110420 health costs
If Trump Wins, Don’t Hold Your Breath Waiting for That ACA Replacement Plan
Julie Rovner
The administration seeks to have the Supreme Court overturn the federal health law but has not explained how it would ensure Americans’ health care coverage.
Biden’s in the Ballpark on How Many People Have Preexisting Conditions
Victoria Knight
A wide range of people — from 54 million to 135 million — could be affected if the provision in the Affordable Care Act were eliminated.
Does the Federal Health Information Privacy Law Protect President Trump?
Julie Appleby and Victoria Knight
The president’s doctors have used HIPAA — the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act — as a shield to avoid questions about the president’s COVID-19 diagnosis.
Even With ACA’s Fate in Flux, Open Enrollment Starts Soon. Here’s What’s New.
Julie Appleby
The Affordable Care Act’s future is uncertain and there’s no end in sight to the pandemic. Still, the 2021 insurance year is marked by stability.
App-Based Companies Pushing Prop. 22 Say Drivers Will Get Health Benefits. Will They?
Rachel Bluth
Ride-sharing and delivery services such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart are bankrolling California’s Proposition 22, which would keep their drivers classified as independent contractors, not employees. But health benefits? That's something of a stretch.
Did Trump Confuse the Public Option With ‘Medicare for All’?
Victoria Knight
President Donald Trump was off the mark when he said Vice President Joe Biden's health plan -- which includes a public options -- will terminate the private insurance of 180 million people.
The Trump Medicaid Record: Big Goals, Yet Few Successes
Phil Galewitz
The Trump administration sought to shrink the federal-state health program for low-income Americans and give states more flexibility. But Democrats and the courts thwarted most of those efforts.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: As Cases Spike, White House Declares Pandemic Over
Former President Barack Obama says President Donald Trump is “jealous of COVID’s media coverage.” Indeed, Trump has complained at his rallies, attended by mostly maskless supporters, about how the media covers the pandemic — at a time when cases are rising rapidly across the nation. Meanwhile, open enrollment is about to begin for the Affordable Care Act in a year when many people need coverage, but the law’s future is not secure. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, Rovner interviews KHN’s Anna Almendrala about the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” installment.
Sen. Graham Complains That 3 Blue States Get a Third of ACA Funding
Phil Galewitz
Sen. Lindsey Graham insinuates that the law is sending a disproportionate amount of money to New York, California and Massachusetts, all represented by Democrats.
If They Sweep on Election Day, Dems Still Face a Challenge Meeting Health Promises
Emmarie Huetteman
Democrats are favored to win both chambers of Congress after years of campaign-trail promises about health care. But their margin in the Senate could be slim, making it difficult to pass major health care legislation. And they still must heal some rifts within the caucus about how far they can push overhaul efforts.
Sky-High Drug Prices Driven by Pharma Profits, House Dems Charge
Michael McAuliff
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a damning investigation Wednesday of drug company pricing tactics and profits, as two days of hearings with testimony from pharmaceutical industry CEOs begin.
Trump’s COVID Program for Uninsured People: It Exists, but Falls Short
Julie Appleby
The help is real — but access to it isn’t easy.
New Laws Keep Pandemic-Weary California at Forefront of Health Policy Innovation
Samantha Young and Angela Hart
Gov. Gavin Newsom approved many consequential health care bills by his bill-signing deadline Wednesday, including a ban on the sale of menthol and other flavored tobacco products, the creation of a state generic drug label and better coverage for mental health disorders.
Watch: Young Man Faces Medical Bankruptcy — Even With Insurance
"CBS This Morning" tells the story of Matthew Fentress, a young man who has had serious heart disease for six years. It's the latest story in the ongoing crowdsourced Bill of the Month investigation.
Fighting for Patient Protections While Attacking ACA — Hard to Have It Both Ways
Alex Sakariassen
Montana’s Matt Rosendale and many other Republican congressional candidates face the challenge of convincing voters they support safeguards on preexisting conditions even as they oppose the Affordable Care Act, which codifies those safeguards.
Not Pandemic-Proof: Insulin Copay Caps Fall Short, Fueling Underground Exchanges
Markian Hawryluk
Although sharing prescription medicines is illegal, many people with diabetes are turning to underground donation networks when they cannot afford their insulin. Caps on insulin copays enacted in Colorado and 11 other states were designed to help. But the gaps between insulin costs and many patients’ financial realities are only widening amid the economic crisis of the COVID pandemic.
