New Jersey Consumers Save Big On Insurance Premiums Thanks To ObamaCare

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

Affordable Care Act saved $2.1 billion for American consumers

(NEW JERSEY) - “ As a result of ObamaCare, Americans have already saved an estimated $2.1 billion on health insurance premiums. Once again, the Affordable Care Act is protecting consumers from excessive costs.

1. In every state, insurance companies must submit a justification for public review if they want to raise premiums by 10% or more. This protects consumers from excessive “ and unjustified -- rate increases. Rate reviews have helped save an estimated $1 billion for American consumers.
2. The 80/20 rule ensures that insurance companies spend at least 80% of premium dollars on patient care. Those companies failing to meet these spending requirements must write checks back to their customers for the difference. Consumers have received rebate checks for $1.1 billion thanks to the 80/20 rule.

"Thanks to Obamacare, New Jerseyans are now saving millions of dollars on healthcare premiums," said Joshua Henne, New Jersey spokesman for Know Your Care. "For the first time ever, millions of consumers across the country are actually getting money back from their insurance companies. These new rules are bringing transparency and accountability to the healthcare marketplace."

To assist in this effort, the Affordable Care Act provides states with Health Insurance Rate Review Grants to enhance their rate review programs and bring greater transparency to the process. 42 states have used their rate review grant funds to make the rate review process stronger and more open. The rate review report released yesterday is available at: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/reports/rate-review09112012a.html.

New Jersey is using their grant funding in several key ways:

• New Jersey improved its review of health insurance rate increases. Prior to receiving the grant funding, filing of comprehensive medical rates electronically in the individual, small group, and large group markets was optional and not widely observed. Today, all rate filings are now received electronically, which has helped New Jersey maintain filing information.
• Additionally, in an effort to standardize filing submissions, for rates filed on or after July 1, 2012, carriers in New Jersey will be required to submit two worksheets and a checklist to ensure all documents are properly submitted and in the correct format.
• Finally, New Jersey has partnered with the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy to engage stakeholders in a series of forums to better understand the impact of rate increases and the type of information wanted by consumers.

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The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23rd, 2010. Over the past two years, it has been a tremendous help to millions of Americans as this real reform lowers costs and guarantees more choice for consumers. As additional provisions are implemented, ObamaCare will continue to benefit millions more people.

NEW JERSEY CONSUMERS TO RECEIVE OVER $7.6 MILLION IN HEALTH INSURANCE REBATES THANKS TO AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, June 21st, 2012


(NEW JERSEY) – 44,998 New Jersey consumers will receive $7,670,066 in health insurance rebates as a result to the Affordable Care Act’s 80/20 standard. Checks will be in consumers’ hands by August 1st – along with a notice that the rebate is a direct result of the health care law.

Consumers owed a rebate will see their value reflected in one of the following ways:

• a rebate check in the mail;
• a lump-sum reimbursement to the same account that they used to pay the premium if by credit card or debit card;
• a reduction in their future premiums; or
• their employer providing one of the above, or applying the rebate in a manner that benefits its employees

The Affordable Care Act requires that insurance companies spend at least 80% of premiums on patient care. This 80/20 provision guarantees that consumer premiums are going back to the consumers themselves – and not use for CEO bonuses or corporate retreats. Insurance companies who do not meet this 80 percent threshold must pay rebates to consumers. The amount depends on the extent to which the insurer fell below the 80 percent.

Every New Jersey consumer will receive a notice from their insurance company informing them of the 80/20 rule, whether their company met the standard, and, if not, how much of difference between what the insurer did or did not spend on medical care and quality improvement will be returned to them. 


The 80/20 standard is just one of the ways that the Affordable Care Act increases transparency and extends new protections to American consumers.

“This year, New Jersey consumers will actually be getting money back from their insurance companies,” said Joshua Henne, New Jersey spokesman for Know Your Care. “Such a rebate would have been unheard of just a few years back, but thanks to ObamaCare we can now come to expect this sort of transparency and consumer protection. It’s nice to have someone on our side who is looking out for the best interests of consumers.”

The average New Jersey family will receive a $300 rebate. New Jersey is also one of the states whose health insurers have the highest average rebate in the large group market - at $359. For those consumers who are not getting a rebate, it means that their insurance companies are already spending 80% of their premiums on patient care

For many consumers, the 80/20 rule motivated their plans to lower prices or improve their coverage to meet the standard. This is one of the ways the 80/20 rule is bringing value to consumers for their health care dollars.

