Unlike some other governors, Ned Lamont can’t order insurance companies to cover coronavirus testing. But many have said they will.
health insurers
Posted inHealth
Blumenthal says Lilly’s Lispro is a ‘bait and switch’ insulin for diabetics
When Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren surveyed the nation’s pharmacies they found most of them failed to stock Lispro, a lower-cost insulin.
Posted inHealth
Lobbying war stalls Congress’ attempt to end ‘surprise medical bills’
Connecticut has a tough state law to protect residents from surprise medical bills, but not tough enough to protect everyone.
Posted inHealth
Customers, lawmakers urge state insurance officials to address rising costs
The Insurance Department was urged Wednesday to block rate hikes on the state’s health exchange. Critics called the years-long cycle of increases unsustainable.
Posted inHealth
Health insurers ramp up lobbying battle against Medicare-for-all
With Democratic candidates for the White House calling for health care changes that would adversely impact Connecticut’s health insurers, the industry is hitting back.
Posted inHealth
Senate backs White House on effort to require drug prices in ads
The U.S. Senate gave consumers – along with doctors, hospitals, and Connecticut’s health insurers — a win by approving bipartisan legislation that would require “direct-to-consumer” advertising to include the price of the medications, which are among the costliest on the market.
Posted inHealth
Blumenthal calls on colleagues, Trump to act on soaring drug costs
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal called on his federal colleagues and President Donald Trump to do more now to control the costs of skyrocketing prescription drug costs. “There is no way that America can stand idle and allow these prescription drug costs to continue increasing at the present rate,” said Blumenthal at a press conference on Monday at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
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, Politics
Insurers lobbying to keep ACA payments the GOP hates
WASHINGTON — The nation’s health insurers, who are key to the survival of the Affordable Care Act, are asking the Trump administration to keep a program congressional Republicans have sued to eliminate. What the president, who predicted the ACA would “explode,” does about that and several other things will determine the ACA’s future health.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Aetna ends bid to acquire Humana
WASHINGTON — After a federal judge blocked the deal last month, Aetna on Tuesday announced it would no longer pursue a $37 billion merger with Humana. U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled last month that a merger of the health insurers would result in a lack of competition in the Medicare Advantage market.
Posted inHealth, Politics
ACA architect talks about ‘bad GOP math,’ uncertain replacement
WASHINGTON —Jonathan Gruber, an architect of the Affordable Care Act, predicts shakier insurance exchanges with the repeal of the law. In this interview he doubts congressional Republicans can find a reasonable, effective replacement.
Posted inHealth
Major health insurers seek sharply higher rates in Connecticut
Some of Connecticut’s major health insurers are seeking rate increases far beyond medical inflation, including an average increase of 26.8 percent for the individual plans offered by the state’s biggest insurer, Anthem Health Plans, according to requests released Monday. The filings come as the insurance industry, state Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade and her department are under intense scrutiny over proposed mergers.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Insurers pick Obamacare foe as industry spokesman
The trade group representing the nation’s health insurers have chosen Brendan Buck, who was House Speaker John Boehner’s point man on opposition to the Affordable Care Act, as its new spokesman.