Health reform

The 2019 Affordable Care Act Payment Rule: Summary & Implications for States

Posted April 16, 2018 by

The Trump administration has released a new final rule to govern the Affordable Care Act’s individual and small-group markets, known as the 2019 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters. The rule includes an expansion of states’ role over the ACA’s health plan benefit and affordability provisions. In her latest Expert Perspective for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies Program, Sabrina Corlette untangles the rule and its implications for state decision-makers.

The Future of the Affordable Care Act under President Trump: Stakeholders Respond to the Proposed Association Health Plan Rule. Part V: Departments of Insurance

Posted April 10, 2018 by Emily Curran

In this final blog in our series reviewing stakeholder comments on the Department of Labor’s proposed rule to expand Association Health Plans, CHIR’s Emily Curran summarizes responses from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and nine state departments of insurance (DOI). While the DOIs expressed some areas of support for the proposed rule, their comments were largely negative, with most expressing deep concerns about the rule’s ambiguity.

New Georgetown – Urban Institute Report Finds Health Plans Bracing for More Federal Uncertainty Over Affordable Care Act

Posted March 20, 2018 by CHIR Faculty

Researchers from Georgetown CHIR and the Urban Institute have released a new report documenting the findings from a series of interviews with insurers participating in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. We share a summary of key takeaways here.

The Future of the Affordable Care Act under President Trump: Stakeholders Respond to the Proposed Association Health Plan Rule. Part II: Consumer Advocates

Posted March 19, 2018 by

Over 900 comment letters were submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor in response to the proposed rule easing the formation of Association Health Plans. In the second of our blog series summarizing stakeholder feedback, CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette reviews comments from consumer and patient organizations.

Making Short-Term Plans a Long Term Coverage Option: Risks to Consumers and to Markets

Posted March 12, 2018 by

The White House and Secretary of Health & Human Services have recently called for making short-term plans renewable. CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette delves into what “guaranteed renewability” means and the risks to consumers and insurance markets if such a policy is extended to short-term insurance.

Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance Proposed Rule: Summary and Options for States

Posted February 26, 2018 by CHIR Faculty

New proposed rules from the Trump administration would loosen current federal restrictions on short-term, limited duration insurance products. In their latest brief for the State Health & Value Strategies program, CHIR experts Sabrina Corlette, JoAnn Volk, and Justin Giovannelli summarize the proposed rule and its potential impacts and provide a menu of options for states seeking to protect consumers and stabilized their individual markets.

Idaho Goes Rogue: State Authorizes Sale of Health Plans that Violate the Affordable Care Act

Posted February 1, 2018 by

Idaho has just published rules for new, “state-based” health plans that are exempt from many of the Affordable Care Act protections for people with pre-existing conditions. CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette examines the legality of Idaho’s action, as well as its potential impact on consumers and the health insurance marketplace.

Research Update: Health Care Expenses from Families’ Budgets to Federal Budgets

Posted January 11, 2018 by CHIR Faculty

Recent research highlights how health insurance coverage eases financial pressure on families’ budgets, particularly for low-income families. Karina Wagnerman from our sister center, the Center for Children & Families, highlights the findings from two key studies.

2018 Outlook: What Health Insurance Experts at CHIR Will be Watching

Posted January 3, 2018 by CHIR Faculty

Last year brought a lot of surprises in health care policy, and 2018 is shaping up to be more of the same. Here health insurance experts at CHIR, including Sabrina Corlette, Kevin Lucia, JoAnn Volk, Justin Giovannelli, and Dania Palanker share the policies and market trends that they’ll be watching in the year to come.

Marketplace Plan Discontinued? Options after Open Enrollment

Posted December 20, 2017 by CHIR Faculty

Blink and you may have missed it – open enrollment for HealthCare.gov was much shorter this year and ended on December 15th. But many people will have extra time to sign up if they’re in a plan that’s being discontinued. CHIR’s Sandy Ahn answers some frequently asked questions about consumers’ options if they’re in this circumstance.