IL Health Insurance Articles & Info

With the 2015 open enrollment period in full stride, scores of Illinois residents are learning a hard lesson about how the new system of health insurance works.  Actually, this particular aspect is not quite that new.  But in light of how new the concept of open enrollment is to the general public,...

During the time leading up to open enrollment, thousands of individuals and families received notices informing them of their options for 2015 health insurance.  At face value it's pretty simple: If you like your existing plan, keep it and do nothing.  If you don't, you have the freedom to select a...

One of the most misunderstood aspects of buying health insurance under the new laws, is whether or not it is possible to get rates that are cheaper from one source to another.  Many are under the impression that dealing directly with the carrier will ensure the lowest premiums, while others have bee...

Even if you're among the most computer-savvy, signing up for health insurance online can be a little intimidating.  The system is essentially brand new to everyone, and this can increase the time that it takes to ensure that your plan is accurate and befitting of your real healthcare needs. We've...

With the 2014-2015 IL open enrollment period upon us, we understand that many residents still have a lot of questions on what it is, how to sign up, and what's covered.  Here are some of the most commonly asked questions that we're hearing at our agency about health insurance open enrollment.  Qu...

As many businesses eventually find out, hiring a payroll company to provide and manage your group health plan isn't always as good a decision as it originally seemed.  Yes, it might sound convenient to bundle your payroll and employee health benefits, but the simple reality is that there are too man...

As many families and individuals found out last year, making even the most simple mistake when signing up for health insurance can be costly, stressful and surprisingly time consuming.  The process of shopping for healthcare coverage has changed drastically since the advent of the Affordable Care Ac...

Many Humana health insurance policyholders are going to be in for quite a shock, as they learn that their plan will be cancelled at the end of the year.  Notices have been going out to an untold number of Humana's customers, informing them that their health plan would be terminated after December 31...

Healthcare reform, as virtually every US citizen knows, has initiated a seemingly endless series of changes to the process of shopping for health insurance.  And it should come as no surprise that businesses offering health plans, continue to be among the groups most significantly affected by the Af...

There has been a great deal of speculation over how businesses, based specifically on their size, will be affected by the Affordable Care Act.  Among the most pressing issues, businesses want to know how their rates are being determined, their obligation to offer a group health plan, and how much fr...

As the November 2015 healthcare open enrollment inches ever closer, the diversity of questions we hear at our agency continues to evolve.  Individuals and families are concerned about things like premium increases, tax credits and potentially having to renew policies they recently purchased.  At the...

If you're wondering how you're going to be able to afford health insurance this year, you're certainly not alone.  Healthcare reform has resulted in ongoing premium increases since its inception, and there's really no way to tell where the cap is at this point.  One of the groups affected most by th...

With summer on its way out, many people have been giving more thought to the upcoming open enrollment and process of applying for health insurance coverage .  Are the rules the same as they were last year?  Have new rules been added over the summer?  Do I enroll online, in person, over the phone?  A...

As business owners continue to deal with the sticker shock of their 2015 group health insurance renewals, many are looking for ways to continue offering their staff medical benefits that are affordable, easy to understand and generous in coverage.  And as many have discovered, Health Savings Account...

With many companies now receiving their group health insurance renewals, more and more businesses are experiencing the sticker shock that industry insiders have been forecasting since the passing of the Affordable Care Act.  And while some of these increases are on the modest side, just as many seem...

One of the most common complaints we hear about the new healthcare reform laws, is the massive influx of human resource documents that businesses are now required to provide.  Aside from knowing which ones are needed and filling them out properly, the mere act of finding the most current and legally...

As we approach the start of the 2015 open enrollment period, more businesses are wondering what they can do to help reduce their group health premiums, while still providing reliable coverage to their employees.  For a growing number of companies, level-funded self-insured health plans continue to s...

As companies across the US begin the process of preparing for open enrollment, many business owners and HR departments are still unsure of what will happen come November.  In the spirit of helping those charged with the task of choosing or renewing a group health plan, we thought that this would be...

We've heard from many individuals who, for any number of reasons, found themselves unable to purchase health insurance before open enrollment closed this past March.  Ultimately this resulted in many people having to either pay cash for doctor and hospital visits, or simply take their chances in the...

As many business owners are discovering, it's important that their health insurance agent have knowledge on Healthcare Reform that extends far beyond the morning news.  The new regulations regarding issues such as documentation, healthcare tax, compliance mandates, and others are constantly changing...

If you own or manage a business that offers employee health insurance, the stretch of time between now and November is more important than you might realize.  Under the new system of healthcare reform, many businesses are under the impression that there's nothing they can do about their premiums, an...

With summer fast approaching, many people will be making some rather significant changes to their lives.  Whether it's walking down the aisle, welcoming a new baby into your home or accepting that new job, one thing that must be taken into consideration is how your health insurance needs will also c...

Now that the April 1st healthcare deadline has come and gone, it's understandable that there are many out there who still need coverage.  Whether you weren't in a financial position to buy a health insurance plan, were unable to qualify for a subsidy, or deliberately decided to take the tax penalty...

There has been great debate over the past few days, regarding what happens if you fail to buy health insurance by the stated March 31 cutoff date.  For many, it was a matter of not being able to get through to the healthcare.gov website, being stuck in a virtual waiting room, or not finding the answ...

While, for many, March has become synonymous with green beer and college basketball tournament brackets, there's a pressing issue at hand that everyone needs to make themselves aware of.   March Deadlines for 2014 Medical Insurance Anyone who has been shopping for health insurance over the pas...

For those who are not in a financial position to apply for a healthcare subsidy, or get a reduced premium under Obamacare, there has been no shortage of health insurance sticker shock.  Individuals and families from all over Illinois have seen rate increases ranging from moderate to jaw-dropping, an...

While enrollment in the Affordable Care Act continues to gradually increase, there are still many aspects which have people unsure on how to proceed.  Among the most universal, is whether or not an individual or family will qualify for a health insurance subsidy, of if they will be eligible for Medi...

If you're new to buying health insurance on your own, or even if you're among the more healthcare savvy, you've probably heard the term open enrollment period being used in excess lately.   In short, open enrollment represents the time when new plans can be purchased, as well as when existing plans...

One of the most controversial aspects of the new healthcare system, involves the income fines that are set to be imposed on those who don't carry active coverage in 2014.  Since media coverage of this has been spotty at best, we wanted to go over some of the real numbers and facts behind the fines a...

The Affordable Care Act, as most already know, has brought an entirely new set of rules to the US health insurance system.  One of the most concerning, is also one that's not being talked about on the news with nearly enough urgency.  If you purchased a new healthcare plan in 2014 it likely affects...