Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Many Low-Wage Workers Fall In Coverage Gap
When the Affordable Care Acts federal marketplace opened last year, Beth and Doug Warner of St. Petersburg asked a navigator to enroll them. But they discovered their income wasnt high enough to get a subsidy. Without one, Doug Warner said, the policy for the couple would cost $700 a month. Basically the choice was, Keep the roof over your head or buy healthcare.' Its one of the great ironies of the health overhaul. Floridians most in need of health insurance -- adults below the poverty line -- are often blocked from coverage the Affordable Care Act provides. (Gentry, 12/4)
The Feb. 15 deadline to sign up for health insurance coverage on the federal Healthcare.gov website is quickly approaching, and low-wage workers like DeAngelo Morales and Isaac McQueen are stuck between a rock and hard place. McQueen, 35, a father of two, has worked at Dominos Pizza for 10 years as a pizza maker. He says he doesnt qualify for subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act. He also doesnt qualify for Medicaid after North Carolina declined to expand the program to adults who make more than 49 percent of the federal poverty level, which works out to $9,697 a year for a family of three. (Namkoong, 12/5)
Tom and LaDonna Appelbaum have a knack for good timing. The West County couple spent a nerve-wracking four years without health insurance but never had a serious medical issue to worry about. When it came time to sign up for coverage under President Barack Obamas health overhaul last year, the Appelbaums decided they werent going to take any more chances. They qualified for a subsidy to help reduce the cost of their monthly premium. And it wasnt a moment too soon. In June, Tom Appelbaum, a self-employed attorney, had a boating accident that required surgery on his right hand. And just two months later LaDonna Appelbaum was diagnosed with breast cancer. (Shapiro, 12/4)
Many members of mixed-status families have balked at enrolling in Medi-Cal or Covered California over concerns that application information might end up in the hands of immigration authorities. That won't happen, according to Pedro Ribiero, assistant director of public affairs for immigration and customs enforcement at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (Gorn, 12/4)
Premiums for health care policies sold in Dallas County by Cigna and BlueCross BlueShield of Texas are higher next year. Premiums for Aetna and Molina plans are lower. Aetna is raising deductibles and co-pays, though, while many BlueCross plans are standing pat on those costs. The changes offer consumers more choices, and more reason to look at total costs as well as premiums. (Landers, 12/4)
