Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Louise Norris

@louisenorris.bsky.social

3.8K followers 430 following 420 posts

Health policy analyst. Health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, health care reform. I write for healthinsurance.org, medicareresources.org, Verywell.com, and healthinsurancecolorado.net. She/Her

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · Nov 18

Good morning, Bluesky folks! A big welcome to all my new followers, & a reintroduction:

I'm a health policy analyst, writing mostly at healthinsurance.org & medicareresources.org. I've been a licensed insurance broker since 2003, writing full-time about health insurance & health policy since 2008.

Get affordable health insurance & expert insights | healthinsurance.org

It's Open Enrollment! Explore affordable health insurance options, get quotes for individual & family ACA Marketplace plans, calculate your subsidy, and learn about trends affecting coverage.

healthinsurance.org

1 5 23

Reposted by Louise Norris

healthinsurance.org @healthinsuranceorg.bsky.social · 1d

How can gig workers – such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash drivers – get health insurance coverage?
@louisenorris.bsky.social explains the coverage options.
www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/how-can...

How can gig workers – such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash drivers – get health insurance coverage?

Learn how gig workers – such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash drivers – can get comprehensive health insurance coverage, and how the ACA provides income-based financial assistance for premiums and cost-sha...

www.healthinsurance.org

1 1

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 4d

If you feel like a deep dive into why the projected average Marketplace premium increase (if subsidy enhancements aren't extended) jumped from 75% to 114% this week, read this from @xpostfactoid.bsky.social xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/way-worse-...

*Way* worse than forecast: How did KFF's estimate of pending ACA premium increases rise from 75% to 114%?

Ravages of time -- and ravages of Trump's CMS

xpostfactoid.substack.com

2 3

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 4d

Extending the subsidy enhancements is essential to keeping health coverage affordable for self-employed people & folks who work for small businesses that don't offer group coverage. These are hard-working Americans (you must have income to get Marketplace subsidies), whose coverage is at risk.

Drew Altman @drewaltman.bsky.social · 4d

Four in ten who buy their own coverage say they would go without coverage if ACA premiums doubled. They will increase 114% if enhanced tax credits are not extended: on.kff.org/4nACyIk

2 2

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 4d

An updated look at state-by-state rules for Medigap access when a Medicare beneficiary is under age 65: www.medicareresources.org/medicare-eli...

Medigap eligibility rules for Americans under age 65 vary by state | medicareresources.org

There are no federal rules guaranteeing access to Medigap plans for enrollees under age 65, but states can create their own rules to ensure that disabled Medicare beneficiaries are able to enroll in s...

www.medicareresources.org

1 2

Reposted by Louise Norris

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 7d

“Two weeks after a federal committee of vaccine advisers approved new recommendations for who should get Covid-19 shots, neither Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nor his deputy have signed off, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income children.”

Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay

Two weeks after vaccine advisers approved new Covid recs, Kennedy still hasn’t given his approval, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income kids.

www.statnews.com

3 100 170

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 6d

Talking about benefits for undocumented immigrants gets people riled up. But the federal government has never funded coverage for undocumented immigrants. Nothing is changing about that.

Cutting Medicaid & not extending ACA subsidy enhancements harms U.S. citizens. But that doesn't poll well.

Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 6d

It's striking that the primary Republican talking point against the Democratic proposal to restore Medicaid and ACA cuts is that it would give health care to undocumented immigrants, which isn't true. There isn't a broader defense of the cuts.

6 14

Reposted by Louise Norris

Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 6d

1 15 40

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 6d

CMS published this in May: www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...

CMS Rolls Out Aggressive Strategy to Enhance and Accelerate Medicare Advantage Audits | CMS

Agency Will Begin Auditing All Eligible Medicare Advantage Contracts Each Payment Year and Add Resources to Expedite Completion of 2018 to 2024 Audits

www.cms.gov

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 6d

This is a little outside my wheelhouse too. But my understanding is that while overall payments to MA plans are expected to increase by about 5%, there are regulatory pressures, including new audits and tighter risk adjustment rules. @kgmom219.bsky.social do you agree?

1 1

Reposted by Louise Norris

Health Care Voices @healthcarevoices.org · 8d

When some people lose health insurance, it impacts everyone, increasing all of our costs and shutting hospitals down which limits access.

Learn more from @louisenorris.bsky.social: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpBG...

How Losing Coverage Affects Everyone!

YouTube video by Health Care Voices

youtube.com

11 15

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 8d

We've been talking for months about the potential premium increases that people could see next year if the Marketplace subsidy enhancements aren't extended. Here's an example, from @charlesgaba.com acasignups.net/25/09/29/rea...

A real-world example of having your premiums increase by infinity percent.

Almost exactly 10 years ago, The Onion published one of their classic headlines: Company’s HR Manager Really Pushing Infinite-Deductible Health Care Plan During a meeting with new hires Wednesday to d...

acasignups.net

1 2

Reposted by Louise Norris

Laura Packard @laurapackard.com · 8d

On #CareTalk live @shoupshouts.bsky.social @protectourcare.org talks about government shutdown w/ me @healthcarevoices.org @mswmedia.com & Diane @socialsecurityworks.org @louisenorris.bsky.social @healthinsuranceorg.bsky.social answer your health ins q’s

Will Our Government Shut Down? #CareTalk

Laura Packard

www.youtube.com

2 10 16

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 9d

Earlier this month, The Hill ran an op-ed titled "The pandemic is over — let Biden’s health insurance handouts expire." Here's @charlesgaba.com, explaining why that's nonsense, and dismantling the op-ed line-by-line: acasignups.net/25/09/28/how...

