Enhanced ACA tax credits cap premiums at 8.5% of income for many middle-income Marketplace enrollees. If these tax credits expire at the end of this year, those families would lose that financial assistance — while facing higher premiums for 2026. https://on.kff.org/4nzRd5X

When, for whatever reason, contract negotiations blow up between large insurers like UnitedHealthcare and flagship health systems like Johns Hopkins, Medicare Advantage patients deal with the fallout — which can mean changing where they get care, higher costs and unwanted stress.

Last week, Texas passed a first-of-its-kind law letting private citizens sue anyone who provides abortion pills by mail. KFF’s Rolanda Donelson explores how it fits into the state’s legislative efforts to restrict abortion. ⚡ #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/42JnlvX

How much more would people pay if the ACA Marketplace’s enhanced tax credits expire at the end of this year, as expected? Our calculator shows how enrollees’ premiums for 2026 would increase based on zip code, their income, age, and family size: https://on.kff.org/4fX4Fxc

If ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits expire, many middle-income families will experience a “double whammy” — losing all financial assistance available through the tax credits and paying higher premiums as insurers raise rates. https://on.kff.org/4nzRd5X

Part-time workers are much less likely than full-time ones to be offered health benefits by their employer or to have health coverage at all. Our new analysts profiles part-time workers, their households, and their insurance status: https://on.kff.org/4ngMMNO

What could the loss of ACA enhanced premium tax credits mean for different households? And how much more could people pay if the tax credits expire? Our analysis explores the potential financial impact for both middle- and low-income households. https://on.kff.org/4nzRd5X

#ICYMI: At least 10 states enacted or issued changes related to children’s school vaccine requirements this year, most of which could reduce vaccination rates. Read more in our new policy watch: https://on.kff.org/4pbWQJg

Few parents (11%) say they’ve heard “a lot” about Secretary Kennedy’s changes to federal vaccine policy. When asked about the changes’ impact, most say either that they don’t know or that the changes won’t make much of a difference on safety, access, and industry influence.

While yet to be enacted, Florida’s plan to eliminate all school vaccination requirements would make it the first and only state to do so. See how all 50 states and DC approach vaccine exemptions: https://on.kff.org/4pbWQJg

The average out-of-pocket costs for pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum care for women with employer coverage is $2,743. Newborns also have healthcare needs, adding an additional $475 for care in the first three months of life: https://on.kff.org/4gpAdNB

Parents are uncertain about what to believe when it comes to false claims about vaccines and measles. While relatively few parents believe the false claim that the MMR vaccine can cause autism, nearly half say they don’t know enough to say. https://on.kff.org/4nqSlZG

At least 10 states enacted or issued changes related to children’s school vaccine requirements this year, most of which could reduce vaccination rates. Read more in our new policy watch: https://on.kff.org/4pbWQJg

In addition to the cost of pregnancy and birth, newborns had average total health care spending of $5,820, including $475 in out-of-pocket costs, and spending generally increases as children age: https://on.kff.org/4gpAdNB

The KFF- @washingtonpost.com survey of parents finds that confidence in federal health agencies is shaky. Fewer than 1 in 6 parents have “a lot” of confidence in government health agencies (like the CDC, FDA) to ensure safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

Most parents (81%) say that public schools should require students to get the measles and polio vaccines, with exceptions for medical and religious reasons. Among all parents, 8% requested a vaccine exemption so a child could attend school or daycare: https://on.kff.org/4nqSlZG

All states allow exemptions from school vaccination requirements for medical reasons and almost all states (47 including D.C.) allow exemptions for religious and/or personal beliefs: https://on.kff.org/4pbWQJg

On average, women with employer plans pay $2,743 out of pocket (and total health costs average $20,416) for pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum care. These costs are more than many families can afford: https://on.kff.org/4gpAdNB

Among parents who delayed or skipped some vaccines for their children, the most common reasons include: 1) Concerns about side effects 2) A lack of trust in vaccine safety, and 3) A belief that not all recommend vaccines are necessary. See the details ⤵️ https://on.kff.org/4nqSlZG

We did an enormous poll of parents with @kff.org on childhood vaccines. Gift link here: wapo.st/3K4aFcG

"Why 1 in 6 U.S. parents say they skipped or delayed their kids’ vaccines" Another warning sign. When HHS leaders say the public has lost trust in scientific institutions, they are driving uncertainty with real-world effects. A deep-dive by @washingtonpost.com & @kff.org wapo.st/3K4aFcG

Meet the parents skipping or delaying vaccination: Our @washingtonpost.com @kff.org poll found they are more likely to home-school their children, be White and very religious, identify as Republican or be under 35 www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

We wanted to know what parents think about vaccines, the appeal of RFK Jr.'s arguments and how these shape their decisions to immunize their children. Excited to share the first story from our poll of 2,716 U.S. parents with the ace @kff.org polling team -> www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Our new survey, in partnership with @washingtonpost.com, explores parents’ experiences with and views about vaccines for their children. Overall, we find most parents view routine childhood vaccines (MMR, polio) as safe and important but are less confident in seasonal shots.

