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Insurance

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Wellmark to offer marketplace plans for 2017

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced this morning that it will participate in the public health insurance exchange beginning with the fall 2016 open enrollment period for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2017. “First and …
By BPC Staff | Oct 5, 2015
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Small employers consider strategies for 2016 health plans

Many small businesses will again have tough decisions to make as open enrollment season begins this fall. Adding to the complexity is a change in the federal health law’s definition of what constitutes a “small…
By JOE GARDYASZ | Oct 5, 2015
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Congress approves reprieve for small-group health threshold

Companies with 51 to 100 employees may get a break from being thrown into the small-group market for health insurance in 2016 under legislation approved last week by Congress, the Washington Business Journal reported. It’s not known…
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | Oct 5, 2015
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HarvestPlains Health launches as Medicare Advantage plan

HarvestPlains Health, a new Greater Des Moines-based not-for-profit health plan, has entered the Medicare Advantage market in Dallas, Polk and Warren counties. The health plan was founded by Prominence Health, a subsidiary of Catholic Health …
By BPC Staff | Oct 2, 2015
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Wiedman launches professional liability brokerage

Cindy Wiedman, an insurance broker who specializes in professional liability insurance, has launched Wiedman Insurance Services LLC and its new specialty insurance brand, LiabilityPro Insurance Advisors. The brokerage is located at 939 Office Park Road,…
By BPC Staff | Sep 30, 2015
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Insurance commissioner reaches settlements on deceptive health plans

Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart announced Friday that he has reached settlements with three Florida men and three related companies for deceptive representations about health insurance plans being sold in Iowa. The insurance plans sold by the call …
By BPC Staff | Sep 28, 2015
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Biotech stocks falter

After a seven-year bull run, biotech stocks are weakening, MarketWatch.com reported. A Sunday New York Times article highlighted a price increase of the drug used to treat infection that quick jumped to $750 per dose from $13.50,…
By BPC Staff | Sep 24, 2015
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ConAgra loses $1.2 billion in its first quarter

ConAgra Foods Inc. lost $1.2 billion in its first fiscal quarter, which ended Aug. 30, the company reported. A drop in the value of the company’s private-label business was partly to blame, The New York Times …
By BPC Staff | Sep 23, 2015
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SmartAsset names MidWestOne Financial Group as Iowa’s best stock

SmartAsset, a finance software company based in New York, has identified Iowa City’s MidWestOne Financial Group Inc. as the best-performing stock in Iowa. SmartAsset looked for companies that pay the most dividends with the least …
By BPC Staff | Sep 18, 2015
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CVS Health Corp. agrees to $48 million settlement for concealing loss

CVS Health Corp. reached a $48 million settlement of a lawsuit that accused the U.S. drugstore operator of fraudulently concealing a big loss of revenue in its pharmacy benefits management business, culminating in a plunge…
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | Sep 16, 2015