Is Obamacare Failing?
Three years ago, health economists believed Obamacare's soon-to-launch marketplaces would grow to replace much of America's fractured, complex employer-based health insurance system. Predictions for the employer-sponsored insurance system's collapse ran rampant. The question around companies shifting workers to the new public marketplaces was often framed not as if but when. University of Pennsylvania's Zeke Emanuel pegged…
Vox | August 26, 2016 Exchanges, Implementation, OtherBy Kara Jones
What are the ACA Enrollment Figures for 2016?
Recently, Avalere worked with the Council for Affordable Health Coverage to examine enrollment trends for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Avalere projects that 10.1 million individuals will be enrolled in an exchange plan by the end of 2016. To date, exchange enrollment has not reached original projection numbers. In March 2010, the Congressional Budget Office…
Avalere Health | August 26, 2016 Exchanges, Implementation, OtherBy Kara Jones
Ryan Floats Tax Credits, Other Plans as ACA Alternative
They say you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. So House Speaker Paul Ryan did, and got damned on both the left and right—and all but ignored by his own party's presidential candidate—when he unveiled his caucus's outline for a replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Which raises the question: How…
Managed Care Magazine | August 26, 2016 Impact, Other, Tax Changes, TaxesBy Kara Jones
States Sue to Block Obamacare's Transgender Protections
Five Republican-led states and several provider groups are suing to block a new Obamacare rule that's meant to prevent health care providers and insurers from discriminating against transgender patients. The five states — Texas, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Nebraska and Kansas — and the provider groups argue that the nondiscrimination rule requires doctors to perform gender transition…
Politico | August 25, 2016 Implementation, OtherBy Kara Jones
Insurance Startup Oscar Quits Two Markets, Rethinks Obamacare Plans
Health insurance startup Oscar Insurance Corp. will reevaluate its approach to Obamacare after suffering significant losses under the U.S. program and will pull out of two markets next year. Oscar, which pitches itself as a tech-savvy alternative to traditional health insurers, plans to end sales of Affordable Care Act plans in Dallas, a market it…
Bloomberg Business | August 25, 2016 Business Impact, Exchanges, Implementation, OtherBy Kara Jones
Hillary Clinton's Health Care Agenda Is in Danger as Obamacare Struggles
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton wants to crack down on rising prescription drug costs. She has made it a pillar of her campaign, the stuff of TV ads and stump speeches. She also has ambitious plans for Alzheimer's research and other medical science initiatives. But, even if she wins the White House, Clinton might have…
Stat | August 25, 2016 Impact, OtherBy Kara Jones
Obamacare Website No Longer Addresses 'You Can Keep Your Doctor'
"If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor" was President Barack Obama's signature catchphrase he used to sell the Affordable Care Act to the American people. Now Obamacare's flagship website, healthcare.gov, no longer even addresses the issue. Ironically, the section in question was the first public (if indirect) admission by the Obama administration…
The Weekly Standard | August 24, 2016 Impact, OtherBy Kara Jones
Obamacare Is an Unstable Economic Model
Long-time Obamacare advocate and Aetna chief executive Mark Bertolini created a political earthquake when he announced his company will drastically reduce its individual public exchange participation next year. Similar announcements by United Healthcare, Humana and even some Blues plans show that Obamacare is failing. Those who designed this disastrous government intervention into the marketplace now…
The New York Times | August 24, 2016 Impact, OtherBy Kara Jones
Health Insurers Eye Steep Increases as Enrollment Period Nears
With the fourth open-enrollment period set to begin this fall for the marketplaces set up by the Affordable Care Act, it's becoming clear that the market for health insurance has not evolved as expected, or hoped. The market is smaller than projected. The people who have bought health plans overall are sicker than predicted. And…
USA Today | August 23, 2016 Affordability, Exchanges, OtherBy Kara Jones
Choices May Be Limited for Obamacare Shoppers, Avalere Says
Increasingly, U.S. consumers may have fewer insurance options under Obamacare. The latest evidence comes in a study from consulting firm Avalere Health, which examined areas, known as rating regions, that insurers use to set premiums and decide where to offer plans to individuals under the Affordable Care Act. According to Avalere, 36 percent of the…
Bloomberg Business | August 23, 2016 Affordability, Exchanges, OtherBy Kara Jones
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