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Final 2019 Idaho Health Insurance Rates

Slight increase for individual plans much lower than in recent years. Final 2019 premium rates for individual and small group health insurance plans have been released by the Idaho Department of Insurance. In the...

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Final 2019 Washington Health Insurance Rates

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board recently certified the 2019 Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) and Qualified Dental Plans (QDPs) to be offered through Washington Healthplanfinder during the upcoming open...

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2019 Idaho health rates proposed

The Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) has posted proposed health insurance premium rates and the requested increases for plans sold starting January 2019. Health insurance companies have submitted their rating...

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Enrollments up in area state health exchanges

Idaho health exchange now closed; Washington is still open until Jan. 15. - Federal health exchange enrollment for 2018 coverage fell only 4.5 percent, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS),...

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Shorter ACA Enrollment Period for 2018

Individuals, small employers, employees, dependents, college students – anyone who relies on individual medical insurance coverage – must apply during open enrollment unless they are renewing existing coverage at a diff...

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ACA Premium Subsidies Continue

Premium Subsidies Are Not Changed. To clarify, this information from recent news articles is NOT referring to the premium subsidies (tax credits) that lower the health insurance premiums paid by qualifying lower income...

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Update on ACA Exchanges

American Insurance is following the latest developments regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). At the publication of this article, enrollments and renewals of ACA Medical Plans will proceed as scheduled. You can count...

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Health exchange enrollment up in all areas

Around 6.4 million consumers across the country have signed up for health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act, an increase of 400,000 plan selected from last year. More than 98,000 Idahoans have selected a...

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Medical premium, network changes for 2017

Major changes in medical premiums and provider networks are coming in 2017. Open enrollment began Nov. 1 in the Idaho and Washington Health Exchange Marketplaces. Anyone who needs or is covered under an Individual...

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Helping businesses find health coverage for employees

Local agents with AMERICAN INSURANCE in Lewiston can help area business owners find qualified individual health insurance coverage for your employees, their spouses and dependents to meet health care mandates. “We...

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Health Exchange Shopping? Find FREE help here.

AMERICAN INSURANCE in Lewiston has Exchange certified health agents who provide no cost help to find you the best health care plan during the Medical Open Enrollment period. “We are doing our best to shop all plans in...

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ACA Penalty Tax doubles for 2016

The ACA individual mandate tax penalty for no health coverage is much larger for 2016. If you can afford health insurance but choose not to buy it in 2016, you must pay a fee or have a health coverage exemption. The...

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Medicare Quiz - 10 Things Everyone Should Know

HOW SMART ARE YOU ABOUT MEDICARE? TAKE THIS MEDICARE QUIZ AND FIND OUT! President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare program into law in 1965. For more than 50 years, Medicare has provided essential medical benefits...

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Student health insurance options explained

Lewis-Clark State College will no longer offer a Student Health Insurance Program (or SHIP) this fall, due to a change by the Idaho State Board of Education. Other regional schools that also have no SHIP include:...

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ACA Exchange Subsidies Secured - Supreme Court

The latest legal attack on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. In KING v. BURWELL, plantiff's argued that the plain language in PPACA says...

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Preventative Care Benefits Expanded

Regence BlueShield of Idaho announced additional new preventative care benefits are now included on all ACA compliant group insurance policies. Regardless of the renewal date of a Regence group insurance policy the...

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Idaho Universities Withdraw Student Health Plan

The Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is being withdrawn from four Idaho universities beginning July 31, 2015. Students at Lewis-Clark State College, Boise State University, Idaho State University and Eastern...

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11.7M Enrolled In 2015 ACA Health Insurance

Nationwide, nearly 11.7 million consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in quality, affordable health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace as of Feb. 22, according to a report...

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Future ACA Health Premium Subsidies Uncertain

The Supreme Court will decide if millions of Americans will lose their premium subsidies if they signed up under the Federal Exchange HealthCare.gov. Fortunately, Idaho and Washington residents will not be effected by...

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ACA Saved Seniors $15B on RX

Since 2010, 9.4 million people with Medicare have saved over $15 billion on prescription drugs according to new information released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The report showed that millions...

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WA Health Exchange Extends 2015 Enrollment

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange, a state-based health marketplace, announced a spring "Special Enrollment Opportunity" for Washington residents who want to avoid tax penalty for 2015. Nearly 160,000 Washington...

