1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
"Insuring Your Health" by Michelle Andrews, Freelance Reporter for KHN Editor: Lexie Verdon
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
8/24, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Individual mandates, high-risk insurance pools, small business tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies. Those are just a few of the many provisions in the new federal health law and changes confronting – and confusing – consumers. After the enactment of the health care overhaul last March, Kaiser Health News began a weekly column – "Insuring Your Health" – that is dedicated to explaining insurance issues and the effects of the law. We felt it was important to get beyond the white-hot national political debate that surrounded the legislation and provide readers with a clear view of how insurance currently works and what issues would be addressed by the health law. The feature, written by Michelle Andrews, has dealt with major changes brought by the legislation – such as the establishment of insurance pools for people with medical problems and getting coverage for adult children. But she has also highlighted a number of lesser known problems, some of which may not be solved by the law. The column runs on the KHN website and is used by a number of our partners, including The Washington Post, the Tribune Co. websites and MSNBC.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Medical journal articles, public policy journals, patients_ websites and organizations, health policy research organization websites, government websites (NCI, NIH, HHS), nonprofit groups (such as the March of Dimes), advocacy groups (AHIP), government reports (such as the GAO and CBO) and members of Congress sites. No FOI or public records act requests required.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Health policy analysts, academics, economists. Advocates for people with different diseases and health insurance issues.
6. Results (if any).
We have received a number of emails from people thanking us for clearing up their confusion and our partners always get a number of comments on the stories saying the same thing.
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Do your homework! Scour everything, all the time, for ideas and sources.