Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Molina Healthcare Expands Its Medicaid Business To Become Key Player On Marketplaces
A California-based insurer that once sold mostly Medicaid plans has become a top competitor in ObamaCare鈥檚 marketplaces. In likely the toughest year yet for the reform law, Molina Healthcare is thriving in a market that鈥檚 seen high-profile departures from some of the nation鈥檚 largest health insurers. Dr. Mario Molina, the company鈥檚 CEO, attributes much of the company鈥檚 success to its long history of selling Medicaid plans, which forced it to rein in costs. (Ferris, 9/20)
Colorado residents who buy their health insurance themselves will pay 20 percent more on average next year, and, for the first time, residents in 14 counties will have the choice of only one carrier offering plans in their area via the state health insurance exchange. The increases are the largest in Colorado since the 2014 launch of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. In some parts of rural Colorado, premium increases will top 40 percent, according to figures approved Tuesday by the Colorado Division of Insurance. However, tax credits for low-income residents will help blunt the impact of some of those increases, with consumers who currently receive the credits in line to see an average decrease of 11 percent in their premiums. (Ingold, 9/20)
