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Covered California Pops and Locks Into Enrollment Season

"[On] a stage designed to look like a hospital waiting room, seven dancers portraying ill and injured patients used body pops, flares and fancy footwork to show that 'life can change in an instant' -- the slogan for this year's Covered California marketing campaign.... By the end of this week, the bus will have made 23 stops in 16 cities ... Covered California wouldn't say how much it is spending on the bus tour and the dancers ... The agency is funded by fees, equal to 3.75 percent of premiums, that it levies on its health plans."

96% of Californians Picked Just Four Health Plans Through Covered California -- Are Small Plans Getting Squeezed Out?

Anthem Blue Cross had 1,591 people use Covered California to get subsidies and sign up for its health plans in October. Valley Health Plan had five.... And while it's hardly fair to directly compare the two issuers -- Anthem has a presence in all 19 of Covered California's regions, whereas Valley is only offering plans in Santa Clara County -- the contrast is eye-catching. It's also telling. The biggest players, so far, are getting enormous market share from Covered California's customers. The smaller plans are seeing a trickle."

California Senate Committee Moves Forward on Healthcare Reform Proposals

Excerpt: The Senate Health Committee on Wednesday approved legislation (SB 48) by Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata (D-Oakland) to rework California's health care system and expand health insurance coverage ...

Individual Coverage Outpaces Small Business-Sponsored Health Insurance in California

"[E]nrollment in California's small business market in 2014 dropped by 11% to 2.1 million enrollees. Meanwhile, enrollment in the individual market increased by 47% to 2.18 million ... While there is no historical data for comparison, the numbers appear to mark the first time that the state's individual market has outpaced small business enrollment[.]"

Proposal for Paid Sick Leave for Home Health Workers Returns to California Legislature

"[The new bill introduced by Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego)], AB 11 ..., would revise the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 to include the state's estimated 400,000 home health care workers, giving them a minimum of three days of paid sick leave annually if they work 30 or more calendar days in a year."

State Insurance Commissioner Calls Out Blue Shield for 'Second Tax Dodge'

"California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones (D) on Wednesday said Blue Shield of California has been dodging taxes for years. Jones spoke Wednesday after the Franchise Tax Board revealed it had revoked Blue Shield's tax-exempt status in August 2014.... Jones said Blue Shield avoids payment of premium taxes through a loophole in state law that allows Blue Shield to choose its regulator, and it chooses the Department of Managed Health Care [DMHC] ... According to Jones, DMHC collects only corporate taxes (which Blue Shield did not have to pay because of its previous exempt status, he said) while the Department of Insurance collects taxes on premiums."

Most Exchange Plans Will Not See Double-Digit Rate Hikes in 2016

"Critics of the ACA in recent weeks have said the law is to blame for the large increases.... [One] analysis found that preliminary premiums for 2016 benchmark silver plans increase by 4.4% in large metropolitan areas in 10 states and Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, a separate ... analysis released this month projected that silver exchange plans would increase by 5.8% in eight states.... [T]hose rates are much lower than what some expected but higher than the 2% rate increase seen nationwide last year."

ACA Premiums in Some Cities Will Drop Slightly in 2015

"Overall, the average premium price for silver plans in the 16 cities will decline to $208 per month in 2015, down from $209 in 2014.... However, ... premiums for bronze plans will increase by 3.3% on average in 2015. Premium changes for bronze plans ranged from a 15.7% decrease in Hartford, Conn., to a 13.3% increase in Baltimore."

Federal Government Spending Arising from ACA Could Be Billions Less Than Originally Expected

"[S]ome analysts suggest that the costs for expanding Medicaid and providing subsidies for private coverage under the ACA will be lower than anticipated..... [A]nother possible reason for the slowdown in spending growth might be the botched rollout of the ACA, which has prevented some individuals from enrolling in coverage ... In addition, some states' decisions to opt out of the Medicaid expansion could save the government $45 billion in 2016[.]"

How Many People Are Losing Their Plans Under Obamacare, Really?

"For most Americans, the answer is simple: Yes, you can keep your plan. The Medicare program hasn't changed its eligibility threshold; Medicaid has expanded its income limits. And while some firms have moved about 1 million workers to private exchanges, the vast majority of Americans who get coverage through employer-sponsored insurance plans will see no changes in 2014.... At least half of the 14 million people who shop in the individual insurance market can expect to receive a cancellation letter ahead of next year.... The cancellation letters are piling up at a much faster rate than Americans are able to sign up for new coverage."