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Uninsured Face ACA Penalty Tax for 2014

For the first time, American tax filers are facing the ACA individual mandate penalty for 2014. If you didn't have health coverage for all or part of 2014, you have to either qualify for a health coverage exemption or...

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Medicare Shifting From Volume To Value

Goals and a timeline are being set to move the Medicare program, and the health care system at large, toward paying providers based on the quality, rather than the quantity of care they give patients. This historic...

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ACA Health Exchanges - More Savings & Options

New choices and more competition in the Health Insurance Marketplace are giving consumers affordable options during Open Enrollment this year, and the majority of returning consumers who shop can save money on premiums,...

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ACA $840M Initiative Focused on Health Outcomes

A new initiative will change the way your doctor and health care providers delivery their services to you. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced an initiative that will fund successful...

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Action Needed to Renew WA Healthplanfinder

If you are currently enrolled in a health care plan through Washington Healthplanfinder, you will need to renew your coverage for next year. Customers who signed up for a Qualified Health Plan last year will be eligible...

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Hospitals May Recover $5.7B Due To ACA

A report released by the Department of Health and Human Services projects that hospitals will save $5.7 billion this year in uncompensated care costs because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). States that have expanded...

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"Limited" ACA Special Enrollment for WA Residents

Up to 8% of the 164,000 Health Exchange customers of the Washington HealthPlanFinder experienced on-going billing and administrative problems. This caused some Washington residents to go without insurance, lose their...

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Idaho Health Exchange Getting Ready

The Idaho Health Exchange, Your Health Idaho, is preparing to launch its own state exchange software platform prior to the 2015 Open Enrollment which begins on November 15, 2014. Last year, Idaho was a Federally...

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Oregon's Health Website Woes Spark Lawsuit

ProgramBusiness.com reports that the state of Oregon filed a lawsuit Friday against Oracle Corp. and several of its executives over the technology company's role in creating the troubled website for the state's online...

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2015 Health Care Costs Rising

Large U.S. employers expect a significant increase in 2015 health care costs. If no adjustments are made employers project a 5.2% growth rate, putting absolute cost per person for health care benefits at an all-time...

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Obamacare ACA Federal Subsidies At Risk

A US appeals court ruled against Obamacare subsidies for policies issued through the Federal Health Exchanges. In the case, Halbig v. Sebelius, 14-5018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that...

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COBRA Enrollees Get Limited ACA Access

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid recently announced a new Special Enrollment Period for individuals and families that are currently enrolled in COBRA continuation coverage, known as the federal Consolidated Omnibus...

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Buying Individual Medical Plans After Open Enrollment?

When "Open Enrollment" is closed, individuals seeking medical insurance can only do so if they have a "Qualifying Life Event" which opens a "Special Enrollment Period" (SEP). If you qualify for a SEP then you can apply...

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Keeping "Grandmothered" Health Plans Extended

Keeping your current non-grandfathered individual or small group medical plan (also referred to as "grandmothered" plans) has been extended for policies with annual renewals on or before October 1, 2016. This provides...

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Alzheimer's - What is our National Plan?

Nearly all of us know someone that is touched by the ravages of Alzheimer's Disease. You may find some comfort to know that there is a National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease with a 2014 update released by the US...

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Agents Credited For Idaho's ACA Success

"Idaho's success in enrolling consumers during the 2014 enrollment period is due, in no small part, to the many Idaho insurance agents and brokers who provided invaluable assistance to Idaho citizens," said William (...

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Be Healthy From The Start

"Be Healthy From the Start" is the main theme for National Public Health Week, April 6 - 12. HHS credits the Affordable Care Act's establishment of preventative services and the new National Prevention Council with...

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ObamaCare Open Enrollment Closed! Sort Of?

An extended "Special Enrollment Period" was announced by The White House to allow more time to finish health insurance enrollments with glitches or other special circumstances. The Health Exchange Marketplace was...

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Health Exchange "Open Enrollment" Closing

What happens when the Health Exchange Marketplace "Open Enrollment Period" closes on March 31st? This is the next question as American's struggle to understand and comply with the massive, complicated and ever changing...

