Employers’ health benefit cost growth had the smallest increase in 15 years—only 4.1 percent in 2012 compared to 6.1 percent in 2011—according to Mercer’s National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans. The lower-than-usual increase in costs is attributed, in part, to increased usage of consumer-directed health plans (CDHP). Despite this, many …
As Michelle Andrews reported for Kaiser Health News, “Thanks in part to the 2010 health law’s provisions that allow adult children to stay on their parents’ plans until they reach age 26, employers are scrutinizing their dependent coverage policies more closely.” Heritage’s Drew Gonshorowski has cautioned against the adverse side effects …
Yet another provision of Obamacare is expected to cost taxpayers more than they expected. The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) asking for details regarding the probable loss of $3.1 billion out of the $3.4 billion in Obamacare …
On Monday, the Obama Administration signaled that another part of its signature health care law may not be working out as planned. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) put an end to a program that offered a $100 incentive to insurance brokers and agents for recommending eligible people …
Last week, the Senate Budget Committee Republican staff released a report revealing that, over the next 75 years, Obamacare will add an additional $17 trillion in unfunded obligations—i.e., the benefits promised by the federal government that haven’t yet been paid for. Before Obamacare, federal programs were already responsible for racking …
Everyone remembers President Obama’s repeated promise, “If you like your health care plan, you’ll be able to keep your health care plan, period.” Unfortunately, Obamacare breaks this promise many times over. One way is through its medical loss ratio (MLR) requirement and the impact it will have on consumer-driven, high-deductible …
One especially peculiar side effect of Obamacare will cause the federal government to begin taxing itself and state governments. This begins in 2014 as the result of the new annual fee imposed on the health insurance industry. The health insurer fee was created to fund new spending under Obamacare. The …
Last week, the IRS released its proposed plan to implement the 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices designed to help foot the bill for Obamacare. Harmful effects of the health law’s new taxes and requirements on business continue to emerge as its implementation continues. As Heritage’s Curtis Dubay explains, …
