Affordable Care Act

Even savvy consumers stumble over the meaning of coinsurance and other jargon. The misunderstandings can be costly, especially when picking a health plan.

Colorado voters made the state the first to legalize recreational pot. In 2016, a ballot initiative could establish another first: a single-payer health system that provides universal coverage.

The deadline for buying health insurance that starts Jan. 1 has arrived. Many people who lack coverage in 2016 will face fines that could reach thousands of dollars.

Versions sold over the counter are based on older formulas and make tight control of blood sugar harder. But they're cheaper and might save a patient with diabetes whose alternative is to go without.