Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

A bill requiring insurance companies in the state to pay for autism therapy has passed the Senate budget committee. But the committee chairman is threatening not to advance the bill, as he continues negotiations.

Alabamians looking for health insurance will likely have more choices in the second year of the insurance marketplace.

A spokesman for the state insurance department said Monday that United Healthcare has filed plans with state and federal regulators to offer coverage in all 67 counties during the second year of the program. United Healthcare did not offer individual plans in any county during the first year.

Alabama's largest health insurance company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, says it won't reinstate health plans that don't comply with the federal health care law.

Blue Cross made the announcement Wednesday in response to the president's remarks last week that consumers should be allowed to renew individual plans slated to end under the federal law.

Alabama's largest health insurance company and the state Insurance Department had more questions than answers after the president said consumers should be allowed to renew individual plans slated to end under the federal health care law.

At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, spokeswoman Koko Mackin said the company is reviewing the president's statement and evaluating its impact on the requirements for implementing the federal law.

Blue Cross had 97,000 individual customers whose policies didn't meet the requirement of the new law and were being moved to new policies.