Latest News On Deductibles

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Listen: How High-Deductible Plans Hurt Rural America

KFF Health News Original

KHN senior correspondent Markian Hawryluk joined Colorado Public Radio’s Avery Lill on “Colorado Matters” to discuss his recent story on how high-deductible health plans are especially hurting the financial health of patients and hospitals in rural America.

It’s Not Just You: Picking Health Insurance Is Hard. Here’s How To Be Smart About It.

KFF Health News Original

It’s open enrollment season for health insurance. And choosing the best plan is tricky whether you have to buy insurance on your own or just figure out which plan to sign up for at work. Here’s what you need to know.

Age-Old Health Care Debate Shifts From Insuring More People To Cutting Costs

KFF Health News Original

U.S. political parties for years have argued about the role of government in providing health care and expanding coverage to more people. But as the cost of medical services continues to grow faster than most Americans’ incomes, even people with private insurance coverage are finding the cost of care becoming unaffordable, KHN’s Julie Rovner writes in a new article in BMJ.

As Medicare Enrollment Nears, Popular Price Comparison Tool Is Missing

KFF Health News Original

For more than a decade, customers used the online plan finder to compare dozens of policies. Yet after a redesign of the website, the search results no longer list which plan offers a customer the best value. Federal officials say it will be fixed before enrollment begins next week.

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Impeachment And The Health Agenda

KFF Health News Original

Washington is abuzz with impeachment talk, but what impact would such a move have on congressional action on prescription drug prices and surprise bills? Also, a study out this week shows that health insurance costs for both employers and workers continue to rise. This week, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

As Health Care Costs Rise, Workers At Low-Wage Firms May Pay A Larger Share

KFF Health News Original

People at companies with large numbers of people earning $25,000 or less faced bigger deductibles for single coverage and were asked to pony up a larger share of their income in premiums than those at other firms.

Is New App From Feds Your Answer To Navigating Medicare Coverage? Yes And No

KFF Health News Original

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched this month the “What’s Covered” app, designed to provide yes-or-no answers about what services are covered under traditional Medicare. KHN took it for a test drive with real consumers.

Insured But Still In Debt: 5 Jobs Pulling In $100K A Year No Match For Medical Bills

KFF Health News Original

An Arizona couple played by the rules and bought employer-provided health insurance. But after they had a baby this year, their out-of-pocket hospital costs and doctors’ bills climbed to more than $12,000 — and medical debt now threatens their new family.

Health Insurance Costs Crushing Many People Who Don’t Get Federal Subsidies

KFF Health News Original

The rising costs of premiums, deductibles and copayments have driven millions who don’t get a subsidy to drop their coverage or turn to cheaper, less comprehensive — and sometimes inadequate — insurance.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Some Things Old, Some Things New

KFF Health News Original

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner discuss final action on bills in Congress to address the opioid epidemic and fund federal health agencies. They also look at new efforts by the Food and Drug Administration to crack down on teen nicotine use.

High-Deductible Health Plans Fall From Grace In Employer-Based Coverage

KFF Health News Original

Once viewed as a promising cost-control tool, such insurance faces new competition on benefits menus from more traditional insurance. But, according to new research, none of those choices is getting less expensive.

Cut In Federal Subsidies Threatens Basic Health Programs In N.Y., Minn.

KFF Health News Original

President Donald Trump’s decision to stop paying cost-sharing reduction subsidies means the federal government will reduce its funding of the Basic Health Program that provides low-cost coverage to more than 800,000 low-income people in those two states.