Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Florida’s Decision Hurts County With Highest Uninsured Rate
Many Hendry County residents earn too little for federal subsidies but are ineligible for Medicaid since state lawmakers opted against expanding the program.
In Western N.C., Getting Health Coverage Means Getting Creative
A navigator helps people, like John Martin (above), who fall into coverage gap in Appalachia figure out ways to qualify for and receive Obamacare insurance subsidies.
Texas Imposes New Rules On Health Insurance Navigators
The state’s top insurance regulator softened some provisions, but will require that navigators receive additional state training and undergo background checks and fingerprinting.
Signing Up The Homeless, One At A Time
Skid Row clinics in Los Angeles and other locations around the country are educating and enrolling homeless people in new health coverage, but mental illness and drug addiction pose challenges.
Check Your Blood Pressure, (Unwittingly) Sell Your Contact Information
SoloHealth, a company that puts health screening kiosks in supermarkets, partners with insurers looking to sign people up with Affordable Care Act polices.
Emergency Rooms Are Front Line For Enrolling New Obamacare Customers
While it may be a logical place to enroll the uninsured, consumer confusion — and illness — are hurdles for outreach workers.
Nearly A Quarter Of Health Marketplace Enrollees Are Young Adults
This group of people aged 18 to 34, who make up about 40 percent of the potential market, is vital to the health of the insurance exchanges.
Doors To Treatment Opening For Poor Illinoisans Struggling With Mental Illness
Federal and state laws expand psychiatric coverage, but some experts fear care will be in short supply.
Health Law Inspires Hope But Also Worry Among Those With HIV
People with HIV and AIDS can get private insurance, but advocates say that doesn’t guarantee access to high quality care.
Thousands Waiting For Medicaid Coverage Are Stuck In Limbo
State Medicaid programs have not received data on many applicants because of healthcare.gov’s software problems.
Millions Of Lower-Income People Expected To Shift Between Exchanges And Medicaid
“Churning” may cause gaps in coverage and require switching doctors and hospitals.
Many Spanish Speakers Left Behind In First Wave Of Obamacare
Enrollment of key group is hampered by language, cultural and technological barriers.
In Los Angeles, there’s a concerted effort to enroll the homeless into Medicaid, as the federal-state health insurance program opens for the first time to all poor adults.
Despite Health Law’s Protections, Many Consumers May Be ‘Underinsured’
Experts say that potential trouble spots for out-of-pocket spending include prescription drugs; specialist care, including that provided by academic medical centers; and services such as physical therapy.
One Texan Weighs Obamacare Options: High Deductible Vs. ‘Huge Fear’
Going without insurance “is like gambling,” says a 43-year-old social worker. But the high deductibles of Affordable Care Act plans make them a hard sell.
In California, It’s Not A Done Deal Until You Get The Insurance Card
Even in California, the path to finalizing new insurance coverage can be long and arduous.
In Hollywood, Health Coverage Presents Unique Challenges
The entertainment industry relies heavily on freelancers and independent contractors who rarely are able to gain health insurance through their employers. Though the health law might help some, people in this industry still sometimes face difficulties in the health care system.
Obamacare Benefits Elusive For Many Working Poor In Northern Florida
In rural panhandle towns, people know little about the health law, and what they know they don’t like. Still, many could benefit from the law’s subsidies to buy insurance, while others will be left out because the state is not expanding Medicaid.
Medicaid Expansion To Cover Many Former Prisoners
The Department of Justice estimates former inmates and detainees will comprise about 35 percent of the people who will qualify for Medicaid coverage in the states expanding their programs.
Because of the diversity of this immigrant population, experts say educational campaigns to raise awareness about the health law’s new coverage options must avoid a “one-size-fits-all” model.
