Live Insurance News

Insurance brokers feel the struggle in online health plan enrollment process

March 7, 2014March 4, 2014 Julie Campbell

Bulky, clunky systems online have made it challenging to complete smooth signups. While insurance brokers are supposed to be acting as “middlemen” in the enrollment process as Americans sign up for health plans to comply with the Affordable Care Act, these professionals are finding themselves struggling just as much as everyone else when trying to battle with certain clunky parts of the online system. These professionals are finding that they must still refer customers to HealthCare.gov to verify subsidy eligibility. While working to assist customers in being able to determine…

Insurance technology dispute creates turbulence between Oregon and Oracle

March 6, 2014March 4, 2014 Marc

Dispute between Oregon and Oracle threatens the capabilities of Cover Oregon Acclaimed technology firm Oracle has been at odds with the State of Oregon regarding its health insurance exchange. The exchange makes use of technology that has been developed by Oracle and this technology allows the exchange to operate as it is meant to. The problem, however, is that Cover Oregon is not yet fully developed and state officials have called into question the viability of Oracle’s insurance technology. The tension between the state and the technology firm had reached…

Insurance benefits for early retirees causes stress to the Tucson system

March 5, 2014March 3, 2014 G. Turner

City employees have been enjoying having the government pick up the tab, but it is an expensive one. In Tucson, Arizona, as is the case in many cities across the country, when workers retire before the point that they are eligible for Medicare – at the age of 65 years – they are able to avoid the cost faced by most private sector employees, in which they would have to bear the cost of their own health insurance plans during the span between retirement and Medicare eligibility. Last year, the…

Homeowners insurance won’t save you from a rockslide

February 25, 2014February 22, 2014 Julie Campbell

Natural disasters feel as though they are becoming more common but many policyholders don’t understand their coverage. As the weather heads toward another shift in the changing of the seasons, the potential for a new wave of severe storms is building, and homeowners insurance customers may not know exactly what type of coverage they have when Mother Nature decides to show the world what she’s really about. Rockslides, landslides, mudslides and sinkholes are all building up a new level of threat. While many property owners may feel that they have…

Insurance has been letting heroin addicts down

February 19, 2014February 17, 2014 Julie Campbell

Patients addicted to drugs have found that their health insurers have been declining their claims. Breaking out of an addiction to heroin is not an easy feat, requiring intense therapy and assistance, typically in the form of an inpatient program that is often covered by many health insurance plans. However, many policyholders are finding that when they need it, the coverage simply isn’t there. A program to help a heroin addict will involve an evaluation by at least one medical professional. It may also require a certain length of time…