Just as other industries are rolling back some consumer-friendly changes made early in the pandemic — think empty middle seats on airplanes — so, too, are health insurers.This story also ran on . It can beMany voluntarily waived  all deductibles, copayments and other costs for insured patients who fell ill with covid-19 and needed hospital care, doctor visits, medications or other treatment.Setting aside those fees was a good move from a public relations standpoint. The industry got credit for helping customers during tough times. And it had political and financial benefits for...…Just as other industries are rolling back some consumer-friendly changes made early in the pandemic — think empty middle seats on airplanes — so, too, are health insurers.This story also ran on . It can beMany voluntarily waived  all deductibles, copayments and other costs for insured patients who fell ill with covid-19 and needed hospital care, doctor visits, medications or other treatment.Setting aside those fees was a good move from a public relations standpoint. The industry got credit for helping customers during tough times. And it had political and financial benefits for...WW…

[UPDATED on April 26]When Kathryn Watkins goes shopping these days, she doesn’t bring her three young children. There are just too many people not wearing masks in her southern Michigan town of Hillsdale.It can beAt some stores, “not even the employees are wearing them anymore,” said Watkins, who estimates about 30% of shoppers wear masks, down from around 70% earlier in the pandemic. “There’s a complete disregard for the very real fact that they could wind up infecting someone.”Her state tops the nation by far in the rate of new covid cases, a sharp upward trajectory that has more than in...…[UPDATED on April 26]When Kathryn Watkins goes shopping these days, she doesn’t bring her three young children. There are just too many people not wearing masks in her southern Michigan town of Hillsdale.It can beAt some stores, “not even the employees are wearing them anymore,” said Watkins, who estimates about 30% of shoppers wear masks, down from around 70% earlier in the pandemic. “There’s a complete disregard for the very real fact that they could wind up infecting someone.”Her state tops the nation by far in the rate of new covid cases, a sharp upward trajectory that has more than in...WW…

April 22, 2021Mark Gottlieb’s life changed in an instant when another driver crashed into his car, damaging four vertebrae in his upper spine and smashing six teeth.In the months following that January 2019 crash, Gottlieb got the teeth crowned and, for debilitating neck pain, tried injections, chiropractic care and physical therapy. The treatments were all covered by his car insurance.New Jersey law, as in 12 other states, requires drivers to buy personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage to pay medical expenses. Gottlieb had the maximum: $250,000.Unfortunately, Gottlieb’s pain...…April 22, 2021Mark Gottlieb’s life changed in an instant when another driver crashed into his car, damaging four vertebrae in his upper spine and smashing six teeth.In the months following that January 2019 crash, Gottlieb got the teeth crowned and, for debilitating neck pain, tried injections, chiropractic care and physical therapy. The treatments were all covered by his car insurance.New Jersey law, as in 12 other states, requires drivers to buy personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage to pay medical expenses. Gottlieb had the maximum: $250,000.Unfortunately, Gottlieb’s pain...WW…

“Sorry Dr Fauci and other fearmongers, new study shows vaccines and naturally acquired immunity DO effectively neutralize COVID variants. Good news for everyone but bureaucrats and petty tyrants!”— Sen. Rand Paul in a , March 21, 2021That Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky often disagrees with infectious-disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci is well known.This story was produced in partnership with . It can beRecently, the pair when Paul, a Republican, argued against mask recommendations for people who have had covid-19 or have been vaccinated against it.At the hearing, Fauci, President Joe Biden’s...…“Sorry Dr Fauci and other fearmongers, new study shows vaccines and naturally acquired immunity DO effectively neutralize COVID variants. Good news for everyone but bureaucrats and petty tyrants!”— Sen. Rand Paul in a , March 21, 2021That Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky often disagrees with infectious-disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci is well known.This story was produced in partnership with . It can beRecently, the pair when Paul, a Republican, argued against mask recommendations for people who have had covid-19 or have been vaccinated against it.At the hearing, Fauci, President Joe Biden’s...WW…

March 12, 2021The twists and turns of the American health system can sometimes leave people lost, confused and looking for answers. We’ve created a new video series — “Explained by KHN” — in which our correspondents and editors answer common health care and health policy questions. As promising news about the development, efficacy and distribution of covid-19 vaccines spread across the United States, questions about the shots were even more viral. In this edition of “Explained by KHN” we will answer common consumer questions about the covid vaccines.Copy HTMLWe encourage organizations...…March 12, 2021The twists and turns of the American health system can sometimes leave people lost, confused and looking for answers. We’ve created a new video series — “Explained by KHN” — in which our correspondents and editors answer common health care and health policy questions. As promising news about the development, efficacy and distribution of covid-19 vaccines spread across the United States, questions about the shots were even more viral. In this edition of “Explained by KHN” we will answer common consumer questions about the covid vaccines.Copy HTMLWe encourage organizations...WW…

