Surprise Medical Bills March 17, 2016 Issue Brief This brief explores the problem of “surprise medical bills” — charges arising when an insured individual inadvertently receives care from an out-of-network provider. It reviews studies on the extent of the issue, including Kaiser Family Foundation polling data, and outlines state and federal policy responses, including rules and proposed rules for Medicare and plans in Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
In N.Y. Policy on Out-of-Network Medical Bills, a Model for Other States? January 11, 2016 Perspective In this column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman discusses surprise bills for out-of-network care, and New York state’s solution to the problem.
In N.Y. Policy on Out-of-Network Medical Bills, a Model for Other States? January 11, 2016 News Release In his latest column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman discusses surprise bills for out-of-network care, and New York state’s solution to the problem. All previous columns by Drew Altman are online.
Understanding Short-Term Limited Duration Health Insurance April 23, 2018 Issue Brief In late 2017, President Trump issued an executive order directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take steps to expand the availability of short-term health insurance policies. This brief provides background information on short-term policies and how they differ from ACA-compliant health plans. It also analyzes the short-term plans available through two major online brokers to assess how often they include coverage for mental health, substance abuse, prescription drugs and maternity care.
Analysis: Most Short-Term Health Plans Don’t Cover Drug Treatment or Prescription Drugs, and None Cover Maternity Care April 23, 2018 News Release A new Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of short-term, limited duration health plans for sale through two major national online brokers finds big gaps in the benefits they offer. Through an executive order and proposed new regulations, the Trump Administration is seeking to encourage broader use of short-term, limited duration health…
Federal law market rules for private health insurance sold to individuals and groups June 14, 2018 Slide
Short-Term Limited Duration Plans and HIV June 21, 2018 Issue Brief Given the Trump Administration’s promotion of short-term limited-duration (STLD) health insurance policies, this brief examines what they mean for people with HIV. The analysis assesses whether people with HIV could enroll in STLD plans by applying to 38 plans across five states and getting in each case. It also assesses whether such plans could meet basic HIV care and treatment needs for someone diagnosed once enrolled. This finding takes on new importance in light of the Administration’s decision not to defend the ACA and to argue for eliminating pre-existing condition protections.
JAMA Forum: What Does it Mean to Protect People with Preexisting Conditions? October 17, 2018 Perspective In this June 2018 post for The JAMA Forum, Larry Levitt examines the potential impact of the Trump Administration’s legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
Pre-Existing Condition Prevalence for Individuals and Families October 4, 2019 Issue Brief This analysis estimates that almost 54 million people – or 27% of all adults under 65 —have pre-existing health conditions that would likely have made them uninsurable in the individual markets that existed in most states before the Affordable Care Act. Almost half (45%) of non-elderly families include at least one adult with such a pre-existing condition. The analysis also includes estimates by age, state and gender.
Surprise Bills Often Hit in Emergencies December 9, 2019 Perspective In an Axios column, Drew Altman previews new data highlighting that people with critical health issues are especially vulnerable to these bills.