Latest California Healthline Stories
For Covered California, Uncertainty Is The New Certainty
The state health insurance exchange made three multimillion-dollar decisions Thursday that were motivated by the lack of clarity from the federal government on key health policy issues.
Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ Counties Coping With Scant Insurance Coverage
In this episode of “What the Health?” Mary Agnes Carey of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Karlin-Smith of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Julie Appleby of Kaiser Health News discuss the problems some consumers will face with a lack of exchange-based insurance coverage in their regions. They also talk about the state of play on Capitol Hill and in the states concerning initiatives to lower prescription drug costs.
Despite Insurers’ Tactical Win On ACA’s Cost-Sharing Payments, Uncertainty Lingers
Court allows state attorneys general to join a pending legal challenge to keep billions in subsidies flowing to consumers and insurers, despite the Trump administration’s resistance.
Covered California Expects 12.5% Average Rate Rise In 2018
The figure could be higher if President Trump ends an important consumer subsidy, which he has threatened to do. Anthem Blue Cross will pull out of the exchange and the overall individual market in 16 of 19 regions in the state.
In Strong-Arm Tactic, Trump Puts Congressional Health Benefits Into Play
By taking aim at the subsidies received by some congressional staff members who, under the Affordable Care Act, are mandated to get their health coverage from the Obamacare exchanges, the president reignited an old fight.
Winners And Losers: 40 Is Old In Senate GOP Health Plan’s Subsidy Structure
The latest Republican plan to revamp the health law reshapes how age and income affect what help consumers get for paying premiums.
Capitol Hill Dems, HHS Secretary Price Trade Jabs On HHS Budget
Tom Price defends proposed spending reductions in Medicaid and other HHS programs while demurring on questions about cost-sharing subsidies for the 2018 Obamacare marketplace.
Uncertainty Over Federal Money Could Spur Covered California Rate Hikes
The state exchange will tell insurers to proceed with significantly higher rates on some 2018 health plans if the feds do not commit by mid-August to continue subsidies that lower out-of-pocket expenses for many consumers.
Feds To Waive Penalties For Some Who Signed Up Late For Medicare
Medicare has not sent notice of the temporary penalty waiver to enrollees in exchanges run by the states. But Covered California plans to notify its members who are about to turn 65 — or already have — sometime this summer.
Covered California Tells Insurers To Plan For The Worst
The state health insurance exchange has instructed its participating health plans to submit alternative proposals for premium hikes that would offset the potential loss of an important source of federal funding.