The revelation that the Obama Administration will delay the roll out of the “choice option” for small business until 2015 came as a huge surprise to many, including Joe Klein at Time, however anyone familiar with the Massachusetts experiment will feel a strong sense of déjà vu. In a 2010 paper I authored for the Heritage Foundation, I documented the delayed and failed effort by the Massachusetts public exchange (Connector) to offer real choice and savings to small businesses. My report suggested[...]

Pioneer Files Request for the Administration to Release Its Report on the Impact of The Federal Health Law on Massachusetts’ Small Businesses The report is known to indicate that the ACA will cause “extreme premium increases” for small businesses BOSTON – Today Pioneer Institute filed a Freedom of Information Request (FOIA) for all drafts of a March 2012 Division of Insurance (DOI) initiated special examination report that looked at the impact that certain changes require[...]

The headline from the AP this morning Surprise: New Insurance Fee in Health Overhaul Law The fee will total $12 billion in 2014, $8 billion in 2015 and $5 billion in 2016. That means the per-head assessment would be smaller each year, around $40 in 2015 instead of $63.[...]

While the Affordable Care Act might have taken its inspiration and ideas from the groundbreaking 2006 health care reform law in Massachusetts, the Bay State will not be exempt from some of the costs associated with the federal law.[...]

A new brief from Pioneer Institute, The Impact of the Federal Health Law’s “Cadillac Insurance Tax” in Massachusetts, estimates additional costs associated with the ACA's so-called "Cadillac tax," will affect well over 50% of workers in Massachusetts. [...]

Pioneer is releasing a new brief estimating the impact of the so-called “Cadillac tax,” targeted at high cost insurance plans, contained in Obamacare. The report finds that given our high premiums, a majority of workers in Massachusetts will pay the tax in 2018. On a more micro level, the report examines the impact of the excise tax on a small business employee, a police officer, and a teacher. The future looks expensive! For the 10 years following the introduction of the tax: Busine[...]

Affordability/ Subsidy levels for Low-income: How much will individuals pay for health insurance and health care under the federal law? Under the ACA, low-income individuals will pay more. Urban report I don’t recall supporters of the federal law in the Commonwealth highlighting this difference before it passed Congress or leading up to the SCOTUS ruling. Drilling down to look at cost-sharing as well along with the range of premium payment ranges: Mass vs Fed Diff in costs State Law – Comm[...]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/07/06/44000_uninsured_massachusetts_residents_paid_penalty_in_2010/?page=2 Francisco Machado of Lowell had long gone without health insurance. Strong and healthy, he preferred to save the money or send it to family in Brazil, until pain and buzzing in his ear sent him to the emergency room. The $600 bill persuaded him to enroll in a plan offered by his employer, a cleaning company. Having coverage meant that the 45-year-old would no lo[...]

http://www.politico.com/politicopulse/0612/politicopulse775.html IT’S HERE – Today is THE day. No more waiting, no more “what ifs?” to ponder. Two years, three months and five days after the first lawsuits against the Affordable Care Act were filed — the same day it became law — the Supreme Court will meet at 10 a.m. today to render its verdict on President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement. –The justices still have two more cases to decide in addition to the ACA. Those will[...]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/06/27/obamacares-fate-lies-in-anthony-kennedys-hands-system-failure/ The fate of the federal health care law currently before the Supreme Court is likely in the hands of Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has already cast the swing vote in a number of contentious cases over the past decade.  True to form, his questions during oral arguments gave both proponents and opponents of the federal law reason for hope. Those who believe that it’s unconstitutional to fo[...]