Tag: affordable care act

NAIC Appoints Former Senator Ben Nelson as New CEO

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has appointed former Senator Ben Nelson as it's new CEO. As one of the NAIC's consumer representatives, Sabrina Corlette welcomes Senator Nelson to his new role.

Essential Health Benefits Final Rule: No Major Departures

The Administration released its final regulation on the Affordable Care Act's requirement that plans cover a minimum set of essential health benefits. Sabrina Corlette took a peek and examines the pluses – and minuses – for consumers.

RIP, PCIPs

On Friday, the Obama Administration announced that they were closing the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIPs) to new enrollment. Sabrina Corlette takes a look at the decision and what it means for consumers – and for implementation of the ACA.

Are the Wheels Coming off the ACA Wagon? History Suggests Not

There’s been a lot of angst lately about strategic decisions by the Obama Administration to delay elements of the Affordable Care Act. In a blog that originally appeared on the Hill’s Congress blog, Sabrina Corlette and her Georgetown colleague Jack Hoadley note that the Bush Administration made similar decisions to delay, phase-in, and waive key elements of the Medicare Part D law in response to implementation challenges.

Health Reform at Work: Lower Rates in New York State

Next year’s premiums for individual market plans will be way down in New York thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Christine Monahan discusses how a competitive exchange and the individual mandate will provide relief to cash-strapped New Yorkers.

New Report Examines Early Indications of Insurer Participation and Competition in Health Insurance Exchanges

One of the key goals of the Affordable Care Act is to make health insurance coverage more affordable and consumer-friendly by managing competition among health insurers through the creation of health insurance exchanges. A new report from researchers at the Urban Institute and CHIR released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation explores state actions to encourage or require participation on exchanges, and early indications of the level of competition among health insurers. Kevin Lucia highlights some of the findings from the report.

FAQs and RFCs, Oh My!

Last week HHS issued another round of Frequently Asked Questions, addressing the Basic Health Program, and a Request for Comment on agent/broker data collection. Sabrina Corlette takes a look at both.

ACA Reforms Free Up Entrepreneurs to Focus on Their Business

Entrepreneurs with dreams of venturing out to start their own business must now navigate a “wild west” of inadequate and unaffordable insurance options. But the Affordable Care Act’s reforms will change that for entrepreneurs like Joe and Virginia Murphy. JoAnn Volk tells their story.

New Report: States Going Above and Beyond to Create Sustainable Exchanges and Deliver Choice and Value to Consumers

In a new report for The Commonwealth Fund, Sarah Dash, Kevin Lucia, Katie Keith, and Christine Monahan provide a comprehensive look at the critical design decisions made by 17 states and the District of Columbia that chose to establish a state-based exchange for 2014. Sarah Dash has highlights from the report and discusses what the findings mean for stakeholders.

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.