health insurance

How Obamacare Might Change Your Private Health Insurance

Elana Gordon, Matthew Long-Middleton and Claire McInerny — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:47:48 +0000

After the passing of the Affordable Care Act, confusion about the future of health insurance in our country has become the norm. But as the legislation comes into play in the next year, everyone from private health insurance companies to employers providing health care to their employees need to be well versed on the upcoming changes.

Transportation Officials Look At Health Insurance

Marshall Griffin — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:00:44 +0000

A special committee of transportation officials is still reviewing the amount of money MoDOT workers and State Troopers pay for health insurance.

The Health Insurance Industry: Empty Promises And Propaganda

Stephen Steigman and Steve Kraske — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:08:03 +0000

Wendell Potter, a former vice president of CIGNA, says that health insurers make promises they have no intention of keeping, flout regulations designed to protect consumers, and skew political debate with multibillion-dollar PR campaigns to mislead the press and public.

Top of the Morning News: Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Maria Carter — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:38:47 +0000

A daily digest of headlines from KCUR.

Mayor And School Board President: Let’s Talk
The New Sound Of The KCPD
Proposal Would Term Limit All Statewide Officeholders
Kansas Lags in Covering Kids

Kansas Starts Developing Insurance Exchange

Elana Gordon — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:18:17 +0000

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas Department of Insurance is holding its first public meeting today to start developing a state health insurance exchange. Under the federal health law, state exchanges are designed as places where people can shop for government-certified health insurance. The programs are scheduled to begin in 2014, but Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger says how exactly these exchanges will work - and their success - depends a lot on what states do to prepare for them right now.

Missouri Lowers Premiums For Pre-existing Condition Pool

Elana Gordon — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:05:14 +0000

Kansas City, MO – Missouri's high risk insurance program, established under the federal health law, is dropping premiums by as much as twenty five percent.

Missouri House OKs Measure Challenging Health Law

Marshall Griffin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:49:58 +0000

Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri House has passed a resolution urging state officials to join a multi-state lawsuit challenging the federal health care overhaul and calling on Congress to repeal the law.

Tax Credits Spur Health Coverage For Area Small Businesses

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:47:20 +0000

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Salina, KS – Most of the new health care law takes effect in 2014, but parts of it are in effect now. One such part is designed to make coverage available to a group of people who are among the most likely to be uninsured employees of small businesses.

Kansas Could Help Develop Health Insurance Exchanges

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:17:29 +0000

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Topeka, KS – Kansas could be one of the states that helps develop health insurance exchanges, part of the federal health reform law. The exchanges will be pools of insurance options that Kansans will be able to choose from. As KPR's Stephen Koranda reports, the federal government will be making grants available to states to develop test systems.

With Insurance Exchanges, Who Needs Agents?

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:24:12 +0000

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Topkea, KS – Insurance agents serve as a link between consumers and insurance companies. Some agents are worried that their role may disappear when the nation's new health care law takes full effect in 2014. More from Kansas Public Radio's Bryan Thompson.

New Pre-Existing Condition Program Gets Slim Response

Elana Gordon — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 05:50:21 +0000

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Kansas City, MO – High risk insurance pools are designed to cover people with preexisting health conditions who can't get coverage. Missouri recently launched a new pool, subsidized under the recently passed federal health law. The program could apply to upwards of 150,000 residents. But as KCUR's Elana Gordon reports, not many are signing up so far.

Local Businesses Brace for Health Care Changes

Elana Gordon — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:25:51 +0000

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Kansas City, MO – An onset of new federal regulations and incentives has area businesses preparing for possible changes to their health plans. Small business owners convened at the Liberty Memorial yesterday, to learn more about how provisions in the new health law will affect their businesses and their workers.

New Health Plan for Missouri Workers Upsets Union Leaders

Marshall Griffin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:30:03 +0000

Jefferson City, MO – Union leaders in Missouri are not happy with a new health insurance plan for state employees. It replaces the current co-pay system with one that requires state workers to pay deductibles.

New High Risk Insurance Pool Opens Today In Missouri

Elana Gordon — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:58:27 +0000

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Kansas City, MO – The federal government gave final approval yesterday to Missouri's new high risk insurance pool. The decision means a new coverage option is now available for Missourians with pre-existing conditions.

Kansas' New High Risk Insurance Pool To Be Limited

Elana Gordon — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:09:37 +0000

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Kansas City, MO – For the many people who have pre-existing conditions and struggle to get health coverage, some relief is supposed to come today. July 1st marks the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' start-date for new high risk insurance pools. But in Kansas, like many other states (including Missouri), the pool isn't ready yet. And once it is up and running, it's still going to be quite limited.