Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News

Author's posts

During ACA Open Enrollment, Picking a Plan Invites New COVID Complications

COVID-19’s “long haulers” — patients with lingering effects of the disease — have joined the ranks of Americans with preexisting conditions. For those shopping for health coverage on the individual market, here’s help navigating an uncharted insurance landscape.

Even With ACA’s Fate in Flux, Open Enrollment Starts Soon. Here’s What’s New.

The Affordable Care Act’s future is uncertain and there’s no end in sight to the pandemic. Still, the 2021 insurance year is marked by stability.

5 Things to Know About a COVID Vaccine: It Won’t Be a ‘Magic Wand’

Approval of a vaccine will be an important step in defeating COVID-19. But it won’t immediately end the pandemic.

Trump’s COVID Program for Uninsured People: It Exists, but Falls Short

The help is real — but access to it isn’t easy.

Post-COVID Clinics Get Jump-Start From Patients With Lingering Illness

Pop-up care facilities bring together a range of specialists to address the needs of patients who survive but continue to wrestle with COVID-19’s physical or mental effects, including lung damage, heart or neurological concerns, anxiety and depression.

Cory Gardner’s Bill Has as Much to Do With Politics as Preexisting Conditions

The legislation falls short of the big challenge.

Drug Overdose Deaths Showed a One-Year Decline in 2018. But There’s More to the Story.

The statistic is accurate but experts say other factors make it difficult to say indicators to think about that make it hard to say it’s a “huge win.”

Scam Alert: Things a COVID Contact Tracer Wouldn’t Say

Criminals are finding ways to reap gains under the guise of this public health intervention.

Could Labs That Test Livestock Ease COVID Testing Backlog for People? Well … Maybe.

Experts say aid from certain veterinary labs could relieve some of the pressure on commercial and hospital-based labs to lessen the current delays in COVID-19 testing and results, but it is unlikely to be a game changer.

For COVID Tests, the Question of Who Pays Comes Down to Interpretation

Additional guidance issued late last month by the Trump administration added to the confusion. Some consumers may find themselves unexpectedly on the hook for the cost of a test.