Health Care

Congress avoids the ObamaCare experience

Congress avoids the ObamaCare experience

While millions of Americans across the country are figuring out what to do about their canceled health plans – despite being promised repeatedly by the president that they could keep them – those in Congress who have enrolled in ObamaCare have managed to avoid the unpleasantness. Under the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, commonly known...

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

Understanding the Illinois Medicaid Redetermination Project

Understanding the Illinois Medicaid Redetermination Project

For the past several months, the Illinois Policy Institute has published ongoing updates on the progress of the Illinois Medicaid Redetermination Project, or IMRP, which has garnered significant interest over time. Some people may not remember why IMRP was launched; I do. After all, this was among the many topics I discussed when the Medicaid...

By Jonathan Ingram

ObamaCare in Illinois

ObamaCare in Illinois

In a press conference earlier this month, Republican lawmakers proposed a resolution that urges Congress to delay the “individual mandate” and calls on the Illinois Department of Insurance to fully disclose the number of people in Illinois who are facing health insurance cancellations as a result of ObamaCare. Both calls to action are commendable and...

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

Taxpayers have spent $90K per potential Illinois ObamaCare enrollee

Taxpayers have spent $90K per potential Illinois ObamaCare enrollee

The federal government has spent almost $155 million on Illinois’ state ObamaCare websites, according to government figures compiled by the Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform. Just 1,370 Illinoisans added a plan to their shopping cart – a total that falls woefully short of the 17,000 enrollments federal officials had hoped for in the month...

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

40 insurance policies canceled for every ObamaCare enrollee

40 insurance policies canceled for every ObamaCare enrollee

Five million Americans and counting across the country have already received notices that their health insurance plans in the individual and small group markets are being canceled as a result of ObamaCare. So far, Andrew Boron, Illinois’ insurance commissioner, has not yet revealed how many Illinoisans are facing the same situation, despite calls from both...

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

Now that they know what is in ObamaCare, how can they make it stop?

Now that they know what is in ObamaCare, how can they make it stop?

The dismal ObamaCare “enrollments” reported yesterday tell only one small part of the larger ObamaCare train wreck. For those watching closely, there is an uncomfortable realization that ObamaCare is actually increasing the number of uninsured Americans. Five millions and counting Americans across the country have received notices that their health insurance plans in the individual...

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

More than 216,000 Illinois Medicaid enrollees found ineligible

More than 216,000 Illinois Medicaid enrollees found ineligible

In January, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or HFS, began a new project verifying eligibility for Illinois’ Medicaid enrollees. For years, state workers had failed to take adequate steps to ensure the people receiving Medicaid benefits were actually eligible for the program. As an Auditor General report noted, state workers failed to verify basic...

By Jonathan Ingram

ObamaCare: Illinois enrollment numbers

ObamaCare: Illinois enrollment numbers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just released the much-anticipated enrollment numbers for the ObamaCare health insurance exchanges. But instead of reporting on actual enrollments, the administration is, instead, reporting on the number of people who have put a health plan in their checkout cart, but haven’t actually checked out. The distinction is...

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

Who counts as an ObamaCare enrollee?

Who counts as an ObamaCare enrollee?

The federal government is expected to announce this week how many Illinoisans and Americans across the country have enrolled in the federal health care program known as ObamaCare. But instead of reporting on actual enrollments, media sources are predicting that the Obama administration will, instead, be reporting on the number of people who have put a health plan in their online shopping cart, but...

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

59% of Americans disapprove of Obama’s handling of health care policy

59% of Americans disapprove of Obama’s handling of health care policy

According to a recent poll by Pew Research, President Barack Obama’s overall job approval rating is tanking. While the president is seeing better marks for his handling of the economy, he is facing growing disapproval in a number of areas, including health care. According to the report: Obama also gets negative ratings on health care...

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

Half of Illinois Medicaid enrollees reviewed found ineligible

Half of Illinois Medicaid enrollees reviewed found ineligible

In January, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or HFS, began a new project verifying eligibility for Illinois’ 2.7 million Medicaid enrollees. For years, state workers had failed to take adequate steps to ensure the people receiving Medicaid benefits were actually eligible for the program. As an Auditor General report noted, state workers failed to...

By Jonathan Ingram

Obama administration throws unions a bone in form of ObamaCare tax break

Obama administration throws unions a bone in form of ObamaCare tax break

The Obama administration is throwing unions a bone on ObamaCare in the form of “tax break.” But if union officials are smart, they’ll throw it back. NPR is reporting that the administration is offering unions some relief from one of the many problematic features of the health care law. The proposal is to terminate a...

By Paul Kersey

More than 200K Illinois Medicaid enrollees found ineligible for the program

More than 200K Illinois Medicaid enrollees found ineligible for the program

In January, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or HFS, began a new project verifying eligibility for Illinois’ 2.7 million Medicaid enrollees. For years, state workers had failed to take adequate steps to ensure the people receiving Medicaid benefits were actually eligible for the program. As an Auditor General report noted, state workers failed to...

By Jonathan Ingram

ObamaCare: Congressional membership has its privileges

ObamaCare: Congressional membership has its privileges

While millions across the country are losing their health plans –  despite repeatedly being promised by the president that they could keep them – Congress and the Obama administration have been playing fast and loose with the rules to ensure that many on Capitol Hill won’t lose theirs. Under the Affordable Care Act, or ACA,...

By Naomi Lopez Bauman