Julie Appleby

Harris, Once Biden’s Voice on Abortion, Would Take an Outspoken Approach to Health

ËØÈËÉ«ÇéƬHealth News Original

If she grabs the baton from President Joe Biden to become the new presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris would widely be expected to take an aggressive stance in support of abortion access — hitting former President Donald Trump on an issue that could undermine his chances of victory.

Unauthorized Sign-Ups Cast Shadow on Obamacare’s Record Enrollment

ËØÈËÉ«ÇéƬHealth News Original

The Biden administration faces what looks like a growing problem for the federal Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchange: disreputable insurance brokers enrolling people who don’t need coverage or switching them to new plans without their authorization. It happened to Michael Debriae, a restaurant server who lives in Charlotte. Unbeknownst to him, an agent in Florida […]

A Battle Between Drugmakers and Insurers Hits Patients in the Wallet

ËØÈËÉ«ÇéƬHealth News Original

There’s a long-running battle between insurers and drugmakers over financial assistance programs that purport to help patients afford expensive drugs. And lately, insurers have been losing ground as lawmakers, regulators and courts weigh in. The issue is whether coupons and other copay aid many patients get from drugmakers should count toward annual insurance deductibles and […]

When Copay Assistance Backfires on Patients

ËØÈËÉ«ÇéƬHealth News Original

Drugmakers offer copay assistance programs to patients, but insurers are tapping into those funds, not counting the amounts toward patient deductibles. That leads to unexpected charges. But the practice is under growing scrutiny.