Health Insurance

shows a man standing in the front of a room at a podium, there are cameras and mostly empty seats in front of him, the result of social distancing to prevent transmission of COVID

Coronavirus Today – May 18 – Big no to COVID parties; Waiting for phase two; Day-over-day count concerning

May 18, 2020 by Editor Leave a Comment

Coronavirus Today – May 18 – Big no to COVID parties; Waiting for phase two; Day-over-day count concerning - North Carolina Health News

While waiting to see if Gov. Cooper will ease restrictions this weekend, some may be taking risks with their health.

By North Carolina Health News staff Cooper, Cohen throw water on idea of COVID parties Gov. Roy Cooper and Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, had a strong message when asked whether they were hearing about “herd gatherings,” where people, particularly the young, try to get infected with COVID-19. […]

shows a paper reading, "Insurance policy" with glasses and a pen in the foreground

For workers who’ve lost jobs, what are the options for health insurance?

May 12, 2020 by Rose Hoban 1 Comment

For workers who’ve lost jobs, what are the options for health insurance? - North Carolina Health News

About a million North Carolinians have lost work in the past two months, and for many, lost health insurance too. What can they do?

By Rose Hoban During the last week before Gov. Roy Cooper ordered the closure of restaurants and bars to all but takeout service in March, Stephen Murtaugh could read the handwriting on the wall. At Carrboro’s Oakleaf restaurant, where he was manager, Murtaugh said they were cleaning and disinfecting, attempting to reassure customers they’d be […]

long distance landscape photo of mountains receding into the distance.

Can western NC counties escape the worst of the pandemic?

May 5, 2020 by Melba Newsome

Can western NC counties escape the worst of the pandemic? - North Carolina Health News

Remote and sparsely populated, counties in western NC have taken some tough measures to keep their coronavirus numbers low.

By Melba Newsome To date, only Avery county in western North Carolina has no reported cases of COVID-19. Health officials in this remote, sparsely populated region say that high rates of poverty, older populations, and epidemics of obesity and diabetes along with scarce healthcare resources led them to begin planning early and be particularly aggressive […]

State health Sec. Mandy Cohen stands with her head bowed before March 31 press briefing on coronavirus.

Emergency Medicaid proposal could provide coverage for many newly unemployed. But many will still be left behind.

April 23, 2020 by Rose Hoban

Emergency Medicaid proposal could provide coverage for many newly unemployed. But many will still be left behind. - North Carolina Health News

Medicaid, which supports millions of low income North Carolinians has seen a lot of changes in recent months, and there are liable to be more coming.

By Rose Hoban Since the beginning of March, more than a half-million North Carolinians have lost their jobs. And in a system where many workers receive health insurance through their employers, most of those people lost their access to health care too. But most adults, even if they’re jobless and now broke, can’t qualify for […]

Sec. Mandy Cohen stands at a podium. Mike Sprayberry is in the background and he's blurry. They're talking at a coronavirus briefing.

Coronavirus Today – April 16 – Virtual health visits, a ‘reverse parade’, meat and toilet paper fly off the shelves

April 16, 2020 by Editor

Coronavirus Today – April 16 – Virtual health visits, a ‘reverse parade’, meat and toilet paper fly off the shelves - North Carolina Health News

NCDHHS aired a three-minute video to help people understand how they can access care while staying home. Meanwhile, NCDHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen advocated for using emergency funding to help Medicaid providers.

By North Carolina Health News staff Your doctor can see you virtually During the coronavirus pandemic, more health care workers have been consulting with patients online, offering diagnoses, suggesting at home treatments, and even taking some through physical therapy sessions using computers, phones, iPads and more. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health […]

shows a selfie of a man on this computer, connecting with patients about coronavirus via telemedicine

COVID-19 prompts a shift to telehealth

March 19, 2020 by Sarah Ovaska

COVID-19 prompts a shift to telehealth - North Carolina Health News

With private health insurers, along with Medicare, Medicaid removing barriers to pay, more practitioners will treat remotely.

By Sarah Ovaska The coronavirus pandemic quickly overhauled how medicine will be practiced for more routine needs, with doctor offices switching to virtual exams over the phone or video as the COVID-19 pandemic bears down on the country. Instead of easing their way into the change, the switch to telemedicine has been more akin to […]

shows health care workers in protective gowns waiting for patients to be tested for Coronavirus, COVID-19

Coronavirus Today – Tuesday, March 17 – Restaurants and bars closed

March 17, 2020 by Editor

Coronavirus Today – Tuesday, March 17 – Restaurants and bars closed - North Carolina Health News

As the number of COVID-19 cases in the state climbs to 40, Cooper bans eating at restaurants and bars. Meanwhile, several hospitals across the state have been canceling non-essential surgeries and programs to feed children while they’re out of school begin.

Governor closing bars and restaurants If you were hoping to make it out to your favorite bar to raise a pint in honor of St. Patrick today, your Irish luck just ran out. As of 5 p.m. today, Gov. Roy Cooper ordered all restaurants and bars in North Carolina to be closed except for providing […]

We see the back of a man's head and the two women talking to him. The clinic cares for patients in the uninsured gap and racial disparities in access to care.

North Carolina lags in shrinking inequalities in access to care

February 7, 2020 by Yen Duong

North Carolina lags in shrinking inequalities in access to care - North Carolina Health News

A new study shows that in states with Medicaid expansion, racial disparities have shrunk for access to care. But NC lags and DHHS is trying to do something about it.

By Yen Duong Two documents from the past month reflect the state of racial disparities in access to health care in North Carolina. A new report from the Commonwealth Fund, a health care policy nonprofit, showed that racial disparities in access to health care across the country have shrunk since the Affordable Care Act was […]

woman asks questions about mental health policy to a panel of legislators

Mental health advocates use gathering to push for funding, priorities

February 5, 2020 by Rose Hoban

Mental health advocates use gathering to push for funding, priorities - North Carolina Health News

An annual event brings mental health advocates face-to-face with policymakers, but questions linger whether the encounters move the needle.

By Rose Hoban Hundreds of people concerned about North Carolina’s mental health system convened in Chapel Hill on Saturday morning for an annual event that’s become a prime forum for laying out the priorities and concerns of the mental health community. About 400 service providers, advocates and consumers of mental health services were joined by […]

A calculator that says "health" as an illustration for short-term health insurance plans.

NC regulators see a rise in complaints about short-term health insurance

January 30, 2020 by Liora Engel-Smith

NC regulators see a rise in complaints about short-term health insurance - North Carolina Health News

Observers in and out of the state have said the rise in complaints is a cause for concern.

By Liora Engel-Smith On the heels of the Trump Administration relaxing its rules surrounding short-term health insurance plans, the North Carolina Department of Insurance said it saw an uptick in consumer complaints surrounding these low-cost, but limited, plans. The department logged 75 complaints related to short-term insurance in 2019, up from 48 the previous year, […]

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