Health Insurance

New, often lower-cost plans capitalize on the convenience of telemedicine and patients’ growing familiarity with it. But consumers should weigh costs and care options before enrolling in a “virtual-first” plan.

Millions are uninsured because 12 states, including Florida, have not accepted Medicaid expansion. Congressional Democrats want to offer coverage in the spending bill being debated, but competition to get into that package is fierce.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would need to review and finalize those premiums, so that number could change.

Census officials said there was no statistically significant difference in the number of uninsured when comparing 2018 and 2020 data.

The estimates show an anticipated $417 million deficit in Medicaid for the current fiscal year, which will end June 30, and a $1.434 billion deficit in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The total is up from an estimated enrollment of 4.524 million people for the recently completed 2020-21 fiscal year, according to economists who work for the governor and Legislature,

Federal, state and municipal governments as well as private businesses continue to largely avoid mandates out of fears they will provoke a backlash. So, how about an economic argument?

The average premium through the ACA marketplace reportedly fell 25% in April due to tax subsidies in the American Rescue Plan. Meantime, Florida's Medicaid enrollment continued to climb in June.

Among the changes: “Wrap around” payments will go from a monthly back to a quarterly schedule and prior authorizations will resume for behavioral health services.

Medicaid, once considered the ugly duckling compared with the politically powerful and popular Medicare program, now covers nearly one in four Americans.

An analysis of the Medicaid and CHIP programs shows that during the first eight months of the pandemic, there was a 34% dip in services obtained by people under age 19 and a 22% decrease by adults.

A group of lawmakers in the state House of Representatives from both parties stood together and said they want to extend the 60 days of Medicaid coverage after birth.