Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘If I’d Had To Wait Until 67 For Medicare, I’d Be Dead’
Those approaching retirement, employers pan proposals to raise the Medicare eligibility age.
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 18, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about some of the health program specifics involved in offers traded in the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations. The New York Times: Obama’s New Offer On Fiscal Crisis Could Lead To Deal The offer is close to a plan proposed by the speaker on Friday, […]
After Newtown Shootings, Questions About Mental Health Insurance Coverage
Gaps in insurance coverage for mental health treatment persist despite new laws — including the health law and the Mental Health Parity Act of 2008 — expanding such coverage. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about mental health care in America.
Study Finds Coverage To Help Kick Smoking Can Be Tricky
A recent review of 39 health plans finds details about who is covered to smoking-cessation treatments and who pays for them can be confusing and inconsistent.
A basic guide and resources if you want to get Medicare to reverse a coverage decision.
Seniors Need To Be Tenacious In Appeals To Medicare
Consumer advocates say that efforts to get Medicare to reverse a decision denying coverage of care are frequently rejected at first, but the chances of success are much better for beneficiaries who keep appealing until they reach the level handled by an administrative law judge.
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 17, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including weekend updates regarding the fiscal cliff negotiations as well as news regarding states’ decisions on health exchanges. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Movement Seen In ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Talks As Boehner Offers Revenue Boost In return, Boehner is asking for $1 trillion in spending cuts from government […]
Med Students Switch Gears After Sandy KO’s Training Hospitals
After completing a medical rotation in pediatrics, Hannah Kirsch was looking forward to starting another one in psychiatry at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital – but then Hurricane Sandy hit. Kirsch is among about 170 third-year and fourth-year medical students at NYU School of Medicine who were required to change their plans after two of NYU’s […]
Tax Exclusion For Health Benefits Could Be Part Of ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Talks
As the deficit debate continues, some policy wonks think it’s inevitable that negotiators will address a loophole that allows workers to avoid paying taxes on the value of their job-based health insurance. “The No. 1 tax expenditure is employer-provided health insurance,” said G. William Hoagland, a senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center, who […]
Facing Deadline, Most States Say No To Running Their Own Insurance Exchanges
Updated at 5:35 p.m. The Obama administration will have to build and operate online health insurance markets for more than 30 states, something few expected when the federal health law was approved in 2010. With today’s deadline hours away, only 18 states and the District of Columbia had proposed running their own insurance markets, also known […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 14, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, featuring the latest reports on the fiscal negotiations — including how proposals to raise the Medicare eligibility are playing. The New York Times: With Gap Wide And Time Short, Obama And Boehner Meet With time running short to work out a deal to avert a year-end […]
Health Law Could Help Low-Income Mothers With Depression
Maternal depression can make it more difficult for women to breastfeed, keep up with doctors’ appointments and interact with their babies. But some health care researchers are hoping the Affordable Care Act will improve treatment for a condition that affects 11 percent of infants’ mothers on average, but which is more prevalent among low-income mothers. “Low-income mothers were […]
Obama Administration Grilled About Insurance Markets In House Hearing
It was akin to being called to the principal’s office to find out why the pupil was late with her homework. Top Obama administration officials were called before a House subcommittee Thursday to answer questions about the implementation of the president’s landmark health law, and what Republicans say is a lack of clarity over how […]
More ACA Lawsuits: The ‘Contraceptive Mandate’ Versus Religious Freedom (Analysis)
While the legal challenges to the health law’s contraception coverage mandate pose no threat to the measure as a whole, they have all the ingredients of a legal donnybrook that might well end up before the high court.
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 13, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories about how proposals to cut Medicare and other entitlement programs are playing with Democrats, and how a new poll shows overwhelming support from the public for a compromise deficit deal. The Wall Street Journal: Spending-Cut Proposals Drawing Democratic Flak One big question in Washington’s […]
Medicare Silver Bullets: What’s The Best Way To Control Costs?
KHN asked a range of health policy experts the following question: If you could make only one change to Medicare to control costs, what would it be and why?
Health Cost Bite To Family Budgets Sinks Deeper
Medical costs aren’t just breaking government budgets. The price of commercial health insurance has risen five times faster than family incomes since 2003 even as the financial security it offers has shrunk, says a new Commonwealth Fund report that underscores how medicine is consuming bigger and bigger parts of the private economy. “Wherever you live in the United States, health insurance is expensive, and […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 12, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that GOP lawmakers want to see details on the safety net cuts President Barack Obama would offer as part of the “fiscal cliff” talks while some liberal Democrats want to leave Medicaid out of it. Los Angeles Times: Fiscal Talks Hobbled By New Finger-Pointing […]
As Population Diversifies, Rethinking How We Care For Elderly
Gerontologist Peggye Dilworth-Anderson discusses why we need to rethink what we perceive of as “normal” aging.
Q&A: Options For Patients Who Get Out-Of-Network Care
Consumer columnist Michelle Andrews answers a reader question about handling an out-of-network bill from a provider the patient didn’t choose.