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CO releases 2014 Exchange rates

Posted on May 22, 2013

Colorado became the sixth state to post their proposed premium rates for plans entering the state’s 2014 state-based insurance Exchange. In total, 831 health insurance plans, including both individual and small-group options, have been proposed by 17 issuers. Reviews of the proposed plans are currently being conducted by the Colorado Division of Insurance and are scheduled to be completed by July 31st.

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WA releases Exchange premiums

Posted on May 20, 2013

The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) recently released proposed premium rates for their state-based health insurance Exchange, Washington Health Plan Finder. Fears of rate increases were assuaged, as the plans presented ultimately indicated more coverage at a reduced cost, attributable to Washington’s already competitive insurance market. The proposed rates must be evaluated by OIC prior to being issued on the Exchange.

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CBO releases new report describing budgetary impact of the ACA

Posted on May 15, 2013

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in conjunction with the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), issued updated budget projections for fiscal years 2014-2023, which include updated impact estimates of the insurance provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Slower than anticipated growth in health care spending, particularly in programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, is one of several factors that influenced the revised estimates…

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GWU study examines Medicaid churn

Posted on May 14, 2013

A study released by The George Washington University finds that churning, the process of moving in and out of Medicaid in response to income fluctuations, increases hospitalizations and costs for Medicaid beneficiaries. The Continuity of Medicaid Coverage: An Update reports that individuals enrolled in Medicaid for 12 months consecutively pay on average $333/month in medical bills, while those enrolled for one month at a time pay $625/month. The study released last week was funded by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP).

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Urban assesses impact of capping tax exemption for employer-sponsored coverage

Posted on May 10, 2013

According to a study recently released by the Urban Institute, capping the tax exemption for employer-sponsored coverage could generate $264 billion in revenue by 2023. Limiting the Tax Exclusion of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Premiums: Revenue Potential and Distributional Consequences, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recommends capping the top 25% most expensive health benefits to raise this amount. The study finds such an option would lead to a 16% tax increase for those who file taxes in 2014, and a 20% increase for those who file in 2023.

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Oregon releases proposed premium rates

Posted on May 10, 2013

Oregon is the newest state to release their proposed premium rates for their state-based insurance Exchange. The Oregon Insurance Division posted the requested bronze plan standard plan rate on their website, and are soliciting public comments for the 39 plan options available.

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Brookings proposes reforms to save hundreds of billions in health care

Posted on April 30, 2013

The Brookings Institution recently released a study that indicates how value-based payments and small, conscientious quality improvements to both the private and public insurance sectors can significantly reduce health care costs in the future. Bending the Cure: Person-Centered Health Care Reform, describes how such changes could save the federal government $300 billion over the next 10 years and more than $1 trillion over the next 20 years. Brookings finds that moving to patient-centered care is the ultimate means by which future cost savings can be achieved. For a specific example, the study proposes that Medicare should move away from the fee-for-service model and embrace comprehensive payment organizations.

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Commonwealth finds millions of Americans still lacking affordable coverage

Posted on April 26, 2013

According to a new survey released by the Commonwealth Fund, 84 million Americans were either uninsured or under-insured in 2012. In addition, 75 million Americans in 2012 were either actively paying or having difficulty paying their medical bills, indicating that medical debt is still a prominent issue. Findings were not bleak for all demographics, however, as the 2012 Biennial Health Insurance Survey also found that the proportion of uninsured individuals ages 19-25 decreased from 48% to 41% in 2012. This phenomenon is most attributable to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) provision that allows children to remain on their parents’ health insurance until age 26.

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Tavenner answers Senate Finance Committee Questions

Posted on April 25, 2013

On April 9th, the Senate Finance Committee held a confirmation hearing for Marilyn Tavenner to be the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Committee members submitted additional questions to Tavenner post-hearing on topics ranging from consumer outreach in state insurance Exchanges to pediatric dental services. Health Reform GPS has compiled a list of the Affordable Care Act related questions submitted by the Senate Finance Committee members. The list contains the name of the Senator asking the question, the question number, and the relevant ACA topic addressed.

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CAHI counts number of state-mandated health benefits

Posted on April 25, 2013

A study released by the Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) found that in 2012, there were 2,271 state insurance laws on the books. According to CAHI, Rhode Island had the most state-mandated insurance laws at 69, with Idaho having the fewest at 13. CAHI found that the national number of state insurance mandates has grown over 167% in the last 20 years, and this increase in noted as being a contributor to the rising costs of health care.

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