Latest Health Insurance Headlines

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

Okla. Commissioner Testifies Before U.S. Senate

May 18 2007 // Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland told members of a U.S. Senate committee recently that federal law is impeding the ability of insurance commissioners to protect the elderly who buy Medicare managed care plans.In...

Mo. Lawmakers Pass Legislation to Expand Heath Coverage

May 14 2007 // Some of the roughly 700,000 Missourians lacking health insurance could find it a little more affordable to get. But people who don’t pay their medical bills could lose their state income tax refunds under legislation...

Blue Cross and Canceled Calif. Policyholders Agree to Settlement

May 11 2007 // A class action settlement has been reached with Blue Cross of California, a Wellpoint subsidiary, concerning the cancellation of health insurance policies that occur after a claim for pre-authorized medical treatment. From...

N.H. Bill Would Extend Health Coverage Following Divorce

May 4 2007 // Men and women testified in favor of a bill in New Hampshire that would extend health insurance coverage to people who lose their insurance when their marriages break up.Lisa Kuester, a mother of four who works part-time as...

Kan. Issues Alert on Medicare Phone Scam

May 3 2007 // Kan. Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger is urging Medicare beneficiaries and their families to be aware of a new Medicare phone scam.The caller claims to be a Medicare representative from your area Medicare Office. They...

Pa. Two Largest Health Insurers Say Merger Won’t Hurt Competition

May 2 2007 // Pennsylvania’s two largest insurance companies have formally asked state regulators to approve a change in control of their subsidiaries that would take effect when the nonprofit companies merge.Independence Blue...

Hawaii DOI Takes Back Control of Insurance Rates

May 2 2007 // Hawaii lawmakers are prepared to approve a bill Tuesday that brings back government oversight of health insurance rates a year after they deregulated them.Members of both houses of the Legislature have agreed on a final...

Senator Says Pa. Payroll Tax for Health Insurance won’t Pass

Apr 26 2007 // Pennsylvania lawmakers are unlikely to pass Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposal to impose a new payroll tax that would help expand state-subsidized health insurance because of questions about its legality and its effect on...

Ind. Governor Signs Legislator Pay, Health Insurance Bills

Apr 26 2007 // Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed two bills into law this week _ one that would raise the base pay of legislators and another that would create new health care retirement benefits for some state employees and elected...

Maine Law Restricts Agents’ Cross-Selling of Insurance Products

Apr 20 2007 // Prompted by complaints from Maine consumers, the Legislature has enacted a law to prohibit insurance agents who schedule appointments to discuss Medicare from trying to interest people in other policies.Gov. John Baldacci...

N.Y. Hospital, Upset Over Claims Denials, Accuses HMO of Racketeering

Apr 20 2007 // A hospital network tired of having its bills challenged by HMOs has decided to play rough. Its members are suing two of the region’s largest health insurers, claiming each tried to weasel out of paying for millions...

Clements International Offers Enhanced Global Health Insurance Solution

Apr 19 2007 // Washington, D.C. – Clements International is pleased to announce an enhanced health insurance solution for those living and working abroad – GlobalCare® Health Insurance program. GlobalCare® provides...

UNH to Require Health Insurance for All Students

Apr 19 2007 // Starting next fall, all full-time students at the University of New Hampshire will be required to have health insurance.School officials say the goal is to make sure students can receive medical care beyond the basic...

More N.J. Employers Dropping Health Plans Due to High Cost

Apr 16 2007 // More Garden State employers dropped health insurance coverage for workers last year amid skyrocketing costs that were nearly double what they were five years before, according to a major business association’s survey...

La. DOI to Co-sponsor ‘Health Care Options for Small Business’ Seminar

Apr 13 2007 // The Department of Insurance Louisiana Health Care Commission will co-sponsor a free health insurance seminar for small business owners on April 25, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation Conference...

Mo. House Bill Would Expand Access to Health Insurance

Apr 12 2007 // Missourians lacking health insurance because of its high cost and their personal health problems could find it easier to get coverage under legislation given initial approval by the House.The measure also would make it...

Pa. Health Insurers’ Merger Could Eliminate 1,000 Jobs

Apr 11 2007 // The proposed merger of Pennsylvania’s two largest insurance companies could result in about 1,000 lost jobs, mostly through attrition, a company executive said this week.Highmark CEO Dr. Kenneth Melani made the...

Fla. lawmakers face future of no-fault law

Apr 9 2007 // After her car accident, Sarah Capps suffered from a sore shoulder and back. What she thought were common pains turned out to be six herniated discs.Were it not for the protective medical coverage that every Florida car...

News Currents

Apr 9 2007 // Fla. lawmakers face future of no-fault lawAfter her car accident, Sarah Capps suffered from a sore shoulder and back. What she thought were common pains turned out to be six herniated discs. Were it not for the protective...

Maine Gov. Baldacci Ready to ‘Re-energize’ Dirigo Health Plan

Apr 5 2007 // Maine Gov. John Baldacci planned a major health policy announcement this week that will focus on insurance market reforms, an expansion of the Dirigo Health program and new regulatory provisions, all designed to promote...