Articles tagged with Health Insurance
A U-M study of patients at a free clinic found that perceived cost and knowledge gaps about low-cost plans are major barriers to healthcare for the uninsured. The researchers hope their findings will prompt other safety net clinics to offer personalized insurance counseling services.
A $2.5 million federal grant is being used to examine the ACA's effect on working-age adults with disabilities, tracking changes in health insurance coverage, access, and cost. The study aims to ensure the legislation is meeting its promise and addresses potential challenges faced by this vulnerable population.
A study found disparities in kidney disease patients' access to electronic health record portals, which may reinforce existing health-related inequities. Patients with black race, lower neighborhood household income, older age, and Medicaid/Medicare insurance status were less likely to adopt the portal.
A new study reveals that older tobacco users pay significantly more for health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, with some facing surcharges of up to 46% more than non-tobacco users. This highlights concerns about the financial burden on these individuals and potential implications for health equity.
Websites for national and state health insurance marketplaces have shown improved efforts to assist patients in choosing health insurance plans, such as providing decision support tools. Despite this, many sites still lack helpful features like lay-person definitions and cost calculators.
The Medicare and Medicaid programs are critical components of the US healthcare system, serving over 111 million people. They face significant challenges in adapting to a changing healthcare landscape while navigating conflicting priorities from beneficiaries, practitioners, and policymakers.
A University of Michigan study shows that primary care appointment availability increased for people with Medicaid after the state's Medicaid expansion took effect. Despite predictions that appointments would be hard to get due to a surge in newly insured individuals, clinics offered more appointments before and after the expansion.
A new study compares Nixon's health plans with Obamacare, revealing that while both aimed to provide coverage for the uninsured, Nixon's proposals were more 'liberal' and preserved the insurance industry's role. The ACA faced intense opposition, with some Democrats initially rejecting it as too moderate.
The Affordable Care Act has led to a dramatic drop in out-of-pocket prices for prescription contraceptives, with average costs declining by up to 38% for oral contraceptive pills and 68% for IUD insertions. Annual savings are estimated at approximately $1.4 billion per year.
A JGIM study finds unauthorized immigrants paid in $3.5 billion more than they utilized in care in 2011, generating an average surplus of $316 per capita to the Trust Fund. Reducing unauthorized immigration would worsen Medicare's financial health.
A study found that young adults struggle with navigating health insurance plans, citing unfamiliarity with terms like deductible and co-insurance. The researchers suggest the need for tools to assist with the enrollment process, including decision aids and cost estimators.
The study found that marketplace enrollees had lower average drug spending per person and were less likely to use most medication classes than patients enrolled in employer-sponsored health insurance. However, marketplace enrollees were much more likely to use medicines for hepatitis C and HIV.
A RAND Corporation study found that 22.8 million Americans became newly insured and 5.9 million lost coverage between September 2013 and February 2015. The largest gain in coverage came from employer-sponsored health plans, with 9.6 million new enrollments.
A study of over 1.5 million patients found a passing increase in adjusted mortality rates following Massachusetts health insurance reform, suggesting that simply providing insurance incentives and subsidies may not improve survival for trauma patients. The study's findings resolve within a few years, but highlight the need for more com...
A study found that Black and Hispanic patients start hemodialysis with an arteriovenous fistula less frequently than White patients, despite having fewer comorbidities. The authors suggest that these disparities may be due to the time it takes for AVFs to mature, which could lead to faster progression of chronic kidney disease.
A new study suggests that using plain language, graphics, and stories can simplify the health insurance enrollment process for people who have never had insurance before. The research found that these methods helped participants make informed choices about their coverage options and increased their confidence in their decisions.
A new study found that Massachusetts health reform did not decrease preventable hospitalizations or close the racial gap in such rates, contrary to expectations. Access to outpatient care remained limited due to high copays and financial barriers.
A lack of disclosure and elevated cancer risk are experienced by the LGBTQI community due to reduced access to healthcare and insurance. Researchers suggest training staff in LGBTQI competencies and collecting gender identity and sexual orientation data to improve patient care.
A study found that UK patients with cystic fibrosis who received transplants had better survival rates than publicly insured Americans. The research suggests that a single-payer national health care system can provide complex, coordinated and expansive care with long-term outcomes similar to those achieved by private insurance.
