COLVIN: Get ready for a perfect storm in Worker’s Compensation
Rates are set to rise as insurers increasingly note the link between older workers’ health and productivity.
Health Insurance
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Hospitals push preemptive care with special programs
Hospitals around Indianapolis and the nation are expanding programs to help people before they become patients. They are trying to teach cooking as well as treat cancer, to do social work as well as do surgery.
Economy could lift drug, device firms
The U.S. economy is showing signs of bouncing back and, if it does, look for drugmakers and medical-device companies to benefit. But if the economy has another summer stall like last year, expect health insurers to benefit.
Gallagher sees more broker mergers coming
The Carmel office of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. just made its sixth acquisition in five years, and it expects looming changes to tax and health laws to produce even more chances to snap up benefits brokers this year.
WellPoint earnings fall well short of analysts’ expectations
The Indianapolis-based health insurer reported earnings of $335.3 million, or 96 cents per share, down 39 percent from the same quarter a year ago.
Poll: Anthem so-so in customer satisfaction
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield ranked No. 12 in a new national customer satisfaction survey, but the poor showing doesn’t appear to threaten the Indianapolis-based company’s business success.<
Hoosiers like parts of health reform law
As it is in the rest of the country, the 2010 health reform in Indiana continues to be unpopular, unlikely to be repealed and uncertain to put a dent in health spending, according to a poll of Hoosiers released last week by Ball State University.
Franciscan among Medicare’s first accountable care groups
Franciscan Alliance’s Indianapolis-area hospitals, along with more than 700 physicians, have been named one of the nation’s first 32 accountable care organizations.
Medical Mutual eyes Indiana for growth
Health insurer expects enrollment in its health plan to grow 30 percent next year, to nearly 21,000. And then it expects growth of another 40 percent.
Brokers’ hopes dashed by feds
The Obama administration on Friday let stand an earlier rule that said brokers’ fees will have to count toward a 15-percent to 20-percent cap on administrative expenses placed on insurance plans by the 2010 health overhaul.
Feds reject Indiana request for health care exemption
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday rejected Indiana's bid for an exemption from federal health care overhaul rules that require insurers selling policies to individuals to essentially dedicate 80 percent of the premiums they collect to medical care.
Brokers get hope on commissions
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners passed a resolution Nov. 22 that urges Congress and the Obama administration to exclude benefits brokers’ commissions from the new requirement that insurers spend only 15 percent to 20 percent of the premiums they collect on administration and profits.
Few employers say they’ll drop health coverage
Few employers in Indiana say they’re likely to drop health benefits after state insurance exchanges are formed in 2014, according to a new survey by the health benefits firm Mercer.
New York orders WellPoint to make refunds for overcharges
WellPoint is among 11 insurers ordered to refund money to almost 600,000 New Yorkers who were charged too much for health insurance.
Insurer Humana’s quarterly profit climbs 13 percent
Humana Inc. raised its 2011 earnings forecast, following the lead set by other big insurers, including competitor WellPoint Inc.
Kaiser: Lack of competition endemic
In a new study, Indiana ranked as the 19th least-competitive state for individual health insurance and the 27th least-competitive for small-employer health insurance.
Insurance mandate lacks teeth, WellPoint CFO says
As constitutional challenges to the health reform law’s mandate to buy insurance advance, WellPoint Inc.’s chief financial officer reiterated that the company does not object to the mandate, just to its lack of penalties.
Judge slaps IU Health over billing
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a Marion Superior Court decision to dismiss a lawsuit by two uninsured patients who received care at IU Health North Hospital in Carmel.
Deficit committee could bite CNO
Medicare supplement policies are reportedly one of the targets of Congress’ special deficit-reduction committee—and that’s not good news for Carmel-based CNO Financial Group Inc.
Private exchange could boost WellPoint profits
WellPoint Inc.’s participation in buying a majority stake of the private health insurance exchange operator Bloom Health could help it get back to its roots as a health insurer—and make a bit more money in the process.