aca implementation

The Affordable Care Act CO-OP Program: Facing Both Barriers and Opportunities for More Competitive Health Insurance Markets

Posted March 16, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

The recent financial troubles of some CO-OP plans created under the Affordable Care Act have sparked questions about the long-term viability of the program. In their latest blog post for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR experts Sabrina Corlette, Kevin Lucia, Justin Giovannelli and Sean Miskell assess the current status of the CO-OP program, challenges to success, and prospects for the future.

Confused about What Happens at Tax Time? FAQs on Penalties, Exemptions, Reconciliation, and SEPs

Posted March 11, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

As part of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded project to help navigators and assisters in five states, faculty at Georgetown’s CHIR and the Center for Children and Families have been getting a lot of tax-related questions lately. Tricia Brooks, Sandy Ahn, Sabrina Corlette and JoAnn Volk share answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

New to the Affordable Care Act, or Need a Refresher? ACA 101 Briefing Has What You Need to Know

Posted March 9, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

A recent briefing hosted by the Alliance for Health Reform and the Kaiser Family Foundation offered Congressional staff and stakeholders a primer on the Affordable Care Act. CHIR’s own Sabrina Corlette joined the panel of experts to walk people through the key private market provisions of this groundbreaking and controversial law.

Latest in CHIR Video Series: Special Enrollment Opportunities for Affordable Care Act Coverage

Posted March 5, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

More states are establishing new special enrollment opportunities to help people gain coverage through the marketplaces. In our latest video about timely health insurance topics, CHIR experts Sandy Ahn and Justin Giovannelli discuss how state-based and federal marketplaces have used special enrollment periods to boost enrollment,

More Trouble than it’s Worth? The Affordable Care Act’s Redefinition of the Small Group Market

Posted March 3, 2015 by

The Affordable Care Act includes a reform of the health insurance market that has received relatively little attention, but that’s likely to change. The provision requires a change in the definition of small group health plan, and it could have a significant impact on premiums and offers of coverage by employers. Sabrina Corlette takes a look.

After a Slow Start, Federal Small Business Health Insurance Marketplace Offers New and Improved Functions

Posted February 23, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

With intense focus on enrollment in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, enrollment through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) has flown under the radar by comparison. In their latest blog post for the Commonwealth Fund, Kevin Lucia, Justin Giovannelli and Sean Miskell discuss early challenges for the SHOP as well as recent improvements.

Year One for the Shared Responsibility Payment: Taking a Closer Look at the Affordability Exemption

Posted February 23, 2015 by JoAnn Volk

The current tax filing season, for the 2014 tax year, is the first in which consumers will need to indicate whether or not they had coverage in 2014, or face a potential tax penalty for failure to have coverage throughout the year. JoAnn Volk takes a look at the affordability exemption and what consumers need to know.

What Difference do 10 Hours Make? What the Research Tells us About Shifting the Affordable Care Act Standard for Full Time Work from 30 to 40 Hours

Posted January 29, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

Congress is debating controversial legislation to shift the Affordable Care Act’s definition of full-time work from 30 hours to 40 hours per week. CHIR’s Mason Weber digs into the research on what such a move could mean for workers and employers.

Insurance Premium Surcharges for Smokers May Jeopardize Access to Coverage

Posted January 15, 2015 by Justin Giovannelli

While the ACA limits the power of insurance companies to charge higher prices to consumers based on health status and other factors, the law doesn’t stop insurers from imposing a premium surcharge on tobacco users that can raise the cost of coverage by as much as 50 percent. In a new blog post for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR researchers discuss the pros and cons of tobacco rating and examine why some states have chosen to ban the practice.

Are People in Immigrant Families Gaining Coverage Under Health Reform?

Posted January 8, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

Although we are in the midst of the second open enrollment period under health care reform, we still don’t have good data on whether people in immigrant families are gaining access to coverage. What we do know suggests we’re making some progress, but that challenges remain. Our Georgetown colleague Sonya Schwartz gets us up to speed.