Insurance Exchanges
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- 04/30/2015
To develop this dataset, researchers collecting data simulated a typical shopping experience on healthcare.gov. The dataset captures 25 design aspects of the marketplace websites, which include, but are not limited to, whether websites ask for pregnancy and disability status and whether consumers can view quality ratings for certain plans. This dataset is featured in the data brief entitled, "Window Shopping on Healthcare.gov and the State-Based Marketplaces: More Consumer Support is Needed."
- 04/13/2015
People may purchase subsidized health insurance through the ACA exchanges with premiums based on projected future income. However, if actual income is higher than estimated, they may be required to repay part or all of the subsidy when they file tax returns. This "reconciliation" process could raise taxes substantially for many ACA participants. However, analysis of income tax return data suggests that for most lower-income filers, the reconciliation will reduce the refund they receive rather than require them to remit additional tax because their refunds exceed the reconciliation amount. This paper also includes a discussion of ways in which the reconciliation process could be improved.
- 03/30/2015This report examines marketplace premium changes between 2014 and 2015 in all rating regions in all states and the District of Columbia. It provides premium data on the lowest-cost silver plan within each rating region for a 40-year-old individual who does not use tobacco. The report calculates that the population-weighted national average premium increase in the lowest-cost silver plan offered in each year was 2.9 percent. Increases varied considerably both across rating regions within states and across states. Data on premium increases in 40 cities and in 38 rural areas that could be separately identified also are provided.
- 03/30/2015On February 20th, 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services issued the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2016 final rule (Final Rule 2016), which among changes in other areas, finalized changes to the Essential Health Benefits (EHB) standard. This fact sheet provides an overview of existing EHB rules, changes or clarifications made to the EHB standard in the Final Rule 2016, and advocacy opportunities available.
- 03/09/2015
Many tax filers who were uninsured for all or part of 2014 are learning for the first time that they must pay a penalty, and have missed the opportunity to enroll in 2015 coverage. These gaps in consumer awareness, combined with the timing of this year’s open enrollment period (OEP), have led to several Marketplaces allowing certain uninsured consumers additional time to enroll in order to avoid paying a penalty next year. The Federal government and nine State-based Marketplaces have already announced plans to establish a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to permit individuals subject to the tax penalty to enroll in 2015 coverage outside of this year’s OEP, thereby minimizing the penalty they could incur when filing their 2015 taxes. This document, prepared by Manatt Health Solutions, provides a summary of the tax season SEPs being utilized by each of these Marketplaces.
