News Release Archives

Medicare Advantage Plans Denied a Larger Share of Prior Authorization Requests in 2022 Than in Prior Years

Aug 8, 2024

News Release

Medicare Advantage plans denied 3.4 million prior authorization requests for health care services in whole or in part in 2022, or 7.4% of the 46.2 million requests submitted on behalf of enrollees that year, according to a new KFF analysis of federal data. That was a higher share of denials than in recent years. The share of all prior authorization requests denied by Medicare Advantage plans increased from 5.7% in 2019, 5.6% in 2020 and…

Marketplace Insurers are Proposing a 7% Average Premium Hike for 2025 and Pointing to Rising Hospital Prices and GLP-1 Drugs as Key Drivers of Costs

Aug 5, 2024

News Release

ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 7% for 2025, similar to the 6% premium increase filed for 2024, according to a new KFF analysis of the preliminary rate filings. Insurers’ proposed rate changes – most of which fall between 2% and 10% – may change during the review process. Although the vast majority of Marketplace enrollees receive subsidies and are not expected to face these added costs, premium increases generally result…

The Share of Young Adults Who Received Mental Health Treatment Jumped 45% from 2019 to 2022, the Largest Increase Among Any Age Group

Aug 1, 2024

News Release

A new KFF analysis shows that the share of young adults (ages 18 to 26) receiving mental health treatment rose by 45% between 2019 and 2022 – a steeper increase than in any other age group. More than 1 in 4 young adults (26%) received counseling and/or medication for mental health concerns in 2022, up from 18% three years earlier, according to the analysis of the most up-to-date National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data available.…

ACA Marketplace Enrollees Will See Steep Increases in Premium Payments in 2026 if Enhanced Subsidies Expire

Jul 26, 2024

News Release

Without the enhanced subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace enrollees in 12 of the states that use HealthCare.gov would see their annual premium payments at least double on average, according to a new KFF analysis. Enrollees in three states would see the steepest annual increases: Wyoming (195% or $1,872), Alaska (125% or $1,836), and West Virginia (133% or $1,404), and premiums would rise by an average of 93% or…

KFF Analysis Finds That Firearms Were Involved in 79% of Homicides and 55% of Suicide Deaths in 2022

Jul 17, 2024

News Release

A new KFF analysis finds that firearms are involved in the majority of all homicides and suicides in the U.S., playing a role in 79% of homicides and 55% of suicide deaths in 2022, the most recent data available.The analysis, based on data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also shows that firearm deaths increased sharply over the decade, from 33,563 deaths in 2012 to 48,204 deaths in 2022. Looked at another…

Election 2024: Side-by-Side Comparison Tool Highlights President Biden’s and former President Trump’s Records and Positions on Health Issues

Jun 24, 2024

News Release

KFF today launched a new side-by-side comparison tool of the records and policy positions of President Biden and former President Trump across a range of key health policy issues. In a related “Beyond the Data” column, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman examines why the election represents a “fork in the road” on the federal government’s role in health care. While this is not an election like in the past where health care reform is…

States Adopted Changes to Expand Medicaid Eligibility and Streamline Renewal Processes That Will Continue Beyond the Unwinding, Though Challenges Remain

Jun 20, 2024

News Release

The unwinding of pandemic enrollment protections in Medicaid helped accelerate states’ expansion of eligibility for key groups and adoption of policy and system changes to streamline renewal processes for enrollees, according to findings from a new KFF survey of state Medicaid officials. These changes mean that the return to “routine” operations when the unwinding period ends will not be a return to pre-pandemic operations in many states. The survey examined actions states have taken to…

Democratic Women are More Motivated to Vote in States with Potential Abortion Ballot Initiatives than in Other States

Jun 20, 2024

News Release

A new KFF poll of women voters reveals that the issue of abortion is boosting Democratic women’s eagerness to vote most in states with potential abortion-related ballot initiatives. As of mid-June, there are 10 states where voters may be deciding on abortion access in November, including 4 states where abortion is already set to appear on the ballot. In these states, more than half (53%) of Democratic women voters say that they are more motivated…

Costly GLP-1 Drugs are Rarely Covered for Weight Loss by Marketplace Plans

Jun 12, 2024

News Release

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans rarely cover GLP-1 drugs approved solely for obesity treatment, according to a new KFF analysis of 2024 federal plan data. Wegovy, a drug that is approved for weight loss, is covered by just 1% of Marketplace prescription drug plans, compared to 82% of Marketplace prescription drug plans for Ozempic, which contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy (semaglutide) but is approved only for diabetes. When GLP-1 drugs are covered…

Walgreens and KFF’s Greater Than HIV Join with Community Partners to Offer Free HIV and STD Testing at Record Number of Stores on June 27

Jun 11, 2024

News Release

DEERFIELD, Ill. & SAN FRANCISCO, June 11, 2024 – Walgreens and Greater Than HIV, a public information initiative of KFF, are teaming up with health departments and community organizations to offer free rapid HIV testing in more than 550 Walgreens stores on June 27 in the largest coordinated National HIV Testing Day event. Additionally, to address the rising rates of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), free rapid syphilis and/or hepatitis C testing will also be offered…

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