Source: Los Angeles Times Five blood tests were performed in March at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. The hospital charged the patient’s insurer, Blue Shield of California, $408. The patient was responsible for paying $269.42. If that were all there was to this — which it’s not — you’d be justified in shaking your head and […]
Read moreSource: California Healthline Gov. Jerry Brown Friday signed first-in-the-nation legislation requesting federal approval for the state’s health insurance exchange to sell policies to immigrants living in California illegally. The bill, written by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), requires the state to ask the federal government for an exemption from a section of the Affordable Care […]
Read moreSource: LifeHealthPro Obama administration officials want to limit use of short-term health insurance in the United States to periods of three months or less. Officials are also thinking about the possibility of banning the sale of critical illness policies and other policies that cover two or more specific diseases. The so-called “tri agency” team — […]
Read moreSource: California Healthline California’s decision to raise its hourly minimum wage to $15 by 2022 could have unintended consequences for thousands of workers who will make too much money to stay on Medi-Cal, the state’s health insurance program for low-income residents. Those workers will need to get health insurance through their employers or buy it […]
Read moreSource: Forbes The low-cost silver category of health plans on public exchanges appears to be the best refuge for Americans buying subsidized coverage under the Affordable Care Act, according to new analyses. The plan categories, from bronze and silver to gold and platinum, are based on the average percentages plans spend on “essential health benefits” […]
Read moreSource: Kaiser Health News The California Senate rejected legislation that would have required medical practitioners to notify their patients if they were on probation for serious infractions. The bill’s supporters said consumers were ill-served by the Senate’s decision. “[The] vote means that most Californians will remain in the dark when their doctor is on probation […]
Read moreSource: The Wall Street Journal Anthem Inc. Chief Executive Joseph R. Swedish acknowledged “dynamic tension” with Cigna Corp. over their $48 billion pending merger, but said the health insurers had resolved differences and are on track to receive regulatory approval. The Wall Street Journal had reported that Anthem and Cigna were privately sparring on several […]
Read moreSource: NBC News The costs of providing health care to an average American family surpassed $25,000 for the first time in 2016 — even as the rate of health cost increases slowed to a record low, a new analysis revealed Tuesday. The $25,826 in health-care costs for a typical family of four covered by a […]
Read moreSource: Morning Consult Health insurance premiums are expected to rise for 2017, but by how much will vary by geographic area, an early analysis from Avalere Health finds. Premium rate requests were due to state insurance agencies earlier this month, and complete data is available in nine states so far, on which Avalere based their […]
Read moreSource: Los Angeles Times More than 60% of working-age Americans who signed up for Medicaid or a private health plan through the Affordable Care Act are getting healthcare they couldn’t previously get, a new nationwide survey indicates. And consumers are broadly satisfied with the new coverage, despite some cost challenges and an ongoing Republican campaign […]
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