Why is an ‘insurance person’ writing about a tax issue? When it comes to annuities, it may end up connected if the President has his way. Unfortunately. An article in Investment News by Dan Jamieson on February 22 indicates that President Obama wants to have the 2.9% Medicare tax apply now to unearned income. This [...]
Entries from February 2010
Taxes on annuity earnings? Are you kidding me?
February 27th, 2010 No Comments
Tags: Annuities · fixed annuities · fixed indexed annuities
If you think a 39% increase in California health premiums are bad, did you hear about Georgia?
February 24th, 2010 No Comments
Anthem Blue Cross should thank Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia for coming up with something causing even more outrage than they did. An article in today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution tells the story of a gentleman who had a 72% increase in premium. On the surface it looks like maybe one of the reasons was because he [...]
Tags: health care reform · Health insurance · Individual Health Insurance
I’ve got insurance, why does care for the indigent or uninsured matter to me?
February 20th, 2010 No Comments
I know I’m not a political or social services writer, but our pals at the L.A Times Wednesday had an interesting article on how the County of Los Angeles reimburses physicians when they care for the uninsured. How does this affect your health insurance premiujms? The Physicians Services for Indigents Program in L.A. County was [...]
Tags: health care reform · Health insurance · Individual Health Insurance
So, what was Anthem’s response to all the ‘rate rage?’
February 18th, 2010 No Comments
Last week Wellpoint, the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross, put out a response to the screaming about their recent rate increase. Click here and check it out. It’s long, but I think potentially worth reading if you’re at all curious. If nothing else, the earnings statement Brian Sassi makes is impressive: “Anthem’s net income [...]
Tags:
And the Anthem rate increase debate rages on–still?
February 15th, 2010 No Comments
Well, it’s been just over a week since the rate increase heard around the world hit and people are still going Anthem Blue Cross, Woodland Hills, CA nuts. President Obama has expressed outrage. Kathleen Sebelius isn’t satisfied. California Department of Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner allegedly said that people shouldn’t buy from Anthem Blue Cross (I [...]
Tags: health care reform · Health insurance
Anthem Blue Cross is raising individual policy rates–it’s that time again?
February 10th, 2010 No Comments
I would have gotten to writing this sooner but I’ve been talking/emailing with many of my clients today about the Los Angeles Times story today talking about Anthem Blue Cross’s March 1 rate increase. The story is claiming an average of 30-39% in increases. First of all, we all know the media loves controversy and [...]
