2014

New Survey Finds That Most Consumers Oppose Penalties in Employee Health Insurance Wellness Programs

Earlier today, the Kaiser Family Foundation released findings from a new survey on consumer sentiment around the role of employee wellness programs. The poll found that, while 76 percent of the publ...

Minority Enrollment in Health Insurance Marketplaces During the First Open Enrollment Period

The success of the Affordable Care Act’s first enrollment period is clear: More than 8 million people have signed up for health insurance coverage through the health insurance marketplaces since las...

Five Trends in Health Insurer Premium Rate Filings for 2015: Twelve States

Open enrollment for the health insurance marketplace begins this November. As a result, health insurers are filing their proposed health insurance premium rates for 2015. To examine how rates may chan...

The New Paul Ryan Poverty Plan’s Impact on Health Care

Last week, Paul Ryan—House Budget Chairman and the likely incoming chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee—released a plan proposing the broad reform and streamlining of the nation’s s...

Medicare Should Increase Income and Asset Thresholds for Low-Income Programs

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) improved insurance affordability and access for all Americans, including those eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, and private coverage offered through the health insurance ...

Trending: Tackling Affordability Barriers in the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act did a lot to help uninsured consumers get health coverage, but it did not entirely resolve the very real problems with insurance affordability for low- and moderate-income cons...

How State Advocates Push Health Insurance Companies to Lower Premium Increases for 2015

Proposed health insurance premium rates for 2015 varied greatly among states and insurers. To limit unreasonable rate increases,Families USA encourages state advocates to engage in the rate review pro...

Affordable Care Act Update [9/17/14]: Consumers Should Keep Submitting Paperwork

The Obama administration announced on Monday that 115,000 consumers will lose their health coverage under the Affordable Care Act on October 1 because they did not submit the proper paperwork provin...

Nonprofits Can Help Consumers Who Are Struggling to Pay Health Insurance Premiums

The Affordable Care Act has made immense strides in expanding access to affordable health coverage. But some lower and moderate-income consumers may still struggle to afford coverage and care, even wi...

Trending: Revolution or Reform? How the Health System Is Changing

Each month, we weigh in on selected news stories and trending debates that are shaping the direction of health care policy. The start of the second open enrollment period is less than 50 days away....