affordable care act

Understanding Consumers’ Experience with Health Insurance: New California Report on Complaints Provides Insights

Posted May 25, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

Earlier this month, the California Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA) released its first annual report cataloguing consumer complaints and inquiries about their health plans across four California state health agencies. The report examines 27,028 consumer complaints that were closed in 2014. CHIR’s Hannah Ellison explores highlights of the report and discusses its potential for impact.

The Next Stage in Health Reform

Posted May 24, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

Health reform is entering a new stage. Going forward, federal and state policymakers must decide how to use the powers and tools granted them under the Affordable Care Act to stabilize risk pools, improve competition, and promote effective risk management. In this blog post Brookings scholar Henry Aaron and CHIR faculty Kevin Lucia and Justin Giovannelli discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead for the ACA’s marketplaces.

Understanding ACA’s Coverage Gains: Welcome Mat Effect & State Marketplaces Keys to Success

Posted May 18, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

How can we best understand the coverage gains under the Affordable Care Act? Researchers from Harvard’s School of Public Health and MIT unpack the latest data from the largest household survey in the United States and share some insights.

CHIR Expert Testifies Before U.S. House Committee on Affordable Care Act “Alternatives”

Posted May 11, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

Our very own Sabrina Corlette was invited back to the U.S. House of Representatives for the second time in a month, this time to give testimony before the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Here are a few highlights from the May 11 hearing.

New Georgetown Report: Understanding the Consumer Enrollment Experience in the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces

Posted May 9, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

A new report released by Georgetown CHIR researchers used call center data from the Assister Help Resource Center to provide insights into consumer experiences enrolling in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces during the 2016 enrollment season. Authors Sabrina Corlette, Sandy Ahn and Hannah Ellison share some of their top findings.

The ACA is Helping Moms this Mother’s Day

Posted May 6, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

A new Urban Institute study examines data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to analyze trends in insurance coverage for mothers. Our Center for Children and Families’ colleague Alisa Chester takes a look at their findings.

Obama Administration Delays Implementation of Star Ratings, Transparency Requirements for Marketplace Health Plans

Posted May 2, 2016 by

On April 29, the Obama Administration signaled a phased-in approach to implementing the quality rating system for marketplace health plans. Officials also released a final proposal implementing the Affordable Care Act’s transparency rules. Sabrina Corlette provides an update.

NAIC Roundup: Catching Up on the Spring Meeting and Looking Ahead

Posted April 28, 2016 by JoAnn Volk

The NAIC held its Spring Meeting earlier this month and looked at SEPs, balance billing, risk adjustment and more. JoAnn Volk sums up the meeting and looks ahead to work to come.

HHS Study Shows Benefits of Shopping and Subsidies, but Costs Still a Concern

Posted April 18, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

With health insurers’ rate filings looming on the horizon, many are concerned we’ll see proposed premium increases for 2017. But a report released last week demonstrates that, behind the headlines, consumers are likely to see more affordable premiums after they’ve shopped for the best deal. At the same time, another study shows that consumers’ out-of-pocket costs for health services are steadily rising. Sean Miskell has the details.

CHIR Expert Testifies Before U.S. House Education & Workforce Committee about Innovations in Health Care

Posted April 14, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

On Thursday, April 14, CHIR’s own Sabrina Corlette testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Workforce Committee. The hearing focused on innovations in employer-sponsored health insurance, and included discussion of workplace wellness programs, private insurance exchanges, and multi-payer delivery system reform efforts.