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California regulators issued record fines against L.A. Care, the state鈥檚 largest Medi-Cal managed-care plan, for providing inadequate care to its enrollees. But whether the penalties are a sign that the state will make a more forceful effort to improve Medi-Cal鈥檚 overall quality of care remains to be seen.
Many of the nearly 17 million U.S. members of J&J Nation, myself included, are wondering whether to set aside the current official guidance and get a second booster. Some experts say: Chill out.
The new federal law will provide protection against surprise medical bills for between 6 million and 7 million Californians who are not covered under state law.
Families of four with incomes of less than about $40,000 a year can pay no premiums and have low deductibles. For some others, health insurance in 2022 will cost more than in 2021 鈥 in some cases, significantly more.
Nearly 2,000 terminally ill Californians have used a 2015 law to end their lives with a doctor鈥檚 assistance. A revision of the law will make it easier to do so.
A new California law requires health insurance companies to notify consumers how much remains on their deductibles and how close they are to their annual out-of-pocket spending limits.
The law doesn鈥檛 take effect until July, but its passage should force insurers to expand their rosters of therapists. Here鈥檚 how you can challenge your health plan鈥檚 mental health services until then.
There are many ways to cleanse indoor air of dangerous smoke particles, which are particularly harmful to people with chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions. Some are expensive, but cheap alternatives exist.
Your dutiful columnist tried to make use of a federal 鈥渢ransparency鈥 rule to compare the prices of common medical procedures in two California health care systems. It was a futile exercise.
It won鈥檛 hurt to remain cautious, even as California reopens for business in response to mass vaccinations and diminishing cases of covid.
Californians who passed up health coverage in the past may be pleasantly surprised by the lower prices available thanks to the new federal relief act.
The vaccination rollout has been unsteady, but the vaccines seem very effective, raising hopes that the pandemic will subside by later this year if enough Americans get their shots. Meanwhile, remain cautious.
The measure, which took effect Jan. 1, removes loopholes that made it easy for insurers to use arcane company guidelines to avoid paying for care. Patients now have an easier way to challenge those denials.
The federal government expects vaccinations to be available to everyone who wants them by summer 鈥 though glitches are inevitable. If enough of us get vaccinated, we could wave goodbye to the pandemic in 2021.
It鈥檚 a complex program with many options 鈥 as well as confusing rules and nuances. Here鈥檚 how to get reliable guidance.
For Californians who are buying their own insurance, enrollment in 2021 health plans runs through Jan. 31.
Hospital staff in states such as California and New York can help patients obtain ballots and vote. In other states, you need a relative to assist you.
The volume of virtual medical appointments has exploded during the pandemic as patients and doctors have sought to avoid infection through in-person visits.
鈥淭he Quarantine 15鈥 鈥 weight gain due to inactivity during the pandemic 鈥 is a real phenomenon. Here are some ways to fight it.
As the long U.S. fire season gets underway, it鈥檚 even more important for Western residents to have a good face mask. Unfortunately, most of the masks we鈥檙e wearing for COVID-19 aren鈥檛 great for smoke.
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