President Trump
Posted March 6th, 2018 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
In 2012, a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) found its way all the up to the U.S. Supreme Court. At the time, an argument was made that the Individual Mandate was not constitutional. The Individual Mandate requires most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty, and this provision has been considered the main crutch that has kept the ACA standing.
Posted February 27th, 2018 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
In October 2017, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Treasury (DOT) – collectively known as the “tri-agencies” – to consider proposing rules that would expand short-term, limited duration insurance, also known as short-term medical plans (STM plans).
Posted February 13th, 2018 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Happy Fat Tuesday! Much like the paczki, we will soon be without a "donut hole"- for Medicare Part D. The donut hole, also known as the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage, will close a year earlier than expected as a result of a budget deal signed by President Donald Trump this past Friday. The donut hole will now close in 2019 instead of 2020.
Posted January 23rd, 2018 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Last night, President Donald Trump signed into law a temporary spending bill which ends the government shutdown and funds federal spending obligations for the next few weeks. The spending bill also included a few healthcare surprises. The bill suspends or delays three taxes that were created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Posted January 18th, 2018 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Originally posted on October 13, 2017
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 12th instructing the Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Treasury (DOT), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), known as the tri-agencies, to review and potentially revise existing regulatory guidance. This includes:
Posted January 16th, 2018 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
In a letter sent to state Medicaid Directors on Thursday, the Trump Administration announced that it would allow states to impose work requirements to qualify for Medicaid. States will have the flexibility to design their work requirement eligibility structure, but they must submit details to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval.
Posted January 11th, 2018 in Producer, Employers, Individuals
In response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in October of last year, the Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed new rules that aim to expand the availability of association health plans (AHPs) in the small group market.
Posted October 10th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most health insurance plans to cover in-network preventive care at 100%, including coverage for prescribed contraceptives available to women. This has sparked some controversy with organizations who have a religious objection to the use of contraceptives. The Obama administration addressed this controversy by doing the following:
- Exempted group health plans offered by churches and houses of worship from providing coverage for contraceptives if there was a religious objection.
Posted June 20th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
President Donald Trump held a party in the White House Rose Garden to celebrate the passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) by the House of Representatives (House). President Trump touted the House bill as being an “incredible health care plan.” The AHCA is now under consideration by the Senate, and in a closed-door meeting held with several Republican Senators last week, President Trump allegedly said the current version of the AHCA is too “mean” and needs to be “more generous.”
Just how "mean" is the AHCA, and who is it "mean" to?
Posted April 12th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Last week, House Republicans renewed their efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several closed-door meetings were held in an attempt to devise a plan that would appease both Conservative and Moderate Republicans. Progress is believed to have been made, but there is still not a bill that would pass the House. ACA repeal efforts are likely on a temporary hold as House members have returned to their home states for a two-week Spring recess.
Benefits Buzz
Enter Your Email
Join Our Mailing List
Benefits Buzz RSS Feed
