January 5, 2009

Even Insured Patients Struggle as Health Care Costs Rise
As health insurance premiums and deductibles rise, even patients with insurance are finding it difficult to keep up with escalating costs. And as the economy worsens, many doctors fear even more people may have to forgo medical care they can't afford. Betty Ann Bowser reports.

November 20, 2008

Obama May Face Uphill Battle in Health Care Reform
During his campaign for the White House, President-elect Barack Obama proposed lowering health care costs and helping the 45 million uninsured Americans. Now he faces the tough task of implementing those reforms during a likely recession. Analysts examine the road ahead for Obama's health care initatives.

October 15, 2008

New Mexico Residents Struggle to Navigate Health Care System in Crisis
In New Mexico, where a quarter of the residents do not have health insurance, rising poverty rates and a lack of medical facilities are straining the system and bringing health care to the forefront of this year's election.

August 26, 2008

Health Insurance Rates Rise, Poverty Unchanged in 2007
The number of people without health insurance in the United States fell last year for the first time since the beginning of the Bush administration, according to a report released by the Census Bureau on poverty, income and health insurance.

June 10, 2008

More Than 25 Million Americans Underinsured, Study Finds
More than 25 million Americans with health insurance did not have sufficient coverage to cover their medical expenses in 2007, according to a study in the journal Health Affairs. Study coauthor Cathy Schoen and Health Affairs editor and former NewsHour health correspondent Susan Dentzer discuss the new study.

April 28, 2008

Mass. Confronts High Costs in Bid for Health Care Reform
Thousands of formerly uninsured Massachusetts residents have health insurance this year, after the state became the first in the nation to require residents to prove that they have health insurance or face fines and penalties. But the program will cost the state more than expected. Susan Dentzer reports on how Massachusetts is faring in its efforts to provide health care for the uninsured.

March 4, 2008

Massachusetts Navigates Trials of Health Insurance Mandate
This year, Massachusetts residents were required to prove that they have health insurance in order to avoid fines and penalties. But the state -- the first in the country to require it's residents to obtain health insurance -- is still grappling with the mandate's high costs, and searching for ways to get reluctant residents to sign up.

January 29, 2008

California Senate Rejects Health Care Reform Bill
A California Senate committee voted Monday to reject a bill by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that would have covered millions of uninsured Californians, ending the hopes of advocates that it would provide a model for national health care reform.

November 2, 2007

Oregon Seeks Tobacco Tax to Fund Child Health Insurance
While U.S. House Democrats struggle to rework legislation that would expand funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, Oregon voters are considering a state-wide solution. A new ballot measure would raise the state tobacco tax to 85 cents per pack to raise money for children's health insurance. Lee Hochberg reports on the plan's reception in Oregon.

October 25, 2007

House Passes New SCHIP Bill, But Not by Veto-proof Margin
The U.S. House passed a revised version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program bill Thursday, but not by the two-thirds margin necessary to override a promised presidential veto. The new bill would still expand the program by $35 billion, but would limit the coverage available to higher-income families and childless.

October 18, 2007

House Fails to Override Children's Health Insurance Veto
The U.S. House failed Thursday to override President Bush's veto of a bill would have expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion, allowing it to cover 4 million more children. The bill earned some bipartisan support, but was 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto.

October 3, 2007

President Bush Vetoes SCHIP, Democrats Hope to Override
President Bush vetoed a $35 billion expansion of the SCHIP program Wednesday, the fourth veto of his presidency. Congressional Democrats hope to gather enough votes in the House to override the veto. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chair of the House Democratic Caucus, and Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., chief deputy whip for the House Republicans, discuss the next moves for the bill.

September 28, 2007

Senate OKs SCHIP Expansion, President Promises Veto
The Senate voted 67-29 to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion over five years, adding as many as 4 million children to the program. The same bill passed in the House Tuesday, however, the 265-159 house margin would not be enough to overcome an expected veto of the bill by President Bush.

