Policy Update
HHS Releases Report on Premium Affordability in the Marketplaces
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report Wednesday revealing that that 69 percent of enrollees in the federally-facilitated Marketplace have premiums of $100 per month or less after tax credits. According to the new report, “Premium Affordability, Competition, and Choice in the Health Insurance Marketplace, 2014,” HHS found that in general, tax credits have reduced premiums by an average of 76 percent for Marketplace enrollees.
New User-Guide Explains Health Coverage
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted new resources on its a website Monday designed to educate consumers about new health insurance benefits made available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The new website, “From Coverage to Care,” is part of an effort to help ensure that Marketplace enrollees, many of whom may be new to private health insurance, understand how to use their coverage. Offering a step-by-step user guide with downloadable booklets, the website covers topics such as “Understand your healthcare coverage” and “Know where to go for care.” Also available is a 10-part YouTube video series which clarifies features of the new healthcare law. The written and video resources are available in English and Spanish.
State Update
All Mapped Out: Which States Offer Access to Care Through Medicaid
A new map, released June 10 by The Pew Charitable Trusts, offers a colorful and clear view of which states currently provide expanded access to health care through Medicaid, which states declined the federal funds to expand Medicaid and which states have yet to decide.
ACS CAN continues to lead efforts to encourage the remaining states to accept the federal funds so that their most vulnerable citizens will have access to healthcare without incurring medical bills they are unable to afford.
Media Advocacy
Report Finds Exchanges Offer Least Expensive Health Plans
HealthPocket, a consumer research group, released a report June 5 examining the lowest premiums offered by four major off-marketplace insurance companies in 39 states versus the lowest premiums found in the marketplace for plans of the same metal tier (gold, silver and bronze). The findings, reports The Hill, indicate that marketplaces had cheaper plans available than the off-marketplace companies in 35 of the 39 regions examined. On average, the lowest cost marketplace plan was over 40% cheaper than the lowest cost off-marketplace plan in the same region.
Study: Expanded Coverage May Improve Cancer Outcomes in Young Adults
According to a new study published June 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the ACA may help improve cancer outcomes for young people who would have otherwise been uninsured. Insured patients were more likely to seek treatment for cancers earlier in the process, when the disease was still curable, versus waiting until the cancer had spread. And those with insurance doubled their likelihood of receiving treatments such as radiation or surgery that could potentially cure their cancers. Most importantly, insured cancer patients were roughly 20 percent more likely to survive than uninsured individuals.
As always, thank you for all you do every day to support laws and policies that help cancer patients and their families. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Carter Steger, Senior Director, State and Local Campaigns, at [email protected], (202) 661-5727, or Keysha Brooks-Coley, Director, Federal Relations, at [email protected], (202) 661-5720.