Latest KFF Health News Stories
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
New Small Businesses See Health Law Help In Clearing Major Expense Hurdle
Some new small businesses see the health law’s insurance marketplaces as a way past one of the major expenses in starting a business — providing health care coverage for their employees. In the meantime, some companies prepare to ask workers to share more of the cost of their health care coverage.
N.Y. Medical Providers Considering Which Exchange Plans To Join
Medical providers in New York are making deals with insurers to provide care to their patients buying health coverage on the state’s health insurance marketplace. In California, Molina Healthcare looks for growth opportunities.
State Exchanges Report November Surge
Still, reports on the ground vary — with some states offering positive news, while others still are limping along. Here is a sampling of coverage from Kentucky, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon and Massachusetts.
Health Law Issues Bring Optimism To The GOP But Make Democrats Wring Their Hands
The health law’s rollout is triggering a range of political postures, plans and strategies.
Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion Running Smoothly
While many Americans have struggled to sign up for insurance on the troubled healthcare.gov website, enrollment is moving faster for Medicaid in states that opted into the expanded program. The New York Times looks at the particular challenges of enrolling homeless adults, while media outlets examine related issues in Illinois, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
State Highlights: KanCare Gets Nursing Home Critics; Patient Access To Records In Wis.
A selection of health policy stories from Virginia, Kansas, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Lawmakers Join State Exchanges Ahead Of Tough 2014 Election Battles
Some Washington lawmakers are joining their home state insurance marketplaces ahead of 2014’s elections so they can say they are getting the same health law choices as constituents. In the meantime, Politico looks at the premium costs for one prominent member, and The Washington Post fact checks some claims about health law coverage made by Sen. Ted Cruz.
First Edition: November 25, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how political concerns and strategies are taking shape as a result of healthcare.gov’s difficulties.
The Affordable Care Act is good for young adults because it’ll save them money on health care, leaving them more to spend on liquor and birth control. That’s one way to interpret the message from a provocative new ad campaign in Colorado. Not everyone is thrilled with it. In a federal hearing in October, Rep. […]
Administration Tests Fixes That Would Allow Insurers, Brokers To Enroll More Consumers
Changes that would allow the companies to enroll subsidy-eligible individuals are being tried in Texas, Ohio and Florida.
Because of the diversity of this immigrant population, experts say educational campaigns to raise awareness about the health law’s new coverage options must avoid a “one-size-fits-all” model.
Obamacare Deadline For Jan. 1 Coverage Extended One Week
Consumers will have an extra week — until Dec. 23 — to enroll in health insurance coverage that begins Jan. 1, Obama administration officials said Friday. Millions of consumers have been frustrated by their inability to sign up for coverage through healthcare.gov, the federal website for residents of 36 states, which went public Oct. 1. While […]
Consumers Given More Time To Get Healthcare.gov Coverage That Starts In January
Officials said the change was made to give consumers more time to compare and shop for plans available on the federal online marektplace, which has been plagued by technical problems since its launch. KHN tracked the afternoon’s news coverage of this development.
Q&A: Sorting Out the Controversy Over Canceled Insurance Policies
Where do states stand on approving President Obama’s plan to allow insurers to extend canceled health insurance plans under the health law? Many are still wringing their hands over whether they should comply.
Administration Delays 2015 Individual Plan Rate Requirements
The Obama administration plans to push back by a month the start of open enrollment in online marketplaces in 2015 to give insurers more time to compute the costs of individuals who come in late during the plan’s first year — a change that might avoid higher premiums and steer clear of the 2014 midterm elections.
The website is vital to the health law’s success, they argue.
Troubled Health Law Rollout Damages Public Support
With its troubled rollout of the new insurance marketplaces, the Obama administration has achieved something Republicans have failed to do: seriously dent the popularity of the health care law, according to poll released Friday. Nearly half of Americans now hold an unfavorable view of the law and only a third like it, according to the […]
Some Cities Delay Plans To Move Retirees To Marketplaces For Coverage
The problems with the healthcare.gov website has put a hold on those plans.
Walgreen Co. To Move Employees Into Private Health Insurance Exchange
Bloomberg reports on this marketplace development.