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Keep Your Current Health Plan Extended

The "keep your current health insurance plan" promise by President Obama is being extended even further. The Obama administration announced that Americans can keep their health plans that are non-compliant with the...

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Regence - Can I Keep My Plan?

Can I keep my plan? It depends says the Regence Group which does business in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Utah. - Fall 2013 promised to be a dynamic time in the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, with the launch of...

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ACA / ObamaCare Deadlines Extended

Political passions run high over the looming January 1, 2014 deadline of the "Individual Mandate" and other provisions of The Affordable Care Act (ACA). To add fuel to the fire, the ACA Health Exchange Marketplace...

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Health Exchange Update 10/25/13

The Health Exchange Marketplace opened on October 1st and has experienced serious technical problems ever since. In the meantime, the Individual Mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) still takes effect in 2014....

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Only Agents Can Explain Exchange Plans

The Idaho and Washington State Health Exchanges including their navigators (online and phone assistants) will not explain or recommend any insurance plans offered in the exchanges. They feel that experienced and...

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Who Needs Health Exchange Quotations?

The new Health Insurance Exchange Marketplace isn't just for the uninsured! Almost everyone needs to take a serious look at their own state's Health Exchange Marketplace before January 1, 2014. Here's who should obtain...

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$3.9B Health Premiums Saved In 2012

The Obama administration claims that consumers saved $3.9 billion on their premiums in 2012 due to implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that...

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ACA Employer Mandate Delayed Until 2015

The penalties imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on large employers (50+ employees) has been delayed one year in an announcement by the Treasury Department for the Obama Administration. In the announcement by Mark...

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Hospital Charges Exposed & Vary Widely

New data shows significant variation across the country and within communities in what hospitals charge for common inpatient services. Also, HHS made approximately $87 million available to states to enhance their rate...

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Health Centers Funded For AFA Enrollment

Republicans renew call to repeal the entire healthcare law while the Obama administration is providing $150 million for health centers to offer Affordable Health Care (AHC) enrollment assistance nationwide. House of...

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New Health Care Apps Shorter

Now a new series of shorter and easier applications have been released by CMS. Stinging from criticism that the new Health Care applications were too long and too complicated, the Obama administration went back to the...

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Health Agents Play Critical Role

Agents and brokers will play a critical role in helping consumers access health insurance coverage through Affordable Insurance Exchanges or Health Insurance Marketplaces, according to an announcement today by The...

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Quiz Yourself On Health Reform

Test your knowledge on key items from The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The health reform law promises to deliver big changes in the U.S. health care system. But, as with other sweeping pieces of...

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Health Reform Hits Main Street - Kaiser

Confused about how the new health reform law really works? Get answers in just 9 minutes by watching this animated movie from The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation. Click Health Reform Hits Main Street, featuring the "...

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Heath Care Reform Overview - ADP

A free replay of the webinar "Health Care Reform: Strategies to Help Control Costs, Mitigate Risk, & Decrease Penalties," has been made available by ADP ®, a leading provider of employer health care benefits...

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Small Biz Health Exchange Delayed

The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAC) was to begin in every state by January 1, 2014 but is being delayed one year. Health and Human Services (...

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Feds To Pay 100% New Medicaid Cost

The federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of certain newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries effective January 1, 2014. The final rule was announced today by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary...

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32% Rise in Health Claims Projected

Health claim costs per member, per month for non-group individual health insurance plans will increase 32% under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a key finding in the Society of Actuaries study release in March 2013....

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BATTLE FOR ID STATE EXCHANGE

Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter needs citizen support in his battle for a state-based Health Exchange. After winning a hard fought battle in the Idaho House on Wednesday, the legislation now goes again to the Idaho...

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5 Key Health Care Provisions Finalized

A final rule that implements five key consumer protections from the Affordable Care Act were issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "Because of the Affordable Care Act, being denied...

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Final Rules for "Essential" Health Benefits

Final rules for "essential" health benefits were announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The rule outlines health insurance issuer standards for a core package of benefits, called essential...

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Governor's 5 Reasons For Idaho Health Exchange

Idaho Governor Butch Otter's top five reasons for creating a state-based health insurance exchange are listed below. He strongly supports an Idaho Health Insurance Exchange and is asking Idahoans to sign his petition to...

