Kaiser Health Tracking Poll – Late April 2017: The Future of the ACA and Health Care & the Budget April 26, 2017 Report With the ongoing debate about the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the latest tracking poll examines the public awareness of and attitudes about some recent developments related to the 2010 health care law, including uncertainty about cost-sharing reduction payments and insurers opting out of some health insurance marketplaces. The poll also takes a look at Americans’ budget and health care priorities.
Federal Government Could See Net Increase of $2.3 Billion in Costs in 2018 if ACA Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments Eliminated April 25, 2017 News Release Ceasing payments for the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) cost-sharing reduction program could save $10 billion, but cost an additional $12.3 billion in premium tax credits – an estimated net increase of $2.3 billion, or 23 percent, in federal spending on marketplace subsidies – in 2018, if insurers continue to participate…
The Effects of Ending the Affordable Care Act’s Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments April 25, 2017 Issue Brief This analysis estimates that total federal spending on Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies would rise $2.3 billion, or 23 percent, in 2018 if payments for the cost-sharing reduction program were eliminated and insurers increased premiums to compensate. Established to reduce out-of-pocket costs for marketplace enrollees with lower incomes, the cost-sharing payments are being challenged in a lawsuit from the U.S. House.
Analysis: Insurer Financial Indicators Show Signs of Stabilizing After Transition to ACA Marketplaces April 21, 2017 News Release A new Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of key insurer financial indicators suggests that the individual insurance market showed signs of stabilizing in 2016, although profitability remained below the level of performance prior to the opening of the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces. The new analysis tracks insurer financial performance in…
Insurer Financial Performance in the Early Years of the Affordable Care Act April 21, 2017 Issue Brief This data note looks at trends in insurer financial performance in the individual market, as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces were established, finding that the market showed signs of stabilizing in 2016.
New Analysis Examines Proposed Changes to Workplace Wellness Programs April 7, 2017 News Release As Congress considers legislation that would change federal rules governing workplace wellness programs that gather information about workers’ health and risk status, a new Kaiser Family Foundation brief explains how workplace wellness programs could be affected and possible implications for workers with sensitive health conditions. Among the findings: Seven in…
Changing Rules for Workplace Wellness Programs: Implications for Sensitive Health Conditions April 7, 2017 Issue Brief With legislation pending in Congress that would substantially change federal rules governing workplace wellness programs, this brief reviews relevant data about employers’ use of wellness programs and financial incentives and the incidence of certain sensitive or potentially stigmatized health conditions among adults covered under employer-sponsored health plans.
Web Briefing for Journalists – ACA Cost-Sharing Subsidies: How One Decision Could Disrupt Obamacare Marketplaces April 6, 2017 Event Premiums, insurer choice, and overall stability of 2018 Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces could be affected by decisions from Congress and the Trump Administration on the health law’s cost-sharing reduction provision. With a legal appeal pending on a lawsuit from the U.S. House, the federal government and Congress are in…
Estimates: Average ACA Marketplace Premiums for Silver Plans Would Need to Increase by 19% to Compensate for Lack of Funding for Cost-Sharing Subsidies April 6, 2017 News Release A new Kaiser Family Foundation analysis finds that the average premium for a benchmark silver plan in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces would need to increase by an estimated 19 percent for insurers to compensate for lost funding if they don’t receive federal payment for ACA cost-sharing subsidies. Established by…
Impact of Cost Sharing Reductions on Deductibles and Out-Of-Pocket Limits March 22, 2017 Issue Brief This note illustrates the impact of the cost-sharing reductions in current law by looking at how they affect average deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum limits in benchmark silver plans in 2017 in states using the federally facilitated marketplace.