The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has approved six insurers for individual policies offered through the Affordable Care Act health exchange for 2023, including four in Chattanooga. Bright Health is exiting the individual and family market in Tennessee at the end of the year, while Ascension Personalized Care/US Health and Life has…
Health/Employee Benefits News
A ballot question initiated by a Somerville orthodontist will either result in better dental health for an estimated 25% of Massachusetts residents without dental insurance or in higher premiums and prompt employers to drop coverage for their workers. Under state law, Massachusetts residents are required to have health insurance. "Even though dental…
Higher costs for medical care and health insurance may be the next burdensome inflation shoes to drop on the U.S. economy. The U.S. spends $4.1 trillion annually on health care between private insurance, government-run Medicare and Medicaid and other components of the medical sector, according to the federal government's National Health Expenditure report.
HUNTINGTONâ Ahead of this year's Affordable Care Act open enrollment period in West Virginia, resources and deadlines that consumers should know were discussed by a representative from First Choice Services' West Virginia Navigator. "West Virginia Navigator is a free, nonprofit program that offers enrollment assistance to any West Virginia resident…
Planning for LTC: The 4 words that drive the conversation
Although people find it easy to talk about the experiences of a friend or family member who is going through a long-term care event, they are reluctant to have a conversation about their own need for care.
A Superior Court judge sided with state retirees in a lawsuit, temporarily blocking the Medicare Advantage plan from going into effect next year. Karen Peterson, a retired state senator, was one of the plaintiffs. In his ruling, Judge Calvin Scott ordered for a trial to be held to make a final determination on the future of the Medicare Advantage plan.
Atrium Health, the largest hospital system in North Carolina, has declared publicly that in 2019 it provided $640 million in services to Medicare patients that were never paid for, by far the largest "community benefit" it provided that year. But for the same year that Atrium's website says it recorded the $640 million loss on Medicare, the hospital system claimed…
QUINCYâ I received a large, official-looking envelope in the mail recently with bold black letters: "Massachusetts Medicare Beneficiary Update." Then in smaller letters: "Learn about important 2023 Medicare Advantage options before the December 7 enrollment deadline. When I asked Norm Tetreault, a state health benefits counselor at Weymouth Elder Services,…
Tom Wolf is reminding Pennsylvanians of the 2023 open enrollment period that begins Tuesday, Nov. 1, through Pennie, the commonwealth's official online health insurance marketplace. "Obtaining affordable, quality health care has never been easier in Pennsylvania thanks to Pennie's one-stop shop design," Wolf said. Pennie's open enrollment period runs from…
Long-term care crisis âsneaking up on most Americansâ
The rising costs of long-term care affect caregivers as well as care recipients.
A prominent national survey found premiums for family coverage in employer health plans held steady this year- a first for an annual report that for decades historically showed family coverage in the U.S. becoming increasingly expensive. While somewhat encouraging in terms of affordability, the findings in the latest Kaiser Family Foundation report show…
However, the settlement reached Oct. 7 with American Guarantee Liability Insurance Co. "stipulates that all claims filed in this action are dismissed without prejudice," which means they can be filed again. Novant claims the insurer, a U.S. subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group Ltd., breached the COVID-19-related insurance policy that the health system took out…
WASHINGTON- Millions of Americans can begin selecting their 2023 health insurance plans on HealthCare.gov on Tuesday, as the Biden administration pushes to keep the number of uninsured Americans at a record low. Those searching for coverage will largely be shielded from an increase in costs because of the extension of the generous subsidies that began last…
Workers battling burnout along with money woes, study finds
Mercerâs consultants presented findings from their 2022 Inside Employeesâ Minds study that showed workers are as concerned about their well-being as they are about their financial situation.
Bright Health will discontinue offering its health plans in 2023 in Affordable Care Act markets across the country, including Florida. Bright Health also is ending all its Medicare Advantage plans outside of California and Florida. A spokesman for Bright Health said the insurer will continue to offer Medicare Advantage plans in 11 Florida counties: Broward,…
Monona- based WPS Health Insurance is ending its Medicare Part D drug coverage next year, requiring about 11,000 enrollees in Wisconsin to find other plans. WPS is dropping the prescription drug plan, which it has offered since the government added drug coverage as a Medicare option in 2006, so it can concentrate on its Medicare Supplement Insurance plans,…
Maybe youâ ve seen the endless stream of commercials with celebrities like Joe Namath, William Shatner or Jimmy Walker. Joe Manchin, D- W.Va., was recently hailed as aâ Medicare Advantage Champion.â. West Virginians need heroes in the Senate who will hold private insurance accountable when they fleece Medicare and patients.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. >> Atrium Health, the largest hospital system in North Carolina, has declared publicly that in 2019 it provided $640 million in services to Medicare patients that were never paid for, by far the largestâ community benefitâ it provided that year. and an additional $37.2 million in profits from Medicare Advantage in a federally required financial…
eHealth, an online private health insurance marketplace, today released results from a survey of more than 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries. According to the survey, more than half (53%) of beneficiaries are currently enrolled in the same Medicare coverage they had three years ago, though many have experienced changes in the past year that may suggest the need for a new Medicare plan.
