California may use penalties to pay for health insurance subsidies

Health insurance subsidies - money - dollar sign

Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a tax penalty that would cover the Californian subsidy costs. Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a new move to fund health insurance subsidies in the state. It would provide an estimated 850,000 Californians with assistance in paying their premiums. The goal is to assist people who make too much to qualify for federal aid but struggle to pay premiums. To be able to afford to provide the additional health insurance subsidies, the Democratic governor has proposed a tax penalty. This would be applied to Californians…

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Number of people with California health insurance to fall over next half decade

California health insurance - Heart monitor

The falling uninsured rates trend in the state is expected to make a U-turn due to ACA changes. Up to 800,000 fewer people will have a California health insurance plan in 2023, according to recent research estimates. Changes made to the Affordable Care Act have reduced the incentive to purchase coverage. This will reverse an improvement trend in coverage rates that has extended over many years. The Affordable Care Act had been steadily reducing the number of uninsured Californians. Recent changes to official policy would remove the Affordable Care Act’s…

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Covered California health insurance exchange open enrollment begins

covered care open enrollment

This week marked the start of the registration period for people to buy health plans for 2019. Covered California has opened its doors for selling health insurance to state residents who don’t receive benefits through the government or their employers. The insurance exchange is now selling plans for 2019 coverage. The state-run insurance marketplace gives Californians up until December 15 to enroll. Consumers who purchase their plans through Covered California by December 15 will have their coverage in place as of January 1, 2019. That said, there is a second…

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California health insurance premiums may spike, analysis

California health insurance premiums - American and Californian flag

Covered California predicts a possible spike in rates residents are paying for policies. California health insurance premiums may sharply rise over the next few years. In fact, Covered California’s own analysis predicts a 35 percent increase by 2021. When compared to the current rates, Californian consumers may pay 35 percent more over three years. The state is among a total of 15 predicting average rate hikes of 35 percent by 2021 compared to their current rates. Across the United States, consumers purchasing coverage on an insurance exchange may pay more.…

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California health insurance regulators launches investigation into Aetna

Short Term Health Insurance - Regulators

The insurer’s coverage practices will be examined by the two different state departments. Two California health insurance regulators have stated their intentions to investigate Aetna’s coverage decision processes. This examination of the insurer is a result of a lawsuit filed by a Californian man. The man filed the lawsuit against the country’s third largest insurance company, alleging improper care denial. The two California health insurance regulators will conduct the investigation in order to help determine whether or not Aetna’s decision processes are acceptable. The opening arguments in the case were…

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