Tag: healthcare insurance

Affordable Care Act health insurance mandate struck down in federal appeals court

G. Turner
Health Insurance Mandate - Court building - law

Judges have sent back the case to decide if other components of Obamacare can remain without it. Last week, a federal appeals court struck down the health insurance mandate component of the Affordable Care Act. This ruling involved the portion of Obamacare that made it a requirement for Americans to purchase coverage, calling it unconstitutional. That said, the remainder of the ACA has not been invalidated, but has instead been sent back. The appeals panel did not rule on the remainder of the Affordable Care Act beyond the health insurance…

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California residents with no health insurance risk tax penalties

Julie Campbell
No Health Insurance - Person holding money

Uninsured people living in the state may have to shell out for failing to enroll in a health plan. California residents are being advised that a new state law says that if they have no health insurance, they may face a significant tax penalty. This regulation would apply to next year’s health plans and those in following years. That said, it’s important to note that not all people with no health insurance will be required to pay. There are certain exceptions that will allow some residents to be able to…

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Federal judge denies Trump’s push to block immigration visas without proof of health insurance

H. Cutner
Proof of health insurance - Lady Justice

Judge Michael Simon in Oregon ruled against the administration’s demand for coverage confirmation. A federal judge in Oregon has ruled against the Trump administration’s requirement for legal immigrants to show proof of health insurance in order to receive a State Department visa. The judge determined that the requirement would conflict with the Immigration and Nationality Act. According to Judge Michael Simon’s ruling, “the President’s Proclamation requiring legal immigrants to show proof of health insurance before being issued a visa by the State Department is inconsistent with the INA.” This is…

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College students on Medicaid told to purchase private health plans or leave

Logan B.
Students on Medicaid - Student stressed looking at laptop

Brigham Young University-Idaho no longer accepts the free government insurance program. Students on Medicaid at Brigham Young University-Idaho recently discovered that the school no longer accepts the free government insurance program. The unusual announcement was made as the college’s students began winter semester enrollment. The number of students on Medicaid is expected to rise in Idaho in January as the free government health insurance program expands starting in 2020. Brigham Young University-Idaho, like a large number of post-secondary institutions, requires all its students to have health coverage. However, this month…

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Judge stops Trump order making immigrant proof of health insurance mandatory

Logan B.
Proof of health insurance - gavel - judge

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the regulation for would-be immigrants. A federal judge has stepped in the way of one of President Donald Trump’s orders that would require would-be immigrants to provide proof of health insurance. Federal health officials and immigration attorneys are concerned that the block is temporary. Officials and immigration attorneys have said that they are still worried that the Trump administration’s order could be put into effect. This would make it a requirement for potential immigrants to provide proof of health insurance. The officials and attorneys…

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Percentage of Americans Covered by Health Insurance Plans Fell in 2018

Logan B.
Americans Covered by Health Insurance Plans Percentage Decline

This represents the first time coverage levels have fallen since the Affordable Care Act went into effect. For the first time since 2009 – the year before the Affordable Care Act was implemented – the percentage of Americans with health insurance plans fell last year. Until 2018, the share of U.S. residents with health insurance had risen each year since 2010. The drop in the share of Americans covered by health insurance plans has occurred regardless of the strength of the economy. Therefore, it was speculated in a New York…

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US Health insurance rebates may reach record levels in 2019

Logan B.
Health insurance rebates - us dollar - pills

A new report has indicated that the Affordable Care Act refunds could hit $1.4 billion this year. The provision of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) which provides millions of Americans with health insurance rebates is expected to reach a record high level this year. Health insurance customers may be receiving more in refunds this year than ever before. In 2012, a component of the Affordable Care Act went into effect which required insurers to pay their customers a medical loss ratio (MLR) payment every fall under certain circumstances. If those…

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