Health Insurance Reform
Health Savings Account Tax Forms: How to Make sense out of the HSA tax forms
As a health insurance agent living in Cincinnati, Ohio and being the proud owner of an HSA (AKA: Health Savings Account), even I was confused about the new forms that I now had to file for my personal taxes. So here is a breif tutuorial of the who, what, when , where how of health […]
Missouri High Risk Pool Information and Application - Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
The cost for the MHIP-PCIP federal pool program is a monthly premium and varies according to the age of the enrollee. Premiums can be billed and paid monthly or quarterly. Premiums can also be automatically deducted from the enrollee’s bank account. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandates that […]
Republicans plan to chip away at Obamacare
As reported by the New York Times (Pear, Robert, 11/06/2010), “the incoming Republican leaders in the House say they intend to use their new muscle to cut off money for the [healthcare] law.” Pear continues his explanation: “Republican lawmakers said, for example, that they would propose limiting the money and personnel available to the Internal […]
Healthcare reform and its tax implications
Key tax changes affecting individuals as a result of healthcare reform:
Limits on reimbursement of over-the-counter medications from HRAs, HSAs, FSAs and MSAs. Over-the-counter drugs not prescribed by a doctor are excluded from being reimbursed through a health reimbursement account (HRA) or health flexible savings accounts (FSAs) and from being reimbursed on a tax-free basis through […]
Repealing healthcare law may take longer than anticipated
The New York Times (11/4, B4, Pear, Abelson) reports, “While Republicans cannot fulfill their campaign promise to repeal the new healthcare law any time soon, they can lead Congress in a sweeping re-examination of its more unpopular provisions, including new taxes and a requirement for most Americans to carry health insurance.” Rep. John A. Boehner […]
Kasich: “Obamacare must be blocked”
Believed to be the favorite to win Ohio’s gubernatorial election on Tuesday, John Kasich is making promises to change the political landscape in Ohio. The first item on his agenda if elected? Repeal the health reform bill. Yesterday, Kasich wrote on his blog: “Today I signed The Ohio Project’s initiative petition to amend Ohio’s Constitution […]
HHS unable to waive high risk pool requirements
As posted on CQ.com, (10/9, Adams, subscription required) it is reported that HHS (US Department of Health and Human Services) “officials do not have the power to change a requirement that people who enroll in the high-risk pools created by the new health care law must have been uninsured for six months, an agency spokeswoman […]
Federal judge upholds health care reform
In what is determined to be the first ruling regarding the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a Michigan federal judge ruled that Congress has the constitutional authority to require individuals to have health insurance or face penalties.
U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh said of his decision: “The minimum coverage provision, which […]
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan Changes for Ohio - Post Reform
Anthem Ohio New Health Insurance Plan Highlights
Lumenos® HSA Plus
Plan Options
• Deductibles: Removed $3000 and $5000
• Coinsurance: Same
• Out of Pocket: Same
Benefit Differences• Unlimited lifetime max
• In network preventive covered at 100% not subject to deductible
• Removed $4000 durable medical equipment cap
• No maternity rider available
Premier Plus
Plan Options• Deductibles: Same
• Coinsurance: Same
• Out of Pocket: Changed […]
New Ruling on Child Only Policies
On Monday, September 27th, the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) released an emergency ruling related to the implementation of the new federal requirement, which determines that children under the age of 19 not be denied coverage or be subject to limitations or exclusions because of pre-existing health conditions. In an effort to encourage insurers to […]
