If the Republicans manage to pass their tax plan as is expected this week, coverage may get much pricier. If Republicans successfully pass the GOP tax plan this week – and the expectation is that it will – health insurance could become much more expensive for Americans, say opponents. The final version of the Republican plan will repeal the individual insurance mandate of the ACA. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires Americans who don’t have health insurance coverage through their employers, other groups, Medicare or Medicaid, to purchase coverage for…
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Health insurance exchanges start fifth annual open enrollment period under ACA
The Affordable Care Act is moving forward with its marketplaces despite repeated efforts by Republicans. The last year has represented a consistent Republican effort to stop the health insurance exchanges from moving forward in the form they initially took through the Affordable Care Act. That said, despite the GOP’s attempts, the marketplaces have opened their doors for their fifth annual open enrollment season. The 45 day long window to purchase health insurance opened on Wednesday morning with the start of November. Now, eligible Americans across the country will be using…
Read MoreHealth insurance disclosure is required on tax returns to avoid I.R.S. rejection
The Internal Revenue Service announced its intentions to step up the enforcement of the ACA tax penalty. Even as President Trump works to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, the I.R.S. has taken steps to enforce health insurance disclosure on tax filings. The Internal Revenue Service revealed new regulations that will automatically reject digital filings in which insured status is not revealed. This latest announcement reveals an intention to strengthen components of former President Obama’s health care law. The Affordable Care Act already requires health insurance disclosure when taxes are filed.…
Read MoreGraham-Cassidy health care bill may doom future GOP attempts to kill ACA
Insurance companies, hospitals, doctors, patient groups and even John McCain have vehemently opposed the bill. The Graham-Cassidy health care bill is facing widespread opposition from many directions, including from a key member of the Republican party. Should this most recent effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) fail, it may prove to be the end of the effort. Hospitals, doctors, health insurance companies and other groups rallied together to oppose the bill. This represents an alliance of groups that are very rarely all on the same side. However, the…
Read MoreHealth insurance exchanges have at least one offering in every U.S. county
The Affordable Care Act was previously threatened by possible bare patches in plan availability. Earlier in 2017, it appeared as though the health insurance exchanges in several states would suffer bare counties in the 2018 open enrollment period. That said, the situation has turned around and every county continues to have a minimum of one option available. Though President Trump had claimed that the insurance marketplaces were failing, they appear to be healing. President Trump had been pointing to the problem of counties without plans available through the health insurance…
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