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People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
Medicaid
The coming nursing home shortage
The latest casualty of the Great Recession may soon be the nation’s elderly. Cuts in government payments for patient care and less construction of new nursing homes are already taking a toll. Add to this the aging baby boom generation and you have a worst-case scenario.
Long-term care insurance can come up short
Will it cover your needs? Can you pay for it? Can you afford not to have it?
Tips for buying long-term care insurance
Don’t buy if the out-of-pocket cost for the coverage would be more than you can afford. Policies differ greatly so know what you are buying. Shop around.
The public option lives
The much celebrated, and much maligned, public option may have died in Congress, but it’s alive and well in California.
Want to quit smoking? Your health plan may want to help.
Some companies are also penalizing employees who don’t give up cigarettes by hitting them with higher health insurance premiums.
Tools help you choose a good nursing home
Finding a high-quality nursing home is a daunting task. Fortunately, there is information online that can help you learn about nursing home quality.
Politics forces leadership change at Medicare and Medicaid Services
Republicans blocked confirmation of President Obama’s appointee Dr. Donald M. Berwick. The current political climate on Capitol Hill may mean that Tavenner is just as likely to see her nomination stall
Health on the Web: This week’s top picks
Will pot save healthcare reform? Shortage of key drugs threatens patients’ lives. What’s behind the attack on Planned Parenthood?
Public health, medical research face deep cuts if super committee deadlocks
Federal funding for medical research, disease prevention and a host of public health initiatives could be sharply reduced if the congressional super committee fails to agree on a deficit-reduction package, triggering automatic cuts.
Webwatch: The best online reads
What’s a person, exactly? Could Herman Cain get health insurance today? A new approach to caring for the elderly?
Medicaid cuts would hit blacks and Latinos hardest — study
In black and Latino communities, more than one in four people rely on Medicaid, compared with fewer than one in eight whites.
Medicare Open Enrollment begins Saturday
Enrollment period expanded to seven weeks to give seniors and people with disabilities will have more time to compare plans.
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