Month: September 2016

A California-based insurer that once sold mostly Medicaid plans has become a top competitor in ObamaCare’s marketplaces.In likely the toughest year yet for the reform law, Molina Healthcare is thriving in a market that’s seen high-profile departures from some of the nation’s largest health insurers.

Gap insurance is in a category of insurance known as “limited benefit.” No matter how bad a person’s situation, the plan will pay out only a certain amount of money. “Mini-med” policies, now illegal under the Affordable Care Act, are another example of a limited benefit plan.

A closely watched California prescription drug-pricing initiative is leading 3-1 with likely voters, but a third of those surveyed remain undecided, according to a new statewide Field-IGS Poll.

At first blush, the tobacco tax measure on California’s November ballot looks pretty straightforward. Proposition 56 would raise the price of a pack of cigarettes by $2 and tax e-cigarettes for the first time. Proponents say the higher price would prevent kids from smoking and lower health care spending because people won’t suffer as much from tobacco-related illness.

Once again, the Obama administration is giving insurance companies what they need, while exposing consumers to greater risk. It’s like déjà vu all over again.

Monthly premiums for seniors enrolled in the Medicare Advantage program are expected to be about 4 percent less expensive in 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Thursday.

With major insurers retreating from the federal health law’s marketplaces, California’s insurance commissioner said he supports a public option at the state level that could bolster competition and potentially serve as a test for the controversial idea nationwide.

California consumers will have the strongest protections in the nation against getting blindsided by unexpected out-of-network medical bills as part of legislation signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

CHOICE Administrators announced today the addition of two popular Western Health Advantage health plans to its coverage options for Northern California groups enrolling in CaliforniaChoice. The private health exchange, which marked its 20th anniversary earlier this year, is now quoting GOLD HMO C (Gateway 4010) and GOLD HMO D (Gateway 200 HSA) for groups of two to 100 employees for coverage effective December 1, 201

The good news: U.S. consumers still get more bang for their buck from generic drugs as prices of the cheaper versions of the originals are generally falling. The bad news: Recent years have seen an increasing count of sharp cost spikes for generics -- the drugs produced after the patents on their branded versions expire.