Kaiser Health News

For some people -- especially those who are young, healthy and don't qualify for a tax credit from Covered California or other health insurance exchange -- short-term plans might make financial sense, even though they don't shield you from the Obamacare tax penalty.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is set to meet Monday with federal officials in Washington to negotiate the future of the state's Medicaid expansion program, which leading Republicans say could be killed if it's not changed.

Members of Congress, federal officials and health-policy experts agree that the Food and Drug Administration's surveillance system for devices is inadequate and relies too heavily on manufacturers to report problems with their own products.

Don't blame suicide and substance abuse entirely for rising death rates among middle-aged white Americans, asserts a new study out Friday.

North Carolina's average premium increases on the Obamacare exchange are among the highest in the country, according to federal data. The Obama administration warned this open enrollment period, which closes Jan. 31, could be particularly tough because many of the sickest, and therefore most motivated, people already bought plans.

California voters will weigh in this November on a high-stakes ballot proposition intended to help control the cost of prescription drugs - the latest attempt to limit soaring prices that have prompted public criticism nationwide.

There are perhaps 250 to 300 patient advocates for hire in the United States, one professional association estimates. They can help decipher complex information and guide patients and loved ones.

So-called "skinny plans" aren't allowed, but insurance administrators and many cost-conscious employers are purporting to meet the rules with a new version that excludes another major category: outpatient surgery.

Some consumers who buy coverage on the health insurance marketplaces in 2017 could see their out-of-pocket costs drop significantly under a federal proposal to create standardized plans, a recent analysis found.

Healthcare has emerged as one of the flash points in the Democratic presidential race.