2016 Insurer Participation Remains Stable in State-Based Marketplaces

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In the wake of the high-profile closures and departures of some health plans from the individual market, a close analysis of plan participation in the state-based marketplaces demonstrates that consumer choices remain relatively stable. In CHIR’s latest blog post for the Commonwealth Fund, Emily Curran, Justin Giovannelli and Kevin Lucia assess insurers’ participation in the state-run marketplaces and the policy levers in place to help foster competition.

A Look at Proposals for Improving Health Coverage Affordability

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Welcome to 2016. With first votes being cast in the 2016 election cycle less than two weeks away and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) promising to unveil an ACA replacement plan to steer the 2016 party agenda, the policy debate on health reform is far from over. We here at CHIR are keeping an eye on reform proposals, and in this post, CHIR’s Hannah Ellison examines various proposals to improve affordability of coverage under the ACA.

Enroll Before Jan. 15 for Feb. 1 Coverage and Other Open Enrollment Reminders

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With open enrollment set to close in two week, enroll now before or on January 15 to get coverage by February 1. As the clock ticks towards the end of January and the close of open enrollment, CHIR’s Sandy Ahn provides some reminders and references the Navigator Guide, your resource on eligibility, enrollment, and health insurance coverage.

The Failure of the ACA’s Health CO-OPs: Lessons for Policymakers

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The failure of 12 of the Affordable Care Act’s CO-OP plans reveals much about the huge barriers facing new companies entering the highly concentrated health insurance market. Sabrina Corlette takes a look at some of the lessons that policymakers – and regulators with oversight over the proposed mergers in the health insurance industry – can draw from the CO-OPs’ experiences.

Depressed Doctors and What Healthcare Payers and Providers Can Do

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A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found very high rates of depression among medical students. Georgetown medical student Josh Barrett takes a look at the implications for physician training and patient care, as well as the role of health insurers and health systems in supporting physicians’ mental health.

Proposed Mergers among Major Health Insurers: Context and Perspectives

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Health plan consolidation has been in the news lately. The Department of Justice is reviewing proposed mergers between major insurers Aetna/Humana and Anthem/CIGNA, as are a number of state insurance regulators. CHIR’s Emily Curran attended a recent forum airing different perspectives on the mergers, and shares this overview.

Federal and State Policymakers Work to Ensure Continuity of Health Care for Consumers

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Federal health insurance officials and the NAIC have recently put forward proposals to protect patients when a doctor or hospital leaves their health plan’s network. Both are grounded in longstanding state standards, although the scope and strength of these laws vary widely. In their latest post for the Commonwealth Fund, Sabrina Corlette, Ashley Williams and Kevin Lucia share findings from a 50-state survey of continuity of care laws and assess how they compare to the federal proposal.

What About “Don’t Discriminate Against Sick People” Do You Not Understand?

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Although it’s a complicated law, there’s one thing about the ACA that’s not at all complicated: the requirement that insurers stop discriminating against sick people. Yet some insurance companies still appear confused by this rule. Sabrina Corlette looks at recent insurer attempts to discourage sicker, older people from enrolling in their plans – and the efforts of at least one state to combat them.

Deadline for January 1, 2016 Coverage Approaching: What to Do

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The deadline for having health insurance starting on January 1, 2016 is quickly approaching. Consumers who want marketplace coverage must enroll by December 15, 2015 for a January 1, 2016 effective date. CHIR summarizes what to do and highlights Frequently Asked Questions related to open enrollment.

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.