Unlike the past few U.S. elections, health care did not play a major role in the 2018 midterms. While some campaign ads in Tennessee and nationwide focused on the Affordable Care Act, prescription drug prices and protections for pre-existing conditions, Obamacare just isn’t the political lightning rod it once was.

However, that isn’t to say that the results of the election won’t impact health care. Many Americans still struggle to access care, and most are frustrated by rising costs. At this point, any major health care policy is unlikely to pass, but newly elected and re-elected politicians will still likely want to work toward improving the health care system locally and nationally.

Below, let’s look at how health care might be impacted by the results of this election, both in Tennessee and nationwide.

Do you need individual or family health insurance coverage in 2019? Open enrollment is here, which means consumers can compare and enroll in Affordable Care Act marketplace plans on Healthcare.gov until Dec. 15.

All the news about marketplace plans and new carriers coming to Nashville might distract consumers from an option that has been around for a long time, but is even more attractive in 2019 because of tax law changes. That option is Farm Bureau, and applying for one of its offerings should be the first step most Tennesseans take this year.

Open enrollment is almost here, and after years of double-digit premium increases, prices seem to be stabilizing.

Beginning Nov. 1, Tennessee consumers will be able to sign up for individual health plans via Healthcare.gov, and some consumers might actually pay less next year than they did in 2018.

For the first time since the Affordable Care Act exchanges opened in 2014, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has filed for a rate decrease, dropping premiums nearly 15 percent. Cigna also requested a rate decrease for 2019, with premiums set to fall nearly 13 percent.

However, not all consumers will see a price reduction. One carrier in Tennessee, Oscar Health, plans to increase premiums in 2019 by 7.2 percent, and consumers with other plans may receive less in subsidies and pay more in premiums.

What is driving these cost changes? To understand, let’s look briefly at how premiums are set.

Americans have been debating healthcare for decades. As costs have continued to skyrocket for individuals, employers and the federal government, consumer frustration has also risen.

The U.S. healthcare system is often characterized by opaque pricing, varying levels of quality, and inefficiencies that make getting care confusing for patients and providers alike.

Politically, the debate usually boils down to which path would improve access to care and lower costs – a more centrally-planned healthcare system, or a more free-market approach.

The U.S. healthcare system today isn’t really a free market, but there are some pockets that operate more like one than others. Below, we’ll look at what keeps America’s healthcare system from being a true “free market,” an example of a pocket in healthcare where a free market does operate, and finally, some ideas that could make the country’s healthcare system more competitive.

When it comes to political issues, health care is one that many consumers feel strongly about. Health care is a big part of almost everyone’s life, so it’s often a key issue in political races.

This will likely be true in Tennessee’s upcoming governor’s race, where Republican Bill Lee will face off against Democrat Karl Dean in November. Further, because Tennessee consistently falls in the top 10 unhealthiest states, this is an issue with particular relevance.

However, when it comes to health care, Karl Dean andBill Lee may have more in common than they have differences. Their health care platforms, as published on their websites, share some key characteristics, but also a few contrasting ideas.

Medical bills can be really confusing. Anyone who has had a healthcare experience is probably familiar with receiving several documents from different providers and insurance companies, and struggling to understand whether they are correct.

Often, the more acute the healthcare experience, the more complicated the billing. On top of this, many medical bills contain errors.

Industry groups estimate as many as 80 percent of medical bills contain inaccuracies. In these instances, consumers often end up overpaying. Some people have even argued medical bills are overly complicated on purpose to keep most consumers from noticing when they have been overbilled.

The whole process can cause a lot of anxiety, especially after a medical scenario. So how can consumers ensure their bills are correct?

Below are some tips to help consumers feel more comfortable reviewing their medical bills.

Many consumers have anxiety about getting health insurance right. There are several different strategies available for health coverage, but few comprehensive resources to help consumers evaluate their options.

Further, the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, one of the groups in Tennessee that helps consumers with health insurance, announced earlier this month that it won’t apply for federal funding to help consumers find coverage in 2019.

Through the Affordable Care Act, groups could apply for federal funding to train “navigators” to help consumers find, compare and enroll in health insurance. Funding for the program has been reduced, and the Tennessee Health Care Campaign said it would not compete with another navigator group in the state — Family and Children’s Services — for the funding.

As a result, already low resources for consumers will be further reduced. At the same time, many consumers in Tennessee will have more options than in previous years, including Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare) plans, short-term plans, and non-ACA options.

This means more consumers will be in a position to make decisions between different kinds of coverage and will likely be looking for good advice. Despite a reduction in navigator services, there are still some places where consumers can find help.

Here are a few of these options.

Losing health insurance coverage mid-year can happen for a variety of reasons. Whether you have had a recent job change, a move or a change in your household resulting in a loss of coverage, this transition can lead to anxiety for consumers.


What are consumers supposed to do if they lose coverage in the middle of the year? Fortunately, the reasons described above, among others, are considered “qualifying events,” which means you can sign up for health coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces at any time of the year after experiencing them.

However, the marketplace isn’t your only option. There are other options for health coverage, and which one you choose will depend on a few different factors, including your health status, how long you expect to need new coverage and your income.

Below is an outline of these options and how consumers can think about them.

Next year, Tennessee consumers will have more options for coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, as carriers reverse the trend of previous years and re-enter or expand in the state’s individual market.

Right now, five different insurance carriers have filed with the state to sell individual health plans in 2019. This is the most carriers selling in Tennessee’s individual market since 2016.

However, it is possible that fewer Tennesseans will enroll in this kind of coverage. Below, we’ll look at new options for Tennesseans and some factors to consider about marketplace plans versus other options.

Have you ever tried to price-shop for your health care? While consumers are usually familiar with doing so when it comes to buying most goods and services, health care has been different.

Typically, it has been really hard, if not impossible, to get an accurate sense of what health care visits and services will cost you ahead of time. 

Health care pricing has traditionally been very opaque, but as deductibles keep rising, consumers are paying for more and more of their own care. As a result, consumers are increasingly trying to find cost and quality information before they schedule a surgery or pick up a prescription.

Fortunately, new tools are available to make this process easier. While shopping for health care still isn’t as simple as running a quick search on Amazon, there are some websites and apps that can give you a general sense of what you might expect to pay. Let’s review three popular health care price-shopping tools — Healthcare Bluebook, MDSave and GoodRx.