Tag: Affordable Care Act

donut hole
Insurance
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Understanding the Medicare Part D “Donut Hole” in 2025

If you’ve struggled to keep up with the cost of prescriptions under Medicare, you’re not alone. For years, the “donut hole” left many people paying more than expected. While that coverage gap officially closed in 2020, Medicare Part D has continued to evolve–especially with new changes taking effect in 2025. This article explains what the donut hole used to be, how Medicare Part D works now, and what the latest reforms mean for your wallet. Whether you’re new to Medicare or reviewing your plan, we’ll help you better understand coverage, costs, and how to avoid common pitfalls.  What is the […]

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Affordable Care Act
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Science vs Politics Part II: The Preventive Care Mandate

Mifepristone: Science vs Politics discussed the ruling of a Federal District Judge in Texas on Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA that banned the use of mifepristone for abortions. After many challenges, including the current administration, this ruling was mitigated by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which provided a compromise ruling that allowed the use of mifepristone, but only until seven weeks after conception; down from the previous ten weeks limit. This ruling only affected a small number of people.   A different conservative Federal District Judge in Texas has now made a ruling on Braidwood Management v. […]

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Affordable Care Act, Healthcare Reform, Prescription Drugs
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2020 Primary Election Primer

We are in the beginnings of an election year in the United States and the first primary votes to determine the Democratic nominee will be cast in the coming weeks. Healthcare costs remain a top concern for voters, and candidates have developed varying proposals to improve healthcare, reform the current system, and reduce healthcare costs in the U.S.   Independent Senator from Vermont and 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders has long championed the ideal of single payer healthcare, often referred to as Medicare for All in the U.S. In a single payer system, the federal government fully covers every […]

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Health
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Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Expires

Congress has allowed the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which insures 9 million children in the United States, to expire. The program provided coverage for children in families making under 200% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) as well as to pregnant women. CHIP played a huge part in decreasing the rate of uninsured children from 14% in 1997 to 4.5% in 2015. By taking no action to renew the program before September 30, 2017 the U.S. Congress allowed the program to lose future funding, putting millions of American children at risk of major health complications from ordinarily treatable conditions. CHIP covers […]

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Health
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Understanding Health Insurance

by Richard Sagall, M.D. Insurance is really a simple concept. But few people, and even fewer politicians, seem to understand how insurance works and why so many of the promises we hear are impossible. Here are the basic concepts of insurance: Number 1 – You Never Win with Insurance – You always lose with insurance. Think about what happens when you have health insurance. Outcome 1 – You get sick, perhaps really sick, and you suffer while ill. You may experience long-term or even permanent disability from your illness. Or, in the worst case, you die. Your health insurance helps […]

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About Us

Welcome to the NeedyMeds Voice! We look forward to presenting you with timely, provocative pieces on healthcare reform, patient advocacy, medication and healthcare access, and other health-related news. Our goals are to educate, enlighten, and elucidate; together, we will try to make sense of the myriad and ongoing healthcare-related changes in the U.S. today.