Plan offers free care for some illnesses, such as diabetes, but requires hefty fees for treatments deemed overused, such as knee replacements and heart bypasses.
Reform would require young adults to purchase insurance. But many of these “young invincibles” don’t believe they need or would benefit from such plans.
The evolution of Blue Cross is a case study in the need for health care reform.
There is strong support to ban rescission, the insurance company practice of canceling policies when people run up heavy bills
Plan includes insurance mandate and a promise to “end discrimination” from pre-existing conditions.
The Nestruds were shocked to find that money they had deposited in their HSA was missing.
Some hospice executives say the poor economy may also be driving doctors to hold on to patients longer.
About 46 million Americans, about 15 percent of the population, do not have insurance, a number some believe is now larger because of the recession.
Fernando Arriola, a contractor in New Orleans, can’t get coverage so he’s now working to set up a clinic for the uninsured.
Proponents say repeal of the exemption would spur competition and bring down costs.
Nation’s health spending as a share of the economy jumped in 2009 by 1.1 points to 17.3 percent, largest leap yet.
A short primer on the issue.
Sherie Brace of Seattle will lose insurance this summer when Washington is set to end coverage for her and 65,000 other low-income residents.
What choices did Democrats make that hurt the chances health reform will pass?
More than 60 percent of employers say they’ll increase the share of health costs paid by employees.
Push to overhaul the nation’s health care system has clears another hurdle.
The outcome of the fight will have big implications for consumers.
What effect would the Cadillac provisions in the health overhaul proposals have?
Organizing care is especially important for the frail elderly, who may have multiple chronic diseases.
Last year, 47% of people between age 19 and 34 went without insurance at some point: 1-in-3 is uninsured now.
After mandate, Massachusetts saw percentage of uninsured drop from 7% to 4%
Insurers will have to spend the vast majority of premium revenue on medical care.
Insurance industry is trying to block a vote they know they will lose, Obama argues
Proposal would give some unemployed an extra six months of help paying for COBRA coverage.
Can Congress bring itself to surrender power over a program as politically sensitive as Medicare?
A Medicare buy-in is part of a tentative agreement between a group of 10 moderate and liberal Democrats
26 states make it easier for low-income children, parents or pregnant women to get coverage.
Sarah Goodwin, 25, has chronic fatigue syndrome and relies on Medicaid for coverage.
Medicare’s easy-to-use “plan finder” allows seniors to plug in their medications and find the lowest cost plan.
Commission would draft proposals to control the long-term costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
Bill bars insurers from selling policies covering abortion to anyone who gets a federal subsidy
Fairfield offers insurance to 10 of its 12 employees, at a company cost of $550 per employee each month.
Republicans want you to be able to buy health insurance across state lines. Good idea?
Even if the experiments cut costs, odds are lessons won’t be applied.
“Seniors are incredibly important politically.”
Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for 40% of all federal spending, other than interest on the debt.
Should women have to pay more for health insurance? Jenny Gold of KaiserHealthNews reports.
Coupons for brand-name drugs can cut your co-pay, but in the end could drive up health costs and premiums overall.
Bill that would eliminate a 12-year-old formula that reduces Medicare payments to doctors when their costs exceed targets stalls.
The anticipated cut of more than 20% is so large that many doctors say they may have stop seeing Medicare patients altogether.
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Health News from the Seattle Times