Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Administration To Use IRS In Efforts To Enroll Healthy But Uninsured Millennials
With time running out for the Obama administration to prove the success of the Affordable Care Act, officials are aggressively targeting a group that could help turn things around: young people. Federal health officials announced Tuesday they will comb tax records to find 18-34 year-olds who paid the penalty stipulated under President Barack Obama's health act for not buying health insurance and reach out to them directly with emails to urge them to avoid even higher penalties scheduled for this year. They also plan to heavily advertise the enrollment campaign, including a promotion with trendy ride-sharing service Lyft to offer discounted rides to enrollment events. (Kennedy, 6/21)
HHS is teaming up with the Internal Revenue Service to reach out to young adults during the next marketplace open enrollment period. The agencies will contact individuals who paid a penalty or claimed an exemption in 2015.In 2014, 7.9 million people paid the penalty for not having coverage, and about 45% of them were under the age of 35, compared to about 30% of all taxpayers in 2014. (Dickson, 6/21)
The efforts aim to get younger individuals enrolled in exchanges during the 2017 open enrollment period because this group is generally healthier, meaning they may help hold down premium rates by balancing out the greater medical spending of older enrollees. (Armour, 6/21)
About 7.9 million Americans paid a penalty for lack of coverage in 2014. The Internal Revenue Service has not disclosed how many paid the fine for lacking coverage last year. (Galewitz, 6/21)
The planned mailings will lay out options for coverage and include details about how to qualify for federal subsidies. HHS will also again partner with the ride-hailing service Lyft, which will offer discounts to customers who attend open enrollment sessions. ... The Obama administration’s new outreach to young people is the latest step intended to ease mounting concerns among insurers seeing higher-than-expected medical costs. Many have also seen disappointing profit margins, including healthcare giants like UnitedHealth Group. (Ferris, 6/21)
"We’re at a time when there’s rapid change that will lead to better health care for everyone," Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in a call with reporters. Making that coverage more affordable — and attractive — to young adults, however, requires a few changes, Burwell acknowledged. (O'Donnell, 6/21)
