Navigating all the terminology in health care can get confusing. Kaiser Health News runs down the hot topics of the day for you and what exactly they mean.
Obama v. Ryan On Controlling Federal Medicare Spending
Each would set it at half a percentage point higher than the growth rate of the economy – the gross domestic product. Looking at their plans in more detail, however, the practical effects are likely to be very different when it comes to restraining federal spending and impact on seniors.
Quick Facts About High-Deductible Health Plans
These plans are generally defined as insurance policies with lower premiums and a hefty deductible – the amount you have to pay before the insurer picks up any of the cost.
The Obama Administration's Compromise On Contraception Benefits
The Obama administration, stung by fierce opposition from Catholic leaders to a new rule requiring that insurance plans offer free contraception, announced revised regulations Friday. KHN summarizes common questions and answers to explain the new policy.
The 'Doc Fix' Dilemma
Among the must-do issues on Congress' end-of-year list is the "doc fix" – billions of dollars needed to avert big rate cuts for doctors who treat Medicare’s 48 million beneficiaries. So what is it and what's the fight all about?
Health Savings Accounts Explained
Health Savings Accounts are among the options that consumers can consider when making health insurance choices. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages they offer.
Vermont Edges Toward Single Payer Health Care
Starting now, Vermont begins building a single-payer health system that will move many state residents into a publicly financed insurance program and pay hospitals, doctors and other providers a set fee to care for patients.
What Factors Affect The Future Of CLASS?
The prospects for this voluntary long-term care insurance program appear increasingly complicated.
Debt Deal 'Super' Committee's Impact On Health Spending Explained
A guide to how the congressional super committee's deliberations could influence Medicare and Medicaid.
The Independent Payment Advisory Board
A new panel established by the health law to rein in Medicare spending is sparking a debate: is it a threat to beneficiaries or a necessary tool to keep costs down?
Health Insurance Exchanges
If done well, proponents say, exchanges could make it easier to buy health insurance and possibly lead to lower prices because of increased competition. But, if designed poorly, experts warn, healthy people could avoid the exchanges, leaving them to sicker people with rising premiums.
A Guide To GOP Proposals To Slash Family Planning
House Republicans cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other Title X programs, and Senate Democrats tried to restore it. But the Senate Wednesday failed to pass either bill and so the programs, which once had strong bipartisan support, remain a point of contention.
Medicaid Block Grants
Block grants are being embraced by House Republicans, who are vowing to tackle costly programs. But any effort to turn Medicaid into block grants – federal lump-sum payments to states – raises a host of questions. Democrats argue such a move could result in loss of health care coverage for millions of people who are poor, sick and old.
FAQ: The Shrinking Medicare Doughnut Hole
The widely unpopular "doughnut hole" — the coverage gap in the Medicare drug benefit — is headed for oblivion, under the new health law.
Accountable Care Organizations, Explained
Accountable care organizations take up only seven pages of the new health law yet have become one of the most talked about provisions. This latest model offers doctors and hospitals financial incentives to provide good quality care to Medicare beneficiaries while keeping down costs.
Selling Health Insurance Across State Lines
Advocates of the Republican proposal — including some insurers and small business groups — say it would give the more than 17 million Americans who buy individual coverage a greater choice of plans and the possibility of lower prices.
Nine Ways The New Health Law May Affect You in 2011
Opponents of the new health care overhaul law are threatening to repeal, defund and kill it in court, but that isn't stopping Washington from implementing a number of important provisions in 2011. While many people will welcome the new benefits, some will face higher costs as a result of the law.
Campaign Claims: Health Law Myths And Facts
The debate that preceded passage of the health-care overhaul resumed as a heated issue in the midterm elections. Politicians and advocacy groups seeking repeal of the law are making dramatic claims about its cost and effects. How valid are they? We evaluate some of the most common criticisms.
Health Law's 8 New Changes To Insurance — With 7 Caveats
Here's a guide to some of the changes – and some of the caveats. Keep in mind that how they affect you will depend on what kind of insurance you have.
New Health Law's Protections For Adult Children Begins
The new federal health law requires that insurers give parents the option of keeping their adult children covered until they're 26 years old.
'Cadillac' Insurance Plans Explained
Sometimes referred to as a "Cadillac" or "gold-plated" insurance plan, a high-cost policy is usually defined by the total cost of premiums, rather than what the insurance plan covers or how much the patient has to pay for a doctor or hospital visit.
What you need to know about the government’s new health insurance website
The health law that Congress passed in March called for the creation of the site. Consumers will be able to see all options available where they live, compare costs and determine if they qualify for a government program.