Jean Chatzky In just two weeks, the health insurance subsidy that was included in last year’s economic stimulus plan will start to expire. The subsidy of a federal program known as Cobra allows workers to continue their employer’s health insurance after leaving their job. The subsidy, which covers 65% of a laid-off worker’s Cobra payments, was key in helping people keep their insurance during the recession. In fact, a new federal study found that about a third of eligible, unemployed workers took advantage of the help. Those who became eligible between September 2008 and March 2009 will...

WASHINGTON — Health insurance companies are lobbying federal and state officials in an effort to ward off strict regulation of premiums and profits under the new health care law. The effort is, in some ways, a continuation of the battle over health care that consumed Congress last year. Insurance lobbyists are trying to shape regulations that will define “unreasonable” premium increases and require them to pay rebates to consumers if the companies do not spend enough on patient care. For their part, consumer groups say they worry that their legislative victories could be undone or undercut...

By Steve Elliott The Obama Administration released its National Drug Control Strategy on Tuesday, claiming it represents a “balanced new approach” to drug policy that focuses on treatment over enforcement. However, a group of police officers who support legalization is pointing out that despite the administration’s words, the drug budget dedicates nearly twice as much funding to policing and enforcement as it does to public health and prevention, virtually the same ratio as the previous budget under President Bush. “The Drug Czar is saying all the right things about ending...

By Julianne Pepitone, staff reporter NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The federal government unveiled details this week about how people up to age 26 can get covered by their parents’ health insurance policies, as part of the health care reform law. Consumers now have details about how one of the law’s most-buzzed about provisions will actually work — and how much it will cost them. Expanding health coverage to twentysomethings is welcome relief for an age group that accounts for the majority of uninsured Americans. Roughly 30% of young adults up to age 26 have no health insurance...

(Reuters) – U.S. health insurers are avoiding the controversial but rare practice of canceling coverage when a customer gets sick, but it is unclear how regulators will enforce the ban, which could affect thousands of policyholders. Sweeping healthcare reforms passed in March give companies such as WellPoint Inc (WLP.N) and UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH.N) until September to implement several big changes, including an end to terminating policies, known as rescission. Under intense pressure from Democrats following revelations about the practice, however, health insurance companies agreed this...

Less than a month old, Obamacare already is loaded into an ambulance on its way to the ER. The first crisis for the health care overhaul plan is a shortage of doctors. “At current graduation and training rates, the nation could face a shortage of as many as 150,000 doctors in the next 15 years, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges,” the Wall Street Journal reported April 12. Most in demand will be primary-care physicians, who “have a larger role under the new law, coordinating care for each patient.” Read more…

(Reuters) – Democrats from three House of Representatives committees are urging top health insurance executives to immediately end the practice of dropping patients after they get sick, months ahead of the deadline under new healthcare reforms. Although the law passed last month gives companies six months to comply, the lawmakers called on WellPoint, UnitedHealth, Humana, Aetna and other insurers to ban such actions — known as rescissions — except in cases of fraud or intentional misrepresentation. Read more…

Health Reform… Your Health… Your Future

More than half of the nation is confused about President Obama’s recently enacted health care law and 56% of Americans say they don’t have enough information to understand how the measure will affect them, according to a poll released today by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. The survey, the first Kaiser has conducted since the Democratic bill was approved last month, found that eight in 10 Americans know that Obama signed the measure but that 55% said the word “confused” described their feelings about the law. Read more…

Entrepreneurs starting ventures will qualify for small-group coverage and a tax credit if they pay themselves less than $50,000 a year By Karen E. Klein I enjoyed your article on health-care reform for small business owners.I’m coming out of unemployment into full-fledged self-employment. There are two of us in the company, which is a hosting service for foreign students. Where do I turn to get health insurance through my own company? —E.Q., Bronx, N.Y. Congratulations on starting your business. Since you have two people on the payroll, your company qualifies for small-group health insurance...