Latest KFF Health News Stories
Sen. Rubio Readies Bill To Delay Insurance Mandate Penalty
Sen. Marco Rubio is proposing a bill that would delay imposing penalties on people who don’t have health insurance until six months after the Government Accountability Office has certified the federal website is functional. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, is calling on President Obama to extended open enrollment beyond March 31, 2014 and to waive penalties for those who are unable to sign up because of technical problems.
Judge Allows Obamacare Subsidies Lawsuit To Proceed, But Stops Short Of Imposing Injunction
A federal judge Tuesday allowed a legal challenge against the health law’s insurance price subsidies to go forward, but stopped short of imposing an injunction that would have halted the subsidies until the legal matter is resolved. At issue is a challenge to how the Obama administration determines who gets what subsidies and the related tax penalties.
Democratic And Republican Lawmakers Alike Are Anxious For Health Law Briefings
As a senior White House official heads to Capitol Hill to brief House Democrats on the health law’s implementation — especially the troubled rollout of healthcare.gov, Republicans want the same opportunity.
Obama Administration To Loyalists: Help Boost The Health Law
From the White House to YouTube, the administration is hoping to rally the troops who have supported the health law in the past.
State Highlights: Cuccinelli Blasts Health Law, Sebelius To Gain Ground In Va. Governor’s Race
A selection of health policy stories from Virginia, New York, California, Oregon, Michigan, Texas and Georgia.
First Edition: October 23, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including continuing coverage about the problems with the healthcare.gov website, how Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is in the hot seat and how the White House has called in reinforcements — a glitch czar.
In Some States, Most Early Marketplace Enrollees Qualify For Medicaid
Many of the uninsured are poor, and applicants don’t have to pay anything to sign up for Medicaid. Shoppers applying for private health coverage through the marketplace have to pay their first monthly premium before they are fully enrolled.
Obama Admits Healthcare.gov Problems, But Says Health Law Is Bigger Than The Website
In a Rose Garden speech, President Barack Obama said there was “no excuse” for the bungled rollout of the online health insurance marketplaces and promised that the difficulties would be ironed out.
Finger Pointing Surrounds Health Care Website Woes
News outlets examine some of the technology issues, as well as political dynamics, that contributed to the launch difficulties.
Ohio Board OKs Medicaid Expansion, Lawsuits Loom
The state Controlling Board agreed Monday to Republican Gov. John Kasich’s proposal to accept federal money to expand Medicaid to more than 275,000 Ohioans. Conservatives, however, are planning lawsuits over Kasich’s circumvention of state lawmakers.
Vows To Fix Insurance Website, But No Details Offered
The Obama administration has been tight-lipped about the cause of the website problems, who has signed on to fix them and what their timetable might be. News outlets report on ideas advanced by technology experts and explore the practical and political ramifications of delayed enrollment.
Judge Expected To Rule On Federal Exchange Subsidies Today
The litigation over the federal health law continues.
In Calif.: Hospital Laptop Thefts, KP Joins Heart Attack Transfer Network
A collection of health care news from California.
Despite Glitch-Ridden Rollout, Health Insurers Not Panicking Yet
Media outlets document the pace of enrollment through health insurance marketplaces in Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Minnesota and Washington state.
Fact Checking DeMint On Medicare/Obamacare Comparison And President On Premium Cost
The Washington Post’s Fact Checker examined several claims about Obamacare.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Sebelius To Testify On Healthcare.gov Problems
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is expected to answer lawmakers’ questions about the troubled rollout of the health law’s exchange website as early as next week. Her staff had declined a request to have her testify Thursday citing scheduling conflicts.
First Edition: October 22, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the Obama administration’s plans to address the problems with healthcare.gov.
Obama Calls Healthcare.gov Problems ‘Unacceptable’; Urges Insurance Shoppers To Keep Trying
News outlets covered the Monday speech in which President Barack Obama acknowledged problems but defended the insurance exchange.
‘Tech Surge’ Mounted To Fix Healthcare.gov
The Obama administration promised Sunday to enlist experts both inside and outside the government to solve the problems that have crippled healthcare.gov and caused consumers frustration as they attempt to shop for coverage. But some federal contractors worry the system may be weeks away from operating smoothly.