September 20, 2007

President Bush Accuses Democrats of Politicizing SCHIP
President Bush on Thursday promised to veto a Democratic-backed bill that would expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, accusing congressional Democrats of playing politics with the legislation. House and Senate negotiators recently agreed on the outlines of the bill, which would add $35 billion over five years to the program's current $25 billion.

August 28, 2007

Number of Uninsured Hits New High, Census Shows
The number of uninsured Americans rose to a high of 47 million in 2006, according to new Census Bureau numbers. In 2005, 44.8 million were uninsured. The 2006 numbers represent the highest percentage of uninsured Americans -- 15.8 percent -- since 1998.

August 3, 2007

Senate, House Vote to Expand Children's Health Program
The Senate approved legislation to expand a federal children's health insurance program for low-income families by $35 billion over five years, following House passage of an even larger increase of $50 billion. President Bush has vowed to veto the legislation.

July 30, 2007

Congress Debates Children's Health Insurance Expansion
Congress is considering whether to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program by up to $50 billion, which would be the largest health coverage expansion in a decade. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota debate the matter.

July 17, 2007

Senate Looks to Expand Children's Health Insurance Program
The Senate is expected to move forward with a five-year extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers 6 million low-income children nationwide. The move comes despite a threatened veto by President Bush.

June 29, 2007

Moore Movie Takes Aim at American Health Care
Filmmaker Michael Moore's newest movie, "Sicko," opened in theaters nationwide Friday. NewsHour health correspondent Susan Dentzer reports on the film's criticism of the health care and insurance industries, and the debate it has sparked.

May 28, 2007

Advocates Push to Extend Children's Health Insurance Program
Congress is expected in the coming months to debate renewing a children's health insurance program for low-income children. The NewsHour looks at the fight to preserve the program.

May 10, 2007

Hospitals Charge Uninsured Patients More, Study Finds
Some of the highest costs for hospital care are borne by those who can least afford it, according to a study published this week in the journal Health Affairs. In 2004, U.S. hospitals charged uninsured patients more than two-and-a-half times the amount they charged insurance companies for the same services.

April 6, 2007

Congress Considers Future of Children's Health Plan
Debate is heating up on Capitol Hill over the renewal of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, a 10-year-old federal and state initiative that provides health insurance to children.

April 6, 2007

Young Adults Fastest-Growing Group of Uninsured
Nearly one third of young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 are uninsured -- more than 13 million people in all. Recently, some legislators and private insurers have begun to try to reach this fast-growing segment of the population.

April 6, 2007

Maine Looks to Expand Reach of Dirigo Health Program
More than three years after launching an effort to provide health insurance to all state residents, Maine lawmakers are debating significant revisions to the program.

April 6, 2007

Questions Remain for Massachusetts Health Care Initiative
Massachusetts is set to become the first state to require all its residents to purchase health insurance in July 2007, but questions remain about the feasibility of the plan.

January 25, 2007

President Bush Promotes New Health Care Plan
President Bush outlined new health care initiatives in his State of the Union address, including creating new tax deductions on health insurance and giving states more flexibility in using federal funds. Two health care experts discuss the plan.

January 9, 2007

Schwarzenegger Proposes Universal Health Care in California
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a universal health care program that would extend coverage to the state's uninsured population. A California health official and NewsHour correspondent Susan Dentzer discuss the plan.

August 30, 2006

Number of Americans Without Health Insurance Hits Record High
According to a new U.S. Census Bureau report, the number of uninsured people in America has hit a record high. Health Correspondent Susan Dentzer discusses the story behind the alarming numbers.

April 5, 2006

Massachusetts Seeks Insurance for All Residents
Massachusetts lawmakers approved a landmark bill Tuesday creating a system under which all citizens will be able to obtain health insurance, regardless of financial status.

November 28, 2005

Coping Without Health Insurance
NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports on the plight of those living without health insurance.

November 26, 2003

Maine Aims to Provide Insurance for All Residents by 2009
In a year when many states are struggling to keep up with Medicaid costs, Maine is developing a program aimed at providing coverage for all of its residents by 2009. Susan Dentzer talks to Maine residents and politicians about the state's plan.