Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Being A Family Caregiver Means Spending $11,508 Out-Of-Pocket Yearly, Research Finds
NPR: What’s Gone Up Even Faster Than Gas Or Rent? The Cost Of Caregiving
As prices have ticked up in recent years, the cost to caregivers has skyrocketed. A study, released Wednesday by AARP and shared first with NPR, finds that family caregivers — people helping out disabled, chronically ill or elderly adults — now spend an average $11,508 out of pocket each year. That's roughly 60% more than just five years ago, and adds up to 31% of a caregiver's income, on average. The increase during those years is more than twice the overall rate of inflation of 24%, as measured by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index. (McGowan, 10/28)
On ACA, Medicare, surprise billing, and more —
Modern Healthcare: Centene, Elevance, Oscar Expand ACA Exchange Markets For 2027
Major health insurance companies, facing new regulatory requirements and other pressures, reevaluated their exchanges strategy for the 2027 plan year. Overall, there will be less competition as major insurers pull back from some markets, but several companies opted to expand. Open enrollment begins Sunday and ends Jan. 15 in most states. Not every state has finished negotiating with health insurers about premium increases for 2027. Nationwide, insurers asked officials for an average 15% increase, according to a report the health policy research organization KFF published in August. (Tepper, 10/28)
The Washington Post: ACA Premiums Are Going Up Again. See What It Means For You.
The Post analyzed insurers’ finalized and proposed 2027 rate increases across the U.S. See what costs will look like where you live. (Gilbert, Ahmed and Waldvogel, 10/28)
The Hill: Current And Former CMS Leaders Offer Advice On Medicare Changes Ahead
Current and former leaders at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday advised Medicare beneficiaries to pay close attention to their options this year upon reenrolling in plans, as major changes in recent years have only made the landscape more complex. Speaking at The Hill’s “Bang for Your Buck: Get the Most from Your 2027 Medicare Benefits” event in partnership with the Alliance for Aging Research, CMS Deputy Administrator John Brooks and former CMS Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Blum both noted how provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), such as the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, had changed how Medicare benefits are handled. (Choi, 10/28)
The CT Mirror: Hartford Coalition Will Help Residents Navigate Medicaid Changes
A new citywide task force will help Hartford residents navigate upcoming changes to the Medicaid program, Mayor Arunan Arulampalam announced Wednesday. (Battulga, 10/28)
MedPage Today: Congress Mulls Ways To Fix The Surprise Billing Law
Although most observers agree that the No Surprises Act did fix one problem -- nixing unexpected bills for out-of-network care -- lawmakers are still trying to fix other problems caused by the law. The act, passed at the end of 2020, was designed to protect patients who received bills for out-of-network care -- often emergency care -- even though the care was delivered at an in-network facility. This can happen, for example, if the in-network hospital contracts with out-of-network providers for emergency or specialty care. (Frieden, 10/27)
KFF Health News: She Needed An EpiPen. But First, An Urgent Care Asked Her To Pay
Stephanie Rowell was standing on her parents’ front porch in July when a wasp stung her left arm. She said that almost immediately her arm felt like it was “on fire,” her body started itching all over, and her face became swollen and red. Rowell, 53, took Benadryl, and her father started driving her to the nearest emergency room, about 25 minutes away. But after driving for 10 minutes they spotted a TruHealthNow urgent care facility in Purcellville, Virginia, and decided to stop, hoping she would get help faster. (Galewitz, 10/29)
