Executive Order Ends the “Out-of-Pocket” Subsidy Only; the “Premium” Subsidy Remains in Place

Some folks may think that Friday’s Executive Order did away with Obamacare subsidies altogether.  It didn’t. There are two subsidies. One was cut.  One wasn’t. In a nutshell, one subsidy lowers the cost of premium (aka premium tax credits) for those qualified...

Wonder Why Our Healthcare Costs Are So High?

Bob Laszewski is an insurance health industry expert we regularly track to stay up to speed on the national healthcare picture. His typically even-handed analysis has been consistently the most accurate of any of the opinion leaders we follow.  Here’s how Laszewski...

The Check’s in the Mail — MLR Premium Rebate Checks and What Do We Do with Them

Some BBG employer clients are reporting that they have received MLR rebate checks from their carrier. What are MLR rebate checks and why do only some employers receive them? Affordable Care Act rules stipulate that insurance carriers must spend a certain percentage of...

Now That ACA Remains in Place Maybe We Should Keep An Eye On This Recent HHS Letter to Governors.

“……We are seeking to empower states with new opportunities that will strengthen their health insurance markets.” Thomas E. Price, M.D., The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), A Letter To Governors, dated March 13, 2017   On March 13, 2017, the...