Live Insurance News

Health insurance policies sold through South Carolina exchange may become more expensive

June 4, 2014June 1, 2014 S.Vagus

Department of Insurance believes that insurance policies will increase in cost next year The South Carolina Department of Insurance has predicted that the four health insurance companies that are selling policies through the state’s insurance exchange will again sell these policies during the exchange’s next open enrollment period. These plans will go active next year, but the agency believes that they will be more expensive than they were during the last open enrollment period. The agency will not know for sure if these policies will be more expensive until later…

E-cigs are a complicated issue in terms of health insurance

June 3, 2014June 3, 2014 S.Vagus

Federal regulators are considering the role that e-cigs play in health insurance coverage Regulators are discussing whether or not health insurance companies that participate in state insurance exchanges can levy a tobacco surcharge on policyholders that use e-cigarettes. This is the latest development in the ongoing debate over the health problems that could be linked to these electronic devices. Currently, the overriding consensus among federal regulators is that e-cigarettes are just as dangerous as normal cigarettes despite the fact that they have no tobacco content. E-cigarettes are not well understood, from…

Health insurance in California to be affected by Insurance Commissioner race

June 2, 2014May 31, 2014 S.Vagus

Dave Jones California insurance commissioner insurance industry rates

Dave Jones fights to keep his position as the state’s Insurance Commissioner California is currently searching for a new Insurance Commissioner and the state’s incumbent, Dave Jones, is facing some serious opposition. Jones has become a regulatory powerhouse over the past few years, using his authority to hold the state’s insurance companies to a higher standard. Jones has won support for being an enthusiastic consumer advocate, but he has also made enemies within the insurance industry due to his aggressive stance on regulation. More aggressive regulations could keep insurers in…

Health care reform law creates promising opportunities

May 30, 2014May 28, 2014 Logan B.

Medical practices could face new challenges and favorable opportunities The Affordable Care Act has sparked a significant influx on new patients into the Medicaid programs of some states. The law has given states the opportunity to expand their Medicaid programs in order to make insurance coverage more available to a wider range of consumers. The law has also allowed for the creation of insurance policies with high deductibles, which are sold through state insurance exchanges. For some state’s the health care reform law may be creating major revenue opportunities. Report…

Health care reform could be keeping insurance rates steady

May 28, 2014May 26, 2014 S.Vagus

Rate hikes for coverage in the US may be less serious than previously thought Consumers throughout the U.S. have been experiencing rate hikes for their health insurance coverage over the past few years. Rates have been growing at a rapid pace, placing many people under significant financial pressure. The Affordable Care Act is meant to resolve this issue by helping slow down the frequency at which insurance premiums increase, and the health care law may actually be succeeding in this endeavor. Early rate filings coming from many large insurance companies…