Since most individual market coverage is bought through the ACA Marketplaces, changes to the ACA, including the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits, would have significant implications for small business owners' and workers' health care costs: https://on.kff.org/3HSj0jb

Did you know states and local jurisdictions set vaccine requirements for daycare and school? Here’s a state-by-state look at the current requirements and exemptions: https://on.kff.org/4pbWQJg

How much does pregnancy, childbirth, post-partum, and infant care cost? The prices might surprise you — get the details from our updated analysis: https://on.kff.org/4gpAdNB

Hear key takeaways from this week’s Health Wonk Shop on how states will implement new Medicaid work requirements — featuring 2 state Medicaid directors, the acting director of the Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services, and KFF’s Jennifer Tolbert and @larrylevitt.bsky.social:

Among the issues explored in this week’s edition of The Monitor? Confusion around COVID-19 booster eligibility as federal recommendations shift and conflicting guidance from physician organizations creates uncertainty for patients. Read and subscribe: https://on.kff.org/4nqIh2H

FL's recent announcement of plans to eliminate school vaccination requirements would make them the first and only state to do so. Our NEW @kff.org piece examines school vaccine requirements (and exemptions to requirements) and recent changes across the states: www.kff.org/state-health...

An uninsured Uber driver with cancer who dropped their ACA coverage due to cost. An ill construction worker who lost Medicaid due to work requirements. Just 2 of @larrylevitt.bsky.social’s potential stories for #ThePitt based on federal health cuts: https://on.kff.org/4mWIiLY @jamahealthforum.com

The expiration of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits at the end of this year would have significant implications for small business owners, employees, and the self-employed: https://on.kff.org/3HSj0jb

Amid reports that #ThePitt will tackle coming federal health care spending cuts in its upcoming season, @larrylevitt.bsky.social offers 5 story lines that could illustrate how health care is changing under the Trump administration. 🔗: https://on.kff.org/4mWIiLY (via @jamahealthforum.com#ThePitt

We work hard at @kff.org to be experts who are communicators, too. It’s why I say “communications is everyone’s job” here. A great example today in JAMA from @larrylevitt.bsky.social Levitt — storylines for The Pitt.

NEW: About half of adults with ACA Marketplace coverage are employed by small businesses or are self-employed and could face higher premiums soon: https://on.kff.org/3HSj0jb

Four experts, including two state Medicaid directors, will join Health Wonk Shop series moderator @larrylevitt.bsky.social for a discussion on how states will go about implementing the new Medicaid work requirements. RSVP to join the discussion tomorrow at noon ET: https://on.kff.org/4pcnFwV

Thank you @punchbowlnews.bsky.social for the invitation to share @kff.org data about #Medicaid and #ruralhealth on a panel with Emily Holubowich, American Heart Association; Dr. Torey Mack, Children’s Hospital Association; and Dr. Julie Yaroch, ProMedica Charles & Virginia Hickman Hospital

While the uninsured rate held steady at 8.0% in 2024, the pending expiration of enhanced ACA premium tax credits & changes to Medicaid and the Marketplaces in the reconciliation law are expected to boost the number of uninsured people in the coming years. https://on.kff.org/4nsJ0kc

Will it add to the seemingly growing pressure to make a deal and extend the enhanced ACA tax credits to learn that - half of all marketplace enrollees work for small businesses or are self employed?

From 2018-2024, the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night increased nearly 40% to over 771,000 people, with 36% of them staying in unsheltered locations. The links between homelessness and health are complex. Learn more :👇 on.kff.org/4phj8cF

We in the U.S. use less care than in other countries, but pay more. www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collec...

The effect on premiums if enhanced ACA tax credits expire is confusing. Average out-of-pocket premiums would increase by over 75% with smaller tax credits. Total premiums charged by insurers would also increase 4 percentage points more than expected as healthier people drop coverage.

To provide historical context for how changes to #Medicaid spending may impact national health spending trends, @kff.org brief explores how Medicaid spending has contributed to national health spending trends and how different service areas contribute to Medicaid costs. www.kff.org/medicaid/5-k...

In 2024, adults experiencing homelessness were more likely to have serious mental illness, substance use disorder, and HIV/AIDS than the general population. See more data about trends and characteristics of people who are homeless. on.kff.org/4phj8cF

Under the reconciliation law, changes to Medicaid’s provider taxes and state directed payments are expected to lower Medicaid payments to hospitals, nursing facilities, and other provider services: https://on.kff.org/41DE9nR

The Medicare negotiated prices for 10 drugs remain higher than those in peer countries. On average, negotiated prices are 2.8x higher than in 11 other wealthy nations. Explore more comparisons: https://on.kff.org/4gdrfmD

Our new brief offers a look at how Medicaid’s coverage and share of national health spending has changed over time: https://on.kff.org/41DE9nR

The U.S. spends nearly twice as much on health care per person as peer nations but has about half as many in-person doctor visits per person as peer nations. See the full chart collection for details: https://on.kff.org/4gdrfmD

Health care utilization in the U.S. — from doctor visits to surgeries — is generally lower than in other wealthy countries, but our analysis finds costs across both public and private insurance were consistently higher in the U.S. See the details: https://on.kff.org/4gdrfmD

Recent projections for national health spending do not account for the reconciliation law’s landmark changes to Medicaid, which could reverse longstanding trends in Medicaid coverage and spending. More on the historical trends in our new brief: https://on.kff.org/41DE9nR