Tag: Affordable Care Act

Health insurance scam victims get almost $100 million in FTC refunds

Nordstrom
Health insurance scam - Warning

Consumers previously charged for sham medical plans will receive refunds. The Federal Trade Commission has announced that consumers that were charged for Benefytt Technologies-marketed scam health insurance plans will receive a refund as part of a total $100 million. This is the outcome of an FTC complain from August 2022 Benefytt and its third-party partners allegedly ran a number of deceptive websites aimed at consumers who were shopping for comprehensive health insurance plans that were Affordable Care Act qualified.  Agents were allegedly selling the Benefytt plans even though they were…

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Virginia Senator Kaine seeks Affordable Care Act health insurance changes

Logan B.
Health insurance - ACA Virginia Flag

Along with Senator Baldwin, changes to the ACA Essential Health Benefits are sought Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are seeking to update the Essential Health Benefits in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans. The current ACA plans are required to cover 10 categories Among the categories Affordable Care Act health insurance plans must cover are mental health services and prescription drugs. According to Virginia Health Catalyst CEO Sarah Bedard Holland, failure to act will only allow the current medical debt crisis to worsen. “Four in 10…

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Biden limits Trump era “junk” short-term health insurance plans

Nordstrom
Short-term Health insurance - Reducing health costs - American Flag

The goal is to reduce the sale and use of the plans that can leave policyholders footing huge bills. The Biden administration is working on rolling back the short-term health insurance plans that rolled out during the Trump administration.  The purpose is to shrink the use of these “junk” plans that leave patients at risk of paying large medical bills out of their own pockets. The new rule was first proposed in the summer of 2023 This new strategy is a part of a broader effort to reduce the cost…

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Rogue Agents and Policy Switching – The Hidden Dangers for Consumers and Insurance Brokers

Logan B.
Policy Switching Warning - Health Insurance

Unscrupulous Practices Lead to Stolen Policies and Tax Headaches for Many In an alarming trend across several states, consumers covered by Affordable Care Act insurance plans are finding themselves unwitting players in a dangerous game. Without their knowledge or consent, their health insurance policies are being switched, leaving in their wake potential tax complications and vanished coverage. This epidemic of unsanctioned changes, predominantly observed in Florida, Georgia, and Texas, is stirring both consumer and industry unrest. Government and Industry Responses to Unauthorized Policy Switching and Changes Florida and Texas have…

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Could Substantial Incentives Trigger a Nationwide Expansion of Medicaid?

Loreen
medicaid us affordable care act

In the decade since the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) inception, a critical coverage gap remains in the health insurance landscape. This gap prevails in the 10 states withholding the ACA Medicaid expansion, affecting 1.5 million uninsured individuals. In this detailed analysis, we investigate who is affected, the potential for expanded coverage, and examine new economic incentives that may prompt a shift towards the adoption of Medicaid expansion in remaining states. Understanding the Health Insurance Coverage Gap The ‘Coverage Gap’ is a situation in some states where adults can’t get Medicaid…

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