Selena Simmons-Duffin

The coronavirus pandemic poses both a public health and an economic crisis. Squarely in the middle of those concerns are fears about medical bills and loss of employer-provided health insurance.

Aetna, Cigna and Humana now say they will waive most treatment costs associated with COVID-19 that would normally be picked up by patients enrolled in their health plans. Will other firms follow suit?

To stop COVID-19, retired doctors are signing up to take clinical shifts. Specialists, including dentists, could move to front line care. And med students are fielding calls in overwhelmed clinics.

Here’s what it will take for medical facilities across the nation to handle the coming surge of COVID-19 patients.

Public health experts are trying to figure out if U.S. hospitals are ready for a possible surge of COVID-19 cases. When there are more serious cases than a hospital can handle, more patients die.

Whether your mild or moderate symptoms mean you have a cold, the flu, or COVID-19 doesn’t change the medical advice right now. Stay home, rest, and call or email your doctor if symptoms worsen.

President Trump and Congress Friday authorized a package of emergency funding to help and treat and slow the spread of COVID-19. About $950 million is designated for state and local response.

The coronavirus funding bill just signed into law by the president puts over $8 billion dollars into the epidemic response. We break down what that money is actually for, and what might be missing.

The Obama and Trump administrations have used their power to shape legal interpretations of “sex discrimination” in very different ways. Here’s a rundown on what’s changed for LGBTQ rights in the U.S.

The last few days have seen dramatic developments related to the spread of COVID-19. NPR’s health policy reporter Selena Simmons-Duffin breaks down the recent updates.