WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is sharply divided over the tax subsidies that make insurance affordable for millions of Americans under President Barack Obama’s health overhaul. The justices on Wednesday aggressively questioned the lawyers on both sides of the latest politically charged fight over the Affordable Care Act. Chief Justice John Roberts said almost nothing […]
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Lewiston health insurer enrolls 57,600 residents through health exchange
UPDATED STORY: Lewiston health insurance co-op remains king of the marketplace AUGUSTA — Nearly 80 percent of Maine residents who have signed up for health coverage on the exchange have selected plans with a Lewiston-based nonprofit co-op. Maine Community Health Options CEO Kevin Lewis said Tuesday that 57,600 residents have enrolled with the company through the […]
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Lewiston health insurance co-op remains king of the marketplace
LEWISTON — Over 66,000 Mainers have signed up for health insurance with Maine Community Health Options, an increase of 65 percent for the state’s only health insurance co-op. Of those people, 57,600 got insurance through the federal marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. That means for the second year in […]
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Video: HealthCare.gov gave 800,000 customers wrong tax info
WASHINGTON — In a new setback for the health care law and the people it’s supposed to help, the government said Friday it made a tax-reporting error that’s fouling up the filings of nearly a million Americans. After a successful sign-up season, the latest goof could signal new problems with the complex links between President Barack […]
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Almost 75,000 Mainers enroll in ACA during 2nd period
AUGUSTA — Nearly 75,000 Maine residents signed up for subsidized private insurance on the exchange before Sunday’s deadline. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that 74,792 people in Maine chose a health plan or were automatically re-enrolled in coverage they chose last year by Feb. 15. Nationally, more than 11 million […]
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Maine Community Health Options is country’s only profitable co-op
LEWISTON — Maine Community Health Options is the only profitable health insurance co-op in the country, according to rating agency A.M. Best. In a briefing released last month, Best said only one of the country’s 23 co-ops — MCHO — had both favorable underwriting and income as of last fall. While MCHO reported $10.9 million […]
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Poliquin defends controversial ACA vote at Republican event
Poliquin delivered the keynote address at Sunday’s Lincoln Day Dinner, hosted by the Penobscot County Republican Committee. “I’m working my tail off down there [in Washington, D.C.] and taking some arrows,” Poliquin told the crowd. Sunday’s dinner drew a larger-than-expected crowd, according to organizers. About 75 people registered, but more than 100 showed up, filling […]
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Losing libertarian endorsement doesn’t worry Poliquin
PORTLAND — U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin is brushing off criticism he’s getting from some conservatives for not voting to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law. Poliquin was one of three Republicans in the House to vote this week against repealing the law. The freshman congressman says he opposes it but believes a replacement plan […]
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Federal health care exchange enrolls 59,126 Mainers
AUGUSTA — Nearly 60,000 Mainers have enrolled in plans on the health care exchange. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that 59,126 Maine residents had signed up for coverage as of Friday. The open enrollment session began Nov. 15 and extends through Feb. 15. Thursday is the deadline for people to […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Who are the health insurers competing for Mainers’ money?
Mainers shopping on HealthCare.gov can choose from more insurers in 2015. After a plucky start-up overtook the state’s largest health insurer for sign-ups in the marketplace’s first year, a third player left the sidelines and joined the fray. Maine Community Health Options The Lewiston-based health insurer captured about 80 percent of HealthCare.gov shoppers in Maine […]