itself “Health Care for America Now!”
Medicare Beneficiaries at Risk of Identity Theft
WASHINGTON — Social Security officials, concerned about the risk of identity theft, are calling for immediate action to remove Social Security numbers from the Medicare cards used by millions of Americans.
But Medicare officials have resisted the proposal, saying it would be costly and impractical.
In a new report, the inspector general of Social Security, Patrick P. O’Carroll Jr., says “immediate action is needed.”
“Displaying such information on Medicare cards unnecessarily places millions