State of the States Webinar w/Charles Gaba

 

Update: The full webinar is now available to watch via YouTube, and you can download the slideshow below.

Hosted by ACA Consumer Advocacy (disclosure: I'm on their advisory board):

Join us for an online update on what is going on in states around the country for health care reform from renowned ACA guru, Charles Gaba.

Please register and the link will be sent to you prior to the event.

If you have any state-specific questions for this event, please send them to acaconsumeradvocacy@gmail.com.

Thank you!

Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET

This is a virtual event

via the Minnesota Commerce Dept:

Individual Market PROPOSED Average Rate Changes

The summary table below provides an overview of the proposed average rate changes from 2023 in the individual health insurance market, as reported by the insurers. 

These rate changes do not reflect the impact of federal premium tax credits that are available to eligible Minnesotans who purchase their coverage through MNsure.

It is important to note these are the initial rates proposed by the insurers and filed with the Departments. Rates are subject to review and approval by the Departments and the final approved rates may vary from these proposed rates for many reasons. 

Additionally, the actual rate change a consumer will experience in 2024 can vary from the average – with factors such as specific plan, geographic rating area, age, and federal premium tax credits playing a major role. 

Small Group Market Proposed Average Rate Changes

via the Maine Insurace Dept:

Each year insurers that sell Individual and Small Group plans in Maine's pooled risk market must submit their proposed forms and rates to the Bureau of Insurance, using the System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF). Details of the filings submitted to the state since June 10, 2010 can be viewed in the system.

To see details of a filing, click on the Search Public Filings button below and paste or type in the relevant SERFF Tracking Number listed in the table (no need to complete the rest of the form).

Anthem Health Plans of Maine:

Drivers of Rate Increase

Note: The rule below actually doesn't apply to health insurance carriers, who I presume are bound by other federal and state transparency provisions in the ACA and other laws/regulations; it's primarily focused on auto and homeowner's insurance policies. I found it noteworthy enough to include here regardless, given my annual ACA rate filing project.

via the Washington Insurance Dept.:

Rule adopted requiring insurers to tell you why your premium is going up

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has adopted a rule that requires insurance companies to explain premium increases to their policyholders in language they can understand. 

Last week, I reported that the Republican-controlled House Ways & Means Committee had passed a bill which would codify Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or ICHRA for short. As Louise Norris explains:

An individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement (ICHRA) is a new type of health reimbursement arrangement in which employers of any size can reimburse employees for some or all of the premiums that the employees pay for health insurance that they purchase on their own...ICHRAs represent a departure from previous ACA implementation rules that forbid employers from reimbursing employees for individual market premiums....

A few weeks ago, I reported that both Nevada and Oklahoma had placed insolvent insurance carrier Friday Health Plans under receivership, leaving just two states left to do so (North Carolina and Colorado, which happens to also be the home to Friday's corporate headquarters).

It turned out that I was correct about Oklahoma, but had jumped the gun slightly re. Nevada; the insurance commissioner had petitioned the court to put Friday into receivership, but hadn't actually done so yet.

Well, it turns out my error re. Nevada has been rendered moot as of yesterday; via the Nevada Division of Insurance:

JUNE 21, 2023 - Court orders receivership for Friday Health Plans of Nevada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 21, 2023

After the recent news about Friday Health Plans in Texas, Georgia, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada & Oklahoma, this isn't terribly surprising, but...

via the North Carolina Dept. of Insurance (email; no link yet):

Insurance Commissioner Causey places Friday Health Plans of North Carolina Inc. into receivership

RALEIGH – North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today that Friday Health Plans of North Carolina Inc. (FHP-NC) has consented to being placed into receivership to protect North Carolina policyholders due to its reported insolvency and inability to raise additional funds from outside investors. 

The petition for receivership is expected to be filed with the Wake County Superior Court today and the receivership order will be posted on the North Carolina Department of Insurance website after the order is signed.   

via the White House:

Under the President’s leadership, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued its work to invest in America, lower costs for families, combat climate change, and grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out. The Administration is using every available tool to improve Americans’ lives, including Federal regulations that my office—the Office of Information and Regulatory Review (OIRA)—reviews.

Today, OIRA is releasing its Spring Regulatory Agenda , which details additional actions that Federal agencies are considering over the coming months. These actions build on and accelerate this Administration’s progress in delivering for the American people.

via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Office of the Actuary released projections of National Health Expenditures (NHE) and health insurance enrollment for the years 2022-2031. The report contains expected impacts from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including that people with Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) are projected to experience lower out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs for 2024 and beyond as several provisions from the law begin to take effect.

Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or the unfortunate-sounding ICHRA for short, are a type of health insurance arrangements which were created via Trump administration-era regulations back in 2019.

Louise Norris, as always, offers the best explanation of how ICHRA's work:

An individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement (ICHRA) is a new type of health reimbursement arrangement in which employers of any size can reimburse employees for some or all of the premiums that the employees pay for health insurance that they purchase on their own...ICHRAs represent a departure from previous ACA implementation rules that forbid employers from reimbursing employees for individual market premiums....

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