Jan 25 Some cost-conscious employers exclude outpatient surgeries in health plans By Jay Hancock, Kaiser Health News Libbi Stovall couldn’t believe it last month when she looked at the fine print in her company’s 2016 health plan. The insurance paid for inpatient hospital care, office visits and diagnostic imaging. But it provided no coverage for outpatient surgery,… Continue reading
Jan 15 Uninsured rate of Hispanic children hits record low, study finds By Lisa Gillespie, Kaiser Health News The rate of Hispanic children without health insurance fell to a historic low in 2014, the first year that key parts of Obamacare took effect, but they still represent a disproportionate share of the nation’s uninsured youth, according to a… Continue reading
Jan 08 Watch 7:09 News Wrap: Obama administration launches task force to counter extremism By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Friday, the Obama administration unveiled a new task force to revamp efforts on combating violent extremism at home. Also, President Obama vetoed a Republican bill that would have repealed the Affordable Care Act. Continue watching
Jan 06 Watch 5:43 News Wrap: Ala. chief justice urges halt on same-sex marriage licenses By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Wednesday, Alabama state Chief Justice Roy Moore urged local officials to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples, saying the Supreme Court decision is at odds at his court's earlier rulings, causing confusion. Also, the Republican-led House… Continue watching
Jan 04 Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott announces retirement after 14 terms By Martha Bellisle, Associated Press SEATTLE — Longtime Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington state is retiring. Continue reading
Dec 23 NY becomes first state to allow pregnant women to sign up for health care any time By Vic Pasquantonio Pregnant women using New York’s health exchange no longer have to wait for certain open enrollment periods to qualify for health insurance. Continue reading
Dec 21 Watch 6:58 Popular health insurance co-ops ‘orphaned by politics’ By PBS News Hour As consumers rush to enroll in the insurance exchanges, one change that's complicating signups is that more than half of the state-run health co-ops -- an alternative to private insurers -- were forced to shut down this year. The government… Continue watching
Dec 14 Tuesday sign-up deadline for Obamacare; fines rise for uninsured By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Rising premiums and shaken faith among insurers have cast a cloud over sign-up season for President Barack Obama's health care law, and now it's crunch time again. Continue reading
Dec 03 Senate OKs Republican bill unraveling health care law By Alan Fram, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Openly welcoming a preordained veto, Republicans drove legislation to Senate passage Thursday aimed at crippling two of their favorite targets: President Barack Obama's health care law and Planned Parenthood. Continue reading
Dec 03 Senate set to OK Republican bill unraveling health care law By Alan Fram, Associated Press Republicans drove legislation toward Senate approval Thursday that would demolish President Barack Obama's signature health care law and block Planned Parenthood's federal money, edging toward a veto fight the GOP knows it will lose but believes will delight conservative voters… Continue reading