…members are eligible to participate in the wellness program. However, regulators invite comments on whether the reward or penalty should be prorated for the family members that fail to meet the standard. Similarly, the proposed rule on market reforms seeks comment on whether the tobacco surcharge should be prorated for family members who use tobacco. If a surcharge is applied…
…and improve on its consumer protections. In other NAIC news, the organization has posted its Committee List for 2013. Commissioner Sandy Praeger from Kansas will continue to chair the NAIC’s health insurance and managed care committee, and Commissioner Stephen Robinson (Indiana) will chair the Consumer Liaison committee. Stay tuned to CHIRblog for updates on the NAIC’s work implementing the ACA….
…on the number of physical therapy visits, days in the hospital, etc) that differ from the limitations in the EHB benchmark plan, so long as the coverage and limitations are “substantially equal” to the benefits in the benchmark. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder – Parity The final rule confirms that health plans must comply with the mental health and…
…a bridge to 2014, when people will no longer be denied coverage because of their health status. Those currently enrolled in a PCIP will have an opportunity to enroll in a traditional insurance plan – and access the new premium tax credits – come January 1, 2014. The early closure of the PCIPs provides some important lessons for policymakers. While…
By Sabrina Corlette and Jack Hoadley. This blog originally appeared on The Hill’s Congress blog on July 17, 2013 and is reproduced here in its entirety. There’s been a lot of angst lately about some strategic decisions by the Obama Administration to delay implementation of key provisions of the health reform law. Most recently, the Internal Revenue Service told employers…
…their bills. One factor that is likely contributing to the good numbers coming out of New York is the competitiveness of their health insurance exchange – which we discuss along with five other states in a recent report. New York will have 17 health insurers competing for business in its individual market – including eight new entrants to the market…
…of insurers to participate in the exchanges, including existing commercial insurers and new entrants to the commercial markets such as Medicaid plans, consumer operated and orientated plans (CO-OPs) and, potentially, multi-state plans. Most states expect that exchanges will be fairly competitive and there are some early indications that premiums will be reasonable for some plans. For example, in Oregon, recently…
…all CAC entities (as well as navigators and non-navigator assisters) will be listed its website as a resource to consumers. CAC entities in states with an FFE will be limited to community health centers, hospitals, health care providers of all types including Indian health providers, and social service agencies that assist with other public programs that are either non-federal governmental…
…likely to newly qualify for Medicaid, were unfamiliar with the new coverage options under the ACA. The outreach effort starts with a newly-unveiled Health Insurance Marketplace section on the HHS-sponsored website www.healthcare.gov where individuals and businesses can sign up for updates, learn more about health insurance basics, review checklists for how to prepare for the new marketplace, and watch a…
…Data Services Hub, which will coordinate data from federal agencies (including the Social Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security and Internal Revenue Service) to determine eligibility for public coverage and premium subsidies. The Data Services Hub has undergone extensive technical evaluation across agencies “and will soon begin to test the hub with States that are the furthest along with implementing…
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.
