Latest Health Insurance Headlines

All the headlines from our Health Insurance Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Louisiana Group Benefits Chief Resigns

Jun 8 2011 // The chief executive officer of the health insurance office for state employees and retirees, hired by the Jindal administration in April, is resigning after receiving strong criticism from lawmakers about his work to help...

U.S. Court in Georgia to Hear States’ Healthcare Law Challenge Today

Jun 8 2011 // A U.S. appeals court in Atlanta will hear a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of the healthcare reforms signed into law by President Barack Obama a year ago. The suit, filed by more than half the states,...

Oklahoma Returning Federal Funds for Health Insurance Overhaul

May 17 2011 // The Oklahoma Insurance Department has formally notified federal officials that it is returning nearly $1 million in federal funds targeted for health insurance rate reviews, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak...

Health Insurance Exchange Hearings Begin in New York

May 16 2011 // Officials are staging a series of public hearings around New York on designing the state’s health insurance exchange as part of federal health care reform. The exchanges are intended to create a market for small...

Agents Tell Regulators Commissions, Consumers Hurt by Medical Loss Rule

May 16 2011 // “The impact of the medical loss ratio has been dramatic on the agents and brokers in this country and it was dramatic immediately.”That’s a quote from Beth Ashmore, an independent insurance agency owner...

MLR Dramatically Impacting Commissions, Agents Tell Regulators

May 16 2011 // The impact of the medical loss ratio has been dramatic on the agents and brokers in this country, and it was dramatic immediately.”That’s a quote from Beth Ashmore, an independent insurance agency owner from...

MLR Dramatically Impacting Commissions, Agents Tell Regulators

May 2 2011 // The impact of the medical loss ratio has been dramatic on the agents and brokers in this country and it was dramatic immediately.”That’s a quote from Beth Ashmore, an independent insurance agency owner from...

MLR Dramatically Impacting Commissions, Agents Tell Regulators

May 2 2011 // The impact of the medical loss ratio has been dramatic on the agents and brokers in this country and it was dramatic immediately.”That’s a quote from Beth Ashmore, an independent insurance agency owner from...

Health of Agents

May 2 2011 // The role of health insurance agents under the new federal healthcare law is under review, again, by state and federal policymakers.Illinois Insurance Director Michael McRaith says the law’s medical loss ratio (MLR)...

Lawmakers Question Louisiana Governor’s Insurance Privatization Plan

Apr 28 2011 // Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s top financial advisor has defended the administration’s proposal to hire a private company to run a state worker and retiree health insurance program, rebutting complaints the...

Health Insurers’ Claims Cost Continues to Rise

Apr 26 2011 // The cost of claims in employer-sponsored health plans continues to increase, although the rate is slightly lower than six months ago.A new trend survey by Wells Fargo Insurance Services projects that overall claim cost...

Alabama Boosts Tax Break for Small Businesses Buying Health Insurance

Apr 25 2011 // Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has signed legislation increasing the state income tax deduction that small businesses get for supplying health insurance for their employees.The new law applies to the current tax year. Bentley...

Seeking to Privatize, Louisiana Ousts Chief of Group Benefits Office

Apr 18 2011 // Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration on April 15 ousted the CEO of the state-run health insurance office, the Office of Group Benefits, as the governor seeks to privatize parts of the operation.The...

MLR Dramatically Impacting Commissions, Agents Tell Regulators

Apr 18 2011 // “The impact of the medical loss ratio has been dramatic on the agents and brokers in this country and it was dramatic immediately.”That’s a quote from Beth Ashmore, an independent insurance agency owner...

Arizona Lawmakers Moving to Open Door to Health Insurers

Apr 15 2011 // Individuals and employers in Arizona would be able to buy health insurance policies across state lines under legislation that would excuse out-of-state insurers – and possibly in-state providers – from the...

A Balancing Act

Apr 4 2011 // When it comes to health insurance reform, it seems that where you’re coming from makes all the difference.Illinois Insurance Director Michael McRaith, President Obama’s pick to head the Federal Insurance Office...

A Balancing Act

Apr 4 2011 // When it comes to health insurance reform, it seems that where you’re coming from makes all the difference.Illinois Insurance Director Michael McRaith, President Obama’s pick to head the Federal Insurance Office...

Georgia Seeks Waiver from Medical Loss Ratio Rule

Apr 4 2011 // Georgia is requesting a waiver from a key element of the federal healthcare overhaul that sets how much of health insurance premiums must be spent on medical care.Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said he wants a waiver...

Health of Agents

Apr 4 2011 // The role of health insurance agents under the new federal healthcare law is under review, again, by state and federal policymakers.Illinois Insurance Director Michael McRaith says the law’s medical loss ratio (MLR)...

Oklahoma Governor Defends Support for Health Insurance Exchange

Mar 30 2011 // Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin defended her efforts to create a health insurance exchange for uninsured Oklahoma residents, explaining if the state does not have an exchange in place by 2013 the federal government will step in...