A new report from the White House has released a new report on the progress of health insurance exchanges in the U.S. The report shows that 28 states, as well as the District of Columbia, are making major strides in establishing their own exchanges. The exchanges are part of the Affordable Care Act, which was passed in 2010. They are meant to bring affordable insurance options to consumers who have had trouble finding coverage in the past. Though many states have shown support for the idea of exchanges, the issue…
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Report highlights the sluggish growth of health care spending due to U.S. recession
The worldwide recession has had a major impact on the health care system of the U.S. The effects are quite obvious in terms of insurance. As thousands of people throughout the country lost their jobs, they also lost their health insurance coverage. The recession, which lasted from late December 2007 to the middle of 2009, suppressed health care spending in the U.S. significantly, according to the federal government. The Obama administration released a report this week from the Department of Health and Human Services showing the impact of the recession…
Read MoreObama gives states control over healthcare benefit levels
The Obama administration has announced that it has shifted the power from the federal government to the states themselves in deciding the level of medical benefits that will be required for coverage by insurance companies beginning in 2014. The purpose of this move was to help to eliminate the chance that there would be a clash between the states and the federal government regarding a foundational element of the new healthcare overhaul. The new regulation means that state leaders will hold more control over the limits for health insurance even…
Read MoreFederal government to give Hawaii over $14 million for its insurance exchange development
Hawaii will be receiving, $14,440,144 from the federal government in order to assist with the development and implementation of the Hawaii Health Connector, which is the state’s online insurance exchange. The exchange is meant to provide consumers with the ability to find healthcare plans that they can afford. The announcement of the upcoming funding was made by Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Representative Colleen Hanabusa, and Representative Mazie K. Hirono. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be providing the funding to the state through…
Read MoreObama administration requests lower rate increase from health insurance company
The Obama administration has used a new tool from their healthcare overhaul to pressure a health insurer with intentions to increase its rates in Pennsylvania reduce the size of this hike. Department of Health and Human Services officials have announced that they feel that it was “unreasonable” for Everence Insurance Co. to plan a 12 percent increase in the rates for approximately 5,000 individuals employed by small businesses within the state. According to Kathleen Sebelius, the Health and Human Services Secretary, the intended rate increase was not adequately justified by…
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