How full of shit is this Hill Op Ed? Let me count the ways.

Someone alerted me to a new column over at The HIll written by Dean Clancy, a "Senior Health Policy Fellow at Americans for Prosperity." It's been awhile since I've done one of these, but let's go thr...

acasignups.net

10 27

Reposted by Louise Norris

healthinsurance.org @healthinsuranceorg.bsky.social · 14d

How do average premiums and subsidies vary by metal level? Is gold, silver or bronze the most popular plan type? Healthinsurance.org has a new tool to see how these factors vary by state: www.healthinsurance.org/obamacare/ma...

1 1

Reposted by Louise Norris

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 18d

They also noted NO on requiring a prescription.

It seems like this means that the situation remains about the same as it is currently. In some states you will have to get a prescription and is others you won’t.

I am still unsure about this TBH.

4 9 55

Reposted by Louise Norris

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 18d

There is still massive confusion around the practical outcome of ACIP’s vote on COVID19 vaccines today.

Some are reporting that ACIP made no recommendations at all.

This is the exact wording of what they voted “yes” on. Shared clinical decisionmaking could mean talking to a pharmacist.

Screenshot says The pediatric and adult immunization schedules for administration of FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines should be updated as follows:
• Adults 65 and older: Vaccination based on individual-based decision-making*
• Individuals 6 months to 64 years: Vaccination based on individual-based decision making-with an emphasis that the risk-benefit of vaccination is most favorable for individuals who are at an increased risk for severe
COVID-19 disease and lowest for individuals who are not at an increased risk, according to the CDC list of COVID-19 risk factors.
*Also known as shared clinical decision making.
power over the budget

11 36 120

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 18d

ACIP voted this afternoon to stop recommending that all adults get the COVID vaccine. But they voted against requiring people to have a prescription to get the vaccine. Their recommendations still have to be approved by the CDC's acting director.

healthinsurance.org @healthinsuranceorg.bsky.social · 18d

Thinking about getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine? Wondering if your health insurance will cover it? @louisenorris.bsky.social breaks it down in our new FAQ here: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/can-you...

Can you get the updated COVID-19 vaccine – and will your health insurance cover the cost?

Learn about availability of updated COVID-19 vaccines, whether you’re eligible to get one, and whether your health plan will cover the cost.

www.healthinsurance.org

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 18d

ACIP has been discussing COVID vaccine recommendations today (follow @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social for details). Here's my overview of how ACIP recommendations shape health insurance coverage, and what you can expect if you're trying to get a COVID vaccine:
www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/can-you...

Can you get the updated COVID-19 vaccine – and will your health insurance cover the cost?

Learn about availability of updated COVID-19 vaccines, whether you’re eligible to get one, and whether your health plan will cover the cost.

www.healthinsurance.org

1 2

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 19d

Note that Marketplace subsidies can't be used with catastrophic plans. So if part of your goal in contributing to an HSA is getting your MAGI into the subsidy-eligible range (or qualifying for a larger subsidy), you'll want to avoid catastrophic plans.

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 19d

If you buy your own health insurance and want to be able to contribute to an HSA (which lowers your MAGI used to determine subsidy eligibility), know that ALL Marketplace Bronze (and catastrophic) plans will be HSA-eligible starting next year www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/can-i-b...

Can I buy health insurance through the exchange that’s compatible with an HSA?

If you enroll in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you’ll be eligible to fund an health savings account. HSAs let you contribute pre-tax dollars that you can then use to pay for qualified medical ...

www.healthinsurance.org

1 1 4

Reposted by Louise Norris

Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 19d

"Some members seemed confused about the data they were being presented. After their vote on the program that provides free vaccines for children, some members asked what they just voted on."

Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 19d

CDC advisers make their first childhood vaccine edit
They voted 8-3 against a little-used measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox vaccine for children under four. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

CDC advisers make their first childhood vaccine edit

The CDC’s ACIP is reviewing hepatitis B vaccines for newborns and shots during pregnancy, escalating scrutiny of long-standing health policy under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

www.washingtonpost.com

19 24

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 26d

Just this: www.healthinsurance.org/glossary/sel... Do you have a specific question about self-insured plans?

What is a self-insured health plan? | healthinsurance.org

A self-insured health plan (also known as a self-funded health plan) is coverage offered by an employer or association in which the employer (or association) takes on the risk involved with providing ...

www.healthinsurance.org

Reposted by Louise Norris

Charles Ghoul-ba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 27d

🚨 Dear Democrats: I'm the guy who's moving heaven & earth to get the #ACA enhanced tax credits extended, and I'm telling you NOT to cave for a short-term fix:

acasignups.net/25/09/11/dea...

Dear Democrats: I'm the guy who's moving heaven & earth to get the tax credits extended, and I'm telling you not to cave for a short-term fix.

This is gonna be one of the stranger references I've made on this site, but bear with me. Back in 1996 there was an HBO movie called "The Late Shift" which told the story of the Late Night TV show bat...

acasignups.net

17 410 1.1K

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 26d

Should you let your health insurance automatically renew? The short answer is no, but here are more details about how this works and why it's in your best interest to actively compare your options each year: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/should-...

Should I let my individual health insurance plan automatically renew?

If you have a health plan in the individual market, on-exchange or off-exchange, you can probably just let it renew for the coming year without doing anything during open enrollment. But this is gener...

www.healthinsurance.org

1 3 1

Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · Aug 29

Sorry you've been sick, Peter! Hang in there, and I hope you're feeling better soon. 🫂

1 1