Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
More Health Systems Are Instituting Their Own Insurance Plans
Modern Healthcare: Why Health Systems, Companies Are Launching Insurance Plans
A new wave of companies think they can pull off the difficult feat of becoming a health insurer. National carriers have pulled back in recent years by exiting unprofitable business lines and geographies, as costs rise in commercial insurance and government health programs. Health systems, reckoning with cost inflation, must battle insurers during network negotiations and enlist outside vendors to ease prior authorization pressures. And that’s leading some companies to bet their twist on administering health insurance will succeed where others failed. (Tong, 10/21)
On reining in healthcare costs —
The Wall Street Journal: In Era Of Runaway Health Inflation, Employers Scramble To Keep Costs In Check
Corporate America is getting hit by healthcare sticker shock—and companies are passing a greater share of the cost on to workers. The trend is accelerating. New data shows that this year, the average cost of a family health plan crossed $28,000, rising by 5%, according to an annual survey from the nonprofit KFF, which provides the broadest picture of U.S. employer health coverage. The share coming out of employees’ paychecks shot up even faster—to $7,471, an increase of 9% from 2025. (Wilde Mathews, 10/22)
Fortune: Mark Cuban’s 5-Step Plan To Make Healthcare Affordable Targets ‘Contractual Terrorism’
Mark Cuban says many of the customers flooding his low-cost pharmacy have something in common: They already have insurance. And they’re still better off paying cash. (Witman, 10/21)
KFF Health News: Job-Based Health Plan Costs Rise, With Little Relief In Sight
Rising healthcare costs aren’t a problem just for those who buy their own health insurance. Increases hit employers and their workers this year, too, and more are expected for 2027 plans — adding to growing concerns about affordability heading into the midterm elections. Polls show that healthcare costs — and affordability, in general — are among top concerns cited by likely voters. Much attention has been focused on mounting costs and declining enrollment in Affordable Care Act plans, the insurance used by roughly 19 million people who buy their own. But work-based plans are adding financial pressure for the more than 150 million Americans covered through their jobs. (Appleby, 10/22)
Also —
ABC News: What To Know About Changes To Medicare Plans As Open Enrollment Begins
Open enrollment for Medicare, the nationwide federal health insurance program primarily for those aged 65 and older, has started. Many enrollees in privately run Medicare Advantage plans may need to find new plans as insurers scale back their offerings. Additionally, costs may increase for prescription drugs after the Trump administration ended a temporary subsidy program. (Kekatos, 10/20)
KFF Health News: Listen To The Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
Jackie Fortiér reads the week’s news: Support for “Medicare for All” is at its highest in at least a decade, even though many don’t understand the specifics. Plus, celebrities are getting full-body medical scans, but more screening might not be a good thing. (10/22)
