Press and Media.September 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Media Clips COVERED CALIFORNIA BOARD CLIPS Aug. 7 – Sept. 10, 2019 Since the Aug. 6 board meeting, Covered California continued to get coverage about its lowest average rate change in history, while the agency, Gov. Newsom and the State Legislature received praise for actions combatting federal changes in health care policy. Nationally, the uninsured rate rose for the first time in a decade and health care costs continued to dominate the conversation. PRINT Articles of Significance Covered California’s 2020 average rate change, 0.8%, is smallest increase since 2014, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Aug. 9, 2019 .................................................................................. 4 Covered California draws more insurers after state moves to bolster Obamacare, Los Angeles Times, Aug. 12, 2019 ................................................................................. 6 Covered California: More affordable health-care options than ever for northern counties, The Union, Aug. 12, 2019 ............................................................................................... 9 Valley customers to see stark reduction in medical plan rates, The Sun-Gazette, Aug. 14, 2019 .................................................................................. 11 Column: California shows all states how to protect patients from Trump’s attacks on Obamacare, Los Angeles Times, Aug. 16, 2019 ........................................................... 13 Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Ten years and counting, Capitol Weekly, Aug. 21, 2019 ...................................................................................... 17 Shop and save on health insurance in 2020, Village News, Aug. 19, 2019 ......................................................................................... 20 Bill Addressing Lapses in Coverage for Californians Using Covered California Heads to Governor’s Desk, East County Today, Sep, 6, 2019 .................................................................................. 22 Lindsey Graham promises Obamacare repeal if Trump wins and GOP takes back the House, Washington Post, Aug. 9, 2019 ......................................................................... 23 COVERED CALIFORNIA Media Clips • September 2019 1 New rules to deny green cards to many legal immigrants, Associated Press, Aug. 12, 2019 .................................................................................. 24 Data shows drop in coverage among people ineligible for ObamaCare subsidies, The Hill, Aug. 12, 2019 .................................................................................................. 27 Wealthier people are ditching the ACA exchanges, Axios, Aug. 13, 2019 ..................................................................................................... 28 Trump health chief: Officials actively 'working on' ObamaCare replacement plan, The Hill, Aug. 15, 2019 .................................................................................................. 29 California leads latest lawsuit over Trump immigration rule, Associated Press, Aug. 16, 2019 .................................................................................. 30 Health Plan’s ‘Cadillac Tax’ May Finally Be Running Out Of Gas, Kaiser Health News, Aug. 16, 2019 ............................................................................... 32 Paging more doctors: California’s worsening physician shortage, CALmatters, Aug. 16, 2019 ........................................................................................... 34 Signs of trouble - and progress - as Obamacare 2019 open enrollment nears, USA Today, Aug. 19, 2019 ............................................................................................ 39 The Best And Worst States For Healthcare in 2019, Forbes, Aug. 19, 2019 .................................................................................................. 42 Column: The 10 worst things Trump has done to harm your healthcare, Los Angeles Times, Aug. 20, 2019 ................................................................................ 43 Obamacare is closing the coverage gap between rich and poor, black and white, MarketWatch, Aug. 20, 2019 ......................................................................................... 47 Data Note: Changes in Enrollment in the Individual Health Insurance Market through Early 2019, Kaiser Family Foundation, Aug. 21, 2019 .................................................. 48 Nevada leads states seeing merit in running ACA exchanges, Politico Pro, Aug. 21, 2019 ............................................................................................ 54 Health Insurers Set to Expand Offerings Under the ACA, Wall St. Journal, Aug. 22, 2019 ..................................................................................... 56 Health care costs as much as a new car, Axios, Aug. 23, 2019 .................................... 57 COVERED CALIFORNIA Media Clips • September 2019 2 Lawmakers push for health care expansions at end of session, Politico Pro, Aug. 26, 2019 ............................................................................................ 58 CMS won't enforce its ACA copay accumulator plan in 2020, Fierce Healthcare, Aug. 28, 2019 .................................................................................. 61 Obamacare Refunds Could Hit $5 Billion on Eve of 2020 Election, Bloomberg, Aug. 29, 2019 ............................................................................................. 62 L.A.’s Health-Care Reform Is a Lesson for Democrats, The Atlantic, Aug. 30, 2019 ........................................................................................... 65 Which Health Policies Actually Work? We Rarely Find Out, New York Times, Sept. 9, 2019 ..................................................................................... 69 This App Saves Money On Prescriptions ― And Shows How Messed Up Drug Prices Are, HuffPost, Sept. 9, 2019 .......................................................................................... 72 More Americans go without health coverage despite strong economy, Census finds, Washington Post, Sept. 10, 2019 .................................................................................. 76 Health-Insurance Consumers to Get $743 Million in Rebates Under ACA Rule Wall St. Journal, Sept. 10, 2019 .................................................................................... 79 COVERED CALIFORNIA Media Clips • September 2019 3 Covered California’s 2020 average rate change, 0.8%, is smallest increase since 2014 Elaine Ingalls SANTA CRUZ — The average rate for Covered California’s coverage on the Central Coast will increase by 1% for the 2020 plan year, according to a press release. The 2019 average rate change for the Central Coast was 16%. As of April, 26,000 residents in the Central Coast region use Covered California, according to James Scullary, Covered California’s broadcast and media relations branch chief. In April 2018, the Central Coast had about 1,000 more consumers enrolled, he said. The Central Coast region includes Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. The average rate change for Covered California’s individual market statewide is a 0.8% increase, the smallest rate change since Covered California started, according to the release. This is the lowest rate change since a 4% change for 2016. An estimated 1.4 million people are enrolled through Covered California, which has remained about the same the last few years, Scullary said. Rate changes could not be converted to dollar figures, he said. “Health care [costs] is very local,” said Scullary. Rates vary by region: they are based on where a consumer lives, income, age and health and how many customers are enrolled in health care in that area, he said. This change is smaller than Covered California traditionally sees, Scullary said. There are two main reasons why insurance premium costs for 2020 are decreasing: state subsidies and a law, Senate Bill 78 Chapter 38, that requires consumers to purchase health insurance if they can afford it. Covered California was established in 2014 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as an online marketplace to shop and compare health insurance from 11 companies. They include Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Chinese Community Health Plan, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, L.A. Care Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, Oscar, Sharp Health Plan, Valley Health Plan and Western Health Advantage. Covered California is the only place to get federal assistance to help COVERED CALIFORNIA Media Clips • September 2019 4 customers buy health insurance. It also helps people with low incomes determine if they are eligible for Medi-Cal. Prior to 2014, people went directly to insurance companies to purchase plans. Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California and Chinese Community Health Plan are expanding their coverage area, according to the release. This gives consumers more plan options, Scullary said. As insurance companies try to attract buyers and more people enroll, companies will compete on lowering prices, which benefits buyers, he said. Anthem Blue Cross, which covers northern California, the Central Valley and Santa Clara County, is expanding to the Central Coast. The company did not offer coverage to the Central Coast for the 2018 plan year, Scullary said. For the Central Coast, the average rate change for consumers who shop and switch to the lowest-cost plan in the same metal tier (bronze,