A new direction for healthcare...
HHS action protects $13 million in health insurance rebates for Wisconsin
Consumers Union Press Releases
PDF New Consumers Union Report Launches Project to Measure Health Insurance Literacy, Calls for Partners
Testing shows consumers dread buying health insurance largely because they don’t understand it
This rule is a big step in helping consumers better understand and evaluate their insurance options
The bill erodes tool for reigning in insurance companies and fighting rising costs
The decision is a victory for Texas consumers who buy insurance on their own
Rate hike expected to force more than 30,000 Californians to drop Blue Shield coverage
Nat’l Assoc. of Insurance Commissioners weaken consumer protection that brings value to health insurance
This is the kind of scrutiny that is needed to ensure that rate hikes are fair and justified
The White House should implement a new requirement for simple, standardized health insurance forms
Get prepared for open enrollment with Consumer Reports Guide to Medicare
Testimony challenges proposals that would strip away consumer protections in healthcare
Affordable Care Act requires closer review of rate hikes over 10% for individual and small group health plans
California’s Health Benefits Exchange Board announced the selection of Peter Lee as the first permanent Executive Director of the California Health Benefits Exchange.
The Coverage Facts Labels is a way for Americans to better understand the coverage offered by health plans.
The report called on the FDA, to develop a framework for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of these devices.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a report today identifying ten states that currently lack sufficient authority to review health insurance rate hikes as required under the Affordable Care Act.
The consumer representatives to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners are very disappointed in the vote taken today by the NAIC Professional Health Insurance Advisor’s Task Force to endorse HR 1206, the Rogers Bill, which would take broker and agent compensation out of the medical loss ratio (MLR) calculation created by the Affordable Care Act.
California bill will help ensure health insurance rates are fair and subject to stronger oversight to protect consumers
The guide will help people navigate the new changes and take advantage of services available under the law
Rate hikes will be subject to stricter scrutiny and public disclosure
New law makes health insurance rate filings more transparent
CU calls on the California Department of Managed Healthcare to fully evaluate underlying data used by insurer to boost rates
State based health exchanges provide competitive, consumer-centered marketplaces for purchasing health insurance
The new law will help make health insurance rate review more open, thorough, and fair for New Mexico
The bill would make health insurance rate filings public and give consumers access to critical information about their health insurance premiums.
News articles from around the web
Feds jump-start health insurance co-ops with loans
The plans are being started under the health reform law’s Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program. The aim is to increase competition among insurers, potentially reducing premiums and improving health care quality and customer service. Print PDF
Source: Kaiser Health News (Tuesday February 21, 2012)
Study: healthcare costs decrease when low-income uninsured are provided coverage
Enrollment of uninsured patients in a program with benefits comparable to those offered under the Affordable Care Act of 2010 resulted in significant healthcare cost savings, a new study finds. Print PDF
Source: UC Irvine (Thursday February 9, 2012)
Here is what the new health insurance labels will look like
“The new Summary of Benefits provides consumers with important insurance information in a standardized way for the first time,” said Lynn Quincy, senior policy analyst for Consumers union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports. “This rule is a big step in helping consumers better understand and evaluate their insurance options.” Print PDF
Source: The Consumerist (Thursday February 9, 2012)
Feds reject Texas' request to delay insurance reform
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has rejected the Texas Department of Insurance’s proposal to delay implementation of a federal health care reform provision aimed at curbing rising premiums. Print PDF
Source: Texas Tribune (Friday January 27, 2012)
Consumer groups fear White House may water down rule on user-friendly health plan summaries
One of the most popular provisions of the health care reform law — consumer-friendly summaries of what your insurance plan covers — suddenly seems to be at risk. Print PDF
Source: Washington Post (Thursday January 26, 2012)
HHS calls Trustmark’s rate increases in five states ‘unreasonable’
Under the 2010 federal health law, states – or in some cases, the federal government – must review premium increases of 10 percent or more, and insurers must publicly justify those deemed unreasonable. Information is also posted on a federal government website. Print PDF
Source: Kaiser Health News (Thursday January 12, 2012)
Oregon's health reform to save billions
A healthcare consultant hired by the Oregon Health Authority to analyze the possible financial savings by overhauling the Oregon Health Plan predicted that the state could save as much as $3.2 billion within five years—and perhaps more. Print PDF
Source: The Lund Report (Tuesday January 10, 2012)
