Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Federal Officials: Health Exchange Consumers Should Compare Plans To Find Best Deals
The New York Times: Officials Say Price Comparison Is Crucial To Choosing Health Plans
The Obama administration on Thursday said that millions of people with health insurance purchased in the new federal marketplace would need to switch to different health plans to avoid increases in premiums or reductions in the subsidies they received from the government. In other words, officials said, consumers may need to find new health plans if they want to make sure their coverage under the Affordable Care Act is, indeed, affordable. (Pear, 12/4)
The Washington Post's Wonkblog: The Administration Is Begging Obamacare Enrollees To Shop Around For A Better Deal
The Obama administration on Thursday issued a plea to Obamacare customers returning to the law's health insurance marketplaces: shop around if you want to get a better deal this year. More than 70 percent of people currently enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace insurance can find a 2015 health plan offering the same level of coverage at a cheaper premium, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. Almost of 80 percent of current enrollees could find a health plan with a monthly premium lower than $100 after tax credits are applied, HHS said. (Millman, 12/4)
Kaiser Health News: Federal Officials Urge Marketplace Consumers To Look For Better Deals In 2015
More than 70 percent of people who currently have insurance through the health law’s federal online marketplace could pay less for comparable coverage if they are willing to switch plans, officials said Thursday. With a Dec. 15 deadline looming for coverage that would begin Jan. 1, current policy holders should come back to healthcare.gov to see if they can get a better deal, the officials said. They’ll find more plans available and nearly 8 in 10 current enrollees can find coverage for $100 or less a month, with subsidies covering the rest of the cost. (Carey, 12/4)
CQ Healthbeat: Administration Urges Comparison Shopping For Health Law Plans
More than 70 percent of people now enrolled in a health law marketplace plan could get cheaper monthly premiums by returning to the healthcare.gov marketplace and picking a different plan, Obama administration officials said on Thursday. But less than 6 percent of the 6.7 million current enrollees had renewed their coverage by Nov. 28, and those who don’t switch in the next 11 days will be automatically renewed in their same plan for 2015. Administration officials said Thursday that they did not know how many of the 397,870 people who renewed coverage by Nov. 28 chose different plans. (Adams, 12/4)
Politico Pro: Switch Coverage And Save In 2015, HHS Says
Nearly two-thirds of current Obamacare enrollees can get 2015 coverage with subsidized monthly premiums of $100 or less if they switch to a cheaper plan at the same metal level, HHS said Thursday, pressing its message that Americans should shop around to avoid unexpected cost hikes. (Pradhan, 12/4)
The Associated Press: Average Affordable Care Premiums Going Up In 2015
Many people covered under President Barack Obama's health care law will face higher premiums next year, the administration acknowledged Thursday. While the average increases are modest, it's more fodder for the nation's political battles over health care. Officials stressed that millions of current HealthCare.gov customers can mitigate the financial hit if they're willing to shop around for another plan in a more competitive online marketplace. Subsidies will also help cushion the impact. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/4)
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Most Consumers Can Get Lower Premiums By Switching Plans
Federal health officials reiterated their call Thursday for current HealthCare.gov enrollees to shop around for health plans, citing a new report that detailed significant financial benefits for doing so. Officials with HealthCare.gov, the online health insurance marketplace for 37 states including Missouri and Illinois, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services urged consumers to return to the site and explore new plan offerings. (Shapiro, 12/5)
The Miami Herald: Obamacare Coverage Available For $100 Per Month Or Less In Florida, Feds Say
More than 80 percent of Floridians who signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act can buy coverage for $100 or less in monthly premiums after receiving tax credits, according to a report released Thursday by the federal government. The report examined the options available to people signing up for coverage in 2015. Some consumers may choose more expensive plans that offer better benefits and lower deductibles. (Nehamas, 12/4)
