Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Weighing Coverage Options Down To The Wire

Morning Briefing

Some uninsured Americans, among them young adults, are weighing the costs of coverage against potential penalties with only days to go until the end of open enrollment for most people. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s health insurance exchange hits its enrollment target.

First Edition: March 26, 2014

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that the Obama administration will extend the deadline for signing up for insurance through healthcare.gov.

Report: 32 Million Americans Underinsured In 2012

Morning Briefing

Those consumers had insurance that didn’t meet their needs, the report finds. Meanwhile, the Associated Press examines the difficulties Latinos have getting insurance. Members of the nation’s largest minority group account for a third of those people nationwide without coverage. But they also face unique hurdles in signing up before the March 31 deadline.

Appeals Court To Weigh Challenge To Health Law Subsidies

Morning Briefing

Opponents of the health law argue that the legislative language never says subsidies can be used to defray premium costs for low- and moderate-income people who live in states that did not set up their own online marketplaces and are served instead by the federal exchange. Also, in news about how the law is being implemented, a look at who is exempted from the mandate to get insurance.

MNsure To Give Some Deadline Flexibility To Last-Minute Health Exchange Shoppers

Morning Briefing

Minnesota officials announced Monday that people who hit technical snags that prevent them from completing the sign up process by March 31 may still be able to avoid the federal tax penalty for not having health insurance.

Report: Prescription Barriers More Likely In Exchange Plans

Morning Briefing

The analysis by Avalere Health says that consumers who purchased health law coverage are more likely to have to get prior authorization, among other requirements, when filling prescriptions.

First Edition: March 25, 2014

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories previewing today’s Supreme Court action regarding the health law’s contraception coverage mandate.

Enrollment Push Is Tough In Mississippi

Morning Briefing

Politico reports on efforts to sign people up for health care as Humana sends a lime green bus through some of the state’s poorest areas. Other outlets look at enrollment campaigns in Maine, California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon and Colorado.