Tag: essential health benefits

Narrow Networks Under the ACA: Financial Drivers and Implementation Strategies

The ACA’s essential health benefits and metal tier coverage standards, guaranteed issue, and community rating requirements help level the playing field among insurers. To compete on price, many are turning to limited network products. CHIR experts David Cusano and Amy Thomas discuss insurers’ approaches to the development of plan networks in the post-ACA era in a new blog post originally published by Health Affairs.

Republican Health Proposal Likely Means Less Coverage, Higher Costs, Fewer Consumer Protections

A trio of Republican Senators have introduced legislation repealing the Affordable Care Act and detailing alternative reforms to the health care system. However, as noted in this blog by Edwin Park of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the bill rolls back important insurance reforms, makes coverage less affordable for low income people, and hobbles the Medicaid program.

Policy Cancellations – Another Tempest in a Teapot?

One of the latest ACA story lines involves people with individual health insurance policies receiving policy cancellation notices. Sabrina Corlette and Kevin Lucia dissect this emerging issue – as well as the protections and new coverage options available.

Don’t Be Fooled – ACA Coverage is a Better Deal for Just About Everyone

Some are questioning the adequacy of health insurance on the new marketplaces. But such concerns neglect to mention that these new plans will be a far better deal compared to what, up to now, has been available. Sabrina Corlette takes a look at the comprehensiveness of health insurance coverage, pre- and post-ACA.

Narrow Networks: Who’s Looking Out for Consumers?

Media outlets are reporting on a trend towards narrow network health plans offered through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces. Max Farris and Sally McCarty provide context for this emerging issue and discuss the state role in ensuring consumers have access to a sufficient number of primary care and specialty care physicians, facilities, and other providers.

New Report on State Implementation of Essential Health Benefit Standard

As part of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded project to monitor implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 11 states, Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms and the Urban Institute have published a series of papers identifying key issues and challenges. Their most recent brief examines the development and review of health plans that meet the new essential health benefit standard. Sabrina Corlette provides us with some key takeaways.

Rate Review 2.0: The Next Generation

Last week the Administration released its final rule implementing the ACA's insurance market reforms. Many of these provisions have generated deserved attention for the important protections they'll bring to consumers. Getting less attention, but just as important, are the rule's rate review provisions. Sabrina Corlette takes a look.

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.

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.