health insurance news

HealthyCal.org–Knowing that the level of enrollment is key to success, California’s health insurance exchange is starting to focus on ways to make it easy for individuals to join the exchange, and how to use existing state agencies to help enroll people.

AISHealth–Regardless of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Affordable Care Act, many states have the infrastructure and ability to continue creating a state-run health insurance exchange.

San Francisco Chronicle–California was one of the first states to start creating a health insurance exchange after Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It continues to move ahead with its work, expecting to receive more funding from the federal government this summer.

Mother Jones – A new study shows that more pregnant women are dying in California. Among the possible contributing factors listed? A lower percentage (22 percent) of Californians with health insurance now have coverage for maternity services (compared to 82 percent in 2004).

amednews.com – Anthem Blue Cross and Aetna have submitted requests for premium increases in California that would be about half has extensive as a proposed 39-percent hike that drew fire from consumer groups and politicians earlier this year.

Los Angeles Times – Anthem Blue Cross is ratcheting down a dramatic 39 percent rate hike for Californians, though some of its policyholders will still see premiums climb as much as 20 percent.

Politico – Republican heavyweights John Boehner (Ohio) and Eric Cantor (Virginia) plan to announce that they’ll support a House petition to repeal the entire federal health reform law.