Rhode Island

New Report Examines Early Indications of Insurer Participation and Competition in Health Insurance Exchanges

Posted July 16, 2013 by Kevin Lucia

One of the key goals of the Affordable Care Act is to make health insurance coverage more affordable and consumer-friendly by managing competition among health insurers through the creation of health insurance exchanges. A new report from researchers at the Urban Institute and CHIR released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation explores state actions to encourage or require participation on exchanges, and early indications of the level of competition among health insurers. Kevin Lucia highlights some of the findings from the report.

Deeds Not Words: Senate Finance Committee Explores Health Insurance Exchange Progress

Posted July 15, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

On Thursday the U.S. Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to examine implementation of the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges. CHIR's Allison Johnson and Sarah Dash were there and report back in this blog.

New Report: States Going Above and Beyond to Create Sustainable Exchanges and Deliver Choice and Value to Consumers

Posted July 11, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

In a new report for The Commonwealth Fund, Sarah Dash, Kevin Lucia, Katie Keith, and Christine Monahan provide a comprehensive look at the critical design decisions made by 17 states and the District of Columbia that chose to establish a state-based exchange for 2014. Sarah Dash has highlights from the report and discusses what the findings mean for stakeholders.

As Self-Funding Remains Hot Topic in Press, States Begin to Take Action

Posted June 14, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

Whether or not small employers will begin self-funding in greater numbers as the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented continues to be a hot topic. In the midst of significant media attention, Christine Monahan looks at two states that have decided to take action.

Using Rate Review to Make Health Insurance More Affordable: Once Again, Rhode Island Leads the Way

Posted May 28, 2013 by

Rhode Island’s insurance regulators are using their rate review authority in innovative ways to make premiums more affordable for consumers – and tackle some of the underlying drivers of health care cost increases. Sabrina Corlette takes a look at Rhode Island’s most recent action to push the rate review envelope.

In the Midst of “Rate Shock” Fears, Insurers Request Lower Rates in Oregon

Posted May 13, 2013 by

An interesting thing happened in Oregon last week after the Division of Insurance publicly posted insurers’ proposed premium rates for 2014. After seeing their competitors’ prices, two insurers asked the Division to allow them to reduce their proposed rates. Sabrina Corlette examines these recent developments and their implications for consumers.

Factors Affecting Self-Funding by Small Employers: Views from the Market

Posted April 5, 2013 by CHIR Faculty

In our most recent report, Kevin Lucia, Christine Monahan, and Sabrina Corlette assess attitudes towards and trends in self-insurance for smaller employers through interviews with stakeholders in 10 study states. Christine reviews the report’s findings and implications.

Using Rate Review to Address Affordability of Coverage: Efforts in the States

Posted July 23, 2012 by

A handful of states are taking innovative approaches to the regulation of health insurance premium rates to help make coverage more affordable. Sabrina Corlette takes a look at these new strategies and the impact they could have on the cost of health care.