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.
Affordable Care Act
Posted inHealth
Insurers say they need big premium boost for ‘silver’ plans if ACA subsidy ends
WASHINGTON — ConnectiCare says it needs to hike the cost of popular “silver” plans sold on the Access Health CT for 2018 by more than 50 percent, and Anthem says it needs to increase premiums on its silver plans by more than 43 percent if the Trump administration ends a program that subsidizes out-of-pocket payments for low- and moderate-income Americans.
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Access Health again extends deadline for insurers to decide on 2018
The two remaining insurers on Connecticut’s health insurance exchange will have an extra week – until Sept. 15 – to decide whether to continue selling plans through the exchange’s individual marketplace next year.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Congress under deadline pressure to renew health plan for 17,000 CT children
WASHINGTON — When Congress returns for its break next week it will decide whether to renew a health care program that covers 17,000 Connecticut children under 19. If it doesn’t, Connecticut will be among the first states to feel the impact.
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New Obamacare replacement plan would hurt CT, report says
WASHINGTON – A proposal by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy to replace the Affordable Care Act would increase the number of uninsured nationwide, cut Medicaid and have a particularly costly impact on Connecticut and a handful of other states, a new study says.
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State asks Anthem, ConnectiCare, to file new rates
WASHINGTON – The Connecticut Insurance Department on Wednesday asked Anthem and ConnectiCare to submit new rate filings for 2018 based on the possibility the federal government would stop “cost-sharing reduction” payments to the insurers that subsidize lower co-payment and deductibles for low-income Americans.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Head of CT medical society says fix, not repeal, the Affordable Care Act
Dr. Jeffrey Gordon, president of the Connecticut State Medical Society, sees the effect of the Affordable Care Act on doctors and patients every day. He knows what’s good about it and bad, and in this Sunday Conversation says why he wishes the nation’s legislators would include physicians in their healthcare debate.
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Access Health scaling back storefronts but seeks to broaden reach
Facing a shortened enrollment period, Connecticut’s health insurance exchange announced Wednesday it plans to scale back its two existing storefronts and redeploy resources to broaden its reach.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Even with Obamacare’s survival, a shakeup in CT healthcare system threatens
WASHINGTON – Even though the U.S. Senate failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, some Connecticut residents might lose subsidies that would help pay their premiums while others could see sizable increases in their premiums or a smaller choice of plans.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Blumenthal, Murphy join Dem chorus on bipartisan ACA fix, but that may be elusive
WASHINGTON — After the collapse of GOP efforts to repeal Obamacare, Democrats, including Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, called for bipartisan efforts to shore up the ACA. “Now we have an amazing opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to actually work together …” Murphy said. But whether bipartisanship can grow out of the bitter partisan fight over Obamacare remains to be seen.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Senate fails to repeal Obamacare
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans failed early Friday to win approval of a “skinny” bill they hoped would grow into a full-fledged repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, putting an end to efforts to eliminate Obamacare, at least for now. The dramatic vote in the middle of the night is a boost to Connecticut Democrats who fought the GOP campaign to repeal the ACA.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Senate clears first test on Obamacare repeal, but final victory not assured
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans and the White House had a win Tuesday on a procedural vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but a final victory is not guaranteed. It was just a first step in a series of dozens of votes that will determine whether Senate Republicans can pass a health care bill.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Murphy demands answers from Price on anti-Obamacare videos
WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy and two of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate, are questioning whether Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price misused taxpayer money through advertising and public relations efforts aimed at undermining the Affordable Care Act.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Covered at the job? Obamacare repeal could change your plan — or end it.
WASHINGTON — Most Connecticut residents receive health care coverage through their employers – but that doesn’t mean they won’t feel an impact if congressional attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare succeed. They could lose coverage, face higher premiums or a loss of benefits, analysts say.
Posted inHealth, Politics
New study assesses impact of Obamacare in CT
One day after President Trump vowed to “let Obamacare fail,” a new study concluded Wednesday that the signature achievement of his predecessor delivered $1.16 billion in increased federal funding for health care in Connecticut and sharply lowered the number of uninsured residents and the cost of uncompensated care.