Past Articles by Michelle Andrews
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Some States Will Make It Easier To Get Insurance Answers You're in luck, if you live in the District of Columbia or one of the 21 states that have put in place specialists to handle questions and complaints private health insurance. Otherwise the maze could prove daunting. |
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Some States Will Make It Easier To Get Insurance Answers You're in luck, if you live in the District of Columbia or one of the 21 states that have put in place specialists to handle questions and complaints private health insurance. Otherwise the maze could prove daunting. |
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A Delay In Relief From Copays For Costly Drugs The Affordable Care Act sets annual limits on the amount that people will owe out of pocket for prescription drugs starting in 2014. But sick people in some plans won't get relief until the following year because the federal government is giving certain health plans extra time to comply. |
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A Delay In Relief From Copays For Costly Drugs The Affordable Care Act sets annual limits on the amount that people will owe out of pocket for prescription drugs starting in 2014. But sick people in some plans won't get relief until the following year because the federal government is giving certain health plans extra time to comply. |
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Insurers Balk On Rarer Genetic Tests For Breast Cancer Inherited mutations of some genes can contribute to breast cancer risk. There are tests for a range of these uncommon mutations, but whether an insurer will pay for them varies, too. |
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Insurers Balk On Rarer Genetic Tests For Breast Cancer Inherited mutations of some genes can contribute to breast cancer risk. There are tests for a range of these uncommon mutations, but whether an insurer will pay for them varies, too. |
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A Catch For Insurers That Cut Deductibles For Healthy People Rewards to policyholders for claims that don't meet the annual deductible can be a boon for healthy people. But the approach might not pass the smell test in 2014 when the federal health law bans discriminating against people based on their health status. |
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A Catch For Insurers That Cut Deductibles For Healthy People Rewards to policyholders for claims that don't meet the annual deductible can be a boon for healthy people. But the approach might not pass the smell test in 2014 when the federal health law bans discriminating against people based on their health status. |
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A Catch For Insurers That Cut Deductibles For Healthy People Rewards to policyholders for claims that don't meet the annual deductible can be a boon for healthy people. But the approach might not pass the smell test in 2014 when the federal health law bans discriminating against people based on their health status. |
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Even After Overhaul, Gaps In Coverage For Young, Pregnant Women A baby's delivery may not be covered for women insured as dependents on their parents' plans, even though office visits and prenatal care would be. Although the health care overhaul mostly improves coverage for young adults, it also leaves some odd holes in coverage. |
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Even After Overhaul, Gaps In Coverage For Young, Pregnant Women A baby's delivery may not be covered for women insured as dependents on their parents' plans, even though office visits and prenatal care would be. Although the health care overhaul mostly improves coverage for young adults, it also leaves some odd holes in coverage. |
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Veterans Have Unusual Choice Thanks To Health Exchanges If they want to, veterans can buy insurance coverage on the new state-based marketplaces to supplement their coverage from the Veterans Health Administration system. |
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Veterans Have Unusual Choice Thanks To Health Exchanges If they want to, veterans can buy insurance coverage on the new state-based marketplaces to supplement their coverage from the Veterans Health Administration system. |
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Gynecologists Question Use Of Robotic Surgery For Hysterectomies Hysterectomy are among the most common surgical procedures for women. With the advent of surgical robots, more doctors and women are opting for that approach. Does a robot, which costs more, make it better? |
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Gynecologists Question Use Of Robotic Surgery For Hysterectomies Hysterectomy are among the most common surgical procedures for women. With the advent of surgical robots, more doctors and women are opting for that approach. Does a robot, which costs more, make it better? |
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How To Avoid A Colonoscopy Billing Kerfuffle Save yourself some hassles by checking with your doctor before the test to make sure the office will bill the insurer for the procedure as preventive screening rather than a diagnostic test. |
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How To Avoid A Colonoscopy Billing Kerfuffle Save yourself some hassles by checking with your doctor before the test to make sure the office will bill the insurer for the procedure as preventive screening rather than a diagnostic test. |
