Health Insurance News and Research

RSS

State highlights: States and drug prices; Ariz. limiting Sovaldi for patients; L.A. boosts uninsured care by $61 million

Because of its high cost, some state Medicaid programs and prison systems are refusing to provide Sovaldi to any but the sickest patients. Most recently, Oregon last month threatened to limit access to the drug unless it can get Sovaldi at a deeply discounted price. But Sovaldi is only the beginning. Expensive new treatments for certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions also have rattled Medicaid officials, patients and health care providers. What can states do to hold down drug costs? Drug pricing is a complicated and opaque process.

8 Oct 2014

As next enrollment period approaches, states wrestle with exchange issues from last year

In Washington state, officials are still trying to resolve billing and computer issues related to 1,300 accounts. In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick says the problem-plagued website is now fixed and ready to go when enrollment opens Nov. 15, but at an additional cost of $26 million. And in Minnesota, a new plan enters the MNSure marketplace.

8 Oct 2014

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner implements new emergency rules for navigators

Oklahomans purchasing health insurance on the federal exchange will be better protected by a new set of emergency rules.

7 Oct 2014

Connecture launches private health insurance exchange solution, On Ramp

Connecture, Inc. ("Connecture"), a leading provider of web-based information systems used to create health insurance marketplaces, today announced the immediate availability of On Ramp, a full service, private health insurance exchange solution and corresponding benefits portal that provides the functionality needed to dramatically enhance the delivery of employee benefits and empower consumers to make more informed health insurance decisions with ease.

7 Oct 2014

Conn. foundations helping to finance health enrollment push

This initiative will supplement the state health insurance marketplace's official sign-up effort. In Illinois, officials gear up for the second year of enrollment but expect signing up new beneficiaries will be harder this time.

7 Oct 2014

Genetic differences influence asthma risk in Latinos

Native American ancestry is associated with a lower asthma risk, but African ancestry is associated with a higher risk, according to the largest-ever study of how genetic variation influences asthma risk in Latinos, in whom both African and Native American ancestry is common. The study, led by UC San Francisco researchers, was published online October 6, 2014 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

7 Oct 2014

Survey: Many U.S. adults support equal healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrant children

Access to health insurance is very limited for immigrants living in the U.S. - both undocumented immigrants and permanent residents. But a new survey has found that many U.S. adults who work on behalf of children think undocumented immigrant children should have access to healthcare equal to that of U.S.-born children.

7 Oct 2014

Medicare open enrollment brings lots of choices

For millions of older Americans, it is time to sift through the mind-boggling array of Medicare plans. There is an average of 29 drug plans to digest, and about 18 options for Medicare Advantage, the plans delivered through private insurers. Then there are the 10 supplemental plans that cover what traditional Medicare does not. The choices can be paralyzing for anyone, and they can be even more challenging as you age. ... Here are some ideas on how to approach the decision-making process (Bernard, 10/3).

7 Oct 2014

Indiana gov. pitches Obama on his brand of Medicaid expansion

Gov. Mike Pence discussed his proposal to expand Medicaid directly with President Barack Obama on Friday. The Republican governor is seeking a federal waiver to be able to require low-income recipients to pay a nominal fee toward their premiums.

7 Oct 2014

Debate over California's Proposition 45

The ballot initiative would give the elected state insurance commissioner the power to regulate health insurance rates for small businesses and individuals. Proponents say it would make the rate-setting process more transparent. But a coalition of hospitals, doctors and health plans contend it would give too much power to one person.

7 Oct 2014

Calif. won't challenge 2015 rate increases

The state's regulators didn't raise concerns about premium increases for the 10 plans in California's online marketplace. In addition, enrollment efforts make news in Missouri and Minnesota.

7 Oct 2014

Viewpoints: Health costs and income inequality; vital matters when approaching life's end

Government data show that health costs are the biggest driver of income inequality in America today. Most employers pay workers a combination of wages and benefits, the most important of which is health coverage. Economic theory says that when employers' costs for benefits like health coverage rise, they will hold back on salary increases to keep total compensation costs in check. That's exactly what seems to have happened: Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that from June 2004 to June 2014 compensation increased by 28 percent while employer health-insurance costs rose by 51 percent. Consequently, average wages grew by just 24 percent (Mark J. Warshawsky and Andrew G. Biggs, 10/6).

7 Oct 2014

As new Obamacare enrollment period approaches, challenges loom

Officials hope to renew coverage for the 15 million people who signed up last year as well as expand the pool by another 10 million, but there are concerns about consumer costs and choices.

6 Oct 2014

Wal-Mart stores to offer health insurance

DirectHealth.com will set up counters in Walmart stores where consumers can compare and purchase health plans.

6 Oct 2014

Aflac announces new campaign to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance in the United States, announced a new campaign aimed at helping stamp out breast cancer during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with net proceeds going to the American Association for Cancer Research Foundation.

3 Oct 2014

Financial ties between doctors and health firms explored

Federal data shows that doctors and other health care professionals made more than $212 million in speaking and consulting for drug and device makers in the five months at the end of last year, reports The New York Times.

3 Oct 2014

Viewpoints: Another troubled website rollout; insurers fight consumer measures in Calif.

If the federal government's new Open Payments website were a consumer product, it would be returned to the manufacturer for a full refund. Open Payments is the government's site for publishing payments made to doctors and teaching hospitals by drug and medical device manufacturers. It includes 4.4 million payments, worth $3.5 billion, to more than half a million doctors and almost 1,360 teaching hospitals (Charles Ornstein, 10/1).

3 Oct 2014