Tag: consumers

New Resource for Assisters Covers Private Insurance and Marketplace Plans

Almost two months into open enrollment, Navigators and other consumer assisters must field a multitude of questions about plan options inside the marketplace and out, how individual and employer-sponsored coverage may change as a result of the ACA, and whether consumers have the coverage they need to satisfy the individual mandate. Today, CHIR released a Navigator Resource Guide that helps Navigators explain key insurance and marketplace concepts and accurately answer a wide range of questions.

As High Risk Pool Coverage Ends, Coverage Gaps Could Arise for Some Enrollees

As ACA implementation unfolds, one group that will be transitioning to new coverage is individuals enrolled in state-run high risk pools. Because these individuals have such significant health care needs, their transition to new coverage raises potential concerns, especially for those who use their high risk pool plan to supplement their Medicare coverage. In this blog, JoAnn Volk takes a look at those transition issues and how some states are responding.

Cancellation of Policies in the Individual Market: Apology Accepted, Mr. President – No Further Action Required

Last Thursday, the President apologized to those individuals currently covered under an individual policy and who will need to transition to a new policy that complies with the 2014 requirements under the Affordable Care Act. In his latest blog, David Cusano notes that this result was a necessary and predictable one, and encourages Americans to accept the President’s apology and move forward by promoting and implementing the protections under the ACA.

Attacks on Navigators Continue at House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee held an oversight hearing to assess the Administration’s readiness for the October 1st launch of the health insurance marketplaces. The focus of the Committee quickly turned to the Navigator program. Elissa Dines has this report from a contentious hearing.

Message to Anti-ACA Bullies: Go Pick on Someone Your Own Size

Affordable Care Act opponents are using intimidation tactics to inhibit navigators from helping consumers understand their new coverage options on the exchanges. Sabrina Corlette takes a look at some recent action in the states – and what the federal government can do to make sure consumers can get the help they need, when they need it.

Navigators Should Not Let Politics Thwart Their Important Work

In yet another attempt in a very long line of efforts to delay or derail the health care law, members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee demanded that organizations awarded federal navigator grants answer multiple detailed questions and produce reams of paper documents about their grants. Our colleague at Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families, Tricia Brooks, takes a look at what’s driving the debate over consumer assistance and the ACA.

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.