Health Insurance

Health & Safety

Whistleblower Alleges Fraud At A Large Medicare Advantage Plan In Seattle

5:00am October 18, 2019

by Fred Schulte

As the Trump administration calls for expanding access to Medicare Advantage, a federal whistleblower lawsuit accuses a large Medicare Advantage plan of bilking Medicare out of $8 million.

In Hamburg, Germany, estimated life expectancy in the city's poorer neighborhoods still trails wealthier neighborhoods by 13 years.

Health & Safety

Poor People Are Still Sicker Than The Rich In Germany, Despite Universal Health Care

12:21pm October 16, 2019

by Shefali Luthra

Even with generous health coverage, sizable health disparities persist between Hamburg's wealthier and poorer neighborhoods. Crowding, poor air quality and fewer physicians plague poorer areas.

President Trump talked to seniors about health care in central Florida in early October. "We eliminated Obamacare's horrible, horrible, very expensive and very unfair, unpopular individual mandate," Trump told the crowd.

Health & Safety

Trump Is Trying Hard To Thwart Obamacare. How's That Going?

4:30pm October 14, 2019

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

Though polls show Affordable Care Act protections remain popular in the U.S., President Trump still threatens to drastically change the law if he can't repeal it. Here are five changes he's made.

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Sgt. Anna Lange filed a lawsuit against the county where she works in Georgia for refusing to allow her health insurance plan to cover gender-affirmation surgery.

Health & Safety

Sheriff's Deputy Sues Her County To Get Health Coverage For Transgender-Related Care

12:46pm October 02, 2019

by Keren Landman

Attorneys say a win in the case filed in central Georgia on Wednesday could ultimately set a precedent that influences the law in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

An unexpected charge related to a biopsy threatened the financial security of Brianna Snitchler and her partner.

Health & Safety

A Biopsy Came With An Unexpected $2,170 'Cover Charge' For The Hospital

7:50pm September 30, 2019

by Cara Anthony

After a test to rule out cancer, Brianna Snitchler faced a facility fee for use of the hospital's radiology room. She wasn't told in advance about the charge, which strained her tight budget.

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Business

With Executive Facing Charges, Health Insurers Drop Deal

10:38pm September 29, 2019

by Associated Press

Two Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers on both U.S.

Some insurers using this new payment model offer a single fee to one OB-GYN or medical practice, which then uses part of that money to cover the hospital care involved in labor and delivery. Other insurers opt to cut a separate contract with the hospital.

A New Way Of Paying For Maternity Care Aims To Reduce C-Sections

1:38pm September 20, 2019

by Carmen Heredia Rodriguez

Instead of paying doctors piecemeal for prenatal appointments and delivery of the baby, some insurers now offer medical practices one lump sum to cover it all.

Ric Peralta and his wife Lisa are both able to check Ric's blood sugar levels at any time, using the Dexcom app and an arm patch that measures the levels and sends the information wirelessly.

It's Not Just Insulin: Diabetes Patients Struggle To Get Crucial Supplies

6:26pm September 18, 2019

by Bram Sable-Smith

Type 1 diabetes can be well managed with insulin if blood sugar is consistently monitored. But insurance rules can make it hard for patients to get the medical supplies their doctors say they need.

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Visitors and park rangers at historic Fort Scott check out a medevac helicopter operated by Midwest AeroCare during the Kansas town's Good Ol' Days festival.

Health & Safety

Air Ambulances Woo Rural Consumers With Memberships That May Leave Them Hanging

6:24pm September 14, 2019

by Sarah Jane Tribble

State regulators and even one medevac company have raised doubts about prepaid subscriptions and promised benefits offered by air ambulance companies. Gaps in coverage can be a problem.

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Groupon and other deal sites are the latest marketing tactic in medicine, offering bargain prices for services such as CT scans.

Groupon For Medical Scans? Discounted Care Can Have Hidden Costs

1:59pm September 05, 2019

by Lauren Weber

Groupon and other deal sites are the latest marketing tactic in medicine, offering bargain prices. But critics say pursuing such discounts can also entail getting unnecessary or duplicative services.