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Industry Updates

This broad category includes articles concerning health insurance costs, carrier and health plan news, changing benefits technology, and surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation and others on employee benefits.

Covered CA Sees First Enrollment Decline Despite Influx of New Enrollees

Enrollment in health plans sold by Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange, dropped 2.2 percent this year even though the nonprofit managed to attract 432,484 new customers, a 3 percent increase over last year.

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A Long Era of Low Health Care Inflation May Be Coming to End

Since the late 2000s Great Recession, historically low increases in health-care prices have helped hold down inflation. That may be about to change.

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Steve Poizner to Run for Insurance Commissioner as an Independent

Eight years after losing a bitter Republican primary for governor and stepping away from California's political scene, Steve Poizner said Monday that he will run again for the elected office he gave up in that contest — state insurance commissioner.

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These Legal Hurdles Could Trip Up Universal Health Care in California

On Wednesday, the State Assembly's Select Committee on Health Care Delivery Systems and Universal Coverage wraps up hearings assessing possible paths the state could follow to get to universal care for all Californians. On Monday, the panel considered some of the federal and state legal hurdles California lawmakers could face if they pursue a radical revamp of the health care system.

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What Do Employees Think of Their Health Insurance Plan?

Most Americans who have health insurance through their employer are not only satisfied with their plans, but many also feel their premium and deductible costs are reasonable – though they are concerned about rising costs, according to America’s Health Insurance Plans’ survey, “The Value of Employer-Provided Coverage.”

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IRS Overpaid Nearly $3.5 Billion in ACA Subsidies in 2017, Can’t Recoup Money

The IRS overpaid nearly $3.5 billion in Obamacare tax credits last year that it cannot recoup because of constraints built into the program, frustrating Republicans who have failed to repeal the health care law but say that money could have been spent on programs for veterans or infrastructure.

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Insurers Signal Medicare Advantage Buyouts Ahead

Anthem, Humana and WellCare Health Plans are signaling plans to aggressively grow their Medicare Advantage businesses with the help of mergers and acquisitions.

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Amazon is Aiming to Become a Major Hospital Supplier

E-commerce giant seeks to expand its foothold in medical supplies for emergency rooms, operating suites and outpatient facilities

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White House Releases White Paper on Lowering Drug Prices

The White House released a 30-page white paper Friday morning that promotes easing government regulations and spurring innovation to lower drug prices, while roundly rejecting the idea of government price setting.

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Trump Budget to Target Drug Prices, Out-of-Pocket Costs

Donald Trump’s health-care chief said he plans to take up the president’s promises to do something about pharmaceutical prices, targeting some of the U.S.’s costliest drugs with proposals to reduce patients’ out-of-pocket spending.

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