Section 1332 State Innovation Waivers: Current Status and Potential Changes July 6, 2017 Issue Brief Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) authorizes states to waive key requirements under the law in order to experiment with different health coverage models. As Republicans in Congress debate repeal and replacement of the ACA, renewed attention is being paid to these waivers as a mechanism for giving states flexibility to restructure their health care markets. This brief describes current 1332 waiver activity, including proposals in the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), and raises questions regarding the future of these waivers, particularly in the context of proposed changes under discussion.
Data Note: Modestly Strong but Malleable Support for Single-Payer Health Care July 5, 2017 Poll Finding The latest Kaiser Health Tracking poll finds that while there has been a modest increase in the public’s level of support for single-payer in recent years, a substantial share of the public remains opposed to such a plan, and opinions are quite malleable when presented with the types of arguments that would be likely to arise during a national debate.
What Are the Implications for Medicare of the American Health Care Act and the Better Care Reconciliation Act? July 6, 2017 Issue Brief This issue brief highlights a major implication of the American Health Care Act and Better Care Reconciliation Act for Medicare. Both bills would repeal the Affordable Care Act provision to increase the payroll tax on high-income earners. Repealing this surtax would move up the insolvency date of the Medicare Part A trust fund by 2 years, from 2028 to 2026, and also worsens the program’s long-term financial outlook.
Public Opinion on ACA Replacement Plans: Interactive September 25, 2017 Interactive This interactive includes nationally representative polls of adults in the U.S. that ask about views of plans to replace the Affordable Care Act. See the interactive table for variations in question wording as well as the individual polls included.
Early 2017 Financial Data Indicate Stabilizing Individual Insurance Market July 10, 2017 News Release Insurer financial data through the first quarter of 2017 suggest the individual market has been stabilizing and insurers in this market are regaining profitability, finds a new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The analysis tracks insurer financial performance, starting before the launch of Affordable Care Act marketplaces, through two indicators:…
Public Wants Republicans to Work with Democrats on Health Care July 12, 2017 Perspective In this column for Axios, Drew Altman discusses a new poll finding showing substantial support for Republicans to drop repeal and work with Democrats on improving the Affordable Care Act, from the general public, Trump supporters, and Republicans.
GOP May Not Be Punished If They Can’t Pass Repeal July 19, 2017 Perspective In this Axios column, Drew Altman critically examines the conventional wisdom that the Trump and Republican base will punish Republicans if they do not repeal Obamacare.
Poll: Large Majority of the Public, Including Half of Republicans and Trump Supporters, Say the Administration Should Try to Make the Affordable Care Act Work August 11, 2017 News Release Most Republicans Are “Disappointed” But Not “Angry” That Repeal-and-Replace Legislation Did Not Pass Senate After the Senate’s failure to pass legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds that eight in 10 Americans (78%) say President Trump and his administration should do…
New Regulations Broadening Employer Exemptions to Contraceptive Coverage: Impact on Women November 19, 2018 Issue Brief This brief explains the contraceptive coverage rule under the ACA, the impact it has had on coverage, and how the new regulations issued by the Trump administration have changed the contraceptive coverage requirement for employers with religious and moral objections to contraception and the women who receive coverage through their plans.
Data Note: Strongly Held Views on the ACA August 24, 2017 Poll Finding Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, Kaiser Family Foundation polling has found the public divided in their overall views of the law. At the same time, an intensity gap in opinion has existed since 2010, with the share of the public holding strongly unfavorable views of the law outnumbering the share with strongly favorable views. A new analysis of Kaiser Family Foundation polling data finds that intensity gap began to close in spring 2017. The share with a “very favorable” view is now roughly equal to the share with a “very unfavorable” view.