ACA News

Minnesota Lawmakers Reach Deal to Extend Reinsurance Program

Legislative leaders announced a bipartisan deal to extend Minnesota’s health care reinsurance program, beating a deadline by one day in a move to hold down premiums for residents who buy their health insurance on the individual market. The $700 million …

Self-Insurance Plan Could Save Idaho $13M, Consultant Says

A new analysis on how much Idaho would save by switching public employees to a self-insurance model puts the amount at $13 million for the first year of operation. The analysis made public last week by Mercer, an actuarial consultant …

Health Insurers to Fill Gaps in Ohio’s Individual Coverage Market

Five health insurance companies in Ohio, including Molina Healthcare Inc., have stepped up to sell health plans in 19 counties that would have been without Obamacare individual coverage in 2018, the state’s insurance regulator said. Ohio’s Department of Insurance said …

California Assembly Speaker Sidelines Single Payer Bill until 2018

California Association of Health Underwriters President Rick Coburn applauded actions taken by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, to sideline a bill that would create a single payer healthcare system in the state until next year. The Speaker postponed any further …

California Commissioner Makes Statement on Trump’s Promise to Repeal Obamacare

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones issued a statement on Thursday in which he warns about the negative impact if president-elect Donald Trump’s proposals to repeal the Affordable Care Act are successful. “Passage of the Affordable Care Act was one of …

Carrier to Exit New Jersey Health Exchange Marketplace

State officials say a health insurance carrier is leaving New Jersey’s health exchange marketplace created under the Affordable Care Act, or ACA. Officials with Health Republic of New Jersey say the insurance co-op has been under “considerable financial strain” due …

Delaware Commissioner: Beware of Unscrupulous Tax Preparers

Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart is advising consumers to beware of unscrupulous tax preparers this tax-filing season. Stewart said Thursday that the Department of Insurance has received reports of tax preparers who are wrongly informing Delawareans without health insurance …

Nielsen, Travelers Survey: Employers Unfamiliar with Risks Posed by ACA

Travelers has released a Nielsen Research survey that offers insight into U.S. employers’ familiarity with and preparedness for the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The survey, which was sponsored by Travelers, found that many businesses …

Burand’s Agency E&O Blog: Tip #58

ACA Grandfathering Disclaimer. According to the Wall Street Journal (Nov. 6, 2013), the first E&O suits have been filed against an insurance company for allegedly misleading a consumer into changing their health insurance deductible and thereby obviating the grandfathering clause …

Obamacare Expected to OK Renewal of Extended Plans for 2 Years: Report

Americans who kept their health plans that didn’t comply with Obamacare requirements will be able to renew those policies for two more years, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Obama administration, which has been deliberating the issue …