Author: Kalup Alexander

California consumers will have the strongest protections in the nation against getting blindsided by unexpected out-of-network medical bills as part of legislation signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

CHOICE Administrators announced today the addition of two popular Western Health Advantage health plans to its coverage options for Northern California groups enrolling in CaliforniaChoice. The private health exchange, which marked its 20th anniversary earlier this year, is now quoting GOLD HMO C (Gateway 4010) and GOLD HMO D (Gateway 200 HSA) for groups of two to 100 employees for coverage effective December 1, 201

The good news: U.S. consumers still get more bang for their buck from generic drugs as prices of the cheaper versions of the originals are generally falling. The bad news: Recent years have seen an increasing count of sharp cost spikes for generics -- the drugs produced after the patents on their branded versions expire.

Restaurants, day care centers and other businesses will be able to stock and administer life-saving prescription medicine to immediately treat severe allergic reactions in their diners, pupils or customers under a bill signed Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

There are now 33 Democratic senators who back a public option being added to ObamaCare, Sen.Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) touted in an email Friday.

Obamacare premiums cost less than employer-based insurance this year, according to a new report, but a major reason was narrower networks that offer fewer doctor choices in Obamacare plans.

California’s vigorous embrace of Obamacare, particularly its sharp expansion of Medi-Cal coverage for the poor, has has reduced the state’s medically uninsured population by half, a new Census Bureau report says.

In a move that is sure to draw the ire of Republicans, California officials are asking the Obama administration this week to approve a plan that would allow undocumented immigrants to buy health insurance on the state’s public exchange.

As the number of people covered by high-deductible health plans soars, some insurers and employers are easing the strain on consumers’ wallets by covering certain benefits like doctor visits or generic drugs before people have reached their plan’s deductible.

While the political world focuses on the Affordable Care Act, changes have been occurring for the many more Americans who get health insurance through work. The biggest change: rising deductibles, which are transforming the nature of health insurance from more comprehensive coverage to skimpier insurance with higher out-of-pocket costs.