By Martha Groves | CALmatters PUBLISHED: November 26, 2018 at 6:30 am | UPDATED: November 26, 2018 at 6:30 am When Ghuan Featherstone was poring over options for a paternity leave before the recent birth of his fourth daughter, he liked what he heard from a human resources representative at the Inglewood general contracting company where he works. Under a new California law, he would be eligible to take as many as 12 weeks of unpaid leave to bond with his newborn, with the guarantee that his job as a project superintendent would be waiting for him when he returned. When baby Serenity was born in late October, Featherstone, 48, concluded that he could not afford to take unpaid time. Instead, he and his boss at Curtom-Dunsmuir negotiated a compromise. Featherstone would take vacation time before the birth, then three weeks of fully paid paternity leave — a kind gesture on the part of his company, not dictated by state or federal law — before returning to work this week. … [Read more...] about California’s ‘job killer’ family leave bill is now law for small business. Here’s how it’s working out
Small business health options program
Trump Administration, in Reversal, Will Resume Risk Payments to Health Insurers
Sections SEARCH Skip to content Skip to site index Politics Subscribe Log In Subscribe Log In Advertisement Supported by ByRobert Pear July 24, 2018 WASHINGTON — The Trump administration, in an abrupt reversal, said Tuesday that it would restart a program that pays billions of dollars to insurers to stabilize health insurance markets under the Affordable Care Act. The administration suspended the program less than three weeks ago, saying it was compelled to do so by a federal court decision in New Mexico. But the administration said Tuesday that it would restore the program because otherwise health plans could become insolvent or withdraw from the market, causing chaos for consumers. In adopting a new rule, the administration essentially accepted the arguments of critics, including consumer groups, health insurance companies and Democrats in Congress, who said that suspending the payments would cause turmoil in insurance … [Read more...] about Trump Administration, in Reversal, Will Resume Risk Payments to Health Insurers
Sparse details on Iowa plans that bypass Obama’s health law
DES MOINES, Iowa — Josh Crist made the two-hour drive to the Iowa Capitol in April to celebrate Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds' signing of a new health care option designed to lower costs by skirting requirements of the Affordable Care Act. The 35-year-old farmer and electrician from Tipton figured the new plans offered through the conservative and politically powerful Iowa Farm Bureau were certain to reduce the more than $2,000 monthly bill he pays for his family's health insurance. He had feared the cost would climb as his existing policy expires, forcing him to buy from an ACA exchange without help from subsidies. But nearly four months later, Crist is still waiting to see the fine print on what exactly would be covered under the Farm Bureau plans, and he's no longer sure he'll sign up. "There's a lot of unknowns right now," he said. The new Iowa option, which Republicans and some Democrats in the Legislature pushed through before knowing many of the details, represents another … [Read more...] about Sparse details on Iowa plans that bypass Obama’s health law
Health Insurers Warn of Market Turmoil as Trump Suspends Billions in Payments
Sections SEARCH Skip to content Skip to site index Politics Subscribe Log In Subscribe Log In Advertisement Supported by ByRobert Pear July 7, 2018 WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Saturday that it was suspending a program that pays billions of dollars to insurers to stabilize health insurance markets under the Affordable Care Act, a freeze that could increase uncertainty in the markets and drive up premiums this fall. Many insurers that enroll large numbers of unhealthy people depend on the “risk adjustment” payments, which are intended to reduce the incentives for insurers to seek out healthy consumers and shun those with chronic illnesses and other pre-existing conditions. “Any action to stop disbursements under the risk adjustment program will significantly increase 2019 premiums for millions of individuals and small-business owners, and could result in far fewer health plan choices,” said … [Read more...] about Health Insurers Warn of Market Turmoil as Trump Suspends Billions in Payments
The Health 202: Here’s why it’s a nightmare to lower U.S. drug prices
THE PROGNOSIS Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post) Whatever President Trump suggests next week to lower U.S. drug costs, don’t forget this cold, hard fact: It’s extremely difficult to make sweeping reforms to a health-care system as piecemeal as ours. If you’re employed, you might have coverage through your job. If you’re a senior, you have some version of Medicare. If you’re a low-income American, you may qualify for Medicaid. If no insurance is available to you through those avenues, you’ve probably bought subsidized, private coverage through the state-based Obamacare marketplaces. Or, maybe you’re simply uninsured. Health insurance typically isn’t such a patchwork system in other countries with wealth comparable to the United States. In Canada, Australia and many European nations, the government plays a far greater role in delivering coverage keeping … [Read more...] about The Health 202: Here’s why it’s a nightmare to lower U.S. drug prices