New Requirements to Cover Over-the-counter COVID Tests: Implications for State Insurance Regulators

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New federal rules require health insurers to cover and waive consumer cost-sharing for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. State insurance regulators will be on the front lines of enforcing the new coverage mandate. In her latest Expert Perspective for the State Health & Value Strategies project, Sabrina Corlette assesses the new requirements and identifies areas where state insurance departments may need to fill in gaps.

December Research Roundup: What We’re Reading

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This month, we’re ringing in the new year with new health policy research. In our final roundup of 2021 publications, CHIR’s Emma Walsh-Alker reviewed analyses about the impact of the ACA’s Medicaid expansion on coverage status and access to maternal care, how the Build Back Better Act would change health insurance for low-income individuals and families, and consumer choice in health care.

Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Answers to Post-Enrollment Questions

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As of January 15th, the open enrollment period has ended in most states. A record number of consumers signed up for 2022 marketplace coverage. So what comes next for marketplace enrollees? First, give yourself a pat on the back for enrolling in health coverage! Second, consult CHIR’s Navigator Resource Guide for expert answers to FAQs about post-enrollment issues you may face, like unexpected coverage denials and balance bills.

Changes to Wellness Programs Suggest Employers are Rethinking Health Promotion

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January can feel like a time for new beginnings, and new year’s resolutions. In recent years, many employers have provided workplace wellness programs that may help employees stick with these resolutions, such as benefits, services, or financial incentives that encourage workers to improve their health. Recent data from KFF’s 2021 Employer Health Benefit Survey showing that employers are reconsidering key elements of their wellness initiatives prompted CHIR to take a look at some of the changes—and ongoing issues—with workplace wellness programs.

The Proposed 2023 Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters: Implications for States

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The Biden administration has proposed a range of new standards and policies for the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces. In her latest Expert Perspective for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health & Value Strategies project, Sabrina Corlette breaks down provisions that are of particular importance to states.

Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Understanding Common Consumer Notices When Applying for Marketplace Coverage

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Happy New Year! In most states, consumers have until January 15 to sign up for marketplace coverage for 2022. In this weekly installment of FAQs from CHIR’s updated Navigator Resource Guide, we highlight questions about common notices consumers may receive when applying for health insurance, and how they can respond in order to successfully enroll in coverage.

ACA Section 1557 as a Tool for Anti-racist Health Care

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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has narrowed racial and ethnic health disparities. But significant gaps persist, driven in no small part by structural racism. In a new piece for Health Affairs Forefront, Jamille Fields Allsbrook and CHIR faculty Katie Keith discuss how the Biden administration can use its existing authority under Section 1557 of the ACA and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to better ensure anti-racist health care and insurance.

Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Will My Plan Deliver the Care I Need?

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Provider networks and prescription drug coverage are important consideration for consumers when choosing a plan. As part of CHIR’s weekly series highlighting FAQs from our updated Navigator Resource Guide, this week we discuss how to make sure your plan provides access to the doctors, prescription drugs, and culturally competent care that you need.

Consumers Have More Time to Shop for a 2022 Health Insurance Plan

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For the past four years, December 15 has been the deadline for most Americans to enroll in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces for coverage effective the following year. This year the Biden administration has extended the sign-up window for an extra four weeks. CHIR’s Rachel Schwab takes a look at the benefits – and potential risks – of giving people more time to enroll.

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.