Mar 24 FAQ: What are the penalties for not getting health insurance? By Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News If you're uninsured, now's the time to buy a plan. March 31 is the end of the annual open enrollment period when people who don’t have coverage through their employers can sign up on or off their state’s marketplace. With… Continue reading
Mar 21 Deadline to get health insurance is March 31: what does that mean for you? By Kaiser Health News and Mary Agnes Carey, Kaiser Health News With just over a week until the March 31 deadline to sign up for health insurance, backers of the health law -- from President Barack Obama on down -- are engaged in a full-force campaign to enroll eligible Americans, especially… Continue reading
Mar 20 Watch 7:35 New generation of tech innovations aims to help elders stay healthy and connected By PBS News Hour There’s a multi-billion-dollar market that has been largely overlooked by Silicon Valley. But a new wave of tech startups have begun developing products for seniors and their caregivers, from redesigning canes and pill boxes, to a web-based app that helps… Continue watching
Mar 20 Designing a better way to cope with Alzheimer's By Cat Wise Sometimes even the simplest household items are hard to navigate for individuals suffering from dementia. So Stanford University's Center on Longevity and the start-up Aging 2.0 challenged students to submit ideas for new products that can maximize independence for those… Continue reading
Mar 20 10 states critical to administration's efforts to enroll 6 million in new health plans By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News Ten states -- seven of them controlled by Republicans -- hold the key to whether the Obama administration succeeds at signing up 6 million people for health care under the Affordable Care Act by the deadline of March 31. Those… Continue reading
Mar 19 Losing sleep can lead to brain damage, scientists warn By Justin Scuiletti Research published in the Journal of Neuroscience Tuesday claims that chronic sleep loss can lead to a permanent loss of brain cells -- nullifying any hope to “make up” for lost sleep. Continue reading
Mar 18 Watch New research challenges old wisdom on saturated fat By PBS News Hour For decades we have been warned of the artery-clogging dangers of saturated fat, found mainly in meat and dairy products. However, a new analysis of more than 70 studies published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine finds that saturated… Continue watching
Mar 18 Warning: Opting out of your insurance plan's provider network could be risky By Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News People opt for a narrow network plan with the idea that when necessary they’ll be able to see doctors and receive health services out of network may be taking a big financial risk. Continue reading
Mar 17 Insurance marketplace enrollment hits 5 million By News Desk More than 5 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s new “marketplaces,” the Obama administration announced Monday. Continue reading
Mar 17 Study finds dramatic increase in painkiller prescriptions for ER patients By Margaret Myers Researchers at George Washington University have found a significant increase in prescriptions for opioidsopioid analgesics, such as Percocet, Vicodin, oxycodone and Dilaudid, despite only a modest increase in visits for painful conditions. Continue reading