U.S. states share a $296.5 million bonus for coverage of children without health insurance

Twenty-three states will be receiving their part of a total $296.5 million bonus for their accomplishments in assisting low-income families to take part in public health programs that provide their children with coverage. The payments are designed to give these states a reward for having streamlined their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility. The goal is to increase the coverage of children who are 19 years old or younger and who live in households of four family members with an annual income of up to $45,000. That said, some…

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Analysts: Enrollment in states’ pre-existing conditions insurance plans incredibly low

The health care reform law of 2010 is well known for a number of provisions that have succumb to a seemingly endless tide of controversy. These provisions generally garner the majority of public attention, but it is one provision that has been in effect for over a year now that may point to some fundamental flaws in the federal law. The provision in question is one that originally drew in public acclaim, but has since faded into obscurity. According to the law, each state must have a Pre-Existing Condition Insurance…

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Georgia health insurance options may get a little broader

The recession of 2008 took a toll on the nation’s economy. Many businesses were forced to make cuts to the benefits they offered employees in an attempt to offset the economic downturn. Despite reports that the recession ended sometime in early 2010, many are still struggling to recover. Several businesses have not yet returned to the point where they are able to offer employees health care benefits. In Georgia, workers that do not receive coverage from their employees may have new options. State legislators are toiling over a new bill…

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The latest battle over Maine health insurance bill

As health care reform continues to be a hotly contested issue throughout the nation, Maine is embroiled in its own battle regarding the state’s health insurance regulations. Earlier this week, a bill was introduced that would seek to overhaul the current regulatory standard in the hopes of increasing competition in the state’s health insurance market, thereby driving down insurance rates. Introduced by Representative Jonathan McKane (R), the bill has received rigid opposition from Democrats who say that consumer protections are being put at risk.  The promise that the bill will…

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States may be on their own for health insurance exchange costs

Health care has been a hot issue for several years now. Since the days when the Affordable Care Act was being championed by the Obama Administration until now, there has been shortage of controversy surrounding health insurance. Now, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce has approved a number of bills that is likely to incite backlash from supporters of the health care reform law. One bill in particular targets health insurance exchanges. Health insurance exchanges are one of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Their primary…

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