A recent Kroc Fellow at National Public Radio, where she covered health and business. Before that, she covered health for the CBS Evening News. She is a graduate of Brown University.
| Contact: JGold@kff.org
Congress has extended the COBRA subsidy periods again and again, helping many laid-off workers keep health insurance but sowing confusion as well.
Mar 16
A proposed tax on high-cost insurance plans could make it more difficult for small businesses to purchase health coverage. Even though many businesses don't offer rich benefits, their plans may be costly because the covered employees are predominantly older, sicker or female, three categories that currently result in higher premiums. Other provisions in health overall legislation could mitigate the impact of the tax, however.
Mar 04
With comprehensive health care legislation foundering, House Democrats are turning to a narrower piece of legislation they hope has populist appeal: repealing the antitrust exemption for health and medical liability insurers. Policy makers disagree on the effect the repeal would have.
Feb 24
Some lawmakers are considering a scaled-back health bill in place of the comprehensive legislation now stalled in Congress. But there's debate about whether popular insurance reforms, such as requiring insurers to accept applicants with health problems, can be successful without an unpopular individual insurance mandate.
Jan 22
People who have "gold-plated" plans often have low deductibles and excellent benefits that cover even the most expensive treatments. As House and Senate negotiators work to reconcile the differences in their health bills, a tax on these policies could be included in the final legislation.
Jan 15
Legislation would restore Medicaid rights to citizens of the Marshall Islands and two other nations who have the unique ability to travel and work freely in the U.S.
Jan 05
The COBRA subsidy extension now pending in Congress could be considered in the Senate this weekend.
Dec 18, 2009
Dr. Fikry Isaac, the executive director of global health services at Johnson & Johnson, also runs the company's reknowned wellness program. He says corporate wellness and prevention programs have great potential to curb the nation's rising health care costs.
Oct 30, 2009
Advocates for women are fighting to end gender rating in larger businesses as health overhaul legislation moves through Congress. But insurers say it's necessary to use gender as a means of setting rates for this market.
Oct 25, 2009
While many states bar carriers from rejecting people who receive treatment for domestic violence, others permit it. Now there's a move to prohibit the practice as part of a health care overhaul.
Oct 07, 2009