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What the Health? From KFF Health News: Underinsured Is the New Uninsured

September 14, 2023 Podcast

The percentage of working-age adults with health insurance went up and the uninsured rate dropped last year, the U.S. Census Bureau reported this week. There isn’t much suspense about which way the uninsured rate is now trending, as states continue efforts to strip ineligible beneficiaries from their Medicaid rolls. But is the focus on the uninsured obscuring the struggles of the underinsured? Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KFF Health News’ Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these issues and more.

ER’s Error Lands a 4-Year-Old in Collections (For Care He Didn’t Receive)

By Daniel Chang March 29, 2023 KFF Health News Original

A Florida woman tried to dispute an emergency room bill, but the hospital and collection agency refused to talk to her — because it was her child’s name on the bill, not hers.

Era of ‘Free’ Covid Vaccines, Test Kits, and Treatments Is Ending. Who Will Pay the Tab Now?

By Julie Appleby February 10, 2023 KFF Health News Original

Insurers, employers, and taxpayers will all be affected as drug manufacturers move these products to the commercial market.

Want a Clue on Health Care Costs in Advance? New Tools Take a Crack at It

By Julie Appleby January 3, 2023 KFF Health News Original

Another effort to make upfront cost comparisons possible in an industry known for its opaqueness: an online tool for consumers to get some idea of what they may pay for medical care.

Even When IVF Is Covered by Insurance, High Bills and Hassles Abound

By Phil Galewitz Illustration by Oona Zenda May 4, 2022 KFF Health News Original

Only 15 states require insurance to cover in vitro fertilization, a common path to parenthood for people who have trouble getting pregnant. And even for those whose insurance covers IVF, the expensive procedures and required drugs can lead to unexpected bills.

Public Health Risks of Urban Wildfire Smoke Prompt Push for More Monitoring

By Katharine Gammon April 8, 2025 KFF Health News Original

As the fires burned in Los Angeles, scientists and local air regulators deployed monitors to measure the levels of heavy metals, carcinogens, and other toxic substances released into the air when homes, buildings, and cars burned. They hope their efforts will inform ongoing cleanup efforts and protect the public in future fires.

Even Well-Intended Laws Can’t Protect Us From Inaccurate Provider Directories

By Bernard J. Wolfson July 26, 2022 KFF Health News Original

State and federal laws require health plans to offer accurate lists of participating doctors and facilities, but consumers still struggle to get timely appointments with providers.

Biden’s Blanket Statement — ‘No More Surprise Billing’ — Doesn’t Quite Cover It

By Victoria Knight March 1, 2022 KFF Health News Original

The president used broad language to say that Americans no longer needed to worry about surprise bills, but there are exceptions to the new law that could cost unsuspecting consumers.

What the Health? From KFF Health News: Time’s Up for Expanded ACA Tax Credits

December 18, 2025 Podcast

A last-minute push from Democrats and four moderate Republicans will force a House vote on renewing enhanced premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans, but not until January. That means millions will have to choose between paying dramatically more or dropping coverage next year. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially drops the federal recommendation for newborns to receive a hepatitis B shot. Tami Luhby of CNN, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Lizzy Lawrence of Stat join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Tony Leys, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature, and the panel discusses the year’s biggest developments in health policy.

States Step In as Telehealth and Clinic Patients Get Blindsided by Hospital Fees

By Markian Hawryluk April 3, 2023 KFF Health News Original

At least eight states have implemented or are considering limits on what patients can be billed for the use of a hospital’s facilities even without having stepped foot in the building.

Kaiser Permanente Back in the Hot Seat Over Mental Health Care, but It’s Not Only a KP Issue

By Bernard J. Wolfson February 11, 2025 KFF Health News Original

Mental health workers on strike in Southern California say Kaiser Permanente is woefully understaffed, its therapists are burned out, and patients are often denied timely access to care. The insurer says it has largely fixed the problem. But across California and the nation, mental health parity is still not a reality.

Trump Team’s Planned ACA Rule Offers Its Answer to Rising Premium Costs: Catastrophic Coverage

By Julie Appleby February 13, 2026 KFF Health News Original

Sweeping changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace next year have been proposed by the Trump administration that focus on making more insurance plans available with higher annual out-of-pocket costs but lower premiums.

After Tuition, Books, and Room and Board, Colleges’ Rising Health Fees Hit a Nerve

By Phil Galewitz December 19, 2022 KFF Health News Original

Many colleges require students to have health insurance coverage, and the college option can be costly. In addition, some schools mandate that students pay a fee to cover health services on campus.

Disability Rights Lawyers Threatened With Budget Cuts, Reassignments

By Tony Leys December 16, 2025 KFF Health News Original

The Trump administration wants deep funding cuts for state-based legal services for disabled people, as rights advocates say the Justice Department pushed out many of its lawyers who worked on such issues.

How to Avoid Surprise Bills — And the Pitfalls in the New Law

By Dan Weissmann March 16, 2022 KFF Health News Original

The No Surprises Act offers protection from many surprise medical bills — but that protection may be only as good as a patient’s knowledge of the law and ability to make sure it’s enforced. Here’s what you need to know.

What RFK Jr. Isn’t Talking About: How To Make Vaccines Safer

By Arthur Allen June 25, 2025 KFF Health News Original

Vaccines are under fire from the top of the Trump administration. Federal programs to monitor them and make them safer have always been underfunded.

‘Cancer Doesn’t Care’: Citizen Lobbyists Unite To Push Past Washington’s Ugly Politics

By Noam N. Levey October 21, 2025 KFF Health News Original

Despite a poisonous political climate, hundreds of volunteer advocates put partisan differences aside and pressed Congress to help people with cancer.

ER Visit Times Stretch Longer As Hospitals Face Staffing Crunch

September 15, 2023 Morning Briefing

Axios reports that hospitals in Washington, D.C., logged the longest median ER visit times in 2022, clocking in at 5 hours and 29 minutes. Other health care industry news is on union membership, rural nursing home staffing, out-of-network ambulance claims, and more.

California Author Uses Dark Humor — And a Bear — To Highlight Flawed Health System

By Rachel Scheier January 31, 2023 KFF Health News Original

A new graphic novel by Kathleen Founds follows an angst-ridden bear on his quest for mental health treatment. Founds drew on her own experience with bipolar disorder.

Older Americans Living Alone Often Rely on Neighbors or Others Willing To Help

By Judith Graham November 12, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Diverse networks of friends, former co-workers, neighbors, and extended family are often essential sources of support for older adults living alone. Often it is the elderly caring for the elderly.

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