Author archive for lhigashi

By Katie ThomasThe health insurer Cigna has agreed to reduce the out-of-pocket costs that patients in Florida must pay for H.I.V. drugs as a result of a complaint filed by advocacy groups, who said the drug pricing system in the state's health care plans was discriminatory.The groups indicated Florida…

By Nicholas NehamasWhen Tony Smith lost his job as a corporate paralegal two years ago, a state program stepped in to help him keep his health insurance — and the expensive drugs his life had depended on since his 2008 HIV diagnosis...."What we're really worried about is a race…

By Sara RosenbaumMonths have now stretched into years, and there still remains no sign of final Treasury/IRS regulations interpreting the Affordable Care Act (ACA)'s provisions covering the expanded obligations of nonprofit hospitals that seek tax-exempt status under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The ACA amendments do not depend on…

By Elizabeth TaylorThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) -- "Obamacare" -- has turned out to be a great way to measure political character.For people living near or below the poverty level -- those making roughly $15,500 a year or less -- the ACA was supposed to offer insurance through an…

By Tom WilemonWhen Tennessee abdicated responsibility for Medicaid applications to the federal government, foster children got locked out.Adoption agencies had no way to seek coverage after TennCare made state residents apply through healthcare.gov, a website designed for families to shop for health insurance. The website has no computer equivalent…

Rejecting 'Obamacare' has cost Texas over $8 billion and, advocates say, put poor people's health at riskBy E. Tammy KimLAREDO, Texas—In mid-May, 20-year-old Anissa Rangel's gums began to bleed. At first she assumed it was related to her gingivitis, but one morning, she woke up in the bedroom that…