Changes Coming To Obamacare And Medicare Soon!

By Coleen Elkins   24-7 Health Insurance 

The Committee On Ways And Means Published an Update On The Repeal Of Obamacare Today. February 16th 2017

In the coming weeks, Ways and Means will advance solutions that will:

Deliver relief from the Obamacare taxes and mandates that have hurt job creators, increased premium costs, and limited options for patients and health care providers. This includes eliminating the individual and employer mandate penalties, which forced millions of workers, families, and job creators into expensive, inadequate Obamacare plans that they don’t want and cannot afford.

Enhance Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) by empowering individuals and families to spend their health care dollars the way they want and need—not the way Washington prescribes. For example, our proposal increases the amount of money an individual or family can put into their HSA, and allows individuals and families to spend money from their HSA on “over-the-counter” health care items.

Provide all Americans access to portable, monthly tax credits that they can use to buy a health insurance plan that’s right for them—not one tied to a job or a government-mandated program. The credits—which are advanceable and refundable— are based on age, so as individuals’ health needs evolve over time, so will their monthly, portable tax credit. The credits can travel with them from job to job, state to state, home to start a business or raise a family, and even into retirement.

Please take the time to read the publication in its entirety here:

RE: MEDICARE:

In the coming weeks will also be we will be providing our Medicare clients with updates regarding Medicare for 2017 and beyond.  This includes plans to strengthen the doctor patient relationship with less intervention from Medicare. 

The Committee On Ways And Means Published an Update On Medicare February 2, 2017.

“I’m pleased to see the Trump Administration is stepping away from the last Administration’s disruptive Medicare policies,” Chairman Brady said. “Many of these policies would have jeopardized the quality and affordability of care our seniors rely on and enjoy. I look forward to further reviewing CMS’ new proposal and working with our new Administration to strengthen these two popular programs so Medicare beneficiaries have the health care choices and peace of mind they deserve.”  

Please take the time to read publication in its entirety here.

Update Repealing Obamacare

By Coleen Elkins      24-7 Health Insurance

There is so much in the news this past week it may seem the repeal of Obamacare has gotten lost in the shuffle.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas says expect action by the end of March.

The word "repair" used by Congress is referencing the insurance industry not Obamacare.





Read More:

"I know a lot of conservatives are getting nervous that the GOP is losing its nerve on ObamaCare repeal-and-replace. I think it's just the nature of the 24-hour news cycle these days".

Hey, we haven't heard anything about repealing ObamaCare this week. It's doomed!

Relax. You didn't hear much about it because everyone's been hyperventilating about the immigration order, Judge Gorsuch and Betsy DeVos, but just this week the House Energy and Commerce Commitee has been working on fine-tuning its approach to replacing the failed law:

Read more here: House Energy and Commerce 4 Bill Proposal 

President Trumps 1st Executive Order Obamacare

By Coleen Elkins       24-7 Health Insurance 

On his first day in office President Donald Trump's first Executive Order tells agencies to "ease burden of Obamacare". 

To Quote a FOX News Article.

The order, which noted that Trump intends to seek the law's "prompt repeal," directs agencies to "minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens [of ObamaCare] and prepare to afford the States more flexibility and control to create a more free and open healthcare market." It also tells agencies to waive, defer or delay imposing any ObamaCare provisions that impose fiscal penalties on states, health care providers, families or individuals. {end quote}

This would include the IRS imposing penalties. We expect legislatures to move quickly on this Executive Order and proceed with a "prompt repeal" of the law. 

You can read more here. 

We promise to keep you updated as the repeal moves forward. 

The Obamacare Repeal Process Has Begun

By Coleen Elkins      24-7 Health Insurance

On January 3rd 2017 the 115 Congress was sworn in. Shortly after the swearing in Republican U.S. Senator Mike Enzi introduced a resolution allowing the repeal of Obamacare.

Using a budget resolution to get the wheels in motion only requires a simply majority vote to pass in the Senate.  This was the same method Democrats used to pass the law in 2010.

A Senate vote on the resolution could come as early as next week. Action from the House of Representative will follow and is expected to be swift. Committees have been instructed to dismantle the law and report back to the budget committee by January 27th. This process puts the bill for signature on President Donald Trumps desk.

We promise to keep you updated as the repeal progresses. Once the mandate is lifted and the penalty is removed it frees Americans to return to purchasing health insurance plans that meet their personal needs. This will include affordable catastrophic coverage if that is what you wish to purchase. Health insurance companies are already preparing for the changes.

Do Tax Payers Have An Extra $9.8 Billion To Spare?