A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found a significant correlation between Twitter sentiment and health insurance marketplace enrollment. The analysis of 977,303 tweets revealed that a 0.10 increase in positive sentiment was associated with a 9% increase in enrollment.
A new study finds that Republicans generally defer to science on most issues, with only four exceptions: global warming, evolution, gay adoption, and mandatory health insurance. The study reveals that Republicans are more likely to trust science than independents and Democrats across a range of policy areas.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that one-quarter of insurance exchange plans appear non-compliant with parity laws requiring equal benefits for general medical and mental health care. The research highlights inconsistencies in benefit brochures, including prior authorization requirements and financial r...
The Affordable Care Act's health insurance cooperatives have had a tangible impact on the marketplace, offering more products and lower-priced plans than traditional insurers
A new RAND Corporation study found that eliminating government subsidies for low- and moderate-income individuals purchasing coverage through federally run health insurance marketplaces would cause a 70% drop in enrollment among those buying compliant policies. Unsubsidized premiums would rise by 47%, resulting in a $1,610 annual incre...
A study by RAND Corporation found that consumers in regions with more health plan choices faced higher deductibles than peers in areas with fewer plans offered. The study suggests that limiting the number of health plans or requiring equivalent cost-sharing terms may be policy options to address this issue.
Two Health Affairs papers expose gaps in health coverage for children and recommend solutions. The studies focus on the Affordable Care Act's essential health benefit standard, which has resulted in a state-by-state patchwork of coverage with significant exclusions for children with developmental disabilities.
Despite estimates suggesting that universal health coverage for US military veterans is within reach, over a million veterans remain uninsured. The Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion offer opportunities for coverage, but political hurdles and misinformation hinder progress.
A new survey by NORC at the University of Chicago reveals that nine in ten employers offering insurance are unfamiliar with objective quality metrics, despite valuing plan quality ratings. Employers cite cost to employees as a key consideration when selecting health plans.
The Affordable Care Act has led to improved health care access for Kentucky's lowest-income residents, with 413,000 people gaining medical coverage. Residents are now able to seek non-urgent medical attention and receive guideline-based care, reducing financial stress.
Vietnam has made significant progress in controlling infectious diseases such as SARS and HIV/AIDS, with a goal of universal coverage. However, disparities in health care access remain, particularly for rural areas and minority groups. The country aims to improve its health care system through increased funding and training.
A new program has been shown to reduce asthma symptoms and hospitalizations in low-income children by training their parents over the phone. The peer coaching model, which was tested in a two-year trial, resulted in significant reductions in ER visits and hospitalizations among families with Medicaid insurance.
A new RAND Corporation study finds that eliminating ACA subsidies would increase premium costs by 43% and cause enrollment to drop by 68%. The study suggests that without subsidies, prices would jump sharply and many people could not afford coverage.
A study found that each additional euro spent on pensions and public health insurance in Eastern Germany increased life expectancy by 3 hours. Public health care had a greater impact, contributing 2.5 times more to life expectancy than pension payments.
A study published in The BMJ found that India's Vajpayee Arogyashree Scheme reduced mortality rates and out-of-pocket expenses for the poor by 64% and 60%, respectively. The program provided free health insurance to households below the poverty line, covering high-impact medical conditions like heart disease and cancer.
A survey of Fortune 500 chief human resource officers found that nearly 80% of companies have raised or plan to raise employee contributions to health insurance. The Affordable Care Act has led to a significant increase in healthcare costs, with 38% of respondents reporting a rise in health insurance costs.
The likelihood of young adults having a usual source of care decreased, but insurance coverage and access to care improved. Individuals with insurance were more likely to have a usual source of care and afford necessary healthcare services.
A recent study by University of Illinois professor Rebecca Sandefur found that 46% of respondents dealt with civil justice situations alone, while 16% took no action. The most common negative consequences reported were health impacts and financial problems.
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that healthy living kidney donors often face pointless insurance hurdles after donation. Despite being heavily screened before approval, these donors are frequently denied or charged higher premiums for life insurance, highlighting the need for better support systems.
A new study found that 27% of kidney donors experienced difficulty changing or initiating health insurance, with 7% being denied altogether. The study suggests that the nation's fragmented health insurance system is to blame for these problems, despite protections in place under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The study found a significant increase in discretionary surgery and a decrease in nondiscretionary surgery following the Massachusetts insurance expansion. This suggests that insurance expansion may lead to greater utilization of procedures for improving quality of life rather than addressing immediately life-threatening conditions.
