Latest California Healthline Stories
Focus Back On 2018 Premium Hikes As Open Enrollment Nears
Covered California may let insurers raise rates by an average of up to 25 percent on certain plans if uncertainty persists about the federal government’s commitment to funding reductions in out-of-pocket expenses for low-income people. California Healthline Senior Correspondent Chad Terhune discussed this and other health care topics Wednesday on KABC radio.
The GOP Repeal Bill Is Imploding. Here Are 5 Things Left Hanging On Obamacare.
Even though the Affordable Care Act has dodged another legislative bullet, it still faces challenges.
Need An MRI? Anthem Directs Most Outpatients To Independent Centers
The insurer says hospital-based imaging services are too expensive and the independent facilities provide high-quality care.
High On Drugs? Anthem Cites Soaring Drug Costs To Justify 35% Rate Hike in California
The company’s drug spending prediction, far above other insurers in the individual market, has experts scratching their heads. Anthem cites market volatility.
If You’re Blindsided By Health Plan Changes, Learn The Root Causes — And Your Rights
Insurers can reduce benefits or change cost sharing, but they are generally supposed to tell enrollees about the change beforehand. And although plans must tell patients when they are denied coverage, sometimes treatment is affected for other reasons.
Insurance Commissioners Say Help Offered By Congress Is Not Enough To Save Market
Making needed fixes to Obamacare before next year may be more difficult — and expensive — than Senate leaders think, state insurance commissioners suggested at a Senate hearing Wednesday.
For Millions Of Insured Californians, State Health Laws Don’t Apply
California has adopted many strong consumer regulations, but they don’t protect the nearly 6 million state residents with a specific type of job-based coverage.
Calif. Hits Kaiser With $2.2 Million Fine For Failing To Provide Required Medicaid Data
It’s the second fine this year for California’s largest health plan, the only one to be penalized by Medi-Cal officials since at least 2000. The HMO says it will hand the information over by next month.
Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ Back To Health Crunch Come September
In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss the continuing efforts in Congress to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, upcoming open enrollment for individual insurance and Congress’ long health care to-do list for September.
Anthem’s Exit Leaves Thousands With No Choice Of Health Plans
When Anthem Blue Cross pulls out of the individual market next year, about 60,000 Covered California enrollees, plus others who buy insurance outside of the exchange, will have only one health plan in their areas.