Even Patients Are Shocked by the Prices Their Insurers Will Pay 鈥 And It Costs All of Us
Health care prices are on the rise, and patients are flummoxed that even insurance companies aren鈥檛 doing more to control costs.
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Health care prices are on the rise, and patients are flummoxed that even insurance companies aren鈥檛 doing more to control costs.
More than three dozen states cover dental services for low-income and disabled individuals on Medicaid, in recognition of such care鈥檚 importance to overall health. But with about $900 billion in funding cuts expected to hit states over the next decade, many programs could roll back dental coverage.
Diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, a California man was prescribed a drug that costs thousands of dollars a month. He said he was reassured that the drugmaker鈥檚 copay card would cover his share, but after two months, the card was empty.
Chaz and Jean Franklin were facing a sevenfold increase in their health premium payments with the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans at the end of 2025. Then Jean received a crushing diagnosis that will claim her life but save the couple money.
Questions of fairness came up in last year鈥檚 congressional debate about extending Obamacare鈥檚 enhanced subsidies. Critics wondered why the federal government should underwrite coverage costs for people with ACA coverage. In truth, though, almost all health insurance in the U.S. comes with some federal help.
The twists and turns continue at the nation鈥檚 health agency, where this week鈥檚 announcements included notice that the FDA will review Moderna鈥檚 new flu vaccine after all and that a handful of top agency officials are getting new jobs. Those developments and others can be traced to a White House looking to shake things up before the midterms 鈥 and win over voters on health care. Tami Luhby of CNN, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join 杨贵妃传媒視頻 Health News鈥 Mary Agnes Carey to discuss these stories and more.
The state recently became the third to offer a public option health plan through its Affordable Care Act marketplace. But researchers said it鈥檚 unlikely to fill the gaps left by sweeping changes at the federal level.
A revolt is afoot in both red and blue states against the use of artificial intelligence in health insurance determinations 鈥 and against efforts led by President Donald Trump to tie states鈥 hands.
When the doctor says you need a prescription or treatment, sometimes you need approval from your health insurance first. Without it, they won鈥檛 pay. Health reporter Sarah Boden joins 鈥淟ife Kit鈥 host Marielle Segarra to discuss prior authorization.
Politicians have pushed for price transparency in health care. But instead of patients shopping for services, it鈥檚 mostly health systems and insurers that are using the information, as fodder for negotiations over pay.
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Sweeping changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace next year have been proposed by the Trump administration that focus on making more insurance plans available with higher annual out-of-pocket costs but lower premiums.
杨贵妃传媒視頻 Health News shares our favorite reader-submitted health policy valentines. One struck us in the heart and inspired an original cartoon.
It鈥檚 been a busy week at the FDA, with a political appointee overruling agency scientists to reject an application for a new flu vaccine. Meanwhile, anti-abortion Republicans on Capitol Hill complain the agency is dragging its feet on reviewing the abortion pill mifepristone. Jackie Forti茅r of 杨贵妃传媒視頻 Health News, Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join 杨贵妃传媒視頻 Health News鈥 Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
Republicans have said new rules requiring many Medicaid participants to work 80 hours a month will pinpoint unemployed young people who should have jobs. Policy researchers say the rules are more likely to disrupt coverage for middle-aged adults, harming their physical and financial health.
Tribal insurance programs give Native Americans access to affordable health care when the Indian Health Service falls short. Those plans are threatened by the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Experts say Affordable Care Act sign-up data won鈥檛 be clear until people who were enrolled have paid 鈥 or haven't paid 鈥 their new, often much higher, premiums.
杨贵妃传媒視頻 Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here鈥檚 a collection of their appearances.
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
PrEP has been available for more than a decade, but billing mistakes, lack of awareness, and lingering stigma keep many people from getting the lifesaving HIV prevention medication.
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