Selena Simmons-Duffin

As he prepares to leave his post of 12 years, Francis Collins reflects on the agency’s biomedical advances, the dangers of polarizing medicine, and the huge health gaps that still exist in the U.S.

Scientists may not know for a couple weeks yet how risky the new coronavirus variant will be to public health. But getting out front now about what is known helps dispel misinformation, they say.

The open enrollment period to buy health insurance on HealthCare.gov starts now and runs through Jan. 15, 2022. Look for more options and expanded subsidies this year — and more help signing up.

Choosing between health insurance plans can be a headache. How do you pick the right one?

A family in Houston and a plumber in Maryland couldn’t afford rent, which pushed them into crowded living quarters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that common predicament has increased viral spread.

Millions of people who need insurance are eligible for free health care plans. A special enrollment period is ending on Aug. 15. Here’s how to sign up in time.

About 13 million uninsured people in the U.S. are eligible for free health insurance plans. They have two weeks left to apply.

They don’t qualify for Medicaid in their states, but earn too little to be eligible for subsidized ACA health plans. It’s a gap in health care coverage, and some politicians are trying to fix it.

A new Harvard poll shows that only half of Americans trust the CDC — other health agencies were rated even lower. During a pandemic, trust is critical to the success of a public health response.

From now until August, you can sign up for or change coverage through the federal and state health insurance marketplaces. Many people are eligible for better or less expensive plans — or both.