On this version
- 2022 open enrollment is underway nationwide
- Practically 35,000 Idahoans have already enrolled in expanded Medicaid
- Restraining order quickly blocks Trump’s medical insurance necessities for immigrants
- Off-exchange plans not obtainable year-round in Nevada
- Georgia has unveiled its proposal to partially develop Medicaid
- Georgia’s proposal to overtake the state’s particular person market
- Indiana suspends Medicaid work requirement
- Kentucky elects governor who helps the ACA
- Virginia’s legislature flip prone to safe Medicaid growth
Welcome to this week’s round-up of state-level well being reform information, together with:
2022 open enrollment is underway nationwide
Open enrollment for 2022 individual-market medical insurance plans is underway nationwide. It is going to finish in most states on December 15, though some states have prolonged their enrollment deadlines. Right here’s an at-a-glance abstract of essential issues to bear in mind throughout open enrollment; you may also learn our extra in-depth information to open enrollment.
Practically 35,000 Idahoans have already enrolled in expanded Medicaid
Enrollment in Idaho’s expanded Medicaid started on November 1, and the Idaho Division of Well being and Welfare experiences that just about 35,000 individuals have already enrolled.
Restraining order blocks Trump’s medical insurance necessities for immigrants
On November 2, a federal choose in Oregon issued a brief restraining order to dam implementation of President Trump’s proclamation relating to medical insurance protection for brand spanking new immigrants. The foundations had been slated to take impact November 3, and would have required new immigrants to point out proof of well being protection or the monetary means to pay for their very own medical wants.
Off-exchange plans not obtainable year-round in Nevada
From 2014 by means of 2022, Nevada legislation required well being plans offered exterior the trade to be obtainable for buy year-round, albeit with a ready interval of as much as 90 days. However that’s not the case, on account of a brand new legislation that took impact in Nevada final month. Off-exchange plans within the state are actually solely obtainable throughout open enrollment or with a qualifying occasion, as is the case in the remainder of the nation.
Georgia has proposed a partial growth of Medicaid
Final week, we gave you a heads up that Georgia was anticipated to unveil a proposal to partially develop Medicaid this week. Whereas a partial growth of protection is best than nothing for the state’s poorest residents, Georgia’s newly unveiled proposal is predicted to solely cowl about 52,000 individuals, versus greater than 400,000 who would acquire eligibility with full Medicaid growth. Georgia’s proposal would offer Medicaid protection to these with incomes below the poverty stage, so long as they work at the very least 80 hours per week. Enrollees with revenue above 50 p.c of the poverty stage would additionally must pay month-to-month premiums.
Georgia’s proposal to overtake the state’s particular person market
Georgia has additionally proposed a 1332 waiver that might create a reinsurance program beginning in 2022. However Georgia’s proposal goes properly past that: It requires the state to cease utilizing HealthCare.gov as of 2022 and as a substitute depend on net brokers and insurers to enroll residents in plans that might be eligible for premium subsidies. These would come with QHPs in addition to guaranteed-issue non-QHPs with lesser advantages.
Indiana suspends Medicaid work requirement
The Trump Administration has accepted Medicaid work necessities in a number of states, together with Indiana, however work necessities have been dealing with an unsure authorized future, with federal courts overturning them in some states. Indiana had been phasing in its work requirement this 12 months, and enrollees would have began shedding protection for non-compliance as of January. However the state has now suspended this system, pending the end result of a lawsuit that’s difficult the work requirement.
Kentucky elects governor who helps the ACA
Underneath former governor Steve Beshear, Kentucky expanded Medicaid and applied a state-run medical insurance trade that was extensively thought-about among the many most profitable within the nation. However below his successor, Republican Matt Bevin, Kentucky began utilizing HealthCare.gov and has labored to implement a closely contested Medicaid work requirement. On November 5, nonetheless, Bevin misplaced his re-election bid to Democrat Andy Beshear, who’s Kentucky’s Lawyer Normal and Steve Beshear’s son. Beshear’s healthcare proposal signifies that he plans to reverse course on the Medicaid work requirement and doubtlessly revive the state’s medical insurance trade platform — time will inform how this all performs out.
Virginia’s legislature flip prone to safe Medicaid growth
After a protracted legislative battle, Virginia expanded Medicaid at first of 2022, and greater than 325,000 individuals have since enrolled in this system. However the state’s legislature had a slim Republican majority that insisted on a Medicaid work requirement, which continues to be within the strategy of garnering federal approval. On Tuesday, Democrats in Virginia flipped each chambers of the state’s legislature, serving to to cement Medicaid growth going ahead and doubtlessly permitting lawmakers to reverse course on the work requirement.
