Insurance Archives - Page 38 of 184

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: A Big Week for Biden

Congress is leaving for its annual summer break having accomplished far more than many expected, including, barring unforeseen snags, a bill to address the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and extend the enhanced subsidies for insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the abortion issue continues to roil the nation as Indiana becomes the first state to ban the procedure in almost all cases since the Supreme Court overruled the constitutional right to abortion in June. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

Aug. 11, 2022

KHN & PolitiFact HealthCheck

No, the Senate-Passed Reconciliation Bill Won’t Strip $300 Billion From Medicare

Under the Medicare drug negotiations provisions in the reconciliation bill, the federal government would see its outlays reduced by about $300 billion. That reduction wouldn’t result from cuts in benefits. Instead, Medicare would be empowered to leverage its market power to pay lower prices for certain drugs.

By Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact

Aug. 11, 2022

A photo shows Gavin Newsom speaking at a press conference.

California Gov. Newsom Pins Political Rise on Abortion, Guns, and Health Care

As California Gov. Gavin Newsom claims the role as the national Democratic Party’s political attack dog, he is trolling red-state governors over their positions on guns and abortion. He’s also making a case for himself — with health care front and center.

By Angela Hart

Aug. 10, 2022

KHN On Air

Journalists Put Polio, Price Transparency, and a Personal Covid Battle in Perspective

KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

Aug. 6, 2022

A photo shows Mason Lester riding a bike down a country road. A white car is seen on the road in the distance.

They Lost Medicaid When Paperwork Was Sent to an Empty Field, Signaling the Mess to Come

Tennessee expects to soon disenroll about 300,000 people from its Medicaid program. But families like the Lesters have suffered when bureaucracy and clerical mistakes caused them to unfairly lose coverage under the same program.

By Brett Kelman

Aug. 3, 2022

A family stands together in a room painted dark blue.

Perspective

The Debt Crisis That Sick Americans Can’t Avoid

The federal government is stepping in to assist student loan borrowers. But little public attention has been focused on what is — statistically, at least — a bigger, broader debt crisis in our country: An estimated 100 million people in the U.S., or 41% of all adults, are saddled with pernicious health care debt.

By Elisabeth Rosenthal

Aug. 2, 2022

Health Insurance Price Data: It’s Out There, but It’s Not for the Faint of Heart

Health insurers and self-insured employer plans are now required to post their negotiated rates for almost every type of medical service. But navigating through the trove of information is no easy task.

By Julie Appleby

July 27, 2022

A photo shows a hand typing on a laptop, colored with blue and red light.

Asking Never Hurts

Even Well-Intended Laws Can’t Protect Us From Inaccurate Provider Directories

State and federal laws require health plans to offer accurate lists of participating doctors and facilities, but consumers still struggle to get timely appointments with providers.

By Bernard J. Wolfson

July 26, 2022

KHN & PolitiFact HealthCheck

Ad Targeting Manchin and AARP Mischaracterizes Medicare Drug-Price Negotiations

The advocacy group American Commitment said empowering Medicare to negotiate drug prices would raid it of billions of dollars. Drug pricing experts say that that’s not the case and that such policies would instead reduce costs for the Medicare program and seniors.

By Victoria Knight and Colleen DeGuzman

July 25, 2022

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Drug Price Bill Is a Go in the Senate

Two things happened in Washington this week that were inevitable: President Joe Biden tested positive for covid-19, and the Senate agreed to move forward on a budget bill that includes only a sliver of what Biden hoped it would. Still, the bill to allow Medicare to negotiate some drug prices, cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, and extend temporary subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance premiums would represent a major step if Democrats can get it across the finish line. Meanwhile, abortion battles continue to escalate around the country, with Texas leading the way in restrictions. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dr. Jack Resneck Jr., the new president of the American Medical Association.

July 21, 2022

A digital illustration in pencil and watercolor. Two parents, painted in a pale purple, are visible from the waist down and face away from the viewer. Their toddler stands between them, and they each hold one of the child’s hands. The trio are walking away from the viewer, into an unclear setting. They stand on a luminous maze that radiates out from the child’s feet.

‘So Rudderless’: A Couple’s Quest for Autism Treatment for Their Son Hits Repeated Obstacles

Amparo and Victor Rios began searching for answers about their son’s development when he didn’t hit some milestones after turning 2. Three years later, they are still trying to get their insurance to pay for expensive therapy to help him.

By Michelle Andrews

July 21, 2022

The Kaiser Permanente sign on the side of a building.

No-Bid Medicaid Contract for Kaiser Permanente Is Now California Law, but Key Details Are Missing

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill last month that authorizes a statewide Medicaid contract for HMO giant Kaiser Permanente. But details still need to be worked out in a memorandum of understanding.

By Bernard J. Wolfson

July 19, 2022

Letters to the Editor

A Free-for-All From Readers and Tweeters, From Medical Debt to Homelessness

KHN gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.

July 15, 2022

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Life After ‘Roe’ Is … Confusing

A rapidly changing landscape for abortion has left patients, providers, employers, and lawmakers alike wondering what is and is not legal and what to do next. Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress have resumed negotiations on legislation to lower drug prices and, potentially, continue expanded insurance subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

July 14, 2022

A photo shows a woman using a laptop with a notepad on the desk beside it.

Three Things to Know About Insurance Coverage for Abortion

Even before the Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion, insurance coverage for the service varied widely. Now it’s become even more complex, with additional changes and court challenges to come.

By Julie Appleby

July 13, 2022

A tincture bottle of CBD oil is seen on a table. A warning on the label reads, "Shake before use."

Patients With Epilepsy Navigate Murky Unregulated CBD Industry

The FDA has approved a cannabis-derived drug, Epidiolex, to treat some forms of epilepsy. Now people who have other forms of the condition are using over-the-counter CBD products in hopes of taming their seizures. But doctors and patients worry about the unregulated world of CBD, in which product ingredients can be a mystery.

By Eric Berger

July 13, 2022

A woman holding a young child and kissing her on the cheek stands outside in front of a coniferous tree.

Diagnosis: Debt

In America, Cancer Patients Endure Debt on Top of Disease

Medical breakthroughs mean cancer is less likely to kill, but survival can come at an extraordinary cost as patients drain savings, declare bankruptcy, or lose their homes, a KHN-NPR investigation finds.

By Noam N. Levey

July 9, 2022

KHN On Air

Journalists Explain the Effects of ‘Dobbs’ Decision and New Insurer Price Transparency Rules

KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

July 9, 2022

A photo shows a patient's blood pressure being checked with an arm cuff.

‘Free’ Screening? Know Your Rights to Get No-Cost Care

Even a decade in, the Affordable Care Act’s recommendations to simply cover preventive screening and care without cost sharing remain confusing and complex.

By Julie Appleby

July 6, 2022

A digital illustration in pencil and watercolor. A woman with pink, curly hair climbs up a spiral staircase. She is trying to avoid medical bills that fall from above like heavy snowfall. The staircase is colored various shades of vibrant blues and darken s at the center to appear bottomless. The image looks to be a dreamscape or nightmare of medical debt.

Diagnosis: Debt

How to Get Rid of Medical Debt — Or Avoid It in the First Place

Medical bills can add stress to the already stressful experience of dealing with a medical crisis. And if you can’t pay those bills, they can linger, wreaking havoc on your financial goals and credit. Here’s how to protect yourself.

By Yuki Noguchi, NPR News

July 1, 2022

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