consumers

New Survey of Physicians Finds ACA Did Not Result in Influx of New Patients

Posted April 3, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

A new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Athenahealth finds that the newly insured under the Affordable Care Act did not result in an influx of new patients for physicians. Current medical student and guest blogger Mason Weber summarizes the main findings of the report, which surveyed approximately 16,000 physicians. He also offers his own perspective as a physician-to-be about the lack of discourse on a physicians’ ability to provide care effectively within the larger healthcare reform debate.

Some Changes in Store for 2016 Health Plans that Affect Consumers

Posted March 27, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

While open enrollment for 2015 has ended, insurers and marketplaces alike are gearing up for 2016 with federal guidance outlined under the 2016 Letter to Issuers and 2016 Benefits and Payment Parameters Final Rule. Sandy Ahn summarizes some of the changes in store for 2016 health plans that affect consumers.

Health Savings Accounts: Understanding the Basics

Posted December 16, 2014 by CHIR Faculty

There are various routes to getting health insurance coverage for you and your family. One possible option is to have a health savings account (HSA), which must be paired with a high-deductible health plan. In today’s post, Sandy Ahn goes over the basics of a HSA and some things to consider when looking at this option.

Embedded Deductibles: Source of Consumer Confusion

Posted December 9, 2014 by CHIR Faculty

Understanding how health insurance works can be confusing, particularly when it comes to deductibles, a topic we’ve had a lot of questions about. In today’s post, Sandy Ahn discusses how an embedded deductible works in a health plan for family coverage and compares that to an aggregate deductible. This information is also included in our online Navigator Resource Guide released last month.

State-Based Marketplaces Offer More Health Plan Choices for 2015 Coverage

Posted December 4, 2014 by CHIR Faculty

One of the goals of the Affordable Care Act is to make health insurance more affordable and accessible, in part by increasing health plan competition. In their latest blog post for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR faculty Sean Miskell, Kevin Lucia and Justin Giovannelli find that competition is in fact increasing, and consumers shopping on the state-based marketplaces have more choices among insurers than they did last year.

Question on Stand-alone Dental Plans and Upcoming Open Enrollment

Posted September 15, 2014 by CHIR Faculty

With the change in weather, we’re beginning to field questions related to the upcoming 2015 Open Enrollment period as part of our technical assistance work funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. We recently received a question about the consequences of not paying premiums for stand-alone dental plans (SADP) in federally based Marketplaces. Sandy Ahn provides a summary on this issue.

Summing Up Questions from Navigators: A Grab Bag of Consumer Queries

Posted August 11, 2014 by JoAnn Volk

Though open enrollment into the new health insurance marketplaces is a distant memory and folks are gearing up for round 2 later this year, consumers continue to turn to Navigators and other assisters with questions. JoAnn Volk shares – and provides answers to – a selection of questions we’ve been getting from the field.

Enrolled in Coverage That Just Got Harder to Use: Consumer Options When the Network Changes Mid-Year

Posted May 12, 2014 by JoAnn Volk

Now that open enrollment is over, consumers are starting to raise questions about their coverage. One such question from Georgia illustrates one of the challenges consumers may face – a network that changes mid-year. JoAnn Volk takes a look at some options.

Back in the Day – Lessons from Pre-reform Days: Death to the Death Spirals

Posted May 10, 2014 by CHIR Faculty

While we’re struggling with Affordable Care Act (ACA) issues, there’s value in taking the time to look back and appreciate the impact of the ACA and other healthcare reforms implemented over the past few decades. To that end, CHIR faculty member and former Indiana Insurance Commissioner Sally McCarty is posting a series called “Back in the Day – Lessons from Pre-reform Days.” This installment looks at policies in a “death spiral.”

Understanding Special Enrollment Periods, Part 1: A Look at Some Who Will be Out of Luck

Posted March 31, 2014 by JoAnn Volk

Navigators have been fielding a range of questions. One that comes up repeatedly is whether an individual who falls into the so-called Medicaid coverage gap and later gets a job with income that would qualify them for premium tax credits can get a special enrollment period. JoAnn Volk takes a look at the options for these individuals.