Tag: health reform

Obamacare, Private Medicare Plans Must Keep Updated Doctor Directories In 2016

By Susan Jaffe  | March 9, 2015 |  Kaiser Health News and also published in

Starting next year, the federal government will require health insurers to give millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans or in policies sold in the federally run health exchange up-to-date details about which doctors are in their plans and taking new patients.

Medicare Advantage plans and most exchange plans restrict coverage to a network of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers that can change during the year. Networks can also vary among plans offered by the same insurer. So it’s not always easy to figure out who’s in and who’s out, and many consumers have complained that their health coverage doesn’t amount to much if they can’t find doctors who accept their insurance. [More from KHN] [More in USA Today]

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Obama administration delaying some rules for appealing health insurance denials

By Susan Jaffe |  March 30, 2011 | Kaiser Health News  produced in collaboration with   

The Obama administration is delaying until next January its enforcement of some new rules designed to protect patients who appeal insurers’ decisions to deny or reduce health care benefits… not affected by the latest government announcement is the timeframe given to consumers to file an appeal. Under most plans, beneficiaries have 180 days after receiving a denial notice to request a review…. more