consumers

State Efforts to Lower Cost-Sharing Barriers to Health Care for the Privately Insured

Posted June 15, 2017 by CHIR Faculty

Current federal proposals to replace the Affordable Care Act are likely to result in higher out-of-pocket costs for consumers. Six states and D.C., however, have policies to lower cost-sharing barriers to important health care services and drugs for the privately insured. In a new research brief, CHIR researchers take a closer look at some of these states’ experiences developing and implementing these policies.

Relaxing the Affordable Care Act’s Metal Level Definitions: Issues for Consumers and State Options

Posted June 14, 2017 by JoAnn Volk

New ACA rules give insurers greater flexibility to meet metal level targets and increase cost-sharing. In this post, JoAnn Volk looks at what that means for consumers and state options for implementing the rule.

Relaxing the Affordable Care Act’s Guaranteed Issue Protection: Issues for Consumers and State Options

Posted June 2, 2017 by CHIR Faculty

As we’ve been blogging about, the Trump administration finalized a Market Stabilization rule that makes numerous changes in how marketplaces and insurers are operating. One of the biggest changes affecting consumers is the Trump administration’s new interpretation of guaranteed issue or availability; but states have a range of options regarding this policy under the rule. CHIR’s Sandy Ahn and JoAnn Volk break it down for us.

Mother’s Day Menu from Congress and the American Health Care Act

Posted May 12, 2017 by Dania Palanker

This Mother’s Day, Congress is giving mothers a new health coverage menu with options for states and insurance companies to reduce their coverage through the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The selection could make you lose your brunch.

Stakeholders React to HHS’ Proposed Market Stabilization Regulations: Part 2 – Consumer Advocates

Posted March 17, 2017 by Rachel Schwab

Last month, the Department of Health & Human Services released proposed rules aimed at stabilizing the ACA’s health insurance marketplaces. After a 20-day comment period, they received close to 4,000 public comments. In the second post in our series on the reactions of health care stakeholders, CHIR’s Rachel Schwab looks at comments from consumer advocacy groups.

Total Cost Estimators: Lessons from the ACA’s Marketplaces

Posted February 14, 2017 by CHIR Faculty

CHIR researchers Justin Giovannelli and Emily Curran interviewed more than 40 marketplace officials, consumer assisters, technology vendors, and other subject matter experts to see how having an estimator can change consumers’ experiences in the marketplace and to understand the concerns of policymakers as they have considered whether and how to implement these tools.

Get Health Insurance Through Your Employer? ACA Repeal Will Affect You, Too

Posted January 17, 2017 by JoAnn Volk

Job-based plans cover 150 million people in the U.S. If the ACA is repealed, they stand to lose critical consumer protections that many have come to expect of their employer plan.

Twelve Days of Coverage

Posted December 20, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

Despite the gloom and doom surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), when we look back at what the ACA has achieved, there is cause to celebrate this holiday season. Six years after President Barack Obama signed the ACA into law, we have the lowest uninsured rate and record enrollment numbers on Healthcare.Gov, showing just how much people need and want comprehensive health insurance. As we hum along to our favorite holiday hits, CHIR has composed a new carol to pay homage to the monumental health care law that has led to unprecedented coverage and consumer protections. Happy holidays!

The Final Countdown for 2017 Coverage Underway in the Shadows of Affordable Care Act Repeal

Posted December 15, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

Extended to December 19, 2016, consumers have four more days to enroll in an Affordable Care Act marketplace plan that starts January 1, 2017. With an incoming Congress and President-Elect promising to repeal the health care law, consumers may have questions about what will happen to their coverage or why they should bother to enroll. Before the sun sets on this year’s open enrollment season, we’ve answered a couple of common consumer questions.