Officials from Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance exchange, are urging their customers, especially those who qualify to be automatically re-enrolled in 2019, to explore their options for next year using a new online tool and other resources available through the exchange.
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Posted inHealth
Connecticut Insurance Department approves CVS-Aetna merger
The Connecticut Insurance Department has approved CVS Health Corp’s $69 billion merger with Hartford-based Aetna Inc.
The approval is contingent on Aetna completing the sale of its standalone Medicare Part D prescription plan business.
Posted inHealth
CVS, Aetna urge Connecticut regulators to approve proposed acquisition
The Connecticut Insurance Department now has 30 days to decide whether to approve CVS Health Corp.’s acquisition of Hartford-based Aetna Inc. – a merger the companies say will drive down health care costs and opponents portray as anti-competitive and harmful to patients.
Posted inHealth
Long-time Access Health CT director appointed as new CEO
A long-time director at Access Health CT was named the new chief executive officer of the state’s health insurance exchange. The exchange’s board of directors voted to appoint James Michel as the permanent CEO at its Thursday meeting.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy vetoes ECS bill, declines to sign health measure
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Friday vetoed a bill that would have prohibited him or future governors from cutting education-cost sharing grants to cities and towns as a means of addressing a budget shortfall that develops during the fiscal year. He also allowed a bill to become law without his signature, a first for the governor.
Posted inHealth
Clock ticking on a bipartisan scramble to curb drug costs
With only two weeks left in the legislative session, a Democratic lawmaker and the state comptroller are feverishly working to bring to the House floor proposed legislation that is considered Connecticut’s most comprehensive effort so far to control high prescription drug costs.
Posted inHealth
Bills to mandate health coverage die in committee but some support remains
The two bills that would establish an individual mandate in Connecticut failed to make it out of committee, but Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney said Wednesday he would consider reviving the proposal by offering an amendment to other legislation.
Posted inHealth
Anthem-Hartford HealthCare dispute spurs loud call for legislation
Connecticut state officials heard a renewed call on Tuesday for legislative action to avoid another disruption in health care like the one caused by the seven-week contract standoff between Hartford HealthCare and Anthem.
Posted inHealth
Appeals court blocks Anthem-Cigna merger
WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court on Friday agreed with a lower court that Anthem’s proposed $54 billion merger with Cigna would be anti-competitive and should not be allowed, but Anthem said it plans to continue pursuing the deal.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Insurers: Trump hasn’t committed to payments that would keep them in ACA exchanges
WASHINGTON — Despite reports to the contrary, President Donald Trump has not committed to making payments that insurers like Anthem say are needed for them to consider staying in Access Health CT and other state health insurance exchanges.
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.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Cigna sues to end merger deal, seeks $15 billion from Anthem
WASHINGTON — The tumultuous relationship between proposed merger partners Anthem and Cigna continued Tuesday as Cigna called for an end to the deal and demanded about $15 billion from Anthem – which said it is “committed to closing the transaction.”
Posted inHealth, Politics
UnitedHeathcare a player in insurance merger lawsuits
WASHINGTON – UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer and former potential suitor to merge with Cigna, provided the Justice Department with a large amount of sensitive, proprietary and confidential information to help the government investigate and block the mergers by its rivals.
Posted inHealth, Money
CT health insurance rates to rise sharply in 2017
Most Connecticut health insurance plans will undergo steep rate hikes next year, although in some cases, the prices will not go up by as much as carriers had sought.
Posted inHealth
Unlike UnitedHealth, Aetna, Anthem say they will stay in ACA exchanges
WASHINGTON — UnitedHealth may quit the nation’s insurance exchanges, but Aetna and Anthem say they are staying and will work on problems with the marketplaces.