Consumers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a statement to raise awareness of consumer tax implications related to Marketplace coverage now that tax filing season is underway for 2023 tax returns...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued its “2023 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book,” providing aggregated information from last year on a full range of fraud, identity theft, and other consumer protection topics. The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network is a database that receives reports directly from consumers, as well as from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the Better Business Bureau, industry members, and non-profit organizations. More than 20 states contribute data to Sentinel. Sentinel received 5.4 million reports in 2023; these included fraud reports, as well as identity theft reports, and complaints related to other consumer issues, such as problems with credit bureaus, banks, and lenders...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final national snapshot for the 2024 Marketplace Open Enrollment (OEP), reporting that 21.3 million consumers have signed up for 2024 individual market health insurance coverage through the Marketplaces since the start of the 2024 OEP on November 1. This includes 16.4 million Marketplace plan selections in the 32 states using the HealthCare.gov platform for the 2024 plan year through the end of the OEP on January 16, 2024 (Week 11+), and 4.9 million plan selections in the 18 states and the District of Columbia with State-based Marketplaces (SBMs) that are using their own eligibility and enrollment platforms, through January 13, 2024 (Week 11) or the end of their OEP...

The AARP Public Policy Institute's latest report in their Rx Price Watch series highlights the impact of prescription drug price increases on consumers, employers, private insurers, and taxpayers, affecting programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The report presents annual and 15-year cumulative price changes, until the end of 2020, for a comprehensive set of 943 prescription drugs widely used by older adults, emphasizing the potential long-term consequences on health care coverage costs, taxes, and public programs.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that over 20 million Americans have signed up for 2024 individual market health insurance coverage through the Marketplaces since the start of the 2024 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OEP) on November 1. This includes 15.5 million Marketplace plan selections in the 32 states using the HealthCare.gov platform for the 2024 plan year and 4.8 million plan selections in the 18 states and the District of Columbia with state-based Marketplaces (SBMs) that are using their own eligibility and enrollment platforms, through December 23, 2023 (Week 8). Total nationwide plan selections include 3.7 million consumers (18% of total) who are new to the Marketplaces for 2024...

The Department of Labor (DOL) released a Home Care Guide that offers information about the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the responsibilities that consumers who use the services of a home care worker and their families must follow. Included in the guide is information about the background of who needs this guide, who needs to follow the FLSA rules, and tips on how to follow the FLSA rules.