Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: November 19, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news that Obama administration officials were warned about the possibility of website difficulties months ago by an outside consulting firm.
White House Struggles To Save Health Law
The Associated Press reports the president needs breakthroughs on three fronts: the cancellations and technology messes and the crisis in confidence among his own supporters. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports the White House is probing how the rollout flopped despite what they had believed was sufficient planning.
News outlets examine the continuing reaction to President Barack Obama’s fix as well as how the news is playing on the state level.
What’s The Healthcare.Gov Goal? 80 Percent Enrollment Success Rate
Obama administration officials are quietly hoping 80 percent of users will be able to enroll in health insurance plans on the federal health law’s healthcare.gov website once it is fixed, The Washington Post reports. In the meantime, other website snags come to light — a lack of Spanish-language materials and early alarm at some problems at rolling out the site.
High-Risk Insurance Pools Gaining Second Life In Some States
The Wall Street Journal reports on developments related to insurance coverage and high-risk patients, as well as emerging concerns about how insurance costs could impact consumer spending.
Pelosi Downplays Democratic Defections On Health Law
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., minimized reports of unrest within her caucus after 39 Democrats voted for a bill allowing insurers to sell plans for one more year that don’t meet the health law’s requirements.
Furor Over Health Law May Alter 2014 Campaign Calculus
Media outlets analyze the impact of public anger over the troubled implementation of the health law on prospects for congressional deals on immigration reform and the budget, as well as on 2014 election campaigns.
D.C. Insurance Commissioner Fired After Questioning Obama’s Fix For ‘Canceled Plans’
After publicly criticizing the president’s proposed fix for plans that had been canceled under the health law and saying the District of Columbia might not go along, D.C.’s insurance commissioner was fired by the mayor’s office late last week.
State Highlights: Tenn. Gov. Hesitates On Medicaid Expansion
A selection of health policy stories from Tennessee, California, Michigan, Minnesota and Texas.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: November 18, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the political implications of the healthcare.gov difficulties as well continued coverage of reaction to President Barack Obama’s policy cancellation fix.
Democrats Facing Political Fallout From Obamacare’s Woes
News outlets covered the fallout from Friday’s House of Representatives vote to allow insurers to renew plans that do not comply with the health law.
Health Insurers Leery About ‘Fix’ For Cancelled Plans
Top insurance industry executives met with the president on Friday and appeared on the Sunday talk shows, saying the rules change could create “problems.”
Obama Moves To Extend Some Canceled Insurance Plans, But Will Everyone Go Along?
President Barack Obama’s one-year plan to allow insurers to keep Americans on plans previously cancelled under the health law’s new standards faces several questions in implementation: Will insurers, customers and state regulators will go along? Also, The Wall Street Journal reports that the move could pave the way for the insurance plans to be extended beyond 2014.
Democrats Remain Wary Of President’s Canceled Plans Fix
President Obama’s canceled insurance plans fix has satisfied neither many Democrats — some of whom face reelections in 2014 and remain unhappy with the fix — nor Republicans, who will again vote Friday on a bill to undermine the law.
Consumers Beware: Cheaper Insurance Policies Mean Higher Deductibles
Bloomberg News reports that consumers buying cheap insurance in the new health insurance marketplaces may face sticker shock if they get sick next year because of deductibles that can top $6,000 a person. Meanwhile, news outlets in Oregon and Massachusetts report on website glitches that continue to make enrollment in those states difficult.
Lawmakers Stake Out Positions On President’s Plan, Pursue Legislative Steps
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, signaled his intent to bring a bill by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., to the floor for a vote. Republican leaders expect the bill, which is viewed by the administration as an effort to undo the health law, to pass easily. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., says Democrats have their own legislative plan. And, in the Senate, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., applauded the president’s step, but maintains that further legislative action is needed.
Health Law Fumbles Threaten Obama’s Agenda
Media analyses argue the health law’s rollout problems are endangering the rest of President Barack Obama’s second-term agenda as his credibility and job approval ratings suffer. Others see his blunt admission of blame as an effort to improve his public standing and counter a revolt within his own party.
States Consider What Obama’s Canceled Plan Request Means For Them
The president’s plan to allow insurers to extend canceled health plans through 2014 has state regulators trying to work through the details about how this will affect insurers and the health law’s marketplaces in their states. In California, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has asked insurers and marketplace officials to comply with the president’s request.
Obama’s Plan Puts Onus On Insurers
Insurance executives say they were caught off guard by the White House decision to allow them to revive canceled policies and many are worried about how to make it work.
