Visualizing Health Policy: Health Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) December 20, 2012 Report Related ResourcesStudy Highlights Role of Geography and Plan Shopping Under Medicare Premium Support SystemMedicare Part D: A First Look at Part D Plan Offerings in 2013The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit – An Updated Fact SheetOnline Consumer Guide to Medicare The latest Visualizing Health Policy infographic is a flowchart illustrating the mechanisms…
Private Insurance Benefits and Cost-Sharing Under the ACA February 28, 2012 Perspective The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released guidance on the two key components that determine the level of protection that private insurance plans will provide to consumers under health reform. The first involves the services that insurance plans must cover, and the second involves how much patients…
Kaiser Survey Probes Health Insurance Brokers’ Views on Insurance Trends, ACA June 15, 2012 Perspective A new nationally representative survey of 500 health insurance agents and brokers working in the individual and small group markets by the Kaiser Family Foundation explores their outlook on market trends and views on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The survey finds that many agents are seeing steep increases in premiums…
Explaining Health Care Reform: Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) February 29, 2012 Fact Sheet This fact sheet explains the Medical Loss Ratio requirement under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The MLR provision limits the portion of premium dollars health insurers may spend on administration, marketing, and profits. Under health care reform, health insurers must publicly report the portion of premium dollars spent on health care and quality improvement and other activities in each state they operate. Insurers failing to meet the applicable standard must pay rebates to consumers and businesses.
The Requirement to Buy Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act August 2, 2017 Infographic Note: Congress eliminated the federal tax penalty for not having health insurance, effective January 1, 2019. Along with changes to the health insurance system that guarantee access to coverage to everyone regardless of pre-existing health conditions, the Affordable Care Act includes a requirement that many people be insured or pay…
Beyond Rebates: How Much Are Consumers Saving from the ACA’s Medical Loss Ratio Provision? June 6, 2013 Perspective The Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) saved consumers an estimated $2.1 billion last year, in the form of lower premiums and rebates, according to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Under health reform, insurers must issue consumer rebates if they fail to spend a certain portion of premium income on health care claims and quality improvement expenses, thereby limiting what they may spend on administrative expenses or keep as profits.
Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013 June 19, 2013 Poll Finding As the country gears up for implementation of the major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), June’s Kaiser Health Tracking Poll takes a step back and examines views on health insurance more broadly among some key subgroups, including young adults, the uninsured, and those with pre-existing conditions. The poll finds that the large majority of Americans want and value health insurance.
Medicaid Expansion through Premium Assistance: Key Issues for Beneficiaries in Arkansas’ Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver Proposal July 19, 2013 Issue Brief This issue brief provides background about Medicaid premium assistance in the individual health insurance market, summarizes major components of Arkansas’ Section 1115 demonstration waiver application to implement the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion through premium assistance, and considers key issues affecting beneficiaries.
Quantifying Tax Credits for People Now Buying Insurance on Their Own August 14, 2013 Issue Brief This analysis estimates that Americans currently buying insurance on the individual market would receive $2700 in subsidies (as tax credits) in 2014 under Obamacare. Tax credits are available for qualifying people buying insurance through the new health care marketplaces, or exchanges.
California’s Uninsured on the Eve of ACA Open Enrollment September 26, 2013 Report This report presents the findings of a baseline survey of California’s uninsured adult population just before the start of the first open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It will be followed by three other surveys over the course of the next two years that will capture the…