NEWS HEADLINES:
New York health insurance

New York selects benchmark plan

October 2, 2012

The Wall Street Journal — The Oxford EPO plan, the largest small-group plan in New York, will be the model for the state’s essential health benefits. Essential health benefits must be included in all plans sold on the exchange.

Conflicting feedback from New York’s regional advisory boards

September 12, 2012

Times Union— Department of Health representatives meeting with regional advisors say the top two desires for the state’s health insurance exchange – the New York Health Benefit Exchange – are comprehensive benefits  and affordable coverage. Of course, the more benefits covered, the more expensive plans offered on the exchange will be.

New York lands $95.5 million grant to move ahead on health insurance exchange

August 24, 2012

Democrat and Chronicle — New York received its largest grant to date from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support development of an affordable health insurance exchange. The funds are earmarked for hiring executive leadership, enhancing IT systems, building customer support functions and developing an outreach campaign.

New York weighs benchmark plan for health insurance exchange

August 13, 2012

Health Care For All New York — Milliman, a consultant to the New York Health Exchange, identified 10 health plans as potential models for the state’s essential health benefits. Essential health benefits must be included in all plans sold on the exchange.

What the Health Law Really Means for New Yorkers

July 26, 2012

The Huffington Post – People have some very basic questions, most of which boil down to: What does the law really mean for me? Too often, the answer I hear is, “It’s complicated.” Well, yes, the law is complicated and many of the operational details are still being worked on at the federal and state levels. But “it’s complicated” doesn’t cut it. We need to do a much better job of helping people understand what the law means for them, for their families, and for their businesses.

Some States May Continue With Exchanges, Reform Law or Not

April 16, 2012

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.

Insurance Companies Cautiously Optimistic about Health Exchange

April 13, 2012

WYNC–Insurance companies and trade groups are cautiously giving New York governor Andrew Cuomo support after he signed an executive order instructing the state to create a health insurance exchange.

Cuomo Acts to Advance Health Law in New York

April 12, 2012

The New York Times–Reacting to the New York Legislature’s refusal to create a health insurance exchange, governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order on April 12 instructing the state to do so.

Cuomo To Go It Alone On Health-Care Exchange

April 4, 2012

WGRZ–New York governor Andrew Cuomo plans to start a state-run health insurance exchange through executive order. The Legislature has not included the funds to start an exchange in its budget.

Local businesses contemplate health insurance exchange

March 28, 2012

Buffalo Bulletin–The idea of a health insurance exchange is appealing to a lot of businesses in Buffalo, New York.

Lawsky, business groups push for health exchange

March 22, 2012

Capitol Confidential–New York’s superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, Ben Lawsky, is beginning to increase pressure to create a state health insurance exchange in New York by releasing a long list of endorsements for an exchange, which include business groups.

HHS Awards 10 States With Exchange Establishment Grants

February 22, 2012

Governing.com–A total of $230 million was given to ten states by the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services. The money will be used to aid the development of health insurance exchanges in those states.

New York’s Health Care Exchange At A Crossroads

November 8, 2011

insurancenewsnet.com – State agencies in New York are moving steadily forward with planning to get a state health insurance exchange operational by 2014.

Feds take bite out of Medicare crime in five states

July 16, 2010

Moneyblog – The Justice Department made coordinated raids on Friday at alleged Medicare fraud operations in Florida, Louisiana, New York, Michigan and Texas as the Obama administration launched what is being called the largest attack on health care fraud in U.S. history. What are the steps to avoid Medicare fraud?

Panel: Lots to learn about health reform

June 10, 2010

Times Union – If it’s any indication of the complexity of the health reform law passed by Congress, three expert panelists tapped to explain its implications in New York admitted there was much they didn’t know and plenty that nobody knows.

Deaths Rising for Lack of Insurance, Study Finds

February 26, 2010

The New York Times – As members of the Obama administration and Congress met on Thursday to try to find common ground on health care, a new report warned that without comprehensive legislation, more than 275,000 adults nationwide will die over the next decade because of a lack of health insurance. Nearly 14,000 of those deaths would occur in New York State.

REPORT: WellPoint Raising Premium Rates By Double Digits In At Least 11 States

February 24, 2010

Think Progress – If Democrats move to pass health care reform after tomorrow’s summit, their newfound momentum can be at least partly attributed to WellPoint’s decision todrastically increase premiumsin California’s individual health insurance market. The rate increases highlighted the broken health care system and pressured lawmakers to drastically reform the individual health insurance market. The administration’s strong response also enunciated the differences in lawmakers’ approach to reform and may have pushed the President toadd stronger cost control provisionsinto his health care blue-print.

No high hopes for health care summit

February 8, 2010

Politico – Immediately after President Barack Obama announced a bipartisan health reform summit, Democrats and Republica3made clear they have almost no expectation the half-day meeting can break a bitter yearlong standoff.

While DC Delays, States Move Forward on Health Care Reforms

January 28, 2010

Progressive States Network – As Congress delays moving forward on the passage of comprehensive health care reform, progressive state leaders from across the country have been demanding passage of reform as critical for families across the nation. But that doesn’t mean they are waiting; state leaders are moving forward, laying the groundwork for how national changes should be implemented, and creating the momentum for other meaningful health care reforms in their states.

New Yorkers, seniors will suffer most if health care reform fails, as insurance rates rise

January 24, 2010

New York Daily News – If health care reform fails completely, nearly everyone agrees on this: We’re all gonna pay.

2 New Democrats to Be Sworn In Before Health Care Vote

November 5, 2009

Politics Daily – How “special” were the two special elections that the Democrats won on Tuesday night? So special that the winners, John Garamendi in California and Bill Owens in New York, will be sworn into their new jobs in the House of Representatives in time to cast their votes for the Democrats’ health care reform bill this weekend.

Sen. Schumer to put government option in health bill

September 28, 2009

WASHINGTON – Health care reform won’t work without a government-run insurance option, and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) vowed Sunday to jam the provision into the Senate bill.

Study Cites Obstacles for Poor to Renew Health Insurance

February 24, 2009

The New York Times – More than a third of New York State’s recipients of Medicaid and other public health insurance programs fail to re-enroll on time, losing coverage even though they remain eligible, because of daunting paperwork and other obstacles, according to a new study.

Click here to see New York’s State Health Guide.