Tag: healthcare insurance

Nearly all nonprofit health insurance co-ops are shutting down

G. Turner
Nonprofit health insurance co-ops - Stethoscope

Of the approximately two dozen that existed during the first few years of ACA, only 3 will soon remain. In the early days of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there were about two dozen nonprofit healthy insurance co-ops. However, now that New Mexico Health Connections announced it will be shutting down at the close of 2020, that number will fall to only 3. Among the three remaining, one is in Maine, one is in Wisconsin and one is in Idaho and Montana. That last of the nonprofit health insurance co-ops…

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC joins insurance commissioner to build rural fire houses

Julie Campbell
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC - Fire truck in fire station

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey worked with the insurer to pay for the building construction. Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC and the state’s insurance commissioner, Mike Causey, joined together to help fund the construction of rural fire house in the state. The commissioner is seeking to improve the rural fire department quality as a whole. Causey has taken on the project to help the state’s rural fire departments to return to better health. Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC joined him in helping to finance the effort, and he has…

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Millions of Americans are losing employer sponsored health insurance plans

H. Cutner
Employer sponsored health insurance - stethoscope - heartbeat monitor - glasses - pills

As workers across the country have been laid off, they’ve also been losing their medical coverage. Employees across the country who had been enjoying employer sponsored health insurance are suddenly finding themselves without a plan as the coronavirus causes millions of layoffs. In many states, the rates of uninsured residents are jumping from single to double digits. As though losing a job wasn’t enough as pandemic prevention efforts continue to hold in place, many Americans who had been covered through employer sponsored health insurance are losing their coverage, too. This…

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Amazon has been hinting at a new seller health care offering

H. Cutner
Seller Health Care - Amazon logo on phone

The online marketplace hasn’t confirmed anything official but has teased at the concept. In a new survey, Amazon hinted at the prospect of offering seller health care by asking those selling on its platform regarding their satisfaction with their current coverage plans. In the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, the marketplace seems to be thinking of supporting its sellers. Seller health care could help those offering products on Amazon’s platform with coverage. This would involve stepping into an entirely new space and industry. Amazon’s third-party sellers represent almost sixty percent…

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Washington insurance companies must wave coronavirus testing deductibles and copays

G. Turner
coronavirus testing - disease - health

The state’s insurance commissioner ordered insurers not to charge policyholders for that service. Washington’s Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has ordered insurers not to charge coronavirus testing deductibles and copays for policyholders who need it. State residents who need to be tested will not need to pay for any part of that test. Kreidler initially announced the new coronavirus testing coverage requirement at a news conference last Thursday. He stated that insurance companies would not be permitted to charge their customers deductibles or copays when the policyholder needs to be tested.…

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California eases its health insurance individual mandate requirements

H. Cutner
Health insurance individual mandate - woman receiving medication from pharmacist

State officials loosened the law out of concern that many residents aren’t aware of the fines. Out of concerns that too many California residents don’t understand the consequences of failing to comply with the health insurance individual mandate, the law has been eased. The worry was that many Californians aren’t aware of the fines they face for failing to buy coverage. The health insurance individual mandate is meant to help encourage Californians to purchase a plan. The idea is, in part, to create an incentive to purchase a health plan…

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Insurers accuse Texas of improperly choosing health insurance contract winners

G. Turner
Health insurance contract - Papers - Business

Over half a dozen plans have launched appeals to STAR+PLUS contract decisions. Texas health insurance contract choices have been placed in the spotlight as insurers accuse the state of making its choices improperly. The contracts being appealed were chosen for Texas’ privatized program for blind, disabled and elderly residents. Texas is aiming to award various types of health insurance contract with a total value of about $10 billion. To apply for consideration, applications must take a standardized test-like process and score well. Applicants are health insurers that want to be…

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