Medicaid Expansion Saved Lives in Affected States: Study

• Robert Preidt
• December 7, 2021
• Full Page

In a sign that the expansion of Medicaid has really worked, new research finds that death rates have declined in states that expanded the public health insurance program.

Medicaid expansion began in 2014 as part of the Affordable Care Act (also known as "Obamacare") and ...

Almost 13 Million Americans Per Year Skip Meds Due to Cost

• Robert Preidt
• December 3, 2021
• Full Page

Nearly 13 million U.S. adults a year skip or delay filling needed prescriptions due to high price tags, new research shows.

This figure includes more than 2.3 million Medicare beneficiaries and 3.8 million privately insured working-age adults who didn't get needed medica...

Racial Disparities Persist With Childhood Cancers

• Steven Reinberg
• October 4, 2021
• Full Page

Black kids and Hispanic kids with cancer fare worse than their white counterparts, a large, nationwide study finds.

"This study suggests that improving health insurance coverage and access to care for children, especially those with low [socioeconomic status], may reduce...

How the COVID Pandemic Made the Opioid Epidemic Worse, Even as Telehealth Helped

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• October 1, 2021
• Full Page

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up the U.S. opioid crisis in ways bad and good, increasing the risk of use and overdose but also spurring innovative approaches to treatment.

The pandemic has definitely been linked to an increase in opioid use and overdose deaths, Tufts ...

Millions Who Joined Medicaid During Health Emergency Could Soon Lose Coverage

• Cara Murez
• September 17, 2021
• Full Page

When the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, a new crisis in insurance coverage in the United States may begin.

Fifteen million Americans who enrolled in Medicaid during the pandemic could lose their coverage when the emergency declaration ends, according to an analys...

Hospitalizing the Unvaccinated Has Cost U.S. Nearly $6 Billion

• Cara Murez
• September 16, 2021
• Full Page

The cost of providing hospital care for unvaccinated Americans has reached $5.7 billion in just three months, CBS News reported.

Between June and August, about 287,000 people who were not vaccinated were hospitalized for COVID-19 in the United States, according ...

Obamacare's Medicaid Expansion Helped Americans' Blood Pressure

• Steven Reinberg
• September 13, 2021
• Full Page

With the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare, fewer Americans are uninsured and more are getting their blood pressure and blood sugar under control, a new study finds.

The gains are especially strong among Black and Hispanic patients, according to Boston University res...

Average COVID Hospitalization Is 150 Times More Expensive Than Vaccination

• Cara Murez
• September 10, 2021
• Full Page

While the cost of administering COVID-19 vaccines is nominal -- and free to consumers in the United States -- the cost of paying for hospitalizations for people who've contracted the virus is dramatically higher.

The average financial cost of hospitalization for a COVID-...

Little Change in Number of Uninsured in  Pandemic's First Year

• Cara Murez
• August 23, 2021
• Full Page

While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the economy and jobs, it didn't result in fewer Americans having health insurance.

The number of 18- to 64-year-olds in the United States without health insurance held steady at 11% between March 2019 and April 2021, ac...

American Dental Association Pushes for Dental Coverage Under Medicaid

• Robert Preidt
• August 20, 2021
• Full Page

Dental care should be a required part of Medicaid coverage for adults in every state, the American Dental Association and nearly 130 other organizations urge in a letter to Congress.

The groups called on lawmakers to support and advance a bill called the Medicaid Dental ...

Did Obamacare Expand Access to Insurance for Minorities? In Some U.S. States, Hardly at All

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• August 11, 2021
• Full Page

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) reduced the ranks of uninsured Americans, but a recent study shows that many U.S. states did little to close racial gaps in health coverage.

Researchers found that in the two years after the ACA came into force, some U.S. states showed large...

Patients of Color Less Likely to Get Specialist Care Than White Patients

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• July 26, 2021
• Full Page

People of color are consistently less likely to see medical specialists than white patients are, a new U.S. study finds, highlighting yet another disparity in the nation's health care system.

Researchers found that compared with their white counterparts, Black Americans,...

PrEP HIV Prevention Pills to Be Free for Insured Americans

• Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
• July 21, 2021
• Full Page

Nearly all health insurers must cover the entire cost of HIV prevention treatments, the U.S. government says.

That includes the two approved pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs Truvada and Descovy, all clinic visits and lab tests, NBC News reported.

Many Hit Hard by Pandemic Now Swamped by Medical Debt

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• July 19, 2021
• Full Page

The coronavirus pandemic has left plenty of Americans saddled with medical bills they can't pay, a new survey reveals.