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Only 11 States Pass Health Care Regs

Only 11 of the 50 US states have moved to implement new consumer safeguards under President Barack Obama's healthcare law according to this Reuters report posted today by Insurance Journal. Read more...

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Idahoans Action Needed For State Health Exchange

Governor Butch Otter is appealing to all Idahoans for help passing legislation for a state based health insurance exchange. Facing opposition from far-right legislators Otter has taken the cause direct to his citizens...

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States Move Forward On Health Exchanges

Three more states are on track to implement the health care law and establish health insurance marketplaces, or Exchanges, in their states. Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the first conditional approval of a...

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Just 15 States Opt For State Health Exchanges

Only 15 U.S. states so far plan to operate health insurance exchanges under President Barack Obama's reform law, leaving Washington with the daunting prospect of creating and operating the new online marketplaces in at...

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Idaho Governor Opts For State Insurance Exchange

Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter announced today that Idaho is opting for a state-based health insurance exchange under the terms of Obamacare, subject to legislative approval. In his news release today Governor Otter said, "...

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Health Care Reform - A Closer Look

It appears that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is here to stay. It survived the constitutional challenge in the US Supreme Court and the electoral challenge with the re-election of President...

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Pre-Existing Condition Discrimination Banned

The Obama administration moved forward to implement provisions in the health care law that would make it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions beginning January 1,...

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Health Care Reform Timeline

What's changed and what's not under Health Care Reform? In light of the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court and the complex nature of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Independent Insurance...

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Medicare Part D Rx Premiums Hold Steady

Basic premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans, on average, are projected to remain constant in 2013, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced today. The average 2013 monthly premium...

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8 New Preventative Services Free For Women

Women are getting access to eight new prevention-related health care services free beginning Aug. 1, 2012 announced Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The new rules in the health care law...

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Idaho Health Exchange Work Group Meets

Idaho is playing "catch-up" with Health Care Reform. The first meeting of the Idaho work group studying formation of a state operated Health Insurance Exchange was announced by Idaho Department of Insurance Director...

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Regence Rebates Money to Small Groups

The first Medical Loss Ratio rebate checks were mailed to small groups insured by Regence BlueShield of Idaho on July 16th. This is a rebate on their 2011 premium under the Affordable Care Act's requirement based on...

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Doctor Groups Call For LESS Care!

Three different physician events saw national doctor groups calling for less medical care. In a bold and unprecedented announcement, they say doctors need to use clinical evidence to make care decisions. This can help...

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WA & OR Take Health Exchange Grants

Washington and Oregon were among the six new states to take Health Exchange grants to implement the new health care law. Idaho, a highly conservative and Republican majority state, snubbed HHS and did not take the...

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Healthcare Costs Now Exceed $20,000 Per Family - Milliman Study

A typical American family of four receiving healthcare through an employer-sponsored preferred provider organization (PPO) plan now pays $20,728. This according to the latest study by Milliman, Inc., a premier global...

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4th Leading Cause of Death Is?

1 in 3 U.S. adults-an estimated 68 million of us-have this and it is the "silent killer". Untreated high blood pressure, also called hypertension can damage the heart, brain, and kidneys without a single symptom. Each...

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Idaho's Health Insurance Exchange - On Hold

What is the status of the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange? The US Supreme Court will be making its decision in June whether all, part or none of the Affordable Care Act will stand as constitutional. So, the Idaho...

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WA Gets $6.6M Health Care Grant

Ten states including Washington State received grants to provide early childhood support and home visits to families who volunteer to receive these services, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius...

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New Health Care Rule Saves $4.6B

A proposed rule that would establish a unique "health plan identifier" under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was announced today by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)...

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New Health Exchange Rules Released

New rules released today will offer states substantial flexibility as they design a health insurance exchange marketplace that works for their residents. The Idaho Legislature said "no thanks" this week and has failed...

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Lifetime Limits For Health Plans End

The maximum benefit limits under medical insurance plans for an individual's lifetime have been eliminated under the Affordable Care Act. "For years, Americans with lifetime caps imposed on their health insurance...

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Which Health Services Are Now Free?

Don't forget you have free preventative services to use in 2012! "Americans of all ages can now get the preventive services they need, like mammograms and the new Annual Wellness Visit, free of charge, as a result of...