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State Laws Could Muddle Same-Sex Marriage Benefits Even if the Supreme Court strikes down a law barring the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, the tangle over health benefits could remain a problem for couples in some states. |
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State Laws Could Muddle Same-Sex Marriage Benefits Even if the Supreme Court strikes down a law barring the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, the tangle over health benefits could remain a problem for couples in some states. |
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The Hidden Limitations Of Health Savings Accounts In order to get the tax advantages of a health savings account, the health plan it's linked to has to meet several certain criteria. Consumers with a health savings account may also be on the hook for the entire cost of medical care, except preventive care. |
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The Hidden Limitations Of Health Savings Accounts In order to get the tax advantages of a health savings account, the health plan it's linked to has to meet several certain criteria. Consumers with a health savings account may also be on the hook for the entire cost of medical care, except preventive care. |
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The Hidden Limitations Of Health Savings Accounts In order to get the tax advantages of a health savings account, the health plan it's linked to has to meet several certain criteria. Consumers with a health savings account may also be on the hook for the entire cost of medical care, except preventive care. |
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Employers Try To Spur Healthy Behaviors With Health Plan Rewards Surveys show that an increasing number of employers are providing employees with financial incentives to stay healthy. Many employers now contribute to employee health savings accounts, but only if employees make sure to take care of their health. |
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Employers Try To Spur Healthy Behaviors With Health Plan Rewards Surveys show that an increasing number of employers are providing employees with financial incentives to stay healthy. Many employers now contribute to employee health savings accounts, but only if employees make sure to take care of their health. |
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The Doctor Will See You And A Dozen Strangers Now Getting quality time with your doctor might be easier in a group. With primary care doctors in short supply, some are turning to group appointments. Proponents say the approach has advantages, including the chance to learn from fellow patients. |
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The Doctor Will See You And A Dozen Strangers Now Getting quality time with your doctor might be easier in a group. With primary care doctors in short supply, some are turning to group appointments. Proponents say the approach has advantages, including the chance to learn from fellow patients. |
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When It Comes To Health Care, Patients Don't Want To Weigh Costs Patients feel little personal responsibility for keeping health costs lower, a study found. They were also unlikely to accept a less expensive treatment option, even if it was nearly as effective as a more expensive choice. |
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When It Comes To Health Care, Patients Don't Want To Weigh Costs A in the journal Health Affairs found that patients feel little personal responsibility for keeping health costs lower. They were also unlikely to accept a less expensive treatment option, even if it was nearly as effective as a more expensive choice. |
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When It Comes To Health Care, Patients Don't Want To Weigh Costs A in the journal Health Affairs found that patients feel little personal responsibility for keeping health costs lower. They were also unlikely to accept a less expensive treatment option, even if it was nearly as effective as a more expensive choice. |
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A Costly Catch-22 In States Forgoing Medicaid Expansion In states that don't go along with an expansion of Medicaid under the health overhaul law, many low-income adults will be caught in the gap between federal and state standards for eligibility. |
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A Costly Catch-22 In States Forgoing Medicaid Expansion In states that don't go along with an expansion of Medicaid under the health overhaul law, many low-income adults will be caught in the gap between federal and state standards for eligibility. |
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Women To See Higher Prices For Long-Term Care Insurance Rates for female applicants could be up to 40 percent higher under the new pricing policy from Genworth Financial, the country's largest long-term care insurer. The company says women account for two out of every three dollars spent on claims. |
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Women To See Higher Prices For Long-Term Care Insurance Rates for female applicants could be up to 40 percent higher under the new pricing policy from Genworth Financial, the country's largest long-term care insurer. The company says women account for two out of every three dollars spent on claims. |
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Few Public Family Planning Centers Accept Insurance, Yet The federal law overhauling health care requires that contraceptives be made available to insured women without any out-of-pocket costs to them. Many family planning clinics aren't yet set up to accommodate women under those terms. |
