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Ohio health insurance

Ohio House advances bill to regulate health insurance exchange navigators

December 5, 2012

Associated Press — Navigators, who will educate consumers about buying health insurance through an exchange, would have to pass criminal background checks and would not be allowed to sell insurance under a bill passed by the House. Ohio will partner with the federal government to operate its exchange.

Will Obamacare determine Ohio Senate race?

August 17, 2012

The division between U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and his Republican challenger mirrors similar partisan battles across the country. Brown is a strong proponent of the Affordable Care Act, which promises to expand coverage and lower costs for Ohioans. Opponent Josh Mandel not only wants to repeal Obamacare, he also blames Brown for being the deciding vote on what he describes as a “government takeover of health care.”  a charge Politifact calls false and says Mandel’s campaign has a “casual relationship with the truth.”

State’s poorest could be left without health insurance if Medicaid expansion is rejected

July 30, 2012

The Columbus Dispatch – If Gov. John Kasich decides against expanding the state’s Medicaid program, more than 600,000 of the poorest Ohioans could remain without health insurance while those with slightly higher incomes would qualify for subsidies and tax credits to buy private coverage.

Ohio says no to health insurance exchange

July 11, 2012

Dayton Business Journal –  Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor said Tuesday the state does not plan to set up the exchange she says would cost Ohio between $30 million and $40 million each year to operate. ”At this point, we are not going to set up a state-based exchange,” The Blade quoted Taylor as saying while speaking to a luncheon meeting of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce.

Health-reform backers question cost assumptions holding Ohio back

March 13, 2012

Columbus Business First–Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, a group of advocates using every tool in their belt to get a health insurance exchange in Ohio, has released a report questioning the numbers behind a report supported by Ohio’s insurance commissioner–who is opposed to starting an exchange–that says starting an exchange is too expensive.

Ohio issue against federal health care measure will go on fall ballot

July 26, 2011

Cleveland Plain Dealer – Ohio voters will consider constitutional amendment to block implementation of the federal health reform law on Ohio on Nov. 8.

Four states granted waivers to offer less generous benefits under ACA

February 17, 2011

The New York Times – Florida, New Jersey, Ohio and Tennessee have been granted waivers by the federal government, allowing health insurance carriers to offer less generous benefits than would be required under the new health reform law.

Republicans Boehner, Cantor renew calls to repeal health reform provisions

June 30, 2010

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.

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.

New Jersey Is Added to Trial Program to Streamline Health Insurance Paperwork

February 10, 2010

The New York Times – As part of the discussion last year over how best to overhaul the nation’s health care system, the insurance industry promised to do its part by tackling the burdensome paperwork involved in paying medical claims.

Ohio Lawmakers Want to Mandate Prescription Monitoring by Doctors

January 20, 2010

Cleveland Plain Dealer – Even as prescription drug abuse reaches an all-time high, Ohio’s doctors aren’t using a statewide prescription monitoring database that allows them to check whether a patient is “pill shopping.”

Health Care Reform Good for Ohio Small Businesses?

November 11, 2009

Public News Service – COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. House has done its part to advance the President’s top domestic priority by passing a health care overhaul bill, and the debate now moves to the Senate.

Health insurance affordability top concern for small businesses

April 21, 2009

Dayton Business Journal – The affordability of offering health insurance ranks among the top issues on the minds of Ohio small business owners, according to a new survey of Ohio-based small business leaders released today.

Unemployment is driving up the number of uninsured adults in Ohio, survey finds

March 16, 2009

Cleveland Plain Dealer – The latest snapshot of health-care coverage in Ohio shows more children are insured, but unemployment and the erosion of job-based medical benefits are driving up the number of uninsured adults.

Click here to see Ohio’s State Health Guide.

New study says more than 1.3 million Ohioans uninsured

March 16, 2009

MedCity News – The number of uninsured children and seniors in Ohio has dropped in the last few years, but the number of working adults without health insurance has increased – causing the state’s overall uninsured population to climb by about 100,000, according to the 2008 Ohio Family Health Survey released today.

Click here to see Ohio’s State Health Guide.