As a US Senator, Barack Obama would have found it hard to imagine health reform as a signature domestic policy of an Obama presidency to come. Indeed, when the 2008 financial meltdown hit, health care understandably took a back seat to jobs and the economy. But President Obama couldn’t get away from health reform. Mounting evidence that the US health…
It’s a new year, and with it comes new hope for the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) exchanges. Wall Street analysts recently released research that shows improvements in insurers’ finances for 2016, predicting even better margins for future years. But just as the markets are starting to stabilize, the incoming Congress and Administration are threatening to undo them. Last week, President-Elect…
…reforms and subsidies would remain in place until a replacement plan is enacted. But the uncertainty that arises from this transition period, combined with an unforgiving insurance product and premium rate development calendar upon which the market relies, will cause major disruptions for consumers. In an ongoing series of articles for The Commonwealth Fund, CHIR experts partner with Julie Andrews…
…market into chaos, especially given that insurers will still be legally required to offer this subsidy to eligible enrollees. In a new article published on The Commonwealth Fund’s To The Point site, CHIR experts JoAnn Volk, Dania Palanker, Justin Giovannelli and Kevin Lucia look at the impact of losing CSR funding on plan participation and consumers’ access to coverage. …
…how much people need and want comprehensive health insurance. As we hum along to our favorite holiday hits, CHIR has composed a new carol to pay homage to the monumental health care law that has led to unprecedented coverage and consumer protections. Happy holidays! To the tune of “Twelve Days of Christmas” On the first day of coverage, Obamacare gave…
…ACA’s rate review deadlines and risk adjustment program, while keeping an eye on the potential changes ahead – or, as one regulator said, continuing with “the status quo until we know otherwise.” Looking to the Congressional debate to come, regulators discussed the December 2nd letter House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy sent to all governors and state insurance commissioners, asking for…
…bother to enroll. Before the sun sets on this year’s open enrollment season, we’ve answered a couple of common consumer questions: 1) If I sign up for coverage now, will I be able to stay enrolled if the ACA is repealed? Yes, for coverage through 2017. Plans offered for 2017 have already been approved by federal and state regulators and…
It’s a blast from the past, but not a welcome one. With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at risk of repeal, Americans may be forced to get reacquainted with medical underwriting. What is underwriting? In health insurance, it is a practice used by insurance companies to assess a consumer’s health status, including any pre-existing conditions, to determine whether or not…
…stake for women as policymakers consider repealing the ACA: Nondiscrimination Protections The ACA banned sex discrimination in health care, including prohibiting insurance companies from charging women higher premiums. A common practice prior the ACA, known as gender rating, allowed insurance companies to charge female enrollees higher premiums. Insurers claimed that the rating difference stemmed from costs associated with pregnancy and…
…Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that dramatically fewer people are struggling to pay medical bills, compared to what they faced before the ACA. A recent national survey found that, since 2011, that number has declined by nearly 13 million people, or 22%. This downward trend is consistent across demographics and insurance types, a sign that even the…
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.
