KHN Insurance, Cost & Coverage
No-Go For Idaho: Back To The Drawing Board On State-Based Health Plans
By Julie Appleby
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services advised the state that its plan to offer state-based insurance plans falls short of the Obamacare rules and could result in penalties for insurers.
Patients Overpay For Prescriptions 23% Of The Time, Analysis Shows
By Sydney Lupkin
Researchers at the University of Southern California analyzed millions of prescriptions and concluded that close to a quarter paid copays that exceeded the cost of the drugs.
From The ER To Inpatient Care — At Home
By Michelle Andrews
Some health systems are encouraging selected ill emergency department patients who are stable and don’t need intensive, round-the-clock care to opt for hospital-level care at home.
A Health Plan ‘Down Payment’ Is One Way States Try Retooling Individual Mandate
By Rachel Bluth
As states brace for insurance market instability, some — like Maryland — take aggressive action.
Need A Medical Procedure? Pick The Right Provider And Get Cash Back
By Julie Appleby
Incentives to encourage health care consumers to shop around gain momentum as a means to rein in spending.
Cartoon Mascot Masks Nasty Health Care Feud
By Pauline Bartolone
California’s health insurers trotted out a heart-healthy character with an ulterior motive — taking a dig at drugmakers.
Anthem Calls On Eye Surgeons To Monitor Anesthesia During Cataract Surgery
By Michelle Andrews
The insurer says it is not usually medically necessary to have an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist on hand during the common surgery.
Pain Hits After Surgery When A Doctor’s Daughter Is Stunned By $17,850 Urine Test
By Fred Schulte
Elizabeth Moreno got hit with a $17,850 bill from a Texas lab after leaving a urine sample at her doctor’s office.
Bill Of The Month: A College Student’s $17,850 Drug Test
By Fred Schulte
Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with NPR, kicks off a series that will examine and decode your perplexing medical bills.
Maryland Offers Many Insured Men Free Vasectomy Coverage
By Michelle Andrews
But state officials are trying to get assurances from the Internal Revenue Service that the new law does not conflict with federal rules for health savings accounts.
After Polyps Are Detected, Patients May No Longer Qualify For Free Colonoscopies
By Michelle Andrews
While the federal health law made insurers cover the full cost of screening colonoscopies, consumers with a history of polyps who need more frequent tests may have to pick up some costs.