The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
KFF’s policy research provides facts and analysis on a wide range of policy issues and public programs.
KFF designs, conducts and analyzes original public opinion and survey research on Americans’ attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with the health care system to help amplify the public’s voice in major national debates.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the organization’s core operating programs.
As the debate over mRNA technology continues, public uncertainty about its safety is likely to persist and may even deepen the partisan divide... as well as hinder any efforts to develop new vaccines in response to future pandemics
In announcing these changes, CMS states that it is “facilitating the Part D program’s return to operating under regular market conditions.” Increasingly, however, these regular conditions appear unfavorable to the ongoing stability of the stand-alone prescription drug plan market, further tilting the playing field towards Medicare Advantage.
It's not known when the court will issue an order on Planned Parenthood’s request for a more extensive preliminary injunction. Meanwhile, most Planned Parenthood clinics will not be able to receive federal Medicaid funding for non-abortion services…provided to Medicaid patients.
The impact of medical debt on credit scores often has a cascading effect….Adults with health care debt from KFF’s Health Care Debt Survey cited a range of negative outcomes from trouble qualifying for loans to homelessness.
CMS released guidance for states that would end waivers allowing continuous Medicaid eligibility for children and adults. Ending continuous eligibility will increase disenrollment, but not all who lose coverage are no longer eligible… more
Voluntary efforts by drug companies to lower prices on selected medications, such as this new discounted price for Eliquis and previous price reductions on certain insulin products, could expand access to lower-priced drugs for some patients, but are not likely to improve prescription drug affordability in the U.S. on a widespread basis.
All states and the District of Columbia will lose more federal Medicaid funding under the Senate-passed bill than under the House-passed bill. In 14 states, the Senate bill would reduce federal Medicaid spending by at least $5 billion more than the House bill would have.
In total, due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other policy changes, the number of people without health insurance is expected to increase by about 17 million. If all of this comes to pass, it would represent the biggest roll back of health insurance coverage ever due to federal policy changes.
Until Congress passes the reconciliation bill, Marketplace insurers will face uncertainty regarding the regulatory landscape and may find it difficult to set premiums for 2026.
A CMS rule, once finalized, is generally intended to exist permanently or until it is repealed.... This temporary implementation may preserve the potential for the reconciliation bill to generate official savings through changes to ACA marketplaces in later years (2027–2034) if enacted.
© 2026 KFF
