There are two “open enrollment periods” that are critically important for individuals and seniors. These limited time periods are the only times that new ACA (Affordable Care Act) Medical plans can be purchased or...

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We printed this Q&A column in the March 10, 2021 edition of The Lewiston Tribune. Q: Are the health exchanges open again? A: Yes! The Idaho and Washington state health exchanges have re-opened in response to...

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UPDATE: Find the most recent extended health exchange enrollment article here instead.American Insurance health agents are certified for both exchanges to help our clients understand what plans are available, see if you...

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Idaho's Health Exchange, Your Health Idaho, has extended open enrollment until Thursday, December 31st, to apply for a tax credit, select a plan, and enroll in coverage that begins January 1, 2021. Washington State has...

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We printed this Q&A column in the July 10, 2020 edition of The Lewiston Tribune. Q: I’ve lost my health insurance! Now what?A. We can help! If you’ve lost your health insurance because of a business closure,...

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Pandemic business closures, employee layoffs and “Stay-Home” orders have impacted medical insurance coverage for individuals and groups. Sometimes, the change in hours worked or employment status can lead to losing...

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Sixty-six health plans and seven dental plans set to participate in market Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board has announced an average decrease in plans for certified 2020 Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) and...

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Idaho Medicaid expansion may change eligibility for ACA Health Exchange in 2020 - The Idaho and Washington Health Exchanges are now open! Individuals, families, small employers, employees, dependents, college students -...

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2020 ID Health Insurance rates released - Average increase of 6% for individual, 4% for small group coverage. - Final 2020 premium rates for individual and small group health insurance plans have been released by the...

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We printed this Q&A column in the Jan. 10, 2019 edition of The Lewiston Tribune. Q: Can I buy medical insurance when Exchanges are closed? A: The answer is “NO” – unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period! ...

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More than 103,154 Idahoans enrolled in health insurance coverage for the 2019 plan year during open enrollment held from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15, 2018, through Your Health Idaho, the state’s health insurance marketplace....

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We published this Q&A column in the Nov. 10, 2018 edition of The Lewiston Tribune. Q: Can I get subsidized Medical Insurance now? A: Yes, the Health Exchanges are now open and you may qualify for a premium subsidy (...

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Slight increase for individual plans much lower than in recent years. Final 2019 premium rates for individual and small group health insurance plans have been released by the Idaho Department of Insurance. In the...

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The Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board recently certified the 2019 Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) and Qualified Dental Plans (QDPs) to be offered through Washington Healthplanfinder during the upcoming open...

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The Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) has posted proposed health insurance premium rates and the requested increases for plans sold starting January 2019. Health insurance companies have submitted their rating...

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We printed this Q&A column in the Nov. 10, 2017 edition of The Lewiston Tribune. Q: Can I buy subsidized Medical Insurance now? A: Yes, ACA Health Exchanges are now open! Open Enrollment began on Nov. 1st and will...

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Individuals, small employers, employees, dependents, college students – anyone who relies on individual medical insurance coverage – must apply during open enrollment unless they are renewing existing coverage at a diff...

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Premium Subsidies Are Not Changed. To clarify, this information from recent news articles is NOT referring to the premium subsidies (tax credits) that lower the health insurance premiums paid by qualifying lower income...

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American Insurance is following the latest developments regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). At the publication of this article, enrollments and renewals of ACA Medical Plans will proceed as scheduled. You can count...

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There’s good news for local businesses who offer small group medical coverage for their employees. The Idaho Department of Insurance has released the final 2018 premium rates for all small group health plans. Carriers...

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American Insurance health agents are certified to show all options to local clients. - Individual medical plan premiums through Your Health Idaho, the Idaho exchange, are going up in 2018. The Idaho Department of...

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American Insurance health agents can explain changes, show options for local clients. - The Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board has certified the Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) and Qualified Dental Plans (QDPs) to...

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Idaho Department of Insurance releases 2018 health insurance rates, proposed increases, and participation areas. - Proposed rate increases in 2018 for Your Health Idaho exchange plans range from a modest 6% for the Blue...

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The Final Market Stabilization rule to help lower premiums and stabilize individual and small group health insurance markets, and to increase choices for Americans was issued by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...

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Around 6.4 million consumers across the country have signed up for health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act, an increase of 400,000 plan selected from last year. More than 98,000 Idahoans have selected a...

