New health law could push individual medical claim costs up
The study by the Society of Actuaries says the amount paid by insurers who sell policies to individuals in Illinois will rise more than 50 percent by 2017. The jump is even greater in Missouri, where the cost of medical claims could grow by almost 60 percent.
The report says costs will rise largely because of spending on sicker people and other high-cost groups who will gain coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The study did not make similar estimates for Employer-sponsored plans.
The White House disputes the study's claims because they didn't consider other cost-saving aspects of the new law.
Myriad languages, cultures challenge health reform
States with large and diverse immigrant populations have the added challenge of reaching people who speak limited or no English, and they have little time to do it. Enrollment in the exchanges begins in October.
California has the largest minority population of any state, about 22.3 million people. That's followed by Texas with 13.7 million, New York with 8.1 million, Florida with 7.9 million and Illinois with 4.7 million.
Spanish is the second most popular language, followed by Chinese.
Advocates say the success of the national health reforms will depend on the success of enrolling these communities.
Illinois receives conditional approval for insurance marketplaces
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued a conditional approval letter Wednesday to Gov. Pat Quinn with a list of six conditions.
Conditions include signing a memorandum of understanding with the federal government for how the state will monitor and approve health plans sold on the exchange by March 1 and a separate memorandum of understanding for how the state will run consumer outreach activities by April 1. Sebelius’ letter acknowledges that “Illinois is working under intense timelines.”
The state is partnering with the federal government to offer the online marketplace.
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8

Jaime Garcia expected to miss year after surgery
SAN DIEGO (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia will have surgery on his left shoulder this week and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The Cardinals announced ...

Lyons looks sharp in MLB-debut
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Tyler Lyons pitched seven solid innings in his major league debut on the same day St. Louis lost Jaime Garcia for the season, and the Cardinals beat the San Diego ...

James layup lifts Heat in Game 1
MIAMI (AP) — It was an MVP performance by the NBA's top player. LeBron James hit a layup as time expired in overtime to lift the Miami Heat past the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in Game...

GOLF ADOPTS RULE TO BAN ANCHORED PUTTING STROKE
Golf's governing bodies approved a rule Tuesday that outlaws the putting stroke used by four of the last six major champions, a move opposed by two major golf organizations that co...

MILLER TAKES LOSS AS PADRES BEAT CARDINALS 4-2
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- With the St. Louis Cardinals leading the San Diego Padres 2-1 in the sixth inning, manager Mike Matheny had seen enough of Shelby Miller. The rookie right-hand...

RED WINGS BEAT BLACKHAWKS TO TAKE 2-1 SERIES LEAD
DETROIT (AP) -- The Chicago Blackhawks were controlling the puck and dominating play early in the second period. It took all of a half-minute for the Detroit Red Wings to swing the...

WIGGINTON DASH BOOSTS CARDINALS PAST METS 6-3
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Lance Lynn overcame early control woes and St. Louis used a three-run seventh inning to beat the New York Mets 6-3 on Monday night. Lynn (6-1) allowed three ru...

NO GEM FOR GARCIA AS ROCKIES BEAT CARDINALS 8-2
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Jaime Garcia got rocked again by Colorado and fell well short of giving the St. Louis Cardinals three straight pitching gems. "I made a couple mistakes and pai...