Latest KFF Health News Stories
Zients Vows Healthcare.gov Will Work Smoothly By End Of November
A subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, which built the federal data hub, will oversee the fixes.
A Reader Asks: I Don’t Have Children, So Why Do I Have To Buy Pediatric Dental Insurance?
Insurance columnist explains that the essential health benefits that all new individual and small-group health plans must offer reflect a core package that experts thought everyone should have access to.
Health Law Brings Changes In How Therapists Do Business
Mom-and-Pop shops give way to large group practices that often accept discounted rates from insurers.
Are Federal Call Centers Up To The Task Of Enrolling Millions In Health Plans?
Despite the president’s urging that frustrated consumers use call centers, advocates say they’re not “a realistic alternative” for comparing and selecting coverage.
The health law gives consumers until March 31 to sign up for health insurance, but it may be weeks before coverage begins. So the administration says it will not penalize anyone who signs up by that date.
Online Insurance Brokers Stymied Selling Obamacare Policies
Websites like eHealthInsurance.com that were planning to start selling new, subsidized Obamacare policies on Oct. 1 still can’t offer them to customers.
New Health Policies Will Expose Many Missourians To Higher Premiums, More Risk
Using health law subsidies, many will be able to afford health coverage for the first time. But the insurance they’ll be buying comes with caveats.
Readers Ask About HSAs, Infertility Treatment And The Consequences Of Not Buying Insurance
Consumer columnist Michelle Andrews answers questions about the insurance landscape under the new health law.
Obama Seeks To Reassure Consumers Frustrated With Healthcare.gov
“Nobody is madder than me” about the problems consumers have had with the federal insurance marketplace, Obama said in a Rose Garden speech, “which means it’s going to get fixed.”
Thousands Of Consumers Get Insurance Cancellation Notices Due To Health Law Changes
Insurers say the old policies fail to meet the law’s requirements, but some consumers complain about being forced to buy more expensive policies.
In Washington state, nearly 25,000 residents have signed up for coverage in the exchange’s first two weeks, whereas in Oregon, no one has been able to enroll through its website, although low-income residents have been able to sign up for Medicaid without the site.
What’s The Deadline To Avoid A Penalty For Not Having Insurance?
The simple answer is that under the health law’s individual mandate, American must have insurance by March 31. But unfortunately it’s not that straightforward.
Options For Consumers When COBRA Coverage Runs Out
A reader asks: Can COBRA health insurance coverage be extended beyond 36 months?
9 Things Millennials Need To Know About Obamacare (But Likely Don’t)
It may not be as fun as planning that backpacking trip around Europe, but buying health insurance will soon be its own rite of passage. Here’s what you need to know.
FAQ: What Is The ACA’s ‘Reinsurance Tax’?
This little-known provision of the health law has been –at times — in the Senate negotiations on the budget.
Seniors Cautioned To Pay Close Attention To Details As Enrollment Begins In Medicare Plans
Costs, coverage details of different Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans can vary significantly, so beneficiaries should weigh their options and consider switching plans for a better deal.
Health Insurance Co-Ops Offer New Option For Some Marketplace Shoppers
The nonprofit “consumer oriented and operated plans,” or co-ops, are run by their members and were created under the federal health law to enhance competition on the exchanges.
South Floridians’ Biggest Question About Marketplace Plans: Will They Be Affordable?
Consumers of different ages, health and income levels make different calculations about the costs and benefits of buying health coverage.
New Options For Native Americans Under Health Law
Although tribal members are entitled to free health care, most Indian health facilities do not offer a full array of services.
Why Some Virginia Health Plans Cost So Much
How states resolve questions over whether to mandate coverage of specialized treatments, such as gastric bypass surgery, can have a big impact on premiums.