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"Plain Language" Health Policies Required

Do you have trouble understanding health insurance? People in the market for health insurance will soon have clear, understandable and straightforward information on what health plans will cover, what limitations or...

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States To Decide “Essential Health Benefits”

In a surprise move, the Obama Administration has announced that each state can decide what "essential health benefits" will be offered in their state Health Care Exchanges beginning in 2014. Under the Affordable Care...

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Affordable Care Act vs Supreme Court 2012

The US Supreme Court has agreed to decide the constitution issues of the Affordable Care Act. The court will hear oral arguments in March and then is expected to render a decision in June 2012. So, President Barack...

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Idaho Receives Health Exchange Grant

Idaho is one of 13 new states to receive grants to help them create Health Insurance Exchanges. The Affordable Care Act mandates that every state have a Health Insurance Exchange, either a state or a federal exchange,...

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2012 Health Care Changes

The Affordable Care Act became law on March 23, 2010. The law's provisions are being implemented on a timeline through January 1, 2015. There are four new items being added in 2012. A brief explanation of each is listed...

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ObamaCare Heads to Supreme Court

The Obama administration is asking the US Supreme Court to decide the fate of the Affordable Care Act . Political battle lines were drawn since the Act was signed into law in March 2010. As many as 26 States have sued...

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New-Women Get Preventative Services At No Additional Cost

Historic new guidelines that will ensure women receive preventive health services at no additional cost were announced today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Developed by the independent...

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30% of Employers Will Drop Medical After 2014

Thirty percent of employers will cancel health plans by 2014 because of Health Care Reform, according to a McKinsey Research study. The research suggests that when employers become more aware of the new economic and...

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Obama Care - One Year Later

March 23rd marked the one-year anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The date was marked with numerous events on Capitol Hill and around the country, some celebrating its enactment and...

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9 Million Lose Health Benefits

An estimated 9 million working-age adults became uninsured last year due to recession job losses according to the new Commonwealth Fund 2010 Biennial Health Insurance Survey. The recession has stripped millions of...

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Oregon Gets $48M Health Exchange Grant

Oregon is one of seven states awarded "Early Innovator" grants to design and implement the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure needed to operate Health Insurance Exchanges as part of the Affordable Health Care...

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Mandated Health Insurance Ruled Unconstitutional

Mandated health insurance was ruled unconstitutional by a Federal judge in Virginia today. US District Judge, Henry Hudson, dealt the first significant blow to a key provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by ruling...

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6 New Health Care Reforms Begin Jan 1, 2011

January 1, 2011 is a key date for six new health care reforms created by the Affordable Care Act. Seniors primarily benefit from this current round of reforms but premium vs profit restrictions on insurance companies...

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5 Facts About the Uninsured for Health Insurance

The number of uninsured rose sharply in 2009, reaching 50 million people. Decreasing the number of uninsured is a key goal of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which will provide Medicaid or...

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Senior Health Plans Changing / Some Discontinued

Millions of seniors must choose new Medicare supplement plans before 1/1/2011. Some plans are being discontinued to comply with the Affordable Care Act. Call us for an appointment with a certified insurance agent to...

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Healthcare Law Upheld by US Judge

A US judge upheld a key part of President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that requires Americans to obtain coverage, rejecting a challenge by a conservative...

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Insurers Spend Millions on Reform Changes

Tens of millions of dollars are being spent by insurance companies to comply with Health Care Reform. September 23rd was a major deadline, ushering in new health benefits for consumers mandated by the Affordable Care...

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Preventive Services Required In New Health Plans

Beginning September 23, 2010 all new health insurance plans are required by the Affordable Care Act to include a long list of preventive services without you having to pay a copayment or coinsurance or meet your...

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Crack down of medical premium hikes funded by HSS

Idaho, Washington and Oregon receive $1M each to police unjustified health insurance premium increases. The Department of Health and Human Services announced the award of $46 million in the first round of grants to...

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Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Signed into Law

President Obama signed into law on March 23, 2010 H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This sweeping and controversial reform law includes many provisions that will impact employers, employees and...

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Dependent Coverage for Children Extended to Age 26

One of the new provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandates that health plans make dependent coverage available for your children until their 26th birthday. The under 26 child does not have to...

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