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Major changes in medical premiums and provider networks are coming in 2017. Open enrollment began Nov. 1 in the Idaho and Washington Health Exchange Marketplaces. Anyone who needs or is covered under an Individual...

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The Idaho Department of Insurance is alerting Idaho residents about a possible scam by a company using deceptive practices to market health insurance in Idaho. Your Health Idaho, Idaho’s health insurance exchange, has...

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Local agents with AMERICAN INSURANCE in Lewiston can help area business owners find qualified individual health insurance coverage for your employees, their spouses and dependents to meet health care mandates. “We...

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AMERICAN INSURANCE in Lewiston has Exchange certified health agents who provide no cost help to find you the best health care plan during the Medical Open Enrollment period. “We are doing our best to shop all plans in...

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The ACA individual mandate tax penalty for no health coverage is much larger for 2016. If you can afford health insurance but choose not to buy it in 2016, you must pay a fee or have a health coverage exemption. The...

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Lewis-Clark State College will no longer offer a Student Health Insurance Program (or SHIP) this fall, due to a change by the Idaho State Board of Education. Other regional schools that also have no SHIP include:...

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The latest legal attack on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. In KING v. BURWELL, plantiff's argued that the plain language in PPACA says...

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The Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is being withdrawn from four Idaho universities beginning July 31, 2015. Students at Lewis-Clark State College, Boise State University, Idaho State University and Eastern...

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Nationwide, nearly 11.7 million consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in quality, affordable health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace as of Feb. 22, according to a report...

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The Supreme Court will decide if millions of Americans will lose their premium subsidies if they signed up under the Federal Exchange HealthCare.gov. Fortunately, Idaho and Washington residents will not be effected by...

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The Washington Health Benefit Exchange, a state-based health marketplace, announced a spring "Special Enrollment Opportunity" for Washington residents who want to avoid tax penalty for 2015. Nearly 160,000 Washington...

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New choices and more competition in the Health Insurance Marketplace are giving consumers affordable options during Open Enrollment this year, and the majority of returning consumers who shop can save money on premiums,...

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If you are currently enrolled in a health care plan through Washington Healthplanfinder, you will need to renew your coverage for next year. Customers who signed up for a Qualified Health Plan last year will be eligible...

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Up to 8% of the 164,000 Health Exchange customers of the Washington HealthPlanFinder experienced on-going billing and administrative problems. This caused some Washington residents to go without insurance, lose their...

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The Idaho Health Exchange, Your Health Idaho, is preparing to launch its own state exchange software platform prior to the 2015 Open Enrollment which begins on November 15, 2014. Last year, Idaho was a Federally...

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ProgramBusiness.com reports that the state of Oregon filed a lawsuit Friday against Oracle Corp. and several of its executives over the technology company's role in creating the troubled website for the state's online...

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A US appeals court ruled against Obamacare subsidies for policies issued through the Federal Health Exchanges. In the case, Halbig v. Sebelius, 14-5018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that...

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid recently announced a new Special Enrollment Period for individuals and families that are currently enrolled in COBRA continuation coverage, known as the federal Consolidated Omnibus...

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When "Open Enrollment" is closed, individuals seeking medical insurance can only do so if they have a "Qualifying Life Event" which opens a "Special Enrollment Period" (SEP). If you qualify for a SEP then you can apply...

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Keeping your current non-grandfathered individual or small group medical plan (also referred to as "grandmothered" plans) has been extended for policies with annual renewals on or before October 1, 2016. This provides...

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"Idaho's success in enrolling consumers during the 2014 enrollment period is due, in no small part, to the many Idaho insurance agents and brokers who provided invaluable assistance to Idaho citizens," said William (...

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An extended "Special Enrollment Period" was announced by The White House to allow more time to finish health insurance enrollments with glitches or other special circumstances. The Health Exchange Marketplace was...

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What happens when the Health Exchange Marketplace "Open Enrollment Period" closes on March 31st? This is the next question as American's struggle to understand and comply with the massive, complicated and ever changing...

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The "keep your current health insurance plan" promise by President Obama is being extended even further. The Obama administration announced that Americans can keep their health plans that are non-compliant with the...

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Can I keep my plan? It depends says the Regence Group which does business in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Utah. - Fall 2013 promised to be a dynamic time in the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, with the launch of...

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Political passions run high over the looming January 1, 2014 deadline of the "Individual Mandate" and other provisions of The Affordable Care Act (ACA). To add fuel to the fire, the ACA Health Exchange Marketplace...

