HealthPlus Announces Statewide Availability Of 'Signature' Health Plans For Individuals And Families

HealthPlus of Michigan's HealthPlus Signature insurance plans for direct purchase by individuals and families are now available throughout Michigan. The plans are designed specifically for individuals 19 to 64 and their families who are looking to purchase affordable health coverage.

"We are pleased to be able to expand the availability of our Signature plans to all Michigan residents seeking individual or family health insurance coverage in this difficult economy," says Nancy Jenkins, HealthPlus vice president of membership growth. Jenkins notes that the HealthPlus Signature plans may be ideal for individuals who are:

-- being dropped from a parent's employer-sponsored coverage

-- self-employed

-- considering early retirement

-- losing their employer-sponsored health coverage

-- no longer eligible for government-sponsored health coverage

-- between jobs or just starting a job

As a result of health care reform nationally, many carriers have discontinued selling child-only policies or have limited open enrollment periods. HealthPlus is continuing to offer child-only plans to those 18 and under.

"We remain committed to providing options for families in need of coverage for their children. Child-only polices are an important option since some employers offer insurance just to employees, leaving kids uncovered," says Graham Smith, HealthPlus Director of Medicare Programs and Individual sales.

Michigan consumers can choose from three types of HealthPlus Signature plans.

-- HealthPlus Signature One is designed for young adults between the ages of 19 and 30 with no dependents. It's intended as a "starter plan" to meet the health coverage needs and budgets of recent high school or college graduates, those starting a career or looking for a job, and those who are no longer eligible under their parents' coverage.

-- HealthPlus Signature Savings is compatible with tax-deductible Health Savings Accounts. The plan has a low monthly premium and members can add pharmacy or maternity coverage.

-- HealthPlus Signature Select is a traditional deductible plan designed for individuals and families. These plans also offer low premiums and optional pharmacy and maternity coverage.

A fourth HealthPlus Signature plan, HealthPlus Signature Network, has a limited service area and network of physicians, specialists and other health-care providers. This option works best for people who already have a doctor who contracts directly with HealthPlus.

The HealthPlus Signature plans, which were introduced last year, represented the first major entry into the individual health insurance market for the 30-year-old nonprofit HealthPlus of Michigan corporation. The PPO-style coverage is offered by HealthPlus of Michigan's for-profit subsidiary, HealthPlus Insurance Company, Inc.

HealthPlus is recognized across Michigan and nationwide for designing attractive, affordable, and often award-winning health plans for business and government.

Families USA: Dismissal Of Liberty University's Lawsuit Is A Victory For Health Care Consumers

The following is the statement of Kathleen Stoll, Deputy Executive Director of Families USA, in response to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia's ruling dismissing the case of Liberty University et al. v. Geithner et al., Liberty University's challenge to the Affordable Care Act:

"Yesterday's ruling by the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia dismissing Liberty University's challenge to the Affordable Care Act marks an important victory for health care consumers across the country. For the second time in as many months, a federal court has upheld the Affordable Care Act, and it specifically found the personal responsibility provision to be squarely constitutional. As in the Michigan case that was decided in October, a federal court has correctly rejected the radical arguments put forth by opponents of the Affordable Care Act.

"These two rulings show how far out of the legal mainstream the lawsuits against the Affordable Care Act really are. These lawsuits are in fact politically motivated efforts to distract from and undo the enormous progress represented by the new law.

"In the meantime, states and the federal government should continue to move forward to implement the new law, including protecting people with pre-existing conditions from denials of coverage and unaffordable premiums, requiring insurance companies to set fair premiums for everyone, improving Medicare for seniors and people with disabilities, and helping small businesses that want to provide coverage to their workers. Moreover, within a few years, low- and middle-income families will receive new tax credits to purchase health insurance, and tens of millions of Americans who currently lack health insurance will have affordable coverage.

"Health care consumers have much to gain from the continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and two separate federal courts have now agreed that there is no legal impediment to moving forward."