I've spent the past couple of weeks up to my ears in 2025 annual healthcare policy rate filing analysis, so I haven't gotten around to addressing JD Vance's recent appearance on NBC in which he finally explained exactly what Donald Trump's "concept of a plan" for healthcare is:
When Donald Trump stammered at the recent presidential debate that he had “concepts of a plan” for Americans’ health care, he came across like a child who had forgotten his homework. But thanks to his campaign and his running mate JD Vance, we know now the Republican ticket really does have some “concepts.” Those concepts are bringing health care into the election — and presenting a tremendous opportunity to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Last Sunday, Vance raised the eyebrows of anyone familiar with health care policy when he told NBC’s Kristen Welker about Trump’s “deregulatory agenda.”
The summary table below provides an overview of proposed average rate changes for plan year 2025 in the individual health insurance market as reported by the insurers.
It is important to note that while these are initial rates as proposed and filed, rates are subject to review by the Departments of Commerce and Health. Final approved rates may vary from these proposed rates for many reasons.
Proposed rates do not reflect the impact of federal premium tax credits that are available to eligible Minnesotans who purchase their coverage through MNsure.
Additionally, the change in actual premium a consumer will pay in 2025 can vary from the proposed average change due to factors such as the specific plan selected, geographic rating area and age.
Small Group Market Proposed Average Rate Changes for Plan Year 2025
Congress Urged to Act Now to Prevent Increase in Health Coverage Costs For Pennsylvanians
The enhanced premium tax credits from the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act have placed high-quality health coverage within reach for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. Unless Congress extends these savings, many Pennsylvanians will lose the coverage that protects their health and financial security.
Pennsylvania – September 11, 2024 – Yesterday, Devon Trolley, Executive Director of Pennie – PA’s official health insurance marketplace – and Chairman of the Pennie Board, Michael Humphreys, issued a letter to Pennsylvania’s representatives in Congress strongly urging them to act now to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that dramatically reduce the cost of health coverage through Pennie for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.
Findings show that while New Jersey benefits from high-quality care, health care costs have risen rapidly over nearly a decade
TRENTON – The Murphy Administration today released a trio of reports assessing the quality and affordability of health care in New Jersey. These reports serve as a critical first step to understanding and addressing the health care affordability challenge impacting individuals and families both in the state and across the nation. Together, the reports show that a lack of affordable health care continues to burden New Jerseyans, and they will be instrumental in supporting the development of innovative and collaborative approaches to address high costs.
Nevada Health Link Broker/Agents Awardees Announced for Plan Year 2025, Enhancing Free Available Assistance
Award funds support marketing and outreach initiatives to amplify and expand open enrollment efforts through NevadaHealthLink.com
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada Health Link has announced eight licensed brokers/agents who were selected for the Plan Year 2025 Broker Award Program. The Broker Award Program is an annual program where Nevada Health Link awards funding to a select group of brokers who propose innovative approaches to amplify marketing, outreach, and operational expenses related to storefront locations during the upcoming Open Enrollment Period that will run from November 1, 2024, through January 15, 2025. Applicants submit a robust proposal and are evaluated by Nevada Health Link staff as part of the selection process.
Health Connector member survey finds 88 percent have used new coverage, one in five have used preventative services previously deferred
August 28, 2024 – A new report published today by the Health Connector shows that the ConnectorCare pilot expansion enabled access to lower-cost health insurance to over 51,000 Massachusetts residents and many new participants benefit from the program’s financial protections.
The pilot expansion, part of the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget, is available to residents for Calendar Years 2024 and 2025. The expansion lifted income eligibility limits to the program from 300 percent to 500 percent of the federal poverty level – from $43,740 to $72,900 for an individual, and from $90,000 to $150,000 for a family of four.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California announced that the statewide weighted average rate change for dental plans offered through the marketplace in 2025 will be 1.55 percent.
Covered California also announced that consumers will have more choice among dental plans with the addition of a new dental carrier, Humana, that will offer full statewide coverage in 2025.
Affordable Care Act Marketplace Coverage for the Self-Employed and Small Business Owners
Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, self-employed workers and small business owners had limited options to purchase affordable, high-quality health coverage. While most Americans obtained health coverage through their jobs, self-employed workers and small business owners often needed to purchase health coverage on their own, in which case quality coverage was expensive and sometimes denied.
The Affordable Care Act established Marketplaces in all states beginning in 2014. Self-employed workers and small business owners, as well as anybody else who does not have other access to affordable health coverage, can purchase it on their own and can qualify for tax credits if their premiums would otherwise be unaffordable as a share of their income.
In May 2024, 80,855,947 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, a decrease of 840,795 individuals (1.0%) from April 2024.
73,793,274 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid in May 2024, a decrease of 846,948 individuals (1.1%) from April 2024.
7,062,673 individuals were enrolled in CHIP in May 2024, an increase of 6,153 individuals (0.1%) from April 2024.
As of May 2024, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP has decreased by 13,012,059 individuals (13.9%) since March 2023, the final month of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
Medicaid enrollment has decreased by 12,937,285 individuals (14.9%).
CHIP enrollment has decreased by 74,774 individuals (1.0%).
Between February 2020 and March 2023, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP increased by 23,023,434 individuals (32.5%) to 93,868,006.
Medicaid enrollment increased by 22,681,263 individuals (35.4%).
CHIP enrollment increased by 342,171 individuals (5.0%)
Normally, states will review (or "redetermine") whether people enrolled in Medicaid or the CHIP program are still eligible to be covered by it on a monthly (or in some cases, quarterly, I believe) basis.
However, the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), passed by Congress at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, included a provision requiring state Medicaid programs to keep people enrolled through the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). In return, states received higher federal funding to the tune of billions of dollars.
As a result, there are tens of millions of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees who didn't have their eligibility status redetermined for as long as three years.