Collaborative efforts can save money and improve care
Physicians and hospitals share cost savings with the employers and insurers, and in some cases share losses if savings targets aren’t met. Medicare has launched a similar program under the 2010 health reform law aimed at developing so-called accountable care organizations. Print PDF
Source: Kaiser Health News (Thursday January 5, 2012)
U.S. denies bids by Kansas, Oklahoma for health law waivers
Health insurers in Kansas and Oklahoma can’t take more than 20 percent of the revenue they collect in premiums for overhead and profit, after the U.S. today denied requests from the states for more generous limits. Print PDF
Source: Bloomberg (Wednesday January 4, 2012)
HHS rejects looser insurance rules in two states
HHS denied Kansas’s and Oklahoma’s requests to soften the healthcare law’s medical loss ratio (MLR) provisions. The law requires insurers selling policies to individuals to spend 80 percent of their premiums on medical costs, with the remaining 20 percent for profit and administrative costs. Print PDF
Source: The Hill (Wednesday January 4, 2012)
Texas Dems drag Perry into fight over health waiver request
Texas House Democrats sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Wednesday urging her to reject the state’s request that insurers be allowed to spend a larger portion of premiums on profits and overhead. Print PDF
Source: The Hill (Thursday December 22, 2011)
Health Insurer Template for Justifying Rate Increases
Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurers must complete and file this Summary Worksheet as part of their justification for rate increases of 10 percent of more. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services uses the data contained in the workseet to create a consumer disclosure with information about the reasons for the increase, Continue Reading
Fed ruling forces health insurers to pay $89 million in rebates
The federal government has denied a request by the Michigan Office of Insurance Regulation to delay a regulation under health care reform that requires insurers to return $89 million to people who have purchased health insurance. Print PDF
Source: Crain's Detroit Business (Monday December 19, 2011)
HHS rejects Michigan’s request for MLR adjustment
The Health and Human Services Department rejected Michigan’s request for an adjustment to the law’s medical loss ratio (MLR) requirements. The law requires insurance plans for individuals to spend 80 percent of their premiums on medical costs. Only the remaining 20 percent can go toward profits and administrative costs. Print PDF
Source: The Hill (Monday December 19, 2011)
Millions of young adults getting coverage under new healthcare law
The healthcare law signed by President Obama last year has now helped as many as 2.5 million young adults get health insurance over the last year despite the lagging economy, new data released by the federal government indicates. Print PDF
Source: Los Angeles Times (Wednesday December 14, 2011)
Report: 1 million in Washington lack health insurance
Kreidler said that if the major provisions of the federal health care reform are able to take effect in 2014, more than 800,000 uninsured people in the state will be eligible for expanded Medicaid eligibility or subsidies, and the rate of uninsured would drop to 5 percent. Print PDF
Source: Associated Press (Tuesday December 13, 2011)
About 2.5 million young adults gain health insurance under U.S. overhaul
About 2.5 million Americans under the age of 26 received medical insurance because of a rule in the health-care overhaul that allowed them to remain on their parents’ plans. The percentage of people ages 19 to 25 with insurance rose to 73 percent from 64 percent between September 2010 and June, according to the Atlanta-based Centers Continue Reading
Source: Bloomberg (Wednesday December 14, 2011)
Health law's 'doughnut hole' fix saves recipients $1.5 billion
The health reform law’s changes to Medicare have resulted in more than 2.65 million recipients saving on average $569-per-person on prescriptions, while premiums have remained stable. Another rule change has allowed more than 24 million to receive a free annual physical or other screening exam. Print PDF
Source: USA Today (Tuesday December 6, 2011)
Survey finds physicians unhappy with insurance companies
In more than 4700 physician remarks, the vitriol jumped off the page about physicians’ perceptions of unjustified denials of claims, needless preauthorization demands, and requests for documentation that seem designed to stall payment for as long as possible. Note: Introduction to article does not require subscription when accessed through Kaiser Health News. Print PDF
Source: Medscape Business of Medicine (Monday December 5, 2011)
ACOs are bursting out all over
Accountable Care Organizations, as defined in the 2010 health law, are a delivery model that offers doctors and hospitals financial incentives to provide good quality care to Medicare beneficiaries while keeping costs down. Print PDF
Source: Kaiser Health News (Thursday December 1, 2011)
Consumer Reports Articles
- Ask Nancy: My insurance got worse, is health reform to blame?
- Did a Judge just overturn health reform?
- From our President: A better health insurance marketplace
- Health reform one year later: The haves and have-nots—so far
- Health reform: The big picture
- Shopping for insurance after reform
- The New Health Insurance Basics
- What you'll get from reform right away
- What’s this I hear about a plan to privatize Medicare?
- Which Medicare plan do you have?
- Will health reform raise my taxes?
