Increases In Premiums May Leave More California Residents With Fewer Coverage Options
The Business Journal examines the likely choices facing Covered California enrollees in the Central Valley. In national marketplace news, Nevada's insurance "bare markets" now appear to be covered with a Centene deal.
The Business Journal:
Premium Hike Spells More Cost, Fewer Options For Central Valley
With the projected increase in Covered California premiums, health care and insurance providers alike are weighing in on what this will mean for companies and customers throughout the Central Valley. Covered California announced earlier this month that monthly premiums for plans sold under the Affordable Care Act are expected to rise an average of 12.5 percent in 2018. Approximately 1.5 million people in the state have purchased plans through Covered California, including a sizeable number of Valley buyers. (Promnitz, 8/15)
The Wall Street Journal:
Nevada And Centene Reach Agreement On Insurance Markets
Roughly 8,000 consumers in Nevada were at risk of losing access to health plans on the exchange after Anthem Inc. and Prominence Health Plan said in June they would exit markets in 14 counties. Insurers can hold off on final decisions to participate in exchanges until late September, but many have exited markets, citing volatility and prolonged uncertainty about the White House’s support for the markets. (Evans, 8/15)
The New York Times:
Obamacare’s Bare County Problem Looks Mostly Solved, For Now
A few months ago, it looked as if large swaths of the country might end up without any insurers willing to sell Obamacare insurance in 2018. But in the last few weeks the “bare county” problem, which President Trump had cited as a sign the markets were failing, has nearly solved itself. On Tuesday, Gov. Brian Sandoval of Nevada announced that Centene would offer insurance in 14 rural counties of Nevada that had been bare. That leaves only two counties in the country without insurers saying they will sell coverage; fewer than 400 Obamacare customers live in those counties. (Sanger-Katz, 8/15)
In other health law-related news from Capitol Hill —
The Hill:
GOP Senator Meeting With White House On New ObamaCare Plan
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said he's meeting with the White House and the Trump administration "two or three times per week" on a plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare. Cassidy has teamed up with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) on a new proposal that would essentially block-grant ObamaCare funding to the states while repealing the law's individual and employer mandates. (Hellmann, 8/15)
The Hill:
White House To Pressure McConnell On ObamaCare
White House officials are exploring ways to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to return to the controversial issue of ObamaCare repeal when the Senate returns to work in September. President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized McConnell in public, wants to hold the leader’s feet to the fire on the issue, say White House sources. (Bolton, 8/16)
The Wall Street Journal:
Trump Targets McCain Over Health Vote
President Donald Trump continued his attacks against individual Senate Republicans, criticizing Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) and his pivotal health-care vote at a news conference Tuesday at Trump Tower in New York City. A week after Mr. Trump knocked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) over the Senate’s failure to pass any legislation dismantling and replacing the Affordable Care Act, the president took aim at Mr. McCain .... Asked about Mr. McCain’s recent comments defending National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, Mr. Trump responded: “You mean Sen. McCain, who voted against us getting good health care?” (Peterson, 8/15)