For Californians Who Don’t Qualify For Subsidies, Officials Recommend Buying Through Insurer
A surcharge was slapped on Covered California's silver plans after President Donald Trump cut off cost-sharing payments to insurers. Because of that, Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee is recommending people who don't qualify for individual subsidies to instead buy their coverage in other ways than the ACA marketplace. "We’ll help them switch over to the exact same product,” Lee said.
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Surcharge Could Hit Covered California Customers
Thousands of Covered California policyholders can save money this year by paying extra attention to a few unprecedented changes which could dramatically affect the cost of health coverage in 2018. President Donald Trump’s recent order to withhold special payments to health insurance companies, and a decision by Anthem Blue Cross to pull out of most of the state’s Obamacare markets, will affect more than 10,000 current Covered California enrollees in San Diego County as this year’s annual open enrollment season gets underway. (Sisson, 11/2)
The Associated Press:
Free ‘Obamacare’ For Older, Poorer In Nearly All Counties
Older people with low incomes nearly everywhere would have access to free “Obamacare” health coverage next year, according to a study Thursday that found the Trump administration’s efforts to undercut the Affordable Care Act have broad unintended consequences. The analysis by the consulting firm Avalere Health found that in nearly 98 percent of counties served by HealthCare.gov, a 50-year-old making about $18,000 a year would be able to get a basic “bronze” plan for no monthly premium in 2018. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 11/2)
The Associated Press:
Health Care Enrollment Counselors Facing Stiff Challenges
It's not easy being an advocate for the Affordable Care Act right now. Health care advocacy groups are making an against-all-odds effort to sign people up despite confusion and hostility fostered by Republicans opposed to President Barack Obama's signature domestic policy achievement. (Kennedy, 11/2)