More than 40,000 Mainers who begin signing up Wednesday for Affordable Care Act insurance may do a double take when selecting a plan on the individual marketplace. Many of those plans will offer free monthly premiums. Health experts say that’s an unintended consequence of the Trump administration’s decision this year to end payments to insurance […]
ACA
Posted inLocal & State
Maine Medicaid expansion vote seen as ‘Obamacare’ referendum
PORTLAND (AP) — The roiling national debate over the government’s proper role in health care is coming to a head in a state more commonly known for moose, lobster and L.L. Bean. On Nov. 7, voters in Maine will decide whether to join 31 other states and expand Medicaid under former President Barack Obama’s Affordable […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Move to stop ACA subsidies will push premiums higher in Maine
Thousands of Mainers will see their individual health insurance premiums rise even higher in 2018 as a result of President Trump’s decision to eliminate federal reimbursement of a key Affordable Care Act subsidy. However, Maine’s two remaining ACA insurance providers, Community Health Options and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, said the White House’s move to eliminate […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine premiums expected to rise after ACA subsidies end
President Trump’s decision to eliminate federal reimbursement of a key subsidy to Affordable Care Act insurers will further boost average premium increases in 2018 for individual ACA policyholders in Maine. However, Maine’s two remaining ACA insurers, Community Health Options and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, said the move would not prompt them to drop out […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Donald Trump’s executive order could alter Maine insurance market
President Trump’s latest executive order could make health insurance more costly for older, sicker Mainers by enticing younger, healthier individuals to purchase cheaper and less-regulated plans. Still, it could be some time before the rule-making needed to enforce the proposed changes goes into effect. “As of the signing of the executive order, absolutely nothing changes,” […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Donald Trump signs order to end subsidies for health care
President Donald Trump shows an executive order on health care that he signed in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) — In a brash move likely to roil insurance markets, President Donald Trump will “immediately” halt payments to insurers under the Obama-era health […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Donald Trump signs order to eliminate ACA insurance rules
President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order on health care in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, in Washington. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday morning intended to allow small businesses and potentially individuals to buy a long-disputed type of health insurance that skirts […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Trump administration narrows contraception coverage by ACA
The Trump administration issued a rule Friday that sharply limits the Affordable Care Act’s contraception coverage mandate, a move that could mean many American women would no longer have access to birth control free of charge. The new regulation, issued by the Health and Human Services Department, allows a much broader group of employers and […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Paul LePage 'thanks' Susan Collins for helping Anthem leave Maine health exchange
On Thursday, Gov. Paul LePage blamed Susan Collins for Anthem’s departure effective next year, telling WGAN, “Thank you, Susan Collins.” Gov. Paul LePage gave a sarcastic “thank you” to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins on Thursday after Anthem said it would leave Maine’s Affordable Care Act marketplace … after she opposed a repeal bill that Anthem’s […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Anthem to pull out of Maine's health insurance exchange
Health insurer Anthem says it’s leaving Maine’s health insurance exchange next year because of market volatility and uncertainty. The move announced Wednesday means Maine is down to two insurers offering plans on the exchange set up by former President Barack Obama’s health care law. Anthem hinted its possible departure in June filings. Company spokesman Colin […]