insurance
Consumer questions to CT insurance exchange
Some initial questions from consumers for the exchange were collected for last Friday’s Consumer Conversations. Among the 43 early questions — Will you standardize benefit limits, exclusions, and substitutions to the Essential Health Benefit package? and How will you monitor that there are enough of the right kinds of doctors, and other providers taking new…
Read MoreConsumers raise concerns with CT insurance exchange
Consumers and small businesses had a rare opportunity to share their concerns with CT’s health insurance exchange Friday. A standing room only crowd met with the exchange’s CEO, Kevin Counihan at a restaurant in Glastonbury. Christie Hager, HHS Regional Director, also attended. Comments focused on the lack of consumer and small business input to the…
Read MoreCT exchange staff won’t negotiate with insurers on behalf of consumers
Staff of the CT Health Insurance Exchange have “opted to utilize an ‘any qualified plan’ approach” for determining which plans can be offered in the exchange. Proposed qualifications are minimal and generally only what is required by the Affordable Care Act. This decision is counter to the CT exchange’s own research. According to the market…
Read MoreAetna announces layoffs, blames ACA, puzzling
Aetna has announced they will soon be laying off 80 CT workers, 160 nationwide. The company cited competitive pressures from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in their decision, which is puzzling. The ACA legally requires Americans to buy their product, which should substantially improve their bottom line. Significant lobbying from the insurance industry into the…
Read MoreOctober webquiz – pre-exisiting conditions
Test your knowledge of CT residents with pre-exisiting conditions. Take the October CT Health Policy Webquiz.
Read MoreExchange Board approves Essential Health Benefits standard – false choice between benefits and cost
Yesterday the CT Health Insurance Exchange Board approved CT’s version of the Essential Health Benefit (EHB) package under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As of January 1, 2014 individual and small group plans will have to cover at least the EHB services. The ACA required that the EHB include at least ambulatory patient services, emergency…
Read MoreJoin us for Consumer Conversations: the CT Health Insurance Exchange
January 1, 2014 every CT resident will be required to secure health coverage. The CT Health Insurance Exchange is being developed under the Affordable Care Act to be a fair, user-friendly marketplace for consumers and small businesses to buy decent coverage, hopefully at an affordable price. The Exchange has not heard consumer voices, does not…
Read MoreInsurance Company Shenanigans – Part 2
If you live in CT and are insured through Golden Rule, now also known as United Healthcare’s United HealthOne; you should read the State of Connecticut’s Insurance Department notice # 509542, dated 8/17/2012. Read more in today’s CT Health Exchange Watch blog by Tony Pinto.
Read MoreInsurance Company Shenanigans – Part 1
In case you’re wondering why you don’t hear insurance companies complaining about Obamacare; it’s because they are big winners and don’t want to rock the boat. Read more in Tony Pinto’s blog on CT Health Exchange Watch.
Read MoreHHS approves CT application for more insurance exchange funding
Today Health and Human Services, the federal agency tasked with approving and funding state insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act, announced that CT’s Level II insurance exchange application has been approved for $107 million, along with new grants for seven other states. A large part of CT’s grant is meant to fund development of…
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