By Coleen Elkins     24-7 Health Insurance

House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promises to begin the repeal of Obamacare on January 3, 2017. The healthcare law was previously repealed by the House and the Senate in December of 2015, but vetoed by President Obama. Legislators can use the prior bill to move forward with some modifications to improve it. Many upcoming changes can occur on January 20th 2017 with the stroke of a pen. 

In the meantime Healthcare.gov is moving forward with enrollments as if nothing is looming in the future of Obamacare. 

The cost for subsidies has now has risen $9.8 Billion. This $9.8 Billion will be added to the current $32.8 billion making the total paid by the tax payers for 2017 $42.6 billion. 

Why the increase you ask? Because premiums have risen to 60 percent in many states and in the case of Arizona 116 percent for 2017. The benchmark to raise subsidies is based on the average premiums of the second highest cost Silver Plan. 

To make matters worse health insurance companies committed to insure those with subsidies are also receiving some grim news. New reporting from the Washington Post tells us health insurers which offer plans through Affordable Care Act marketplaces “are being paid less than 2 percent of nearly $6 billion the government owes them for covering customers last year with unexpectedly high medical expenses.” The article says the $96 million which insurance companies will receive “is just one-fourth of the sum that provoked an industry outcry a year ago, when federal health officials announced that they had enough money to pay health plans only 12.6 percent of what the law entitles them to receive.” The piece adds that CMS simply posted an online notice last month with this information, instead of making an announcement about the risk-corridors program as it did last year. The Post also points out that this “extreme scarcity of 2015 money is the latest chapter for a problem-ridden part of the ACA designed to cushion insurers from high-cost customers.”

Positive change is on the horizon for insuring America's health. We are staying on top of all the legislative issues to keep you informed.

Please visit our website www.24-7healthinsurance.com and click on the "Blog" tab often or subscribe to our blog to receive news automatically. 

Insurers Are Working With Congress On The Repeal Of Obamacare

By Coleen Elkins   24-7 Health Insurance

The incoming administration and Congress are working with health insurers to make sure Americans are not impacted by the repeal and replacement of Obamacare. 

Insurers have said they are willing to give up the individual mandate to purchase health insurance if other rules and provisions are put into place to protect them from "adverse selection". 

As 24-7 Health Insurance attends webinars and speaks with insurance carriers we are hearing a very positive tone about the future of health insurance in America and shorter timelines than mentioned in the article for replacement plans. 

We believe the Trump Administration will use both the regulatory process and Executive Action to begin the repeal process immediately. This could lift the mandate and the penalties for not purchase an ACA compatible plan. 

From Bloomberg News:

Known as the “individual mandate,” the rule was a major priority for the insurance industry when the Affordable Care Act was legislated, and also became a focal point of opposition for Republicans. In a position paper released Tuesday -- the first since President-elect Donald Trump’s victory -- health insurers laid out changes they’d be willing to accept.

“Replacing the individual mandate with strong, effective incentives, such as late enrollment penalties and waiting periods, can help expand coverage and lower costs for everyone,” AHIP said.

You can read the entire article here: 

Health Insurers Will To Give Up A Key Obamacare Provision

We are licensed in 11 states. We look forward to being of service for all your health insurance and Medicare needs!

Sincerely,

Coleen Elkins
24-7 Health Insurance

The Healthcare Principles of Donald Trump and the Republican Party

By Coleen Elkins     24-7 Health Insurance

The Healthcare Principles of Donald Trump and the Republican Party

1. Repeal and Replace “or Amend” the Affordable Care Act. How can that happen? There are three ways to complete the process. 

2. Return power to the states in regulating insurance markets, limit federal requirements on both private insurance and Medicaid, and reconsider costly mandates. 

3. Empower individuals and small businesses to form purchasing pools. 

4. Individuals with preexisting conditions who maintain continuous coverage should be protected from discrimination.

5. Allow the purchase of insurance across state lines. 

6. Promote Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s), price transparency and enact medical liability reform.

7. Reform the Food and Drug Administration. 

8. Block grant Medicaid and other payments, and assist all patients including those with pre-existing conditions to obtain coverage in a robust consumer market. 

We have attended multiple carrier and legislative webinars and had private conversations with insurers. We are confident insurers along with the National Association of Health Underwriters are working with Congressional leaders around the clock to prepare for the 115th Congress being sworn in the first week of January 2017. 

Priorties: 

Stabilize the health insurance market 

Improve health plan affordability and availability

Optimize conditions under the existing market

Work with President-elect Trump and congressional leadership to determine the best approach and timing for change in our healthcare system.

Continue to advocate for a strong private insurance market 

We promise to keep our readers updated as we learn more. Thank you for the opportunity to be of service to all that are interested in the future of insuring Americas Health.