The second enrollment period for private health insurance under Obamacare begins Saturday and runs through Feb. 15. With that will come a barrage of ads aimed at getting people to sign up, thousands of customers facing decisions about their plans, and lots of eyes on how well things are going at a key time for one of the country’s most controversial laws. Here are four things to watch.
Affordable Care Act
Posted inHealth
Obamacare: Who’s still uninsured in CT, and why?
Connecticut had one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country before Obamacare, and has been heralded as one of the most successful states in rolling out the health law. But even here, on the eve of the second sign-up period for private insurance under the health law, it’s not hard to find people without health insurance. So who are they, and what are their chances of getting insured anytime soon?
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Obamacare case headed to U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t directly affect CT
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a key case related to Obamacare, but it has little direct impact on Connecticut.
Posted inHealth
30,000 could lose coverage or subsidies as exchange addresses income, immigration discrepancies
As many as 30,000 customers of the state’s health insurance exchange could lose their coverage or see a drop in the subsidies used to discount their premiums next month because they did not submit information needed to verify their eligibility.
Posted inHealth
Obamacare enrollment, year 2: What you need to know
The second sign-up period for insurance under the federal health law known as Obamacare begins next month. There are some key changes from last year, including a shorter shopping season, new plan options and a higher penalty for those who don’t have coverage in 2015. Here are the details.
Posted inHealth
Connecticut’s Obamacare plan options for 2015
Here’s a look at the standard plans sold through Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance exchange, for 2015.
Posted inPolitics
Greenberg, Esty make pitch for senior votes at AARP forum
Washington – Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, and her Republican rival Mark Greenberg, addressed issues important to aging Americans Wednesday, agreeing that Social Security needs to be strengthened but clashing over the Affordable Care Act.
Posted inHealth
Obamacare, discontinued plans, and ‘sticker shock,’ round 2
About 60,000 Connecticut residents have health plans that don’t meet the requirements of Obamacare. Most of them will have to find new plans for next year, and for many, that means big rate hikes.
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Obamacare worry: Unexpected tax bills for those with discounted insurance
Nearly 60,000 Connecticut residents get discounted health insurance as part of Obamacare. And officials are worried that some of them could get hit with an unexpected tax bill next year.
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Foundations chip in to help people sign up for Obamacare
Three foundations plan to pay for about 35 people to conduct “shoe-leather” outreach to help Connecticut residents sign up for Obamacare during the open enrollment that begins Nov. 15. The workers are intended to supplement a sign-up effort by the state’s health insurance exchange, Access Health CT, that critics worry won’t be enough to reach the remaining uninsured.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Ten things Dan Malloy thinks about health care
The latest in a series of interviews on health care with candidates for governor: As governor, Dannel P. Malloy said he’s managed to avoid the cuts to health care and social services that some counterparts in other states made. He says the care of those who most rely on the state weighs heavily on his mind. But the first Democratic governor in 20 years has also faced criticism for his handling of certain health care issues, including from some of the left-leaning advocates his party usually counts on.
Posted inPolitics
Brown vs. DeLauro a lively, but lopsided, congressional race
The Democratic and Republican candidates in the race for the 3rd District congressional seat are nearly as far apart in their political views as anyone can be, setting the stage for a lively, if a bit lopsided, campaign.
Posted inHealth
CT hospitals say Obamacare hasn’t cut uncompensated care
A recent federal report says hospitals saw a major decrease in uncompensated care after the rollout of key provisions of the federal health law this year. But so far, that’s not what Connecticut hospitals are experiencing, according to their association.
Posted inHealth
With Hartford Hospital deadline looming, Anthem adds St. Francis to exchange network
St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford is joining Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s network for plans sold through the state’s health insurance exchange. The timing is important for Anthem, which could sever ties with Hartford Hospital’s parent company next week.
Posted inHealth
Why some Obamacare insurance discounts could drop in 2015
Costs to buy insurance through Connecticut’s health insurance exchange won’t, on average, rise much next year. For some plans, the prices are dropping. But some customers who get financial aid to buy their insurance could see price increases beyond the rise in sticker price if they stick with their current plans.