Live Insurance News

Mergers among health insurance companies could drive rates skyward

September 15, 2015September 13, 2015 H. Cutner

The American Medical Association has said that the reduction in competition will raise rates. The American Medical Association (AMA) has recently released the results of a study that claims that most health plan markets in the United States are currently led by a small number of insurance companies that may become even fewer with the current trend of mergers and acquisitions. The organization representing doctors and hospitals is criticizing the impact of this market shrinking. The reason is that they feel that if the current intentions of insurance companies to…

New Jersey residents are finding it hard to pay for health insurance

September 14, 2015September 13, 2015 S.Vagus

Report highlights the good news and bad news for those purchasing coverage through exchanges A recent report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shows that enrollments in health insurance exchanges throughout the country remained stable during the last open enrollment period. In New Jersey, however, this could be a double-edged sword. While more people in the state have been able to acquire insurance coverage through the state’s exchange, fewer people are able to keep up with the pace at which insurance premiums are growing. New Jersey exchange continues…

D.C. health insurance exchange will be losing some options in 2016

July 14, 2015July 11, 2015 H. Cutner

Residents of Washington D.C. won’t have as much competition on the marketplace, next year. People who live in Washington D.C. will be finding that when they look over their health insurance exchange, next year, to comparison shop for plans, they won’t have quite as many options as they saw this year. There will actually be only one carrier from which to choose, which will considerably change the playing field. Because of the plummeting competition over the insurance exchange in D.C., many of the residents who will be using it will…

Study shows competition is not leading to lower health insurance premiums

July 13, 2015July 11, 2015 S.Vagus

New study suggests that competition is not having a beneficial impact on insurance rates The Economic Alliance for Michigan has released a new study concerning the size of the health insurance market and the effect that competition has had on insurance premiums. Typically, more competition in the health insurance markets leads to lower premiums, as insurers fight with one another for the support of consumers. The study, however, suggests that high competition between insurers does not always lead to lower premiums for individuals and businesses. Prominent insurers are not able…

Health insurance costs for 2015 won’t be revealed until after the election

October 20, 2014October 19, 2014 G. Turner

There could be double digit increases in premiums in certain states where key Senate races are occurring. Consumers across the United States who intend to buy their health insurance on the federal exchange won’t need to wait much longer to find out what their premiums will be, but they will still need to wait until after the election on November 4 for their first glimpse at the official figures. That said, this won’t delay their ability to shop and make their purchases as open enrollment starts on November 15. This…

Health insurance may be more expensive than penalties from the federal government

September 12, 2014September 11, 2014 Marc

Some may be more willing to pay federal penalties than purchase insurance coverage Health insurance may be more costly for consumers in the U.S. than federal tax penalties associated with the country’s health care reform. According to the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, those without insurance coverage face a fine. This fine is based on a person’s income, but is also set at a flat rate of $99. The fine is issued every year and is due when taxes are being filed to the federal government. Researchers find that…

Health care reforms too expensive for California State students

February 7, 2014February 4, 2014 Julie Campbell

Uninsured students are claiming that they’d like to purchase the coverage but it costs too much. According to the results of a poll that were recently released, students from California State University would like to be able to sign up for coverage under the health care reforms, but they believe that it is too expensive. The survey showed that this is the primary reason that students there have avoided enrollment so far. The research involved the responses of 836 students from the university, among whom at least 80 percent said…