11/29/2008 News For: Blue Cross Supplemental medicare InsuranceBlue Cross tax break hits snag By ANTHONY SPANGLER FORT WORTH ��� A request by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for $4.7 million in tax breaks to build a data center in the Alliance business corridor was derailed Tuesday when Tarrant County officials discovered that the health insurance provider owes the county hospital $5.2 million in unpaid charges. Tarrant County Administrator G.K. Maenius said the issue of unpaid bills to ... Priority Health joins list of Blue Cross bill opponents Priority Health, a health insurance organization with offices in Farmington Hills and Grand Rapids, has joined a growing number of health and consumer organizations in opposing legislation promoted by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan... Medicare?s Too Costly Private Plans Congress must remove unjustified subsidies to inefficient private health insurance plans that have added to the cost and complexity of the Medicare program. Hospital explores insurance alternative Administrators, boardmembers and committees at Sonoma Valley Hospital are exploring the feasibility of establishing an alternative health insurance program through its joint powers authority with three other hospital districts. Amerks Finally Get Third Win The Rochester Americans earned their third win of the season, beating the Lake Erie Monsters by a score of 2-1 tonight at the Blue Cross Arena. The game ends an Amerks seven game winless streak. Florida children without health insurance Nearly 19 percent of Florida children do not have health insurance, the second highest percentage in the country. Help available The Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas program at Douglas County Senior Services is offering enrollment assistance regarding Medicare���s prescription drug plans. Trained volunteers are available from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Dec. 29, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 10, and from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Lawrence Senior Center, 745 Vt. Private Medicare plans adding cost for little benefit WASHINGTON ��� Private health insurance plans, which serve nearly a fourth of all Medicare beneficiaries, have increased the cost and complexity of the program without any evidence of improving care, researchers say in studies to be published today. Researchers question private Medicare plans Private health insurance plans, which serve nearly a quarter of all Medicare beneficiaries, have increased the cost and complexity of the program without any evidence of improving care, researchers say in studies to be published today. Scientists doubt utility of CT scan as heart test The U.S. health insurance program for the elderly, Medicare, is spending money on state-of-the-art CT scanners without clear evidence showing their usefulness in combating heart problems, commentators in the New England Journal of Medicine said on Wednesday. |

