For small business owners, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is about to become less affordable.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.As Bloomberg News reported Tuesday (Nov. 11), small business owners and th ...

Today marks day 42 of the government shutdown. But last night, some hope in progress. The Senate passed a bill to reopen the government, taking steps toward ending this longest shutdown in US history.The legislation was approved with the support of 52 Republicans, seven Democrats, and one independent. Combines three-year full spending bills with a stop gap measure to keep the rest of the government funded through the end of January. The package also reverses mass layoffs triggered by the Trump administratio ...

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Monday night framed President Donald Trump's attacks on air traffic controllers as a deliberate distraction from the administration’s “failure on everyday life costs,” specifically what Buttigieg called a “bad deal” on health insurance.Buttigieg Calls Out Rising Health Insurance CostsIn a series of posts on X, Buttigieg highlighted the economic pressure facing Americans. “Everyday life – making it better and more affordable – must always be our bottom line,” ...

And joining me is Pennsylvania Senator John Federman, who's of course one of the few Democratic lawmakers to consistently vote for the stop gap funding bill throughout the government shutdown. Senator Federman, uh I'm pleased to be joined with you normally chasing you down in the hallway. Uh we're here. We're talking uh during this program.You have consistently voted to reopen the government for over a month. What ultimately moved the needle and convinced some of your fellow Democrats to join you. I I think ...

Core Insights - The Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment began on November 1, 2025, but subsidies are uncertain due to the ongoing government shutdown [1][2] - Premiums for ACA plans are expected to rise significantly, with average premiums potentially reaching $1,000 per month, as enhanced premium tax credits are set to expire at the end of 2025 [2][8] - The expiration of these credits, which were introduced by the American Rescue Plan, is a major political issue affecting the government shutdown, with Democrats insisting on subsidy discussions before reopening the government [4][6] Premium Increases - Current ACA rates reflect the assumption that Americans will not receive enhanced premium tax credits, leading to much higher premiums compared to previous years [2][10] - Research indicates that without the enhanced credits, average out-of-pocket premiums for enrollees could more than double, increasing by $1,000 annually [9] - Older adults, particularly those in their sixties with middle incomes, could face an additional $25,000 in costs due to the loss of subsidies [9] Market Dynamics - Insurers are raising premiums in anticipation of a riskier enrollee pool, as younger and healthier individuals may leave the market without financial assistance [10] - The uncertainty surrounding subsidies is causing many potential enrollees to experience "sticker shock" when shopping for ACA plans [7][8] - There is a possibility for individuals to wait for Congress to extend subsidies, but they must enroll by the 2026 deadlines to avoid losing coverage [6][8]

It's open enrollment and if you get your health insurance through an Affordable Care Act plan, next year's premiums may shock you. I'm Sharon Eper, senior personal finance correspondent at CNBC and the author of the Money 101 newsletter. Imagine paying 26% more for health insurance next year.That's how much insurers premiums are expected to increase for ACA plans. But you could pay a lot more if enhanced tax subsidies are not extended beyond December 31st. your cost for coverage could double.So, here are th ...

Core Insights - Ambetter of Tennessee, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, will provide affordable health insurance plans statewide for the 2026 plan year, with open enrollment starting on November 1, 2025, and ending on January 15, 2026 [1][2] Company Overview - Ambetter of Tennessee is underwritten by Celtic Insurance Company and offers a range of essential health benefits, including preventive services, maternity care, pediatric services, mental health services, hospitalizations, and prescription drug coverage [3] - The company aims to expand access to quality healthcare across all 95 counties in Tennessee, emphasizing its comprehensive provider network [1][3] Product Offerings - The 2026 benefits include coverage for essential health benefits and additional services such as dental and vision coverage in some plans [3] - Ambetter Health Solutions provides individual health insurance plans compatible with Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), allowing employers to offer customizable coverage options [3] Member Programs - Ambetter of Tennessee offers the Ambetter Perks program, which provides discounts on wellness activities, financial tools, and health-related products [3] - The My Health Pays® program allows members to earn up to $500 in rewards for engaging in healthy activities, which can be used for health-related expenses [3][5] - Virtual 24/7 Care enables members to access telehealth services for various illnesses from home [3][6] Enrollment Process - The enrollment process is facilitated through the Ambetter of Tennessee website, allowing users to compare coverage options, check eligibility for financial subsidies, and enroll directly [3]

Let's talk about some of the tips that you have for folks. First of all, you got to look at your retirement accounts, you say, and maximize those contributions. How do you do that.>> Well, uh, walk down to your employee benefit department and, uh, check in on what you've been contributing and what you have contributed year to date. The contribution limits for 2025 are 23,500 for employees under age 50, 31,000 for those who are age 50 and older, and then this year uh there's a special catch-up contribution f ...

Core Viewpoint - Molina Healthcare's stock plummeted over 20% following a significant earnings miss for Q3, attributed to rising medical expenses and a lowered guidance for Q4 [1][2]. Financial Performance - Molina's adjusted EPS for Q3 was $1.84, missing analyst expectations of $3.89 by more than 50% [2]. - The company projects Q4 adjusted earnings of $0.35, significantly below analysts' expectations of $2.42 [2]. Medical Care Ratio (MCR) - Molina's consolidated MCR for Q3 was 92.6%, up from 89.2% in the same quarter last year, indicating increased medical expenses impacting profitability [4]. - A 92.6% MCR means the company retained only 7.4 cents per dollar of premium revenue after covering medical expenses [5]. - The MCR for ACA plans was particularly high at 95.6%, exceeding both analyst predictions of 86% and Molina's own 73% from the previous year [6]. Industry Context - The MCR is a critical metric for healthcare providers, reflecting the balance between premium revenue and medical expenses [3]. - Rising medical costs and the structure of ACA plans have posed significant challenges for Molina, affecting its financial stability [5][6].

Healthcare Policy & Subsidies - Democrats are prioritizing the restoration of healthcare subsidies, despite potential political ramifications [1][15] - Failure to extend subsidies could more than double premium payments for ACA plans on average, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation [2] - The lapse of subsidies affects a broad range of people, not just lower-income individuals, potentially leading to increased uncompensated care costs [6][7] - Enhanced premium subsidies led to a doubling of Affordable Care Act plan enrollment, from approximately 12 million to 24 million people [11] Enrollment & Market Impact - Open enrollment has already begun in some states, with individuals window shopping and potentially being deterred by higher premiums without subsidies [3][4] - If subsidies are not extended, people may not re-enroll even if Congress eventually continues the tax credits [5] - The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the cost of uncompensated care will increase if subsidies go away, leading to higher insurance costs for those already insured [8] Political Implications - A significant portion (six in 10) of ACA recipients reside in congressional districts represented by Republicans, creating political irony [12] - Republicans may face blame if people lose their health insurance due to subsidy expiration, potentially impacting midterm elections [14]