The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
In a new Beyond the Data column, President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman forecasts eight things to look for in health policy in 2026. “First and foremost,” he writes, “is the role health care affordability will play in the midterms.” And, he notes: “The average cost of a family policy for employers could approach $30,000 and cost sharing and deductibles will rise again after plateauing for several years.”
A discharge petition in the House paves the way for a vote on a three-year extension of the tax credits, which would provide ACA enrollees premium relief whenever it comes. While there is still time to extend the enhanced tax credits, with each passing day, more and more ACA Marketplace enrollees are going to drop their health insurance when faced with eye-popping increases in their premium payments, writes KFF’s Larry Levitt.
Timely insights and analysis from KFF staff
Adopting Denmark’s vaccine schedule, as HHS Secretary Kennedy’s vaccine advisors have suggested, would likely lower childhood vaccination rates in the U.S. as certain vaccines become harder to access. more
The expiration of enhanced ACA tax credits is reshaping coverage decisions for Marketplace enrollees, and in a recent KFF survey, Marketplace enrollees told us how rising premiums could affect insurance choices, affordability, and political attitudes. more
Our survey shows that many immigrants are already avoiding travel and other activities due immigration-related fears, which may increase following news that TSA is sharing information with ICE. more
New proposed rules affecting most hospitals and separately changing Medicaid coverage would further limit youth access to gender-affirming care. This brief explains the proposals’ details and the challenges they would pose for transgender youth.
Nearly two weeks after a CDC advisory panel voted to end the recommendation for newborn hepatitis B vaccination, conversations about vaccination schedules and parental choice remain elevated. This volume of the Monitor explores this and other recent developments in health information.
This brief provides an overview of the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), discusses recent federal legislation focusing on several elements of PBM business practices, and explains the potential federal budgetary impact of this legislation.
This data note discusses the impact of the 2025 reconciliation law on nursing facilities and examines the characteristics of nursing facilities and the people living in them with data from Nursing Home Compare, a publicly available dataset.
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Josh Michaud 
Grace Sparks 
Shannon Schumacher 
