The Connecticut Insurance Department has received a total of 10 rate filings from 9 health insurers for plans that will be available on the individual and small group market, both on and off the state-sponsored exchange, Access Health CT. As part of our regulatory responsibilities, we will conduct a thorough examination of these filings to ensure that the requested rates comply with state laws and regulations.
The review process will delve deeply into each submission, requiring insurers to provide justifications and supporting evidence. As always, the rate reviews will be comprehensive, continuing our ongoing efforts to promote transparency and accountability. By utilizing various tools, such as benchmarking and other industry best practices, we strive to maintain a fair and competitive insurance market while prioritizing the interests of consumers.
Every month for years now, the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) has published a monthly press release with a breakout of total Medicare, Medicaid & CHIP enrollment; the most recent one was posted in late February, and ran through November 2022.
Erie, PA - Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Acting Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Pennie® Director of External Affairs Chachi Angelo joined representatives from Community Health Net today to highlight how the Shapiro Administration, Pennie, and local health centers are collaborating to support Pennsylvanians through federal changes to Medicaid and CHIP renewal requirements so they can protect their health and stay covered.
“Everyone deserves the dignity and peace of mind of having access to affordable, high-quality, local health care and knowing they can go to the doctor when they need it. DHS’ goal throughout the renewal process is to make sure that all Pennsylvanians stay covered,” said Acting Secretary Arkoosh. “I urge all Pennsylvanians who get their health coverage through the state Medicaid program to be on the lookout for communications from DHS about your renewal, and to make sure you complete it on time when it’s your turn to renew.”
Colorado’s Marketplace Offers Free Enrollment Help and Low-Cost Health Plans
DENVER— For the first time in more than three years, Coloradans who are no longer eligible for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) will start to lose their coverage.
Why Coloradans Might Lose Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program)
This change was the result of federal legislation passed in winter of 2022: the Omnibus bill, otherwise known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act. It included a provision to end the requirement for states to keep individuals covered by Medicaid during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) estimates that more than 325,000 current members will no longer be eligible for Health First Colorado coverage following their annual eligibility review. These eligibility reviews will be done in the anniversary month of when the person enrolled.
While numerous other states have already done the same thing (and several more are in the process of doing so as well), Georgia's move to their own enrollment platform was especially noteworthy for two reasons:
First, because it represents as complete 180-degree turn from their prior attempts (over the course of several years) to eliminate any formal ACA exchange (federal or state-based) in favor of outsourcing it to private insurance carriers & 3rd-party web brokers.
When we last checked in on the Braidwood v. Becerra federal lawsuit, there was a lot of confusion as to exactly which preventative services mandated by the Affordable Care Act to be covered at no out-of-pocket (OOP) charge to enrollees were supposed to be stricken and which weren't.
In February 2023, 93,373,794 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.
86,174,094 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid in January 2023, an increase of 291,095 individuals from January 2023.
7,199,700 individuals were enrolled in CHIP in February 2023, an increase of 111,838 individuals from January 2023.
Since February 2020, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP has increased by 22,723,554 individuals (32.2%).
Medicaid enrollment has increased by 22,369,004 individuals (35.1%).
CHIP enrollment has increased by 354,550 individuals (5.2%).
The Medicaid enrollment increases are likely driven by COVID-19 and the continuous enrollment condition in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
One of the most important provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, passed with only Democratic votes in the U.S. House last summer, was this one: After decades of prior attempts, it finally allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to actively negotiate the price of at least some prescription drugs. As explained by the Kaiser Family Foundation:
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the Act), signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, includes several provisions to lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare and reduce drug spending by the federal government. One of the Act’s key drug-related policies is a requirement for the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate prices with drug companies for certain drugs covered under Medicare Part D (starting in 2026) and Part B (starting in 2028). This new requirement is the culmination of years of debate among lawmakers over whether to grant the federal government the authority to negotiate drug prices in Medicare.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Although Medicaid expansion in the state of South Dakota doesn’t take effect for another month, the window to apply opened on Thursday. A kickoff event was held for advocates and patients to review the benefits for those who qualify.
“Today has been long overdue. No one should have to choose between bankrupting their family and getting the health coverage they need,” said Dr. Dan Johnson from the American Cancer Society.
After the hard work of gathering petition signatures and talking to voters, Medicaid expansion advocates are celebrating enrollment opening for South Dakota residents.
...Over 50,000 people will be eligible for Medicaid, as voters approved Constitutional Amendment D last November. Erik Nelson, an advocate with AARP, has had positive conversations with the state handling the logistics of enrollment.
...Even if applicants don’t have their application completed by the July 1 effective date, a plan is in place.
The Michigan Dept. of Financial Services hasn't issued any press release yet, but nearly all 2024 preliminary rate filings for the MI individual and small group markets are available via the SERFF database.
The only one missing as of today is UnitdHealthcare Community Plan, Inc.; they have most of their 2024 forms on record but there's no Actuarial Memo or URRT form included for the individual market, so I can't seem to find their actual requested rate changes or their enrollment as of March 2023.
In any event, I'm not seeing anything too odd here. Unlike other states with preliminary filings so far this year, Michigan carriers are seeking a fairly reasonable 5.6% average rate hike on the individual market and 7.0% for the small group market.
It's worth noting that two of the three indy market carriers asking for double-digit rate hikes (Alliance and HAP) both only offer off-exchange policies. The third, MacLaren, is also pulling out of the small group market entirely. It's also possible that Humana is dropping out of the small group market, although I'm not sure about that one.
