When she was Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner, Jessica Altman, the appointee of a Democratic governor, often bumped against the political limits of health care policy in a state where Republicans controlled the legislature. Despite the constraints of a divided government, Altman played a key role in persuading lawmakers in 2019 to join Gov. Tom Wolf in passing legislation that established Pennsylvania’s state-run Affordable Care ... (More)
Open enrollment through Jan. 31
November 2, 2021 Leave a Comment
Open enrollment for individual health insurance plans via Covered California is under way and continues through Jan. 31. Twelve health insurers are participating in the Covered California marketplace in 2022. Not all insurers are operating in all areas. A record 1.6 million Californians are enrolled in the state Obamacare operation. Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's health and human services secretary, said that with additional ... (More)
Analysis: Premiums could soar 40%
March 26, 2020 Leave a Comment
Premiums in the 2021 individual healthcare market could spike 40 percent or more in 2021, according to an analysis by Covered California. The rates for next year are being set "right now," and will be drastically affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the state Obamacare operation said March 24. "Given that insurers will be submitting 2021 rates in May and finalizing them around July 1, congressional action is needed very soon in ... (More)
State’s uninsured rate put at 8.1%
October 25, 2019 Leave a Comment
Bucking nationwide trends, California's uninsured rate for health insurance remains "stable and low," according to a UCLA survey. The uninsured rate was 8.1 percent in 2018, according to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Researchers credited "a stronger economy and state efforts to mitigate policy changes affecting the private purchase market." California's extended open enrollment period got part of the credit for the ... (More)
Individual mandate back in Calif.
June 29, 2019 Leave a Comment
Californians again face a tax penalty for not having health insurance. Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, signed into law the Legislature's plan to reintroduce a so-called individual mandate, effective Jan. 1, 2020. Californians are required to have "minimal essential" health coverage. Led by President Trump, the federal government in 2017 killed the Obamacare penalty, effective with this tax year. The new state penalty is designed to ... (More)
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