Health Law’s 8 New Changes To Insurance – With 7 Caveats
A set of new consumer protections went into effect Sept. 23. Here's a guide to some of the changes
Insurance
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Retroactive Cancellation Now Banned
Among the provisions of the new law is a ban on the industry practice of revoking an insurance policy retroactively-after a policy holder has racked up hefty medical bills. But consumer advocates worry the practice could continue.
By Julie Rovner -
New Health Law’s Protections For Adult Children Begins
The new federal health law requires that insurers, when they renew their plans, give parents the option of keeping adult children who are under 26 years old on their plans.
By Lisa Zamosky -
Kids With Preexisting Illness Get New Protection For Coverage But Hurdles Remain
As of today, insurers can't deny coverage to children with medical problems. But an important question is: How much will the coverage cost?
By Mary Agnes Carey and Laurie McGinley -
Transcript: Michelle Andrews On What Sept. 23 Could Mean For Health Consumers
For the past few months, health reporter Michelle Andrews has written about various aspects of the new law for her weekly feature "Insuring Your Health." Today, the six-month anniversary of the signing of the health bill, a number of key provisions officially kick in and Jackie Judd sat down with her to discuss them.
By alley -
Few Insurers Provide Coverage For Weight Loss Treatment
Millions of Americans battling excess fat find that their insurers refuse to pay for obesity treatments but instead cover its expensive consequences.
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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.
By Andrew Villegas and Phil Galewitz -
The Census Bureau’s Annual Insurance Coverage Status Check
With this collection of resources, KHN provides a Census Bureau summary of key findings, the chapter on health insurance coverage and access the full report, "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009."
By alley -
A Consumer’s Guide To The Health Law, Six Months In
The new health reform law could affect people who get their coverage at work, buy their own health insurance or are enrolled in Medicare.
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Opinion Column
Don’t Discount The Value of An Agent, They Discount Your Insurance
Janet Trautwein, the CEO of the National Association of Health Underwriters, dispels recent media reports about the demise of insurance agents.
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Employers Push Higher Health Insurance Costs Onto Workers
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.
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As Reform Improves The Overall Market, Inefficient Insurers Could Take Hits
The whole point of the nation's conversation about health reform has been to find ways to spend differently so that the result is a higher quality, more humane health care system.
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Opinion Column
The Medical Loss Ratio Requirements Are Being Carefully Crafted
In a response to the August 23 opinion column by Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Michael Ramlet, Timothy Jost, a National Association of Insurance Commissioners consumer representative, says the NAIC has been meticulously transparent and participatory in its processes to implement the medical loss ratio requirement.
By Timothy Jost -
Health Law Requires Continued Coverage For Patients In Clinical Trials
In the past, many patients who opted for experimental treatments for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses found that their insurance companies stop covering all routine care for their illness. The health overhaul mandates that insurers continue to pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, test and other routine treatments.
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Opinion Column
Health Reform: Here We Go Again
The health law's shortcomings in controlling health care costs and damage to the federal budget outlook are understood. But the economic consequences of greater uncertainty and reduced innovation are only now becoming clear.
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Week In Review: State Insurance Regulators Take Center Stage; New Polls Released; Medicare Drug Premiums
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners met in Seattle and pushed through a much debated recommendation on how federal officials should judge insurance company expenses.
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Colleges Say New Health Law May Imperil Student Policies
Colleges and universities are warning federal officials that they may not be able to offer student health plans in the future unless the government clarifies certain provisions of the new health overhaul law.
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Baltimore Homeless Program Expects Boost From Medicaid Expansion
Many homeless people are uninsured and ineligible for Medicaid. But that will change beginning in 2014, when Medicaid greatly expands under the new health law.
By alley -
New Plans For Uninsured Off To Slow Start
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.
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Health Insurance Costs Rise Sharply For Unemployed As COBRA Subsidy Ends
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.
By Phil Galewitz and Andrew Villegas