For a detailed breakdown of these rebates by state and by market, please visit: 
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/reports/mlr-rebates06212012a.html

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The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23rd, 2010. Over the past two years, it has been a tremendous help to millions of Americans as this real reform lowers costs and guarantees more choice for consumers. As additional provisions are implemented, ACA will continue to benefit millions more people.

New Jersey Community Health Centers Receive $18 Million In Funding From Affordable Care Act

For Immediate Release:
May 1st, 2012

(NEW JERSEY) – Today, seven local community health centers in New Jersey were awarded $18 million in funding through the Affordable Care Act.

The money will be used to expand facilities and improve existing services, as well as address pressing facility and equipment needs. Some 17,450 new patients will also be served as a result of the shared federal grants.

The seven community health centers sharing the federal grants are:

•  Community Health Care (Bridgeton)
•  Henry J. Austin Health Center (Trenton)
•  Monmouth Family Health Center (Long Branch)
•  Newark City Health and Human Services (Newark)
•  Project H.O.P.E (Camden)
•  Southern Jersey Family (Hammonton)
•  Zufall Health Center (Dover)

“Community health centers fill an important need in our local cities and towns,” said Joshua Henne, New Jersey spokesman for Know Your Care. “This funding is critical to ensuring that these centers can continue providing the care and resources that help to keep New Jersey’s families and communities healthy. The Affordable Care Act has proved crucial to maintaining these health centers and bringing much-needed care to The Garden State.”

All across America, grants totaling more than $728 million will support 398 renovation and construction projects - creating jobs and boosting the ability of health centers ability to care for additional patients. These awards are part of a series of capital investments made available to community health centers under the Affordable Care Act - which provides $9.5 billion to expand services over five years and $1.5 billion to support major construction and renovation projects at community health centers.

Overall, since the beginning of 2009, employment at community health centers nationwide has increased 15%. Through the Affordable Care Act and the Recovery Act, community health centers are today serving nearly 3 million additional patients tand will serve an additional 1.3 million new patients in the next two years.For more information on the grants and grantees, please visit:

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120501a.html

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The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23rd, 2010. Over the past two years, it has been a tremendous help to millions of Americans as this real reform lowers costs and guarantees more choice for consumers. As additional provisions are implemented, ACA will continue to benefit millions more people.

NEW JERSEY: 1 OF 8 STATES AWARDED HEALTH INSURANCE CO-OP

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Contact: Joshua Henne, 732-407-5938 

Freelancers CO-OP of NJ Will Benefit Individuals & Small Businesses

(NEW JERSEY) – Yesterday, New Jersey was announced as one of eight states awarded a Consumer Oriented and Operated Plans (CO-OP) loan. These funds will help the Freelancers CO-OP of New Jersey start a private non-profit, consumer-governed health insurance company.  Created by the Affordable Care Act, CO-OPs provide more health care choices for both individuals and small businesses.

The Affordable Care Act has an express goal of funding one CO-OP in each of the fifty states. The funding for loans is part of $3.8 billion included in federal health care reform to create non-profit insurers. Beginning in 2014, millions of uninsured people will now be able to purchase private coverage in new state markets. CO-OPs will compete in state-run insurance exchanges, and tax-credit subsidies will help customers with the cost. These new and innovative health-insurers will be run by their members and are designed to offer coverage to both individuals and small businesses.

"This CO-OP loan announcement is just another accomplishment in a long list of ways the Affordable Care Act is providing access to high-quality, affordable healthcare and wellness benefits to all Americans," said Joshua Henne, New Jersey spokesman for Know Your Care. "The Freelancers CO-OP of New Jersey will be a terrific resource for countless families and small businesses throughout the state."

 Freelancers CO-OP of New Jersey was awarded a $107,213,300
loan to provide health insurance coverage statewide. This particular non-profit health insurer is sponsored by Freelancers Union - a union of independent workers partnering with providers with an innovative and effective Patient-Centered Medical Home model.

 The loans will help fund CO-OP start-up costs. The money will also assist these nonprofit health insurers in meeting minimum reserve requirements to pay claims. All loans must be repaid with interest and loans will only be made to private, nonprofit entities that show a high probability of becoming financially viable. The loans for start-up costs must be repaid within 5 years, while solvency loans must be repaid in 15 years.

To-date seven nonprofits offering coverage in eight states have already been awarded $638.7 million. In addition to the Freelancers CO-OP of New Jersey, the other states benefitting include Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Wisconsin. All will begin operation starting January 1^st, 2014.

 For more information on this announcement, please visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2012/02/coops02212012a.html

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 The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23^rd,^, 2010. Over the past two years, it has been a tremendous help to millions of Americans as this real reform lowers costs and guarantees more choice for consumers.  As additional provisions are implemented, ACA will continue to benefit millions more people.