Some of the most hotly anticipated Obamacare regulations were released last week: the rules relating to the Summary of Benefits and Coverage and Uniform Glossary requirements.  These rules are especially important to self-funded or self-insured plans because they will have the responsibility for preparing the materials that comply with the regulations.  For fully insured plans, the paperwork will be the responsibility of the insurance carrier.

United Healthcare has issued a summary of some of the key changes made in the final rule compared to those released last August:  Read more

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If you are an avid reader of the Dec Page, you are aware of the impending Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rules requiring that health insurance carriers spend at least 80% (for small groups and individuals) or 85% (for large groups) on claims and limiting their overhead costs to no more than 20% or 15% of their revenue.  Read more

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You may recall that the Dec Page reported on the demise of the CLASS act portion of Obamacare back in October.  Actually, CLASS was not really killed.  Rather, it was sort of frozen in carbonite by HHS.  Like Han Solo at the end of The Empire Strikes Back, it's "alive and in perfect hibernation."  Of course, that was not the end of Han Solo.  Read more

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In case you haven't noticed, The Dec Page has been relentless in its critique of Obamacare.  We have no love for it.  When talking or thinking about Obamacare, we are apt to go "Khan" and start quoting Klingon proverbs about how revenge is a dish best served cold (that's a Star Trek reference).  We wish it nothing but ill.  No Christmas cards will be sent.  No handshakes.  Read more

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The Department of Health and Human Services has finalized the Medical Loss Ratio rules in Obamacare.  You may recall that these are the rules that specify that insurers must spend 80% of their premium revenues on claims in the small group market and 85% in the large group market.  

Believe it or not, Rick Ungar, at Forbes.com, is celebrating:   Read more

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It is official!  The Supreme Court of the United States will review the constitutional challenge to Obamacare.  The Court agreed to hear the case coming from the 11th Circuit (which held the mandate portion of the law unconstitutional).  This challenge was brought by a group of governors and attorneys general from 26 states and other plaintiffs.  From the WSJ:  Read more

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Since 2008, the percentage of American adults who get their health insurance from an employer has declined from 49.8% to 44.5%.  The percentage of Americans without health insurance has grown from 14.6% to 17.3% (how bout that Obamacare, huh?).  Meanwhile, Americans on a government plan has risen from 22.9% to 25.1%.  Read more

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Finally, an opportunity to recycle one of my favorite jokes from the classic Fat Albert show!  The Community Living  Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program was part of the health care reform bill and attempted to create a new entitlement for government sponsored long term care insurance (if you need a quote for LTC insurance, call me).  Great idea, right!    Read more

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This Houston Chronicle story, "Health Care Costs: This Might Hurt" reads like a murder mystery.  It is heavy on facts (e.g., the average cost for local health-care coverage is expected to increase by 6.9% next year), but short on explanations:  Read more

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