NH State Representative Steven Smith

Large Decreases in 2021 Premium Rates Expected in Individual Market

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Large Decreases in 2021 Premium Rates Expected in Individual Market

CONCORD, NH – The federal government has published information on proposed rates for New Hampshire’s health insurance exchange ( https://ratereview.healthcare.gov/) in 2021.The New Hampshire Insurance Department is reviewing 2021 forms and rates for individual health plans. For 2020, the second lowest cost silver plan was $404.60. The 2021 second lowest cost silver plan proposed premium rate is $318.95. This represents a 21.2% decrease.The premium rate decreases for plan year 2021 can be attributed in part to overall market trends, and in part to the approval of the Department’s Section 1332 Waiver designed to lower rates in the individual market and to provide market stability in the future. The waiver was approved by the federal government on Aug. 5.
“After two consecutive years of only modest premium rate decreases, I am pleased to announce that New Hampshire residents should experience some health insurance premium relief this year,” said Deputy Insurance Commissioner Alex Feldvebel. “We know that some people are losing their employer coverage due to the pandemic. This successful market intervention will increase affordability in the individual market, which we expect will allow more people to access health insurance coverage for 2021.”
“These proposed rate decreases are great news for New Hampshire families and the culmination of several years of hard work to lower health care costs,” stated Governor Chris Sununu. “The success of the 1332 Waiver is clearly benefiting our residents, and I am very grateful that many people will see real savings in their premium rates next year. I hope that this market stability will allow more families will be able to take advantage of these savings and enroll in health care for 2021.”
The 2021 rate information released by the federal government details proposed annual rate changes for benefit plans that are submitted by insurance companies operating on HealthCare.gov. The New Hampshire Insurance Department is prohibited by law from releasing rate information at the plan level until Nov. 1, the first day of open enrollment. A benefit plan is a specific plan that a New Hampshire resident would select for enrollment, such as a bronze, silver, or gold metal level plan.
Three companies have filed rates with the intention to offer individual products on the exchange in 2021 for New Hampshire: Ambetter, Anthem, and Harvard Pilgrim. The companies have until Sept. 23 to commit to selling plans on HealthCare.gov for the 2021 plan year.
The Department advises consumers that the only way to receive an accurate premium rate amount is to update your application on HealthCare.gov each year. The amount of premium assistance you may qualify for changes each year depending on your age, financial status, and household size. An insurance agent or enrollment assister can help you update your application and enroll in a plan.

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UNH Updates – Aug 18

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Conversation and preparation:

Supporting your child in the school year ahead

With the new school year fast approaching, or perhaps already here, many parents and caregivers are wondering how to best support their children through the uncertainty of the school year ahead. As schools are grappling with the big decisions of how they will deliver an education; be it face-to-face, remotely, a blend of the two, or a changing model depending on circumstances, one thing is for sure, we need to prepare our children differently for this school year than we have in the past. The good news is, our circumstances are no longer new. We have had time to absorb the shocking changes that have occurred and can move on to thoughtful action. Continued at Concord Monitor – Alice Giarrusso

UNH Requires Informed Consent for staying on campus

From Provost Jones – “I am writing to let you know that we have heard your concerns about the informed consent form. First, I want to clarify that an informed consent is not the same as a waiver of liability. It is a recognition that you understand what is expected and agree to follow behavioral and safety practices to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 for every member of our community. ”

UNH Informed Consent Form

UNH COVID Info Center

UNH expects in-house virus testing lab within weeks

https://apnews.com/3572c96ee9ed77fec982440c1eae1e4b

Investigation continues after youth hockey camp participant tests positive for COVID-19

https://www.wmur.com/article/investigation-continues-after-youth-hockey-camp-participant-tests-positive-for-covid-19/33627138

Two Saint Anselm students test positive for COVID-19 during move-in

https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/two-saint-anselm-students-test-positive-for-covid-19-during-move-in/article_992f0381-e613-5bfb-8007-516e2bae6029.html?block_id=853108

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 17th, 2020

On Monday, August 17, 2020, DHHS announced 16 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 7,004 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, there are two individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults, with 25% being female and 75% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (6), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (3), Merrimack (2), and Cheshire (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (3) and Nashua (1).

Hospitalizations

One new hospitalized case was identified for a total of 709 (10%) of 7,004 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Four of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

No deaths were reported by DHHS.

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

Belknap 121
Carroll 96
Cheshire 107
Coos 17
Grafton 107
Hillsborough – Other 1,274
Hillsborough – Manchester 1869
Hillsborough – Nashua 799
Merrimack 474
Rockingham 1729
Strafford 367
Sullivan 44

New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report

(data updated August 17th, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 7,004

Recovered 6,302 (90%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 423 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 279
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 709 (10%)
Current Hospitalizations 15

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 185,971
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 28,699
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 40,124
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 917
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 2,475

Number of Specimens Tested by Date of Report to NH DHHS

Information above, and archived daily updates are available here: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/news/updates.htm

Regional Information (total positive test results, deaths)

Look-back period is 1 week.