This story also ran on . It can beEach night it’s the same. Story after story on the TV news is about the covid vaccination effort, and they are all illustrated with footage of needles sinking into exposed upper arms.Could those visuals, ostensibly making this all seem routine, backfire?More than causing squeamish people to look away or change the channel, researchers say such illustrations could hamper efforts to get a broad swath of U.S. residents vaccinated.Bottom line: Many people don’t like needles, and that could further slow vaccination efforts as winter turns to spring when supplies...…This story also ran on . It can beEach night it’s the same. Story after story on the TV news is about the covid vaccination effort, and they are all illustrated with footage of needles sinking into exposed upper arms.Could those visuals, ostensibly making this all seem routine, backfire?More than causing squeamish people to look away or change the channel, researchers say such illustrations could hamper efforts to get a broad swath of U.S. residents vaccinated.Bottom line: Many people don’t like needles, and that could further slow vaccination efforts as winter turns to spring when supplies...WW…

This story also ran on . It can beBeating back covid right now comes down to balancing supply and demand.With hopes pinned to vaccines, demand has far outstripped the supply of doses.But, as an increasing number of vaccine vials are shipped in coming weeks, the concern about shortages may well shift to human capital: the vaccinators themselves.“We need to mobilize more medical units to get more shots in people’s arms,” Jeff Zients, coordinator of President Joe Biden’s covid-19 task force, said at a briefing earlier this month.Already, there have been that vaccinators are in short supply in...…This story also ran on . It can beBeating back covid right now comes down to balancing supply and demand.With hopes pinned to vaccines, demand has far outstripped the supply of doses.But, as an increasing number of vaccine vials are shipped in coming weeks, the concern about shortages may well shift to human capital: the vaccinators themselves.“We need to mobilize more medical units to get more shots in people’s arms,” Jeff Zients, coordinator of President Joe Biden’s covid-19 task force, said at a briefing earlier this month.Already, there have been that vaccinators are in short supply in...WW…

This story also ran on . It can beEven as the pace of vaccination against covid-19 has steadily accelerated — hitting an average of of January — the frustration felt by many of those unable to secure an appointment hasn’t waned.Why, they wonder, can’t I get one if 100 million shots will soon be administered?Of course, the answers aren’t simple. Rules keep changing. Data about the number of vaccines delivered and administered — backed by computer systems that often can’t efficiently exchange information with one another — lag. Sign-up systems are clunky and balkanized.But here’s the real...…This story also ran on . It can beEven as the pace of vaccination against covid-19 has steadily accelerated — hitting an average of of January — the frustration felt by many of those unable to secure an appointment hasn’t waned.Why, they wonder, can’t I get one if 100 million shots will soon be administered?Of course, the answers aren’t simple. Rules keep changing. Data about the number of vaccines delivered and administered — backed by computer systems that often can’t efficiently exchange information with one another — lag. Sign-up systems are clunky and balkanized.But here’s the real...WW…

This story also ran on . It can beWhen administrators at Hillsdale College, a conservative liberal-arts school in Michigan, heard its local hospital didn’t have a way to store the Pfizer-BioNTech covid vaccine, they offered the use of its science department’s ultra-low temperature freezer. The vaccine must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit.With that help, the small hospital — employing about 400 — was able to receive vaccines from the state: 1,950 doses in late December, more than twice what it requested, according to the hospital CEO.Two weeks later, college faculty, staffers and...…This story also ran on . It can beWhen administrators at Hillsdale College, a conservative liberal-arts school in Michigan, heard its local hospital didn’t have a way to store the Pfizer-BioNTech covid vaccine, they offered the use of its science department’s ultra-low temperature freezer. The vaccine must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit.With that help, the small hospital — employing about 400 — was able to receive vaccines from the state: 1,950 doses in late December, more than twice what it requested, according to the hospital CEO.Two weeks later, college faculty, staffers and...WW…

Early Coronavirus Testing Restrictions Led To Some Big ER Bills : Shots - Health News People with COVID-19 symptoms in March and April were often billed for expensive scans and bloodwork because they didn't qualify back then for a confirmatory coronavirus test. Some are crying foul.Julie ApplebyFromFresh off a Caribbean cruise in early March, John Campbell developed a cough and fever of 104 degrees. He went to his primary care physician and got a flu test, which came up negative. Then things got strange. Campbell says the doctor then turned to him and said, "I've called the ER next door,...…Early Coronavirus Testing Restrictions Led To Some Big ER Bills : Shots - Health News People with COVID-19 symptoms in March and April were often billed for expensive scans and bloodwork because they didn't qualify back then for a confirmatory coronavirus test. Some are crying foul.Julie ApplebyFromFresh off a Caribbean cruise in early March, John Campbell developed a cough and fever of 104 degrees. He went to his primary care physician and got a flu test, which came up negative. Then things got strange. Campbell says the doctor then turned to him and said, "I've called the ER next door,...WW…