Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Despite Doomsday Predictions, Insurers Who Stuck With Health Law Likely To Have Profitable Year
The Hill: Profit Outlook Brightens For ObamaCare Insurers
The ObamaCare doomsday scenario that many Republicans and Democrats predicted for 2018 is unlikely to come to pass, with insurers having adapted to the uncertainty that marked President Trump’s first year in office. Insurers who decided to stick with ObamaCare after a tumultuous 2017 are likely to have a relatively profitable year, analysts and experts predict, for reasons including higher-than-expected enrollment. (Hellmann, 1/9)
Reuters: Centene Says Over 1.4 Million Sign Up For Obamacare Plans
U.S. health insurer Centene Corp said on Monday more than 1.4 million people had paid for its insurance plans via the federal Obamacare marketplace as of Jan. 7. "The growth in the exchange has been so dramatic ... We had planned on incremental growth, but not that much," Centene Chief Executive Michael Neidorff said, adding "We've had people working all weekend, playing catchup." (Mathias, 1/8)
The CT Mirror: More CT Residents Sign Up For Obamacare Than Last Year
More Connecticut residents signed up for private insurance through the state’s health insurance exchange, Access Health CT, during the open enrollment period that ended in December than signed up last year, officials said Monday. Access Health CT CEO Jim Wadleigh and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman viewed the enrollment results as a victory, especially in light of challenges from Washington, D.C., where the Administration and Republicans in Congress have been working to eviscerate the Affordable Care Act (ACA). (Silber, 1/8)
In other health law news —
The Associated Press: Maryland Officials To Announce Plan To Protect ACA
Maryland lawmakers are scheduled to outline a plan on how to protect and improve the federal Affordable Care Act in Maryland. Lawmakers will announce the plan Tuesday in Annapolis. State Sens. Brian Feldman and Jim Rosapepe are scheduled to attend, as well as Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk. (1/9)
The Star Tribune: Farmer Health Plans Draw 1,700 In Minnesota
Organizers say that more than 1,700 people enrolled in coverage from two new agricultural cooperative health plans during recently completed open enrollment periods for the Minnesota program. Starting in 2018, the health plans are an alternative to the state's troubled individual market, where farmers are among the roughly 166,000 people who have seen steep premium hikes since major changes came to coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act. (Snowbeck, 1/8)
