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

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.

Posted inHealth, Politics

House GOP plans health care bill showdown next week

WASHINGTON — House GOP leaders hope to have another showdown over their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act next week, but the legislation may still lack the votes it needs for approval. And Democrats like Sen. Chris Murphy, who called it “a piece of garbage,” said changes aimed at broadening support for the bill have only made the legislation worse.