skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Layoffs at CA immigration services center lead to protests; Trump: Six-week abortion limit is "too short"; WV voters worried about abortion care, reproductive health access; IL Latino communities advocate for a cleaner environment.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Vice President Harris says she'd consider a bipartisan cabinet should she win in November, Louisiana is the latest state to push the false claim of noncitizen voters, and incidents of 'swatting' contribute to an increasingly toxic political culture.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Alaska's 'canary of the sea' is struggling with a deteriorating whale environment, those in rural as opposed to urban areas are more likely to think raw milk is safe to drink, and climate change increases malnutrition in America's low-income counties.

Health-Care Affordability Bill Could Bring Insurance to Thousands of Mainers

play audio
Play

Tuesday, May 4, 2021   

AUGUSTA, Maine -- A bill before the Legislature would make health-insurance plans more affordable to many Mainers, by implementing a health-insurance assessment; a fee for-profit insurance companies would pay to an "Affordability Fund."

Ann Woloson, executive director of Maine Consumers for Affordable Health Care, said they often hear from people who either can't afford insurance coverage or do not qualify for any help to get coverage, perhaps because of their immigration status or because they fall into what's referred to as the "family glitch."

Working families fall in the family glitch when one member is offered family coverage by their employer.

"It basically means that that family can't get any help through the Marketplace paying their monthly premiums, just because of the offer of family coverage through an employer, even if their family coverage is far too expensive for their family," Woloson explained.

This is the first year since 2014 that insurance companies don't have to pay the assessment at the federal level after former President Donald Trump eliminated it. If the bill passes, Maine could generate more than $30 million annually for insurance-premium tax credits and other assistance for residents who can't currently afford health-insurance plans.

Woloson pointed out it's a modest assessment spread over most carriers in Maine, and noted over the last year, insurance companies have remained profitable, even with the economic hardship many folks have faced.

"This just does not seem like a time to be giving a break to insurance companies when Mainers and people across the country are struggling to afford the health coverage they need," Woloson argued.

Maine would be joining other states that have opted to pass state-level assessments, including Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and New Mexico, some even before the federal assessment expired.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Research shows South Dakota had the fifth-highest rate of cropland abandonment between 1986 and 2018, trailing Texas, North Dakota, Kansas and Montana. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Researchers mapped American croplands that have fallen out of production in hopes of inspiring new uses for them, such as renewable energy. Roughly 3…


Social Issues

play sound

The Public Children's Services Association of Ohio has launched a groundbreaking new initiative called Practice in Action Together, aimed at …

Social Issues

play sound

New polling found an overwhelming majority, 85% of Americans believe abortion access should be allowed in some situations. Two years ago in the …


A plan for the Trump Administration put together by a right-wing think tank, called Project 2025, calls to reclassify tens of thousands of employees as political appointees. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Social Issues

play sound

Former president Donald Trump is vowing to eliminate or alter thousands of government jobs if he wins this November, which could have a big effect on …

Social Issues

play sound

As Connecticut's school year begins, the state is still dealing with a teacher shortage. Almost every subject area is facing a statewide shortage …

Studies show ending the subminimum wage does not hurt employment in tipped industries. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

National proposals to end taxes on tips might have mixed effects on New Yorkers. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have …

play sound

New Yorkers could see relief from medical debt if several national proposals move forward. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a new …

Social Issues

play sound

Eligible Oregon families have until Monday to apply for summer food benefits. The Summer EBT program provides families with a one-time payment of $12…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021