Insurance Archives - Page 66 of 190

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Legislate-A-Palooza

The House passed legislation that would give federal workers 12 weeks of paid parental leave. The measure appears headed for passage in the Senate, and President Donald Trump has promised to sign the measure into law. Meanwhile, House and Senate lawmakers have a tentative deal on surprise medical bills, but don’t count on a compromise just yet. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Emmarie Huetteman of Kaiser Health News join guest host Mary Agnes Carey of KHN to discuss this and more. And for “extra credit,” the panelists offer their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Dec. 12, 2019

Bill of the Month Podcast

‘An Arm And A Leg’: Can They Freaking Do That?!?

Introducing a new segment on “An Arm and a Leg” podcast: “Can They Freaking Do That?!?” We take your most vexing medical bill questions and hunt down information and experts who can help.

By Dan Weissmann

Dec. 12, 2019

Postcard From The Judicial Branch

Supreme Court Seems Sympathetic To Insurers In Obamacare Case

Justices from the right and left ask whether Congress needs to keep its promises.

By Phil Galewitz

Dec. 10, 2019

Obamacare Back At The High Court — With Billions For Insurers On The Line

The case revolves around a health law provision designed to help insurers recover some losses because they had an unusually high number of sick and expensive customers. Insurers complain that when Republican lawmakers discontinued funding the program, it was like “Lucy Van Pelt pulling the football away from Charlie Brown.”

By Phil Galewitz

Dec. 9, 2019

Bill of the Month Podcast

It’s Not Just You: Picking Health Insurance Is Hard. Here’s How To Be Smart About It.

It’s open enrollment season for health insurance. And choosing the best plan is tricky whether you have to buy insurance on your own or just figure out which plan to sign up for at work. Here’s what you need to know.

By Dan Weissmann

Dec. 9, 2019

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don’t have to.

By Brianna Labuskes

Dec. 6, 2019

Analysis: Choosing A Plan From The Impossible Health Care Maze

In 21st-century US health care, everything is revenue, and so everything is billed.

By Elisabeth Rosenthal

Dec. 6, 2019

Website Errors Raise Calls For Medicare To Be Flexible With Seniors’ Enrollment

Members of Congress and others complain Medicare’s revamped Plan Finder had problems. Federal officials say they can help consumers who got bad information change their plans next year. But details about how switching will work are yet to come.

By Susan Jaffe

Dec. 6, 2019

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: We Spend HOW MUCH On Health Care?

The annual accounting of national health spending is out. And the 2018 health bill for the U.S. was $3.6 trillion, consuming nearly a fifth of the nation’s economy. Meanwhile, Congress is nearing the end of the year without having finished either its annual spending bills or several other high-priority health items. Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Mary Agnes Carey of Kaiser Health News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, Rovner interviews KHN’s Markian Hawryluk about the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month.”

Dec. 5, 2019

Bill of the Month Podcast

‘An Arm And A Leg’: How Much For Stitches In The ER? Hard To Gauge Upfront

Consumers are admonished to be “smart shoppers,” but that’s difficult if health care prices are clear as mud. When Sarah Macsalka’s son needed stitches, she did her best to avoid the ER and still ended up with a $3,000 bill.

By Dan Weissmann

Dec. 5, 2019

California Surprise-Billing Law Protects Patients But Aggravates Many Doctors

A California law, which took effect in July 2017, protects consumers who use an in-network hospital or other facility from surprise bills when cared for by an out-of-network doctor. But physicians say the law has allowed insurers to shrink networks, limiting access to those doctors who have contracted with the patients’ insurance plans.

By Michelle Andrews

Dec. 5, 2019

Picture Of Health

Anthem Blue Cross Gets Flagged And Fined More Than Other Insurers

Anthem Blue Cross has received a disproportionate share of violations and fines from California’s largest health insurance regulator, mostly related to its mishandling of patient grievances.

By Harriet Blair Rowan

Dec. 4, 2019

HealthBent

Candidates Are Betting Big On Health. Is That What Voters Really Want?

Polls show that health care is at the top of voters’ issues, but the polls also say Democrats, let alone other Americans, are not ready for “Medicare for All.”

By Julie Rovner

Dec. 3, 2019

Bill of the Month Podcast

‘An Arm And A Leg’: A La ‘Hamilton,’ Revue Takes On History Of Health Insurance

Kvetching about the cost of health care is kind of what we do on the podcast “An Arm and a Leg.” This week’s episode features like-minded storytellers — from the musical troupe Heck No Techo — who have turned their frustrations into art and laughter.

By Dan Weissmann

Nov. 27, 2019

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: How’s That Open Enrollment Going?

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace plans is halfway over and, so far, the number of people signing up is down, but not dramatically. Meanwhile, Congress and President Donald Trump can’t seem to agree on what to do about teen vaping, drug prices or “surprise” medical bills. And Democrats lurch to the left on abortion. Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more health news.

Nov. 26, 2019

KHN & PolitiFact HealthCheck

Did Joe Biden Overstate Democratic Voters’ Opposition To ‘Medicare For All’?

The term “vast” sets a high bar.

By Victoria Knight

Nov. 26, 2019

Bill Of The Month

Nothing To Sneeze At: The $2,659 Bill To Pluck Doll’s Shoe From Child’s Nostril

A 3-year-old girl put matching doll shoes up her nose. One came out easily. The second required an emergency department visit ― and generated a bill that is not child’s play.

By Markian Hawryluk

Nov. 26, 2019

Last-Minute Loophole Could Undermine Texas Law Against Surprise Medical Bills

Texas passed a bipartisan law against surprise medical billing, but advocates warn that a proposed rule could severely weaken it, continuing to allow surprise bills outside of emergencies.

By Ashley Lopez, KUT

Nov. 25, 2019