Latest California Healthline Stories
Oscar Wants To ‘Revolutionize’ Health Care. But Will It Even Survive Covered California?
Oscar, the buzzed-about health insurance startup, will join Covered California this year. Can it deliver on its hype, or will it get lost in the crowd?
Uninsured Numbers Drop Substantially
A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation says 68% of previously uninsured Californians now have health insurance.
Why Expanded Health Care Access for the Undocumented Is Unlikely, Despite Benefits
Research suggests that there are several potential benefits to expanding health care coverage to undocumented immigrants: avoiding a plateau in insurance gains, extending Medicare solvency and others. But expanded access is likely to stall in the face of cost and other concerns.
Should California Prohibit ‘Skinny’ Health Insurance Plans From Large Employers?
We asked legislators, consumer advocates, employers and insurers to weigh in on a bill in the California Legislature that would prohibit large employers from offering workers “skinny” health plans in California.
Senate Moves Provider Directory Bill
A proposal to require insurers to publish more accurate provider information unanimously cleared the Senate floor yesterday in the California Legislature.
State Has Good Care If You Can Get It, According to Text-Message Study
Researchers used text messages to survey low-income Californians who reported an overall positive experience with the state’s health care system.
Another Case Before Supreme Court Could Influence Health Care Reform
In addition to the much-anticipated ruling in King v. Burwell, a Vermont case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court involving an insurance company’s efforts to avoid divulging information also has the potential to have a significant influence on health care reform.
State Pressured To Explain Why it Revoked Blue Shield’s Not-for-Profit Exemption
Consumer advocates want to know how state officials came to the decision last year to revoke Blue Shield of California’s status as a tax-exempt not-for-profit health care company. State officials said they can’t explain because of confidentiality laws.
Kaiser-Target Partnership Sign of Times
The growing influence of the patient as a consumer is pushing health care organizations to try new ways to provide care. A new partnership in San Diego between Kaiser Permanente and Target illustrates that retail clinics play a growing role in meeting consumer expectations.
Why States Using the Federal Exchange Are Unlikely To Run Their Own
Few states using the federal insurance exchange seem willing to establish their own marketplace. That’s even in light of a Supreme Court case that could nullify subsidies for consumers purchasing health insurance through HealthCare.gov, as well as cost such states billions of dollars in assistance and economic gains.