Substance abuse and mental health insurance claims double in ten years

Mental health insurance claims - young woman stressed

Claims are more than twice what they were a decade ago and the increase is driven by young adults and teens. Substance abuse and mental health insurance claims have spiked over the last decade, more than doubling during that time, said a new report. Moreover, the driving force behind this staggering growth rate is young adults and teens. The report was published in May by FAIR Health, a nonprofit health care organization. The report showed that rates of anxiety and depression among Americans of all ages have been rising over…

Read More

Trump steps back from Obamacare overhaul until after the 2020 election

Donald Trump Obamacare overhaul

The president backed away from his previous insistence for a vote on an Affordable Care Act replacement. Last week, President Donald Trump withdrew from his prior push for an Obamacare overhaul vote. He had been seeking a vote toward a replacement for the Affordable Care Act. Trump changed directions, deciding to hold off his efforts against the ACA until after the 2020 elections. Trump’s move away from the Obamacare overhaul vote was a recognition of the current political situation. It has become clear that health care replacement legislation would not…

Read More

Trump’s attempt to roll back birth control mandate quashed by judge

Birth Control Mandate - Birth Control Pills

A federal judge has ruled to block a set of new regulations put forward by the Trump administration. The recent attempt the Trump administration has made to block the birth control mandate in the Affordable Care Act has been halted for the moment. A federal judge in Pennsylvania has paused the ability for the efforts to move forward. The Trump administration had been seeking to roll back the birth control mandate. This would make it harder for women to obtain no cost birth control if their employers state that they…

Read More

Federal judge’s ruling calls Affordable Care Act unconstitutional

Affordable Care Act Ruling - Judge - Court - gavel

Though former president Obama is unconcerned about Obamacare’s future, it may harm the GOP. A federal judge in Texas has ruled that the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional. The impact of this decision about the health care reform has been a substantial one for Republicans. The Republican-appointed judge hasn’t had much of an immediate practical impact on the Affordable Care Act. Obamacare continues to be in effect as the legal battle will progress forward. It may eventually end up heading to the Supreme Court. That said,…

Read More

ACA health insurance enrollment deadline looms and sign-ups are down

Health insurance enrollment - Family

The open enrollment period for 2019 closes on December 15 but not as many people are signing up. Health insurance enrollment into the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges has fallen nationwide when compared to last year. The numbers have remained down despite the approaching deadline on December 15. The last few days of the open enrollment period could prove to be defining for the ACA in 2019. The final weeks and days of Affordable Care Act (A.C.A.) health insurance enrollment are strikingly busy. In 2017, over two thirds of Americans who…

Read More

ACA health insurance premiums fall for the first time

ACA health insurance - Decline - Graph

The average amount that American pays for the most popular Obamacare plans is dropping. The average premiums paid for the most popular ACA health insurance plans have fallen for the first time. These Obamacare plans have become more affordable for the first time in six years. The average paid for these health insurance plans is dropping slightly, reversing a rising trend. Across the 39 states that use HealthCare.gov, there is an average drop in ACA health insurance premiums of 1.5 percent for 2019. This is occurring in the coverage tier…

Read More

Modi launches Indian health insurance coverage for 100 million families

Indian health insurance - Woman holding Indian Flag

Ahead of the country’s elections, the prime minister rolled out the world’s largest healthcare program. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the largest healthcare program in the world, with Indian health insurance to cover 100 million families. In total, this coverage extends to about half a billion people among the poorest communities in the country. The implementation of this new Indian healthcare program may increase his re-election odds. India will hold a national election early in 2019 and Modi’s move may boost his popularity among voters. This healthcare reform,…

Read More