…insurance on their own or had a pre-existing condition that would have made it difficult if not impossible to obtain it. This phenomenon – unfortunately all too common – is called “job lock.” However, under the ACA, access to comprehensive, affordable insurance is no longer tied to your job. Because the ACA bans discrimination based on pre-existing conditions and provides…
By Joe Touschner, Georgetown University Center for Children and Families Now that 2014 is here, the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate is in effect to encourage individuals and families to maintain health coverage. This year, though, will be a transition year for many when they won’t face any penalty for reasonable gaps in coverage. We’ve learned more about how the…
The Affordable Care Act is designed to improve access to coverage for millions of Americans. Because states are the primary implementers of these requirements, this report examines the status of state action on the three major components of health reform—the market reforms, the establishment of health insurance marketplaces, and Medicaid expansion. In a new report for The Commonwealth Fund—Implementing the…
…coverage to keep costs from spiraling out of control. There is no indication that the plan would provide adequate initial funding and increase federal support as needed. We will follow up with additional analysis of the plan in the coming days. Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published on the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Off the Charts blog….
…are sicker than average or rewarded if they are healthier than average coming into the program. Effective risk adjustment also deters plans from trying to avoid being chosen by people with more health risks. Reinsurance is a means of insuring the insurers by providing extra payments if certain of their enrollees incur unusually high costs, such as having more accidents…
…If they do change plans, will they still be able to receive the financial assistance they were deemed eligible for when they purchased the old plan? Selecting the right plan can be challenging, even in states that have implemented tools to help consumers understand and compare their plan choices. So for those who now want to change plans, we offer…
By Tricia Brooks, Georgetown University Center for Children and Families A federal district court ruling yesterday regarding Missouri’s navigator law has the health coverage community abuzz. As I noted in this Say Ahhh! blog, a number of states have proposed or passed legislation to require additional training and licensing for navigators, and sometimes other assisters, and restrict the activities they…
…enrollment process (some may have been found eligible for other public coverage programs), but one reason may be difficulties in comparing and understanding plan choices. A Commonwealth Fund survey of marketplace consumers released last week found that while the experience of comparing plans has improved since October, many still find it difficult. The experience can be particularly challenging for people…
…publicly report a wealth of existing industry data about coverage and claims. In CHIR’s most recent post for The Commonwealth Fund blog, Justin Giovannelli, Kevin Lucia, and Sarah Dash examine the context and the content of the transparency requirements and identify steps policymakers may take to implement the rules in the coming months. You can read the full post here….
…that provide tips for consumers on common issues with coverage, including filling a prescription, going to the doctor, and getting emergency care. And in an interim final rule released December 17th, HHS provided guidance to marketplace plans to help “smooth transitions” in two areas of coverage: access to providers and prescription drug coverage. When I signed up for my plan…
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.
