Latest KFF Health News Stories
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Health Law Fact-Checking And Helpful Hints
News outlets examine claims about the health law, including the “five top myths that refuse to die.” They also provide consumer information about the next stage of implementation — the open enrollment period that begins Oct. 1 for online insurance marketplaces in every state.
First Edition: September 10, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from Capitol Hill about the GOP strategy to link debate of a stopgap spending bill to keep the government operating to efforts to defund the health law.
Texas Outbreaks Make a Case for Vaccinations
A recent rash of measles and whooping cough cases has spurred calls for new state legislation to change the immunization consent process.
Health Marketplaces Open For Shopping Oct. 1
Coverage will begin Jan. 1.
Consumers With Serious Medical Problems Need To Carefully Assess Total Plan Costs
The price of premiums isn’t the only expense to consider when evaluating policies from the insurance marketplace.
Law Will Shift Demographics For Medicaid Toward Healthier Group, Study Finds
The health law is expected to change the face of Medicaid – literally. As part of the federal overhaul, some states have opted to expand in January this state-federal health insurance program for low income people to include Americans who earn as much as 138 percent of the federal poverty line (just under $16,000 for […]
How Will Obamacare Affect Your Medicare Benefits?
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey was on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal Monday morning taking questions about how the health law will affect Medicare’s benefits. See related story: Medicare Is Not Part Of New Insurance Marketplaces. KHN reporters will be returning to C-SPAN’s Washington Journal each Monday throughout the summer. Tune in each week to stay informed about […]
Checking The Facts Behind Obamacare Claims
FactCheck.org has gotten lots of questions about the law and has found that there’s a lot of wrong information out there.
House GOP To Advance Bill To Fund Gov’t Until Mid-December
The Republican leadership is also contemplating how to handle pressure from conservatives demanding they cut off all funding for the health law. Those members plan a rally Tuesday to build momentum.
Controversial Navigators Are Central In Health Law’s Outreach Efforts
State officials opposed to federal overhaul target nonprofit groups that the federal government is counting on to help consumers.
Colorado Exchange Watchdog Likes What It Sees
Colorado lawmakers overseeing the set-up of the state’s health insurance exchange are generally pleased with how it’s going, but they are worried some residents will still be “left out in the cold,” without insurance even if the exchange works well. Colorado is one of 16 states and the District of Columbia that chose to set up […]
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Medicaid Expansion Continues To Make Political And Policy Waves In The Carolinas, Pennsylvania
While South Carolina works on its own “plan b” to pursue instead of the health law’s Medicaid expansion, a North Carolina hospital plans to close its doors. Its parent company blames the state’s decision against the expansion.
For Veterans, Malpractice Payouts Reach 12-Year High
Bloomberg reports on this news development.
Sen. Barrasso Warns Of Health Insurance Marketplace Cost ‘Sticker Shock’
The former orthopedic surgeon from Wyoming also warned that the law is too expensive and used the weekly GOP address Saturday to push for its repeal.
Seniors Can Ignore New Health Insurance Marketplaces
Officials are reminding those on Medicare that they don’t need to sign up for health insurance coverage in Obamacare’s marketplaces starting Oct. 1. In the meantime, a new study says Rochester, N.Y., has the lowest Medicare spending, and the notion of investing a portion of the money in your Health Savings Account gains steam.
What Does The Health Law’s Future Hold For Workers, Uninsured People, Employers And Others?
News outlets examine a variety of issues related to the health law’s implementation, ranging from how it might impact workers in the year ahead, to those who will not gain any benefit from the law as well as the importance of location and other news about how the overhaul will affect the health care marketplace.
IBM, Time Warner Move Retirees To Private Health Exchanges
IBM and Time Warner are moving retirees out of company-sponsored health plans and giving them money to buy coverage in private health insurance exchanges. The companies will allocate funds that retirees can use to shop for coverage in marketplaces similar to those being set up under the federal health care law.
State Highlights: Democratic Gov. Hopefuls Spar Over Hospitals In N.Y.
A selection of health policy stories from New York, Indiana, South Carolina, California and Kansas.