Latest KFF Health News Stories
Insurance, Not Injuries, May Determine Who Goes To Trauma Centers
A new Stanford University study shows that patients with critical injuries are less likely to be transferred to trauma centers if they have insurance.
Colorado’s Elusive Goal: A Complete, Useful Health Care Price List
Making health care prices available to the public is difficult and expensive, and Colorado and several other states are in jeopardy of losing funding for their efforts unless Congress intervenes.
Some Plans Refuse To Cover Medical Costs Related To Suicide Despite Federal Rules
Under the health law and 2006 regulations, insurers can’t deny medical coverage for an individual’s injuries because they resulted from medical condition such as depression, even if it was not diagnosed before the injury.
Tips For New Obamacare Coverage: Stay In Network, Avoid Out-Of-Pocket Costs
Consumers who obtain insurance through the health law’s marketplaces will now have to figure out their plans’ specifics.
A Reader Asks: If I Am On COBRA, Do I Have To Buy A New Marketplace Plan?
KHN’s consumer columnist says cheaper deals may be available on the state exchanges, but consumers don’t have to ditch their COBRA policies.
Libraries Serve As Health Insurance Info Hubs
In Philadelphia and across the country, librarians are digging into the details of the Affordable Care Act to help patrons sign up for health insurance.
Report: Nearly 3.3 Million Americans Have Enrolled in Private Obamacare Plans
The number of young adults still lags, but the pace of signups has increased.
Questions And Answers On The Latest ACA Delay
The administration pressed the pause button on part of the health law again. Here’s what the new timeline for the employer mandate means for businesses, workers — and for politicians.
Some Same-Sex Couples Denied Family Policies On Insurance Marketplaces
Being allowed to purchase a family policy is tougher in states that don’t recognize gay marriage.
Gov. Beebe: ‘It’s Ideology Versus Pragmatism’
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe discusses his state’s experiment expanding Medicaid using a so-called “private option” strategy.
Some Middle-Class Families Find Price Of Subsidized Health Coverage ‘Awfully High’
For nearly 3 million Americans, subsidies don’t kick in until they’ve paid up to 9.5% of their income toward premiums.
A Reader Asks: Can Foreign Visitors Buy Health Insurance Exchange Plans?
KHN’s consumer columnist says policies are limited to people who reside in a state.
Obamacare Thrives In San Francisco’s Chinatown
The immigrant community became self-sufficient by necessity, building its own hospital more than a century ago. Now, that hospital offers a health plan on Covered California that is exceeding its enrollment goals.
The Health Law’s ‘3 Rs’ For Insurers: A Bailout Or Necessary Safeguards?
The provisions in the law are designed to help insurance companies adjust to the new markets, but Republicans warn that the program could turn out to be costly for taxpayers.
Insurers Eye Market For Supplemental Health Coverage To Fill Gaps Left By Obamacare, Employer Plans
While these plans represent one of the fastest growing components of the employer benefits marketplace, some experts warn they might cause consumer confusion.
Some specialty drugs can cost consumers — even those with insurance — thousands of dollars a year, but manufacturers often provide aid for those who meet specific income and program requirements.
Former Foster Youth Stay Insured Until 26
Former foster youth in California are eligible for Medi-Cal until age 26 under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). Marcy Valenzuela has been without health insurance for the last four years. By the time she was 18, she had lived in several foster placements, had become addicted to drugs and spent time in juvenile hall. The 25-year-old is getting her life back on track, starting with her health.
In Southwest Georgia, The Affordable Care Act Is Having Trouble Living Up To Its Name
In an area with moderate incomes and cost of living, insurance premiums on the new health law marketplace are nearly the highest in the country.
The 10 Most Expensive Insurance Markets In The U.S.
The ranking is based on the lowest price “silver” plan, which is the mid-level plan that the majority of consumers are selecting. The listed monthly premiums are for a 40-year-old person.
Joining GOP Trend, U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Urges Fix, Not Repeal, Of Obamacare
The business lobbying group urges Republicans to shift their focus from repealing the health law to changing it in Congress. But some tea party Republicans want to continue the fight.
