Obama admin warns that double-digit increases in health insurance premiums are approaching
The announcement comes as the President continues to push for healthcare reform.
Independence Blue Cross changing 3 plans; customers worried
The replacement plans will be more expensive, and provide less coverage.
Highmark looking to send jobs overseas
The health insurer is looking to hire workers in other countries to take care of administrative work.
Small businesses: We’re paying more for less employee coverage
In the past few years, costs for premiums have skyrockets for small businesses that want to buy health insurance for their employees– plus, the plans they buy are covering less expenses. So many of them are dropping coverage altogether.
Here’s a first: A health insurer is opening its own health clinic in the Philly area
The clinic will be entirely funded and administered by an insurance company. Instead of working for medical practices or hospitals, every doctor, nurse, technician, and clerk at the two-story clinic will be a Bravo Insurance employee. And the patients won’t be able to just walk in off the street. Every one of them will have to have Bravo insurance.
New federal law requires many insurance companies to provide mental health coverage
As of Jan. 1, the law requires that group plans covering more than 50 people provide the same level of care for mental health and substance abuse problems as for medical ones.
Sen. Leach introduces bill to improve access to eating disorder treatments
Senate Bill 1138 would require Pennsylvania’s health insurers to cover non-hospital, in-patient treatment for eating disorders and the underlying issues that may cause them.
More than 500 Independence Blue Cross employees accept early retirement packages
The buyout was offered 840 employees.
Antitrust lawsuit against UPMC/Highmark has been dismissed by a judge
Reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
West Penn Allegheny Health System’s ambitious antitrust suit against the two biggest players in Pittsburgh health care, rival University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and insurer Highmark Inc., was dismissed yesterday.
U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab wrote that West Penn’s federal suit — which alleged a conspiracy between Highmark and UPMC to reduce [...]
Sen. Specter plans to question top health insurance executives
He will seek a hearing next week in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.