Selling Insurance Across State Lines Relies On Faulty Premise, Experts Say
Although the idea is appealing to Americans who favor market competition, when it comes to health insurance that competition really needs to be happening among hospitals and doctors. In other health law news: a Tennessee town is left with no options; repeal could be a boon for tax dodgers; community clinics worry about funding; the vice president is headed to Ohio to talk health; and more.
The Associated Press:
Trump Idea To Expand Health Care Competition Faces Hurdles
Allowing insurers to market health care policies across state lines is one of President Donald Trump's main ideas for bringing down costs. While supporters of the idea cast it as a way to make insurance policies more competitive, critics say it's unlikely to result in more affordable plans and could undermine stronger consumer protections in states such as California and Hawaii. Such a "race to the bottom" could leave some older consumers with health problems unable to afford coverage. (3/1)
Previous KHN coverage: Sounds Like A Good Idea? Selling Insurance Across State Lines
Stat:
In A Tennessee Town With Few Obamacare Options, People Worry
Knoxville is in trouble — for many, saving the ACA refers to saving the insurance marketplace — and this city of 183,000 is fresh out of options. Two weeks ago, Humana became the latest insurer to pull out of Obamacare insurance exchanges by 2018. In Tennessee, Humana’s exit will affect nearly 80,000 people, including those who bought insurance from Humana after UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee backed out of most of the state’s largest metro markets. Metro Knoxville, with a population of more than 800,000, is bearing the brunt of Humana’s departure: 40,000 residents may have no other insurance option come 2018. (Blau, 3/1)
Politico Pro:
Tennessee Becomes Exhibit A In GOP's Obamacare Repeal Push
When Republicans make the case that Obamacare is collapsing, they point to Tennessee. The most recent sign: Humana's decision to drop out of Obamacare markets for 2018 means residents of 16 counties around Knoxville could have zero options for purchasing individual coverage when the next open enrollment period begins in November. (Demko, 3/1)
Politico:
Tax Dodgers Could Be Winners Under ACA Repeal
Tax dodgers could end up winners under Republicans' bid to repeal the Affordable Care Act. One of the Obamacare tax provisions now at risk of being killed by lawmakers is aimed at cracking down on tax shelters. Known among experts as the "economic substance doctrine," it targets sham transactions used by businesses and wealthy individuals to avoid paying taxes. (Faler, 3/1)
Modern Healthcare:
Facing ACA Repeal, Community Clinics Are Looking Down A Double-Barreled Gun
Much of Mountain [Comprehensive Health Corp.'s] growth occurred through the Affordable Care Act, which funneled funding to grants aimed solely at helping community health centers provide services not traditionally covered by third-party payers. Between 2011 and 2015, local clinics across the country received $11 billion in Section 330 grants through an ACA provision called the Community Health Center Fund. Congress extended the funding in 2015, providing $7.2 billion over the next two years. But the fund is set to expire in September, and its future is in doubt. Community health center operators are fairly confident lawmakers will re-authorize the fund because their work has consistently received bipartisan support. Plus, Congress has already extended the fund twice. (Johnson, 3/1)
The Associated Press:
Vice President Pence To Talk Health Care In Ohio
Vice President Mike Pence is expected to discuss efforts to repeal the health care overhaul during a visit to Ohio. The former governor of neighboring Indiana on Thursday is scheduled to visit Frame USA, which sells American-made picture frames from its home base in a northern Cincinnati suburb. (3/2)
New Hampshire Public Radio:
With Health Care Reform On Horizon, Assessing Obamacare’s Impact On N.H.
For the vast majority of New Hampshire residents, the Affordable Care Act had little impact on health care choice. That's because most people in the state obtain their coverage through their employer (61%), or through government-run programs like Medicare and Medicaid (27%). However, for people who by their own health insurance, the ability to choose a plan was severely limited when the Affordable Care Act launched in 2014. (Bookman, 3/1)
Kaiser Health News:
Faring Better Than Many ACA Insurers, Molina Backs Health Law ‘Tuneup’
Some large health insurance companies have suffered losses under the Affordable Care Act, leading to a few high-profile exits from the online marketplaces. Humana is just the latest, announcing in January that it will stop offering health insurance on the ACA health exchanges at year’s end. But the administrators of a smaller, California-based insurer — Molina Healthcare — managed to turn a modest profit in the early years of the 2010 health law and break even in 2016. How did they do it? (Dembosky, 3/2)
