WASHINGTON — Aetna announced Thursday it is leaving Iowa’s Affordable Care Act marketplace and is considering abandoning the three remaining state exchanges it sells policies in this year. Aetna’s is the latest in a steady drip-drip-drip of announcements from insurers about their concerns over staying in the ACA’s state exchanges.
Affordable Care Act
Posted inHealth, Politics
Insurers lobbying to keep ACA payments the GOP hates
WASHINGTON — The nation’s health insurers, who are key to the survival of the Affordable Care Act, are asking the Trump administration to keep a program congressional Republicans have sued to eliminate. What the president, who predicted the ACA would “explode,” does about that and several other things will determine the ACA’s future health.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Death of GOP health care bill increases CT Dems’ calls to fix Obamacare
WASHINGTON — With the stunning failure of the GOP to win support for its health care bill Friday, Connecticut Democrats increased their calls for reforms to the Affordable Care Act that would keep it alive. “If they want to work together to enact improvements to the Affordable Care Act, I will be there,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro.
Posted inHealth, Politics
As GOP health care plan falters, CT Dems watch and wait
Updated at 9:13 p.m.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and House Republicans are making both threats and promises to try to salvage the GOP health care bill – but the deal-making is all on the Republican side of the aisle, with Connecticut’s all-Democratic congressional delegation sitting on the sidelines.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT GOP legislative leaders urge delay on Obamacare replacement
The Republican leaders of the Connecticut House and Senate politely distanced themselves Thursday from the push by President Trump and U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan for the immediate passage of an alternative to the Affordable Care Act.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT Dems say CBO report shows GOP health plan should be scrapped
WASHINGTON — As soon as the Congressional Budget Office released its long-awaited report Monday afternoon on the impact of the GOP’s American Health Care Act, Connecticut Democrats joined party colleagues in saying the analysis proved the health plan should be scrapped. The CBO estimated the American Health Care Act would result in 24 million Americans losing their health insurance.
Posted inHealth
Analysis: GOP Obamacare replacement could cost CT $89M to $539M
The administration also estimated that 34,000 people who buy health plans through the state’s health insurance exchange would not renew their coverage for 2018 if the proposal becomes law.
Posted inHealth
Anthem uncertain it will continue in CT’s individual market next year
The company’s president wrote that the insurer is likely to notify regulators this summer that Anthem will withdraw from the state’s individual market. She added Anthem might not actually choose to pull out of the market, but is required to give six months’ notice if it withdraws and needs to preserve its options.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Larson joins partisan fight as GOP struggles to advance health care bill
WASHINGTON – During a day of acrimonious partisanship over the future of America’s health care system, Rep. John Larson on Wednesday was among the Democrats who tried to alter and slow the progress of a bill that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
What the GOP Obamacare replacement bill means for you and CT
The Republican proposal has big implications for Connecticut residents and state government. Here are nine things to know about it.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Insurers quietly assessing GOP health plan’s benefits and pitfalls
WASHINGTON — The nation’s health insurers are weighing the GOP’s newly released bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, which contains things they wanted – and some things they may not like, but for now keeping their opinions to themselves. “If they are smart, they are going to remain silent and let the legislation take its course,” said Rep. John Larson, D-1st District.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Defunding Planned Parenthood? Not so easy
WASHINGTON — Cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood is a priority for many congressional Republicans, but that effort is likely to stumble because other GOP lawmakers are hesitant to take aim at health clinics that are popular with their constituents. Nevertheless, the GOP is moving forward on a promise it has made to defund Planned Parenthood.
Posted inHealth
2018 exchange plans could cover fewer hospitals, doctors, drugs
Insurance companies that sell coverage through the state’s health insurance exchange next year will be allowed to cover fewer hospitals, doctors and prescription drugs under changes the exchange’s board approved Tuesday. Officials hope those changes could help offset rate increases caused by the increased price and use of medical care and prescription drugs.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers’ guests for Trump’s speech intended to send message
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers have joined other Democratic colleagues in inviting guests to President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress Tuesday — people who will serve as symbolic rebukes to the new president’s policies. Among them: Constituents from seven Muslim countries that were subject to a presidential travel ban and advocates for public schools and the Affordable Care Act .
Posted inHealth
Malloy: GOP’s plans to replace ACA ‘a moving disaster’
WASHINGTON — Gov. Dannel Malloy on Sunday said a GOP plan to replace and repeal the Affordable Care Act is a “moving disaster” that could force governors to dramatically shrink the number of Medicaid patients in their states just so the federal government could “pay for a tax cut for the wealthy.”