Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Washington insurance exchange to cut health care costs

  May 15, 2013 in City on Page A1 Washington’s consumers got their first, preliminary look at the cost of “Obamacare” on Tuesday. And the news, for many consumers, was good: Health insurance next year will cover more and … 67

• Some may see lower rates under Obama health law

  May 14, 2013 in Region OLYMPIA — Some Washington residents may see lower insurance premiums under President Barack Obama’s health care law, with proposed plans released today countering concerns expressed by the insurance industry just … 30

• Health exchange could be coming for some state workers

  April 25, 2013 in City, Health on Page A8 OLYMPIA – In a quest to save money, political leaders in Washington state are exploring a proposal that would shift some government workers out of their current health plans and … 2

• Fewer small companies offer health insurance

  April 11, 2013 in City, Health on Page A1 Between 1999 and 2011, health insurance coverage doubled in cost, and a growing share of the nation’s workers no longer could obtain it from their employers. The lack of health … 24

• Premera warns about rates

  March 22, 2013 in City, Health on Page A1 Premera Blue Cross, the largest health insurer in Eastern Washington, has toned down earlier warnings of “staggering” rate increases that it had blamed on federal health care reform, but still … 47

• Session to cover new autism insurance rules

  January 17, 2013 in Health, Washington Voices on Page S2 The Washington Autism Alliance and Advocacy and the Northwest Autism Center are presenting a session on new rules that require health care insurers to cover treatments for autism spectrum disorders. …

• Buy in to your health

  December 18, 2012 in Features, Health on Page C1 Choosing health insurance can be confusing, as consumers try to decipher terms like “non-preferred providers” and “out-of-network co-insurance.” Buying it on your own, as many have been forced to do … 1

• City rallies around Cat Davis

  October 18, 2012 in Health, Washington Voices on Page V4 On Monday, Cat Davis got a fabulous early birthday present: An independent medical review board overturned her insurance company’s decision to deny her a potentially life-saving stem cell transplant. Davis, …

• Battling both cancer and the health care system

  August 3, 2012 in City, Health on Page A1 About a month ago, Donna Preece, held a car wash with some family and friends. They stood out on Division holding signs. They took donations. They washed cars Friday and … 22

• First the cut, then the pain for uninsured

  July 28, 2012 in City, Health on Page A1 When 22-year-old James Munroe sliced his fingers to the bone in an accident Wednesday the decision whether to visit a doctor was simple. “I said, ‘I’m not going anywhere. I … 57

• Premera drops plan after ruling

  May 2, 2012 in City on Page A6 A health insurance plan covering 45,000 people in Washington is being discontinued, after state regulators objected to its limited prescription drug benefit. Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ruled that health … 5

• Lifewise to drop policy covering 45,000 Washingtonians

  May 1, 2012 in City A health insurance plan covering 45,000 people in Washington is being discontinued, after state regulators objected to its prescription drug benefit. 22

• Twinkies maker Hostess seeks bankruptcy protection

  January 11, 2012 in Nation/World Hostess Brands Inc., the maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, is seeking bankruptcy protection, blaming its pension and medical benefits obligations, increased competition and tough economic conditions. 20

• Snow plowing policy discussed

  December 31, 2011 in Washington Voices on Page V1 The point at which the city should plow the residential streets on the Valley floor was the subject of some discussion during Tuesday’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting. Councilman Dean … 1

• Report: Health law to cut cost of care

  November 5, 2011 in City on Page A6 Many middle-class Washington families will save an average of about $1,700 a year once federal health reforms take full effect, according to an organization that advocates for health care consumers. …

• State wants employees to pay more for health care

  October 27, 2011 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire wants state employees to pay more for their health insurance, and is asking union leaders to reopen labor contracts. Their initial response: Not unless businesses … 20

• County leaders offer ’12 budget

  August 20, 2011 in Idaho on Page A6 Kootenai County commissioners are proposing a 2012 budget almost $3 million higher than this year’s, but they say property taxes won’t increase because $4 million will be used from reserve …

• Insurers must cover birth control with no copays

  August 1, 2011 in Nation/World Health insurance plans must cover birth control as preventive care for women, with no copays, the Obama administration said today in a decision with far-reaching implications for health care as … 49

• Feds taking over Idaho insurance rates review role

  July 19, 2011 The federal government will assume the responsibility of reviewing increases of 10 percent or more in health insurance premiums proposed by private Idaho insurance companies starting later this fall.

• State health coverage plan falls flat

  July 17, 2011 in City on Page B1 OLYMPIA –Washington’s Health Insurance Partnership to help small businesses and low-wage workers pay for medical coverage was first conceived some four years ago, and got a big boost last September … 2

• Police pension group OKs hypnosis

  July 15, 2011 in City on Page A6 A retired Spokane police officer will have his hypnosis weight-loss therapy paid for by city tax money. Members of the Spokane Police Pension and Relief Board unanimously approved the unusual … 3

• Health insurance exchange draws praise, ridicule

  May 1, 2011 in Business on Page E1 Washington lawmakers have passed a forceful measure envisioned to help upward of 50,000 small businesses attain health insurance for their employees. They did it by creating what’s called a health … 1

• Florida judge strikes down health overhaul

  January 31, 2011 in Nation/World A federal judge ruled today that the Obama administration’s health care overhaul is unconstitutional, siding with 26 states, including Washington and Idaho, that sued to block it. 47

• State regulator wants to limit health-plan rate increases

  January 28, 2011 in City on Page A6 Washington state’s top insurance regulator seeks new authority to limit health-insurance rate increases among the largest carriers and make insurance rates open to public review. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced … 1

• Kreidler wants to limit health-plan rate hikes

  January 27, 2011 in City Washington state’s top insurance regulator seeks new authority to limit health insurance rate increases among of the largest carriers and make insurance rates open to public review. 23

• Federal bonus could save kids’ health care from cuts

  December 27, 2010 in City A $17.6 million windfall from the federal government could prevent thousands of children in Washington from losing their health insurance in March if the state decides to spend the money … 6

• Caldwell: Rate hikes pit Kreidler against insurers

  December 5, 2010 in Business on Page E1 Suppose the State of Washington had a six-month financial reserve, instead of a looming $385 million overdraft. Suppose, too, that Gov. Chris Gregoire was to propose a 14 percent tax … 8

• State cuts to health clinics affect thousands

  December 3, 2010 in City on Page A7 Washington state is suspending grants that enable community clinics to provide health care to about 300,000 uninsured patients. Suspension of the program was announced this week by the Washington State … 8

• Companies may skip health care

  October 24, 2010 in Business on Page E4 HACKENSACK, N.J. – Some employers will save a lot of money by not offering insurance under changes made to the health care system. For instance, an employer with 51 full-time …

• Regence BlueShield dropping child-only health plans

  September 28, 2010 in City, Region Regence BlueShield, one of the state’s largest health insurers, will no longer offer child-only individual plans, a move that state insurance officials fear may trigger other insurers to drop similar … 47

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