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Count on it: Math symposium set at Misericordia

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WB’s general fund balance increases in August, but OT costs on the rise

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman are concerned the shortened enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act and reduced consumer outreach will have a negative impact on Pennsylvanians trying to sign up for coverage.</p><p>Ronald G. Ruman, director of communications at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, said the open enrollment period this year has been shortened by the Trump Administration from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 &#8212; a reduction of about seven weeks from what it&#8217;s been in previous years.</p><p>Ruman said the Trump Administration is also drastically cutting the advertising budget for ACA, commonly known as Obamacare. He said the Insurance Department will be conducting a limited media campaign which will be announced next month.</p><p>&#8220;But we do not have nearly the resources the federal government has to reach consumers,&#8221; Ruman said.</p><p>Ruman said the news is &#8220;particularly unfortunate&#8221; since the U.S. Census Bureau announced last week that Pennsylvania&#8217;s uninsured rate is down to 5.6 percent, the lowest on record, and down from 10.2 percent prior to the enactment of ACA.</p><p>U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, said this is another example of congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration sabotaging the nation&#8217;s health care system.</p><p>&#8220;Northeastern Pennsylvanians will see increased premiums and higher costs because of this sabotage,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;Instead of undermining our health care system, the Administration should be working in a bipartisan way to make it work better.&#8221;</p><p>According to information provided by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey&#8217;s office, taken from the website HealthCare.gov:</p><p>&#8226; The Open Enrollment Period is the yearly period when people can enroll in a health insurance plan. The 2017 Open Enrollment started Nov. 1, 2016, and ended Jan. 31, 2017; the 2018 Open Enrollment runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15</p><p>&#8226; Outside the Open Enrollment Period, you generally can enroll in a health insurance plan only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. You&#8217;re eligible if you have certain life events, like getting married, having a baby, or losing other health coverage.</p><p>&#8226; Job-based plans may have different Open Enrollment Periods. Check with your employer.</p><p>&#8226; You can apply and enroll in Medicaid or the Children&#8217;s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time of year.</p><p><strong>&#8216;Most offensive yet&#8217;</strong></p><p>Casey said this week that after Senate Republicans&#8217; first attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act failed by one vote in July, a new but similar proposal is being rushed through the Senate in hopes to pass it by Sept. 30.</p><p>Casey hosted a conference call Tuesday to discuss the staggering effects the new GOP bill &#8212; co-sponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy and Lindsay Graham &#8212; would have on Pennsylvania&#8217;s insured, including the most vulnerable communities of children, seniors, and people living with disabilities.</p><p>&#8220;This latest scheme is the most offensive yet,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;These data show that every county in Pennsylvania could see costs rise if this bill becomes law. Many communities across the commonwealth could see premium increases over $1,000 per year.&#8221;</p><p>In addition to rising premiums, Casey said a report by The Century Foundation found the Cassidy-Graham bill was among the worst proposals in increasing the number of uninsured Americans, reducing patient protections, and shifting costs to states.</p><p>U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, said Congress should come together to reduce the costs of coverage and prescription drugs.</p><p>&#8220;The Cassidy-Graham plan in the Senate would cut critical health protections and limit Medicaid funding,&#8221; Cartwright said. &#8220;I support improving the ACA and keeping rural and community hospitals in business.&#8221;</p><p>Casey said the Graham-Cassidy bill, includes:</p><p>&#8226; Converting Medicaid into a per capita or block grant, depending on the population, virtually ending the program.</p><p>&#8226; Eliminating protections for those with pre-existing conditions, and allowing insurance companies to charge higher premiums for conditions ranging from cancer and asthma to addiction and pregnancy.</p><p>&#8226; Cutting tax credits and cost-sharing reductions implemented to assist working middle class families secure affordable and adequate health coverage.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wolf</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Wolf_Tom-07-24-14-cmyk-8.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wolf</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Cartwright_Matt-CMYK-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cartwright </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Cartwright_Matt-CMYK-3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Cartwright </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_insurance-9-22-17-1.jpg">
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<div class="neCaption">Casey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Casey_Bob_2013_toned-3.jpg</photo3><caption3>Casey </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Some officials worried about reducing enrollment window for Obamacare