KHNs What the Health?: Medicaid Machinations
The lame-duck Congress has returned to Washington with a long health care to-do list and only a little time. Meanwhile, some of the states that have not yet expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act are rethinking those decisions. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHNs Fred Clasen-Kelly, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR Bill of the Month feature, about a mysterious mishap during minor surgery.
ACA Sign-Ups for Low-Income People Roll Out Amid Brokers Concerns About Losing Their Cut
The Biden administration unveiled a new special enrollment option aimed at signing up low-income Americans for Affordable Care Act coverage even if it is outside of the usual annual open enrollment period. But insurers are cutting broker commissions at the same time.
Record Number of Americans Sign Up for ACA Health Insurance
Nearly 14 million Americans have enrolled in Affordable Care Act marketplace health plans for next year a record since the health laws coverage expansion took effect in 2014. A boost in subsidies marketing and assistance in navigating the process increased the rolls of the insured.
Journalists Offer Primers on Medicare Open Enrollment and Death Benefits Amid Covid
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Heres a collection of their appearances.
La inscripci籀n de Medicare es temporada abierta para estafadores
Funcionarios federales dicen que est獺n aumentando las quejas de personas mayores enga簽adas para que compren p籀lizas sin su consentimiento, o atra穩das por informaci籀n cuestionable, que pueden no cubrir sus medicamentos ni incluir a sus m矇dicos.
Medicares Open Enrollment Is Open Season for Scammers
Medicare officials say complaints are rising from seniors lured into private plans with misleading information or enrolled without their consent. In response, officials have threatened to penalize the private companies selling Medicare Advantage and drug plans if they or agents working on their behalf mislead consumers.
KHNs What the Health?: Compromise Is Coming Maybe
Democratic negotiators on Capitol Hill appear to be nearing a compromise on President Joe Bidens social spending agenda, spurred partly by Democratic losses on Election Day in Virginia. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court hints it might allow abortion providers to sue Texas over its restrictive new ban. But the relief, if it comes, could be short-lived if the court uses a second case, challenging a law in Mississippi, to weaken or overturn Roe v. Wade. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHNs Rae Ellen Bichell, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR Bill of the Month feature about an emergency bill for a nonemergency birth.
KHNs What the Health?: Here Comes Reconciliation
Democrats in Congress reached a tentative agreement to press ahead on a partisan bill that would dramatically expand health benefits for people on Medicare, those who buy their own insurance and individuals who have been shut out of coverage in states that didnt expand Medicaid. Meanwhile, controversy continues to rage over whether vaccinated Americans will need a booster to protect against covid-19 variants, and who will pay for a new drug to treat Alzheimers disease. Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews KHNs Rae Ellen Bichell, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR Bill of the Month episode about a mother and daughter who fought an enormous emergency room bill.
How Much of Trumps Health Agenda Has Biden Undone?
In his campaign, President Joe Biden promised to undo policies, particularly health policies, implemented by former President Donald Trump. Yet, despite immense executive power, reversing four years of action takes time and resources.
KHNs What the Health?: Open Enrollment, One More Time
Keeping a campaign promise, President Joe Biden has reopened enrollment for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act on healthcare.gov and states that run their own health insurance marketplaces followed suit. At the same time, the Biden administration is moving to revoke the Trump administrations permission for states to impose work requirements for some adults on the Medicaid health insurance program. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews medical student Inam Sakinah, president of the new group Future Doctors in Politics.
Los mercados de seguros de salud reabrieron. Esto es lo que necesitas saber
En enero, el presidente Joe Biden firm籀 una orden ejecutiva para abrir el mercado federal de seguros de salud durante tres meses, hasta el 15 de mayo.
The ACA Marketplace Is Open Again for Insurance Sign-Ups. Heres What You Need to Know.
On Monday, the federal insurance exchange reopened for an unusual midyear special enrollment period. People who are uninsured can buy a plan, and those who want to change their marketplace coverage can do so. Here are some answers about how it works.
KHNs What the Health?: Covid and Kids
Can schools safely reopen before all teachers and staffers are vaccinated against covid? And whats the best way to communicate that science and scientific recommendations change and evolve? Also, get ready for a redo of open enrollment for Affordable Care Act coverage, this time with help and outreach to find those eligible. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
KHNs What the Health?: The Long Road to Unwinding Trump Health Policies
President Joe Biden signed a pair of health-related executive orders this week that would, among other things, reopen enrollment under the Affordable Care Act and start to reverse former President Donald Trumps anti-abortion policies. Meanwhile, Congress remains bogged down with taking up the next round of covid-19 relief. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.
KHNs What the Health?: 2020 in Review It Wasnt All COVID
The coronavirus pandemic colored just about everything in 2020. But there was other health policy news that you either never heard or might have forgotten about: the Affordable Care Act going before the Supreme Court with its survival on the line; ditto for Medicaid work requirements. And a surprise ending to the surprise bill saga. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Sarah Karlin-Smith of Pink Sheet join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
Durante la inscripci籀n de ACA, elegir un plan genera nuevas complicaciones de COVID
Las personas que compran su propio seguro m矇dico enfrentan desaf穩os, en particular los pacientes que tuvieron COVID-19 y que presentan problemas de salud persistentes.
During ACA Open Enrollment, Picking a Plan Invites New COVID Complications
COVID-19s long haulers patients with lingering effects of the disease have joined the ranks of Americans with preexisting conditions. For those shopping for health coverage on the individual market, heres help navigating an uncharted insurance landscape.
Medicare Open Enrollment Is Complicated. Heres How to Get Good Advice.
Its a complex program with many options as well as confusing rules and nuances. Heres how to get reliable guidance.
Consejos para inscribirse bien en Medicare durante la complicada inscripci籀n abierta
Medicare se reduce fundamentalmente a dos alternativas: la tarifa por servicio del Medicare Tradicional o el enfoque de atenci籀n administrada de Medicare Advantage.
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Heres a collection of their appearances.
