Health Care Reform News

CEO Says Connecticut Health Exchange in ‘Good Shape’

The CEO of Connecticut’s health insurance exchange says the organization is on track to begin accepting applications when open enrollment begins this fall. Kevin Counihan told reporters on Wednesday that Access Health CT recently underwent a readiness test with the …

Connecticut Regulator Advises Consumers: Don’t Be Fooled by Misleading Ads

The Connecticut Insurance Department on Tuesday issued an announcement urging consumers to be aware of unlicensed businesses promoting on television or other media platforms what is purported to be health insurance connected to either federal health care reform and/or the …

Vermont to Offer Voter Registration Through Health Insurance Marketplace

Vermont will become the third state to offer voter registration through its health insurance marketplace later this year. Secretary of State Jim Condos said Monday that he has designated Vermont Health Connect as a voter registration agency. That means Vermonters …

Little Advertising in Maine for Health Care Law

Some states are gearing up to help get the word out about the new federal health care law, but Maine officials are taking a more hands-off approach. Maine’s community groups and health centers are getting about $2 million to promote …

Connecticut Health Exchange Learns Many Unaware of Effort

Organizers of Connecticut’s new health insurance exchange are learning most residents don’t know much about the effort to set up an insurance marketplace, a hallmark of the federal health care overhaul legislation. According to new survey results provided on July …

Firm Running R.I. Health Exchange’s Call Center an Affiliate of Health Insurer

The company that was awarded a $24 million contract to operate the Rhode Island health benefits exchange’s customer service center is an affiliate of one selling plans on the exchange, but state officials say there are built-in protections to prevent …

New ‘Obamacare’ Exchanges Could Miss Enrollment Deadline: GAO

New health insurance exchanges being set up by the federal government in more than 30 states under President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul could miss an Oct. 1 deadline for open enrollment, a government report said on Wednesday. The launch …

California Insurance Commissioner: Bar Anthem From Health Exchange

California’s insurance commissioner wants to exclude Anthem Blue Cross from the state’s new health exchange for small businesses, saying it’s made excessive rate hikes. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said three increases this year – including one of nearly 18 percent …

Gallup: Texas Uninsured Rate Rises, Sets Record

A new Gallup poll reports that Texas has the highest percentage of people ever recorded without health insurance at 28.8 percent. The poll released comes one year after the U.S. Census Bureau reported 24.4 percent of Texans lacked health insurance …

Commentary: Agents Act Now on Healthcare Reform

For agents and brokers, 2013 is a relatively quiet period related to Affordable Care Act requirements. However it should be a busy time for agents and brokers to begin preparing their clients for what is coming in 2014. Helping human …