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Open enrollment begins Nov. 1 in most states for individuals who purchase medical insurance below the Affordable Care Act. For the second yr in a row, premiums for these particular person market plans are down barely, even with out the federal tax penalty for individuals who stay uncovered.
Meanwhile, on the marketing campaign path, Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren stated she would develop a plan to pay for the “Medicare for All” proposal she helps.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Mary Agnes Carey of Kaiser Health News and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
As a particular Halloween deal with, Rovner and the panelists learn the winner and finalists in KHN’s Halloween Health Haiku Contest.
Among the takeaways from this week’s podcast:
The marketplace for insurance coverage below the ACA has proved surprisingly resilient. Even with the person mandate gone (in most states) and little authorities promotion, insurers are transferring again into these exchanges and a few individuals will discover decrease costs. Still, efforts by the Trump administration to weaken the ACA imply that the person insurance coverage market is transferring once more towards a patchwork system during which shoppers’ expertise will range by state. Warren, the senator from Massachusetts, has been pressured by her rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination to element how she would pay for a Medicare for All government-funded well being system. Those who oppose the single-payer system search to sign to voters that they might be extra fiscally accountable. Senate Democrats compelled a vote this week to maintain the administration from awarding waivers that will permit states to avoid some guidelines specified by the ACA. Democrats stated such state-level modifications could lead on once more to individuals with sure medical circumstances being denied protection. But the initiative failed on a partisan vote. A federal choose has blocked Alabama’s new abortion legislation, which is essentially the most restrictive within the nation. It bans abortion at any level in being pregnant and affords no exception for rape or incest. Although the legislation’s supporters hope to get it earlier than the Supreme Court, it might take time to work its approach by the judicial system.
Plus, for further credit score, the panelists suggest their favourite well being coverage tales of the week they suppose it’s best to learn too:
Julie Rovner: Bloomberg News’ “Sheriffs’ Ads Slammed Drug Imports, and Big Pharma Helped Pay the Tab,” by Ben Elgin
Stephanie Armour: Kaiser Health News’ “Moved Overseas For School, Stayed For Insulin,” by Shefali Luthra
Mary Agnes Carey: The Harvard Business Review’s “The Role of Private Equity in Driving Up Health Care Prices,” by Lovisa Gustafsson, Shanoor Seervai and David Blumenthal
Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Washington Post’s “Trump Campaign Urges White House to Soften Proposed Flavored Vape Ban,” by Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey, Laurie McGinley and Neena Satija
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