Week 3 Header

 

May 25, 2015

Health Care Marketplace  

 

Affording ACA compliant plans is difficult for many. CNBC (5/21) reports that 46 percent of ACA customers this year "said it's 'very' or 'somewhat' difficult for them to afford their monthly premiums," according to a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. CNBC notes that the "vast majority" of exchange customers receive a subsidy to help pay for their coverage. Even so, about four in 10 people surveyed said their plans were only a "fair" or "poor" value. The "remaining 59 percent said they were an 'excellent' or 'good' value."
 

Underinsured? One-quarter of people with healthcare coverage are paying so much for deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses that they are considered underinsured, according to a new study. An estimated 31 million insured people are not adequately protected against high medical costs, a figure that has doubled since 2003, according to the 2014 national health insurance survey by the Commonwealth Fund. (The Hill, 5/20) 

 

Health in the States

  

PA. Senate Bill 293 (Eichelberger-R-Blair) received a unanimous vote by the House Insurance Committee on May 11. The legislation would require navigators, certified application counselors and other ACA 'assisters' "to register with the PA Insurance Department and undergo a criminal background check. SB 293 passed the Senate earlier this year. An amendment authored by Minority Chair Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny) allowing navigators et al to compare plans was also approved by the committee. Movement of SB 293 was one of PAHU's top priorities during the Association's Day on the Hill April 21. The General Assembly returns to Harrisburg June 1 and the House is expected to take up the legislation then." (LEG REG REVIEW by PHILLIPS ASSOCIATES, 5/18)


PA. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (5/21) reports that the Affordable Care Act expanded health coverage to millions of previously uninsured Americans, "but a new report says Pennsylvania hospitals still provide lots of care they aren't getting paid for." The report from the Pennsylvania Healthcare Cost Containment Council "says the state's 171 general acute care hospitals provided $1.07 billion in uncompensated care during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2014, a 2.2 percent increase, or $22 million more than the previous year." Denis Lukes, chief financial officer for the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, said there are a number of reasons for the increase, including the ACA. The growth of high-deductible plans, for instance, means that many people could face a $5,000 bill on their first trip to the emergency room that they can't afford to pay. Additionally, those "newly eligible for medical assistance also may be seeking care they'd been putting off until they got insurance, Mr. Lukes said." 


CA. Covered California's Small Employer Health Options Program (SHOP) is growing, but a private-sector competitor to the state-run HIX is growing even faster. CaliforniaChoice, whose framework predated public exchanges by many years and led to their development, now has 12,070 employers in its program and 218,648 enrollees. That's up from 11,500 employers and 150,000 members last August. In stark contrast, Covered California has 2,289 employers and 15,633 enrollees, up from 1,700 employers and 11,500 members during that same time frame.

In This Issue

Washington Watch

Health Care Marketplace

Healthy Living

 

Healthy Living*  

  

Stand up Now and Then!

 

 A "review of 47 other studies, published in 2015 in Annals of Internal Medicine, reports the following higher risks for undesirable health outcomes in people who sat too much during the time period of the studies:

* 24% higher risk of dying from any cause;

* Risk of having cardiovascular disease increased by 14%, while risk of having cancer increased by 13%;

* Risk of diabetes almost doubled!" 

 

(Employee Benefit News, 5/19)

 

 

*Nothing contained in Healthy Living should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Healthy Living is provided to highlight lifestyle choices that may affect persons' daily lives. Healthy Living does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional health care advice, diagnosis or treatment. We advise you to always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions regarding personal health or medical conditions. Never disregard, avoid or delay in obtaining medical advice


David M Banet & Associates, Inc.

45 Dowlin Forge Road  ·  Exton, PA 19341
Phone: 610.644.9220  *  Fax: 610.644.9277  *  Email: info@dmbanet.com