(Carrie Feibel, KUHF Public Radio)
Health insurance companies are getting ready to send out millions of dollars in rebate checks to their customers. Texas consumers and businesses are going to get the biggest chunk of money.
The Affordable Care Act, often called ‘Obamacare,’ requires that insurance companies spend at least 80 percent of their revenue on actual health care.
They can keep only 20 percent for profit and overhead, and in some cases only 15 percent. If they go over that, they have to refund the amount to policyholders.
The new requirement kicks in this year. And a new analysis reveals that of all 50 states, Texas will get the most in rebates — $186 million dollars.
(More at KUHF Public Radio)
REPORT LINK (PDF): Insurer Rebates under the Medical Loss Ratio: 2012 Estimates (Kaiser Family Foundation)
OTHER STORIES:
- DWI Driver’s Suspension of Punishment Rallies NW Harris Residents (Houston Chronicle)
- New Leader Tries to Mend Fences at Houston National Cemetery (Houston Chronicle)
- Liberty Co Animal Shelter Fundraising Effort Burglarized (KTRK 13 News)
- New Grant Helps UH Learning Disabilities Research (KUHF Public Radio)
- Capitol Rally Aims to Reignite Women’s Rights Movement (Austin American Statesman)
- Texas Army Bases Go Green, but Challenges Remain (Texas Tribune)
- Joseph Kony Hunt is Proving Difficult for U.S. Troops (Washington Post)
OPINION ON THE NEWS:
- What Happens if We Quit Loving Our Cars? (Houston Chronicle)
“A majority of survey respondents – 51 percent – said they would choose a smaller home within walking distance of workplaces and shops, rather than a single-family home with a big yard, which required driving almost everywhere they wanted to go. That’s a striking increase from only two years ago…” - Build More Bike Paths (Houston Chronicle)
“The city needs a comprehensive bicycle system that isn’t just for recreation, but provides a safe and easy way for people to travel between homes and businesses, serving all of our dynamic yet disparate cores. Dedicated bicycle lanes not only provide those routes, but help establish proper protocol between cyclists and drivers.”