Live Insurance News

Washington insurance companies must wave coronavirus testing deductibles and copays

March 10, 2020March 12, 2020 G. Turner

The state’s insurance commissioner ordered insurers not to charge policyholders for that service. Washington’s Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has ordered insurers not to charge coronavirus testing deductibles and copays for policyholders who need it. State residents who need to be tested will not need to pay for any part of that test. Kreidler initially announced the new coronavirus testing coverage requirement at a news conference last Thursday. He stated that insurance companies would not be permitted to charge their customers deductibles or copays when the policyholder needs to be tested.…

California eases its health insurance individual mandate requirements

February 21, 2020February 20, 2020 H. Cutner

Health insurance individual mandate - woman receiving medication from pharmacist

State officials loosened the law out of concern that many residents aren’t aware of the fines. Out of concerns that too many California residents don’t understand the consequences of failing to comply with the health insurance individual mandate, the law has been eased. The worry was that many Californians aren’t aware of the fines they face for failing to buy coverage. The health insurance individual mandate is meant to help encourage Californians to purchase a plan. The idea is, in part, to create an incentive to purchase a health plan…

Insurers accuse Texas of improperly choosing health insurance contract winners

February 18, 2020February 16, 2020 G. Turner

Health insurance contract - Papers - Business

Over half a dozen plans have launched appeals to STAR+PLUS contract decisions. Texas health insurance contract choices have been placed in the spotlight as insurers accuse the state of making its choices improperly. The contracts being appealed were chosen for Texas’ privatized program for blind, disabled and elderly residents. Texas is aiming to award various types of health insurance contract with a total value of about $10 billion. To apply for consideration, applications must take a standardized test-like process and score well. Applicants are health insurers that want to be…

Affordable Care Act decreased health insurance racial disparities, study

January 22, 2020January 21, 2020 Logan B.

New research shows that Obamacare has made coverage more accessible to black and Hispanic adults. The Affordable Care Act (A.C.A.) caused a substantial reduction in racial disparities within health insurance access and coverage. This was particularly true among black and Hispanic adults, said a Commonwealth Fund report. The trend was particularly prevalent in the states that broadened their Medicaid eligibility. Before the Affordable Care Act went into effect, racial disparities were found to be substantially larger than what is reflected in the most recent available data. In 2013, the gap…

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

December 24, 2019December 23, 2019 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…

California residents with no health insurance risk tax penalties

December 12, 2019December 11, 2019 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…

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

November 29, 2019November 28, 2019 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…