This is the second consecutive year that federal officials extended the deadline for consumers to sign up for coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. By the start of this week, about 4 million people had chosen ACA plans. Obama administration officials estimated that more than 11 million will be covered through ACA in 2017.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/2016/12/15/6b949e9a-c339-11e6-9a51-cd56ea1c2bb7_story.html?utm_term=.b15768b4ab41

Bad news for consumers. Anthem-Cigna merger hearing has been post-poned by the MO Dept of Insurance. A Missouri hearing would have given the department the opportunity to look into how the merger would affect MO consumers before it goes to a federal judge.

The department held a similar hearing for the merger between Aetna and Humana and ruled against this merger. A similar decision would have been important for the federal judge to know before ruling.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/missouri-department-of-insurance-postpones-anthem-cigna-hearing/article_efd3bbd5-f3f5-5df0-b894-fae728099bdf.html

Today marked the first day of the federal trial over the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger which would create the nation’s largest health insurance company. Government antitrust lawyers are attempting to block this $48 billion deal which threatens to reshape the U.S. market for health coverage.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/11/21/antitrust-trial-over-aetna-cigna-merger-begins/94222422/

The U.S. Department of Justice is challenging what it says is the largest merger in the history of the health insurance industry. On Monday, the Justice Department will begin arguing its case against Anthem’s $54 billion acquisition of Cigna Corp.

This merger would be particularly painful for St. Louis area consumers where these two insurers have a significant portion of the market share.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/consumers-should-pay-attention-to-insurance-antitrust-case/article_5a24485f-b821-5d4f-969b-904c1ecd1867.html#utm_source=stltoday.com&utm_campaign=BusinessNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1DBDAE0183C0B49F9CB94AD3EE8564A5EF7394FF

Ameren increases quarterly dividends as they prepare to come before the PSC requesting a rate increase.

The board of directors of Ameren Corp declared a dividend increase on its common stock of 3.5%.

www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ameren-corporation-increases-quarterly-cash-dividend-300345208.html

CCM joins national consumers and civil rights organizations to make final push for a strong CFPB rule strengthening payday and car title lending rule

National Consumer and Civil Rights Organizations Make Final Push Urging CFPB to Strengthen Payday and Car Title Lending Rule

Regulators disallowing utility payments at payday loan stations.

Allowing monopoly companies to use payday loan stations gives legitimacy to predatory business and facilitates the use of high interest loads to pay for necessary services.

Its vitally important to have consumer groups who are willing to advocate for and push for policies that protect citizens from predatory businesses. Support Consumers Council of Missouri along with AARP Missouri, Empower Missouri and other advocates who fight for what’s right.

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2016/09/15/missouri-regulators-disallow-utility-payments-at.html?ana=twt

St. Louis Community Credit Union is opening a South City branch in Benton Park West. SLCCU is working to combat payday lending and check cashing, to put mainstream banking in the hands of people who are otherwise underserved by traditional financial institutions.

St. Louis Community Credit Union Building New Branch in Benton Park West

The Affordable Care Act made health insurance accessible for millions of Americans. But rising rates, a lack of transparency in policy changes and little oversight in the process puts the entire system at risk.

Rates in MO are rising by alarming rates and the data behind these rates hikes are questionable.

http://acasignups.net/16/06/01/2017-rate-request-early-look-missouri

Regulators have issued a scathing report outlining increasing rates and improperly allocated costs by Laclede Gas. Its time to open a formal PSC hearing.