NH: 7,004 positive test results 423 deaths (1 week ago: 6,840 positive test results 419 deaths) (+164/+4)

MA: 123,841 positive test results 8842 deaths (1 week ago: 121,315 positive test results 8741 deaths) (+2526/+101)

ME: 4,197 positive test results 127 deaths (1 week ago: 4,049 positive test results 125 deaths)

VT: 1,527 positive test results 58 deaths (1 week ago: 1,462 positive test results 58 deaths)

CT: 51,267 positive test results 4,456 deaths (1 week ago: 50,567 positive test results 4,437 deaths)

RI: 20,572 positive test results 1023 deaths (1 week ago: 19,934 positive test results 1015 deaths)

NY: 430,636 positive test results 32,435 deaths (1 week ago: 426,046 positive test results 32,361 deaths) (+4,590/+74)

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EO 65 and Updates Aug 17

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Emergency Order 65

I have been getting a lot of questions about enforcement. I suspect the Governor did as well, since he issued EO 65 last week:

“An order authorizing assessments of civil penalties against businesses, organizations, entities, property owners, facility owners, organizers, and individuals who violate emergency orders”

An easy way to read Executive Orders is to skip all the “whereas” sections. If you do that with EO65, you get this:

NOW, THEREFORE, Pursuant to Section 18 of Executive Order 2020-04 as extended by Executive Orders 2020-05, 2020-08, 2020-09, 2020-10, 2020-14, 2020-15, and 2020-16, it is hereby ordered, effective immediately, that:
1. Violations of any Emergency Order, rule, or regulation issued under the State of Emergency are subject to the penalty provision under RSA 21-P:47.
2. Violations of any Emergency Order, rule, or regulation issued under the State of Emergency are subject to injunctive action brought by the State seeking compliance.
3. Any business, organization, entity, property owner, facility owner, organizer, or individual that recklessly violates any Emergency Order, rule, or regulation issued under the State of Emergency shall be subject to civil penalties of up to $1,000 for each violation or day that a violation continues.
4. The attorney general shall have authority to notify suspected violators of any Emergency Order of the state’s intention to seek a civil penalty or take any other enforcement action, to negotiate, and to settle with such suspected violators without court action.
5. The Division of Public Health (DPH), working through its staff or local health officers, shall take necessary enforcement actions for violations of the Emergency Orders, including imposing civil penalties or immediately closing an event, activity, business, entity, organization, facility, or property.
6. Civil penalties may be imposed for the following:
a. Failure to comply with any Emergency Order, rule or regulation issued under the State of Emergency and enforced by DPH; the fine shall be $2,000 per day;
b. Failure to cooperate in an investigation of a potential violation of an Emergency Order, the fine shall be $1,000 per day;
c. Failure to cease operations upon notification of DPH to do so, the fine shall be $1,000 per day;and
d. Failure to comply with DPH instructions after notification of a positive COVID-19 test result, the fine shall be $1,000 per day.
7. When imposing a civil penalty or immediately closing an event, activity, business, organization, entity, facility, or property, DPH shall send or deliver to the entity, business, organization, property owner, facility owner, individual, or organizer of an event or activity to be used in violation of an Emergency
Order a written notice that sets forth:
a. The action being taken by DPH;
b. The reasons for the action, including the identification of each violation as applicable; and
c. The ability of the entity, business, organization, property owner, facility owner, individual, or organizer an event or activity to request a hearing.

New Hampshire mail-in ballots may be delayed in November election, USPS warns

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-mail-on-ballots-may-be-delayed-in-november-election-usps-warns/33616430

Granite State students form organization to help the elderly during the pandemic

https://www.wmur.com/article/granite-state-students-form-organization-to-help-the-elderly-during-the-pandemic/33614664

Day care programs to support remote learning are too costly for many

https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/day-care-programs-to-support-remote-learning-are-too-costly-for-many/article_c834a0c9-e35a-596a-84c2-caba112ee796.html

Manchester Christian Church returns to online-only services

https://www.unionleader.com/news/religion/manchester-christian-church-returns-to-online-only-services/article_3402d19f-2ec2-59ce-98bf-ebb11542fcb1.html?block_id=897573

Northeast states investigate virus spread via youth hockey

https://apnews.com/f3d9bcba823ab50b660bda788d6648f1

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 16th, 2020

On Sunday, August 16, 2020, DHHS announced 8 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,988 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, there is one individual under the age of 18 and the rest are adults, with 62% being female and 38% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (2), Rockingham (2), Belknap (1), and Sullivan (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (1) and Nashua (1).