More than 103,000 consumers selected Affordable Care Act health insurance plans through the Healthcare.gov online marketplace during the 12th week of open enrollment, according to the “weekly snapshot report” issued …
January 2016
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageLegislationPolitical PartiesPolls/Surveys
Voters Say The ACA Is Not a Key Issue
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile many Republicans in Congress and on the campaign trail vilify the Affordable Care Act, American voters across the country are not particularly focused on the health care law as …
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Affordable Care ActPolls/SurveysRegulations
Medicaid Enrollment and Efficiency Are Improving
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenState Medicaid and children’s health insurance programs have become significantly more efficient in their operations and more effective at enrolling those who qualify for coverage. As a result, more people …
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LegislationRegulations
2016 Massachusetts Insurance Mandate Penalties
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenMassachusetts residents who fail to comply with the state’s mandatory health insurance requirement – widely regarded as a model for the Affordable Care Act – may be subject to penalties …
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A year after federal regulators barred employers from offering so-called “skinny” Affordable Care Act health plans that did not pay for hospital stays, some employers are presenting workers with plans …
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More than 153,600 consumers selected Affordable Care Act health care plans through the Healthcare.gov online marketplace during the 11th week of open enrollment, according to the “weekly snapshot report” issued …
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The Supreme Court declined to consider a new constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act that was based on the way the law was enacted. The Pacific Legal Foundation, representing Iowa …
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Affordable Care ActPremium Tax Credit
Understanding The Premium Tax Credit
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIf you or anyone in your family enrolled in an Affordable Care Act health insurance plan through the federal Healthcare.gov health insurance marketplace or a state exchange, you may be …
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Affordable Care ActPolls/Surveys
High Deductibles Don’t Promote Price Shopping
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWill consumers make more cost-effective choices of health services and doctors if they are spending their own money? Common sense suggests they would, but researchers have found that consumers don’t …
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Affordable Care ActLawsuits
Kentucky To Shut Its Exchange, Contrary to Trend in Other GOP States
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenKentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has announced plans to shut down Kynect, the state’s highly successful marketplace for Affordable Care Act health insurance, and switch to the federal Healthcare.gov platform. The …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageIRSRegulations
Tools for Estimating ACA Credits and Fees
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe IRS has developed tools for individuals and employers to estimate their credits and payments related to the Affordable Care Act . The tools, available online, provide only an estimate …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
74,000 Selected Plans in Week 10
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenMore than 74,200 consumers selected Affordable Care Act health care plans through the Healthcare.gov online marketplace during the tenth week of open enrollment, according to the “weekly snapshot report” issued …
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Health Care CoveragePrescription Drugs
Drug Makers Continue To Raise Prices
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenDespite criticism from patients, insurers and lawmakers, pharmaceutical companies have continued to increase the cost of drugs, with many hiking prices by 10% or more just before or after the New Year. …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Study: ACA Has No Effect on Hours Worked
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenShortly after the passage the Affordable Care Act, many economists predicted that the law would cause employers to slash workweeks to less than 30 hours, to avoid having to provide …
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Affordable Care ActApplicable Large Employer (ALE)Health Care Coverage
Are You an Applicable Large Employer?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenBecause an applicable large employer (ALE) is subject to the Affordable Care Act’s requirements for information reporting and the health law’s employer shared responsibility provisions, the IRS has provided a …
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More than 83,000 consumers selected Affordable Care Act health care plans through the Healthcare.gov online marketplace during the ninth week of open enrollment, according to the “weekly snapshot report” issued …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageRegulations
New Features in the SHOP Marketplace
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace, which serves small employers who want to provide health and dental coverage to their employees, has added new features for 2016. To …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageRegulations
The ACA Individual Mandate and Your Tax Return
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Affordable Care Act requires individuals, their spouses and dependents to have qualifying health care coverage for each month of the year; to qualify for a health coverage exemption; or …