Insights Column

Basic Health Plan Final Rules: States Can Move Forward to Improve Coverage for Lower-Income Consumers

Basic Health Plans are an option under the Affordable Care Act that allows states to provide—as a more affordable alternative to marketplace plans—public health coverage that is the same or simila...

Challenging Health Insurance Premium Rate Increases: Part 1 – Preparing for Rate Review in 5 Steps

This is the first blog in our series that shares tips and best practices from consumer advocates in several states about how to effectively participate in the health insurance rate review process. The...

Health Insurance Marketplaces Need More Silver Health Plans with Affordable Upfront Cost-Sharing Amounts for Consumers

The Affordable Care Act has made health coverage more affordable for millions of lower- and moderate-income consumers by offering premium tax credits that lower the monthly cost of coverage. However, ...

Health Coverage: Many Moms, Children, and Families May Still Be Eligible to Enroll

This month we celebrate Mother’s Day. And here at Families USA, we can think of no better way to honor moms everywhere than by making sure moms, their children, and their families have access to aff...

How to Design Silver Plans with Lower Upfront Cost-Sharing in the Health Insurance Marketplace

As we discussed in our post last week, high deductibles in health insurance plans can create barriers to necessary care for low- and moderate-income consumers and are particularly concerning in silve...

Challenging Health Insurance Premium Rate Increases: Part 2 – First Steps after Proposed Premium Rates Come Out

This is the second blog in our series that shares tips and best practices from consumer advocates in several states about how to effectively participate in the health insurance rate review process. Th...

Challenging Health Insurance Premium Rate Increases: Part 3 – Analyzing Insurers’ Medical Cost Assumptions

This is the third blog in our series that shares tips and best practices from consumer advocates in several states about how to effectively participate in the health insurance rate review process. The...

Challenging Health Insurance Premium Rate Increases: Part 4 – How to Challenge the Amounts Health Insurers Keep for Administrative Expenses, Reserves, and Surpluses

This is the fourth blog in our series that shares tips and best practices from consumer advocates in several states about how to effectively participate in the health insurance rate review process. Th...

Trending: Predicting Health Insurance Premium Rates for 2015

Each month, we will report on selected health care stories and trends that are shaping the direction and implementation of the Affordable Care Act. “How much does it cost?” is the first questio...

Challenging Health Insurance Premium Rate Increases: Part 5 – Involving Consumers in the Rate Review Process

This is the fifth in our series of blogs that share tips and best practices from state consumer advocates about how to effectively participate in the health insurance rate review process. Previous blo...