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Study: Consumers do not understand health insurance, cast doubt on best decisions under ACA

This fall, as part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), Americans will have a greater range of health care insurance options to choose from, including, for many, state-based plans. But will they make the right decisions? That's doubtful, according to a new study led by Carnegie Mellon University's George Loewenstein.

2 Aug 2013

Health law provision regarding Hill staffers' health insurance triggers debate, action

Under the law, members of Congress and some of their aides may have to pay more for their health coverage and buy it from new online health insurance marketplaces -- a reality that is triggering strong reactions on Capitol Hill.

2 Aug 2013

For states working on health law implementation, 'churn' is a matter of concern

California Healthline reports on how life events can cause individuals' incomes to change enough that it will also impact whether they qualify for subsidies to shop for insurance on the state's health exchange, or whether they should apply for Medicaid. It's an issue on which states are beginning to focus.

2 Aug 2013

Targeting the health law's enrollment message

Though some view it as a difficult sell, new advertising from the 17 states that are setting up health insurance marketplaces tends to be upbeat and positive. First Lady Michelle Obama is also pitching in on efforts to reach very specific populations.

2 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 1, 2013

Kaiser Health News consumer columnist Michelle Andrews answers a question from a reader about if the health law requires employer-sponsored insurance to cover maternity benefits for an employee's dependents (8/1).

1 Aug 2013

Georgia seeks 'emergency delay' for approving health exchanges' proposed rates

The state insurance commissioner cited "massive rate increases" in the proposals from seven insurers seeking to do business on these online insurance marketplaces.

1 Aug 2013

CBO: Administration's employer mandate delay estimated to cost $12 billion

The amount represents lost tax revenue and additional costs. The Congressional Budget Office also noted that about one million fewer people will get insurance from their employers in 2014 than they would have if the mandate had been implemented.

1 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: GOP's shutdown vow; Peter Orszag defends rationale behind Medicare payment board

A dozen Republicans in the Senate have said they'd rather shut down the government than provide funding for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the 2010 healthcare reform law better known as Obamacare. Meanwhile, more than 60 Republicans in the House have called on their leadership to cut off all federal support for the law in the coming fiscal year. And they complain when President Obama doesn't hold up his end of the bargain? (7/30).

1 Aug 2013

Ohio lawmaker introduces Medicaid expansion bill; Mich. readies legislative moves on expansion

In Michigan, a committee vote on the expansion could come today. Elsewhere, New Hampshire and Wisconsin are considering expansion of coverage to childless adults, among others.

1 Aug 2013

Health law supporters and opponents focus on moms

A surge of advertising and grassroots organizing targets mothers because women usually make the health-care decisions for families and use more health care than men, Bloomberg reports.

1 Aug 2013

First Edition: July 31, 2013

Today's headlines include reports that Medicare premiums will remain stable in 2014 and coverage of a new Congressional Budget Office estimate regarding the cost of delaying the health law's employer mandate.

31 Jul 2013

Triple-S Management reports consolidated revenues of $599.8 million for Q2 2013

Triple-S Management Corporation, the leading managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $599.8 million and consolidated operating income of $16.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013.

31 Jul 2013

Viewpoints: How much power should the AMA have to set Medicare prices?; GOP's 'disastrous' march to defund health law

S.G.R. More than 99 percent of Americans have no idea what these three letters stand for. And yet they are extremely valuable: worth about $140 billion. This week, a House committee will finally take up the issue. The S.G.R., or the Sustainable Growth Rate formula, was enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to restrain the inevitable increase in Medicare's annual spending on physician services. ... Nice idea in theory. Never worked out in practice (Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Topher Spiro, 7/29).

31 Jul 2013

Uninsured people in rural areas could benefit big under the health law

MedPage Today reports on how rural residents could gain as a result of the overhaul, while other news outlets offer reports from a variety of states regarding the health law's implementation.

31 Jul 2013

Viewpoints: Rove warns against government shutdown; 'despicable' GOP tactics; Medicare database a tool to control costs

President Obama would love nothing more than Republicans' providing him a bully pulpit and big stick with which he can beat them daily through the 2014 midterm elections. That's what the Republicans would give Mr. Obama if they shut down the government by trying to defund Obamacare in the Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government after October 1. That's because the Continuing Resolution only affects discretionary spending. Virtually all of Obamacare costs are mandatory spending, unaffected by what's in the CR (Karl Rove, 7/26).

30 Jul 2013