Category: Health Care Costs

Health Policy Experts Testify at Senate Hearing on Impact of Provider Consolidation on Health Care Costs

Posted on June 19, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

At a hearing Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from health policy experts on the rising costs of health care. Continue reading →

Posted in: Health Care Costs, Issue Alert

Affordability Remains One of the Biggest Mysteries of the Health Reform Law

Posted on June 18, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

“The cost of health coverage under [the health reform law] remains one the biggest mysteries of the nation’s health care overhaul,” according to an article from McClatchy. Continue reading →

Posted in: ACA, Health Care Costs

Wisconsin Reporter: Health Insurance Tax is Bad Math, Will Cost Consumers in the End

Posted on June 18, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

Two articles out this week focus on the effects of the health insurance tax. Continue reading →

Posted in: ACA, AHIP in the News, Health Care Costs

Majority of U.S. House of Representatives Supports Repeal of Health Insurance Tax

Posted on June 17, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

Bipartisan legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) health insurance tax has reached 218 co-sponsors, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives. Continue reading →

Posted in: ACA, AHIP, AHIP Press Releases, Health Care Costs

The Health Insurance Tax on KPLC

Posted on June 12, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

NBC affiliate KPLC in Louisiana has a segment looking at the health insurance tax.

Posted in: ACA, Health Care Costs

New Report Shows Medicare Advantage Delivers High Quality Care for Seniors

Posted on June 12, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

A new report from the National Bureau of Economic Research looks at hospital utilization in Medicare Advantage plans, finding that “when more seniors enroll in Medicare managed care, hospital costs decline for all seniors and for commercially insured younger populations.” According to the analysis, a 10% increase in Medicare Advantage penetration is associated with a 2.4% – 4.7% reduction in hospital costs for other patients. The findings suggest that increased Medicare Advantage payments “could eventually reduce Medicare spending if they [...]

Posted in: Health Care Costs

New York Times: Research Shows Provider Consolidation Drives ‘Galloping Cost of Health Care’

Posted on June 12, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

An article in the New York Times examines the impact of provider consolidation on the rising cost of health care for consumers and employers. The article calls provider consolidation the “elephant in the room that appears to have been overlooked in the debate over how to rein in the galloping cost of health care…” Continue reading →

Posted in: Health Care Costs, Issue Alert

Sacramento Bee: Health Reform Law Means “How Sick You Are No Longer Matters, But Where You Live Does”

Posted on June 5, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

The health care reform law is bringing about a number of changes to health insurance, including how much premiums can vary based on a number of factors. Continue reading →

Posted in: ACA, Health Care Costs

Evidence Shows Provider Consolidation Leads to Higher Health Costs for Consumers and Employers

Posted on June 4, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

As health care costs continue to rise, there is a substantial body of evidence demonstrating that provider consolidation gives hospitals greater negotiating strength and limits competition, resulting in higher prices for services, higher costs for patients, and no improvement in the quality of care delivered. Continue reading →

Posted in: Health Care Costs, Issue Alert

LA Times: Young and Healthy Are Critical to Affordability

Posted on June 3, 2013 by AHIP Coverage

An article in the LA Times says that healthy young adults are “exactly the type of [people] insurance plans, states and the federal government are counting on to make health reform work.” Continue reading →

Posted in: ACA, Health Care Costs