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Few Public Family Planning Centers Accept Insurance, Yet The federal law overhauling health care requires that contraceptives be made available to insured women without any out-of-pocket costs to them. Many family planning clinics aren't yet set up to accommodate women under those terms. |
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Hospital Observation Units Fill Gaps, But Patients May Foot The Bill In some cases, "observation" may be no more than a billing designation that allows hospitals to move patients out of crowded emergency departments. Hospitals also may use them to avoid potential insurance reimbursement problems. |
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Hospital Observation Units Fill Gaps, But Patients May Foot The Bill In some cases, "observation" may be no more than a billing designation that allows hospitals to move patients out of crowded emergency departments. Hospitals also may use them to avoid potential insurance reimbursement problems. |
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Will Your Long-Term Care Coverage Keep Up With Changing Times? Many long-term care policies sold 30 years ago didn't specifically cover assisted living facilities. Policyholders rely on clauses that say new kinds of care will be covered when it becomes available, but the ultimate decision rests with insurers. |
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Will Your Long-Term Care Coverage Keep Up With Changing Times? Many long-term care policies sold 30 years ago didn't specifically cover assisted living facilities. Policyholders rely on clauses that say new kinds of care will be covered when it becomes available, but the ultimate decision rests with insurers. |
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Payment Can Be Elusive For Medicare Beneficiaries In Personal Injury Cases If there's a settlement or judgment against another party in a liability case, Medicare is entitled to reimbursement for the money it spent on a beneficiary's medical care. The process is complex and prone to delays. A new law is expected to fix the problems. |
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Payment Can Be Elusive For Medicare Beneficiaries In Personal Injury Cases If there's a settlement or judgment against another party in a liability case, Medicare is entitled to reimbursement for the money it spent on a beneficiary's medical care. The process is complex and prone to delays. A new law is expected to fix the problems. |
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Why Some Hospices Turn Away Patients Without Caregivers At Home Hospice policies that reject patients on the grounds that no one's at home to care for them, while increasingly rare, do still exist around the country. But for many families, that's just not an option. |
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Why Some Hospices Turn Away Patients Without Caregivers At Home Hospice policies that reject patients on the grounds that no one's at home to care for them, while increasingly rare, do still exist around the country. But for many families, that's just not an option. |
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Law Expands Kids' Dental Coverage, But Few Dentists Will Treat Them Children's health advocates are cheering provisions in the health care law that will increase dental coverage for children. But with dentists scarce in some parts of the country and others not taking Medicaid patients, parents may find it hard to get the care their kids need. |
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Law Expands Kids' Dental Coverage, But Few Dentists Will Treat Them Children's health advocates are cheering provisions in the health care law that will increase dental coverage for children. But with dentists scarce in some parts of the country and others not taking Medicaid patients, parents may find it hard to get the care their kids need. |
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Young And Doubly Insured: A Modern Health Dilemma Without rules that spell out which health plan takes the lead, a young person who lives out of state and is covered by his parents' plan and a college health plan might run into trouble trying to get in-network care when far from hometown. |
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Young And Doubly Insured: A Modern Health Dilemma Without rules that spell out which health plan takes the lead, a young person who lives out of state and is covered by his parents' plan and a college health plan might run into trouble trying to get in-network care when far from hometown. |
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Seniors Looking To Quit Smoking Get More Help From Medicare In a switch, Medicare began covering smoking cessation counseling for smokers without symptoms of disease back in 2010. Beneficiaries are eligible for up to two four-session smoking cessation counseling attempts a year. |
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Seniors Looking To Quit Smoking Get More Help From Medicare In a switch, Medicare began covering smoking cessation counseling for smokers without symptoms of disease back in 2010. Beneficiaries are eligible for up to two four-session smoking cessation counseling attempts a year. |
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How A Health Insurer's Overpayment Can Become Your Problem Health insurers sometimes pay too much to a doctor or hospital for services rendered. When insurers look to get their money back, patients may be surprised to get stuck with the bills. |
