Insurance, Cost & Coverage: November 14, 2018
California Dreamin’? With Newsom’s Win, Single-Payer Unlikely To Follow Anytime Soon
By Samantha Young
Even though Democrat Gavin Newsom campaigned for single-payer, it’s unlikely that he and other lawmakers will completely overhaul the state’s health care system right away. Instead, they will likely propose incremental steps to provide more Californians with health insurance.
Beyond The Buzz: What Do Americans Mean By ‘Medicare-For-All’?
KHN's news analysis on "Medicare-for-all" sparks a broader conversation.
Quick: What’s The Difference Between Medicare-For-All And Single-Payer?
By Samantha Young
As politicians across the country toss about such health care catchphrases, sometimes interchangeably, many voters say they’re “just confused.”
Medicare For All? CMS Chief Warns Program Has Enough Problems Already
By Phil Galewitz
Seema Verma, who heads the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, tells private insurance officials that a push by some Democrats to expand Medicare would only increase troubles the program already faces.
Hello? It’s I, Robot, And Have I Got An Insurance Plan For You!
By Barbara Feder Ostrov
An “epidemic” of robocalls timed to open-enrollment season are largely illegal, fraudulent or aim to rope you into insurance you don’t need or can’t use. They're also really annoying.
Pricey Precision Medicine Often Financially Toxic For Cancer Patients
By Liz Szabo
Medical treatments targeting the DNA in tumor cells are celebrated, but insurers often won’t cover the skyrocketing cost.
In Search Of Insurance Savings, Consumers Can Get Unwittingly Wedged Into Narrow-Network Plans
By Steven Findlay
Restrictive lists of doctors and hospitals expose people to larger out-of-pocket costs, but trend appears to be slowing.
Obamacare Premiums Dip For First Time. Some Call It A Correction.
By Phil Galewitz and Julie Appleby
The Trump administration announces that the average price for insurance offered to people buying their own coverage on federal exchanges is going down.
That’s A Lot Of Scratch: The $48,329 Allergy Test
By Barbara Feder Ostrov
A California college professor never imagined that trying to figure out what was causing her rash could add up to such a huge bill.
Taken For A Ride: After ATV Crash, Doctor Gets $56,603 Bill For Air Ambulance Trip
By Alison Kodjak, NPR News
After an accident in an all-terrain vehicle crushed a doctor’s left arm, he was whisked by air ambulance to the closest trauma center for specialized care. Soon he was fighting over the $56,603 bill.
High-Deductible Health Plans Fall From Grace In Employer-Based Coverage
By Jay Hancock
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.
Blood, Sweat And Workplace Wellness: Where To Draw The Line On Incentives
By Julie Appleby
Uncertainty over federal standards for these cost-saving programs could trigger different perks for employees and change what they must do to qualify.
The Remedy For Surprise Medical Bills May Lie In Stitching Up Federal Law
By Michelle Andrews and Julie Appleby
The wide-ranging law has the potential to blindside many consumers whose health care comes from company and union health plans that are “self-funded,” meaning they pay claims out of their own funds.