‘An Arm and a Leg’: TikTok Mom Takes On Medical Bills
Dan Weissmann
Shaunna Burns went viral on TikTok, partly because of a series of videos dishing out real-talk advice on fighting outrageous medical bills.
Majority of Voters Tilt Toward Biden as Health Issues Weigh Heavily
Emmarie Huetteman
More than 50% of people said they favor Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s approach to an array of health issues.
Refuge in the Storm? ACA’s Role as Safety Net Is Tested by COVID Recession
Steven Findlay
Relentlessly knocked around by politics and now headed again to the Supreme Court, the ACA is covering millions who have lost their jobs during the pandemic. But not everyone.
Moved by Plight of Young Heart Patient, Stranger Pays His Hospital Bill
Laura Ungar
A retired college professor in Las Vegas saw Matthew Fentress’ story and felt called to help. So she paid off $5,000 of his medical bill. “When you help other people, it gives you joy,” the Good Samaritan said.
Job-Based Health Insurance Costs Are Up 4% This Year, 55% in Past Decade
Phil Galewitz
A family plan costs, on average, more than $21,000 this year and workers pay nearly $5,600 toward that cost, the annual KFF survey of employers finds.
UVA Health Still Squeezing Money From Patients — By Seizing Their Home Equity
Jay Hancock
The University of Virginia promised reforms but has stopped short of announcing them, while hospital giant VCU Health has freed tens of thousands from property liens.
Al sopesar los temas de salud, la mayoría de los votantes se inclinan hacia Biden
Emmarie Huetteman
Los hallazgos de una nueva encuesta indican que los votantes no confían en las garantías del presidente de que protegerá a las personas con condiciones preexistentes.
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Vetting TikTok Mom’s Advice for Dealing With Debt Collectors
Dan Weissmann
We first learned about Shaunna Burns when her tips on medical bills went viral. In part two of our conversation with the so-called TikTok mom, we’re back for guidance about dealing with debt collectors. Then we fact-checked her advice with a legal expert, who said: Most of Burns’ advice totally checks out.
Progressive Group Highlights Trump, Tillis Weakness on Insulin Price Tags
Aneri Pattani
The progressive Change Now PAC launched a campaign ad, which also circulated on Facebook, criticizing President Donald Trump and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) for not “fighting” for people with diabetes who struggle with the high cost of insulin.
Florida Fails to Attract Bidders for Canada Drug Importation Program
Phil Galewitz
No private firms bid on the $30 million contract to set up and operate the state’s plan to bring in cheaper drugs. The setback is likely to delay by at least several months Florida’s effort to become the first state to import drugs under new federal regulations.
North Carolina Treasurer Took On the Hospitals. Now He’s Paying Political Price.
Jordan Rau
The state hospital association has endorsed Dale Folwell’s opponent after the treasurer sought to force them to accept lower reimbursements from the state employees’ health plan.
Hospital Bills for Uninsured COVID Patients Are Covered, but No One Tells Them
Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio
The CARES Act provides funding that pays the bills for uninsured COVID-19 patients. But the death of a young man in Nashville shows some patients don't know about the program until it’s too late.
Savvy Patient Fought for the Price She Was Quoted − And Didn’t Give Up
Anna Almendrala
A California woman thought the discount on her coinsurance before an operation sounded too good to be true. Turns out, she was right.
‘An Arm and a Leg’: David vs. Goliath: How to Beat a Big Hospital in Small Claims Court
Dan Weissmann
In a classic — and hilarious — David vs. Goliath story, Jeffrey Fox takes on a huge hospital over an outrageous bill, and wins.
A $200 Debit Card Won’t Do Much for Seniors’ Drug Costs
Harris Meyer
President Donald Trump wants to send seniors $200 apiece. Beyond the legal and logistical problems, health care experts point out it does little to help someone with even typical prescription costs.
Haiku Winner Unmasked! Read If You Dare
Entries for our second annual Halloween Haiku Contest were downright spooky. And, based on a review by our panel of judges, here’s the winner and a sampling of finalists.