Children’s Health Insurance Program funding slashed in Trump budget

Children’s Health Insurance Program

While that program is hacked down by 20 percent, millions more kids will be affected with the Medicaid reductions. President Donald Trump’s budget plans will take down the Children’s Health Insurance Program funds by at least a fifth of its current size within two years. At the same time, Medicaid, a program that covers millions of other kids, will also be axed down in size. Millions of families may watch their health plans disappear if the president’s proposed budget passes. The budget, entitled “A New Foundation for American Greatness,” would…

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New Hampshire insurance exchange won’t lose any insurers in 2018

ENT health insurance

Regardless of the uncertainty in the industry, all companies have indicated their intent to return. The New Hampshire insurance exchange won’t be following the trend of states losing insurers next year. Instead, the marketplace has managed to hang on to the companies currently selling health plans there. The uncertainty regarding the future of the Affordable Care Act caused doubts in some states. There are four insurers selling on the New Hampshire insurance exchange and each have now submitted their applications to do so next year. The New Hampshire Insurance Department…

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Aetna health insurance backs out of Iowan individual exchange

Iowa stopgap health insurance plan

A second large insurer has announced its intention to step out of the state, leaving residents in a lurch. Aetna health insurance has revealed its intentions to withdraw from the Iowa individual marketplace. This raises concerns that residents will not have any coverage options available for 2018. Tens of thousands of Iowans who purchased health plans through the insurance exchange may be out of luck. The Aetna health insurance exchange withdrawal will be effective as of January 2018. The insurance company informed state regulators that it has chosen to cease…

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Insurance benefits are drawing actors back to the industry

Mayim Bialik YouTube actor insurance benefits

Mayim Bialik, Ian Ziering and other celebrities are returning to acting for the coverage it provides. Over the last few years, actors that had been out of the spotlight for some time have been returning with insurance benefits as their motivator. Stars that had made big names for themselves but that had moved on to other things are stepping back on set to cover their families. The Big Bang Theory actress, Mayim Bialik recently made a YouTube video in which she discussed her return. Bialik had been a child star…

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Extended health insurance enrollment deadline is today

health insurance enrollment

Last Thursday, federal officials announced the extension of the open enrollment period, but it’s nearly over. On Thursday night, federal officials announced an extension to the health insurance enrollment period. This gave consumers until today to sign up for health plans that would start their coverage on January 1. The extension will continue at the Affordable Care Act marketplaces until tonight at midnight. This lengthening of the period in which consumers could sign up is the second consecutive year this has happened. Last year, federal officials granted an extension to…

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California Insurance Commissioner supports state-level public option

As large insurers step out of many of the federal exchanges, the state is looking to lead the way with alternative options. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones supports a new state-level strategy that could enhance health insurance marketplace competition. The intention is to implement a public option within the state which could possibly make California a guinea pig for launching similar ideas in the rest of the country. “I think we should strongly consider a public option in California,” said Jones. California Insurance Commissioner Jones explained that the state is…

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Health insurance market is experiencing a growth rate slowdown

affordable care act health insurance coverage

A government survey has shown that the growth rate within that market dropped significantly in 2016. A federal report has confirmed that the health insurance market growth rate is slowing down. In fact, this year saw a notable growth reduction when compared to the rates seen since the launch of the Affordable Care Act. Still, there is progress being made and at the start of the year, uninsured rates hit record lows. During the first three months of the year, the health insurance market was providing coverage for an additional…

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