Uninsured Rate Soars, 50+ Million Americans Without Coverage
In a reflection of the battered economy, the rate of uninsured Americans rose to 16.7 percent last year from 15.4 percent in 2008, according to a new Census Bureau report.
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In a reflection of the battered economy, the rate of uninsured Americans rose to 16.7 percent last year from 15.4 percent in 2008, according to a new Census Bureau report.
A new study found states have very different rates of enrollment for eligible kids - from a high of 95 percent in Massachusetts to a low of 55 percent in Nevada.
Premiums for family coverage rose about 3 percent to an average of $13,770, but workers are absorbing a greater percentage of the costs, survey finds.
Several recent studies show the risk of cancer associated with CT scans appears to be greater than previously believed.
Doctors who refer Medicare and Medicaid patients to in-house imaging machines must disclose in writing that they own the equipment.
The new "high-risk pools" - the federally-subsidized program for uninsured people with health problems - are one of the first benefits of the health overhaul law passed this year, but not many people have applied and been enrolled in the plans springing up around the country.
When a program subsidizing health insurance for people who lose their jobs ended this year, it created a costly problem as the recession continues to throw workers off the payroll. COBRA coverage, which employees of many businesses can obtain after being laid off, typically is very expensive.
Some say money employers save on health insurance in the health law will eventually mean more money for Social Security instead of more money for workers.
Ehealth Inc., a large Internet health insurance broker, has been named to help operate the new federal health website, making it one of the first private companies to get a major contract from the federal government under the nation's new health law.
During the health reform debate, people with pre-existing conditions lobbied for affordable health insurance. Now, HHS has issued new rules on how high-risk pools will work.
The Obama administration issues regulations that will set some minimum requirements for the process, including allowing patients to appeal the insurer's decision to an independent outside panel.
Three black members of Congress say minority nursing home patients would be disproportionately affected if Congress fails to extend bonus payments to state Medicaid programs.
The federal government is providing $27 billion over the next decade to reward doctors and hospitals for installing electronic health systems. But some hospital officials say the regulations are still too onerous.
The new health law mandated that the government set up a website to help consumers understand all of their insurance options. The site, www.healthcare.gov, launched July 1.
eHealthInsurance hopes to get government contract to run the new website that will serve consumers looking for insurance options.
A new federal website will give consumers a list of all private and government health care plans for individuals and small businesses in their areas. Insurers and advocacy groups are clashing over the data to be provided.
As he trumpeted what he called a new "Patient's Bill of Rights" Tuesday, President Barack Obama tried to calm fears that the new health law would increase insurance costs.
The "Walkers/Talkers" program in New Orleans sends workers into the poorest neighborhoods to find uninsured children and then helps sign them up for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Federally funded initiatives to enroll kids in Medicaid and CHIP hold lessons for enrolling adults once health overhaul goes into effect in 2014.
Experts say states can employ a variety of strategies to identify and enroll eligible children in the Medicaid and CHIP programs this year
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