Latest KFF Health News Stories
HHS Warns Of Early Hiccups As It Premieres Insurance Website
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is asking the public and press to be patient as the law unfolds.
For President Obama: A Day Combining Shutdown And The Exchanges’ Launch
President Barack Obama will meet in the Oval Office with a groups of people who will likely benefit from the health law.
Viewpoints: Sen. Barrasso Warns Insurance Buyers To Beware; It Will Take Time To Assess Marketplaces
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
NPR looks at what the federal government can learn from Massachusetts as health insurance exchanges roll out. Other media outlets check in with insurers, Wall Street traders, health care stakeholders and those who had previously been denied coverage in the individual insurance market.
As Part Of Capitol Hill Debate, GOP Seeks To Charge Congressional Employees More For Insurance
Even as House Republicans sought to eliminate federal subsidies for congressional workers, the Office of Personnel Management described how staffers would have to get insurance through small-business insurance exchanges.
Chief’s Personality Affects How Insurance Exchanges Will Work
The New York Times profiles Gary Cohen — the head of the consumer office overseeing health reform who is responsible for supervising the new online insurance marketplaces. In the meantime, doctors and other stakeholders weigh in on how the health law will unfold.
Impasse Over Health Law Leads To Federal Government Shutdown
The long-running battle to defund or derail the health law came to a head Monday when Congress failed to approve a short-term spending measure to continue funding the government. For an entrenched group of House Republicans, Obamacare is the sticking point. But a new round of polls finds public opinion doesn’t support their strategy.
Your Guides To Buying Insurance On The Health Insurance Exchanges
While Americans who get health insurance through their jobs won’t need to go there, news outlets have tips and information for consumers who may want to purchase insurance through the new exchanges.
A selection of health policy stories from New York, Iowa, California and New Hampshire.
Opinions On Shutdown: Using Obamacare Is A Sham Cause; GOP Isn’t Crazy; What’s The Endgame?
As the government moves to shut down, many experts offer their perspectives.
First Edition: October 1, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details of how the federal government has been shutdown as a result of the ongoing congressional battle over the health law. Still, even as House and Senate lawmakers were unable to overcome this issue to reach a deal to provide funding to continue government operations, Oct. 1 is still the official launch of the overhaul’s online insurance marketplaces.
Options For Young Adults: Stay On The Folks’ Plan, Move To The Marketplace Or Go Without
Children no longer “age out” of their families’ plans so quickly, but for some moving to the health law’s marketplaces will offer new options.
Marketplace Shoppers Must Pay 1st Premium By Dec. 15
Correction: An earlier version of this item misstated the forms of payment insurers are required to accept for plans sold on insurance marketplaces. The only required forms of payment are personal checks, electronic fund transfers, prepaid debit cards, cashier’s checks and money orders. Insurers may also opt to accept other forms of payment, such as credit […]
Millions Previously Denied Insurance Coverage Because Of Health Problems Look To Online Marketplaces
Many are relieved they can no longer be rejected by insurers but anxious about whether they will be able to afford the new policies.
Start Your Exchange Shopping Early, But Don’t Rush To Buy
Health insurance is a complicated product. Understanding how the plans work and picking one that suits someone’s needs will take time.
Marketplace Shoppers Must Pay 1st Premium By Dec. 15
If enrollees in the federally run insurance marketplaces don’t pay their insurer by Dec. 15, they will not have coverage that takes effect Jan. 1, federal officials said Monday. If they miss that first deadline, however, open enrollment runs through March 2014.
Answering Your Last Minute Questions On Online Health Insurance Exchanges
KHN’s Phil Galewitz was on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal Monday morning taking questions about tomorrow’s launch of the health law’s online health insurance exchanges. See related stories: In Kentucky, Confusion And Misinformation Abound KHN reporters will be returning to C-SPAN’s Washington Journal each Monday throughout the summer. Tune in each week to stay informed about the […]
Battle Over Health Law Brings Gov’t To Brink Of Shutdown
A stopgap bill to fund the government when the fiscal year ends Oct. 1 continues to be caught up in Republican efforts to defund, delay or derail the health law. Federal agencies have contingency plans in place.
Health Exchanges Set To Launch Oct. 1 Amid High Stakes And Political Pressure
Politico predicts that Tuesday will be a split-screen day — tracking developments related to the government shutdown and launch day of the health law’s online marketplaces. Those who are watching the insurance exchanges note that it may be months after opening day, even years, before it’s possible to assess how well they are working.
Navigating The Health Law’s New Insurance Options
In some states, the task of helping consumers find their way through the health law’s new online insurance marketplace has fallen to “navigators.” In general, though, news outlets report on the strategies and public outreach efforts underway in locations across teh country.