Justices Hear Arguments in ‘King’ Case

March 5, 2015 By Robert S. Sheen, Editor-in-Chief Attorneys for the King v. Burwell plaintiffs challenging a key the Act, and for the Obama administration defending the law, presented their conflicting views before Read More

Help for Farmers and Fishermen on Credit Errors

March 2, 2015 The IRS is giving extra to farmers and fishermen who missed this year’s March 2 deadline because they were sent incorrect premium tax credit 1095-A from the federal health insurance Read More

Early Filers Can Keep Subsidy Overpayments

February 27, 2015 The approximately 50,000 Americans who have filed tax returns using incorrect government-supplied data for their Affordable Care Act premium tax credit do not have to file amended returns, the Treasury Read More

HHS Has No Plan B for ‘King’ Decision

February 26, 2015 The Administration has no backup plan if the Supreme Court rules against it in the King v. Burwell case that challenges a key part of the Affordable Care Act, the Read More

Over 4 Million Re-Enrolled, HHS Reports

February 25, 2015 A total of 4.17 million consumers re-enrolled for health insurance during the open enrollment periods from Nov. 15, 2014 to Feb. 15, 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services Read More

Week 14 Snapshot: 40,000 More Selected Plans

February 25, 2015 Although the open enrolment period ended Feb. 15, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continued to accept applications between Feb. 16 and Feb. 22 from consumers who had Read More

Rate of Uninsured Fell to 13.8%, Gallup Says

February 24, 2015 Nationwide, the rate of those without health insurance dropped 3.5 percentage points during 2014, from 17.3% to 13.8%, according to the Gallup Poll. That is the lowest annualized rate Gallup Read More

CMS Opens Extra ACA Enrollment Period

February 24, 2015 Many consumers who have not signed up for health insurance the Affordable Care Act will have another chance to do so, thanks to a special March 15-April 30 enrollment period Read More

800,000 Get Wrong ACA Tax Information

February 23, 2015 About 800,000 taxpayers who obtained Affordable Care Act health insurance policies through the Healthcare.gov marketplace were sent incorrect tax information by the government, and have been urged to delay filing Read More

IRS Releases Temporary Proposed Rules for Insurers

February 23, 2015  The Internal Revenue released temporary and proposed regulations aimed at clarifying which entities are excluded from being “covered entities” under Section 10 the Act. Covered entities are subject to an Read More

IRS Publishes Final Forms for ACA Reporting

February 19, 2015 By Joanna Kim, Executive Editor The Internal Revenue Service has published final versions of the forms and instructions that employers and insurers must use to meet their Affordable Care Act Read More

IRS Offers Transition Relief for ACA Tax Penalties

February 18, 2015 The Internal Revenue Service issued a notice that small businesses may be eligible during a transition period for relief from potential tax penalties related to the Affordable Care Act. The Read More

Open Enrollment Ends: 11.4 Million Signed Up

February 18, 2015 When the Affordable Care Act open enrolment ended Feb. 15, about 11.4 million consumers had selected health insurance plans or were automatically re-enrolled through HealthCare.gov or state-based marketplaces, the Department Read More

Article: ‘Standing’ Could Halt King v. Burwell Case

February 17, 2015 King v. Burwell, the lawsuit challenging a key part of the Affordable Care Act that is now before the Supreme Court, could be dismissed a technicality, says ACA Times Editor-in-Chief Read More

New ACA Program Rewards Value of Care, not Volume

February 13, 2015 Doctors treating cancer patients will be paid based on the value of the care they deliver rather than the volume of services they provide, under a new Affordable Care Act Read More

Week 12 ACA Snapshot: 275,000 Sign Up, 7.7 Million Enrolled

February 11, 2015 With just four days until Affordable Care Act enrolment closes, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported on Feb. 11 that 275,676 consumers selected plans on the federal Read More

A Closer Look at the “Hire More Heroes” Bill

February 10, 2015 By Robert S. Sheen, Editor-in-Chief Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has introduced the “Hire More Heroes Act,” with the goal of providing an additional incentive for employers to hire military veterans. Read More

Average ACA Tax Credit for 6.5 Million is $268

February 9, 2015 Almost 6.5 million individuals in the 37 states using the HealthCare.gov platform will qualify for an average of $268 per person per month in advanced premium tax credits, according to Read More

Republicans Unveil Alternative to ACA

February 5, 2015 Republican members of the House and Senate unveiled a proposed alternative to theAffordable Care Act. It would eliminate the individual and employer mandate, provide a tax credit to help offset Read More

Week 11 Snapshot: Almost 180,000 Select Plans, 7.47 Million Enrolled

February 4, 2015 With the Act deadline nearing, 179,710 consumers selected the federal exchange during the 11th open , the Department and Human Services (HHS) reported Feb. 4. Total signups since began Nov. Read More

Congressman Seeks Answers on Healthcare.gov Privacy

February 3, 2015 Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has written to three senior Administration officials, asking them to explain how Act data gathered by the federal website is with private companies such as Google, Twitter, Read More

HHS: $400Billion Savings in 2016 Budget

February 2, 2015 To help cover Affordable Care Act costs, the 2016 budget proposal submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services for the fiscal year 2016 would reduce Medicare spending by Read More

4.5 Million Millennials Have Gained Health Coverage

February 2, 2015 About 4.5 million more young adults are covered by health insurance now than in 2009 because the Affordable Care Act, according to a White House report. In 2009 nearly a Read More

Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment Up 25%

January 30, 2015 Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) data shows enrollment gains in all states, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, with more than 10.1 million additional Americans Read More

