Private Insurance
Most Americans receive their health coverage through the private insurance market, usually through their jobs. However, many people buy insurance on their own in the individual market. Since coverage from private companies is the largest source of insurance for Americans, it is likely to be a central part of federal and state health reform efforts.
This section of our Web site keeps you up-to-date on what's happening in the private health insurance arena.
- "Private Insurance General" provides links to several good overview and introductory resources on private insurance.
- "Affordability of Coverage" includes studies and other materials that document the rising costs of coverage and ways to address this problem for Americans.
- "Adequacy of Coverage" features materials about benefits and cost-sharing, which make or break the quality of an insurance policy.
- "Availability of Coverage" looks at the special problems that people with pre-existing conditions or who are otherwise at high risk face in getting and keeping insurance, along with the protections that are necessary to help such people obtain coverage that meets their needs.
- "COBRA & TAARA Coverage" has information about how COBRA continuation coverage works, including details about the 65 percent subsidy included in the economic stimulus act, and about the TAARA tax credit to help workers displaced by trade.
- "Bad Ideas" discusses Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Association Health Plans, and other “solutions” to the health crisis that would actually make matters worse, not better.
- "Legal Rights" offers resources to help consumers facing an array of complex issues, laws, and regulations in the private health insurance market.
- "Improving the Market" provides more technical information for advocates and policymakers about tools used to regulate and improve the private market for consumers.
The Latest
From Families USA:
Families USA's Comments on the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) Interim Final Rules: We applaud the rules' strong protections against insurance discrimination based on genetic information. Our comments detail the protections against underwriting based on genetic information, which will help make coverage more accessible and affordable for Americans. (December 22, 2009)
Expiration of COBRA Subsidy: Millions of Unemployed Workers and Their Dependents Are at Risk; Many Will Lose Their Subsidy as of December 1, 2009 provides state-specific data on what will happen to family COBRA premiums when the subsidy ends, and it argues for extending the COBRA assistance. (December 2009)
Your Medical Bills: A Consumer's Guide to Coping with Medical Debt covers steps for paying your medical bills, understanding your rights, and other information you need to know if you are struggling with medical debt. The guide also includes links to many useful online resources. | Fact Sheet | State Protections (November 2009)
From the Commonwealth Fund:
Young, Uninsured, and Seeking Change: Health Coverage of Young Adults and Their Views on Health Reform found that almost half of young adults are uninsured at some time during the year. In the current economic climate, young adults are less likely to find jobs, especially jobs with health benefits, and are often dropped from their parents' insurance upon graduation from college or high school. Provisions in federal health reform legislation could significantly help this group get and keep health coverage. (December 2009)
From the Commonwealth Fund and the California HealthCare Foundation:
COBRA Subsidies for Laid-Off Workers: An Initial Report Card indicates that enrollment in COBRA coverage has increased substantially, and reports show that most eligible people have heard about the subsidy. Unfortunately, many eligible people still can't afford COBRA coverage. In order to further increase enrollment, Congress should consider raising subsidies and further simplifying enrollment procedures. (December 2009)
From the Commonwealth Fund and Washington and Lee University School of Law:
Health Insurance Exchanges in Health Care Reform: Legal and Policy Issues explains the nature and function of an exchange, including six roles that exchanges are intended to play in health reform. The report concludes that, given our past experience, the effectiveness of any new exchange will depend entirely on the institutions that are established to administer it, highlighting the importance of how Congress designs the exchanges in its health reform legislation. (December 2009)
From the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured:
The Extension of the COBRA Subsidy: An Update reviews the COBRA subsidy and key changes made since its extension in December 2009. The brief looks at the options available for people who may have dropped coverage in anticipation of the end of the subsidy or who paid the full premium after their nine months of receiving the subsidy expired. (December 2009)
From the Kaiser Family Foundation
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Access to Care among Children: How Does Medicaid Do in Closing the Gaps? examines how disparities among children in Medicaid compare with those among privately insured and uninsured children. The findings reveal that disparities in Medicaid were similar to those in the private insurance market, and although the majority of children fare well in terms of access, problems still persist for children trying to get access to the health care they need. (December 2009)
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