Kaiser Health News
KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: For ACA Plans, It’s Time to Shop Around
Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:05:00 +0000
Mary Agnes Carey
KFF Health News
Partnerships Editor and Senior Correspondent, oversees placement of KFF Health News content in publications nationwide and covers health reform and federal health policy. Before joining KFF Health News, Mary Agnes was associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, Capitol Hill Bureau Chief for Congressional Quarterly, and a reporter with Dow Jones Newswires. A frequent radio and television commentator, she has appeared on CNN, C-SPAN, the PBS NewsHour, and on NPR affiliates nationwide. Her stories have appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, TheAtlantic.com, Time.com, Money.com, and The Daily Beast, among other publications. She worked for newspapers in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.
In most states, open enrollment for plans on the Affordable Care Act exchange — also known as Obamacare — began Nov. 1 and lasts until Dec. 15, though some states go longer. With premiums expected to increase by a median of 6%, consumers who get their health coverage through the federal or state ACA marketplaces are encouraged to shop around. Because of enhanced subsidies and cost-sharing assistance, they might save money by switching plans.
Meanwhile, Ohio is yet again an election-year battleground state. A ballot issue that would provide constitutional protection to reproductive health decisions has become a flashpoint for misinformation and message testing.
This week’s panelists are Mary Agnes Carey of KFF Health News, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News.
Panelists
Jessie Hellmann
CQ Roll Call
Joanne Kenen
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico
Rachana Pradhan
KFF Health News
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Open enrollment for most plans on the Affordable Care Act exchange — also known as Obamacare — began Nov. 1 and lasts until Dec. 15, though enrollment lasts longer in some states. With premiums expected to increase by a median of 6%, consumers are advised to shop around. Enhanced subsidies are still in place post-pandemic, and enhanced cost-sharing assistance is available to those who qualify. Many people who have lost health coverage may be eligible for subsidies.
- In Ohio, voters will consider a ballot issue that would protect abortion rights under the state constitution. This closely watched contest is viewed by anti-abortion advocates as a testing ground for messaging on the issue. Abortion is also key in other races, such as for Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court and Virginia’s state assembly, where the entire legislature is up for election.
- Earlier this week, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that calls on federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, to step into the artificial intelligence arena. AI is a buzzword at every health care conference or panel these days, and the technologies are already in use in health care, with insurers using AI to help make coverage decisions. There is also the recurring question, after many hearings and much discussion: Why hasn’t Congress acted to regulate AI yet?
- Our health care system — in particular the doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel — hasn’t recovered from the pandemic. Workers are still burned out, and some have participated in work stoppages to make the point that they can’t take much more. Will this be the next area for organized labor, fresh from successful strikes against automakers, to grow union membership? Take pharmacy workers, for instance, who are beginning to stage walkouts to push for improvements.
- And, of course, for the next installment of the new podcast feature, “This Week in Medical Misinformation:” The official government website of the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate is attacking the proposed abortion amendment in what some experts have said is a highly unusual and misleading manner. Headlines on its “On The Record” blog include “Abortion Is Killing the Black Community” and say the ballot measure would cause “unimaginable atrocities.” The Associated Press termed the blog’s language “inflammatory.”
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too:
Mary Agnes Carey: Stat News’ “The Health Care Issue Democrats Can’t Solve: Hospital Reform,” by Rachel Cohrs.
Jessie Hellmann: The Washington Post’s “Drugstore Closures Are Leaving Millions Without Easy Access to a Pharmacy,” by Aaron Gregg and Jaclyn Peiser.
Joanne Kenen: The Washington Post’s “Older Americans Are Dominating Like Never Before, but What Comes Next?” by Marc Fisher.
Rachana Pradhan: The New York Times’ “How a Lucrative Surgery Took Off Online and Disfigured Patients,” by Sarah Kliff and Katie Thomas.
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Stephanie Stapleton
Editor
To hear all our podcasts, click here.
And subscribe to KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
USE OUR CONTENT
This story can be republished for free (details).
——————————
Title: KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: For ACA Plans, It’s Time to Shop Around
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-321-aca-open-enrollment-ohio-abortion-november-2-2023/
Published Date: Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:05:00 +0000
Kaiser Health News
LGBTQ+ People Relive Old Traumas as They Age on Their Own
SUMMARY: Bill Hall, a 71-year-old HIV survivor, has endured numerous health challenges, including depression, heart disease, and cancer since contracting the virus in 1986. His struggles are compounded by trauma from childhood, where he faced bullying and abuse in a government boarding school. LGBTQ+ seniors like Hall often face isolation, with many living alone and lacking social support. By 2030, the number of LGBTQ+ seniors is projected to double, increasing their vulnerability to health issues and mental struggles. Many have experienced profound loss from the AIDS crisis, leading to ongoing emotional challenges. Support services remain critical for this aging population.
The post LGBTQ+ People Relive Old Traumas as They Age on Their Own appeared first on kffhealthnews.org
Kaiser Health News
Caseworkers Coax Homeless People out of Las Vegas’ Tunnels for Treatment
SUMMARY: In Las Vegas, case manager Bryon Johnson searches the underground tunnels for homeless individuals like Jay Flanders, who suffers from health issues and substance abuse. Escaping rising housing costs and law enforcement, around 1,200 to 1,500 people live in these tunnels, which provide shelter from extreme weather but pose significant health risks, especially during monsoon season. Outreach workers emphasize the dangers of drug addiction and untreated health conditions, urging residents to seek medical care above ground. As housing costs soar, many homeless individuals, including tourists, end up in these perilous conditions, seeking cover from societal judgment and harsh weather.
The post Caseworkers Coax Homeless People out of Las Vegas’ Tunnels for Treatment appeared first on kffhealthnews.org
Kaiser Health News
In Settling Fraud Case, New York Medicare Advantage Insurer, CEO Will Pay up to $100M
SUMMARY: Independent Health Association of Buffalo and Betsy Gaffney, CEO of medical analytics firm DxID, have agreed to a settlement of up to $100 million to resolve Justice Department allegations of fraudulent Medicare billing for exaggerated or non-existent health conditions. Independent Health will pay up to $98 million, while Gaffney will contribute $2 million. Neither party admitted wrongdoing. The case was triggered by whistleblower Teresa Ross, highlighting issues of “upcoding” in Medicare Advantage plans. Ross, having faced repercussions for her allegations, will receive at least $8.2 million from the settlement. This case underscores the challenges of regulating billing practices in the Medicare system.
The post In Settling Fraud Case, New York Medicare Advantage Insurer, CEO Will Pay up to $100M appeared first on kffhealthnews.org
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed4 days ago
Social Security benefits boosted for millions in bill headed to Biden’s desk • NC Newsline
-
Local News4 days ago
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi Honors Veterans with Wreath-Laying Ceremony and Holiday Giving Initiative
-
Mississippi Today7 days ago
Mississippi PERS Board endorses plan decreasing pension benefits for new hires
-
Local News4 days ago
MDOT suspends work, urges safe driving for holiday travel
-
Mississippi News Video6 days ago
12/19- Friday will be breezy…but FREEZING by this weekend
-
News from the South - Missouri News Feed5 days ago
Could prime Albert Pujols fetch $1 billion in today's MLB free agency?
-
Local News6 days ago
Trump calls for abolishing the debt ceiling
-
News from the South - Texas News Feed6 days ago
Amazon workers strike at facilities around the country as Teamsters seek contract