association health plan

Four people on a panel on stage, flanked by Congress banners

We know what you did this summer

September 10, 2019 by Yen Duong

We know what you did this summer - North Carolina Health News

Members of Congress return to Washington, D.C. from their August recess today. We asked N.C.’s Congressional delegation if they had addressed any health care-related issues in their home districts during the break.

By Yen Duong Since early August, most members of Congress have been back in their home districts for the annual summer recess, and they head back to Washington, D.C. this week. Summer is a traditional time for lawmakers to leave Congress behind, and get in touch with constituents. Many hold town halls, tour public works […]

Lawmakers move forward on small business health plan bill

August 9, 2019 by Rose Hoban

Lawmakers move forward on small business health plan bill - North Carolina Health News

Association health plans would provide a way to get insurance with lower premiums to some workers, but lingering concerns over the plans remain.

UPDATE: On Aug 13, the Senate voted to approve SB 86. The bill was sent to Gov. Roy Cooper and awaits his signature. By Rose Hoban Realtors, small business owners and other employees in small businesses could have access to another option for health insurance if the state legislature has its way. In the coming […]

Legislature makes another attempt at creating association health plans

February 25, 2019 by Rose Hoban

Legislature makes another attempt at creating association health plans - North Carolina Health News

After failing to create alternative health insurance plans for small businesses last year, General Assembly members propose a new bill to make them legal in North Carolina.

By Rose Hoban Lobbyist Andy Ellen, who represents more than 25,000 store owners who are part of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association at the state legislature, says the greatest number of calls his organization receives is from small business owners looking for help getting health insurance for themselves and their workers. “We have some […]

illustration shows birds emerging from someone's head, as a symbol for mental health issues, COVID

North Carolina gets a ‘F’ on how equally it treats mental and physical health issues

January 15, 2019 by Yen Duong

North Carolina gets a ‘F’ on how equally it treats mental and physical health issues - North Carolina Health News

This is the first in a series of stories exploring mental health parity—treating mental and physical health equally—in North Carolina. What is parity, why do we rank behind other states, and what do these rankings mean? Future stories in this series will include stories of patients and providers trying to make it through the system, how the insurance appeals process works and how the North Carolina Department of Insurance tries to help.

By Yen Duong 49 out of 100, or a solid F. That’s the grade that North Carolina received on a report card in October on how well its laws support federal laws passed more than a decade ago calling for mental health to be treated on par with physical health. “Our F rating, we believe, […]

shows the opening web page for the affordable care act marketplace site

Insurance Signups Surprisingly Strong, Yet Number of Uninsured Creeps Up

December 21, 2018 by Rose Hoban

Insurance Signups Surprisingly Strong, Yet Number of Uninsured Creeps Up - North Carolina Health News

Signups on the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace surged in the last week of enrollment, but that strong showing masks some reductions in coverage.

By Rose Hoban It seemed like this year’s Affordable Care Act open enrollment was going to be lackluster, after all, at the end of six weeks of the online marketplace being open, only 236,693 North Carolinians had signed up for health insurance coverage, less than 50 percent of last year’s total. But the last week […]

looking through a door, we see a man bent over another person's hand.

N.C. Legislation Could Open Door for Unregulated Health Plans

June 14, 2018 by Mark Tosczak

N.C. Legislation Could Open Door for Unregulated Health Plans - North Carolina Health News

HB 933 would allow plans that would be exempt from state and federal regulations, which could mean cheaper premiums for some. But others fear the plans could hurt consumers and further weaken the ACA exchange.

By Mark Tosczak (UPDATED) Legislation poised for passage in the N.C. Senate would allow nonprofits to offer “health benefit plans” that would be exempt from nearly all state and federal regulations that govern health insurance. Supporters say the measure would allow nonprofits to offer health benefit plans that would be similar to health insurance, but […]

shows a cabbage field extending off into the distance. Farmers are some of the people who could benefit from association health plans

N.C. Organizations Worry, Hope as Feds Rewrite Association Health Plan Rules

June 6, 2018 by Mark Tosczak

N.C. Organizations Worry, Hope as Feds Rewrite Association Health Plan Rules - North Carolina Health News

The Trump administration hopes that a rewrite of federal association health plan rules spurs a new generation of less expensive health insurance products. But skeptics say such plans may not be all they’re cracked up to be.

By Mark Tosczak If everything goes as N.C. Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance President Larry Wooten hopes, this time next year North Carolina farmers and others who work for agricultural businesses could have another health insurance choice: AgCareFirst. Eligible businesses would pay at least 50 percent of the monthly premiums and covered employees the remaining balance. […]