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Answering Consumer Questions About Obamacare Marketplaces

By KFF Health News Editors September 25, 2013 KFF Health News Original

As part of the Washington Post’s continuing series of online discussions about the health law’s new insurance marketplaces, KHN’s Phil Galewitz and the Post’s Sarah Kliff answered readers questions today. A transcript of today’s discussion follows. READER QUESTION:  Neither my husband nor I receive health insurance through an employer and have had an individual plan […]

West Virginia, Virgin Islands, Work Together On Medicaid

By Phil Galewitz December 11, 2013 KFF Health News Original

West Virginia and the U.S. Virgin Islands don’t have much in common. It was 82 degrees and sunny today in St. Thomas, while Charleston, W.Va.,  saw snow and a high of 32. But when it comes to Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for the poor, the Mountain State and Caribbean territory are now joined […]

Answering Your Last Minute Questions On Online Health Insurance Exchanges

By KFF Health News Editors September 30, 2013 KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Phil Galewitz was on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal Monday morning taking questions about tomorrow’s launch of the health law’s online health insurance exchanges. See related stories: In Kentucky, Confusion And Misinformation Abound KHN reporters will be returning to C-SPAN’s Washington Journal each Monday throughout the summer. Tune in each week to stay informed about the […]

Consumer Data Errors, Other Bugs Reduced At Healthcare.gov, Administration Says

By Phil Galewitz December 2, 2013 KFF Health News Original

For the first time since its mangled Oct. 1 launch, users can now go to the federal government’s insurance enrollment website and get detailed information about the costs and benefits of health plans in their county without first enrolling. Before this week, the “window shopping” feature on healthcare.gov showed only average monthly premium prices until […]

Many Consumers Report Improvements With Healthcare.gov

By Phil Galewitz December 2, 2013 KFF Health News Original

Vickie Fleisher-Gann had been trying since Oct. 1 to complete her Obamacare application so she could start shopping for insurance on healthcare.gov, but she kept getting stopped by error messages. With her policy expiring at the end of the year, she feared time was running out. On Sunday morning, the former Harrisburg, Pa., hospital administrator finally was able to […]

Should Consumers Give Healthcare.gov A Second Chance?

By Phil Galewitz November 27, 2013 KFF Health News Original

This KHN story was produced in partnership with  As you probably know from all of the talking (and screaming) heads on TV, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) stumbled out of the gate with a glitch-ridden enrollment site, cancellation of some insurance policies and other technical glitches that have made Steve Jobs roll over in his […]

Doctors Groups Share Concerns About Narrow Networks, Confusion With White House

By Phil Galewitz November 27, 2013 KFF Health News Original

The nation’s top physician groups told White House officials Tuesday they are worried about what consumers will encounter after Jan. 1, when millions are expected to gain coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The groups expressed worries that patients may unknowingly be signing up for “narrow network” plans that don’t include their current physician or […]

Florida Regulator, Blues Plan Agree To Insurance Fix Proposed By Obama

By Phil Galewitz November 15, 2013 KFF Health News Original

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said he will allow insurers to adopt President Barack Obama’s plan to extend current policies facing cancellation so that consumers can keep the coverage they have now. In fact, he was permitting plans to do that months before the president suggested it. Most carriers will be unaffected because the state had […]

ACA’s ‘Woodworking’ Effect Playing Out As 91,000 People Eligible For Medicaid Learn They Can Get Coverage

By Phil Galewitz November 14, 2013 KFF Health News Original

Supporters and opponents of the federal health law still can’t decide whether to call it the “woodwork” or “welcome mat” effect — the millions of people currently eligible for Medicaid who are not enrolled and who are expected to sign up as a result of the Affordable Care Act. The Obama administration’s first enrollment report released […]

Medicaid Chief Thanks State Leaders, Even As They Skip Expansion Option

By Phil Galewitz November 13, 2013 KFF Health News Original

It wasn’t all hugs and kisses,  but the nation’s top Medicaid official on Tuesday told Medicaid directors from around the country that she was proud of the job they were all doing — even though half of their states opted against expanding the state-federal health insurance program for the poor under the health law. “Hats off […]

Humana Exec Predicts Obamacare Open Enrollment Extension

By Phil Galewitz November 6, 2013 KFF Health News Original

Humana, one of nation’s largest health insurers, said Wednesday that it expects the Obama administration to extend open enrollment for its troubled online marketplaces beyond March 31. But a spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Julie Bataille, said, “Consumers still have ample time to enroll in the six-month open enrollment period.” Millions […]

Obama Administration Hoping 800K Enroll By End Of November

By Phil Galewitz November 5, 2013 KFF Health News Original

About 800,000 people are expected to enroll in the new online health insurance marketplaces by the end of November, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said Tuesday at a congressional hearing. A CMS official said later that estimate includes people signing up for Medicaid as well as private insurance. In a testimony […]