Medicare Advantage plans are booming — 30.8 million of the 60 million Americans with Medicare are now enrolled in the private plans rather than the traditional government-run program. But a little-known fact: Once you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may not be able to get out. Traditional Medicare usually requires beneficiaries to pay 20 […]
As climate change-driven wildfires increasingly choke large parts of the United States with smoke each summer, new research shows residents in long-term care facilities are being exposed to dangerously poor air, even those who don’t set foot outside during smoke events.
Global leaders are trying to get ahead of Disease X — the name used by the World Health Organization to “indicate an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious international epidemic.” Preparing now for the next global pandemic is vital, accordi…
You’ve probably seen advertising about Medicare Advantage plans. KFF Health News’ Sarah Jane Tribble explains the pros and cons of this insurance option as enrollment in these plans increases.
The suicide rate for Hispanics in the United States has increased significantly over the past decade. The reasons are varied, say community leaders and mental health experts, citing factors such as language barriers, poverty, and a lack of bilingual mental health professionals.
Respiratory virus season’s burden on the healthcare system may begin to ease after weeks of crowded emergency departments and hospital strain, the latest data suggests.
Researchers from Columbia University in New York City built an open-access viral database to “to longitudinally explore respiratory viral infections, their interactions with other pathogens and host transcriptomic changes” per the project’s description…
The dispute between state lawmakers and health department officials could delay a broader package of child care licensing changes until 2025.
Persistent research into understanding the condition known as “long COVID” is finally clearing up clinical confusion and is also paving the way for the development of tests and treatments.
The Supreme Court this week heard oral arguments in a case that could radically alter the way federal agencies — including the Department of Health and Human Services — administer laws passed by Congress. A decision in the case is expected this spring or summer. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is struggling over whether to ban menthol cigarettes — a move that could improve public health but also alienate Black voters, the biggest menthol users. Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Darius Tahir, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature about a lengthy fight over a bill for a quick telehealth visit.
