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:…
How Would Proposed Changes to Medicaid and Marketplace Coverage Affect Real People? July 10, 2017 Issue Brief This brief provides examples of how the changes proposed in the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA) would affect real people currently receiving Medicaid or marketplace coverage.
Medicaid’s Role in Ohio July 7, 2017 Fact Sheet This fact sheet provides data on Medicaid’s role in Ohio. It describes how ending the enhanced match for Medicaid expansion and implementing a per capita cap or block grant would affect Ohio.
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.
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.
Medicaid’s Role in Kentucky July 5, 2017 Fact Sheet This fact sheet provides data on Medicaid’s role in Kentucky. It describes how ending the enhanced match for Medicaid expansion and implementing a per capita cap or block grant would affect Kentucky.
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.
Association Health Plans for Small Groups and Self-Employed Individuals under the Better Care Reconciliation Act June 30, 2017 Issue Brief A provision in the Senate Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), would establish association health plan options for small employers and self-employed individuals. For these plans, the requirement that premiums cannot vary based on health status would not apply. This brief describes how association health plans could affect premiums in the small group and non-group markets.
Kaiser Health Tracking Poll – June 2017: Women’s Health June 30, 2017 Poll Finding The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers to cover the full cost of prescription birth control as part of their health insurance plans. The June Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds that a majority of the public support the requirement for private health insurance plans to cover the full cost of birth control. This includes a majority of Democrats, independents, and Republicans.
How the Senate Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) Could Affect Coverage and Premiums for Older Adults June 29, 2017 Issue Brief This brief explains the key provisions of the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), and their effects on adults ages 50-64. The brief also discusses how changes to Medicaid could affect older, low-income adults, and how an increase in the number of uninsured older adults could have implications for the Medicare program in the future.