CMS approved Colorado’s 1332 waiver amendment request relating to the Colorado Option on Thursday, granting the state the financial flexibility to implement the premium rate reductions required by the initiative. Available to all Coloradans starting next year, the public health benefit plan is designed to make health insurance more affordable and reduce health … Read more
According to a new report, medical inflation may force health providers in Colorado to cut services and pass on rising costs of the Colorado Option to insured consumers. Data released by the Common Sense Institute, a conservative think tank in Colorado, showed medical inflation has risen to 7.62% in Metro Denver, which is … Read more
Fourteen health insurers filed an average requested rate increase of 7.16% for Washington’s individual health insurance market. The plans and proposed rates are currently under review and final decisions will be made this fall. “More than 200,000 people in Washington State get their health coverage through our individual market,” Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said. “It’s … Read more
Though we are still a ways out, we’re excited to announce that we’ve already begun planning for the 2022 Inland Northwest State of Reform Health Policy Conference! After hosting this conference virtually for the last two years, we’re very much looking forward to hosting this event in person on September 8th at the Spokane Convention Center. You’ll … Read more
The number of ACA marketplace enrollees grew by 550,000, or 42%, to 1.8 million people in 2021. According to recent CMS open enrollment data, Texas has witnessed the fastest growth since 2019 and the largest percentage increase last year in the country. Overall, 94% of enrollees received financial assistance to lower premiums, paying … Read more
Washington State officials are seeking the federal government’s approval for a waiver that would expand health care coverage to residents regardless of their immigration status. The Washington Benefit Exchange (Exchange) submitted a Section 1332 waiver to the federal government on May 13th. If approved, the waiver will provide access to federally non-subsidized health … Read more
Cathy O’Neil and her firm will support the DOI’s implementation of a law that restricts the use of consumer data by insurers. Last summer, Governor Polis signed Senate Bill (SB) 21-169 – Restrict Insurers’ Use of External Consumer Data – into law, which protects Colorado consumers from insurance practices that result in unfair discrimination on … Read more
Senate Bill 944 moved out of the Senate Health Committee on March 23, following its hearing, with a 9-2 vote. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Richard Pan (D–Sacramento), would require Covered California to eliminate deductibles for all benefits and substantially reduce cost sharing, including copays, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket costs. Pan said the … Read more
Two Medi-Cal bills, both sponsored by Asm. Joaquin Arambula (D–Fresno), recently passed a hearing in the Assembly Committee on Health. The bills address deductibles for “medically needy” people with higher incomes that qualify for Medi-Cal through cost-sharing, as well as premiums and copayments for pregnant and postpartum individuals, children, and employed people with disabilities. … Read more
A new report published by Covered California identifies the potential impact to consumers if increased health insurance subsidies that were part of the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) are allowed to expire at the end of 2022. The report finds that all consumers would face significant premium increases and many middle-income individuals would no … Read more