Michelle Andrews

Dream Of Retiring Abroad? The Reality: Medicare Doesn’t Travel Well

KFF Health News Original

More than 400,000 U.S. workers have retired in foreign countries and their ranks are rising. But Medicare doesn’t cover most expenses overseas, so these expats will need to confront the cost of finding alternative insurance.

Even When HIV Prevention Drug Is Covered, Other Costs Block Treatment

KFF Health News Original

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that people who are at high risk of contracting HIV take PrEP, a preventive treatment. The decision means most health plans will be required to cover the drugs without charging patients. But the recommendation doesn’t apply to the other clinical and lab services people need.

Víctimas de violación reciben cuentas por examen forense, aunque una ley lo prohíbe

KFF Health News Original

Durante 25 años, el Acta de Violencia contra la Mujer ha requerido que el estado que quiera ser elegible para ciertos subsidios federales cubra el costo de exámenes médicos para víctimas de agresión sexual. 

Despite Federal Protections, Rape Victims Still Get Billed For Forensic Exams

KFF Health News Original

Under federal law, people who have been raped don’t have to pay for medical forensic exams, yet many get billed and have trouble getting the hospitals or collection agencies to stop dunning them for payment.

FAQ: How Does New Trump Fetal Tissue Policy Impact Medical Research?

KFF Health News Original

The scientific use of tissue from aborted fetuses has frequently been a hot point of contention between anti-abortion forces and researchers. It heats up again as federal officials announced this week they were ending NIH research using the tissue.

Mired In Medical Debt? Federal Plan Would Update Overdue-Bill Collection Methods

KFF Health News Original

More than half of Americans contacted about an overdue bill said it related to medical debt. A federal agency has proposed new guidance for what debt collectors are allowed to do when pursuing many types of overdue consumer bills, including medical debt. But some consumer advocates have panned the effort.

Costly Confusion: Medicare’s Wellness Visit Isn’t The Same As An Annual Physical

KFF Health News Original

Medicare doesn’t pay for an annual physical, but it does cover an annual wellness visit focused on preventing disease and disability by coming up with a “personalized prevention plan” for future medical issues. It is important to use the correct term when scheduling a doctor’s visit.

Por qué el sarampión afecta tanto a la comunidad ortodoxa judía de NY

KFF Health News Original

Se han confirmado 370 casos de la enfermedad en todo el estado hasta la última semana de marzo, sobre todo en el municipio neoyorquino de Brooklyn y en el condado de Rockland al noroeste de la ciudad.

Why Measles Hits So Hard Within N.Y. Orthodox Jewish Community

KFF Health News Original

More than 275 people — mostly in Orthodox Jewish communities — have been infected since the disease began spreading in October. That’s about half of the confirmed cases in 11 states that were reported nationwide by the federal officials since January 2018.

Progressives Tout ‘Medicare-For-All’ But States Eye ‘Medicaid Buy-In’

KFF Health News Original

New Mexico is one of several states looking at offering consumers a government-sponsored plan. The proposals would typically have benefits similar to what is available in Medicaid, the state-federal health plan for low-income people.

Hep C And Drug Abuse Often Go Hand In Hand, But Screening For Infection Lags

KFF Health News Original

As the number of people who inject drugs has soared, the rate of hepatitis C infection has climbed steeply, too, because the disease can be tied to sharing needles. Yet many drug patients are not checked for the virus that can damage the liver.

Need Health Insurance? The Deadline Is Dec. 15

KFF Health News Original

Enrollment is lagging compared with last year’s pace. But experts say sign-ups tend to accelerate as the deadline nears, and many people will be automatically re-enrolled, so the final numbers could approach last year’s totals.