It's a lazy Monday. Catch up on your reading – or, if your Mondays are actually more like mine, email yourself this post to read later on in the week.
The most recent proposal would allow the federal government to block "excessive rate increases" by health insurance companies. "Excessive" hasn't been defined, but the move was prompted by Anthem Blue Cross of California's recent increases of up to 39 percent for more than 700,000 customers.
Kaiser Health News discusses recent news coverage of mismarketed discount plans in an era of rate hikes and decreased benefits. "The companies used words such as 'premium' and 'copay,' and promised to cover 80 percent of medical expenses from a vast network of hospitals and doctors to persuade 4,600 customers in Minnesota they were buying an insurance policy," said Minnesota attorney general Lori Swanson.
Financial reporter Darla Mercado taps Jack Marrion, editor of Advantage Compendium Ltd., to give his predictions for the next 10 years. Number eight: "1035 exchanges will drop off." Check out his explanation, plus seven more predictions for the decade ahead.
