Large NYC Health System May Be Dropping Some Exchange Plans
Patients say they have been told the Mount Sinai Health System is terminating contracts with some low-cost insurance plans, reports The New York Times. Many are upset because the open enrollment period for 2014 has ended so they cannot switch plans. Meanwhile, Marketplace explores how the health care law allows young people who have aged out of foster care to get Medicaid coverage until they turn 26.
The New York Times: Patients Fear Mt. Sinai Will Drop Low-Cost Insurance Plans
Beth and Mr. [Yitzchok] Shuster appear to be among a number of people whose low-cost insurance plans are being dropped by Mount Sinai doctors. Patients said the changes were especially upsetting because the open enrollment period for insurance has passed, and federal law does not allow them to switch plans as a way of keeping their doctors. It was not clear on Thursday whether the changes were limited to a few doctors or part of a movement by a major institution to squeeze out low-paying plans under the Affordable Care Act or force higher reimbursement rates (Hartocollis, 5/1).
Marketplace: Health Care For Foster Youth, If They Can Find It
Just a few months ago, health care navigators wanted desperately to get young people to sign up for the Affordable Care Act. There was an all-out advertising blitz aimed towards young people between the ages of 18 and 34 to get them to sign up for health insurance. More than 6 hours of Obamacare commercials on YouTube? That smells like desperation. But it seems like everybody forgot something. Not LeBron James, not Zak Galifianakas, and not JLo's mom or the other famous people who made commercials for Obamacare mentioned the part of the law that lets young people who aged out of foster care sign up for extended Medicaid, and keep it until age 26 (Alvarez, 5/1).