The recent renewal cycle was especially challenging for employers in the Carolinas, owing to the poor economy and new requirements under federal healthcare reform. Carriers continued to increase copay…
The commercial market in Oregon and Washington is seeing an increase in cost sharing with high-deductible plans and higher premiums. Employers are trying to control rising costs by implementing innova…
New York health plans are under more pressure than ever to keep a lid on rates, but their requests for premium increases have been curtailed under the new prior approval law. As one alternative, carri…
Outside of changes related to healthcare reform, most insurers avoided major changes to benefit design for 2011. UnitedHealth Group launched a pilot in Phoenix and other markets which reimburses the Y…
HealthLeaders-InterStudy has prepared an executive brief on healthcare reform after the 2010 election.
The insurance market in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana reacted to new reform rules that began this fall. Employers with group plans were forced to decide whether or not to pursue grandfather status with t…
Sorting out the complexities of healthcare reform has kept health plans and employer groups busy this enrollment season, overshadowing the typical product innovation seen this time of year. Financiall…
Thanks to healthcare reform, prodding by the federal government and new benefit designs, we’re seeing substantial changes in store with the market.With the rollout of new Medicare plans for 2011, we’r…
The asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) market represents a brand-dominated market that could face substantial changes over the next few years by the possible arrival of generic me…
Employment and health plan enrollment appear to have stabilized in Oregon and Washington, and both states are pushing ahead in response to federal health reforms, improving their regulatory capacity a…
Pennsylvania's commercial insurance market suffered in 2009 as employment losses and the rising cost of employer-based health insurance forced many to drop coverage. The state's major communit…
Although it appears unlikely there will be widespread, dramatic design changes in 2011 as plan sponsors attempt to understand the full implications of healthcare reform, there will be some adjustments…
Thousands of state residents currently receiving care in Minnesota through the state-subidized MinnesotaCare program could be moved into state exchanges as a part of national healthcare reform. Howeve…
Still reeling from a weak job market, the insurance industry in the Tristate is looking under every stone for cost controls and efficiencies. Carriers still challenged in growing their commercial busi…
The commercial healthcare segment is consolidating in the Heartland, where dominant Blue Cross plans hold their solid top positions, and players such as Coventry are buying up regional plans in hopes…