On Monday, the NAHU Board of Trustees voted to adopt a position paper outlining our opposition to a public health insurance plan, also known as a “public option.” Policymakers are currently considering proposals to implement public plans that would provide coverage to Americans through state or federal marketplaces that would compete alongside private insurance plans. NAHU has been a leading opponent of the public option since 2008, is deeply concerned about the damaging impact that a public option could have on private-market coverage, and will continue to strongly oppose any efforts to implement a national public health insurance plan... Read More

Last Friday, NAHU sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the verification of Special Enrollment Period (SEP) pilot program for marketplace SEPs. Our comments focused on the four areas of concern for the program: testing; program focus; minimizing consumer burden and coverage disruptions; and measuring the program’s impact. Our letter noted our support of efforts by CMS to prevent adverse selection and abuse of the SEP process through greater verification of an individual’s eligibility for a SEP and noted how the pilot program can best work to achieve these end goals... Read More

Last week, NAHU sent a letter to the IRS on the proposed draft Forms 1094 and 1095 B & C and their accompanying instructions relating to Section 6055 and 6056 reporting requirements. Our letter thanked the administration for their attempts at simplifying the 2016 forms series and stressed the importance of continuing to simplify the forms and instructions, keeping similar information together, referencing supplemental publications, using “tips” sections, and other improvements to help employers and brokers complete the documents... Read More

Last week, we mentioned that there was hope that Congress would be able to quickly come to an agreement on a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through mid-December to avoid a government shutdown. But typical partisan squabbling has kept that from becoming a reality and instead Congress is expected to stick around another week to hash out details of the plan. The Senate is currently expected to vote on Tuesday on a CR that would last through December 9, with the House following suit on Wednesday. Congress has until the end of the day next Friday to get legislation passed and signed into law by President Obama to avoid a shutdown... Read More

Head over to the Compliance Cornered blog to check out our latest post: Telemedicine — A Growing Benefit Offer. Employers and insurers are increasingly turning to telemedicine programs to save employees money and increase productivity. With a doctor visit only a phone call away, employees don’t have to take time off the job to sit in a doctor’s office when a remote visit will do the trick... Read More

Join us on Wednesday, October 5, at 12:00 p.m. ET for an exclusive one-hour "Live from NAHU!" webinar session hosted by NAHU CEO Janet Trautwein with timely updates on where healthcare and health insurance stand during the 2016 elections. Hear NAHU’s thoughts on the presidential contest, the major candidate’s healthcare platforms, and expectations for the next presidential administration. Also, learn what we can expect from the remaining days of the 114th Congress, what’s at stake in the congressional elections, which legislative proposals have the potential to be enacted in the new term, and NAHU’s role in impacting policy decisions both in Congress and through the administration... Read More

Are you planning to help your clients enroll in coverage when open enrollment begins in November? All agents and brokers must complete the federal marketplace registration and training in order to assist consumers with enrollment through Healthcare.gov. NAHU members are encouraged to become certified through NAHU’s federal marketplace agent and broker training program, the only program operated by an agent/broker association. Offered through NAHU’s Online Learning Institute, our course includes webinar modules, a final exam, the ability to access our live help desk by phone or email to receive real-time assistance with technical questions, and the opportunity to earn continuing education (CE) credits issued on a state-by-state basis... Read More

Is it possible to help people make and sustain long-term behavior changes that yield better health and reduced claims cost?... Read More

Next Monday is the day that everyone in the political world has been waiting for and the first time many Americans will see what both major political parties have to offer as their presidential nominees. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump will face off for the first time on the same stage. This is a chance for voters to see both nominees’ ideas, temperament, and composure side-by-side. Even though both parties’ nominees are viewed highly unfavorably, it is expected that the debate, hosted by NBC's Lester Holt at 9 p.m., will produce record breaking ratings, possibly topping 100 million viewers and breaking the 1980 record set by Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan of 80 million. For comparison, the 2012 Barack Obama and Mitt Romney debates averaged 66 million viewers... Read More

We’re gearing up for one of the most anticipated presidential debates on Monday by reading all about what to anticipate in this anything but predictable election year... Read More