President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Thursday, January 28th, that directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reopen the federal health insurance exchanges later this month. This special enrollment period (SEP) is assumed to be akin to the open enrollment period that ended for most of the country on December… Continue Reading ›
The last year has been tumultuous for a variety of reasons, chief among them a global pandemic. All eyes are now on the White House and its incoming administration as we face a second year of the novel coronavirus outbreak. With certification complete, Joe Biden will become the nation’s 46th president on January 20th. But… Continue Reading ›
Open enrollment to buy major medical insurance under the Affordable Care Act kicked off — without much apparent fanfare — on November 1st. It’s the one time during the year when people without access to other forms of health insurance, like a job-based plan or a government program, can buy private, comprehensive coverage. With two… Continue Reading ›
The open enrollment to buy major medical insurance — aka marketplace coverage — runs from November 1st through December 15th this year. It’s a deadline that’s set by the federal government and applies to every state that participates in the federal exchange at Healthcare.gov. But if you’re in a state that runs its own health… Continue Reading ›
Consumers can expect more carriers and lower premiums during open enrollment 2020, per newly released data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The agency reports a 2% drop in plan premiums for the second lowest-cost silver plan on the federal exchange for next year. The second lowest-cost silver plan is used as… Continue Reading ›
On July 17, a federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration could expand the limit on short term health insurance plans, a move that had already taken effect in late 2018. These temporary health plans, labeled “junk” by critics, offer coverage for people in transition. But they don’t cover the same benefits as comprehensive… Continue Reading ›
On March 25, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies (CMS) released final numbers for the 2019 open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act. The agency’s annual report slipped in underneath a flurry of news surrounding coronavirus. Nevertheless, it underscores the fact that millions of Americans still lack healthcare coverage during a global pandemic… Continue Reading ›
You’ve seen the headlines and heard the stories. There’s a new virus making its way around the world, threatening — and, by expert predictions, likely — to become a bonafide pandemic soon: coronavirus. Officially named COVID-19 based on the type of virus it is, this novel (new) coronavirus disease is actually caused by the same… Continue Reading ›
Older adults who have caregivers at home or close to them who can assist them during recovery after joint replacement may recover more quickly at home than in a rehabilitation center. A study released by the Journal of Arthroplasty in 2017 found that complication rates were no different after six months between patients who remained… Continue Reading ›
For several months, it was impossible to purchase romaine lettuce or any products containing romaine due to a multi-state E. coli outbreak linked to the product. Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the outbreak appears to be over. Outbreak Details According to the CDC, 62 people were infected with the… Continue Reading ›