Insurance

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Ding Dong! The Obamacare Tax Penalty Is(n’t) Dead

KFF Health News Original

When President Donald Trump signed the nation’s new tax law, he also killed the Affordable Care Act’s tax penalty — but not until 2019. Despite widespread confusion, experts caution that consumers still need to pay the tax penalty if they were uninsured last year or will be this year.

Trump Administration Proposes Rule To Loosen Curbs On Short-Term Health Plans

KFF Health News Original

The policy change is likely to entice younger and healthier people from the general insurance pool by allowing a range of lower-cost options that don’t include all the benefits required by the federal health law.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ What Do The Budget, Idaho And FDA Chief Scott Gottlieb Have In Common?

KFF Health News Original

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal and Paige Winfield-Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss President Donald Trump’s budget plan and how some states are trying to stabilize the Affordable Care Act, while others are trying to violate it. Also, Rovner and KHN’s Sarah Jane Tribble interview Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

California’s Regulators To Investigate Aetna’s Medical Coverage Decisions

KFF Health News Original

The investigations follow testimony in a lawsuit by a former Aetna medical director who said he relied on information from nurses, without reviewing patient records himself, when deciding which treatments to allow and deny.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ There’s A Really Big Health Bill In That Budget Deal

KFF Health News Original

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss the health policy changes included in the just-concluded bipartisan budget deal on Capitol Hill. The panelists also talk about the final enrollment numbers for individual insurance purchased under the Affordable Care Act, and possible drug price proposals in President Donald Trump’s upcoming budget. Plus, Rovner interviews Andy Slavitt, who this week launched a health care advocacy group called “The United States of Care.”

Cut In Federal Subsidies Threatens Basic Health Programs In N.Y., Minn.

KFF Health News Original

President Donald Trump’s decision to stop paying cost-sharing reduction subsidies means the federal government will reduce its funding of the Basic Health Program that provides low-cost coverage to more than 800,000 low-income people in those two states.