In recent rulemaking, the Obama administration attempts to close a potential loophole in the Affordable Care Act – the sale of fixed indemnity insurance policies marketed to look like health insurance but leaving consumers without the same protections. Sabrina Corlette takes a look at the proposal and what it might mean for consumers.
In a proposed regulation released Friday, March 14, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services drew a line in the sand for states with laws restricting the ability of Navigators and consumer assisters to perform the jobs required of them under the ACA. Sabrina Corlette has an overview of the proposed rules and what they mean for Navigators and for states.
As we approach the end of open enrollment into new coverage options under the Affordable Care Act, many consumers have questions about their new health plans – what benefits are covered, what doctors are included in their networks, and what to do if there’s a problem. JoAnn Volk has them covered, with a series of frequently asked questions about post-enrollment issues, excerpted from our Navigator Resource Guide.
One challenging question for families as they enroll in health insurance coverage on the new Marketplaces is what to do about kids’ dental coverage. Our colleague at Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families, Joe Touschner, has the skinny and links to some helpful resources to better understand this complex policy area – and how things might change for 2015.
The Obama administration is proposing to provide insurers with temporary relief from an Affordable Care Act requirement that they maintain a minimum medical loss ratio (MLR). This could mean that consumers will receive lower rebates than they otherwise would. Sabrina Corlette examines the thinking behind the decision.
While we’re struggling with Affordable Care Act (ACA) issues, there’s value in taking the time to look back and appreciate the impact of the ACA and other healthcare reforms implemented over the past few decades. To that end, former insurance commissioner and health insurance company executive Sally McCarty begins a series of blogs that compare the healthcare coverage landscape before and after reform. The series is called “Back in the Day – Lessons from Pre-reform Days,” and begins with a look at narrow networks.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi has included a new provision in its plan description that could mean huge costs for plan participants. The new policy does not cover prescription drugs prescribed by out-of-network providers. How does this policy square with the ACA? And what does it mean for consumers? Elissa Dines discusses.
The Obama administration recently announced that the health insurance Marketplaces can offer consumers retroactive coverage and financial assistance, if technical problems prevented them from enrolling. But the administration’s guidance also leaves some unanswered questions. Sabrina Corlette takes a look and helps us understand what the new policy actually means for consumers.
The ACA established new appeal rights for consumers facing a denial of a benefit or service from their health plan. As consumers start to use their new Marketplace coverage, JoAnn Volk takes a look at the health plan appeals process required of all new plans, and what these new rights mean for patients.
There are reports that at least some formerly reluctant states are thinking of moving from a federally facilitated to a state-based health insurance marketplace. Our colleague at Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families, Sonya Schwartz, walks us through what states need to do to make the transition.
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.