More than 50% of those who were infected with COVID-19 or who lost income due to the pandemic are now struggling with medical debt, according to resear...

More Americans Gaining Access to Opioid Addiction Treatment, But Race Matters

• Robert Preidt
• July 15, 2021
• Full Page

Opioid addiction treatment has become more widely available to Medicaid recipients under the Affordable Care Act, but Black patients are much less likely than white patients to get that treatment, a new study finds.

"Opioid use disorder can be treated, just like any othe...

Cancer Survivors Fared Better Financially After Obamacare

• Robert Preidt
• July 14, 2021
• Full Page

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has eased financial struggles for younger adult cancer survivors, a new study finds.

University of Michigan researchers analyzed data from more than 20,000 participants in the National Health Interview Survey and found that cancer survivors ...

Cost a Barrier to Cervical Cancer Screening for Many U.S. Women

• July 2, 2021
• Full Page

Many women in the United States aren't screened for cervical cancer because they can't afford it, a new study finds.

Screening helps reduce cervical cancer cases and deaths, but disparities in screening rates exist based on income, insurance status, race and ethnicity.

U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Challenge to Affordable Care Act

• Ernie Mundell
• June 17, 2021
• Full Page

The landmark Affordable Care Act, which has expanded health care coverage to tens of millions of Americans, has withstood a third challenge before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a 7-2 decision, a majority of justices ruled on Thursday that plaintiffs involved in the case did...

$10,000: What New Parents Might Pay for Childbirth, Even With Insurance

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 17, 2021
• Full Page

Having a baby is expensive. The cost of diapers, a crib, a car seat and all the other infant necessities can really add up, and now a new study shows that having a child comes with its own hefty hospital price tag for many U.S. families.

About one in six families in the ...

As Medicaid Access Expands, So Does Cancer Survival

• May 19, 2021
• Full Page

More lower-income Americans are surviving cancer due to expanded Medicaid health care coverage, a new study shows.

Researchers found a link between long-term survival of patients newly diagnosed with cancer -- across all stages and types of the disease -- and expan...

It's Still Tough to Find Prices on Most U.S. Hospital Websites

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• May 18, 2021
• Full Page

U.S. hospitals have been required to make their prices public since 2019, but 18 months into the rule more than half weren't doing it, a new study finds.

In 2018, the Trump administration issued a rule requiring hospitals to publish their "chargemasters" on their website...

For the Poor, Even a Small Medical Bill Can Trigger Coverage Loss

• Cara Murez
• May 12, 2021
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, May 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) - When people with low incomes are asked to help pay for their health insurance, some drop their coverage, even when bills as low as $20 per month arrive.

That's the upshot of a new study of Medicaid expansion in the state of Mich...

Obamacare Gave More Breast Cancer Survivors Access to Breast Reconstruction

• Robert Preidt
• May 3, 2021
• Full Page

Breast reconstruction rates rose significantly among Black women after Obamacare expanded access to Medicaid, a new study says.

It also found a large increase in reconstruction rates among women with lower income and education levels.

The findings suggest "that Med...

Job Losses Hit Americans Hard in Pandemic, Report Confirms

• Robert Preidt
• April 19, 2021
• Full Page

American families that suffered job losses during the pandemic are struggling to pay their bills and afford food, and many have turned to government help, a new study finds.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 7,700 adults who took part in an Urban Institute survey in ...

Pandemic Has Affected Kids' Dental Health: Poll

• Cara Murez
• February 17, 2021
• Full Page

Could the COVID-19 pandemic be taking a toll on kids' teeth?

A new, nationwide poll found the pandemic has made it harder for parents to get their kids regular dental care. But on the other hand, many say their youngsters are now taking better care of their teeth.

...

Support for Obamacare Grows as Biden Takes Control: Poll

• Dennis Thompson
• December 17, 2020
• Full Page

The popularity of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, continues to grow, with nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they want the law to remain as is or be improved, a new Harris/HealthDay poll shows.

About 34% of U.S. adults think the Affordable Care Act sho...

If Elected, Joe Biden Has Big Plans for Health Care

• Dennis Thompson
• November 6, 2020
• Full Page

If Joe Biden becomes the next president, he would have clear and ambitious plans for the nation's health -- expanding the Affordable Care Act, empowering public health agencies to deal with COVID-19, and passing a stimulus bill that would support struggling doctors, hospitals ...

