aca implementation

The Sky is Not Falling: CHIR Expert Kevin Lucia Talks Trends in Coverage and Affordability on the ACA Marketplaces

Posted July 21, 2016 by Rachel Schwab

On Friday, July 15, CHIR’s very own Kevin Lucia spoke at a briefing on ACA marketplaces put on by the Alliance for Health Reform. Mr. Lucia joined representatives from the Commonwealth Fund, the American Academy of Actuaries, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to discuss the outlook for federally facilitated and state-based exchanges as the fourth open enrollment period approaches in November.

State Legislators Conduct Post-Mortem on Affordable Care Act CO-OPs and Plot Next Steps

Posted July 19, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

State insurance legislators held their national meeting in Portland, Oregon last week, and the demise of 16 health insurance CO-OPs created under the Affordable Care Act was high on the agenda. CHIR’s own Sabrina Corlette was invited to provide legislators with testimony about the CO-OP program’s troubles. Key takeaways from the meeting – and next steps for state policymakers – are provided here.

Recent State Action: Are Formerly Vocal ACA Opponents Climbing on Board the Obamacare Bus?

Posted July 11, 2016 by JoAnn Volk

As ACA opponents continue to vilify, challenge and undermine the law, four states that have been vocal opponents of the law have taken action recently to enforce federal rules, protect consumers and stabilize their markets. JoAnn Volk sums up the state action.

Obama Administration Announces New Strategies to Enroll Young Adults in Health Insurance, but Misses One Important Fix

Posted June 23, 2016 by

The Obama Administration has announced several new strategies to boost enrollment among young adults in the health insurance marketplaces. These are helpful and important, but CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette observes they haven’t yet fixed an enrollment glitch that particularly affects adult children under age 26.

Study: Medicaid Offers Stronger Cost Sharing Protections Compared with Marketplace Coverage

Posted June 22, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

In the debate over Medicaid expansion, most of the attention has been on families in non-expansion states who are shut out of coverage. But what about those just above the poverty line who are eligible for marketplace tax credits? A new study compares their experience to those with similar incomes in Medicaid expansion states. Sean Miskell shares the findings.

New Special Enrollment Confirmation Process Effective June 17, 2016: What it Means for Consumers

Posted June 20, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

As of June 17, 2016, the federally facilitated market will require consumers who have enrolled into marketplace coverage under certain special enrollments to provide verifying documents. CHIR’s Sandy Ahn summarizes the new special enrollment confirmation process and answers some questions that consumers and assisters may have.

California Moves Toward Offering Full Price Coverage to Ineligible Immigrants in its Marketplace

Posted June 17, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

California will soon be requesting a waiver from federal officials that would enable the state health insurance marketplace to enroll immigrants who are not lawfully present into coverage. Our colleague at Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families, Sonya Schwartz, takes a look at California’s new law and what it might mean for immigrants and their families.

You Don’t Know Who You Are Dealing With: Unscrupulous Broker Tries to Sell Us Short-Term Health Insurance

Posted June 13, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

An insurance broker called a CHIR faculty member with a shady sales pitch for a short-term health plan. He had no idea who he was dealing with. Sabrina Corlette and JoAnn Volk explore why insurance companies are using short-term policies to cherry pick healthy people away from the Affordable Care Act marketplaces – and why a new Obama Administration rule may help close the loop hole.

Comparing Nondiscrimination Protections under the ACA

Posted June 7, 2016 by JoAnn Volk

HHS released the final Section 1557 rule, completing the suite of non-discrimination rules that constitute some of the most dramatic recent changes in health insurance regulation. JoAnn Volk looks at how the rules stack up in protecting consumers with pre-existing conditions.

Improving Marketplace Coverage for Children

Posted June 7, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

What does coverage look like for children on the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces? A new report from Georgetown experts Kelly Whitener, JoAnn Volk, Sean Miskell and Joan Alker examines at the adequacy of coverage, affordability of coverage, and access to providers. This blog post provides some of their topline findings.