Latest California Healthline Stories
What Medicare Part D Can — and Can’t — Teach Us About the Affordable Care Act
Increasingly, observers are cautioning: Don’t rush to judgment about the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces, because the launch of Medicare Part D was rocky, too. But comparing the two programs makes less and less sense as the weeks go by.
Obamacare Mandates: Why the Fairness Debate Doesn’t Matter
In a “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” interview, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius found herself unable to rebuff the host’s frequent questions about whether it is fair to delay the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate but not its individual mandate. Health experts have weighed in, but is such a debate necessary at this point?
Should Obamacare Be Delayed — And More to the Point, Can It?
Mounting problems with the federal health insurance exchange have sparked widespread concern, and even supporters of the ACA are turning critical. Experts weigh in on whether the individual mandate and other elements of Obamacare should, or even can, be delayed if the problems persist.
What Covered California Did Right in Week One — and What Other States Did Better
It was a bumpy debut for Covered California, as the state’s health insurance exchange launched last week with long wait times and a glitch-filled website. How did the Golden State grade out?
It’s More Than an Emergency: Calif. Among States Seeking To Expand EMS Care
A trend of expanding Emergency Medical Services workers’ responsibilities is catching on across the U.S., as state officials look for ways to supplement Obamacare with smaller scale efforts to close care gaps and reduce spending. California is hoping to launch several of these programs by next summer, though there are barriers to entry.
California Raced To ‘Set the Pace’ on Obamacare Implementation. Did it Pay Off?
Golden State leaders vowed to lead the nation when implementing health reform. On the verge of the ACA rollout, did they win the race — and does it even matter?
A Dozen Hospitals Are Laying Off Staff and Blaming Obamacare. Don’t Believe Them.
Hospital leaders from coast to coast are blaming the health reform law for recent decisions to pare their payrolls. And while the Affordable Care Act is creating new pressure for providers — from tighter reimbursement to new penalties on poor performance — the full story is much more complex.
No Health Care for Young Men? Debating a Generation’s Feelings on Obamacare
As the enrollment period for Obamacare’s health insurance exchanges nears, experts are debating whether young, healthy adults will purchase plans in the marketplaces. Research shows some young adults know very little about the health law, while observers wonder if they value insurance enough to buy it.
The Exchanges Won’t Be ‘Ready’ in Time. And it (Probably) Won’t Matter.
Less than a month remains before the health insurance exchanges are supposed to be up and running — and while Covered California is in strong shape, officials in many other states are scrambling. But even if the marketplaces don’t launch on time, it might not mean much in the long run.
UPS Among the First To Dump Spousal Coverage. It Won’t Be the Last.
UPS’ eye-catching announcement to exclude 15,000 spouses of employees from its health insurance plan is being blamed, in part, on the Affordable Care Act. Here’s a closer look at the decision, whether it will be a tipping point for other firms and the zero-sum game behind dropping spousal coverage.