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This brief provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage plans that are available for 2026 and key trends over time. In 2026, the average Medicare beneficiary has a choice of 32 Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans, two fewer than the 34 in 2025. Virtually all Medicare Advantage plans for 2026 provide multiple extra benefits like vision, hearing, and dental benefits, similar to last year.
In a new 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.”
As the ACA open enrollment deadline approaches amid the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits, nearly six in 10 Marketplace enrollees say they would not be able to afford $300 more in annual health care costs, which may lead some to alternative coverage products, such as short-term plans, a type of private coverage that tends to have lower premiums but few consumer protections and limited benefits.
While Republicans in Congress have largely opposed the IRA and Medicare drug price negotiation, President Trump appears to be embracing it. With this latest announcement, the Trump administration can take credit for delivering lower drug prices in Medicare, while Democrats can take credit for creating the Medicare drug price negotiation program in the first place.
About one in eight adults say that they are currently taking a GLP-1 drug either to lose weight or treat a chronic condition, an increase from 18 months ago, though the high costs of the medications remain a concern. Few adults think it is likely their prescription costs will go down as a result of recently announced Trump administration policies.
About one in eight adults (12%) say that they are currently taking a GLP-1 drug such as Ozempic or Wegovy either to lose weight or treat a chronic condition, an increase from 18 months ago, though the high costs of the medications remain a concern, a new KFF Health Tracking Poll finds. Overall nearly one in five adults (18%) say at some point they have taken a GLP-1 drug, a class of medications used for…
As states completed the “unwinding” of pandemic-era continuous coverage, Medicaid enrollment fell 7.6% in FY 2025 and is expected to be largely flat in FY 2026. At the same time, total Medicaid spending grew by 8.6% in FY 2025 and is expected to grow by 7.9% in FY 2026.
This report highlights key policy priorities and issues state Medicaid programs focused on in FY 2025 and are prioritizing in FY 2026.
Three experts joined Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF, for a discussion about the latest developments in prescription drug pricing and what they mean for drug manufacturers, patients and public and private health insurance programs.
While more large employers are covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, KFF's conversations with employers highlight concerns about the cost of these medications. Many of these employers have considered scaling back coverage of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss, or in some cases, employers are adding or strengthening coverage requirements.
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