health insurance

A majority of Texas' uninsured children are Latino, according to new analysis from the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. The report also found most uninsured children are eligible for public insurance or financial assistance through the federal health insurance marketplace.

Many who enrolled in Affordable Care Act health plans are paying steeper premiums this year. That means cutting back in other areas.

In a letter sent to state officials Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he wants state agencies to investigate the Medicaid program after the Trump administration identified potential fraud in other states. He directed the agencies to implement several additional anti-fraud measures in the program.

About 40% of patients in Texas state hospitals have been admitted for more than a year, according to state data shared Wednesday. Long stays can mean people have to wait longer for mental and behavioral health services.

The Department of Homeland Security wants to eliminate guidelines around what public benefits can be considered in a "public charge" determination. Experts and advocates warn it could lead to a "chilling effect" in migrant communities.

The U.S. Postal Service changed when mail is postmarked as it's being processed – which could cause issues with time-sensitive mail like ballots and taxes. But, advocates worry the change could also lead to a loss of coverage and access to services, especially for people with disabilities.

Ascension Texas and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas faced an end-of-year deadline to agree on a contract or risk some patients losing in-network care at Ascension facilities, including many in the Austin area.

Texas’ entire House GOP delegation voted this week for a health care package that lets the tax credits lapse. They will be forced to vote on a three-year extension of the subsidies in January.

Shanice Jordan is one of the four million Texans enrolled in an Affordable Care Act health plan. But subsidies that make plans through the federal health insurance marketplace more affordable are set to expire at the end of the year — meaning Jordan and other Texans will premiums that are more than double what they currently pay.

The federal health insurance marketplace open enrollment deadline for plans that start on Jan. 1 is less than a week away. There's still a lot of uncertainty surrounding coverage, but advocates say everyone with an Affordable Care Act should verify their information and select a plan ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Austin residents shopping the Affordable Care Act marketplace are making difficult decisions about whether the plans that fit their budget can meet their medical needs.

This year’s respiratory virus season comes with some unique challenges. Experts and providers say they’re worried about how misinformation and confusion about new federal COVID-19 vaccine recommendations will affect vaccination rates, which could lead to more infections and severe health outcomes.