WASHINGTON — Connecticut will not impose a work requirement on Connecticut Medicaid recipients, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said, even as the Trump administration moved Thursday to allow states to do so. “The fact remains that the majority of individuals on Medicaid are working people, or those that cannot work, such as seniors and people with disabilities,” Malloy said.
Affordable Care Act
Posted inHealth
More CT residents sign up for Obamacare than last year
Access Health CT CEO Jim Wadleigh and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman viewed the new enrollment figure as a victory, especially in light of challenges from Washington, D.C., where the Administration and Republicans in Congress have been working to eviscerate the Affordable Care Act.
Posted inHealth
Friday is deadline to buy health insurance through Access Health
With one day left of open enrollment, 106,000 Connecticut residents were enrolled in health insurance through Access Health CT, the state’s exchange, and officials reminded residents that they still will face a federal tax penalty if they don’t have insurance in 2018.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Tax bill eliminates health insurance mandate, but CT may impose its own
WASHINGTON – As Congress is about to vote on a tax overhaul that will gut the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that most Americans have health insurance, a number of states, including Connecticut, may consider a state-based penalty to encourage people to obtain coverage.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT businesses, employees face hikes in health care premiums
WASHINGTON – When the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period for health insurance begins on Wednesday, many individuals who buy their own policies will suffer sticker shock because of a sharp increase in premiums. But the state’s large and small businesses are girding for higher premiums to cover their workers in 2018 too. And they and their employees will face tough choices.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Obamacare open enrollment to begin amid shaky insurance market
Open enrollment for health care coverage next year begins next week amid uncertainty over the future of the Affordable Care Act and big increases in premiums for individuals and businesses that do not qualify for subsidies. Nevertheless, the health care law is still in effect and those required to enroll in a plan will face increasing penalties by the Internal Revenue Service if they fail to do so.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT lawmakers hail deal to fix Obamacare, but Congress’ approval not assured
WASHINGTON – A rare bipartisan deal has been reached on one of the most contentious issues in Congress, the Affordable Care Act. It includes restoration of key payments to insurance companies that President Donald Trump cut off last week. Connecticut’s Democratic lawmakers hailed the agreement, but it may run into trouble from conservative Republicans who don’t want to shore up Obamacare.
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CT Dems say Trump ‘sabotaged’ ACA, ensuring rise in premiums
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday he will end payments reimbursing insurers for lowering out-of-pocket costs for the poorest Americans, provoking cries of Affordable Care Act “sabotage” from Democrats and ensuring health insurance rates will rise for many Americans next year.
Posted inHealth
Trump order pushes GOP ideas on insurance choice, curbing costs
The president’s executive order is aimed at expanding lower-cost insurance options, allowing employers to give workers money to buy their own coverage, and slowing insurance and hospital industry consolidation. Critics said the changes, if implemented, could result in more bare-bones coverage and pulling healthier people out of struggling insurance markets, leading to higher premiums for those who remain. Top Connecticut Democrats blasted the order.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT lawmakers blast Trump move on employer birth-control mandate
WASHINGTON — To Connecticut’s Democratic lawmakers, President Donald Trump’s decision to roll back the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that businesses include birth control benefits in the health care policies that cover their workers amounted to fighting words. “I’m sick and tired of Republicans trying to take away women’s health care,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
Posted inHealth, Politics
GOP effort to repeal Obamacare dies, but Murphy expects new challenges
WASHINGTON — While GOP Senate leaders threw in the towel Tuesday on their latest attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Sen. Chris Murphy said he expects new challenges to the Obama-era health care law. “I don’t think Republicans can quit this,” Murphy said.
Posted inHealth, Politics
GOP revises health care bill, but it still falters
WASHINGTON — The latest GOP attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would continue to ban insurers from rejecting people with pre-existing conditions, but make it easier for insurers to jack up the rates for those customers and for states to roll back other consumer safeguards. It would boost Medicaid money to a handful of states home to key GOP senators. But In what may be the biggest blow to the bill, Maine Sen. Susan Collins said late Monday she would oppose it.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Anthem, ConnectiCare say they will continue on Access Health CT
WASHINGTON – Anthem and ConnectiCare said on Wednesday they will continue to sell policies on the Access Health CT exchange next year, but charge a lot more for most policies.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT’s Wade weighs in with Obamacare fixes
As a key U.S. Senate panel continues to seek a bipartisan fix for the Affordable Care Act, the Connecticut Insurance Department weighed in with its suggestions, including allowing people to buy a new, cheaper, “copper-level” plan with fewer benefits and higher out-of-pocket costs.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Senate tries for a bipartisan compromise on Obamacare fixes
WASHINGTON — A Senate panel began on Wednesday the first of four hearings aimed at finding ways to shore up the Affordable Care Act’s fragile insurance markets, but reforms could be limited and come too late to help Connecticut’s marketplace, Access Health CT.