Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Minnesota’s Health Exchange Turmoil Continues

Morning Briefing

As of Dec. 1, fewer than 4,500 people had signed up for coverage through the state’s online insurance marketplace, leading to apologies from its new director and talk of postponing the deadline for enrollment for January coverage.

Some Americans Reflect On Insurance They Had Pre-Health Law

Morning Briefing

Americans who are slated to have new insurance from the health law are reflecting on what their old coverage was like — if they had it at all. Also, an architect of the Massachusetts health law reflects on the federal health law.

Web-Based Brokers Still Unable To Enroll Consumers

Morning Briefing

Despite promises of technical fixes by the federal government, Web-based brokers like eHealth are still unable to enroll consumers in Obamacare policies through their own sites as an alternative to healthcare.gov.

First Edition: December 18, 2013

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that insurers will extend the payment deadline for Jan. 1 health coverage until Jan. 10.

Ex-Microsoft Exec Takes Over Healthcare.gov Fixes

Morning Briefing

Kurt DelBene, who previously was president of the Microsoft Office Division, was named by President Barack Obama to replace Jeffrey D. Zients and oversee efforts to rescue the federal government’s health care website.

Maryland Insurers Agree To Delay Deadline For Jan. 1 Enrollment

Morning Briefing

For consumers seeking coverage on the state’s health exchange, Maryland’s insurers will extend the enrollment deadline from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27. Rhode Island also plans to extend its deadline. Meanwhile, news outlets offer updates from Texas, Connecticut, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado and Washington.

Study: Insurance Market ‘Death Spiral’ Unlikely

Morning Briefing

Pushing back against those who warn that low numbers of younger subscribers in new insurance marketplaces could lead to a spiral of higher premiums and falling enrollments, Kaiser Family Foundation analysts say the signup of young adults “is not as important as conventional wisdom suggests.”

Federal Officials Begin Sending States Applications From Residents Eligible For Medicaid

Morning Briefing

The administration is delivering the data to states so that they can enroll new applicants. Meanwhile, in Virginia, the legislative panel holds its last meeting of the year without a recommendation about Medicaid expansion, and Colorado reports its latest enrollment figures.

Insured, Uninsured Are Uncertain Over Impact Of Health Law On Them, Poll Finds

Morning Briefing

Both insured and uninsured Americans worry about what the health law means for them, a new poll reveals. In the meantime, however, another poll says that despite concerns over the measure, the public is not keen on giving control of the law to Republicans over Democrats in next year’s elections.

Bipartisan Budget Opens Door To Hope For More Cooperation

Morning Briefing

The Senate is nearing final passage of a bipartisan two-year budget proposal that is giving lawmakers on both sides of the aisle hope that cooperation on other legislation is on the way.

First Lady Promotes Health Law To Moms, Minorities

Morning Briefing

In addition to joining her husband in a White House meeting with mothers, Michelle Obama will do a series of interviews with the nation’s most popular African-American radio hosts to encourage people to sign up for coverage through the health law.

Under Fire, MNsure Director Resigns Abruptly

Morning Briefing

The head of Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace, April Todd-Malmlov, resigned Tuesday after facing criticism over the troubled rollout and a questionably timed vacation in Costa Rica.