health insurance news

healthinsurance.org – In 2011, Americans can expect 21 health reform provisions to take effect, from a medical loss ratio provision requiring that carriers spend more of premium dollars on medical care to to the “beginning of the end” for the prescription drug “donut hole.”

Washington Post – Temporary high-risk insurance pools, established as part of the Affordable Care Act, are attracting just a fraction of the eligible enrollees who need them – and in some states, claims are proving very costly. Federal officials say the challenges are just “growing pains.”

The Wonk Room – At least five states are suing the federal government over the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and more are threatening to fight the law’s provisions. Meanwhile, at least 19 states are moving forward with implementation.

Associated Press – A federal high-risk insurance pool program that will provide coverage for uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions will begin accepting applications in many states on Thursday, with coverage available as early as August 1. Read more news about the temporary high-risk pool plan.

North Carolina, Montana and Pennsylvania are among the states that could begin accepting applications for a new federal high-risk insurance pool that will offer coverage to uninsured patients with pre-existing conditions. Some states like Vermont are scrambling to meet the July 1 federal mandate. Read more news about high-risk insurance pools.

FloridaToday.com – Larry Smith, a 61-year-old polio survivor and prostate cancer patient, hopes to get access to an affordable individual policy tomorrow when he signs up online for a high-risk insurance pool established by the recently passed federal health reform law. Unfortunately, Florida has opted out of the high-risk pools over concern about inadequate state funding. Read more about high-risk insurance pools.

California Healthline – California’s state legislature passed a pair of bills on Monday that will allocate $761 million to establish a temporary high-risk insurance pool for the uninsured.