Health Insurance

"Instead of saying, 'We screwed up,' they said, 'Obamacare is the problem and we may not play anymore,' " Covered California's Peter Lee said of UnitedHealth.

California Exchange Chief Rips UnitedHealth For Obamacare Excuses

10:35am February 03, 2016

by Chad Terhune

Covered California's executive director, Peter Lee, said UnitedHealth Group Inc. made its own mistakes on rates and networks that led to a $475 million loss on individual policies in 2015.

Few States Use Health Law Option For Low-Cost Plans

1:50pm February 02, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

New York and Minnesota are offering an inexpensive insurance alternative allowed under the federal health law that provides some low-income people with more affordable coverage.

Skimping on health insurance carries a hidden price for some fast-food restaurants.

Health & Safety

Bosses Find Part-Time Workers Can Come With Full-Time Headaches

1:38am February 02, 2016

by April Dembosky

Some fast-food franchisees are rethinking putting workers on part-time status to avoid having to provide them with health insurance. The business hassles are exceeding the savings.

Queue Listen Now

The price of getting a health insurance card may seem expensive, but officials say the minimum tax penalty for remaining uninsured is $695, and could rise to more than $10,000 for wealthy families who choose not to get coverage.

Still Uninsured? Buy A Health Plan This Week To Avoid A Tax Penalty

4:19pm January 28, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

Millions are still uninsured, even as the Jan. 31 deadline to sign up for a plan under the Affordable Care Act approaches. No deadline extensions this year, federal health officials warn.

Health & Safety

Do-It-Yourselfers Face Penalties Over Their Cut-Rate Health Insurance

11:47am January 27, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

People sometimes put together policies, such as short-term and critical illness plans, instead of buying more expensive health coverage. But they likely will be penalized under the federal health law.

A pharmacist counts pain pills. In an effort to curb the abuse of Oxycontin, Vicodin and other opioid painkillers, some health plans in Massachusetts now limit a patient's initial prescription to a 15-day supply, and plan to halve that number in February.

Insurers Hire Social Workers To Tackle The Opioid Epidemic

6:33pm January 25, 2016

by Deborah Becker

Some health plans in Massachusetts are putting tighter limits on painkiller prescriptions. Others are hiring their own social workers to help customers who struggle with opioid abuse quit for good.

Queue Listen Now

Tim Kilroy runs a business from his home in Arlington, Mass. His insurance company quit covering the long-acting Ritalin that helps him manage his ADHD.

Fight To Lower Drug Prices Forces Some To Switch Medication

1:28pm January 25, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

Health insurers are trying to spark a price war by refusing to pay for some brand-name medications unless they get a big discount. This forces some people to change their prescriptions.

Queue Listen Now

Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, has made a particular form of health care finance part of his campaign pitch.

Health & Safety

Debate Sharpens Over Single-Payer Health Care, But What Is It Exactly?

3:29pm January 22, 2016

by Julie Rovner

The phrase often used synonymously with government-run health care means different things to different people. Five points to help explain the Democrats' policy clash over the single-payer approach.

Health & Safety

Determining A Health Plan's Abortion Coverage Remains A Challenge

1:17pm January 19, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

Many marketplace insurers omit information about abortion services on the summary of benefits and coverage. Consumers looking for plans that cover the services or exclude them can be left in the dark.

Amy Thomson holds 2-month-old Isla in Seattle Children's Hospital in early 2014. When the Thomson family learned Isla's heart was failing, they took an air ambulance from Butte, Mont., to Seattle to get medical care.

Lifesaving Flights Can Come With Life-Changing Bills

10:34pm January 18, 2016

by Corin Cates-Carney

People in big, sparsely populated states like Montana rely on air ambulances to get to medical specialists they need. But the lifesaving flights can be hugely expensive and not covered by insurance.

Queue Listen Now