The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will expand access to coverage and take steps toward delivery system reform, but will raise costs and disrupt coverage for individual market customers, employers, and seniors.
Tens of millions of Americans will gain access to health insurance, a goal that health plans have long supported. The ACA also includes a number of important consumer protections that many health plans implemented before they were required by law, such as the provision allowing young adults up to the age of 26 to stay on their parents’ policies.
The new law takes a number of preliminary, but promising, steps toward reforming the delivery system to improve patient safety and quality in Medicare and Medicaid. Many of these initiatives build on successful private-sector programs that health plans have pioneered and implemented.
The ACA also includes major provisions that will raise costs and disrupt the coverage on which millions of people rely today. Many of these harmful provisions go into effect simultaneously on January 1, 2014 – meaning the potential exists for significant destabilization of insurance markets in many states, particularly for those who rely on individual and small group coverage.
Ultimately, the ACA coverage expansion will not be sustainable until policymakers and stakeholders take meaningful steps to reduce the rate of growth in medical costs.
To learn more about specific ACA provisions, please click on the links below:
Latest Documents
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni today released the following statement on the final state exchange rule released by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Press Releases
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Strategic Communications
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03/12/12
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni today released the following statement on the final summary of benefits and coverage regulation released by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Press Releases
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Strategic Communications
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02/09/12
On January 6, 2012, AHIP and the Blue Cross Blue Shield
Association filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that if the
individual mandate is declared unconstitutional, then the market reforms must
be struck down as well. The brief urges reversal of the 11th Circuit
Court of Appeals’ judgment on severability, which held that the individual
mandate could be removed from the ACA, but that the market reform provisions
could remain in force.
Litigation/Amicus Briefs
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Federal
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01/06/12
A technical analysis by Oliver Wyman estimates that the new health insurance tax in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “will increase premiums in the insured market on average by 1.9% to 2.3% in 2014,” and by 2023 “will increase premiums 2.8% to 3.7%.” AHIP commissioned this report as part of its ongoing effort to raise awareness about the impact the tax will have on consumers, employers and public program beneficiaries.
Reports/Fact Sheets/Briefs/Talking Points
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10/31/11
The Coalition for Medicare Choices is a rapidly growing organization of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. More than 1.4 million Americans in 50 states have joined the Coalition to protect the benefits they receive through their Medicare Advantage plan. Together, we are working to show Congress that Medicare Advantage plans provide critical benefits and lower out-of-pocket costs to millions of beneficiaries. As Congress debates potential changes to Medicare Advantage, we will make certain that your voices are heard. The Coalition for Medicare Choices is administered by America's Health Insurance Plans, the national association representing nearly 1,300 member companies providing health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans.
AHIP Web Resources
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10/26/11
http://www.choiceandcompetitioncoalition.org/
AHIP Web Resources
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10/01/11
Studies on Hospital Readmissions, Featuring Health Plan Innovations and Comparisons of Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare’s Traditional FFS Program.
Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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09/13/11
In
its letter to HHS, AHIP recommends that the ACO regulation build on
private-sector accountable care models, utilize the programs health plans have
implemented to transform the delivery system, transition away from the outdated
fee-for-service system, and avoid increasing provider consolidation and
cost-shifting that would lead to higher costs for consumers.
Comments and Letters
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06/06/11
AHIP testimony before the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health’s hearing entitled “The Unintended Consequences and Regulatory Burdens of the New Medical Loss Ratio Requirements”.
Testimony / Statements
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06/02/11
Washington, DC – America’s Health Insurance Plans’ (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni today released the following statement on the rate review rule released by the Department of Health and Human Services: “Focusing on health insurance premiums while ignoring underlying medical cost drivers will not make health care coverage more affordable for families and employers. The public policy discussion needs to be enlarged to focus on the soaring cost of medical care that threatens our economic competitiveness, our public safety net, and the affordability of health care coverage.
Press Releases
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Strategic Communications
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05/19/11
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