States work to make individual market health coverage more affordable, but long-term solutions call for federal leadership

States work to make individual market health coverage more affordable, but long-term solutions call for federal leadership

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Series Title(s):
Issue brief (Commonwealth Fund)
Author(s):
Giovannelli, Justin, author
Volk, JoAnn, author
Lucia, Kevin, author
Contributor(s):
Commonwealth Fund, issuing body.
Publication:
[New York, N.Y.] : The Commonwealth Fund, January 2020
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Financing, Personal
Health Insurance Exchanges -- economics
Insurance Coverage -- economics
Insurance, Health -- economics
United States
United States.
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
ISSUE. The individual health insurance markets of most states are stable but face ongoing challenges. Federal policies to promote limited-coverage products for sale outside the individual market, concerns about the affordability of comprehensive coverage, and uncertainty about the durability of the Affordable Care Act have put the onus on state policymakers from across the political spectrum to explore options for safeguarding and improving their residents' coverage. GOAL. Understand actions states have taken to affect access to and affordability of comprehensive health coverage. METHODS. Analysis of applicable laws, regulations, and guidance of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as of relevant legislation proposed in these jurisdictions during the 2018 and 2019 legislative sessions. KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS. Most states have adopted one or more policy initiatives designed to make comprehensive coverage more affordable, such as a reinsurance program, financial incentives for individuals to maintain coverage, or increased oversight of skimpy, short-term insurance products. However, most effective reforms will require a sustained and significant financial commitment that states may have difficulty securing. Lasting solutions are likely to require federal action.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (11 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
101761888 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101761888