Poll: Public Wants Congress To Preserve Subsidies

January 29, 2015 Americans are not paying much attention to the King v. Burwell case now before the Supreme Court, which will decide if residents 37 states qualify for Act subsidies to buy, Read More

Week 10 Snapshot: 137,300 Select Plans, 7.3 Million Enrolled

January 28, 2015 Almost 137,300 consumers selected Affordable Care Act plans on the federal health insurance exchange during the 10th week of open enrollment,the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Jan. Read More

SCOTUS Leaves Oklahoma Out of ACA Case

January 27, 2015 The U.S. Supreme Court declined to include Oklahoma in the King v. Burwell case that will decide whether residents of 37 states can receive federal subsidies to buy Affordable Care Read More

Consumer Protections Tightened on Healthcare.gov

January 26, 2015 Following disclosures that private consumer information on Healthcare.gov was being shared with more than 30 private companies, the Obama administration curtailed outside access to the Affordable Care Act data. Privacy Read More

HealthCare.gov Privacy Questioned

January 22, 2015 The HealthCare.gov health insurance website shares some personal data about consumers with companies that sell advertising and data analytics services, the Associated Press reported. Administration officials said the companies are Read More

HHS Week 9 Snapshot: 400,000 Enroll

January 21, 2015 Just over 400,000 consumers selected Affordable Care Act plans on the federal health insurance exchange during the eighth week of open enrollment, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Read More

Hatch Proposes Repeal of ACA Tax on Insurers

January 20, 2015 Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) reintroduced to eliminate the companies enacted through Section 10 the Act. “This is yet another hidden healthcare arbitrarily created to pay for ,”Hatch said. “Raising Read More

New Help For Taxpayers With ACA Questions

January 15, 2015 The IRS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are providing new resources to give answers to tax filers and tax preparers on questions they may have about Read More

Senate Bill Would Repeal Medical Device Tax

January 15, 2015 Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), Chairman the Senate Finance , introduced a bipartisan bill to repeal the 2.3% medical device enacted as the Act. Five Democrats and four Republicans signed Read More

HHS Week 8 Snapshot: 163,000 Enroll

January 14, 2015 More than 163,000 consumers selected plans on the federal health exchange during the eighth week of Affordable Care Act open enrollment, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/span> announced Read More

SCOTUS Rejects Challenge to Individual Mandate

January 13, 2015 The Supreme Court Monday declined to hear a legal challenge to the mandate provision the Act, filed by the Association American Physicians and Surgeons. The ’s objection to the requirement Read More

In Brief: ACA Tax Planning

January 13, 2015 With the start of 2015, it’s not too early for individuals and companies to think about tax planning. Following are some Affordable Care Act-related issues you may want to consider. Read More

House Bill Exempts Volunteer Firefighters

January 12, 2015 The House Representatives passed a bill that would exempt volunteer firefighters and other emergency responder’s from being counted as full-time employees under the Affordable Care Act. We’re committed to helping Read More

House Passes Bill Easing Employer Mandate

January 8, 2015 The House Representatives, ignoring a veto threat from President Barack Obama, passed a bill Thursday that would ease the requirement under the Act for to provide  to their workers. The measure, Read More

HHS Week 7 Snapshot: 6.6 Million Have Enrolled

January 8, 2015 Nearly 103,000 consumers selected Affordable Care Act plans on the federal health insurance exchange during the seventh week of open enrollment, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Read More

How The ACA Can Affect M&A Deals

January 6, 2015 Compliance with Act requirements is an issue for all companies, but it can literally be a deal-breaker when one company is thinking about acquiring another one. Robert L. Jensen, the Read More

California Requires Insurers To Have Sufficient Providers

January 6, 2015 California’s Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones issued an emergency regulation to establish stronger requirements for health insurers to maintain sufficient medical provider networks to provide timely access to medical care. CommissionerJones Read More

6.5 Million Enroll in ACA, 87% Get Financial Help

December 30, 2014 About 87% people who selected Act through during the first open were eligible for financial assistance to lower their premiums for beginning Jan. 1, 2015, according to the Department and Read More

Poll: 60% of Americans Favor Employer Mandate

December 30, 2014 About six in 10 Americans say they are in favor the Act’s Mandate, according to a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. However, the public’s opinion on the requirement that Read More

Changes Proposed to Summary of Benefits

December 29, 2014 Federal regulators have issued regulations that propose changes to the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) that would be effective for plans beginning on or after September 1, 2015. The Read More

HHS Week 5 Snapshot: 6.4 Million Have Enrolled

December 23, 2014 More than 3.9 million consumers selected Affordable Care Act plans on the federal health insurance exchange during the fifth week of open enrollment,the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)announced Read More

Supreme Court to Hear King Case on March 4

December 22, 2014 Read More

Medicaid and CHIP Up By 9.7 Million

December 18, 2014 Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s ) rose by 9.7 million during the first nine months of 2014, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Figures released Read More

States Get $665 Million From HHS For Innovations

December 17, 2014 Grants totaling over $665 million will go to 28 states, 3 territories and the District Columbia to design and test innovative and delivery models aimed at improving quality and lowering Read More

Financial Impact of King Win Seen As “Profoundly Negative”

December 17, 2014 The King v. Burwell case now before the Supreme Court has attracted heated rhetoric from both opponents and supporters the Act. But what would be the actual dollar impact if Read More

HHS Week 4 Snapshot: Total Nears 2.5 million

December 16, 2014 More than 1 million consumers selected Act the federal exchange during the fourth  open, the Department and Human Services (HHS) announced Dec. 16. Total signups reached nearly 2.5 million since Read More