Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: October 1, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details of how the federal government has been shutdown as a result of the ongoing congressional battle over the health law. Still, even as House and Senate lawmakers were unable to overcome this issue to reach a deal to provide funding to continue government operations, Oct. 1 is still the official launch of the overhaul’s online insurance marketplaces.
Marketplace Shoppers Must Pay 1st Premium By Dec. 15
If enrollees in the federally run insurance marketplaces don’t pay their insurer by Dec. 15, they will not have coverage that takes effect Jan. 1, federal officials said Monday. If they miss that first deadline, however, open enrollment runs through March 2014.
Battle Over Health Law Brings Gov’t To Brink Of Shutdown
A stopgap bill to fund the government when the fiscal year ends Oct. 1 continues to be caught up in Republican efforts to defund, delay or derail the health law. Federal agencies have contingency plans in place.
Health Exchanges Set To Launch Oct. 1 Amid High Stakes And Political Pressure
Politico predicts that Tuesday will be a split-screen day — tracking developments related to the government shutdown and launch day of the health law’s online marketplaces. Those who are watching the insurance exchanges note that it may be months after opening day, even years, before it’s possible to assess how well they are working.
Navigating The Health Law’s New Insurance Options
In some states, the task of helping consumers find their way through the health law’s new online insurance marketplace has fallen to “navigators.” In general, though, news outlets report on the strategies and public outreach efforts underway in locations across teh country.
Polls Show Continued Confusion Over Health Law
New surveys show public confusion persists over many health law provisions, including the role of health insurance exchanges which open for enrollment Tuesday, and the financial assistance that will be available to many people to help them buy coverage.
People who live in states where officials were less enthusiastic about the health law’s new online marketplaces will likely have to look harder to find information about them. Meanwhile, coverage costs will vary widely, not just from state to state, but sometimes among cities and regions within the same state.
Arkansas’ Medicaid Expansion Plan To Cover 200,000 Through Private Coverage Approved
The federal government on Friday approved Arkansas’ plan to take federal Medicaid expansion dollars to buy commercial health coverage for more than 200,000 people. Six other states may go similar routes.
Despite Objections To Health Law, Insurers Work Hard To Make It Succeed
The Wall Street Journal looks at how these critics of the law are key to making it work. Also, Politico examines how large and small businesses are affected by Obamacare changes.
States Prepare For Medicaid Coverage Changes — Even Those Not Expanding
States grapple with Medicaid expansion issues — even in states like South Carolina that aren’t using the health law’s provision to expand coverage. In Texas, 1 million people may fall into a Medicaid “doughnut hole,” and Ohio Gov. John Kasich waits to see how his push for expansion will affect his re-election chances.
Concerns About Technical Snags On Marketplace Opening Day
Advocates and foes of health law agree that technical glitches could create some problems.
As the country lurches toward a government shutdown, opinions about options vary.
Tips For Shopping On New Obamacare Exchanges
Media outlets offer guides to the uninsured and to those who buy their own coverage on the eve of the startup of new online marketplaces under the federal health law. The marketplaces, which launch Oct. 1., are designed to allow millions of people to shop for insurance and to find out whether they qualify for tax credits to buy private insurance, or an expanded Medicaid program.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Open-Enrollment, Obamacare Seasons Bring Employer Health Coverage Changes
The New York Times examines trends in this year’s insurance open-enrollment season while Politico looks at what coverage requirements employers can expect from the health law. In the meantime, insurers are wary of covering some intensive psychiatric care and employer health coverage choices move to private insurance exchanges.
State Highlights: Calif.’s Drug Medi-Cal Program Probed
A selection of health policy stories from California and Texas.
First Edition: September 30, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the readiness of the health law’s online marketplaces and other key provisions the day before their Oct. 1 launch date even as the looming government shutdown becomes more of a reality.
House Votes To Delay Health Law, Repeal Medical Device Tax
Senate Democrats say they cannot accept the provisions in House GOP’s newest bill to fund the government. Without agreement between Senate and House, the government could shut down Tuesday.
In Campaign-Style Speech, Obama Defends The Health Law
In his Thursday appearance at a suburban Maryland community college, President Barack Obama dismissed as “crazy” the arguments being advanced by the overhaul’s opponents and accused some GOP lawmakers of attempting “blackmail” to stop its implementation.
Government Shutdown Increasingly Likely; Health Law Continues To Be Flashpoint
The Senate is expected to approve on Friday a continuing resolution that provides funding to keep the federal government operating but strips out language passed by the House that would defund the health law. This move will set up heightened conflict with the House, where some conservative Republicans are standing firm in their pledge to oppose any measure that does not further their goal of dismantling Obamacare. In the background, the countdown to a government shutdown continues.
