Docs, health insurers battle at Statehouse
Physicians and insurance companies have entered their fourth year of haggling over insurance payments, and each side is claiming
to best represent patients.
Insurance
Articles
Legislation takes aim at Anthem
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s growing market dominance in Indiana is sparking a backlash from doctors who plan to push
a bill this year in the Indiana General Assembly that would allow physicians to reject patients covered by massive health
insurer.
WellPoint shares suffer
It was a bad year to be a shareholder of most companies. But the value of the Indianapolis-based health insurer’s stock lost
more than 55 percent of its value during the year.
New retirement savings law means new biz for AUL
In order to comply with stricter rules from the Internal Revenue Service, schools and other not-for-profits are making changes
and consolidations to retirement plans, creating growth opportunities for companies like Indianapolis-based American United
Life Insurance Co.
A health plan for job hoppers
Indianapolis-based Golden Rule Insurance Co. has launched a plan aimed at people who move in and out of jobs that don’t offer
health insurance.
Companies shifting more health costs to employees
Employers, now doubly pinched by steadily rising health insurance premiums and a steadily deteriorating economy, are searching
for new and larger cost-shifting tools, according to survey and anecdotal evidence from Mercer, a global benefits brokerage
and consulting firm.
WellPoint could grow during tough time for health insurers
The health insurance industry — hurt by falling profits and threatened by Democratic reform bills — could see
another wave of
consolidation, and that may well involve Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc.
As workers lose jobs, Shelbyville hospital loses money
Because major employers in Shelby County have laid off workers, Major Hospital isn’t getting as much income from employer-based
medical insurance plans.
OneAmerica well positioned to acquire other insurance companies
OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc. has made no secret of its desire to acquire other companies. Well, if it wants to buy,
it could hardly find a better time.
Was HIP program enough?: Candidates spar over impact of Daniels’ health reforms
Just how big of a deal was the Healthy Indiana Plan? That seems to be the key question dividing Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and his Democratic challenger, Jill Long Thompson, in their competing plans over health care reform. Daniels’ campaign for re-election points to his administration’s ongoing rollout of the Healthy Indiana Plan as his entire plan for health care reform in his second term. The plan, which uses cigarette tax revenue to offer health insurance and health savings accounts…
No perfect fit for Main Street: Small-business owners fall on both sides of political line
Joe the Plumber has been getting plenty of attention in recent weeks, but what about Kimberly the Merchant or John the Manufacturer? For all the talk about whether this year’s presidential candidates favor Wall Street or Main Street, there’s little discussion of the fact that neither Democrat Barack Obama nor Republican John McCain may be perfect for all small-business owners. Indianapolis manufacturing firm owner John Raine is backing McCain because of his stance on taxes and labor unions. Local shop…
For funding, developers may need to think outside box: Amid tight credit markets, getting a project built often takes alternative financing sources, creative approaches
Although the spigot of bank financing has slowed to a trickle, money to fund commercial development projects remains available from alternative sources. Just ask David Amick, executive director of Premier Capital Corp., a local lender that uses federal funds to help finance expansions. “We’ve got money to lend,” he said. “I’ve got that [message] hung on the door.” The fragile credit markets have nearly diminished the ability of companies to borrow. But lenders such as Amick insist the money is…
EYE ON THE PIE: Economic crisis explained, at last
I was uncomfortably challenged when Faye of the Forest landed on my deck a few days ago wanting to know what all these economic goings-on meant. “I’m responsible for teaching the elves,” she said, “and I don’t know what to tell them.” “I don’t know what to tell you,” I said. “But here’s what seems to me has happened.” “Some people,” I said, “are unable to make the payments on their mortgages. These mortgages are not held by the banks…
VOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: Starting from scratch best hope for health care system
A person’s DNA may someday determine how doctors diagnose illness and prescribe affordable treatment. That same genetic makeup also might help doctors determine whether a person suffering from cancer might be predisposed to respond or not respond to chemotherapy or another type of innovative or experimental treatment. That future picture of health care delivery, however, is missing a key piece. It doesn’t address what those advancements might mean for health insurance and other related questions about medical coverage. Our current…
VOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: Worksite wellness encourages steps to healthier firm
Over the past several years, employers have seen a movement from traditional PPO health plans to consumer-driven health plans, by implementing qualified high-deductible plans such as health savings accounts. This shift has been viewed by most to have initially lowered overall employer and employee cost, but more importantly, it has gotten the employee more involved in their health care choices. Fortunately, consumer-driven health care plans are not the only answer in reducing employer costs. According to the Towers Perrin 2008…
WellPoint, St. Francis battle over insurer’s IT problems
A year of computer snafus boiled over Oct. 13 when the St. Francis system declared WellPoint Inc. in breach of its contract
because of habitually late payments.
VOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: Taking a few minutes to take control of your health care
In recent months, all of us have been affected to some extent by economic uncertainty. At a time like this, we need to make well-informed decisions on how we spend our money, now and in the future. Health care spending is one area where people are looking more than ever to get the most value in return for their investment. The rising cost of health care should encourage everyone to explore their health benefit options. But despite rough economic times,…
More small businesses allowed to jump in pools: Law lets employers join together for cheaper rates
Small businesses in Indiana stung by rising health care costs now can band together to broker better deals from insurance providers. The rule from the Indiana Department of Insurance took effect in late August and is the final piece of a 2007 health care expansion state lawmakers financed with a 44-cent increase in the cigarette tax. The pooling program is open to businesses with two to 50 employees and is meant to give them strength in numbers so, in essence,…
Mild bump expected in benefits: Despite modest rise in premiums, employers look to pass on costs
Several industry surveys predict health insurance expenses will rise at a slower pace in 2009 than in previous years. Many employers, however, are passing the added burden on to workers. Raising deductibles, copayments or out-of-pocket spending limits are the most common ways companies plan to reduce their increases. The trend of passing more of the responsibility to employees has escalated the past five years, giving rise to cheaper alternatives such as consumer-directed health plans. “The tie that binds is that…
Bumpy road ahead for truck-driving schools?: Slowing freight and federal standards could hurt prospects and raise costs
With a driver shortage as bad as the freight industry says, one might think operating a truck-driving school would be a license to print money. But proposed federal rules to toughen training standards and, lately, a fishtailing economy could bring a shakeout among schools. There are even rumblings that a few big carriers that contract with driving schools are poised to eliminate tuition reimbursement as they sweat out the economic downturn. “We’re going to start losing schools,” predicted John Priest,…