Worried About Costs And Unaware of Help, Californians Head Into New Era of Health Coverage
Survey of 2,000 Californians also finds that many undocumented immigrants mistakenly believe they will be covered.
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Survey of 2,000 Californians also finds that many undocumented immigrants mistakenly believe they will be covered.
Report shows wide variation across the country, with some states that opposed implementation of the health law boasting lower-than-average rates.
From free preventive services, including birth control, to the rule barring insurers from charging women more than men, the law recasts the rules of the road for women's health coverage.
Moderate-income consumers may get subsidies but will also be required to pay up to 9.5 percent of their income toward monthly premiums, which some say will put coverage out of reach.
Consumer columnist answers questions about getting insurance for children under the health law.
The nation's most diverse political swing state is ground zero in the battle over the federal health law.
Experts expect people who are between jobs to gradually transfer to exchanges, a trend projected to save large employers billions in medical claims for ex-employees.
When consultants ran simulations of the exchanges that open for enrollment Oct. 1, they found that price was a major consideration. But so were hospital networks -- more so than retaining doctors.
In Missouri, a decidedly low-profile campaign stems from a voter referendum last year barring the governor from moving forward on an exchange. In Illinois, officials partnered with the federal government to build the marketplace. Nonetheless, neither exchange has given any cost information to consumers.
Currently many plans sold on the individual market do not provide maternity coverage. But that will change under the health law.
In Washington state, 80 percent of Democrats surveyed approve of the Affordable Care Act while 80 percent of Republicans don't, according to an Elway Poll conducted on behalf of The Seattle Times.
The online exchanges that open Oct. 1 are not aimed at Medicare beneficiaries, but the 2010 health law does affect seniors in other ways.
Those plans must also provide the same "essential benefits" as the plans set up for the exchanges and have similar out-of-pocket standards.
The federal overhaul will help some immigrants who are not citizens gain insurance, but there are no provisions to help those who are in the country illegally.
Even proponents of the federal health law have the same expectation: The rollout of the biggest new social program in nearly 50 years is not going to be pretty.
Number of policies offered will vary depending on the state.
New measures are announced after 17 states hostile to the law restrict the work of consumer navigators.
Government actuaries estimate that health care will account for 20 percent of gross domestic product by 2022.
With the Congressional Budget Office projecting a reduced cost for a long-term "doc fix," Congress may seize the opportunity to end the annual adjustments to Medicare reimbursement rates. Mary Agnes Carey and CQ Roll Call's Emily Ethridge discuss.
Open enrollments will be held annually for beneficiaries.
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