Dismantling the Affordable Care Act has been one of the hallmarks of the Trump administration, and its latest action in this regard could weaken the so-called Obamacare program with reduced funding that will likely translate into higher policy premiums. President Donald Trump was unable to score a political victory when he tried to repeal the… Continue Reading ›
With midterm elections looming and many experts predicting a Democratic sweep, Republicans may be considering another attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This would be the fourth attempt by the GOP to repeal the national healthcare act, something many Republican candidates promised constituents during the 2016 campaign season. Although there is little indication… Continue Reading ›
Without Congressional intervention, insurance companies indicate that insurance premiums will rise again in 2019. Insurers only have until summer to decide if they will continue to participate in the insurance marketplace, and many claim they are suffering significant losses due to coverage of Americans with greater medical needs. Death Spiral Chet Burrell, CEO of CareFirst… Continue Reading ›
Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, recently stated in an article by Vox that healthcare was the most important issue in the United States. Sen. Murphy and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore) are proposing legislation that would allow employers and individuals to obtain healthcare coverage through Medicare. Murphy’s claim that healthcare is the number one… Continue Reading ›
Centene Corporation announced on April 24 that its first-quarter profit more than doubled. One of the largest insurance companies in the Obamacare business, Centene attributed its growth to market stabilization, an increase in members and lower costs out of its Medicaid division. Centene is the country’s largest provider of individual healthcare plans under the Affordable… Continue Reading ›
New Jersey has become the first state to impose its own requirement for healthcare coverage after the individual mandate was repealed at the federal level late last year. On Friday, April 13, the Garden State voted 23-13 in the state Senate and 50-23 in the state Assembly to reinstate the unpopular provision of the Affordable… Continue Reading ›
Under the direction of the Trump administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced an Affordable Care Act exemption for people who live in counties with only one option for an on-exchange insurer. Now, people who live in counties with no exchange competition can file for an exemption to the penalty for not carrying… Continue Reading ›
On January 11, the Trump administration announced that it would allow states to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients who are able-bodied. Community engagement activities, such as volunteer work, may be substituted for employment in some cases. Positive and Lasting Difference According to the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS),… Continue Reading ›
Insurance has seen drastic changes over the last several years, a trend that is likely to continue. The landscape has changed immensely, moving from largely private insurance companies to broad reaching governmental reforms that have limited and changed private health insurance options. Today, there are government sponsored options like the Affordable Care Act, federally funded… Continue Reading ›
The Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) created open enrollment periods, which are periods each year during which people can buy health insurance in the private market (non-group health insurance). People with job-based plans follow their company’s enrollment periods, those on Medicare or other types of government programs follow individual guidelines, and people on Medicaid… Continue Reading ›