health care

Pardit Pri was excited to learn the new health insurance exchanges could help her.

Back To Work After A Baby, But Without Health Insurance

9:13pm October 05, 2013

by Sarah Varney

Pardit Pri left her job as a legal assistant when she had a baby. She thought she'd be able to find a new job with health insurance, but so far has found only contract work with no benefits. She's not sure if her state's new health exchange will make sense for her, given her uncertain income.

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The Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

From Therapy Dogs To New Patients, Federal Shutdown Hits NIH

1:00pm October 04, 2013

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland is often the last resort for patients who have mysterious, rare or terminal diseases. Patients sometimes call it the "House of Hope." But the government shutdown may mean that prospective patients will be turned away.

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Brad Stevens used to think he didn't need health insurance.

Medicaid Looks Good To A Former Young Invincible

11:38am October 04, 2013

by Sarah Varney

A 54-year-old California man has never had health insurance and wasn't much interested in the debate over the Affordable Care Act. But after some recent health setbacks, he is eager to sign up for coverage made possible by the law.

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Assisters get up to speed on how best to explain the new health coverage choices during training on Sept. 25 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

First Step In Health Exchange Enrollment: Train The Helpers

2:06pm October 02, 2013

by Julie Rovner

Navigators are a key part of the health law rollout. They work at nonprofit organizations, and they're being trained to help people learn about their coverage options. In some areas that training is still going on, even though the exchanges are up and running.

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In Florida, Insurer And Nonprofits Work On Enrollment

7:05pm October 01, 2013

by Greg Allen

Florida resisted implementing the Affordable Care Act. Now, in the absence of the state encouraging people to sign up for insurance on exchanges set up under it, other groups have stepped in.

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Health & Safety

Health Exchange Day One: A View From California

6:38pm October 01, 2013

by Pauline Bartolone

We'll hear how things went in California Tuesday as people started to sign up for insurance in the Affordable Care Act.

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The Religious Alternative To Obamacare's Individual Mandate

4:54pm October 01, 2013

by NPR Staff

The new federal health law has a few exemptions from its insurance mandate, including health care sharing ministries. Members pay a monthly fee to help cover some of each other's medical costs — but there are no guarantees.

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Then-Gov. Mitt Romney signs the Massachusetts health care bill in Boston on April 12, 2006.

Lessons For The Obamacare Rollout, Courtesy Of Massachusetts

9:23am October 01, 2013

by Richard Knox

Seven years ago, Massachusetts launched its own experiment with health insurance exchanges. Those involved in that experiment say it's gone smoothly, and as a result, 97 percent of the state's residents now have health coverage. Some called the program Romneycare; some still do.

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House GOP Didn't Blink, Focused On Defunding Obamacare

6:36am October 01, 2013

The focal point of the fight over continued funding for the federal government has been the effort by conservatives in the House to defund the Affordable Care Act. Enrollment begins Tuesday. Steve Inskeep talks to Arizona Republican David Schweikert, one of the House members who has supported the effort to defund the law known as Obamacare.

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The audience concentrates on a presentation by Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger's office about the federal health care overhaul at the University of Kansas satellite campus in Overland Park, Kan., earlier this month.

Insurance Exchange 101: Here's What You Need To Know

9:36am September 30, 2013

by Julie Rovner

If all goes as planned, people who don't have insurance will be able to shop for it on online insurance marketplaces starting Tuesday. As long as people sign up by Dec. 15, they'll be covered starting Jan. 1.

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