Local woman asks Republicans to keep ACA

The Affordable Care Act [ACA] has helped to standardize health insurance plans for all Americans. All plans provide 10 essential health benefits such as preventative care services, prescription drug coverage, capped out-of-pocket expenses, no lifetime limits and coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

Governor Terry Branstad

The plan supported by republican lawmakers is similar to a Wisconsin law that led to massive protests there. The proposed changes would take away several issues workers can currently bargain, like holidays, overtime and health insurance.

Anthem’s Cigna takeover bid blocked by federal judge

A federal judge has blocked Anthem’s attempt to acquire Cigna in what would have created the largest health insurer in the nation. The Department of Justice sued to halt the merger in July last year, claiming antitrust law violations, and District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington D.C. ruled in agreement with the DOJ on Wednesday.

Judge blocks Anthem-Cigna health insurance mega-merger

A US judge on Wednesday blocked Anthem’s plan to merge with Cigna, saying the merger of the health insurance titans would bode ill for competition in the market. Anthem’s plan to take over Cigna in a deal valued around $50 billion was opposed in court by the Department of Justice with backing from eleven US states.

Judge blocks Anthem-Cigna health insurance mega-merger

A US judge on Wednesday blocked Anthem’s plan to merge with Cigna, saying the merger of the health insurance titans would bode ill for competition in the market. Anthem’s plan to take over Cigna in a deal valued around $50 billion was opposed in court by the Department of Justice with backing from eleven US states.

US judge blocks Anthem-Cigna health insurance merger

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected Anthem Inc.’s bid to buy rival health insurer Cigna Corp., saying the merger would likely lead to higher costs, less competition and diminished innovation. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said the merger would significantly reduce competition in the already concentrated insurance market, particularly for large national employers.

US judge blocks Anthem-Cigna health insurance merger

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected Anthem Inc.’s bid to buy rival health insurer Cigna Corp., saying the merger would likely lead to higher costs, less competition and diminished innovation. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said the merger would significantly reduce competition in the already concentrated insurance market, particularly for large national employers.

Sanders-Cruz debate is a ratings hit, but their views aren’t winning the Hill

Sen. Bernie Sanders , left, and Sen. Ted Cruz CNN scored a surprise hit last night with a broadcast from a parallel universe – a debate about “the future of Obamacare,” starring presidential primary season runners-up Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz . According to AdWeek, the nearly two-hour special attracted 2.46 million viewers, and 932,000 from the coveted demographic of viewers ages 25 to 54. Those were the kind of numbers enjoyed by Fox News, which typically laps CNN for viewers – and they came not for a tabloid special but for a debate about health insurance.

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… Act during a 90-minute primetime debate on CNN Tuesday. President Donald Trump has promised to repeal and replace the health care law, often referred to as Obamacare, while Democrats have vowed to defend former President Barack Obama’s landmark …

Why you need to find a doctor, stat…

Danielle Martin rises to the defence of Canada’s health-care system during a U.S. Senate health committee hearing in 2014. “Tens of millions of people face the real possibility of losing health insurance south of the border,” said Danielle Martin, one of Canada’s leading activist family physicians.

Connector, Baker hoping for enough a oerunwaya to adjust to ACA changes

The governor said Monday that based on his conversations with “a number of folks in D.C.” there does not appear to be consensus around what STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, FEB. 7, 2017..Acknowledging that the health care landscape could be drastically different a year from now, Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday said that the federal government needs to give states enough time to adapt to changes to the Affordable Care Act.

Cruz, Sanders face off on Obamacare

Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders — two senators with diametrically opposed views of government’s role in health care — are facing off at a CNN town hall debate over the future of Obamacare. The event, moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, is certain to highlight the many challenges surrounding efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act — a sweeping health care law that covers some 20 million Americans.

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… The new president has promised to repeal and replace it. Vermont’s new governor has promised to change the Vermont health care exchange system. So, there will be substantial changes in the next few years in the way healthcare is procured. More …

Could California go it alone on Obamacare?

That’s a question lawmakers might be asking residents in the months to come as President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress scurry to repeal the Affordable Care Act and scramble for a plan to replace it. One GOP-generated proposal would allow individual states to keep Obamacare-style health insurance – for a price.

Affordable Care Act sign-ups fall amidst uncertainty over a repeal

Supporters of the Affordable Care Act, also opponents of Colorado’s GOP-led plan to undo the state-run insurance exchange, gather for a rally on the state capitol steps in Denver, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. CREDIT: AP/Brennan Linsley On Friday, the Trump administration said the number of people who signed up for health insurance in federal marketplace fell to 9.2 million, a 4 percent decline from the number of people who signed up last year.

Obamacare sign-ups decline in face of Trump repeal threat

Facing higher premiums, less choice and a last-minute advertising pullback, fewer people signed up for coverage this year through HealthCare.gov, according to data from a preliminary government report Friday. About 9.2 million people signed up through HealthCare.gov, the insurance marketplace serving most states, said the Health and Human Services department.

DHH and Dr. Gee Need To Do Their Job

… why Louisiana’s budget is such a mess? A big reason is the amount of money taxpayers are spending on Medicaid. Health care is important, but so are the other goods and services we pay for and expect to receive from government. Medicaid is the …

Pro-Life Groups Raise Concerns About Obamacare Replacement Plans

Dozens of pro-life leaders sent a letter to Congress Thursday afternoon urging Republican senators and representatives to honor their commitment to prohibit taxpayer-funding of elective abortion coverage under any health-care bill to replace Obamacare. “Currently, any bill funding healthcare must carry restrictions on abortion funding or it will end up funding the brutal practice of abortion,” the letter states.

Medicaid block – bigger threat to US healthcare than ACA repeal

As the new administration and congress begin their work, much of the healthcare world is focused on the effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act . But while the ACA proposals are critically important as they may immediately imperil the health insurance of over 18 million Americans, there is a potentially greater threat to the health and wellbeing of over 80 million of Americans.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Expands its Medicaid Offerings to 24 Additional Wisconsin Counties

With the expansion, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin will offer coverage options within the vast majority of counties in the state. )–Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin announced today that it has received approval from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to expanded its Medicaid service offerings for BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid Supplemental Security Income to 24 additional counties in the state.

Millions expected to lose health insurance with repeal

More than 20 million people are expected to lose their health insurance coverage within a year following President Donald Trump’s executive order to repeal the Affordable Care Act Jan. 20. According to a report conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , the uninsured rate had fallen to the lowest level on record since the ACA was passed in 2010. In addition, millions of Americans with employer, Medicaid, Medicare or individual market coverage benefited from the protections of the act.

Record 3.6M New Yorkers sign up for Obamacare

A record 3.6 million New Yorkers used the state’s Obamacare exchange to obtain health coverage for 2017, a 28% increase from a year ago, state health officials announced Wednesday. Nearly 50,000 people signed up in the final two days before the Jan. 31 deadline, officials added.

Daniel Cottrell Joins IHC Specialty Benefits as Senior Vice President

The IHC Group announced today the appointment of Daniel Cottrell as Senior Vice President of National Accounts for IHC Specialty Benefits, a subsidiary of the IHC Group. We have an industry leading suite of voluntary products, and the knowledge and relationships that Daniel brings to our organization will be a catalyst to continuing the exceptional growth that IHC has experienced in the specialty health market.