President Obama proposes cuts to crop insurance

S.Vagus
us crop insurance program

2017 budget plan aims to cut $18 billion in funding for the Department of Agriculture President Barack Obama has proposed a budget plan for 2017 that could have a major impact on farmers throughout the country. These farmers rely on crop insurance to protect them from the financial implications of natural disasters and underproduction, but this form of coverage has become a financial burden on the country. Obama has proposed to cut some $18 billion in funding for crop coverage offered through the Department of Agriculture over the next 10…

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Oklahoma lawmakers pursue bill in case earthquake insurance companies leave

H. Cutner
earthquake insurance companies

Concerns that insurers will head out of the state as quakes become more common has sparked the need for consumer protection. Over the last handful of years, earthquakes have become increasingly common in Oklahoma, and there is a growing concern that insurance companies could start to leave the state if they find the risk associated with doing business there to be too high. Scares of quakes are causing lawmakers to consider the possibility of a worst-case scenario in Oklahoma. The purpose is to put a bill into place that would…

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Kentucky approves controversial health insurance deal between Aetna and Humana

Marc
Kentucky insurance exchange health insurers

New Insurance Commissioner grants approval for Aetna’s acquisition of Humana Kentucky’s new Insurance Commissioner, H. Brian Maynard, has approved of a controversial acquisition plan from Aetna. The insurance provider has plans to acquire Humana in a deal that has caused concern among consumers and some government officials. The deal is valued at approximately $37 billion and some fear that it could have a dramatic impact on the health insurance market. Commissioner Maynard’s decision to approve the deal has been met with some criticism. Economists have yet to report on the…

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Autism insurance mandate will ease financial burden of therapies

Julie Campbell
Health Autism Insurance Coverage

The goal is to help to make the necessary treatments affordable for affected families. North Carolina Senator Tom Apodaca (R-Hendersonville) originally sponsored an autism insurance bill in the state, in order to produce legislation that resulted from negotiating with insurers that had previously been opposed to the efforts of Apodaca and other legislators, in their attempts to require coverage for treatment of this spectrum of disorders. Last year’s bill was supported by insurance companies, which were allowed to cap adaptive behavioral treatment. Adaptive behavioral treatment is a term that encompasses…

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New legislation in Arizona seeks to secure health insurance for children

S.Vagus
Children’s Health Insurance Program kids

Legislation revitalizing the KidsCare program has received approval from state representatives Children in Arizona may soon have access to the health insurance coverage they need thanks to new legislation. The legislation has been approved by the state’s House of Representatives and aims to revitalize a program known as KidsCare. The program is designed to provide coverage for children in families with incomes from 138% to 200% below the federal poverty level. The legislation revitalizing the program still has some legislative hurdles to overcome, but it has gathered strong support from…

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