Consumers taking charge of their health care costs with health savings accounts
Employers and employees alike have found a more affordable health care option in health savings accounts, according to two national surveys released last week.
Healthcare reform
Supreme Court agrees to hear Obama health care law
The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide the fate of President Barack Obama's health care law, with an election-year ruling due by July on the health care system's biggest overhaul in nearly 50 years.
By
James Vicini
HHS previews insurance exchange application process
States and territories seeking to establish a health insurance exchange, funded under the Affordable Care Act, will be required to submit an application for approval during the fall of 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services has announced.
U.S. appeals court backs Obama health care law
President Barack Obama's signature health care law got a boost on Tuesday when a U.S. appeals court agreed with a lower court that dismissed a challenge and found the law's minimum coverage requirement was constitutional.
By
Lisa Lambert
Excise tax remains No. 1 employer concern with PPACA
The excise tax remains employers No. 1 concern with the health care reform law, with 45% of employers surveyed recently by Mercer citing it as a significant concern.
Wal-Mart trims some U.S. health coverage
Wal-Mart Stores Inc will no longer offer health insurance to new part-time U.S. employees who work fewer than 24 hours a week and will charge workers who use tobacco more for coverage as health care costs rise, the company said on Friday.
By
Jessica Wohl
Obama administration pulls part of health care law
The Obama administration is pulling the plug on a long-term, home-care program included in the 2010 health care reform law that Republicans have derided as a budget trick.
Benefits Think CLASS Act called a zombie that produces phantom savings
It’s getting close to Halloween, which has many of us thinking about ghosts, witches, vampires and zombies. Apparently, the Obama administration is even getting into the spirit of the season, with a zombie of its own. Perhaps, though, you know it better as the CLASS Act. CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports) is the famous/infamous portion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that would allow voluntary enrollees to participate in a public long-term care
U.S. advisers: Keep health benefits affordable
An advisory group urged U.S. officials to formulate a set of essential health benefits under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul that is in line with cost of insurance in a typical small employer plan.
Obama’s health care law tops new high court term
President Obama's sweeping health care overhaul will top the agenda in the new Supreme Court term that opened on Monday and could be the most momentous in decades.
By
James Vicini
Average annual premiums for family benefits top $15,000, up 9%
After several years of relatively modest premium increases, annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage increased to $15,073 this year, up 9% from last year. On average, workers pay $4,129 and employers pay $10,944 toward those annual premiums.
Appeals process mandated by health reform don’t help workers, onerous for employers
Let me begin with a two-part confession: First, I do not claim to be a health reform expert. I have not read through the massive regulation and rely heavily on the interpretation of other, smarter people. Second, I am fairly apolitical. I don't find politics at the local, national and state levels particularly engaging.
By
Cindy Bucher
US health benefits recommendations coming October 7
A key recommendation for medical coverage standards under president Barack Obama's health care overhaul will be released on October 7, according to the organization preparing the report.
Obama’s health care law appealed to Supreme Court
The Obama administration on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to back the centerpiece of Barack Obama's sweeping healthcare overhaul the requirement that all Americans have health insurance.
By
James Vicini
HHS extends comment period on insurance exchanges
The Department of Health and Human Services has extended public comment on two proposed rules published on July 15 to establish state insurance exchanges and implement standards related to reinsurance and risk adjustment.
Ryan targets U.S. employee health care tax breaks
Republican Representative Paul Ryan, an outspoken opponent of President Barack Obama's health care reform, proposed a plan on Tuesday that could effectively dismantle the way most Americans get health insurance by reducing incentives to join employer-sponsored plans.
States get funds to review premium hikes
The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a total of $109 million in grants to 28 states and the District of Columbia to increase resources for conducting health insurance premium rate reviews.
Number of uninsured still rising, census numbers show
New data reflect an increase in the number of uninsured Americans, prompting some benefit industry representatives to question the impact of federal health care reform.
Part of WellPoint decision-making will go to Watson
If youre a customer of WellPoint, Inc., your employees records soon will come under the guidance of a computer. Granted, a very smart computer, but a computer nonetheless.
IRS seeks feedback on employers health care insurance responsibilities
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service are asking for public input on a proposed health care reform rule that would make it easier for employers to determine whether the health insurance coverage they offer is considered affordable for employees.
