health insurance exchange

shows the home page of the Obamacare online health insurance marketplace

It’s Obamacare season. Here’s what you need to know.

November 26, 2019 by Kaiser Health News

It’s Obamacare season. Here’s what you need to know. - North Carolina Health News

Open enrollment on the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace goes until Dec. 15. Many people are confused about what plans might be best for them.

By Shefali Luthra Kaiser Health News During last week’s Democratic presidential debate, candidates touched on “Medicare for All,” “Medicare for all who want it” and other ways to reform the American health system. But in the backdrop, it’s once again Obamacare sign-up season. Despite repeated efforts by Republicans in Congress to undo the Affordable Care […]

2019 Health & Human Services Budget – House & Senate

June 24, 2019 by Rose Hoban

2019 Health & Human Services Budget – House & Senate - North Carolina Health News

Just in time for the conference committee budget, here are how the Senate and the House of Representatives each proposed to spend on health and human services.

By Rose Hoban After 2018’s unusual budget process this year’s budget has unfolded in a more “traditional” way. The House unveiled it’s proposal to spend $5.569 billion on health and human services priorities in early May. The Senate finished it’s work on the budget in early June, asking for a total appropriation of $5.552 billion […]

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 […]

Sign at a lonely crossroads encouraging enrollment in Obamacare insurance

In the Final Week of Enrollment, Obamacare Marketplace Offers Many Avenues to Getting Insurance

December 12, 2018 by Yen Duong

In the Final Week of Enrollment, Obamacare Marketplace Offers Many Avenues to Getting Insurance - North Carolina Health News

But experts warn that consumers would do well to read the fine print as they choose plans to cover themselves and their family members for 2019.

By Yen Duong and Rose Hoban If you thought an Obamacare plan might cost you too much, think again. In fact, you could pay nothing. As this year’s enrollment period for insurance through the Affordable Care Act draws to a close, advocates are making the point that some plans could actually cost nothing, after tax […]

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. […]

To Curb Rising Health Insurance Costs, Some States Try ‘Reinsurance Pools’

April 17, 2018 by Pew Trusts

To Curb Rising Health Insurance Costs, Some States Try ‘Reinsurance Pools’ - North Carolina Health News

Some states' legislatures are experimenting with creative ways to bring down the cost of health insurance for their residents.

By Michael Ollove Stateline A couple of years ago, the health insurance exchange in Minnesota – MNsure – was in deep trouble. Health insurance premiums for individual policies had shot up by as much as 67 percent, among the steepest increases in the country. Insurers were abandoning the market, leaving 116,000 Minnesotans with scant choices. […]

Federal Officials Announce Exchange Sign-up Totals for North Carolina

November 22, 2017 by Rose Hoban

Federal Officials Announce Exchange Sign-up Totals for North Carolina - North Carolina Health News

Weekly enrollment is strong, but this year’s open enrollment period is shorter.

By Rose Hoban Almost 139,000 North Carolinians have signed up for 2018 coverage in the state insurance exchange, federal officials announced Wednesday. The announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave the first state-by-state breakdown of sign-ups over three weeks of enrollment in the 39 states that use the federal healthcare.gov exchanges. […]

Insurance Enrollment Period Starts Amid Confusion, Sense of Urgency

November 2, 2017 by Rose Hoban

Insurance Enrollment Period Starts Amid Confusion, Sense of Urgency - North Carolina Health News

Advocates say they’ll have to work harder to broadcast their message amid the noise coming from Washington and elsewhere.

By Rose Hoban Wade Patrick didn’t think he could get insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges this year. “I thought it was gone, I was hearing that it was gone,” said the 56-year-old electrician who had insurance last year through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. “Everybody is just confused, nobody really […]

NC Navigators Get Support

September 18, 2017 by Rose Hoban

NC Navigators Get Support - North Carolina Health News

The state’s success in enrolling people for coverage over the past few years has ensured funding for the coming year.

By Rose Hoban Health care advocates in North Carolina had something to cheer Friday when federal officials announced they would fund the state’s health insurance “navigator” program at the same level as last year. The announcement comes after confusion over funding for this year’s navigator program, which provides volunteers to help people signing up for […]

Scrapping ‘Essential Benefits’ May Be Biggest Health Care Change

May 23, 2017 by Pew Trusts

Scrapping ‘Essential Benefits’ May Be Biggest Health Care Change - North Carolina Health News

Pundits may focus on the poor people likely to lose Medicaid under the American Health Care Act, but actually people on private insurance could see profound changes.

By Michael Ollove Stateline Critics of the Republican health care plan the House passed early this month mostly have focused on how it might harm Americans with pre-existing health conditions and poor and disabled people who rely on Medicaid — two vulnerable, but defined, populations. But another change might have more far-reaching effects: eliminating the […]

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