Missouri insurer finds criticism from state auditor

Missouri’s largest provider of worker’s compensation insurance has come under fire from one of the state’s auditors, Tom Schweich. The Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Company (MEM) is a state-backed insurance company created in 1993. Since its creation, the insurer has avoided paying federal taxes because of its claim to be a public corporation. Accusations of corruption led to the company’s agreeing to a one-time review from the state to ensure that its business practices were sound and that it was not misrepresenting itself for the sake of profit. According to…

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Highmark announces the launch of new low premium and deductible individual health insurance coverage

Highmark has announced the availability of a new form of individual health insurance plan called the Simply Blue PPO, which is designed to provide policyholders with simple coverage at a low premium, with a predictable structure for copayments and with low deductibles. According to Highmark’s senior vice president of health services strategy, product and marketing, Steven Nelson, “We listened to our members’ feedback, and we’ve heard them say that they would like a more affordable plan without a large upfront deductible.” The new plan is medically underwritten and offers policyholders…

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Report highlights the sluggish growth of health care spending due to U.S. recession

The worldwide recession has had a major impact on the health care system of the U.S. The effects are quite obvious in terms of insurance. As thousands of people throughout the country lost their jobs, they also lost their health insurance coverage. The recession, which lasted from late December 2007 to the middle of 2009, suppressed health care spending in the U.S. significantly, according to the federal government. The Obama administration released a report this week from the Department of Health and Human Services showing the impact of the recession…

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Healthcare overhaul to bring health insurance to approximately 2.5 million more young adults

A new rule in the healthcare reform has made it possible for many young Americans to maintain their coverage under their parents’ plans, which will allow an additional 2.5 million people who are 25 years old or younger to be insured. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there was an increase in the percentage of insured individuals between the ages of 19 and 25 from 64 percent in June 2010 to 73 percent in September 2010. This rise is credited to the coverage provision of the…

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