Open Enrollment for 2024 is in full swing, and thanks to a temporary expansion of federal premium subsidies, most Marketplace enrollees qualify for coverage at a very low monthly cost. This week, we’re highlighting frequently asked questions from our Navigator Resource Guide regarding the financial assistance available through the Marketplace.
In preparation for Health Policy Halloween, CHIR read up on the latest health policy research. In October, we read studies on consumer experiences enrolling in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, health care affordability issues among the insured and uninsured, and the impact of Medicaid expansion on coverage in heavily redlined areas.
The comment period recently ended for the Biden administration’s proposed a rule to bolster enforcement of federal mental health parity requirements and improve access to crucial services. In a post for Health Affairs Forefront, Maanasa Kona explains what’s in the proposed rule.
The annual open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage kicks off November 1 in most states. A number of new and ongoing policy changes will impact the Marketplace in 2024, including special enrollment opportunities tied to the Medicaid “unwinding,” continuing enhanced financial assistance, and administrative flexibilities designed to reduce barriers to enrollment. CHIR’s Emma Walsh-Alker summarizes these and other recent policies that consumers may encounter this year.
As we fall into autumn weather, CHIR continues to keep up with the latest health policy research. In September, we read about trends in individual market enrollment, mental health care networks available through the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Marketplace, and employers’ ability to negotiate lower prices for health care services.
A September 12 vote in Oregon would make it the third state to establish a Basic Health Program, after New York and Minnesota. CHIR and Urban Institute researchers recently examined New York and Minnesota’s experiences with the BHP and the lessons learned for other states considering the program.
As summer was winding down, CHIR was reading up on the latest health policy research. In August, we read about differences between Medicare Advantage and commercial plans’ negotiated hospital prices, the affordability of employer-sponsored insurance for older adults, and the expected growth of 2024 Affordable Care Act Marketplace premiums.
A recently proposed federal rule aims to mitigate the harm of short-term insurance plans, products exempt from the Affordable Care Act’s consumer protections. In a post for the Commonwealth Fund, Justin Giovannelli, Kevin Lucia, and Christina L. Goe explain the proposed federal rule and describe what else states can do to further protect their residents.
The No Surprises Act is largely working as intended to protect patients from unexpected medical bills. However, the rising number of Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) cases is creating challenges for the health care system. In a post for Health Affairs Forefront, Jack Hoadley and Kevin Lucia evaluate the causes and implications of the increasing number of IDR cases.
CHIR’s summer reading list includes the latest health policy literature. In July, we read about the disparities in medical debt burdens, policy interventions to reduce choice errors in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, and the affordability of Marketplace health insurance under subsidy expansion.
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the individual blog post authors and do not represent the views of Georgetown University, the Center on Health Insurance Reforms, any organization that the author is affiliated with, or the opinions of any other author who publishes on this blog.
