Insurance Archives - Page 39 of 188

GOP House Opens With Abortion Agenda

Episode 279

Jan. 12, 2023

Leaders of the new Republican-led U.S. House kicked off their legislative agenda with two bills supported by anti-abortion groups. While neither is likely to become law, the move demonstrates how abortion will continue to be an issue in Washington. Meanwhile, as open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act nears its end in most states, the number of Americans covered by the plans hits a new high. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Listen Now

A photo shows a close-up of a person looking through Covered California paperwork.

Asking Never Hurts

Many Families With Unaffordable Employer Coverage Now Eligible for Covered California Subsidies

If family coverage on an employer-sponsored plan is too expensive, a worker’s spouse and dependents may be eligible for Affordable Care Act subsidies under a new federal rule.

By Bernard J. Wolfson

Jan. 4, 2023

A photo shows two demonstrators holding a banner that reads, "Stop the corporate takeover of NHS GP surgeries. Get Centene out."

Centene, Under Siege in America, Moved Into Britain’s National Health Service

A nine-minute public hearing gave the U.S. insurance giant a foothold in Britain’s prized National Health Service. One doctor called it “privatization of NHS by stealth.” And critics worry that business efficiencies will degrade the quality of care.

By Christine Spolar

Dec. 22, 2022

Podcasts

‘An Arm and a Leg’: Getting Insurance to Pay for Oral Surgery Is Like Pulling Teeth

A car crash left a woman in need of oral surgery, but her health insurance wouldn’t cover it. Her ongoing fight shows podcast host Dan Weissmann the weird way insurance treats teeth and reveals a big problem in the Obamacare marketplace.

By Dan Weissmann

Dec. 22, 2022

A photo shows Hawley Montgomery-Downs posing with her daughter Bryn outside their home.

After Tuition, Books, and Room and Board, Colleges’ Rising Health Fees Hit a Nerve

Many colleges require students to have health insurance coverage, and the college option can be costly. In addition, some schools mandate that students pay a fee to cover health services on campus.

By Phil Galewitz

Dec. 19, 2022

A photo shows a group of people gathered outside, holding petitions, asking passersby to sign them.

Why Medicaid Expansion Ballots May Hit a Dead End After a Fleeting Victory in South Dakota

Since 2017, Medicaid expansion has been adopted in seven states where a question was placed directly on the ballot. But campaign leaders say that strategy may not work in Florida and Wyoming, where Republican opposition remains strong.

By Rachana Pradhan and Daniel Chang

Dec. 16, 2022

Letters to the Editor

Readers and Tweeters Chime In on Disability Rights and Drug Discounts

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

Dec. 16, 2022

How Medicare Advantage Plans Dodged Auditors and Overcharged Taxpayers by Millions

Facing rare scrutiny from federal auditors, some Medicare Advantage health plans failed to produce any records to justify their payments, government records show. The audits revealed millions of dollars in overcharges to Medicare over three years.

By Fred Schulte and Holly K. Hacker

Dec. 13, 2022

KHN On Air

Journalists Explain Medicaid Work Requirements and Hospital Price Transparency

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.

Dec. 10, 2022

Podcasts

‘An Arm and a Leg’: He Made a Video About Health Insurance Terminology That Went Viral

A video producer’s quest for health coverage led him to create a video about insurance terminology. That video now has over a million views. Here’s how he did it.

By Dan Weissmann

Dec. 9, 2022

A photo shows a hand holding a box containing Paxlovid pills.

COVID-19

Paxlovid Has Been Free So Far. Next Year, Sticker Shock Awaits.

The government soon will stop paying for the covid drug that has proved to be the most effective at keeping patients alive and out of the hospital.

By Hannah Recht

Dec. 7, 2022

A photo shows using a laptop while filling out paperwork.

Colorado Option’s Big Test: Open Enrollment

Critics were ready to bury the state’s new health insurance plans, based on a public option, when 2023 rate hikes were announced, but officials are confident people will be drawn to the plans’ benefits.

By Markian Hawryluk

Dec. 7, 2022

Various pills of different colors and shapes cover a 100 dollar bill. In the center, the face of Benjamin Franklin is visible.

Employers Use Patient Assistance Programs to Offset Their Own Costs

Some insurers and employers are tapping into assistance programs meant for individual patients. The concern: Some costly drugs could be harder for patients to access.

By Julie Appleby

Dec. 6, 2022

KHN On Air

Journalists Discuss Medicaid Rules, Opioid Settlement Funds, and the Public Health Workforce

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.

Dec. 3, 2022

The Disability Tax: Medical Bills Remain Inaccessible for Many Blind Americans

Health insurers and health care systems across the country are violating disability rights laws by sending medical bills that blind and visually impaired people cannot read, a KHN investigation has found. By hindering the ability of blind Americans to know what they owe, some bills get sent to debt collections.

By Lauren Weber and Hannah Recht

Dec. 2, 2022

Letters to the Editor

Readers and Tweeters Decry Medical Billing Errors, Price-Gouging, and Barriers to Benefits

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

Nov. 28, 2022

Podcasts

‘An Arm and a Leg’: When Insurance Won’t Pay, Abortion Assistance Funds Step In

Privacy concerns and coverage limits have long made insurance an unreliable option for abortion access. For decades, abortion funds have been stepping in to help people pay for what they see as essential health care.

By Dan Weissmann

Nov. 23, 2022

California's capitol building is seen at sunset.

California Aims to Maximize Health Insurance Subsidies for Workers During Labor Disputes

Workers who lose employer-based health coverage during a strike or lockout will have access to a full-subsidy plan through Covered California.

By Annie Sciacca

Nov. 22, 2022

A photo illustration shows four images separated by bars. The first image is of money and a Medicare card, the second is an older man sitting in a chair, the third is a closeup of money, the fourth is of a spreadsheet of overpayments totalling over $8 million.

Audits — Hidden Until Now — Reveal Millions in Medicare Advantage Overcharges

Taxpayers had to foot the bills for care that should have cost far less, according to records released after KHN filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act. The government may seek to recover up to $650 million as a result.

By Fred Schulte and Holly K. Hacker

Nov. 21, 2022

A photo shows Gov. Brian Kemp speaking at a rally.

Path Cleared for Georgia to Launch Work Requirements for Medicaid

Federal officials have apparently stopped fighting Georgia’s plan for a limited Medicaid expansion that includes work requirements. The plan, a key policy of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s, would cover a much smaller portion of the population: those who can work or volunteer 80 hours a month.

By Andy Miller and Sam Whitehead

Nov. 18, 2022

Trump 2.0

Public Health

Audio Reports

Special Reports

More Topics

Insurance