The Affordable Care Act can improve the US population's health by focusing on disease prevention, health promotion, and early detection. The Act promotes collaboration between healthcare and public health systems, leading to better quality services and greater integration of public health entities into healthcare.
A new study led by Harvard School of Public Health researchers found that Massachusetts' comprehensive health reform in 2006 resulted in a 2.9% decrease in mortality rates compared to similar populations in states without expanded health coverage. The study estimates that the law has prevented approximately 320 deaths per year.
A team from the University of Michigan examines state-by-state navigation of the politics of health reform in a new JAMA article. The analysis shows signs of an emerging middle way toward reducing the ranks of the uninsured, with 11 states expanding Medicaid and going with federal or partnership exchanges, including six led by Republic...
Researchers found that individuals with private insurance were more likely to secure a new-patient appointment with a primary care physician compared to those with Medicaid or no insurance. The study suggests that the primary care system may struggle to handle increased demand from ACA coverage expansions, highlighting the need for pol...
A recent study examined the impact of state Medicaid expansions on perceived access to care and emergency department use among enrollees. The results showed no evidence that expanding Medicaid coverage eroded access to care or increased ED use, contrary to previous concerns.
A survey by USC researchers found that those who could benefit most from the Affordable Care Act, including low-income earners, are also the most uninformed about health care policies. The study showed that 42% of Americans couldn't describe a deductible and 62% didn't know the difference between HMO and PPO plans.
Canada's private health insurance industry is experiencing a widening gap between premiums and payouts, with $6.8 billion lost in 2011. Governments are urged to adopt more efficient public alternatives or impose new regulations on the sector.
A recent study found that Canadians have paid $6.8 billion more in premiums than they received in benefits from private health insurance since 2011. The gap between what insurers take in and what they pay out has increased threefold over the past two decades.
A new study suggests that Medicaid expansion among low-income nonelderly adults can help prevent kidney failure and improve access to kidney disease care. States with broader Medicaid coverage have lower incidences of kidney failure and smaller insurance-related gaps in access to kidney disease care.
A study found a small but consistent increase in emergency department visits after Massachusetts implemented its first-in-the-nation law to expand health care insurance coverage. The data showed an average annual increase of 1.2% in ER visits between 2006 and 2007, which rose to 2.2% by 2009.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that women with pregnancy complications were more likely to see a doctor post-delivery, but overall visit rates were low. Women with complicated pregnancies and depression or preeclampsia were also more likely to attend primary care visits.
Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center are studying how the ACA affects cancer screening in low-income women and employed married women with breast cancer. The study found that Medicaid expansions increased breast and cervical cancer screening, particularly among low-income women, suggesting a positive effect of near-universal coverag...
Research finds that US adults with private or no health insurance experience lower levels of psychological distress compared to those with public coverage. Adults with recent changes in insurance status have higher distress levels.
A recent study found that minority physicians care for 54% of minority patients and 70% of non-English-speaking patients. Minority physicians are also more likely to care for patients with lower self-reported health status. The study suggests expanding the racial diversity of the physician workforce could improve access to care.
A recent study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that Medicaid beneficiaries are more likely to seek emergency care due to access issues rather than the severity of their illness. The study suggests that policy makers should focus on increasing timely access to primary care, especially for Medicaid beneficiaries.
A new study finds that Massachusetts' broader health insurance reform improved the state's health status and preventive care, especially among low-income residents. The study also showed increased access to personal doctors and reduced cost barriers to care.
Researchers at UC Davis and University of Rochester found that having health insurance increases use of preventive services like flu shots and health screenings, but does not affect risky health behaviors. The study contradicts a common concern that expanding healthcare coverage may encourage riskier behavior.
A study found that increasing insured patients in Massachusetts did not lead to higher ICU utilization. The research suggests that better, earlier care may reduce ICU admissions and mortality rates. Policymakers should focus on improving resource efficiency rather than exacerbating critical care costs.
The UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement has awarded $400,000 to L.A. Care to develop Blue Button functionality, allowing patients to access their own prescription data online. This project is the first in California and among the first in the nation to implement the tool for Medicaid beneficiaries.
A new study found that the uninsured struggle to choose health insurance plans due to a lack of understanding about key terms. The research suggests that healthcare navigators can play an important role in simplifying information and improving communication to help people make informed decisions.