After the last of the baby boomers become fully eligible for Medicare, the federal health program can expect significantly higher costs in 2030, both because of the high number of beneficiaries and because many are expected to be significantly less healthy than those in previous generations.
Health
Stories about health care access and affordability in CT, as well as abortion, COVID, health equity and disparities, health systems and social determinants of health.
Dive Deeper: Abortion · Access Health CT · COVID-19 · CT Rural Hospitals
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100,314 signed up for Obamacare coverage to start 2016
Just over 100,000 people are signed up to receive private insurance coverage as of Jan. 1through Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance exchange. But exchange officials expressed concern that thousands of current customers could lose their coverage or the federal tax credits that discount their premiums.
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Raul Pino named acting state health commissioner
Dr. Raul Pino, the deputy commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, was named Friday as acting commissioner by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
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Ethics office won’t call for Wade to recuse herself on Cigna deal
The Office of State Ethics is not calling for Insurance Commissioner Katharine L. Wade to recuse herself from overseeing her agency’s review of Anthem’s proposal to buy Cigna, where Wade previously worked and her husband serves as an attorney. But Executive Director Carol Carson said the office has raised concerns.
Posted inHealth, Money
More CT households need energy aid despite falling fuel prices
Falling fuel prices weren’t enough to prevent the number of Connecticut households in need of energy assistance from growing in 2015, according to a new report released Wednesday.
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In year three, slower traffic on first Obamacare deadline
At a key sign-up deadline, exchange officials say they’re focused on more than just whether people enroll.
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St. Francis names new president, succeeding Dadlez
An ob-gyn who recently earned a master of business administration degree, John F. Rodis will be the first physician to lead the 118-year-old hospital.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Courtney expects partial victory on ending ACA’s ‘Cadillac tax’
WASHINGTON — Rep. Joe Courtney expects to soon have at least a partial victory in his effort to eliminate a provision in the Affordable Care Act that has been attacked by both labor and business groups.
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Nine things all hospital patients should know
Patient safety experts say there are certain things all patients should know when they’re in the hospital. Here are a few.
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2,200 exchange customers could lose discounts for not filing taxes
About 2,200 current customers of Connecticut’s health insurance exchange won’t be eligible for discounted coverage next year because they did not file tax returns for 2014 as required, exchange officials said Thursday.
Posted inHealth, Money
How each hospital fared under the budget deal
Hospitals will receive $164.3 million in state and federal funds under the budget deal legislators approved Tuesday, restoring some of the funding Gov. Dannel P. Malloy cut from hospitals in September, as well as millions more in overdue payments. Here’s who gets what.
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UnitedHealthcare to stop paying commissions for Obamacare exchange plans
UnitedHealthcare plans to stop paying commissions for insurance policies offered through exchanges beginning Jan. 1, a move brokers say signals the company’s retreat from Obamacare business.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Bill closing deficit, cutting business taxes heads to Malloy
The House of Representatives gave final legislative approval to a bill Tuesday night that closes the current budget deficit, mitigates bigger problems in the future, offers modest tax relief to businesses and restores a portion of funds cut this fall from hospitals and social services.
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Critics seek hard look at Yale–L+M deal, hospital market power
A group of unions and advocacy organizations are calling for state regulators to take a hard look at the growth in power and market concentration of large health systems in Connecticut – and what that means for patients – when they review Yale New Haven Health System’s proposed acquisition of New London’s Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
CT deficit plan taps many special funds and one-time sources
While the General Assembly is expected to adopt a plan in special session Tuesday to close most or all of this fiscal year’s budget deficit, restore some funds for hospitals and finance modest business tax breaks, almost 40 percent of the plan diverts resources from specialized funds and various one-time sources.