affordable care act

The Administration Tried to Make It Easier for States to Waive ACA Rules: Will Any Take the Plunge?

Posted February 21, 2019 by Justin Giovannelli

Recent federal guidance made significant changes to the ACA’s section 1332 waiver program in order to give states greater leeway to sidestep ACA rules. But the move has triggered questions about whether the waiver options the Trump administration is touting are practical for states, or even legal. In a new work for The Commonwealth Fund, Justin Giovannelli and JoAnn Volk examine how states are approaching ACA waivers in the wake of the federal policy change.

January Research Round Up: What We’re Reading

Posted February 8, 2019 by Olivia Hoppe

For the January Research Round Up, CHIR’s Olivia Hoppe goes over new research that examines the root of high health care spending in the US, the effects of eliminating the individual mandate penalty in California, insurer participation in the individual market, and characteristics of the uninsured population across the country.

Efforts to Protect Workers with Pre-existing Conditions

Posted February 7, 2019 by CHIR Faculty

On February 6, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Education & Labor Committee held a hearing on threats to workers with pre-existing conditions. CHIR expert Sabrina Corlette was invited to testify and shares her statement here.

The Marketing of Short-Term Health Plans: Industry Practices Create Consumer Confusion

Posted January 31, 2019 by CHIR Faculty

A 2018 federal rule changing the definition of short-term limited-duration insurance (STLDI) has created a new marketing opportunity for insurance companies and brokers. In a new study, CHIR experts assess short-term plan insurers’ marketing tactics in the wake of the new federal rules and how regulators have prepared for this new market.

The Proposed 2020 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters: Summary and Implications for States

Posted January 24, 2019 by

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has released a new set of rules and standards for the Affordable Care Act marketplaces and insurance provisions. CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette reviews the proposal and what its provisions mean for state insurance markets and coverage.

Affordable Care Act Navigators: Lack of Funding Leads to Consumer Confusion, Decreased Enrollment

Posted January 18, 2019 by Olivia Hoppe

Last year, we talked with Navigators to learn about how they reached consumers despite major funding cuts. In light of a number of new policy changes and further funding decreases, CHIR’s Olivia Hoppe checked in with Navigators and assisters from five states on how they fared in this year’s Open Enrollment, and the challenges ahead.

How Is the Partial Government Shutdown Affecting the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces?

Posted January 11, 2019 by

We are now in the midst of the longest-ever shutdown of U.S. government agencies, resulting in closed offices, furloughed workers, and discontinued services. CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette takes a look at how the shutdown is affecting the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

December Research Round Up: What We’re Reading

Posted January 3, 2019 by Olivia Hoppe

Many people make New Year’s resolutions, with popular ones being to get healthy and save money. In that spirit, CHIR’s Olivia Hoppe highlights three December studies that focus on families’ spending on health care and a new federal proposal to encourage the use of health reimbursement accounts.

Texas Court Ruling Throws Future of ACA’s Pre-existing Condition Protections, Coverage Gains into Doubt

Posted December 17, 2018 by CHIR Faculty

A district court judge in Texas has issued a ruling that could throw close to one-fifth of the U.S. economy into chaos and upend health care for millions. While the case over the future of the Affordable Care Act wends its way through the courts, CHIR takes a moment to think about what the decision could mean for the consumers and families for whom the law has been a literal lifeline.

November Research Round Up: What We’re Reading

Posted December 14, 2018 by Olivia Hoppe

This November, we at CHIR celebrated Thanksgiving with a Research Buffet. CHIR’s Olivia Hoppe digs into research that looks at issues including health insurance literacy, the financial implications of subsidized health insurance, the impact of the Affordable Care Act on American workers, and Medicare Advantage.