Category: Health Care Reform

America’s health care system is undergoing many changes – it’s hard for insurance professionals to keep updated let alone consumers. Here we make it easy and publish daily articles on the changes and challenges that health care reform has ahead.

Why New Insurance Rules Could Make Weight Loss Treatments Harder to Access

Nordstrom
weight loss medications

Independence Blue Cross Restricts Weight Loss Drug Coverage Starting January 1, 2025, Independence Blue Cross (IBX), the largest health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania, will no longer cover certain weight loss medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists like Wegovy and Ozempic, when prescribed solely for managing weight. The company will continue covering these medications for individuals with FDA-approved conditions such as Type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. This change impacts both group and individual commercial plan holders, shifting the full cost of these drugs—ranging from $700 to $1,350 per month—to patients who…

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New Illinois Insurance Laws for 2025 Set to Take Effect January 1

Tate Ellison
New Illinois Insurance Laws

Illinois Insurance Reform Bills Aim to Expand Coverage and Accessibility Illinois will see significant legislative changes starting January 1, 2025, as new laws spanning healthcare, employee rights, travel, and driver’s licenses come into play. In this article we’re going to look at Illinois healthcare changes. These reforms were designed to expand coverage, ensure fairness in the workplace, and bolster safety measures statewide. Here’s a comprehensive look at the new laws and their implications for Illinois residents. Key New Insurance Coverage Mandates Support for Hearing Assistance House Bill 2443 mandates new…

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Medicare Agents Should Prepare For Very Busy And Confusing AEP

Ben Jones
Agents preparing for Medicares Annual Enrollment Period

Challenges Loom for Agents During Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period Amid Major Plan Withdrawals Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is always a busy time for Medicare agents. “This year will likely be worse,” predicts Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance. “Several things are all happening at once that will impact seniors,” Slome shares. “A number of major Medicare Advantage plan providers have already announced plans to cease offering coverage. Humana, for example, said this could impact 500,000 plan participants.” Several other major insurers, for example Aetna,…

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The High Cost of Health: Who Gets Weight Loss Prescriptions?

Angela Linders
The High Cost of Health

Disparities in Weight Loss Prescriptions The disparity in access to medications like Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Ozempic highlights a significant issue within the U.S. healthcare system. Despite the increasing medical applications of these drugs, which include managing diabetes and potentially preventing heart disease and stroke, many insurers remain reluctant to cover them for weight loss. Medicare, for example, is legally barred from covering weight-loss drugs unless the patient presents serious health risks. This limitation leaves over two-fifths of American adults who are obese but otherwise healthy without coverage options. Federal spending…

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The Rising Tide of Uninsured Americans and the Looming Threat of ACA Subsidies Ending in 2026

Live Insurance News
The Rising Tide of Uninsured Americans and the Looming Threat of ACA Subsidies Ending in 2026

Uninsured Americans Rise to 27.1 Million in Early 2024, CDC Reports The latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are sounding alarms across the healthcare landscape. More than 8% of Americans were uninsured during the first months of 2024, a significant uptick from the record-low uninsured rates observed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the CDC’s National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 27.1 million Americans of all ages lacked health insurance by March 2024. This marks an increase of 3.4 million uninsured individuals…

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