financial sustainability

The COVID-19 Pandemic – Insurer Insights Into Challenges, Implications, and Lessons Learned

Posted June 30, 2020 by CHIR Faculty

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has placed enormous pressure on virtually all facets of U.S. society. Much attention has appropriately been placed on the efforts of health care providers to deliver care to those infected with COVID-19. However, less is known about the experiences of the health insurers who reimburse those health care providers for the care they deliver. In a new report supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, insurance experts at CHIR and the Urban Institute share findings from interviews with executives at 25 health insurance companies on their impressions of the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic and their response to the crisis.

December Research Round Up: What We’re Reading

Posted January 3, 2019 by Olivia Hoppe

Many people make New Year’s resolutions, with popular ones being to get healthy and save money. In that spirit, CHIR’s Olivia Hoppe highlights three December studies that focus on families’ spending on health care and a new federal proposal to encourage the use of health reimbursement accounts.

House Farm Bill Supports AHPs with Federal Grants—Following in the Footsteps of the ACA’s CO-OP Program

Posted September 25, 2018 by Emily Curran

The Farm Bill currently being debated in a House-Senate conference committee enables the Secretary of Agriculture to create a loan and grant program to assist in the establishment of agricultural association health plans (AHPs). The bill’s injection of federal funding for the purpose of creating new health insurance options is strikingly reminiscent of the ACA’s CO-OP Program. As Congress considers directing federal dollars into AHPs, we look back at the experience of the CO-OP program, which demonstrates just how difficult it is to build a new insurance company.

This Tax Filing Season, Many Will Spend their Refunds on Health Care

Posted April 17, 2018 by Emily Curran

As tax filing season comes to a close, CHIR’s Emily Curran discusses recent findings by the JPMorgan Chase Institute showing that many will spend their tax refunds on health care. The findings are consistent with other trends showing that as out-of-pocket costs increase, individuals defer medical care, which can lead to serious health and financial consequences.

State-Based Marketplaces Look for Financing Stability in Shifting Landscape

Posted May 14, 2015 by CHIR Faculty

State-based marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act are contemplating their financial sustainability now that federal grant dollars are no longer available. In their latest blog post for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR researchers examine the range of state approaches to generating revenue and trimming budgets.