By Abby Block: Many of the nearly 73,000 Fairfax County residents who applied for unemployment insurance between mid-March and mid-May have most likely lost their employer-supplied insurance or were already uninsured and are facing hardship paying premiums. What are the options available for them, and all uninsured residents? First, regarding coronavirus, testing and treatment is available free or based on…
By Rose Chu: As the unemployment rate climbs due to the coronovirus pandemic, it is important to know what options exist for continued healthcare coverage. Here are some insights from my experience as a health policy analyst, and a volunteer certified application counselor to enroll Virginians for the Federal Health Insurance Exchange and Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) is…
By Todd Smyth: The “Public Option” for healthcare insurance was a distraction, promoted several years ago by the insurance industry, to keep people from supporting a single-payer system. Pres. Barack Obama actually dropped his support for a public option in February 2010 and throughout the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Wendell Potter was vice president of corporate communications…
By Brad Swanson: Almost 400,000 Virginians will gain medical care after the state legislature voted late Wednesday to expand the federal healthcare program Medicaid. The federal government will pick up at least 90% of the cost, estimated at about $2 billion annually. The decision caps a five-year campaign by Democratic legislators, and marks a big win for Gov. Ralph Northam,…