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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Shots - Health News

Challenges To Health Law Just Keep Coming

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, seen at a news conference in early 2011 before he took office, promised to file a lawsuit soon after he was sworn in. He did.

September 20, 2012 Oklahoma's attorney general claims that an IRS rule to implement the federal health overhaul law's subsidies for some insurance exchanges exceeds the agency's authority. The Congressional Budget Office says more people than previously estimated may have to pay a penalty for not having health coverage.

Summary

Planet Money

Insurance Companies Send Out Rebate Checks; Economists Get Nervous

Health insurance

September 20, 2012 Nearly 13 million Americans are getting rebate checks from their health insurance companies. But as is sometimes the case, what is popular with the people is not so popular with economists.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Shots - Health News

More Americans Have Health Insurance, But Not Many More

Census Bureau chart showing trends in health insurance coverage since 1999.

September 12, 2012 The Census Bureau reported a decline in the number of Americans without coverage in 2011. But the ranks of the uninsured remain pretty high.

Summary

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Shots - Health News

Insurance Costs Rise, But More Slowly

Heath coverage will cost you more than last year, but not as much as it might have.

September 11, 2012 Annual family health insurance premiums rose about 4 percent to an average of $15,745 this year, a new survey finds. While the increase is less than the one seen last year, it exceeds both inflation and wage gains.

Summary

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Shots - Health News

Insurer's Files Show Big Cost Differences For Same Illnesses

September 5, 2012 KHNSome of the cost variations from a UnitedHealthcare database are startling. For treating a basic asthma episode, cases in the 10th percentile of distribution cost $98 each while those in the 90th percentile the cost was $1,535 per case.

Summary

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Shots - Health News

More Employers' Health Plans Include Benefits For Transgender People

September 4, 2012 KHNMedical groups, such as the American Medical Association recommend coverage of services for transgender people. Some companies have moved ahead with benefits, but others have held back. One of their big worries is cost.

Summary

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Shots - Health News

Hospitals Gripe About Health Insurers, Too

When it comes to dealing with insurers, hospitals like some more than others.

August 21, 2012 KHNWellPoint ranked last in overall favorability and in the "dealing with hospitals" category. Cigna was No. 1 in overall favorability while Aetna scored best in the dealing with hospitals category.

Summary

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Shots - Health News

Grappling With The Uncertainty Of Alzheimer's Testing

When does it make sense to test a person for the risk of an incurable illness?

August 16, 2012 KHNWould you get tested for your potential risk for Alzheimer's disease, even though the prediction is imperfect and there is no cure for the condition? Studies suggest people can handle the results just find.

Summary

Monday, July 30, 2012

Shots - Health News

Cancer Patient Gets Help From 'Bake Sale' And Aetna CEO

One of the slogans on a T-shirt sold to raise money for the care of Arijit Guha.

July 30, 2012 Arjit Guha, a graduate student at Arizona State, felt sick after coming back from a trip to India in early 2011. His severe stomach pain was caused by advanced colon cancer. He maxed out his health insurance and harnessed the Web to raise money to cover his care. A Twitter conversation with Aetna's CEO opened a new chapter in the story.

Summary

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Shots - Health News

Feds And Health Insurers Partner To Fight Fraud

Insurers and the federal government are teaming up to fight health fraud.

July 26, 2012 The idea behind the partnership is to share the best ideas of law enforcement, government and industry on things like identifying patterns of suspicious claims, data mining and even catching simultaneous claims for the same patient in different cities.

Summary

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Shots - Health News

Flaws And All, Medicaid Can Improve Adults' Health

A budget crunch in Oregon led to an unintended experiment that helped researchers assess  Medicaid's effect on adults' health.

July 25, 2012 When Oregon couldn't pay for everyone eligible for Medicaid to be covered, the state resorted to a lottery. Researchers then compared the health of people who won coverage with those who didn't. The results show that Medicaid improves people's health.

Summary

Friday, July 20, 2012

Shots - Health News

Texas Slow To Review Health Insurance Rate Hikes

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has opposed the expansion of Medicaid under the Accountable Care Act, and his administration has yet to review big health insurance rate hikes under the law.

July 20, 2012 To make insurance more affordable, the federal health law requires every state to conduct a special review whenever a health insurer wants to raise premiums more than 10 percent. The Texas insurance department hasn't completed a reviews of any of the nine qualifying rate increases. So the companies' rate increases have taken effect.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Shots - Health News

Health Insurance Prices For Women Set To Drop

Women pay extra for the coverage, but not for much longer.

July 17, 2012 KHNWomen spend $1 billion more annually on their health premiums than they would if they were men. But under the recently upheld health law, insurers won't be allowed to charge higher rates based on gender starting in 2014.

Summary

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Shots - Health News

Firefighters Prevail In Fight for Health Insurance

Firefighter John Lauer, seen at the scene of a wildfire in Montana, led a campaign for health coverage of seasonal firefighters and their families.

July 11, 2012 CPRPresident Obama has told federal agencies to start offering seasonal firefighters the same health benefits year-round federal employees get. The order came as legislation to make the change was introduced in Congress.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Shots - Health News

True Or False? Elected Officials Interpret The Health Law

Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal wants the administration's health care law repealed.

July 3, 2012 Though elected officials have strong opinions on both sides of the healthcare law, it seems that some are hazy on the details. Test your own knowledge of what the health care ruling means for Americans.

Summary

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