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What We're Reading: ACA Premiums Rose 9%
What we're reading, January 22, 2016: the average premium under the Affordable Care Act rose to $408 before tax credits; seniors will face higher Medicare Advantage premiums with a merge between Aetna and Humana; and Hawaii could be the first state to offer long-term care benefits.
Before taking into account tax credits that lower premiums, the average premium under the Affordable Care Act is $408 per month for 2016, which is a 9% increase. However, after tax credits, the average premium enrollees pay is $118, according to The Hill. As the premium level rose, so did the financial assistance from the government, increasing from an average of $268 for 2015 plans to $294 for 2016 plans.
Meanwhile, seniors will face higher Medicare Advantage premiums if Aetna’s proposal to buy Humana is approved by regulators. Reuters reported that Aetna premiums were at least $155 less annually and up to $305 lower annually in counties where it competed with Humana. Aetna has said that beneficiaries who are facing a premium increase in Medicare Advantage could always switch to traditional Medicare.
In Hawaii, seniors could become the first in the country to have access to long-term care benefits. Lawmakers are introducing a bill that would provide seniors with a benefit of $70 per day for 1 year, which could be used to pay family caregivers, hire in-home aids, and help offset the cost of safety equipment, according to The Washington Post. Hawaii would cover the cost of the benefit through a 0.5% increase in the state’s general excise tax.
Disparities in Telehealth Access Undermine Adoption Among Patients With Schizophrenia
January 16th 2025The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the widespread adoption of telemental health care, and new research indicates significant racial and ethnic disparities in access to this technology among Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia.
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Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Pharmacy Support for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
December 19th 2024Rachael Drake, pharmacy technician coordinator, University of Kansas Health System, explains how her team collaborates with insurance companies and providers to support treatment access for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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Telephone Follow-Up on Medicare Patient Surveys Remains Critical
January 16th 2025Including a telephone component in Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey administration continues to be valuable because telephone responses comprise a substantial portion of responses for several underserved groups.
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Study Suggests Postdischarge Care Needs Targeted, Multifaceted Approaches
January 15th 2025The findings challenge the effectiveness of these widely used transitional care interventions and suggest a need for more targeted, multifaceted approaches to address the needs of higher-risk patients.
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