Health Insurance

The state-funded health care programs serving certain low-income noncitizens have declined by tens of millions of dollars in recent months as the state rolled out new copay and coinsurance requirements this week.

Open enrollment to buy health coverage on the federal health insurance marketplace ended on Tuesday. In Missouri, more than 300,000 people have signed up for health plans. The number of people buying plans on healthcare.gov has increased since 2020, with Missouri’s enrollment on track to hit a record high in 2024.

The health insurance company Elevance, known as Anthem in Missouri, is hiring 250 new employees to work at its downtown St. Louis office. City leaders celebrated the news, which comes as other high-profile tenants are leaving the city's core.

On Jan. 1, those 18 and under who enroll in Missouri's insurance programs for low-income people will not be removed for 12 months.

Patients who buy health insurance on the federal marketplace will be able to select a plan that includes BJC in its network, thanks to a last-minute deal with insurer Aetna, health system officials confirmed today.

In a letter Wednesday to Missouri Department of Social Services Director Todd Richardson, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services assessed how well the state is complying with rules for disenrolling people from health insurance programs for poor and disabled people. The average person calling the social services helpline had to wait 48 minutes to talk to someone.

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government issued emergency protections that barred states from removing people from the government-funded health insurance program for low-income people and families. That changes this month.

The legislation establishes a state-based exchange for policies sold under the Affordable Care Act and gives the Illinois Department of Insurance the authority to modify or reject proposed rate increases.

Child care businesses are struggling to recruit new employees and retain staff. The Missouri chamber is touting its Chamber Benefit Plan, a novel health insurance project, to lower health insurance costs for providers and entice them to offer coverage to their employees.

Health insurance can present barriers to care. Some physicians are choosing to open clinics that charge membership fees instead.