Latest KFF Health News Stories
Administration Delays 2015 Individual Plan Rate Requirements
The Obama administration plans to push back by a month the start of open enrollment in online marketplaces in 2015 to give insurers more time to compute the costs of individuals who come in late during the plan’s first year — a change that might avoid higher premiums and steer clear of the 2014 midterm elections.
The website is vital to the health law’s success, they argue.
Some Cities Delay Plans To Move Retirees To Marketplaces For Coverage
The problems with the healthcare.gov website has put a hold on those plans.
Walgreen Co. To Move Employees Into Private Health Insurance Exchange
Bloomberg reports on this marketplace development.
As Popularity Of Health Law ‘Sinks,’ Some Marketing Will Wait Until New Year
Officials pushing enrollment in the health law’s online insurance marketplaces are going to wait until the new year to launch a marketing and rebranding blitz. In the meantime, a new poll suggests the problems with the health law rollout have harmed the public’s view of the law as a whole, and a second poll suggests the public sees addressing health care costs as the central issue.
Consumers Shopping On Health Insurance Exchange Experience ‘Sticker Shock’
USA Today reports prices may be higher than expected for some middle-class consumers who are not eligible for the health law’s subsidies. Meanwhile, Politico highlights how one group — older Capitol Hill staffers — is reacting to this marketplace experience.
House Speaker Boehner Enrolls In Obamacare After Initial Errors
The Washington Post examines if Sen. Mary Landrieu actually cast the “deciding vote” for the health law as a conservative group is saying she did in an advertising campaign against her. In the meantime, House Speaker John Boehner enrolled Thursday for health coverage through the District of Columbia’s online insurance marketplace — after initially receiving errors.
Calif. Won’t Extend Canceled Insurance Policies Despite Presidential Plea
The five-member board overseeing California’s online insurance marketplace unanimously turned down President Barack Obama’s call to let insurers continue some health plans that don’t meet the health law’s requirements. Marketplace officials for Covered California also detailed who has signed up for coverage in the marketplace.
Administration’s Proposed Cancellation Plan Raises A New Set Of Questions, Concerns
News outlets explore a variety of issues related to President Barack Obama’s proposed cancellation ‘fix’ — including how this approach could alter the landscape for consumers, insurers and state insurance regulators.
A roundup of state health policy news, today from Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts and California.
Insurers Cut Doctors’ Fees In New Health Plans
Insurers are reducing payments to medical practices in many of the plans they sell through the new health-law marketplaces, raising concerns that enrollees will have fewer doctors to choose from if low fees spark an exodus. Meanwhile, The Los Angeles Times reports that the success of the law depends in part on the actions of insurance companies, doctor groups and hospitals, all of whom are financially vested in it.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Will Embrace Of Medicaid Expansion Hurt Some GOP Presidential Hopefuls?
Some Republican governors said to have presidential aspirations, including Chris Christie of New Jersey and John Kasich of Ohio, have expanded the program in their own states, even as the party tries to unravel the law. Meanwhile, New Hampshire’s Republican Senate blocked efforts to expand the program, Montana expansion advocates work to put the issue to voters and Maine’s hiring of a conservative consultant to study the issue gets scrutiny.
This week’s studies come from JAMDA, George Washington University, the National Center for Health Statistics, the Urban Institute, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Georgetown University, Mathematica and news outlets.
First Edition: November 22, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that the Obama administration will push back 2015 Obamacare enrollment by a month, starting Nov. 15, 2014, instead of Oct. 15, 2014.
White House Struggles With Health Law Messaging
As President Barack Obama is pilloried for the rocky rollout of the law, the White House struggles with how to refocus the public’s attention, since some of the strongest arguments for the law are longer-term benefits that are harder to comprehend.
State Regulators Share Insurance ‘Fix’ Concerns With Obama
In a meeting at the White House Wednesday, a group of state insurance commissioners expressed concerns about President Barack Obama’s proposal to extend canceled plans for one year that don’t meet the requirements of the health law. Both sides acknowledged that each state must come to its own decision about how to proceed.
Healthcare.gov: It’s Getting Better All The Time — But System Flaws, Failures Persist
Some states and insurers are contemplating alternatives if the website isn’t ready by a critical December deadline. Meanwhile, just as Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was talking up the website in Florida, it crashed before her eyes.
New Medicaid ‘Doughnut Hole’ Creating Some Pressure On States, Federal Officials
Health law advocates are concerned about the low-income residents who are left out of health overhaul in states that are not expanding Medicaid. Meanwhile, in other states, new enrollment in the joint federal-state program is strong.
The Wall Street Journal reports on the latest developments regarding this federal inquiry.