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The Health Exchange Marketplace opened on October 1st and has experienced serious technical problems ever since. In the meantime, the Individual Mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) still takes effect in 2014....

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The Idaho and Washington State Health Exchanges including their navigators (online and phone assistants) will not explain or recommend any insurance plans offered in the exchanges. They feel that experienced and...

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The new Health Insurance Exchange Marketplace isn't just for the uninsured! Almost everyone needs to take a serious look at their own state's Health Exchange Marketplace before January 1, 2014. Here's who should obtain...

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New data shows significant variation across the country and within communities in what hospitals charge for common inpatient services. Also, HHS made approximately $87 million available to states to enhance their rate...

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Republicans renew call to repeal the entire healthcare law while the Obama administration is providing $150 million for health centers to offer Affordable Health Care (AHC) enrollment assistance nationwide. House of...

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Now a new series of shorter and easier applications have been released by CMS. Stinging from criticism that the new Health Care applications were too long and too complicated, the Obama administration went back to the...

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Agents and brokers will play a critical role in helping consumers access health insurance coverage through Affordable Insurance Exchanges or Health Insurance Marketplaces, according to an announcement today by The...

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Confused about how the new health reform law really works? Get answers in just 9 minutes by watching this animated movie from The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation. Click Health Reform Hits Main Street, featuring the "...

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A free replay of the webinar "Health Care Reform: Strategies to Help Control Costs, Mitigate Risk, & Decrease Penalties," has been made available by ADP ®, a leading provider of employer health care benefits...

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The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAC) was to begin in every state by January 1, 2014 but is being delayed one year. Health and Human Services (...

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Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter needs citizen support in his battle for a state-based Health Exchange. After winning a hard fought battle in the Idaho House on Wednesday, the legislation now goes again to the Idaho...

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Final rules for "essential" health benefits were announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The rule outlines health insurance issuer standards for a core package of benefits, called essential...

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Idaho Governor Butch Otter's top five reasons for creating a state-based health insurance exchange are listed below. He strongly supports an Idaho Health Insurance Exchange and is asking Idahoans to sign his petition to...

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Only 11 of the 50 US states have moved to implement new consumer safeguards under President Barack Obama's healthcare law according to this Reuters report posted today by Insurance Journal. Read more...

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Governor Butch Otter is appealing to all Idahoans for help passing legislation for a state based health insurance exchange. Facing opposition from far-right legislators Otter has taken the cause direct to his citizens...

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Three more states are on track to implement the health care law and establish health insurance marketplaces, or Exchanges, in their states. Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the first conditional approval of a...

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Only 15 U.S. states so far plan to operate health insurance exchanges under President Barack Obama's reform law, leaving Washington with the daunting prospect of creating and operating the new online marketplaces in at...

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Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter announced today that Idaho is opting for a state-based health insurance exchange under the terms of Obamacare, subject to legislative approval. In his news release today Governor Otter said, "...

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It appears that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is here to stay. It survived the constitutional challenge in the US Supreme Court and the electoral challenge with the re-election of President...

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What's changed and what's not under Health Care Reform? In light of the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court and the complex nature of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Independent Insurance...

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Idaho is playing "catch-up" with Health Care Reform. The first meeting of the Idaho work group studying formation of a state operated Health Insurance Exchange was announced by Idaho Department of Insurance Director...

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Washington and Oregon were among the six new states to take Health Exchange grants to implement the new health care law. Idaho, a highly conservative and Republican majority state, snubbed HHS and did not take the...

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What is the status of the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange? The US Supreme Court will be making its decision in June whether all, part or none of the Affordable Care Act will stand as constitutional. So, the Idaho...

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New rules released today will offer states substantial flexibility as they design a health insurance exchange marketplace that works for their residents. The Idaho Legislature said "no thanks" this week and has failed...

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In a surprise move, the Obama Administration has announced that each state can decide what "essential health benefits" will be offered in their state Health Care Exchanges beginning in 2014. Under the Affordable Care...

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Idaho is one of 13 new states to receive grants to help them create Health Insurance Exchanges. The Affordable Care Act mandates that every state have a Health Insurance Exchange, either a state or a federal exchange,...

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Oregon is one of seven states awarded "Early Innovator" grants to design and implement the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure needed to operate Health Insurance Exchanges as part of the Affordable Health Care...

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