ObamaCare News Archive

Don’t forget to sign up for 2019 coverage during open enrollment season which starts November 1, 2018 and ends December 15th 2018 in most states.

Here is a list of states suing the federal government over ObamaCare. This lawsuit could result in many of the Affordable Care Act’s provisions, including pre-existing conditions protections, being illegal.

Rates on ObamaCare’s benchmark Silver plans could drop for the first time since the health insurance marketplace opened open back in 2014.

Although a 2017 Gallup poll showed a rise in the uninsured rate under Trump, 2017 data from the Census Bureau shows there has been no significant change in the uninsured rate since 2016. We don’t have data for 2018 yet.

Rates are actually expected to decline in some states for the first time in years in 2019. Below, we detail how much rates are expected to change on a state by state basis.

The Associated Press and consulting firm Avalere Health have found that health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act seem to be stabilizing.

Trump signed an order expanding short term coverage, but both red and blue states are pushing back due to the projected effects of expanding short term coverage on the broader marketplace.

The Trump administration is expanding short term health plans for 2019. The plans will be renewable for up to 36 months (like COBRA). The benefit is healthy Americans could pay less. However, costs are likely to be shifted to those on more robust plans.

The House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s 2.3% excise tax on medical devices. The measure will now go to the senate where it needs 60 votes to pass.

After freezing risk adjustment payments earlier this month, CMS has issued a final rule saying they will continue risk adjustment payments to insurances under the Affordable Care Act.

HHS has altered or removed language about sex discrimination on the Civil Rights section of HHS.Gov. Specifically, a page about Section 1557 of the ACA (the non-discrimination provision) was changed.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) has been in talks with the Trump administration about restarting risk adjustment payments to insurers after CMS suddenly cut them. However, the stance seems to be that this might be accomplished via a bill in Congress.

The Trump administration announced that it will cut grants for marketplace navigators (nonprofit organizations that help people sign up for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act). The total grant reduction for these assisters under Trump has been about 80%.

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin cut dental and vision coverage for over 500,000 Medicaid recipients after a Judge halted a Medicaid overhaul previously approved by the Trump administration in January.

The Department of Labor has published final rules on Association Health Plans. The rule change will likely result in less healthy Americans on existing plans, thus raising the costs of existing plans, but will as a trade-off likely result in more Americans covered overall.

S.2372 – VA MISSION Act of 2018, which passed through both the House and Senate with bipartisan support, was signed into law on June 6th, 2018. The legislation amends,  expands, and unifies existing Veterans Choice Programs. Unlike the previous Veterans Choice Program, the new community care program requires the congressional appropriations committees to provide designated… Read More

The Affordable Care Act (ACA or ObamaCare) contained calorie count rules (which require business to display calorie counts of food). These rules go into effect today.

North Carolina is working on expanding Medicaid, but conservatives have so far blocked the efforts despite the expansion proposal including work requirements (a provision favored by the GOP). It is estimated that 624,000 residents would become eligible for coverage under the expansion plan, however for that to happen the bill needs to make it out of state… Read More