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Health Insurance

A pharmacist in a white coat grabs an asthma inhaler

The steep cost of breathing

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The steep cost of breathing - North Carolina Health News

Most asthma inhalers are expensive even with insurance. A complicated system of manufacturer coupons, copay, and prescription assistance programs helps some -- but not all -- patients stay out of the hospital.

By Liora Engel-Smith The medications that keep Karen Bumgardner breathing are expensive. At $711, one puff of Trelegy Ellipta, a long-acting inhaler she uses daily, costs about $24. The 40-year-old Cleveland County resident also uses about $100-a-month on  rescue medications to help her breathe during an attack, including an albuterol inhaler and nebulizer. Bumgardner has […]

four prescription drug bottles in a row

Privately managed Medicare Advantage earns an increased share of beneficiaries, as annual sign-ups proceed.

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Privately managed Medicare Advantage earns an increased share of beneficiaries, as annual sign-ups proceed. - North Carolina Health News

It’s time for older North Carolinians and some with disabilities to meet the Dec. 7 deadline for making choices about Medicare coverage for 2021. In this pandemic year, state counselors have had to make adjustments to meet beneficiaries’ needs.

By Thomas Goldsmith North Carolinians who are 65 or older face a Dec. 7 deadline for making sure their health insurance under Medicare is in order for 2021. Seniors need to learn the pros and cons of both original fee-for-service Medicare and the increasingly popular Medicare Advantage plans, say people who are knowledgeable about the […]

A Graham polling center in Alamance County. Photo credit: Hannah Critchfield

In an election with unprecedented turnout, health care issues loom large, but can’t overcome economic concerns

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In an election with unprecedented turnout, health care issues loom large, but can’t overcome economic concerns - North Carolina Health News

Voters split their tickets on Tuesday, retaining Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, while the presidential contest remains too close to call, with more than 100,000 absentee ballots still outstanding.

By Anne Blythe, Hannah Critchfield and Rose Hoban Ballots in North Carolina did not list Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act, the coronavirus pandemic response or the economy as something registered voters could mark as for or against. In the outcome of the 2020 elections, it appears that North Carolina voters were willing to have […]

shows a video conferencing call with six people who were talking about Cardinal Innovations

Union, Cabarrus, other counties look to cut ties with Cardinal

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Union, Cabarrus, other counties look to cut ties with Cardinal - North Carolina Health News

Union and Cabarrus counties are exploring changing mental health management organizations ahead of a critical deadline. Others may follow suit.

By Rose Hoban With little debate, members of the Union County board of commissioners voted unanimously Monday afternoon to disengage the county from their relationship with Cardinal Innovations, which has managed mental health services there for years. Several hours later, Cabarrus County commissioners followed suit, initiating the process of severing ties with the organization, which […]

A hospital building in Charlotte which says Atrium.

Atrium combines with Wake Forest Baptist and its medical school

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Atrium combines with Wake Forest Baptist and its medical school - North Carolina Health News

Details are still vague, but the Charlotte-based system announced plans to form a new enterprise with Wake-Forest Baptist on Friday. The combined organization will create a regional system with more than 40 hospitals.

By Liora Engel-Smith and Rose Hoban On the heels of a flurry of mergers, acquisitions and shifts in North Carolina’s health care environment in recent months, two large systems have announced Friday their intent to more closely affiliate. The Charlotte-based Atrium Health has agreed to form a new “enterprise,” Atrium Health Inc. with the Winston-Salem […]

Job-based health insurance costs are up 4 percent this year, 55 percent in past decade

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Job-based health insurance costs are up 4 percent this year, 55 percent in past decade - North Carolina Health News

Insurance cost increases are in the single digits, but they're still more than the increasing rate of inflation, driven, in part, by uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Phil Galewitz Kaiser Health News Health insurance costs for Americans who get their coverage through work continued a relentless march upward with average family premiums rising 4 percent to $21,342 this year, according to a study published Thursday. The annual survey by KFF found workers on average are paying nearly $5,600 this year toward […]

shows a map of North Carolina broken up into six regions for Medicaid managed care provision

Medicaid managed-care wannabes take protest to new court

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Medicaid managed-care wannabes take protest to new court - North Carolina Health News

After losing out on lucrative contracts with DHHS, Medicaid managed care companies file appeals once again ahead of next year's start date.

By Anne Blythe and Rose Hoban In the middle of a coronavirus pandemic that has tossed up challenge after challenge, the state Department of Health and Human Services also must tend to another enormous project. Over the next 10 months, the department has been told by the legislature to complete the transformation of its cumbersome […]

Because of website glitches, the ACA open enrollment was extended

Lose your job and health insurance due to COVID-19? Here’s a tip.

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Lose your job and health insurance due to COVID-19? Here’s a tip. - North Carolina Health News

Federal agency was mum for months on ‘major life change’ extension to ACA marketplace that could have helped thousands of North Carolinians.

By Rose Hoban Who knew? The tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of North Carolinians who have lost health insurance since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic might have a new option. They should check out the federal marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act. A change quietly enacted on the federal Healthcare.gov website sometime […]

man stands amid a crowd of people taking notes and holding microphones

Large swaths of NC voters favor Medicaid expansion, poll shows

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Large swaths of NC voters favor Medicaid expansion, poll shows - North Carolina Health News

Majorities of Republicans and Democrats supported the policy in a recent Care4Carolina poll, even after hearing arguments against the change.

By Rose Hoban Large majorities of voters in North Carolina favor the state adopting a policy that would get access to health insurance to more low-income workers, according to a new poll released Wednesday morning. The poll, sponsored by Care4Carolina, an advocacy group pushing for the General Assembly to pass Medicaid expansion, found three-quarters of […]

shows a legislative committee room at the General Assembly with a woman's face on the screen to talk about COVID spending

The COVID-19 price tags: Here’s how NC DHHS is spending $345 million

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The COVID-19 price tags: Here’s how NC DHHS is spending $345 million - North Carolina Health News

And it will cost more before it’s all done, DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen tells lawmakers at the General Assembly this week.

By Rose Hoban Throughout this coronavirus pandemic, North Carolina’s public health leaders have announced many new initiatives to help fight COVID-19, prongs in an attack plan that come with varied price tags. The General Assembly appropriated $345 million this spring to the state Department of Health and Human Services to help mitigate the damage the […]

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