State of the States

New Report on ACA Implications for State Network Adequacy Standards

Posted August 19, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

The Affordable Care Act promises consumers a more comprehensive set of health insurance benefits, but whether consumers are able to access those benefits depends in part on whether states adhere to or build upon the law’s network adequacy standards. CHIR researchers recently released a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded report evaluating current federal and state efforts to regulate plan networks. Max Farris provides an overview.

New Report on State Implementation of Essential Health Benefit Standard

Posted August 14, 2013 by

As part of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded project to monitor implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 11 states, Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms and the Urban Institute have published a series of papers identifying key issues and challenges. Their most recent brief examines the development and review of health plans that meet the new essential health benefit standard. Sabrina Corlette provides us with some key takeaways.

Don’t Be Misled: Indiana’s Consumers Won’t Have to Pay $500 a Month for Health Insurance

Posted July 26, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

Indiana officials are suggesting that people will have to pay an average of $500 per month for individual market health insurance in 2014. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Sarah Lueck looks at the rate filings behind the press release and finds that figure to be highly misleading.

Health Reform at Work: Lower Rates in New York State

Posted July 17, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

Next year’s premiums for individual market plans will be way down in New York thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Christine Monahan discusses how a competitive exchange and the individual mandate will provide relief to cash-strapped New Yorkers.

New Report Examines Early Indications of Insurer Participation and Competition in Health Insurance Exchanges

Posted July 16, 2013 by Kevin Lucia

One of the key goals of the Affordable Care Act is to make health insurance coverage more affordable and consumer-friendly by managing competition among health insurers through the creation of health insurance exchanges. A new report from researchers at the Urban Institute and CHIR released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation explores state actions to encourage or require participation on exchanges, and early indications of the level of competition among health insurers. Kevin Lucia highlights some of the findings from the report.

New Report: States Going Above and Beyond to Create Sustainable Exchanges and Deliver Choice and Value to Consumers

Posted July 11, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

In a new report for The Commonwealth Fund, Sarah Dash, Kevin Lucia, Katie Keith, and Christine Monahan provide a comprehensive look at the critical design decisions made by 17 states and the District of Columbia that chose to establish a state-based exchange for 2014. Sarah Dash has highlights from the report and discusses what the findings mean for stakeholders.

Will New Laws in States with Federally Run Health Insurance Marketplaces Hinder Outreach?

Posted July 1, 2013 by Katie Keith

Although the federal government will play a primary role in administering the navigator program in the 33 states with a federally facilitated exchange, many state legislatures have enacted or considered legislation that subjects navigators to state requirements. In a post that originally appeared on The Commonwealth Fund Blog, Katie Keith, Kevin Lucia, and Christine Monahan describe the role of navigators and well as the potentially detrimental impact of this recent state legislative activity on effective consumer outreach.

Evolving Dynamics of Health Insurance Exchange Implementation

Posted June 19, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the roles of states and the federal government in establishing health insurance exchanges—marketplaces where people can shop for comprehensive and affordable health plans—have evolved considerably. In a post that originally appeared on The Commonwealth Fund Blog, Sarah Dash, Christine Monahan, and Kevin Lucia describe where exchange establishment decisions currently stand.

As Self-Funding Remains Hot Topic in Press, States Begin to Take Action

Posted June 14, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

Whether or not small employers will begin self-funding in greater numbers as the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented continues to be a hot topic. In the midst of significant media attention, Christine Monahan looks at two states that have decided to take action.

Florida’s Changes to Rate Review: Heading Backward?

Posted June 13, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

Of the many consumer protection tools available to health insurance regulators, one of the most powerful is the ability to review premium rates. Yet, some states have made recent decisions to abdicate this authority to federal regulators. Sally McCarty discusses recently enacted legislation in Florida that suspends the state’s rate review requirements – and what it means for insurers, regulators, and consumers.