Oklahoma: As if Work Reporting Won't Cause Enough Damage, GOP Moves to Kill Off Medicaid Expansion Entirely
Oklahoma's Republican legislature is advancing House Bill 4440 and House Joint Resolution 1067 to remove Medicaid expansion from the state constitution and either shift it to statutory law or repeal it entirely. Both measures cleared the Senate Rules Committee along party lines and would place a voter question on the Aug. 25 primary runoff ballot, with a backup question for November if the first fails. The 2020 voter‑approved expansion now covers roughly 233,500 residents—about one‑fifth of Oklahoma’s Medicaid rolls. Federal mandates for six‑month eligibility checks and new work requirements add pressure for a state‑level rollback.
Cigna Sez Sayonara: Another Major Carrier Bailing on ACA Exchanges Next Year
Cigna announced it will exit the individual health‑insurance market under the Affordable Care Act in 2027, leaving roughly 369,000 members in 11 states to find new coverage. The move follows a 17% year‑over‑year drop in Cigna’s ACA enrollment, even as...
CMS Posts January 2026 Medicaid/CHIP Enrollment Report: 75.3M, Down 4.2M Since December 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its January 2026 Medicaid and CHIP enrollment snapshot, showing 75.3 million total enrollees – 68.0 million in Medicaid and 7.2 million in CHIP. Adult Medicaid coverage accounts for 39.4 million, while children and CHIP participants total 35.9 million....
Get Covered Illinois Announces New Tax Time Easy Enrollment Program; Pregnancy Now Qualifies for Special Enrollment Period
Get Covered Illinois has launched a Tax Time Easy Enrollment program that lets Illinois tax filers add a health‑insurance request directly on the IL‑1040 form. By checking the box on line 42, the Department of Revenue shares household income and size...
Final 2026 Open Enrollment Report: Broker/Agent Assistance (Part 10)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its first dataset showing how many ACA Open Enrollment participants received help from certified brokers, agents, or other assisters. The data, limited to the 30 states that use the federal HealthCare.gov exchange,...
Thank God for Small Favors: CMS May Kick some NBPP Changes Down the Road Another Year or Two
CMS signaled that several of its more ambitious 2027 Affordable Care Act exchange proposals will be delayed beyond this year, after reviewing over 2,800 public comments. The agency plans to postpone items such as ten‑year catastrophic‑plan contracts, network‑less qualified health...
One of the Most Insanely Stupid Provisions of the ACA Just Became *Slightly* Less Stupid
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued guidance allowing insurers to reallocate unspent Section 1303 segregated abortion premiums to general revenue after the coverage year ends. This ends years of accumulated “abortion funds,” which analysts estimate could total between...
Two More States Are About to Jump Ship Onto Their Own ACA Marketplaces
Oregon and Oklahoma are set to launch their own state‑based ACA exchanges, bringing the total to 23 states (including DC) that will operate independent marketplaces by 2028. This shift will push state‑run exchanges past the 50 percent population mark, a milestone...
Breaking: Trump Regime Cuts $260 Million in Medicaid Funds to Minnesota & Stops New Durable Medical Equipment Supplier Enrollment Nationally...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a $259.5 million deferral of federal Medicaid matching funds to Minnesota, citing questionable and potentially fraudulent claims. The agency also imposed a six‑month nationwide moratorium on new enrollment for Durable Medical Equipment,...
CMS Posts Proposed NBPP 2027. Be Afraid; Be Very Afraid (Part 1)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its proposed 2027 Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters, a 577‑page rule outlining changes to ACA implementation. Key proposals include stricter marketing restrictions, removal of the gender‑identity definition of sex, lowering the...
Maine: Preliminary 2026 Open Enrollment Data Shows Rising Affordability Challenges for Mainers' Health Coverage
Maine’s state‑run CoverME.gov marketplace reported its lowest enrollment since launch, with 58,523 consumers signing up in 2026 – a 9.5% drop from the previous year. New customer registrations fell 24%, while the share of enrollees receiving Advance Premium Tax Credits...