Latest California Healthline Stories
U.S. Uninsured Rate Lowest Since 2008, Poll Finds
A new Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey finds the U.S. uninsured rate is at its lowest since 2008, with 14.7% of adults lacking coverage at the end of March. The survey shows that enrollment in health coverage surged near the end of the initial open enrollment period in the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges. Los Angeles Times et al.
Bill Overhauls California’s Medicare Cost-of-Living Classifications
A bill signed by President Obama last week changes the way Medicare payments are adjusted to account for the cost of living in California. The current classification system to calculate cost of living was implemented in 1989, and some areas that have grown significantly since then still are classified as “rural.” U-T San Diego.
Computer Glitches Cause Backlog of 800K Medi-Cal Applications
Glitches in a state computer system have led to a backlog of about 800,000 Medicaid applications, according to officials with the California Department of Health Care Services. The delays could cause patients with pending applications to forego medical care or pay out-of-pocket for health care services. Los Angeles Times.
UC-Berkeley Opens Emergency Clinic After Officials Confirm Second Student Diagnosed With Measles
On Saturday, UC-Berkeley opened an emergency measles clinic after the university reported a second student had been diagnosed with the disease. Officials warned that the student could have infected thousands of others when commuting home from Oakland International Airport on March 30, and attending classes from April 1 to April 3. The student currently is in isolation. Oakland Tribune, AP/KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
CalSTRS Deficit Growing by $15M Daily; Pension Fund Expects To Run Out of Money by 2046
In a release last week, CalSTRS — California’s pension fund for teachers — said it is facing a $73.7 billion shortfall and expects to run out of funding by 2046. The pension fund’s deficit is growing by $15 million per day, according to the statement. Sacramento Business Journal.
HHS Opens Up Medicare Enrollment to Same-Sex Couples
Last week, HHS announced that same-sex married couples soon will be able to qualify for Medicare hospital and physician benefits and that the department will work with the Social Security Administration to process their requests during Medicare’s special enrollment periods. The announcement stems from a June 2013 Supreme Court decision that struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act. Reuters, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Access to Care Will Continue To Be a Challenge for Undocumented Children in California
California children who are undocumented immigrants will continue to face challenges accessing care after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Under the ACA, undocumented residents are not eligible to participate in the state’s health insurance exchange. A 2012 study by UC-Berkeley and UCLA researchers estimated that California will have 50,000 undocumented children by 2019. HealthyCal.
Calif. Insurance Agents Say Their Jobs Are Getting More Difficult, While Pay Is Decreasing
There are millions of new potential customers for health insurance agents because of the Affordable Care Act, but agents say compensation is down and the job has gotten more complicated. David Fear Jr. of the California Association of Health Underwriters said that commissions from insurers are about one-third less than they were five years ago and that technical issues and the complexity of Covered California has made the job more difficult. Capitol Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Officials From Troubled Exchanges Say Repairs Are On Track
At a House hearing yesterday, officials representing problem-plagued health insurance exchanges in five states told lawmakers that they are taking steps to resolve their websites’ technical issues. Most of the officials say they will not need more federal funding to fix the problems. New York Times, Los Angeles Times‘ “Politics Now.”
About 5.4M Newly Insured Since Launch of Exchanges, Study Finds
A new Urban Institute study finds as many as 5.4 million previously uninsured U.S. residents have gained health insurance since the Oct. 1 launch of the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges. According to the study, the percentage of uninsured individuals has declined from 17.9% in September 2013 to 15.2% in March. Modern Healthcare et al.