Category: Health Care Reform

America’s health care system is undergoing many changes – it’s hard for insurance professionals to keep updated let alone consumers. Here we make it easy and publish daily articles on the changes and challenges that health care reform has ahead.

Errors caused many low-income kids to be dropped from Medicaid health insurance

G. Turner
Health insurance - Kids, family, medical

Over 2 million children lost their coverage this year, but experts say that often, it was due to errors. At least two million kids from low-income families lost their Medicaid health insurance coverage this year as the federal policy from the pandemic era came to a close. This, according to new research analyses conducted by the KFF and the Georgetown Center for Children and Families. It is likely that the figure is notably higher, according to experts, as the shift occurred very quickly. According to a New York Times report,…

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Many lapsed Medicaid recipients will enroll in ACA health insurance plans

Logan B.
Health insurance - Affordable Care Act Form

Experts and insurers have predicted that after losing old coverage, there will be an influx of policy shopping. Health insurance companies and advisors alike are preparing for a notable surge of consumers looking for assistance in navigating Affordable Care Act enrollment after having lost Medicaid coverage in 2023. As of April, this year, the extensions for coverage that were put into place during the pandemic ended. Beginning April 1, 2023, the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage extensions that were put into place throughout the worst of the…

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What to know about the 2024 health insurance open enrollment period

Logan B.
Health insurance - Open Enrollment 2024

There could be fewer choices available to consumers shopping in Healthcare.gov this year. The 2024 health insurance open enrollment period starts today for consumers across the country shopping for coverage on the federal- or state-run Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Though there are likely fewer choices available for next year, this was done on purpose. Consumers shopping for health insurance through HealthCare.gov might notice that there aren’t as many choices as they were used to seeing in previous years. This is not due to a mass exodus of insurers but is…

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Mental health was an important investment for people in the US during the pandemic

H. Cutner

Americans increased their spending in this area of wellness according to a JAMA Health Forum study. A new study published in the JAMA Health Forum scientific journal has shown that mental health was a priority for Americans during the pandemic, leading to an increase in spending with private insurance. Even after telehealth platform popularity evened out, spending and demand for other services continued. The spending on mental health continued to increase even after telehealth platform popularity stopped growing. This increase in demand suggested a rising crisis in this area of…

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New York health insurance rates will be higher next year

Nordstrom
Health insurance - Person holding heart health and dollar sign

Premiums will be higher by an average of double-digit percentage points for 2024 coverage. Residents of New York state will be facing an average health insurance rate increase of 12.4 percent for 2024’s individual plans. State records have also shown that small group plans will see a 7.4 percent increase next year. The rate increases for health insurance in New York are still considerably lower than those that were sought by insurers earlier in the year. They had been requesting rate hikes of almost 21 percent for individual plans and…

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Maine health insurance rates are going up, but most people will pay the same premiums

Nordstrom
Health insurance rates rising - Maine

Rates are expected to jump by almost 15 percent next year, though tax credits will compensate for them. The health insurance rates on Maine’s marketplace are expected to increase by almost 15 percent on average for 2024, according to estimates released by the Bureau of Insurance. Most people in the state will find the rate hikes are offset by tax credits, as they will typically qualify. Health insurance companies were required to complete the filing for their rate increase requests back in June. Federal officials have been considering the filings…

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Health insurance drug plans aren’t covering the RSV shot for many seniors

Nordstrom
Health insurance - RSV Shot

Some older seniors are reportedly being charged more than $300 to receive the new RSV vaccine. Seniors across the United States have been reporting that they have been forced to pay for their annual RSV shots because their health insurance prescription drug plans haven’t been covering them. Though they have been receiving their vaccine every year, they’re now being asked to pay out of pocket. The new RSV vaccine is covered by Medicare Part D, but man seniors who have private prescription drug coverage are discovering that they now need…

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