The Trump Administration is proposing to gut standards for coverage of health benefits in the individual insurance market. In late October, the Administration released their proposed 2019 “payment notice” that includes changes in rules governing the marketplaces and health insurance markets. NoHLA and other advocates submitted comments objecting to many of the proposed changes, especially...Continue reading→

Democratic candidates for Governor won in both Virginia and New Jersey – providing optimism for Democrats preparing for next year’s mid-term elections. At home, the WA State Senate flipped back to a Democratic majority. The Republicans have had control in recent years. Republican Senator Andy Hill’s death last year created the opportunity for newcomer Manka...Continue reading→

After the resignation of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price amid scandal, President Trump announced his replacement pick, Alex M. Azar. Most recently an executive at Eli Lilly, Azar is a lawyer and former Deputy HHS Secretary under President George W. Bush. Azar needs to be confirmed by the Senate; he was unanimously...Continue reading→

President Trump slashed outreach and enrollment funding and ended cost-sharing reduction payments to disrupt the Exchange. Open Enrollment began on November 1 and enrollment has surged across the country. Over 600,000 people selected a plan through HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace, in the first week of Open Enrollment. In Washington’s Exchange, website traffic on Washington HealthPlanFinder...Continue reading→

NoHLA hosted a breakfast briefing featuring our Executive Director, Janet Varon, and special guest, Jorge L. Baron, Executive Director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. Jorge focused on the policy changes facing immigrants and highlighted a few local patient stories, and Janet followed with a discussion about the impact of these changes on health care access....Continue reading→