Obamacare Means 2 Million Fewer Americans Face Catastrophic Medical Bills Each Year

• Amy Norton
• September 30, 2020
• Full Page

Since the passage of "Obamacare," fewer Americans are facing insurmountable medical bills -- but the benefit does not seem to be reaching people with private insurance, a new study shows.

Researchers found that after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented, the...

Breast Cancer Caught Earlier in U.S. States With Expanded Medicaid: Study

• Robert Preidt
• July 6, 2020
• Full Page

Early-stage breast cancer is more likely to be diagnosed in U.S. states that have expanded Medicaid coverage under Obamacare than in those that haven't, researchers say.

Their new study looked at a database of more than 71,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in 31...

Obamacare Helps Poorer Americans Spot Cancer Earlier: Study

• Amy Norton
• July 6, 2020
• Full Page

Medicaid expansion under Obamacare may have decreased the number of poorer Americans diagnosed with advanced cancer, a new study suggests.

The study focused on Ohio, which was among the first states to expand its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ...

Obamacare Linked to Fewer Leg Amputations for Minorities

• Robert Preidt
• June 18, 2020
• Full Page

There's been a significant drop in diabetes-related lower leg amputations among non-white patients in states that expanded Medicaid under Obamacare, a new study finds.

About one-third of people with diabetes develop a foot ulcer, which is the most common cause of foo...

Are Food Allergies Under-Diagnosed in Poor Families?

• Robert Preidt
• June 2, 2020
• Full Page

Food allergies may be under-diagnosed among children covered by Medicaid, a new study suggests.

"We were surprised to find such a large discrepancy in estimates of food allergy prevalence in children on Medicaid compared to the general population," said senior study ...

Obamacare's Medicaid Expansion Might Have Cut U.S. Cancer Deaths

• Robert Preidt
• May 15, 2020
• Full Page

Cancer death rates have declined more in U.S. states that expanded Medicaid after the Affordable Care Act than in those that didn't, a new study finds.

"This is the first study to show the benefit of Medicaid expansion on cancer death rates on a national scale," said...

Obamacare May Have Boosted Use of Mammograms

• Steven Reinberg
• May 1, 2020
• Full Page

Medicaid expansion under Obamacare has increased access to mammograms for impoverished older women, a new study suggests.

In those states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), women who didn't have access to this breast cancer screening tool ha...

Obamacare May Help Many Laid-Off Workers Get Health Insurance

• Steven Reinberg
• April 29, 2020
• Full Page

Millions of Americans in industries hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic could be eligible for financial help with health insurance, a new study says.

Many of the newly unemployed might not know they can get public insurance or subsidies for coverage through the Aff...

As Unemployment and COVID-19 Cases Rise, Who Will Pay for Care?

• Dennis Thompson
• April 1, 2020
• Full Page

The coronavirus pandemic is spreading across the United States at the same time that millions have been laid off from their jobs.

That raises the obvious question -- how will those newly unemployed folks pay for medical care if they become infected with the coronavir...

U.S. Drug Prices Have Risen Three Times Faster Than Inflation

• Kayla McKiski
• March 3, 2020
• Full Page

Over the course of a decade, the net cost of prescription drugs in the United States rose more than three times faster than the rate of inflation, a new study finds.

The net cost of a drug refers to the sticker price minus manufacturer discounts.

Researcher...

Fewer American Families Weighed Down by Medical Bills

• Dennis Thompson
• February 12, 2020
• Full Page

The number of people struggling to pay their medical bills declined dramatically during the last decade, as the Affordable Care Act expanded health insurance coverage and financial protection for the sick.

The percentage of families who had problems paying medical ex...

Medicaid Expansion Meant More Poor in 'Diabetes Belt' Got Insurance

• Robert Preidt
• February 11, 2020
• Full Page

There was a steep drop in the number of low-income people without health insurance in so-called Diabetes Belt states that expanded Medicaid under Obamacare, a new study shows.

The Diabetes Belt is a swath of 644 U.S. counties across 15 southeastern states that have h...

1 in 5 Insured Hit With Surprise Bills for Surgery

• Serena Gordon
• February 11, 2020
• Full Page

You scheduled your surgery and made sure both your doctor and hospital are in your insurer's approved network of providers. Everything went without a hitch -- until a whopper of a bill showed up in the mail for "out-of-network" care during your operation.

The averag...

2 Million Lost Health Coverage or Access in Trump's First Year

• Robert Preidt
• February 6, 2020
• Full Page

Two million more Americans didn't seek health care from late 2016 through 2017 because they couldn't afford it and/or lacked insurance, new research shows.

The analysis of data from 2011 through 2017 also found that health care coverage and access improved with imple...