Money
'Pennie'-Pinching States Take Over Obamacare Exchanges From Feds
Pennsylvania is one of six states shifting in the next several years from the federal insurance exchange to run their own online marketplaces,
How to Get Started If You've Never Had A Bank Account
A bank account can make life easier. Consider opening one — or try again if you've been rejected in the past. Here's a guide to getting started.
Don't Count on Lower Premiums Despite Pandemic-Driven Boon for Insurers
Numerous insurers across the country have announced plans to hike rates next year, though some have proposed cuts.
In Texas, More People Are Losing Their Health Insurance as COVID Cases Climb
According to recent data from Families USA, a consumer health advocacy group that supported the Affordable Care Act, 29% of Texas adults under 65 don't have health insurance so far this year.
Ever Heard of a Surgical Assistant? Meet a New Boost to Your Medical Bills
The latest unwelcome trend in health care? Third-party surgical assistants who aren't part of a hospital staff or a surgeon's practice.
Lost Your Job? The COBRA Game Begins
People who've been laid off or furloughed from their jobs now have more time to decide whether to hang on to their employer-sponsored health insurance. Some health policy experts question the usefulness of the change.
For COVID Tests, the Question of Who Pays Comes Down to Interpretation
The government and insurers vowed that tests would be dispensed for free. Now, those promises are being rolled back in ways that are creating turmoil for consumers, even as testing has become more plentiful.
How A COVID-19 Vaccine Could Cost Americans Dearly
A COVID-19 vaccine will have an actual price tag. And given the prevailing business-centric model of American drug pricing, it could well be budget breaking, perhaps making it unavailable to many.
2021 Health Plans Granted Leeway To Limit Consumers' Benefit From Drug Coupons
The new rule permits employers and insurers not to apply drug company copayment assistance toward enrollees' deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for any drug.
No More Delays: What to Know About the July 15 Tax Deadline
As the coronavirus pandemic took hold this spring, the federal government postponed the traditional April 15 filing deadline until July 15.
If You've Lost Your Health Plan In The COVID Crisis, You've Got Options
Some newly unemployed people are taking advantage of special enrollment periods to sign up for plans offered on the Affordable Care Act's insurance marketplaces, while others find they qualify for Medicaid.
Will Insurance Cover Your Protest-Related Injury? It Depends
Plans sometimes have exclusions for coverage related to "illegal acts" that could leave people on the hook for at least part of their medical costs. But health policy experts said it's unclear how common these clauses are or when they're used.
Open Wide: Dentists Charge Extra for 'Infection Control'
Swish Dental is just one of a growing number of dental practices nationwide that in the past month have begun charging patients an infection control fee between $10 and $20.
A Coast-to-Coast Snapshot at the Impact of the Coronavirus on the Housing Market
Here's a quick look at the current state of the real estate market in a few cities coast to coast during the COVID-19 crisis.
Congress Said COVID-19 Tests Should be Free, But Who's Paying?
Hospitals around the country are afraid to send out hundreds of thousands of bills related to COVID-19 testing. That's because Congress mandated there would be no copays and no out-of-pocket costs for patients. But who's paying?
1st Deadlines for Laid-Off Workers to Get Health Insurance
Many laid-off workers who lost health insurance in the coronavirus shutdown soon face the first deadlines to qualify for fallback coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Obamacare Safety Net Protects Many Losing Insurance, But Not All
The loss of 31 million jobs due to coronvirus has an added downside: 27 million have lost job-based health insurance. The worst may still lie ahead.
Study Ties 'Obamacare' to Fewer Cancer Deaths in Some States
Cancer deaths have dropped more in states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act than in states that did not, new research reveals.
Covid Tests are Free. Until They're Not
Congress has taken action to make COVID-19 testing more affordable for consumers with health insurance, but that reality doesn't always play out.
Health Insurers Prosper As COVID-19 Deflates Demand For Elective Treatments
As doctors and consumers are forced to put most nonemergency procedures on hold, many health insurers foresee strong profits.
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