Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Computer Glitches and Human Error Still Causing Insurance Headaches for Californians
Covered California and Medi-Cal share a computer system for eligibility and enrollment. Nearly a decade since the Affordable Care Act expanded coverage options in the state, enrollees can be diverted to the wrong program 鈥 or dropped altogether 鈥 if erroneous information gets into the system.
California Opens Medicaid to Older Unauthorized Immigrants
Starting May 1, low-income unauthorized immigrants over age 49 became eligible for full Medicaid health coverage, a significant milestone in California鈥檚 effort to expand coverage.
Record Fines Might Mean California Is Finally Serious About Improving Medi-Cal
California regulators issued record fines against L.A. Care, the state鈥檚 largest Medi-Cal managed-care plan, for providing inadequate care to its enrollees. But whether the penalties are a sign that the state will make a more forceful effort to improve Medi-Cal鈥檚 overall quality of care remains to be seen.
J&J-Vaxxed, mRNA-Boosted, and Pondering a Third Shot
Many of the nearly 17 million U.S. members of J&J Nation, myself included, are wondering whether to set aside the current official guidance and get a second booster. Some experts say: Chill out.
What the Federal 鈥楴o Surprises Act鈥 Means in California
The new federal law will provide protection against surprise medical bills for between 6 million and 7 million Californians who are not covered under state law.
Covered California鈥檚 Insurance Deals Range From 鈥楴o-Brainer鈥 to Sticker Shock
Families of four with incomes of less than about $40,000 a year can pay no premiums and have low deductibles. For some others, health insurance in 2022 will cost more than in 2021 鈥 in some cases, significantly more.
New California Law Eases Aid-in-Dying Process
Nearly 2,000 terminally ill Californians have used a 2015 law to end their lives with a doctor鈥檚 assistance. A revision of the law will make it easier to do so.
Your Out-of-Pocket Health Care Costs Need Not Be a Mystery
A new California law requires health insurance companies to notify consumers how much remains on their deductibles and how close they are to their annual out-of-pocket spending limits.
California Law Aims to Strengthen Access to Mental Health Services
The law doesn鈥檛 take effect until July, but its passage should force insurers to expand their rosters of therapists. Here鈥檚 how you can challenge your health plan鈥檚 mental health services until then.
Wildfire Smoke Is Here to Stay. Here鈥檚 How to Clean the Air Inside Your Home.
There are many ways to cleanse indoor air of dangerous smoke particles, which are particularly harmful to people with chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions. Some are expensive, but cheap alternatives exist.
Effort to Decipher Hospital Prices Yields Key Finding: Don鈥檛 Try It at Home
Your dutiful columnist tried to make use of a federal 鈥渢ransparency鈥 rule to compare the prices of common medical procedures in two California health care systems. It was a futile exercise.
Being Vaccinated Doesn鈥檛 Mean You Must Go Maskless. Here鈥檚 Why.
It won鈥檛 hurt to remain cautious, even as California reopens for business in response to mass vaccinations and diminishing cases of covid.
Covered California Says Health Insurance Just Got Too Cheap to Ignore
Californians who passed up health coverage in the past may be pleasantly surprised by the lower prices available thanks to the new federal relief act.
So You鈥檙e Vaccinated Against Covid. Now What?
The vaccination rollout has been unsteady, but the vaccines seem very effective, raising hopes that the pandemic will subside by later this year if enough Americans get their shots. Meanwhile, remain cautious.
New California Law Makes It Easier to Get Care for Mental Health and Substance Abuse
The measure, which took effect Jan. 1, removes loopholes that made it easy for insurers to use arcane company guidelines to avoid paying for care. Patients now have an easier way to challenge those denials.
COVID Vaccines Appear Safe and Effective, but Key Questions Remain
The federal government expects vaccinations to be available to everyone who wants them by summer 鈥 though glitches are inevitable. If enough of us get vaccinated, we could wave goodbye to the pandemic in 2021.
Medicare Open Enrollment Is Complicated. Here鈥檚 How to Get Good Advice.
It鈥檚 a complex program with many options 鈥 as well as confusing rules and nuances. Here鈥檚 how to get reliable guidance.
Consejos para inscribirse bien en Medicare durante la complicada inscripci贸n abierta
Medicare se reduce fundamentalmente a dos alternativas: la tarifa por servicio del Medicare Tradicional o el enfoque de atenci贸n administrada de Medicare Advantage.
It鈥檚 Open Enrollment. Here鈥檚 What You Need to Know
For Californians who are buying their own insurance, enrollment in 2021 health plans runs through Jan. 31.
驴Est谩s internado? Todav铆a puedes votar en gran parte del pa铆s
Al menos 38 estados permiten la votaci贸n de emergencia por razones m茅dicas, seg煤n la Conferencia Nacional de Legislaturas Estatales. Pero las pr谩cticas var铆an.
