Latest California Healthline Stories
Should California Prohibit ‘Skinny’ Health Insurance Plans From Large Employers?
We asked legislators, consumer advocates, employers and insurers to weigh in on a bill in the California Legislature that would prohibit large employers from offering workers “skinny” health plans in California.
Why States Using the Federal Exchange Are Unlikely To Run Their Own
Few states using the federal insurance exchange seem willing to establish their own marketplace. That’s even in light of a Supreme Court case that could nullify subsidies for consumers purchasing health insurance through HealthCare.gov, as well as cost such states billions of dollars in assistance and economic gains.
Blue Shield Lost Its Tax Exemption Last Year. Who’s Next?
After 75 years, Blue Shield of California is tax-exempt no more. With a slew of bills and audits underway across the nation, experts say to expect further scrutiny of not-for-profit insurers and hospitals — and possibly, a wave of other health care organizations losing tax-exempt status, too.
What the Affordable Care Act Means for Taxpayers in 2015
This year’s tax season marks the first time U.S. residents will have to report their health insurance status, and possibly pay a penalty under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. One tax expert predicts a “bumpy road” ahead.
Examining the Questions Surrounding King v. Burwell
The question at the heart of King v. Burwell — can people who purchase health coverage through the federal exchange receive subsidies? — is fairly simple. But how the Supreme Court decides to answer that very question could cause a ripple effect.
When Will We See Vision Coverage in the ACA’s Exchanges?
Vision care is not just about good eyesight. Experts argue that regular eye exams can help identify potential chronic health issues. So why doesn’t the ACA guarantee preventive vision care for adults?
Three of the Most Over-Hyped Health Care Reform Stories of 2013
This edition of “Road to Reform” explores three Affordable Care Act news stories that got more attention than they deserved in 2013, including the debate over the fairness of delaying the employer mandate but not the individual mandate.
How Many People Are Losing Their Plans Under Obamacare, Really?
The swirl of political attention around “Obamacare cancellation letters” has tended to ignore the policy realities — including that most people receiving cancellation letters are being offered other plans. Here’s a closer look at how many plans are being canceled and four other key questions dogging the Affordable Care Act’s latest hot-button issue.
Could This Little-Watched Court Case Sink Obamacare?
A pair of lawsuits allege that a major part of the Affordable Care Act is technically illegal. Are these suits a real threat to the ACA, or the last gasps of conservative resistance before the law’s provisions go online? Depends whom you ask.
Low Costs and Narrow Networks: Inside Covered California
Why are some top insurers sitting out — and several top hospitals being pushed out — of the Golden State’s health insurance exchange? Here’s a look at the payers and providers that won’t be participating next year, and what their absences mean.