Health Care Costs

Latest KFF Health News Stories

State Lawmakers Seek Restraints on Wage Garnishment for Medical Debt

KFF Health News Original

At least eight states are considering legislation to curtail wage garnishment over unpaid medical bills, as health care costs rise and more people become underinsured.

When It Comes to Health Insurance, Federal Dollars Support More Than ACA Plans

KFF Health News Original

Questions of fairness came up in last year’s congressional debate about extending Obamacare’s enhanced subsidies. Critics wondered why the federal government should underwrite coverage costs for people with ACA coverage. In truth, though, almost all health insurance in the U.S. comes with some federal help.

Nevada Debuts Public Option Amid Tumultuous Federal Changes to Health Care

KFF Health News Original

The state recently became the third to offer a public option health plan through its Affordable Care Act marketplace. But researchers said it’s unlikely to fill the gaps left by sweeping changes at the federal level.

An Arm and a Leg: Personal Finance Guru Faces Down an Insurance Denial

Podcast

Ron Lieber, the “Your Money” columnist for The New York Times, shares ideas about how insurance companies, doctors, and patients can better handle prior authorization denials.

Wyoming Wants To Make Its Five-Year Federal Rural Health Funding Last ‘Forever’

KFF Health News Original

State officials believe they’ve found a way to extend the life of federal Rural Health Transformation Program money Wyoming is receiving as part of last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act — by investing most of it.

Trump Required Hospitals To Post Their Prices for Patients. Mostly It’s the Industry Using the Data.

KFF Health News Original

Politicians have pushed for price transparency in health care. But instead of patients shopping for services, it’s mostly health systems and insurers that are using the information, as fodder for negotiations over pay.

Listen: Why Do I Need Prior Authorization?

KFF Health News Original

When the doctor says you need a prescription or treatment, sometimes you need approval from your health insurance first. Without it, they won’t pay. Health reporter Sarah Boden joins “Life Kit” host Marielle Segarra to discuss prior authorization.

Nuevas reglas de trabajo de Medicaid podrían impactar más fuerte en adultos de mediana edad

KFF Health News Original

Los adultos de entre 50 y 64 años, especialmente las mujeres, son quienes probablemente resulten más afectados por las nuevas reglas que imponen trabajar para acceder al programa de salud.

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

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.

What the Health? From KFF Health News: New Flu Vax? FDA Says No Thanks

Podcast

It’s been a busy week at the FDA, with a political appointee overruling agency scientists to reject an application for a new flu vaccine. Meanwhile, anti-abortion Republicans on Capitol Hill complain the agency is dragging its feet on reviewing the abortion pill mifepristone. Jackie Fortiér of KFF Health News, Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

New Medicaid Work Rules Likely To Hit Middle-Aged Adults Hard

KFF Health News Original

Republicans have said new rules requiring many Medicaid participants to work 80 hours a month will pinpoint unemployed young people who should have jobs. Policy researchers say the rules are more likely to disrupt coverage for middle-aged adults, harming their physical and financial health.

Obamacare: el impacto de los costos en las inscripciones no se conocerá hasta dentro de varios meses

KFF Health News Original

Los subsidios mejorados, que redujeron el porcentaje del ingreso familiar que se debía pagar por la atención médica y eliminaron el límite de ingresos para calificar, expiraron a fines del año pasado.

Obamacare Sign-Ups Drop, but the Extent Won’t Be Clear for Months

KFF Health News Original

Experts say Affordable Care Act sign-up data won’t be clear until people who were enrolled have paid — or haven’t paid — their new, often much higher, premiums.

Newsom ajusta su discurso sobre la salud de inmigrantes enfocado en una posible candidatura presidencial

KFF Health News Original

Newsom propuso que el estado no intervenga cuando, a partir de octubre, el gobierno federal deje de brindar cobertura médica a unos 200.000 residentes legales, entre ellos solicitantes de asilo y refugiados.