As Health Policy Action Shifts To States, Insurance Landscape Starting To Revert To Hodgepodge Of Years Past
Before the federal health law, geography played a large role in Americans' ability to get affordable coverage. Now, as some states take advantage of the administration's relaxation of restrictions and others work to build up the protections granted by the ACA, there might be a return to those geographical disparities.
The Washington Post:
States Act On Their Own To Fill Holes Washington Is Knocking In Affordable Care Act
The first Sunday after his inauguration, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order directing state agencies to report everything they could do to ramp up the visibility of the Affordable Care Act and persuade more people to buy health coverage under the law. Four months later, the Democratic governor signed into law a requirement that makes New Jersey the first state in a dozen years to compel most residents to carry insurance. As bureaucrats in Trenton scramble to set the mandate in motion, New Jersey’s decisions are at the forefront of a nascent movement with states stepping out on their own to counteract Washington’s efforts to erode the ACA. (Goldstein, 7/1)
In other health law news —
The Oregonian:
Oregon Health Insurance Rate Hikes Moderate In 2019
Most Oregonians buying health insurance in the individual market will see their rates jump from 5 to 10 percent in 2019. State insurance regulators issued their preliminary rate decisions Friday for the seven companies active in the individual market and nine companies that sell small group policies. Providence Health Plan, one of the biggest insurers in the state, got permission from the state for the heftiest increase: 10.6 percent. (Manning, 6/29)
